1830 United States Census facts for kids

The United States Census of 1830 was the fifth time the United States counted all its people. This important count was finished on June 1, 1830. It found that 12,866,020 people lived in the 24 states that were part of the country at that time. Out of this total, 2,009,043 people were enslaved. This means they were not free and were owned by others.

The average spot where most people lived, called the center of population, was about 170 miles (274 km) west of Washington, D.C.. This point was located in an area that is now Grant County, West Virginia, but back then it was part of Virginia.

The 1830 United States Census

The 1830 Census was a big event for the young United States. It helped the government understand how many people lived in each state. This information was very important for many reasons, like deciding how many representatives each state would have in Congress.

What is a Census?

A census is like a big headcount of everyone living in a country. The United States does a census every ten years. It helps the government know how the population is changing. This information is used to plan for schools, roads, and other important services.

Counting People and States

In 1830, the United States had 24 states. The census counted everyone in these states. It was a huge job to visit every home and record how many people lived there. The total number of people counted was nearly 13 million.

Enslaved People in the Count

Sadly, the 1830 Census also counted people who were enslaved. These individuals were not free citizens. They were counted as part of the population, but their lives were very different from free people. The census showed that over 2 million people were living in slavery at that time.

Where Did People Live?

The census also helped show where most Americans lived. In 1830, the country was still growing westward. The "center of population" tells us the average location of all the people in the country. In 1830, this point was moving west, showing that more and more people were settling in new areas.

See also

In Spanish: Censo de los Estados Unidos de 1830 para niños