1920 United States Census facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fourteenth Census of the United States
U.S. Census Bureau Seal
General Information
Date Taken	January 5, 1920
Total U.S. Population	106,021,537
Percent Change	15.0%
Most Populous State	New York 10,385,227
Least Populous State	Nevada 77,407
Population Schedule

The Fourteenth United States Census was like a big count of everyone living in the United States in 1920. It was done by the Census Bureau, a part of the government that collects facts about people. This important count happened in January 1920.

The census found that there were 106,021,537 people living in the U.S. at that time. This was a big jump! The population had grown by 15.0 percent since the last census in 1910.

What Is a Census and Why Do We Have One?

A census is an official count of how many people live in a country. It also gathers information about them, like where they live and how old they are. The United States does a census every ten years, as required by its Constitution.

Why Is the Census Important?

Counting everyone helps the government understand the country better. This information is used for many important things:

• Fair Representation: It helps decide how many representatives each state gets in the U.S. Congress. States with more people get more representatives.
• Planning for the Future: The government uses census data to plan for schools, hospitals, roads, and other services. They need to know where people live to build what's needed.
• Understanding Changes: A census shows how the population is changing over time. Are more people moving to cities? Are some states growing faster than others?

What Did the 1920 Census Show?

The 1920 Census was the fourteenth time the U.S. had counted its people. It showed that the country was growing quickly.

Population Growth and States

The total population of 106,021,537 was a big increase from 1910. This growth reflected changes happening in the country, like people moving from farms to cities.

New York was the state with the most people, having over 10 million residents. This shows how important New York City and the surrounding areas were becoming. On the other hand, Nevada was the least populated state, with only 77,407 people.

How the Census Was Done

To count everyone, the Census Bureau hired many people called "enumerators." These enumerators went door-to-door across the country, asking questions and writing down the answers. It was a huge effort to collect information from millions of households!

The 1920 Census helped the United States understand its population as it entered a new decade, often called the "Roaring Twenties."