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so much more in 150 years of U.S. Census records spanning 1790-1940. Enter
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The story below illustrates the kind of details you might find in the census.
1940-19301920-19001890-18501840-1790
‹1940-1930›1920-1900Ann Smith
1920-2009
Ann was 20 years old in 1940
and going to college, unlike
95% of women her age.
Daniel Smith
1896-1966
Ann’s father see more
Ann’s dad worked in a factory in 1940, as did 23.4% of Americans. The average income was $956.
Mary O’Neil
1901-1986
Ann’s mother see more
Ann’s mother had 4 children, which was actually the U.S. average at the time.
John Smith
1876-1947
Ellie Jones
1875-1956
Ann’s grandparents see more
Ann’s grandparents, John and Ellie, were nearly 64 years old in 1940, having outlived the average American life expectancy of 62.
Ellie Jones
1875-1956
Ann’s grandmother Ellie turned 35 in 1910, and while the average American made $750 that year, she made less than $500.
Benjamin Jones
1848-1925
Ellie’s father see more
Ellie’s father worked as a farmer and he and his wife owned their home, as did 46% of Americans.
Martha Knudsen
1857-1914
Ellie’s mother see more
Ellie’s mother had immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark in 1870 and was among the 7.7% of Americans who could not read or write.
Joseph Jones
1827-1907
Lucy Palmer
1830-1905
Ellie’s grandparents see more
Ellie’s grandparents, Joseph and Lucy, had been divorced. Only 1 in 1,000 couples were divorced in 1910.
Lucy Palmer
1830-1905
In 1870, Lucy was 40 years old and married. She lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second most populous U.S. city at the time.
Ann Black
1809-1879
Lucy’s mother see more
Lucy’s mother, age 60 in 1870, was living with Lucy and her husband.
Charles Palmer
1783-1871
Lucy’s grandfather see more
Lucy’s paternal grandfather, Charles, was living as a widower in New York City. At age 87, he had far outlived the average life expectancy of 39.
Emranda Lund
1784-1844
Charles Palmer
1783-1871
For a young man in 1800, career choices and education options were limited, but manufacturing
and commerce in the North
would change that by 1840.
William Palmer
1761-1810
Charles’s father see more
Charles’ father and mother lived in upstate New York. Only 68% of the labor force in the North from 1800-1860 involved farming compared to 80% in the South.
Elizabeth York
1766-1805
Charles’s mother see more
Charles’ mom had 7 children under the age of 16 in 1800. The average woman in 1800 would give birth to 7 children … within a life expectancy of just 36 years.
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