Category: 1950 Census

When you view a census report for a household, the ages and relationships are interesting in themselves and can help break open a brick wall. Other information on the population schedule and farm schedules can offer context to answer other research questions.

The U.S. Census Bureau summarized the 1950 population data into state profiles. (1) Some of tables summarized information by county and others by urban locations. A few DuPage locations are summarized on Table 4, pp 13-9 to 13-11: Aurora, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, and Wheaton.

In 1950, DuPage County comprised 331 square miles and 154,599. It’s population increased 49.4% from 1940, after increasing 12.5% between 1930 and 1940. DuPage was categorized as 76.1% urban versus rural [Table 5, Page 13-12]

Township, city, and village populations between 1950, 1940, and 1930 are compared. For example, Wheaton’s population was 7258 in 1930, 7389 in 1940, and 11638 in 1950.

The pdf is keyword searchable if you are looking for a specific location. DuPage is printed and searchable as “Du Page.”

In DuPage, the median age was 31.5, 6.7% people were over 65 years, .4% of the county’s was non-white, and the median school years completed were 12.1. 82.7% males were in the labor force, while only 26.9% of females were in the labor force. The median income was $4098. [Table 11, Page 13-57] Knowing this information, we understand where our ancestors fit with the community profile.

By looking at the summary by the country of birth [Table 42a, page 13-165], we can see that the 11390 DuPage county residents born outside the U.S. came from a variety of locations. The top five are:
1. Germany, 2589, 22.7%
2. Canada-Other, 994, 8.7%
3. England and Wales, 906, 8%
4. Sweden, 886, 7.8%
5. Czechoslovakia, 863, 7.6%

In DuPage, 81.2% of adult males were employed. [Table 43, Page 13-169] The top five occupation groups were:
1. Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers, 10,888, 24%
2. Professional, technical, and kindred workers, 7,171, 15.8%
3. Managers, officials, and props., exc. farm, 6,926, 15.2%
4. Operatives and kindred workers, 6,434, 14.2%
5. Clerical and kindred workers, 4,279, 9.4%

The top five industry groups were:
1. Manufacturing, 15,423, 34%
2. Construction, 4,114, 9%
3. Other retail trade, 3,761, 8.3%
4. Railroads and railway express service, 2,680, 5.9%
5. Finance, insurance, and real estate, 2,182, 4.8%

The following fictional case studies are used because we don’t have access to the data yet.

Case Study 1
Janet Wood, age 30, black, married, wife to head of household, clerk in a bank.

She is very close to the median age of 31.5, She is 1 of 19.5% of women who were employed, 39.8% of women employed as Clerical and kindred workers, and 7.9% employed in the Finance, insurance, and real estate industry. Clerical occupations are the one group where women were employed at a higher rate than men.

Case Study 2
John Schmidt, age 75, white, married, retired, born in Germany.

He is among the 1.8% of DuPage aged 75 to 84, 1.5% of DuPage age 65 and over and not listed in the labor force, and the 22.7% born in Germany.

Sources
1950 Census of Population: Volume 2. Characteristics of the Population,” digital images, United States Census Bureau (https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1953/dec/population-vol-02.html : accessed 5 February 2022), Part 13: Illinois, Number of Inhabitants

#1950CensusCountdown #genealogy #FamilyHistory

Addition: Ancestry added a cool new tool - 1950 Census district finder at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/district-map/62308. It overlays the old ED map over a current map.

When you think about enumerators visiting most households in person, it is amazing and wonderful that they achieved 99% coverage. (1)

On April 1, 2022, they 1950 Census enumeration sheets become available by NARA and shared through the major genealogy sites like FamilySearch and Ancestry. .

“Several procedures were used to improve the accuracy and completeness of the 1950 census, including: improved enumerator training, providing enumerators with detailed street maps of their assigned areas, publishing “Missed Person” forms in local newspapers, and setting a specific night to conduct a special enumeration of persons in hotels, tourist courts, and other places frequented by transients.” (2)

You can use the maps available through the National Archives to explore an enumeration district. Search for city or county name in the catalog AND 1950. Refine search results by selecting Record Group 29.

For other tips to see Find Family in the 1950 Census. (3)

Sources
(1) “Decennial Census Official Publications: 1950, United States Census Bureau (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/decennial-publications.1950.html : accessed 24 March 2022)

(2) “1950 Overview,” United States Census Bureau (https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/overview/1950.html : accessed 24 March 2022).

(3) “Find Family in the 1950 Census,” blog post, 5 February 2022, Hayska (https://hayska.org/find-family-in-the-1950-census/ : accessed 25 March 2022)

#1950CensusCountdown #genealogy #FamilyHistory

[Header Image: “Online Promo Image 1: 1950 Census Light BG – 1200 x 628, JPG, 1950 United States Census Shareable Resources, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/info/1950-united-states-census-sharable-resources : accessed 25 March 2022).

[Map Image: “1950 Census Enumeration District Maps – Illinois (IL) – Ogle County – Ogle County – ED 71-1 to 50,” digital image, National Archives Catalog (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/12013647 : 25 March 2022); See Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 – 2007, Series: Enumeration District and Related Maps, 1880 – 1990, File Unit: Enumeration District Maps – Illinois – Ogle County, Item: 1950 Census Enumeration District Maps – Illinois (IL) – Ogle County – Ogle County – ED 71-1 to 50.]