Historic Oregon Censuses
The State Archives has census records from the provisional, territorial, state and federal governments. It also has Bureau of Indian Affairs census records in the Reference Room.
The first census in the Oregon Country was taken by Elijah White, Oregon Superintendent of Indian Affairs, in 1842. In 1845 the Provisional Government authorized a 2nd census. In 1848 the Oregon Territory was established and the governor was given authority to take "an enumeration of the inhabitants and qualified voters of the several counties and districts of the territory." The territorial census rolls and abstracts were used to document county population and report statistics to the government. These census tallied statistics for apportionment, school-age children and military strength.
Population Schedules
The federal census (population schedules), taken every 10 years, expanded the amount of information gathered over the decades. For example, the 1850 census included questions such as:
- Name, age, sex and color of every person in the household
- Occupation of each person over age 15
- Value of real estate owned
- Place of birth of each person
- Was the person married within the year
- Did the person attend school within the year
- Can the person read and write. (only if over age 20)
- Is the person deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, a pauper or convict
By the 1940 census, the information grew to include 50 columns of questions. An abbreviated list of these includes:
- Living location
- Household information
- Name of each person
- Relationship
- Personal description (sex, color, age, marital status)
- Education
- Birthplace
- Citizenship
- Residence in 1935
- Employment
- Income
- Mother's and father's birthplace
- Mother tongue
- Military service
- Social Security status
Nonpopulation Schedules
The federal government also took special (nonpopulation) schedules on agriculture, industry, mortality and social statistics for administrative purposes. The 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 mortality schedules contain information on persons who died during the 12 months prior to the date the census was taken. Some entries give the cause of death. The agricultural schedules for these years also include names of individuals. The other special schedules include only statistical data and not the names of individuals.
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