United States Census 1950

Release Date
According to law, the census is scheduled for public release on 1 April 2022.

Census Forms

 * Form P1 - Population and Housing Schedule
 * Form P3 - Infant Card (for children born January - March, 1950)
 * Form A1 - Agricultural Questionnaire
 * Farm A2 - Special Agricultural Questionnaire

Census Questions
Census day was April 1, 1950. Everyone living in the United States were to be counted at their place of residence.This census had separate forms for population and housing. The population schedule was separated into three sections of questions: For Head of Household, For All Persons, For Persons 14 Years of Age and Over. Every fifth person counted was asked a set of supplemental questions starting with question 21. Full documentation on the 1950 census, including census forms and a procedural history, is available from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. A PDF copy of the United States Census Bureau 1950 Instructions is available.

Population Schedule
A copy of the form can be downloaded at the Census Bureau's 1950-History-U.S. Census Bureau page.

Form Header
The header of the population questionnaire included the following fields: • 2

Household Information
The following questions are listed in the order they appear on the form.

For Head of Household For All Persons • 2 For Persons 14 Years of Age and Over • 2  Supplemental Questions: Every 5th person enumerated was asked the following questions • 2  For Persons 14 years old and older  • 2
 * 1. Name of street, avenue or road.
 * 2. House (and apartment) number
 * 3. Serial number of dwelling unit.
 * 4. Is this house on a farm (or ranch) ? (Yes or No)
 * 5. If no in item 4- Is this house on a place of three or more acres ? (Yes or No)
 * 6. Agricultural Questionnaire Number.

Housing Schedule
A copy of the form can be downloaded at the Census Bureau's 1950-History-U.S. Census Bureau page. The following questions are listed in the order they appear on the form.

Sheet No For All Dwelling Units • 2 For All Vacant Units For Nonfarm Vacant Units Only For Nonfarm Units Occupied by Owner For Nonfarm Units Occupied by Renter
 * Serial number of dwelling unit
 * Block number
 * Non-seasonal or seasonal
 * If "For rent"--monthy rent for this unit
 * If "For sale only"--sale price asked
 * How much would this property sell for
 * How many dwelling units are included in this property
 * Is there any mortgage (trust) on this property
 * What is the monthly rent for this unit
 * In addition to rent, how much do you pay for
 * Electricty/Gas/Water/Wood/Coal/Oil
 * Is this unrented/rented - unfurnished/furnished
 * If rented furnished--What would it rent for monthly if unfurnished

1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Selected
1950 Census Enumeration District Census Maps are included in the series: Enumeration District and Related Maps, 1880 - 1990 NAID 821491. On that page click the Search within this series link. Go through the results to find the locality you are looking for, and click the link to see the map.

Sample Census Enumeration District maps:
 * 1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - California (CA) - Los Angeles County - Beverly Hills - ED 19-158 to 197
 * 1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky (KY) - Jefferson County - Louisville - ED 122-1 to 624

Read the post on the National Archives' blog, The Unwritten Record, "Snapshot USA:1950 Census Enumeration District Maps".

Related Sources - National Archives Catalog

 * Population Schedules for the 1950 Census, 1950 - 1950 NAID 43290879
 * Index to the Microfilm of the 1950 Decennial Census, ca. 1952 - ca. 1952 NAID 196015598
 * Indian Reservation Schedules, 1950 - 1950 NAID 572858
 * Records Relating to the 1950 Decennial Census of Territories, 1948 - 1951
 * Records of Population Data Relating to the 17th Census, ca. 1950 - ca. 1950
 * Binder 71-H - Form P11, 1950 Census of Population and Housing (Procedure II "sample")
 * Binder 71-I - Form P12A, 1950 Census of Population and Housing (Procedure III)
 * Binder 73-A - Principal Data Collection Forms Used in the 1950 Censuses
 * 1950 Census Preliminary Work and Geography Forms, 3/10/1949 - 6/6/1949
 * Folder 12 Form P3, Infant Card, 1950 Census of Population and Housing, 17th Decennial Census, 1950. NAID 195980246
 * Folder 13 Advertising Campaign for the 1950 United States Census, 17th Decennial Census, 1950
 * Folder 14 Form 17Fld-1, Portfolio Control Label, 17th Decennial Census, 1949-1950
 * Folder 18 Publication 17Fld-100u, Urban and Rural Enumerator’s Reference Manual, 1950
 * Folder 19 Form 17Fld-101, Urban Enumerator’s Workbook, 17th Decennial Census, 1950

Statistical Reports

 * Census of population, 1950 : a report of the seventeenth decennial census of the United States. Washington, D.C. : United States. Government Printing Office, 1953 2 volumes (FamilySearch Catalog record)
 * Volume 1, Number of inhabitants (FamilySearch Digital Books)
 * Volume 2, part 1, Characteristics of the population (FamilySearch Digital Books)
 * IPUMS USA, Questions From the 1950 Census of Population and Housng, Form P-1, Integrated Public Use Microdata Series

Enumeration Form

 * 1950 Enumeration Form, Integrated Public Use Microdata Series

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * United States Census, 1940
 * Florida State Census, 1945
 * South Dakota State Census, 1945