Questions Asked on the 1860 Census

 

US 1860 Census Download

 

There were multiple questionnaires used for the 1860 census, including a separate slave questionnaire (which collected the same information as in 1850). Listed by column, the free inhabitant questionnaire collected the following information:

• 1. Number of dwelling home in order of visitation by the enumerator
• 2. Number of family in order of visitation by the enumerator
• 3. Name
• 4. Age
• 5. Sex
• 6. Color
• Enumerators could mark "W" for Whites, "B" for Blacks, or "M" for Mulattos.
• 7. Profession, Occupation, or Trade of each person, male and female, over 15 years of age
• 8. Value of person's real estate
• 9. Value of person's personal estate
• 10. Place of birth
• Enumerator could list the state, territory, or country of the person's birth
• 11. Was the person was married within the last year?
• 12. Did the person attend school within the last year?
• 13. If the person was over 20 years of age, could he not read or write?
• 14. Was the person deaf and dumb, blind, idiotic, pauper, or convict?

Census Tip

The 1860 census essentially asks the same census questions with the exception of the question concerning the value of personal property. It is pretty doubtful that an individual would disclose the actual value of their personal property however, for fear of taxation. This census also included mortality schedules which listed every person who died within the year by name and gave the reason for death. Slave schedules listed slave owner's names along with the number of slaves owned.