1860 United States Census
The eighth U.S. census, taken in 1860, recorded 31,443,321 people including 3,953,761 enslaved persons; it documents pre–Civil War population, regional distribution, and economic schedules.
The 1860 United States Census, the eighth decennial enumeration, was taken with an official reference date of November 1, 1860. Its final reports showed a national population of 31,443,321, an increase of about 35.4 percent from the prior decennial count. Of the total, 3,953,761 people were recorded as slaves, a figure that highlights the sectional division of the country in the months immediately preceding the American Civil War.
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Scope and content
The census gathered information beyond simple headcounts. Enumerators recorded names, ages, sex, race, occupation, value of real and personal estate for free persons, and birthplace. Separate schedules collected data for agriculture and manufacturing, and a distinct slave schedule listed enslaved people by age, sex, and color without names. These different schedules provide multiple angles for demographic and economic analysis.
Uses and significance
Data from the 1860 census were used for apportioning representation and for federal and state planning. For historians and genealogists, the census is a central source for studying antebellum population distribution, urban growth, immigration, internal migration to the West, and the economic landscape of agriculture and industry on the eve of war. The enumerated totals and regional breakdowns remain widely cited in studies of the period.
- Enumeration date: November 1, 1860 (official reference date).
- Total population: 31,443,321; increase of about 35.4% over 1850.
- Enslaved population recorded: 3,953,761 (on a separate schedule).
While the census aimed to be comprehensive, it reflected the legal and social categories of its time: Native peoples not taxed were often omitted, women and children were counted but recorded according to household heads, and enslaved persons were listed without the personal identifiers afforded to free citizens. These limitations shape how modern researchers interpret the data.
For further context on the series and its methodology, see general summaries of the Eighth Census and sources about the United States enumeration practices of the 19th century. Comparative figures and percent changes rely on earlier counts such as the 1850 Census, which provides a baseline for the growth measured in 1860.
Questions and answers
Q: When was the United States Census of 1860 completed?
A: It was completed after November 1, 1860.
Q: How many people were counted in the United States Census of 1860?
A: The Census found the population to be 31,443,321.
Q: How much did the population increase from the 1850 Census to the 1860 Census?
A: The population increased by 35.4 percent from the 1850 Census.
Q: Were any slaves counted in the United States Census of 1860?
A: Yes, the total population included 3,953,761 slaves.
Q: What is the United States Census of 1860?
A: It is the eighth Census in the United States.
Q: What information did the United States Census of 1860 provide?
A: The Census provided information on the population, including the number of slaves.
Q: Why is the United States Census of 1860 significant?
A: It is significant because it was conducted just before the start of the American Civil War, which had a significant impact on the demographics of the United States.
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AlegsaOnline.com 1860 United States Census Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/111823