Lost Treasure -1841 Census Book

1840 Census: Compendium of the Enumeration of the Inhabitants and Statistics of the United States

Officially known as the “1840 Census: Compendium of the Enumeration of the Inhabitants and Statistics of the United States”

This 1841 Census book is truly a lost treasure! We found it in an old box from an estate sale and it contains some fascinating data.

Official cover page from the United States Census Bureau
Official cover page from the United States Census Bureau

“The economic data include aggregate value, quantity produced, capital invested, and number of persons employed, among other data.

Population counts by age grouping are provided for the following categories of persons:

  • free white males,
  • free white females,
  • free colored males, and
  • free colored females.”

*Information provided by the United States Census Bureau*

Scanned image of the Compendium of the Enumeration of the Inhabitants and Statistics of the United States
Scanned image of the Compendium of the Enumeration of the Inhabitants and Statistics of the United States

Counts of male slaves and female slaves are sometimes provided by age grouping. Characteristic data pertain only to free persons. The population data include information on employment by industry.

A Note on Language

“Census statistics date back to 1790 and reflect the growth and change of the United States. Past census reports contain some terms that today’s readers may consider obsolete and inappropriate. As part of our goal to be open and transparent with the public, we are improving access to all Census Bureau original publications and statistics, which serve as a guide to the nation’s history.” United States Census Bureau

You never know what you’ll find in those dirty old boxes stored in an attic or garage or abandoned warehouse. Stop by Eco Relics and see what treasures you can find!