1900 U.S. Census

Link for search of all 1900 Census Documents: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1325221
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Links to actual 1900 Census pages referencing TeSelle Family relatives:

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About the 1900 U.S. Census

Enumerators of the 1900 census were instructed to record the names of every person in the household. The 1900 U. S. Census collected the following information for each person:

  • full address (street and house number as well as state, county city)
  • the number of the dwelling or family in the order visited by the Census enumerator
  • full name
  • relation to head of household
  • race
  • gender
  • birth month and year
  • age
  • marital status and number of years married
  • number of children/number living (mothers only)
  • place of birth
  • mother/father places of birth
  • year of immigration/number of years in the U.S.
  • naturalization status
  • occupation/profession
  • literate/illiterate
  • whether the individual can speak English
  • months of unemployment in the past year
  • months in school in the past year

Several questions related to housing were asked, including whether the home was owned or rented; whether the home was on a farm; and whether the home was mortgaged. The categories allowed Congress to determine persons residing in the United States for collection of taxes and the appropriation of seats in the House of Representatives.

The United States was the first country to call for a regularly held census. The Constitution required that a census of all “Persons…excluding Indians not taxed” be performed to determine the collection of taxes and the appropriation of seats in the House of Representatives. The first nine censuses from 1790 to 1870 were organized under the United States Federal Court system. Each district was assigned a U.S. marshal who hired other marshals to administer the census. Governors were responsible for enumeration in territories.

The 1900 Indian Schedule

Records can be found with the general population records containing information about Native Americans living on reservations and in the general population. The first section of the census schedule was identical to that of the general population, other than to indicate if the individual was wholly or partially dependent on the government. Read more about this schedule here.

An additional 10 questions on the Indian schedule inquired the following:

  • “Indian name”
  • tribe
  • tribe of mother/father
  • citizen status/year acquired
  • the fraction of lineage that is white
  • if the individual living in polygamy
  • if the individual was taxed (living in a white community or recipient of allotted land by the federal government)
  • if the individual is a citizen through land allotment
  • and if the home is “movable or fixed”

Some additional questions were also asked of those living in AL, HI, and on military bases.

Official Enumeration Date: June 1, 1900. All questions asked were supposed to refer to that date. By 1900, there were a total of forty-five states in the Union, with Utah being the latest addition and Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Oklahoma enumerated as territories.

Loss of Records: No significant loss of census records known.

Link to 1900 Census Documents: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1325221

Go back to “A Guide to Using U.S. Census Records”