Volunteers are busy ensuring that information about the 1950 U.S. Census indexed by computers is complete and accurate. By participating, you are helping people to discover details about their family that have been hidden for 72 years.
What can I find in the 1950 Census?
Among the details you can find about your ancestors are basics like their age in 1950, their address, sex, race, and if they were married. You may also find out what they did for a living.
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Many of the areas enumerated in the 1950 U.S. Federal Census can now be browsed for free on FamilySearch.
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Learn how to find the images that are most likely to include your family.
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Join thousands of volunteers who are helping to make the 1950 US Census searchable online for free.
About the 1950 Census
On April 1, 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) made population records from the 1950 Census available to the public for the first time.
The Census Bureau conducts the decennial census—the once-a-decade population and housing count of everyone living in the United States. For 72 years, personal census responses are confidential. Once a census is final and results are issued, the Census Bureau transfers the records to NARA. NARA is then responsible for storing and protecting all census records before releasing them to the public after 72 years.
1950 Census Historical Facts
Population
| 151,325,798 | U.S. Resident Population |
| 42.6 | Population per square mile of land area |
| 14.5 | Percent increase of population from 1940 to 1950 |
| 48 | Number of States |
The 1950 Census
| Cost | $91,462,000 |
| Cost per Capita (cents) | 60.4 |
| Total Pages in Published Reports | 61,700 |
| Number of Enumerators | 142,962 |
| Census Bureau Director | Roy Victor Peel |
| Number of Questions on the Questionnaire | N/A |
| Number of Questions on the Long Form | N/A |
10 Largest Urban Places
| Rank | Place | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City, NY | 7,891,957 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | 3,620,962 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | 2,071,605 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | 1,970,358 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | 1,849,568 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | 949,708 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | 914,808 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | 856,796 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | 802,178 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | 801,444 |
