1950 United States census

The 1950 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, counted the number of people living in the United States at that time. It found that 151,325,798 people lived in the country, which was a growth of 14.5 percent compared to the 131,669,275 people counted in the 1940 census.

This census was special because it was the first time that more than one state had over 10 million people. It was also the first time that every state and territory had more than 100,000 people, and all of the 100 biggest cities had populations bigger than 100,000.

On April 1, 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration made the full census records available to everyone. This happened because of a rule that says census records can be shared with the public after 72 years. This means the 1950 census is the most recent one that everyone can see freely.

Census questions

The 1950 census gathered important information from everyone, including their address, name, age, and where they were born. It also asked about their jobs and whether they worked on a farm.

Some people were asked extra questions about their income and family history. You can learn more about these details from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

Data availability

Microdata from the 1950 census are freely available through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. Aggregate data for small areas, along with electronic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System.

On April 1, 2022, 72 years after the census was taken, the National Archives and Records Administration released scanned census enumeration sheets to the public. The census data became freely searchable by name on many websites. Genealogy companies Ancestry and FamilySearch helped create an index of all names listed on the 1950 census forms using AI and human volunteers.

State rankings

The 1950 United States census showed important changes in population across the country. It was the first time that more than one state had over 10 million people. Also, every state and territory had more than 100,000 people, and all of the 100 biggest cities had populations of over 100,000. These facts help us understand how the United States was growing at that time.

City rankings

The 1950 United States census was a big count of everyone living in the country at that time. It showed that the population had grown to over 151 million people, which was a big increase from the census ten years earlier in 1940. This census was special because it was the first time that more than one state had over 10 million people, and every state had more than 100,000 people. Also, all of the 100 biggest cities in the United States had more than 100,000 people living in them.

Locations of 50 most populous cities

The 1950 United States census recorded the locations of the 50 most populous cities in the country. Major cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles were among the largest. Other significant cities included Detroit, Baltimore, Cleveland, and St. Louis. The map shows these cities and many more, illustrating the urban landscape of the United States in 1950.