1810 United States census

The 1810 United States census was the third census taken in the United States. It happened on August 6, 1810, and counted 7,239,881 people living in the country at that time. Among those counted, 1,191,362 were slaves.

This census was special because it included one new state: Ohio. Sadly, some of the original records from places like the District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Ohio were lost or destroyed many years later. Most of Tennessee’s records were also lost, except for a few counties.

This was also the last time that Virginia was recorded as the most populous state in the United States.

Census questions

The 1810 census form asked for information about people living in each area. It collected details such as the name of the family head and the numbers of free white males and females in different age groups, along with counts of other free people and slaves. This helped the government understand how many people lived in the United States at that time.

The questions were the same as those used in the 1800 census, focusing on counting different groups of people rather than asking about their jobs or places of birth.

Note to researchers

Census taking in the early 1800s was not very organized. Before 1830, people who counted the population did not have special forms to use, so they sometimes made their own, which could make the records hard to read. Some of these record-keepers did not even finish counting everyone. Because of this, the old census records can be tricky for researchers to understand, but they are still useful.

Data availability

No detailed records from the 1810 United States census are available, but general population numbers for smaller areas can be found. These numbers can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System along with maps that show where people lived at that time.

State rankings

The 1810 United States census was the third time the country counted its population. It was carried out on August 6, 1810, and found that 7,239,881 people lived in the United States. Among these individuals, 1,191,362 were slaves. This information helped leaders understand how the population was growing and where people lived.

City rankings

The 1810 United States census was the third time the country counted its population. It happened on August 6, 1810, and found that 7,239,881 people lived in the United States. Of these people, 1,191,362 were slaves. This information helped leaders understand how many people lived in different places and plan for the country's growth.