1940 census

[furgee]

I just learned the 1940 census will be released on line from the NARA.

On April 2, 2012, the US National Archives will have the US 1940 census
available online for free. See the details at

http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/index.html

and

http://blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access/?p=4740

[eleny]

1. You know I can hardly wait

Since the folks bought the house where I grew up in 1947, I'll finally learn who lived there in 1940. I've got the data from the 1910 - 1930 censuses. Now I'll have the very last before my family moved there. Yay!

Counting the days. :hi:

[kestrel91316]

2. Ooohhh! Oohh!! Ooohhh!!!!!! I CANNOT wait for this.

[grasswire]

3. I was just wondering about the 1960 census...

...and now I see that they've only released the 1940! I wonder why it takes so long?

I want to find my uncle's address in 1960. He built his own house from exotic woods (he owned a lumber yard) and I want to find it. I live not far from where it is but can't quite ID it from the street.

Darn it.

[dgibby]

4. Try a city directory from that time period.

Local historical association or Chamber of Commerce should be able to help.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. Local historicals and sometimes public libraries may have old phone books too.

Those are helpful when the area wasn't covered by city directories.

[madinmaryland]

5. By law, the Census is released no sooner than 72 years after it was taken.

Thus the 1940 Census will be released next April (2012). The 2060 census will be release in 2032. The delay is due to privacy issues. It was assumed that most people included in a census would not be alive 72 years later.

[kestrel91316]

7. Actually, the release after 72 years is to allow people who are at the upper

end of the time frame for starting to collect social security, who don't otherwise have a way to document when they were born, to use the census to help prove such.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Any individual can request a search of still-confidential decennial

censuses for the purpose of verifying his/her own age. It's called an "Age Search." I could ask for data on myself from the 2000 census and the bureau would look it up for a fee (a fairly steep fee as I recall.) They won't give you the whole household listing, just a transcription of the data on you. So if I were trying to prove that I was 65 today I could request a transcript of my entry in the 1950 census.

The same search can be done on deceased relatives if you can prove that you're a legal heir.

[csziggy]

10. I think they are released 72 years after the census year

In an effort to preserve some level of privacy.

For land, often you can use property records. For 1960 you will probably need to go into the court house and look at the old deeds. That is assuming that your uncle owned the property on which he built the house. Call the local property appraiser and tax office and ask them about how you can access the records.

[CBHagman]

6. Thanks for the heads-up!

(Rubs hands together in anticipation.)