United States, Census, 1930

About the 1930 Census

The 1930 U.S. census was the 15th census of the United States. It provides a snapshot of American life just six months after the stock market crash, as the Great Depression was beginning.

Census workers started collecting information on 1 April 1930. They counted more than 122 million people living in:

• The 48 states.
• The District of Columbia.
• United States territories, including Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Panama Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

1930 Census Schedules

The 1930 census is divided into four main sections, referred to as “schedules.” Each one focuses on a different group of people.

Population Schedules

The population schedules were the main part of the census. They listed everyone living in the United States as of 1 April 1930. You’ll find names, ages, relationships, marital status, birthplaces, jobs, citizenship, and military service. Most people use the population schedules for family history and genealogy research. You can search them for free on FamilySearch.org.

Merchant Seamen Schedules

The 1930 census counted, for the first time, merchant seamen working on United States ships. These schedules included crew members (except officers who lived ashore) and collected details such as name, age, marital status, birthplace, occupation, citizenship, veteran status, and next of kin. You can search it for free on FamilySearch.

Blind Schedules

This part of the census counted people who were blind. It gathered information about their age, sex, race, and place of residence. This schedule is not publicly available online.

Deaf-Mute Schedules

These schedules counted people who were both deaf and unable to speak. It also recorded their age, sex, race, and location. This schedule is not publicly available online.

The Census in 1930s America

To better understand everyday life, the Census Bureau changed some of its questions in 1930. It asked fewer questions about immigration and added new ones that show how families worked, lived, and supported each other. These updates make the 1930 census especially useful for family history research.

Economic Change and Daily Life

The 1930 census shows how families made a living as the Great Depression began. It recorded details about jobs, whether people were working, whether families owned or rented their homes, and even whether they owned a radio.

When you explore these records, you may notice:

• Families trying to stay financially stable.
• Relatives living together to save money.
• People changing jobs or moving to find work.

These details help you understand what your ancestors were dealing with in their everyday lives.

Households and Family Roles

New questions in the 1930 census also show changes in family life. For the first time, census workers recorded how old each married person was when they first married. The census also shows:

• Smaller households.
• More women living on their own and working outside the home.
• The first time women were officially listed as homemakers.

These details help show what family life looked like during this time and how roles within the home were changing.

Communities on the Move

The 1930 census also shows how people were moving during this time. It highlights:

• Rapid growth in many western states.
• The Great Migration, when many African American families moved from the South to northern cities such as Detroit and Chicago.

By comparing your family’s records in the 1920, 1930, and 1940 censuses, you can see where they lived, where they worked, and how their opportunities changed over time.

Veterans in the Census

The 1930 census also recorded whether a person had served in the military and which war they fought in. This information may help you find military service details that don’t appear in other records.

Questions in the 1930 Census

The 1930 census asked 32 questions about each person:

• The state, county, township, city or town, precinct, and enumeration district where your ancestors lived (An enumeration district is small area assigned to one census taker.)
• Street name and house number
• Head of household (This is the person listed first, usually responsible for the home.)
• The names of everyone living in the home on 1 April 1930
• How each person in the home was connected to the head of household (wife, son, daughter, lodger, and so on)
• Sex
• Race
• Age at last birthday (You can use this age to estimate the birth year.)
• Whether the person was single, married, widowed, or divorced
• Age at first marriage
• Each person's birthplace and the birthplaces of the person's parents (These places can reveal earlier family origins and migration patterns.)
• The primary language used at home
• Each person’s job or type of work
• The field or business in which each person worked (such as farming, mining, or retail)
• Whether the person was a veteran and of which conflict, including:
  
  • World War I
  • Spanish–American War
  • American Civil War
  • Philippine Insurrection
  • Boxer Rebellion
  • Mexican Expedition

Accessing the 1930 Census

You can search and view the 1930 census for free on FamilySearch.org with a free account. Both the index and the original images are available.

The 1930 census is also on Ancestry, Findmypast, MyHeritage, and Fold3. These sites may require a subscription, but many public libraries and FamilySearch centers offer free access to them.

Some parts of the 1930 census can also be found on the National Archives website.

Who Created the Records

The 1930 census was created by the United States Bureau of the Census, a part of the United States Department of Commerce.

Language

English

Location of Original Records

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)