People and Places in the Past: Using Census Data as an Interpretative Teaching Tool

Abstract

Introduction The demographic information reflected in the United States census is frequently the only data historians have about the lives of ordinary people. As the census has become more sophisticated over two hundred years, historians have been presented with more extensive social and economic data. For example, the changing size and makeup of the labor force allows for speculation on the nature of family and community life over many decades. Since the census is conducted by geographical regions, the statistics gathered can be reported on national, regional, state, county, and neighborhood levels. While the nature of the informa tion has changed from decade to decade, it is possible for students to construct historical profiles illustrating trends in living condi tions, household composition, family income, and community development. A clear sense of the changing nature of American life is obvious when comparisons are made between data gathered in 1990 and that gathered in previous censuses. Many historical topics lend themselves to the use of census data. Industrialization, population growth, agricultural innova tion, the California gold rush, and migration out of the Dust Bowl are all historical events that can be studied using census statistics. The geographical data encourages teachers and students to com pare local developments with national trends. The lesson that follows illustrates one way to use national census data. It should be noted that similar lessons employing census data can be developed for thousands of communities nationwide.