1900 United States census

The 1900 United States Census

The 1900 United States census was a big count of everyone living in the United States. It happened on June 1, 1900, and found that 76 million people lived there. This was more than the count from 1890. This census was the last one before the United States made a permanent group to handle these counts.

Growing Cities

During this time, New York City grew very fast. This was because it joined with a place called Brooklyn, making the city much bigger. After this, New York City became the first city in the United States to have more than three million people. Before, Brooklyn was its own city and was the fourth largest in the country.

Important Information

The census asked for important details about people. It wanted to know each person’s address, name, age, family relationships, and place of birth. It also asked about jobs, school attendance, and whether people could speak English. This information helped leaders understand how the country was growing.

Looking Back

The papers from the 1900 census were filmed and then destroyed. You can see these films at the National Archives and Records Administration or online through several groups. Detailed numbers from the census are free to use thanks to IPUMS. You can also find grouped numbers and maps from the National Historical Geographic Information System.

Top States

The census counted people in each state. New York had the most people, with over 7 million. Pennsylvania was next with about 6 million. Illinois came third with nearly 5 million. Other big states included Ohio, Missouri, and Texas.

Big Cities in 1900

In 1900, many big cities grew across the United States. New York was the largest city. Other major cities included Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Boston. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco were also among the largest.

Here are the top cities from the 1900 census: