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The 1880 census was begun on 1 June 1880. The enumeration was to be completed within thirty days, or two weeks for communities with populations of 10,000 or more.

Questions Asked in the 1880 Census
For each person in every household, the census asked:

• Name
• Whether white, black, mulatto, Indian, or Chinese
• Sex
• Age
• Month of birth if born within the year
• Relationship to the head of the household
• Whether single, married, widowed, or divorced
• Whether married within the year
• Occupation and months unemployed
• Name of state, territory, or country of birth
• Parents’ birthplaces
• School attendance within the year
• Whether unable to read if age ten or older
• Whether sick or temporarily disabled on the day of enumeration and the reason therefore
• Those who were blind, deaf-mute, “idiotic,” insane, or permanently disabled were also indicated as such

Research Tips for the 1880 Census
The 1880 census makes it possible to identify the state or country of birth for parents—especially important for tracing movements of immigrant ancestors. The census may be used to supplement birth or marriage records for the census year or even to partially replace them where vital records are not recorded elsewhere. The census may also be useful in discovering previously unknown surnames of married daughters, mothers-in-law, cousins, and other relatives living with the family. This is the first census to state relationship to the head of household, but the wife may not be the mother of the children. The 1880 census may also provide clues to genetic symptoms and diseases in earlier generations of a family.

Other Significant Facts about the 1880 Census
In addition to identifying the state, county, and other subdivisions, the 1880 census was the first to provide the name of the street and house number for urban households. The 1880 census was also the first to identify relationship to the head of household; illness or disability at the time the census was taken; marital status; number of months unemployed during the year; and the state or country of birth of every individual’s father and mother. Individuals who were born or died after 1 June 1880 were not to be included in the 1880 census, even though the enumerator may not have questioned them until well after that date. Indians not taxed are not in regular population schedules. Some may appear in special Indian schedules.

The information above is an excerpt from The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, edited by Loretto D. Szucs and Sandra H. Luebking, Chapter 5, “Research in Census Records,” by Loretto D. Szucs (page 115).