We all grieve the 1890 Census, but have you given any thought to what happened with the 2020 Census?

Let’s talk about it.

2020 was… whew! It was quite a year, wasn’t it? So much worry, uncertainty, and general confusion. The world had flipped upside down and all that we thought we knew was being questioned from inside our respective homes.

And that’s without getting into the politics of it all.

And then there was the Census…

Which was truly, a shit show.

With so many competing factors at play, who knows what was actually collected *and documented?

So, what’s a Family Historian to do?

As simple as it sounds, all we need to do is document what the 2020 Census documented, to the best of our knowledge and ability following the US Governments lead.

The 2020 Census Questions

The 2020 Census form included questions that were asked about every person in a household:

• Physical Address of home lived in

• Name of Person 1 (the person answering for the household)

• Relationship to Person 1

• Sex

• Age

• Date of birth

• Hispanic origin

• Race

Additionally, there are a few questions us Family Historians recognize immediately as missing, such as

• Where each person in the household was born

• Where each persons parents were born

• Trade or Profession

• Level of Education

Who Might You Make 2020 Census Notes For?

Just like when we sit down to make notes for our Family Tree, start with yourself and your household members first.

Then, as you have the time and capacity, consider making notes for:

• Any immediate family that doesn’t live with you, including grown children, siblings, and/or your parents

• Any extended family you might have some, if not all, of the above information for

• The briefest of notes about your direct neighbors, even if it’s only their first and last names and their addresses. We don’t want to be creepy here, but if searching census records has taught us anything, it’s that neighbor information can be super helpful.

Now, truly, right now 2092 feels like a dream in the very distant future, but can you still taste the excitement of the 1950 Census when it was finally released? How fast did you run to your computer on release day? Did you have to wait for the state(s) you were researching in to be finalized? Was information missing or did you find everything you were hoping to?

My favorite 1950 Census finds?

My paternal Grandma was the enumerator in their area! Not only did I get to see her handwriting but I could also feel a tiny spark of her personality in her attention to detail and the consistency of her cursive.

Since this Grandma and I never knew of each other in her lifetime, this experience was extra exciting.

Plus, her husband, my paternal Grandpa, was a drummer in a “Dance Band” which was a fun tidbit to learn since all I’d heard from cousins and my aunt was about his military service, years spent as a Professor, and grand storytelling talent.

Additionally, on the other side, I learned that my maternal Grandpa was working as a Hotel Clerk as his young family was growing.

It’s not that the job is surprising, simply that my Grandma never spoke of their “normal jobs”, only of their more exciting record producing, writing, and art.

So yes, 2092 is a lifetime away (that’s the point).

I will be long, long gone.

My oldest daughter will be 97, my youngest 79.

I cannot even imagine what documents might be available digitally or physically as the world approaches 2100 so it feels wild to imagine what information might be needed…

But those years will pass swiftly and are just around the bend.

Onward,

Melis