Description
In 1840, the Iowa territory was included in the U.S. Census, but the county population totals were provided. In 1846, Iowa became a state, and beginning in 1850, population totals were provided for Iowa's cities and towns, as well as for the counties. The city and town populations were reported in four categories: male or female and white or "free colored."
Transcribed Excerpts from Combined 1850 and 1860 U.S. Censuses (preferred transcript)
Full Transcript of 1850 and 1860 Iowa Population in the U.S. Census
Source-Dependent Questions
- What generalizations can be made about the growth of Iowa's towns and cities from 1850 to 1860? (Identify 3 generalizations.)
- Identify the town/cities with the most significant growth between 1850 and 1860. Being sure to consider factors like the geography, infer as to what contributed to the growth.
- What are some of the possible explanations for a significant difference between the number of men and women in a particular location?
Citation Information
1850 Census: "Table II: Population by Subdivisions of Counties," The Seventh Census of the United States, 1853. Courtesy of U.S. Census
1860 Census: "Table No. 3 - Population of Cities, Towns, &c.," The Eighth Census of the United States, 1864. Courtesy of U.S. Census