US Census, 1950

[Erato]

"I'll be searching for one person only"

I've got dozens, scores, possibly hundreds.  But I'll start with myself because I know how to find myself and I'm curious to look at the neighbors.  I remember many of them - the Roccos, the Taylors, the Aldersons, etc. - but as a child I knew little about them.  Now I can find out where they came from and what they did for a living.

[Erato]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/03/30/census-data-1950-secret-unveiled/

"The back of the form asked the occupants questions about housing — running water, toilets, bathtubs, radios, televisions, electric lights and refrigerators.  The tantalizing answers to those questions were mined only for statistics. The backs of the forms were not microfilmed and “were not retained,” according to the Archives."

Damn it!  Those are the kinds of things you want to know.

[Ashtone]

BINGO! I found my chap within seconds. Not yet overseas as I suspected, but I managed to work out his SAC military unit from his location in 1950. The unit matches everything I know about where he was later stationed and what his role was. Sadly he's no longer around, but the 1950 census has filled in the much-needed gaps! 

The 1950 Census free access link went live at 12:01am today.

[Erato]

I found myself within minutes.  My mother was one of the people for supplemental questions but unfortunately, since she was an unemployed housewife, that yielded no interesting information.  It's fun looking at those old neighbors whose names I recall.

[Ashtone]

It's fun looking at those old neighbors whose names I recall.

I don't recall anyone from my childhood or teenage years. Not even classmates. My family moved around on a yearly basis, so there was no point in remembering anyone. I'd always bunk off school when it was class photos day. My early life was the social equivalent of "hot desking". After a while, faces and names all blurred together.

[Erato]

While I was searching for myself, flipping through the pages of ED 9-340, I spotted a name that hadn't entered my mind in well over 50 years.  Oh my gosh, Dorothy D*****!!  She and I played the part of sunbeams in a second grade production.  My mother made me a special yellow dress out of some horrible prickly material.  Dorothy's mother didn't bother and Dorothy wore a pea green outfit.

[LizzieL]

Is there any way to search by age / date of birth? I am looking for a distant cousin. I know his full name - both forenames but unfortunately his surname is Smith. I know his date of birth and the place he lived - large city. I know his parents' names and their dobs. He was the eldest child, but had a younger brother born 5th April 1950, a few days after the census was taken. Therefore it is possible his mother was in hospital awaiting the birth and he was staying with relatives rather than be at home with his father, who would presumably needed to be out at work during the day.

[Erato]

At the bottom of the search page there is link to ask questions.  But, until they get the thing fully and correctly indexed, I'd say looking for a Smith in a large city is next to impossible unless you have an actual street address.

[LizzieL]

Thanks, I feared so. I'll have to check with him whether he's found himself yet. Although he would only have been 15 months old, so wouldn't remember where he actually was on the day