Guide to Reading the 1910 Census Images

To learn how the 1910 Census Images were made available, please READ THIS! Many, many thanks to S-K Publications for making the images available, and to John Blair for spearheading this effort!

Any comments or questions about the index should be directed to Jenny Tenlen.

Precinct Index || Every-name Index || Census Guide

Handwriting

* There were at least 30 different census-takers involved in enumerating the 1910 census, each with their own handwriting. Some handwriting was much easier to interpret than others.

* Some letters could be easily confused with each other: H and K, C and E, G and S, F and T, U and V (especially when capitalized). Also, lower-case j, g, and z were often difficult to discern. If you don't see your person of interest listed under the "H"s, for example, then check also under "K".

* Some census-takers were "creative" spellers (see Napavine, for example). You may have to scroll through the every-name index to search for alternative spellings.

Information on the Census

* The 1910 census contains a wealth of information for the genealogist. Because of the low resolution of the census, it is difficult to make out the headings for each column. Here is a description of each column:

First column (not numbered): Address (street names are written in the margins on the left side)
Column 1: Dwelling #
Column 2: Family #
Column 3: Name
Column 4: Relationship to head of household
Column 5: Gender
Column 6: Race
Column 7: Age
Column 8: Marital Status (often with # of marriages; m1 = first marriage)
Column 9: Number of years of present marriage
Column 10: (Women only) Number of children born
Column 11: (Women only) Number of children alive in 1910
Column 12: Birthplace of person (and mother tongue, if foreign-born)
Column 13: Birthplace of person's father (and mother tongue, if foreign-born)
Column 14: Birthplace of person's mother (and mother tongue, if foreign-born)
Column 15: Year of immigration, if foreign-born
Column 16: Whether naturalized or alien, if foreign-born
Column 17: If able to speak English, or if not, language spoken
Column 18: Occupation
Column 19: Industry employed in
Column 20: Class of worker ("W" - employee; "OA" - self-employed)
Column 21: If an employee, whether out of work during the year
Column 22: Number of months not employed
Column 23: Able to read
Column 24: Able to write
Column 25: Currently attending school?
Column 26: Own home or rent
Column 27: If own a home, is it mortgaged or freely-owned?
Column 28: Farm or House?
Column 29: Survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy?
Column 30: Blind?
Column 31: Deaf and Dumb?

There are often numbers recorded in the last four columns; according to the U.S. Census Bureau, these numbers were recorded by the enumerator for statistical purposes - they are not specific to the individuals listed on the census. [Note: Research by has indicated that the numbers in these last columns "are of value because the numbers refer to the occupations and place of employment of the person..."]

Return to 1910 Census Page

Updated 6 Sep 2008. This information is freely available to genealogists for their personal use. This index may not be copied or published for profit without written permission of the Lewis Co., WA GenWeb project!