1860 United States census

Uncommon card · No. 174471

The 1860 United States census was the eighth census conducted in the United States, starting June 1, 1860, and lasting five months. It determined the population of the United States to be 31,443,867 in 33 states and 10 organized territories. This was an increase of 35.6 percent over the 23,191,876 persons enumerated during the 1850 census. The total population included 3,953,760 slaves. By the time the 1860 census returns were ready for tabulation, the nation was sinking into the American Civil War. As a result, census superintendent Joseph C. G. Kennedy and his staff produced only an abbreviated set of public reports, without graphic or cartographic representations. The statistics did allow the census staff to produce a cartographic display, including preparing maps of Southern states, for Union field commanders. These maps displayed militarily vital topics, including the white population, slave population, predominant agricultural products (by county), and rail and post road transportation...

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