The 1950 Census

Top of the 1950 census form
Click here for a larger version of the Census survey

As it had been 10 years earlier, April 1 was Census Day for the decennial count of Americans. The country’s population increased by 14.5% since 1940. Ohio slipped to the 5th largest state in the Union, as war-time growth in California vaulted it to the #2 spot. Ohio itself had 7.9 million people, up 15% from 1940.

Our grandparents – Mae Fry and George Benton Fry – were no longer alive but all of their children had families by this time. You can see where relatives were in 1940 at this link to the 1940 Census.

In 1950, all 48 states were counted, plus the territories of Alaska and Hawaii, American Samoa, the Canal Zone, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and some of the smaller island territories.

Americans abroad were enumerated for the first time in 1950. Provisions were made to count members of the armed forces, crews of vessels, and employees of the United States government living in foreign countries, along with any members of their families also abroad.

The Census Bureau began use of the first non-military computer shortly after completing the 1950 enumeration. UNIVAC I (for Universal Automatic Computer) was delivered in 1951. It weighed 16,000 pounds and used 5,000 vacuum tubes.

The 1950 Census was released on April 1, 2022 under the “72-year Rule”. It can be searched here:
1950 Census

The good news is that it's fast, being loaded on a cloud server.

However, an attempt was made to use machine-readable text -- AND IT'S TERRIBLE. As an example, there are Fry family members all over Ashland County, OH and it can't find any of them. When you do find a family member, it's highly recommended that you use the transcription feature to correct and add names to the name index. The Census website says that transcription corrections will appear in about 24 hours, but I've done them for numerous family members and the changes haven't appeared yet after three days.

While private services like Ancestry.com will eventually index all of the people, initially you’ll have to find the right Enumeration District (ED) in each state. There were 180,000 of these districts but you can find the right ED ahead of time at this website: stevemorse.org The ED search is made easier if you’re aware of what cross streets are at either end of your address.

Data Collected

Household members, starting with the head of household were listed, along with race, sex, age at last birthday, marital status and birthplace. For anyone over age 14, there’s a summary of how time was spent in the previous week. Occupation and industry were included too.

Bottom of the 1950 census form
Click here for a larger version of the Census survey

As samples, for six of the 30 lines on each Census page, additional information was collected on education, income, previous place of residence, military service and (for women) the number of children borne. This was entered at the bottom of the enumeration page.

Family Data

These are the relatives that I've found so far. You'll find two links for each family member -- one a picture of the Census page and the second a link to the Census database. For the latter, it may go to the Enumeration District and you'll have to find the corrrect page.

Family members are listed alphabetically:

* Baker, Della (Fry)(George Benton Fry’s sister), 436 Cottage Street, Ashland, OH. Della’s living with son, Raymond.
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Census link
* Budd, Raymond and Lois (Irene Markel), Clear Creek Twp. near Savannah (page 56)
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Census link
* Czernek, Edward and Evelyn, 1652 Carlyon Road, East Cleveland, OH (page 3):
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Census link
Fry, Don and Mildred, Troy Township in Ashland County, OH (p. 2). They are living with her parents, Rudy and Eliza Koppler:
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Census link
* Fry, Mont and Leona, Alpha Road, Greenwich, OH. Also living with them are Earl and Tillie Fry (nephew and niece).
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* Fry, Virgil and Goldie, Route 511, Nankin, OH:
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* Fry, Willard Allen (son of James Earl Fry), 519 Samaritan Ave., Ashland, OH
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* Haun, Charles and Myrtle, 546 West Second Street, Elyria, OH. Includes Thelma Renninger and two children.
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* Jacobs, Lester and Amy, 207 East Forrest Hill, Peoria, IL (page 30 of ED 109-193)
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* Jahns, Max and Josephine, 5412 School Street, Chicago, IL (pages 19 and 20)
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* Korta, Juanita, 315 Olive, Peoria, IL (South Side Mission)
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* Korta, Louis H. and Francis, 215 East Forrest Hill, Peoria, IL (page 29 of ED 109-193). Also at that address are Richard A. Lovell and Vivian A. Smith (sister of Francis)
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* Markel, Oscar and Bernice (Fry), 411 W. Herrick, Wellington, OH (page 26)
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* Samples, Herbert and Linda, State Route 77, Belington, WV
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* Thomas, Isom and Mary, 315 Route 5, Tampa, FL
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Census link

Revision: 6/27/2023

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