1790 1850 1890 1950An American Puzzle: Fitting Race in a Box Census categories for race and ethnicity have shaped how the nation sees itself.
Ever since the census began measuring the U.S. population, race has been central to the counting.
Closer look at one of the pages from the 1790 census, with the race categories circled in red.
Historically, some edits to census race boxes reflected changes in policy or public sentiment.
1790 census All other free persons Free white males Free white females Slaves All other free persons Free white females Free white males Slaves All other free persons Free white males Free white females Slaves Source: 1790 United States Federal Census: New YorkThe census counted each enslaved worker as three-fifths of a person, reflecting a compromise that granted enslavers more political representation.
Persons:
—, Biden, ”, Roberto Ramirez, Mark X, Barack Obama, Naomi Mezey, enslavers, “, Ms, Mezey, Jeffrey S, Evan Shepard
Organizations:
U.S, Community, U.S . Census, Georgetown University, United, . Census, Census Bureau, Pacific Islanders, Puerto Ricans, Geographic, Pew Research Center, Latinos, Saudi Arabian, Biden administration’s, Management, Budget, Advocacy Foundation
Locations:
United States, America, China, Puerto Rican, U.S, Spanish, Kansas, Kenya, York, American, “, Alaska, Massachusetts, Japan, Korea, Asia, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, Chile, Mexican, Southwest, Puerto, Northeast, Florida, Eastern, Algerian, Kurdish, Kuwaiti, Lebanese, Moroccan, North, Palestinian, Saudi, Somali, Sudanese, Syrian