It’s April 1. This is the Federal Census Day. That’s a rare occurrence in America. It’s only happened 23 times thus far, the first being in 1790 (that was before I was born).
The census days have been as follows:
- 1790: August 2 (first Monday in August)
- 1800: August 4 (first Monday in August)
- 1810: August 6 (first Monday in August)
- 1820: August 7 (first Monday in August)
- 1830: June 1
- 1840: June 1
- 1850: June 1
- 1860: June 1
- 1870: June 1
- 1880: June 1
- 1890: June 1
- 1900: June 1
- 1910: April 15
- 1920: January 1
- 1930: April 1
- 1940: April 1
- 1950: April 1
- 1960: April 1
- 1970: April 1
- 1970: April 1
- 1990: April 1
- 2000: April 1
- 2010: April 1
Note that the National Archives release of the 1940 Census Records is scheduled for April 2, 2012 – 72 years following the census day of April 1, 1940. April 1 itself falls on a Sunday in 2012. Your grandkids can view that 2010 census form you just filled out on April 1, 2082.
Wow! I sure didn’t know that April 1st has only been the census day for 80 years. I am SO looking forward to the release of the 1940 Census. There is so much information on it that I can’t wait to take a look at!