1775 - Population in Puerto Rico

Source: Archivo General de Indias, Audiencia de Santo Domingo,
legajo 2396
1776 - Censo
| |
Blancos |
Pardos
Libres |
Negros
Libres |
Agregados |
Vecinos
Sus mujeres
Hijos
Hijas |
5,376
4,663
9,929
9,295 |
5,196
6,149
11,349
11,114 |
693
530
858
722 |
Hombres 3,384
Mujeres 3,153 |
| Esclavos |
Hombres
Mujeres |
3,384
3,153 |
|
|
|
|
Total General - De Almas 70,260
Esclavos 6,487 |
|
| Source: Breve Historia de PR, Vol
1, Loida Figueroa, page 133 |
1800 - Total population in Puerto Rico according to
this census was 155,426 individuals. In 1812, the slave population
in the Island was 17,536 more or less the same as in 1794. Altogether, a little bit more than twenty censuses between 1801
and 1898 are known off.
1823 - The population in Puerto
Rico was 225,000 individuals. Out of this
total, 25,000 were slaves.

1841 - Censo de Población de Puerto Rico - This is a
statistics figures only census. You can find a copy of this
census at the Archivo Histórico Nacional in Spain. Reference: ES.28079.AHN/72.6//
ULTRAMAR,1071,EXP.36
1846 - The San Juan 1846 census can be found in the "Fondo Municipal of
San Juan" in the Archivo General de PR (AGPR). Although it is
an incomplete census, it contains valuable information as the sex,
age, occupation and more of the head of the family, his/her
family and other individuals living in the household as servants or
slaves.
1869 - Census by wards of San Germán known as "Cédulas de Vecindad
y Origen" can be found in the Archivo Histórico in San Germán, box
No. 47. Information captured on this census include: individuals two
surnames, if whites or colored, if slave or free, age, marital
status, and more.
1897 - It is our understanding that the only censuses available for the
year are:
- The returns for Ponce that are housed at the Ponce Historic
Archives and were also microfilmed by the LDS Church.
- Complete census for Hatillo and Arecibo and a partial census
for Río Piedras are at the Archivo General de PR.
- The returns for San Germán are in that town's municipal
archives.
- We have been told that the returns for San Juan were destroyed
by a fire at the San Juan archives in the early 20th century.
1899 - The United States government took a population census of Puerto Rico
this year. However, only the statistical report and list of supervisors and
enumerators survived. The actual returns were destroyed in a
fire. We have transcribed the supervisors and enumerators list.
1910 - The first United States surviving population census is the 1910
census this being the thirteenth census of the United States.
It is generally in good condition but is not indexed. You must read
page by page and if not careful, can go blind in the
process.
For a fee, you can peruse this census and all others from here on
at any Family History Center (mormons), Ancestry.com or any other
repository. Ancestry.com have
created an index (although plague with errors) that can be of some
help. You can also buy a CD with the census data from some
commercial companies or you can become a member of this site and
peruse our on going project to partially transcribe this
census and when available, add the enumerated person photo.
1920 - United States Federal Population Census - It is well
indexed and readable. Available on soundex as well as copies of the
original records.
Tidbits:
- The Panama Canal Zone was included.
- Individuals were not required to show proof of age, date of
arrival, citizenship, or other such information.
- Census takers were not required to have the individual spell
out the surname.
- Children born between January 1 and the day the enumerator
arrived were not to be listed. However, those who died
before the census taker could get there were to be listed.
- Race was a designation based on the personal impression of the
enumerator.
1930 - United States Federal Population Census - Was made
available to the public on 1 April 2002. It is well indexed and
readable.
1935 - A special census was conducted by the Puerto Rico
Reconstruction Administration. Because it was a special census, it
did not fall under the 72-year restriction on access for privacy
reasons. It can be view at the NARA offices, some public libraries,
etc.
Copy of this census is available at the University of Puerto
Rico, Río Piedras Campus, in the Centro de Investigaciones Historicas (Historic Research Center) at the Pedreira building. Last time I checked (2004), you need to make an appointment to use the facilities. Open from
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday
Contact Information:
Facultad de Humanidades University of Puerto Rico,
Río Piedras Campus P.O. Box 23342 San Juan Puerto Rico
00931-3342 Fax (787) 763-5899 Tel (787) 760-0000 E-mail
humanity@rrpac.upr.clu.edu
1940 - According to the National Archives and Records Administration
the 1940 and later censuses are not available to the public use due
to a statutory 72-year restriction on access for privacy reasons.
(92 Stat. 915; Public Law 95-416; October 5, 1978).
It will be available to the general public in the year 2013. I
will be 68 years old then and God willing, I will still be around looking
for my ancestors.

2010
- I just completed the 2010 US census form that will be
available in 2082. By then I will be LONG gone so whoever
reads it, I completed every required field very clearly however, as
you can see on the example form to your left, there is very little
genealogical information.
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