Vashon form the Southeast

Main Intersection Vashon Town Looking Southeast

 

TO DOWNLOAD THE 1940 CENSUS SPREEDSHEET as a Microsoft Excel file click on the icon excel

Note: You must have Microsoft Excel 2007 or above installed on your computer to view this file. Earlier versions may not respond.

 

NOTES FOR 1940 VASHON-MAURY ISLAND FEDERAL CENSUS DATA

 

This file presents information from the 1940 U.S. Census for Vashon-Maury Island which has been transcribed from hand-written Census Enumerator notes.  Images of these original documents can be viewed at locations of the National Archives and Records Administration (www.archives.gov).

Original Census Enumeration Records may also be viewed through the commercial site Ancestry.com, which provides on-line access to searchable indexed images.  As of January, 2014, the King County Library System, through its Ancestry Library Edition, provides free access to Ancestry.com.  This on-line resource is only viewable at a King County Library building, such as the Vashon Library.

The transcription has tried to stay as true to the original as possible including symbols, numbers or notes.  Difficulty in reading some of the handwriting may have resulted in copying errors.  A “?” has been inserted where the transcriber of these Census Enumeration Records was unable to clearly read what was written and has provided the best interpretation possible.    

The information on this table is listed in the order provided in Census Enumeration Records, which may relate to the geographic order in which it was collected.  A blank cell indicates no information was provided on the Census Enumeration Record.  Where symbols or other marks were entered (e.g., “/” or “+”), the transcription has tried to reproduce this written information as accurately as possible. The meaning of these entries is unexplained in the Records.

Information in the 1940 Census relates to the 12 months from April 1, 1939-March 30, 1940.  The actual Census reference day was April 1, 1940.  A total of 3,118 individuals were enumerated.

The 1940 Vashon-Maury Island Census subdivided the area into nine geographic precincts: Burton, Cove, Dockton, Dolphin, Island, Lisabuela, Maury, Quartermaster, and Vashon.  The data on the table note Census precinct location for each entry.

Census information is collected by household.  For each household, there is a designated “head,” and other members are identified per their relationship to that “head” (for example, “wife,” or “son”).  There were 1,078 separate households listed in the 1940 Census. 

The 1940 Census marks the first use of “supplemental questions” which were questions asked only of a sample of individuals, approximately every 15th person.  Responses to these questions are provided in the file.  The 1940 Census also marks the first time questions related to income and highest education level are asked.

 

Notes Related to Information in the Table

  1. All column headings are as provided in Census Enumeration Records with the exception of the following:
    • Column “Coded Household Number” was created by the researchers as a way to note the individual members of each household group.  These household groups are numbered in consecutive order as they were listed on Census Enumeration Records.  For example, household # 1 is headed by Lester C. Hobson.  There are three other individuals in this household: Juanita E. Hobson, wife, Dean L. Hobson, son, and John T. Smith, brother-in-law.  Household # 2 is headed by Homer W. Wood and there are three other members in this household.
    • Column “Estimated Birth Year” was calculated based on the year the Census was taken and the information provided concerning age.
    • Census columns labeled “Code” (plus a description) are as listed in the Enumeration Records and were used by the Census Bureau for coding responses.
  2. Column “Line Number” refers to the number of the line on the Enumeration Record.
  3. Codes for the column “If Not Seek Work” (what was the respondent doing) include: H – housework, S – school, U – unable to work, O – other.
  4. The following abbreviations are used in the “Occupation” and “Industry” columns: C.C.C. – Civilian Conservation Corps, N.Y.A. – National Youth Administration, W.P.A. – Works Progress Administration.
  5. In the Burton Precinct, “Coded Household Number” 93 begins on page 8, with four individuals, and concludes on page 9 with two individuals.  There are a total of six people in Coded Household Number 93.
  6. The following pages within the named precinct have no information:
    • Burton – page 6.
    • Cove – pages 12 and 14.
    • Dolphin – page 4
    • Island – page 10
    • Lisabuela – pages 6 and 8.
    • Maury – page 8.
    • Quartermaster – pages 14 and 18.
    • Vashon – pages 20 and 22.
  7. Per Enumerator instructions, employment and income questions were only asked for persons age 14 or over.  The Census Enumerator for the Dockton Precinct included some information for persons who clearly did not meet these specifications; i.e., “child,” “infant,” “school.”  This information has been included in the file as it was recorded by the Census Enumerator.
  8. The designation “new worker” or “new work” in the “Occupation” or “Industry” columns may refer to a “person without previous work experience.”  This designation is listed in Enumeration Record instructions to be used in the column “Class of Worker,” although in the Vashon-Maury Island 1940 Census, this designation is only used in the “Occupation” or “Industry” columns.

March 29, 2014