1960 Census

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NOTES FOR 1960 VASHON-MAURY ISLAND FEDERAL CENSUS DATA

 

This file presents summary information from the 1960 U.S. Census for Vashon-Maury Island.  What is offered is for all of Vashon-Maury Island, identified as the Vashon Island Division.  More 1960 Census data may be available than is provided on the table included in this website.

In 1960, the Census reference day was April 1, 1960.  For this survey, the Census Bureau mailed out Census questionnaires for the first time, allowing all respondents to self-report information.  Census Enumerators were employed to collect completed forms and to ask detailed questions of a sample of approximately 25% of the U.S. population.  In more rural areas where the postal service might miss a large proportion of the population, Census Enumerators both distributed and collected Census questionnaires. It is unknown if this latter distribution method was used on Vashon-Maury Island.

At some point after the 1940 Census, the Bureau instituted a system which sub-divided geographic areas into Census Tracts.  These were generally defined as having a minimum population of 3000.  In 1960, Vashon-Maury Island did not meet this standard so it is unclear if the area was subdivided into more than one Census Tract.  Additionally, at some point, the Census Bureau initiated a system of smaller geographic sub-divisions titled Census Blocks.  The standard for these was at least 100 people, and the geographical areas were defined by street names.  It is unknown whether Vashon-Maury Island was sub-divided into Census Blocks, and if so, whether the Census Bureau provided information for these geographic areas.  As of February, 2014, further research is underway to answer these questions.  If additional detailed data for Vashon-Maury Island from the 1960 Census can be located, it will be provided on this Census Project website.

Published 1960 Census reports from the Census Bureau are available through the following website:  http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html.  These publications do not provide any information specific to Vashon-Maury Island.  Details on how the 1960 Census was conducted and changes from previous Censuses can be found at: https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/overview/.  Similar information for every U.S. Census is provided at this location.

Specific data runs for Vashon-Maury Island 1960 Census information may be requested from the National Historical Geographic Information System, administered by the University of Minnesota Population Center (funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health).  They may be reached at: https://www.nhgis.org/.

Some 1960 Census data may also be available through The National Archives, Seattle Office of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.  They are located at 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 206.336.5112., email: seattle.archives@nara.gov.

March 29, 2014