History

Image Gallery

This image gallery brings the U.S. census, from 1790 to 2010, alive using photographic images. Included are historic photos and images of census memorabilia. In the coming months, additional photos documenting the U.S. Census Bureau's censuses and surveys will be added.

The Census Bureau's collection of historic photographs includes images of enumerators, advertising, household scenes, buildings, and technology. In these image galleries, you will find that the Census Bureau frequently documented its operations for counting the population, its work at headquarters, and the invention of tabulating technology. Included are images of pottery celebrating the first census in 1790, questionnaires, artwork, maps, enumerators at work. Check back often for new additions!

Two photographers taking each others' picture
with hand-held cameras while perched on roof.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress