History

Index of Questions

1940 (Housing)

The 1940 census was the first to include a separate questionnaire on the condition of the nation's housing stock. Unlike on the general population questionnaire, enumerators were required to check one of a series of options for each question, rather than write in a response. Organized by column number (and response options), enumerators collected the following information:

Census of Occupied Dwellings

Location and Household Data

1. Number of structure in order of visitation by enumerator
   Dwelling Unit number within structure
2. Line number on the corresponding population questionnaire
   Block Number
   Name of head of family
   Street number and address
   Apartment number or location
3. Color or race of head
   • 1.) White
   • 2.) Black
   • 3.) All other races
4. Number of persons in household
5. Does this family live on a farm?
   • 1.) Yes
   • 0.) No
6. What is this family's home tenure?
   • 0.) Owned
   • 1.) Rented
7. Value of home of monthly rental (in dollars)
   Estimated rent of owned non-farm home (in dollars)

II. Characteristics of Structure

8. Type of structure in which this dwelling unit is located
   • Structure without business
     • V.) 1-family detached
     • 0.) 1-family attached
     • 1.) 2-family side-by-side
     • 2.) 2-family other
   • 3-or-more-family structure without business (list number of units)
   • Structure with business
   • Other dwelling place
9. Originally built as:
   • 1.) Residential structure with the same current number of dwelling units
   • 2.) Residential structure with a different from the current number of dwelling units
   • 3.) Non-residential structure
10. Exterior material
    • 1.) Wood
    • 2.) Brick
    • 3.) Stucco
    • 4.) Other
11. Is the structure in need of major repair?
    • 1.) Yes
    • 0.) No
12. Year originally built
13. Number of rooms
14. Water Supply
    • 1.) Running water in dwelling unit
    • 2.) Hand pump in dwelling unit
    • 3.) Running water within 50 feet of dwelling unit
    • 4.) Other supply within 50 feet of dwelling unit
    • 5.) No water supply within 50 feet of dwelling unit
15. Toilet facilities
    • 1.) Flush toilet in structure, in exclusive use
    • 2.) Flush toilet in structure, shared
    • 3.) Non-flush toilet in structure
    • 4.) Outside toilet or privy
    • 5.) No toilet or privy
16. Bathtub or shower with running water in structure
    • 1.) Exclusive use
    • 2.) Shared
    • 3.) None
17. Principle lighting equipment
    • 1.) Electric
    • 2.) Gas
    • 3.) Kerosene/Gasoline
    • 4.) Other
18. Principle refrigeration equipment
    • 1.) Mechanical
    • 2.) Ice
    • 3.) Other
    • 4.) None
19. Radio in dwelling unit?
    • 1.) Yes
    • 0.) No
20. Heating equipment
    • 1.) Steam or hot water system
    • 2.) Piped warm air system
    • 3.) Pipeless warm air furnace
    • 4.) Heating stove
    • 5.) Other or none
21. Principal fuel used for heating
    • 1.) Coal or coke
    • 2.) Wood
    • 3.) Gas
    • 4.) Electric
    • 5.) Fuel Oil
    • 6.) Kerosene/Gasoline
    • 7.) Other
    • 8.) None
22. Principal fuel used for cooking
    • 1.) Coal or coke
    • 2.) Wood
    • 3.) Gas
    • 4.) Electric
    • 6.) Kerosene/Gasoline
    • 7.) Other
    • 8.) None
23. Is furniture included in the cost of rent?
    • 1.) Yes
    • 0.) No
    • Estimated cost of rent without furniture (in dollars)
24. Average monthly cost of...
    • Electricity
    • Gas
    • Other fuel
    • Water
25. Value of property (in dollars)
    Number of dwelling units on property
26. Is there a mortgage on the property?
    • 1.) Yes
    • 0.) No
    • Present debt
      • On 1st mortgage (in dollars)
      • On 2nd mortgage (in dollars)
27. Are Regular payments required...
    • 1.) Monthly?
    • 2.) Quarterly?
    • 3.) Semi-annually?
    • 4.) Annually?
    • 5.) On another regular payment plan?
    • 6.) On no regular payment plan
    • Amount of each payment (in dollars)
28. Do payments include an amount for the reduction of principal?
    • 1.) Yes
    • 0.) No
29. Do payments include real estate taxes?
    • 1.) Yes
    • 0.) No
30. Interest rate now being charged (in percentages)
31. Holder of the first mortgage (or land contract)
    • 1.) Building and loan
    • 2.) Commercial bank
    • 3.) Savings bank
    • 4.) Life insurance company
    • 5.) Mortgage company
    • 6.) Home Owner's Loan Corporation
    • 7.) Individual
    • 8.) Other