(Photo courtesy of Washington State Library)

We’re all familiar with the Census that the federal government undertakes every decade. (BTW, the U.S. population is now 322 million!)

But did you know that the U.S. Census folks also focus on American territories?

The U.S. Census Bureau even conducted censuses for Washington Territory three different times – in 1860, 1870 and 1880. (In 1850, Washington was not even a territory – we were part of Oregon Territory – and by 1890, Washington had become a state.)

The 1860, 1870 and 1880 census volumes for Washington Territory are kept safe and secure in your Washington State Library. The three censuses are bound together in two volumes. The first volume contains the 1860 and 1870 censuses, including a mortality census, agriculture production stats, products of industry, and “social statistics,” which included valuation of real estate and personal estate; annual taxes; colleges, academies and schools; libraries; newspapers and periodicals; religion (churches); pauperism; crime; and wages. The second volume covers the 1880 Census.

The three censuses for Washington Territory are found in the State Library’s Rare Publications Collection. They are the first of three Library Jewels for October. More to come later this week.