The 1920 U.S. Census marked the 14th one taken since 1790. Every 10 years, folks were asked a variety of questions about their lives. Those questions transformed through the years; some census years recorded where a person’s parents were born, if the individual was a veteran, married or could read or write, and even the value of the home he or she lived in.
While perusing this particular census, I found fascinating the wide variety of professions of those living on Frederick’s West Third Street:
- Newspaper reporter
- Musician (violin)
- Dry goods salesman
- Nurse (hospital)
- Fish hatcheries superintendent
- Woodworker (planing mill)
- Stock clerk (knitting mill)
- Dairy manager
- Public school teacher (multiple)
- Railroad electrician
- Cook for private family
- Bank cashier
- College stenographer
- Electric railroad superintendent
- Poultry merchant
- Medical doctor
- Green groceries huckster
- Tea & spices agent
- Machinist (foundry)
What interesting information have you found in a census? Share in the comments!
Image and Data Source: “United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6QL-685 : accessed 15 June 2017), Frederick, Maryland, United States; citing ED 62, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 672; FHL microfilm 1,820,672.
Bygone Maryland 
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