The number of people in the state may have continue to increase, but it simply wasn't keeping up with the rest of the nation. Virginia census records suggest that a growth of just 112,664 over the previous year, and that meant a decrease from ten seats down to just nine in the House of Representatives.
Still considered a rural state at the time, the survey this year showed a huge percentage of the population living in a rural setting. 70.8% of people, or 1,635,203 people total, living in rural farm and non-farm areas, while just 673,984 lived in the state's urban areas.
Ranking twentieth in population and thirty-fifty in land area, the state proved to be a very diverse one when this survey was taken. Farming was still very much a part of life, and the average cost of an acre of farm land was just $20.24. That average plummeted to less than $10 in thirteen different counties.
There were 1,854,184 people in the state, but the bulk of those owned farms. A total of $323,515,977 in farms was reported throughout the state. The number of farms during this survey was 167,886.
Orchard products were a valuable commodity in this state. More than four million apple-bearing trees were reported, and that made for a very solid harvest of 8,391,452 bushels. The total value of market products like these was $655,567.
Even with the population spreading westward, there were still a number of individuals who remained loyal to this state, and while their population wasn't growing as fast as many other states, it was still growing fast enough to be awarded another seat in the house. Up from just nine the year before, the individuals in the state were finally represented with ten total seats thanks to a population of 1,512,565.
The cash value of farms was on the increase. $213,020,845 was reported as the total value during this survey, and of that, just $4,924,036 was the value of the machinery involved.
Livestock is often an important part of any farming operation, and this state was little different. A total of 287,570 horses were in the state, and 330,713 dairy cows were reported too.
There were 867,691 total individuals in the state, and unlike in many other areas, the bulk of them were born there. 813,891 whites and 53,8300 free African-Americans all reported the state as their birth place while just 57,562 whites and 484 free African-Americans reported being born outside of the state.
Long one of the nation's most powerful states because of its historical presence in the country, Virginia census records indicate that it was a powerful presence in the House of Representatives because of its population numbers too. With 1,025,227 people, the state got a total of fifteen seats, making it one of the biggest presences in the chamber.
The Fenwick Library at George Mason University has created a guide to assist researchers with accessing U.S. and Virginia census information. The guide includes sample information, census reports, tutorials, mapping resources, and state-specific links. At the bottom of the page is a list of resources available at the Fenwick Library.
If you are looking for Virginia census information, then the Library of Virginia can be a helpful resource. The library provides a page listing the U.S. Census records that are currently available for use at the library. Microfilmed resources can be borrowed for a fee. The website also contains a list of suggested resources to help you with your search.
The University of Virginia Library offers a Historical Census Browser that allows users to peruse Virginia census information topics for the county or state in any given year. Choose a year between 1790 and 1960, and then narrow your research down with information, such as the state the person lived in or their race. Some results have the option to be displayed as a map.
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