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Census Materials in the Connecticut State Library Guide

Guide to the print resources that highlight commonly requested tables with Connecticut information from the U.S. Decennial Censuses. It is not an exhaustive list.

U.S. Census 1940 - Sixteenth Decennial

U.S. Census 1940 - Connecticut Information

1940 Census Data for Connecticut

Location of Connecticut Information included in the 1940 United States Decennial Census.

1940 Census data for Connecticut is available for these geographic areas:

  • State
  • County
  • City
  • Metropolitan Districts
  • Urban & Rural Areas 
  • Minor Civil Divisions
  • Wards of Cities
  • Voting Districts

(Note that not all information is available for all geographic levels)

  • Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940 Population Volume I, Number of Inhabitants.
    • CSL Fed Docs C 3.940-5:P 81/v.1
    • CT begins on pg. 177
    • Maps:
      • Towns, cities, boroughs p. 178
      • Tracts, pp.186-188
      • Metro.dist. pp.189-190 
  • Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940 Population Volume II, part 1, Characteristics of the Population.
    • CSL Fed Docs C 3.940-5:P 81/v.2/pt.1
    • CT begins on pg. 801
    • Maps
      • Counties, cities, p. 802
      • Metro.dist. pp.890-892
  • Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940 Population Volume III, Characteristics of the Population, part 2,
    • CSL Fed Docs C 3.940-5:P 81/v.3 pt.2
    • CT begins on pg. 437
  • Sixteen Census of the United States: 1940 Population Volume IV, Characteristics by Age, pt. 2
    • CSL Fed Docs C 3.940-5:P 81/v.4, pt.2
    • CT begins on pg. 301

Location of Connecticut Tract Information included in the 1940 United States Census

(note, tracts were not established until after 1930 so there are not comparative figures for earlier censuses):

  • Sixteenth Census of the United States 1940, Population and Housing, Statistics for Census Tracts Hartford, Conn.
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-38:C 76/2
    • Maps: Tracts pp iv-v
  • Sixteenth Census of the United States 1940, Population and Housing, Statistics for Census Tracts New Haven, Conn.
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-38:C 76
    • Maps: Tracts pp. iv
  • Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940 Population Volume I, Number of Inhabitants.
    • C 3.940-5:P 81/v.1
    • Population data for Hartford and New Haven tracts on pg. 185.
    • Maps: Tracts pp. 186-188

Location of Connecticut Block Information included in the 1940 United States Census

(note, blocks were not established until after 1930 so there are not comparative figures for earlier censuses):

  • 16th Census of the United States 1940, Housing...Bridgeport Block Statistics
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-31:C 76/3
    • Maps: Voting Dist. & Blocks insert
  • 16th Census of the United States 1940, Housing...Hartford Block Statistics
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-31:C 76/2
    • Maps: Tracts & Blocks, insert   
  • 16th Census of the United States 1940 Housing, Analytical Maps Hartford, Conn., Block Statistics
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-31:C 76/2/Analytical
    • Maps: Blocks
  • 16th Census of the United States 1940, Housing...New Britain Block Statistics
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-31:C 76/4
    • Maps: Wards & Blocks, insert
  • 16th Census of the United States 1940, Housing...New Haven Block Statistics
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-31:C 76/5
    • Maps: Tracts & Blocks, insert
  • 16th Census of the United States 1940, Housing...Waterbury Block Statistics
    • GIRS Ref C 3.940-31:C 76/
    • Maps: Wards & Blocks, insert

Census Questions & Instructions

Census Note on Language

From the U.S. Census Bureau site (posted on several pages for historic censuses):

"A Note on Language
Census statistics date back to 1790 and reflect the growth and change of the United States. Past census reports contain some terms that today’s readers may consider obsolete and inappropriate. As part of our goal to be open and transparent with the public, we are improving access to all Census Bureau original publications and statistics, which serve as a guide to the nation's history."