From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar 2012:

34: Questions on the 1940 Census. An additional 16 were asked of 5 percent of the population.
10: Questions on 2010 Census

132.2 million: 1940 U.S. population
308 million: 2010 U.S. population

120,000: Census enumerators in 1940
Nearly 1 million: Census field operators in 2010

5.1 million: Number of farmers in 1940
613,000: Number of farmers and ranchers in 2010

$67.5 million: Cost of the 1940 Census
$12.4 billion: Cost of the 2010 Census

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

This is the form for the 1940 U S Census, its digital images to be available to us all on 2 April 1940 at 8AM (Texas Time!)

(click to enlarge)

A few new questions this time around:

• Columns 13 & 14- Education (more detail)
• Columns 17-20- Residence in 1935 (makes this kinda like a 1935 and a 1940 census, now doesn’t it!)
• Column 22- was your ancestor a member of FDR’s “Alphabet Soup” New Deal employment program?
• Columns 28, 29- occupation and industry (a little more detail here)
• Column 32- how much money did your ancestor make in 1939?

Now, move on down to the bottom of the census sheet, and there a few more questions, to be asked of the 14th and 29th person listed on each sheet. Your attention to Column 42: Did your ancestor have a SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?

Finally, along the very bottom of each sheet, “Symbols and Explanatory Notes”, giving more info on questions asked and abbreviations used.

Only 13 more days…

I’m thinking gray suit, Humphrey-Bogart hat, old wooden clipboard.

Maybe not…

The 3 Stooges, from 1940.

ENJOY!