Show census grows complex As nation gets older washington census taking was a simple job in the days of washington adams and madison the first census taken during administration in 1790 required only the names of heads of families free white males of 16 years and up tree free white males under 16 tree free white females all other persons slaves it until 1850 that persons more than 15 years bears old were first required to give their profession occupation or trade at the same time a question was included on the value af pf of real estate owned in was added a question on the value of of personal estates the question regarding the number of months a person has been employed during the year was first asked in 1880 in 1890 the census census bureau became concerned about people suffering from acute or chronic disease |