[The following description of 1970 enumeration procedure is from Bureau of the Census publication 1970 Census of Population and Housing, Data Collection Forms and Procedures, page 3.]

"In the major urban areas and some adjacent counties [which included about 60 percent of the housing units], a mail-out/mail-back method was used for the first time in a population and housing census. Preaddressed census questionnaires were delivered to most housing units on March 28, 1970, and householders were asked to fill in their questionnaires and mail them to the local census office on Census Day (April 1, 1970). Census personnel then telephoned or visited those who did not respond, or who returned a questionnaire with incomplete or obviously inconsistent answers, and attempted to obtain complete information or resolve inconsistencies. Vacant housing units were also visited by enumerators, who attempted to obtain answers to housing questions either by interviewing neighbors, landlords, or other knowledgeable persons, or by personal inspection. In the remainder of the country, questionnaires were delivered to each housing unit, but respondents were told to complete their questionnaires and retain them to be collected by enumerators during a house-to-house canvass.

"The 1970 census questionnaires were designed to allow respondents to record their own answers by filling small FOSDIC circles for most items.

"Relatively few questions were asked of all persons and housing units. ... Longer questionnaires were employed to obtain answers to questions asked of only a sample of the population and the housing units. ... Some questions were asked of a 15-percent sample, and other inquiries were directed to a 5-percent sample. Certain questions were included in both the 15-percent and 5-percent samples, thereby constituting a 20-percent sample."

The 1970 census sample is composed entirely of households contained in the 15-percent samples. In our list of questionnaire items (below), we indicate in brackets the sample universe for each item as follows:

In addition to the FOSDIC questionnaires, which consisted of brief questions followed by a series of possible answers and FOSDIC circles, households received a separate sheet containing more detailed instructions for each question. In order to minimize cross-referencing, we have combined these below. For each item, we reproduce the question as asked on the FOSDIC questionnaire, followed by any additional instructions contained on the separate instruction sheet. The additional instructions appear in quotation marks.

[All]
1970 Population questions

1. What is the name of each person

[All]
2. How is each person related to the head of this household?

[All]
3. Sex

[All]
4. Color or race

[On the questionnaires used in Alaska, the categories "Aleut" and "Eskimo" were substituted for "Hawaiian" and "Korean" in question 4.]

[All]
Date of birth

5. Month and year of birth and age last birthday

6. Month of birth




7. Year of birth

[All]
8. What is each person's marital status?

[Questions 9 to 12 are instructional and therefore are not included here.]

[All]
13a. Where was this person born?

[5%]
b. Is this person's origin or descent - (Fill one circle)

[15%]
14. What country was his father born in?

[15%]
15. What country was his mother born in?

[5%]
16. For persons born in a foreign country -

a. Is this person naturalized?

b. When did he come to the United States to stay?

[15 %]
17. What language, other than English, was spoken in this person's home when he was a child? Fill one circle.

[15%]
18. When did this person move into this house (or apartment)?

[15%]
19a. Did he live in this house on April 1, 1965? If in college or Armed Forces in April 1965, report place of residence there.

"Mark Yes if he lived in this same house or apartment on April 1, 1965, even if he moved away and came back between then and now. Mark No if he lived in the same building but in a different apartment on April 1, 1965."

b. [If No] Where did he live on April 1, 1965?










"If he lived somewhere else on April 1, 1965, give the address of his usual residence at that time.

[15%]
20. Since February 1, 1970, has this person attended regular school or college at any time?

[All]
21. What is the highest grade (or year) of regular school he has ever attended?

[All]
22. Did he finish the highest grade (or year) he attended?

"Mark Finished this grade (or year) only if he finished the entire grade or year shown in question 21."

[All]
23. When was this person born?

[5%]
24. If this person has ever been married -

[All]
25. If this is a girl or a woman - How many babies has she ever had, not counting stillbirths? Do not count her stepchildren or children she has adopted.

"Count all the children the girl or woman has ever had, even if some of them have died or no longer live with her."

[15%]
26. If this is a man -

[5%]
27. a. Has this person ever completed a vocational training program?

Fill one circle.

[5%]
28a. Does this person have a health or physical condition which limits the kind or amount of work he can do at a job?

b. Does his health or physical condition keep him from holding any job at all? c. If "Yes" in a or b - How long has he been limited in his ability to work?

Questions 29 through 41 are for all persons born before April 1956 including housewives, students, or disabled persons as well as part-time or full-time workers.

[All]

29a. Did this person work at any time last week?

"Mark Yes if he worked on any day Sunday through Saturday of last week.

Count as work

Do not count as work

[All]
b. How many hours did he work last week (at all jobs)?
Subtract any time off and add overtime or extra hours worked.

"Give the actual number of hours he worked at all jobs last week, even if that was more or fewer hours than he usually works."

[15%]
c. Where did he work last week?

If he worked in more than one place, print where he worked most last week.
If he travels about in his work or if the place does not have a numbered address, see instruction sheet.

"For a person who travels about in his work or who works in more than one place -- If he usually checks in or out at the same place every day, give the address of that place. If he does not check in or out at the same place, give the address of the place where he worked the most hours last week.

"Give the exact address of the location or branch where he works if his employer operates in more than one location (such as a grocery store chain or public school system). When you cannot give the number or street name, print the name of the building, if any, or the name of the company for which he works."

[15%]
d. How did he get to work last week? Fill one circle for chief means used on the last day he worked at the address given in 29c.

After completing question 29d, skip to question 33.

"Mark Worked at home for a person who worked on a farm where he lives or in an office or shop in his home."

[All]
30. Does this person have a job or business from which he was temporarily absent or on layoff last week?

"Mark No if he works only during certain seasons or is "on call" to work when needed."


[All]
31a. Has he been looking for work during the past 4 weeks?

"Mark Yes if he tried to get a job or to start a business or profession at any time in the past four weeks; for example, if he registered at an employment office, went for a job interview, or did anything toward starting a business. Mark Yes if he was waiting to hear from places he had applied to or registered with within the past four weeks."

b. Was there any reason why he could not take a job last week?

"Mark Yes, already has a job if he was on layoff or was expecting to report to a job within 30 days. Mark Yes, because of this person's temporary illness if he expects to be able to work within 30 days. Mark Yes, for other reasons for reasons such as going to school or taking care of children."

[All]
32. When did he last work at all, even for a few days?

"Look at the instruction for 29a to see what work means. Mark Never worked if he: (1) never worked at any kind of job or business, either full or part-time, (2) never did any unpaid work in a family business or farm, and (3) never served in the Armed Forces."

[All]
33-35. Current or most recent job activity

Describe clearly this person's chief job activity or business last week, if any. If he had more than one job, describe the one at which he worked the most hours. If this person had no job or business last week, give information for last job or business since 1960.

[All]
33. Industry

a. For whom did he work? If now on active duty in the Armed Forces, print "AF" and skip to question 36.

"If he worked for company, business, or government agency, print the name of the company, not the name of his supervisor. If he worked for a person or a small business that has no company name, print the name of the person he worked for."

b. What kind of business or industry was this?
Describe activity at location where employed.

"Write two or more words to tell what the business, industry, or person named in 33a does. Write what it makes or what it sells or what service it gives. Some examples of acceptable answers are shown on the Census form and here."

Acceptable

Unacceptable

If a company does more than one thing (like make household electrical appliances and electric generators) describe only the major activity at the place where he works. If, however, he works at a warehouse, repair shop, etc., that is part of and used only by a larger organization, give the major activity of the larger organization; for example, department store warehouse - report department store."

c. Is this mainly - (Fill one circle)

"Mark Manufacturing if the factory, plant, mill, etc. makes things, even if it also sells them. Mark Wholesale trade if a business does not make things but buys them to sell to stores or other companies. Mark Retail trade if the business mostly sells things (not services) to individuals. Mark Other if the main purpose of the employer is not making or selling things. Some examples of "Other" are services, such as those given by hotels, dry cleaners, repair shops, schools, and banks. Farming and building houses, bridges, roads, are also examples of "Other" kinds of businesses."

[All]
34. Occupation

a. What kind of work was he doing?

(For example: TV repairman, sewing machine operator, spray painter, civil engineer, farm operator, farm hand, junior high English teacher)

"Write two or more words to tell the kind of work he does. If he is a trainee, apprentice, or helper, write that down too. See examples of acceptable answers on the Census form and here.

Acceptable



Unacceptable



b. What were his most important activities or duties?



"Write the most important things that he does on the job. Some examples are shown on the Census form."

c. What was his job title?



"Print his job title (what his employer calls his job). If he has no job title, print None."

[All]
35. Was this person - (Fill one circle)

"If he was an employee of a private non-profit organization, mark the first circle. Mark Local government employee for a teacher in a local public school."

[5%]
36. In April 1965, what State did this person live in?

"Mark This State if he now lives in the same State as he did in April 1965."

[All]
37. In April 1965, was this person - (Fill three circles)

a. Working at a job or business (full or part-time)?

b. In the Armed Forces? c. Attending college?

"If he had two or more activities during the same period, mark Yes for each of these activities."

[5%]
38. If "Yes" for "Working at a job or business" in question 37 -
Describe this person's chief activity or business in April 1965.

a. What kind of business or industry was this?

b. What kind of work was he doing (occupation)? c. Was he -

[All]
39. a. Last year (1969), did this person work at all, even for a few days?

b. How many weeks did he work in 1969, either full-time or part-time?
Count paid vacation, paid sick leave, and military service.



"Look at the instruction for question 29a to see what work means. Count every week in which he did any work at all, even for a few hours."

[All]
40. Earnings in 1969 - Fill parts a, b, and c for everyone who worked any time in 1969 even if he had no income. (If exact amount is not known, give best estimate.)

a. How much did this person earn in 1969 in wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, or tips from all jobs? (Before deductions for taxes, bonds, dues, or other items.)

b. How much did he earn in 1969 from his own nonfarm business, professional practice, or partnership? (Net after business expenses. If business lost money, write "Loss" above amount.)

c. How much did he earn in 1969 from his own farm? (Net after operating expenses. Include earnings as a tenant farmer or sharecropper. If farm lost money, write "Loss" above amount.)

"Enter the amount or fill the None circle in a, b, and c. Part 40a includes "sick leave" pay. Part 40a excludes military bonuses, reimbursement for business expenses, and pay "in kind." The owner of an unincorporated nonfarm business should include his net earnings in part 40b. If the business or farm is incorporated, his earnings should be included in part 40a."

[All]

41. Income other than earnings in 1969 - Fill in parts a, b, and c.
(If exact amount is not known, give best estimate.) "Enter the amount or fill the None circle in a, b, and c."

a. How much did this person receive in 1969 from Social Security or Railroad Retirement?

"Social Security or Railroad Retirement - include U.S. Government payments to retired persons, to dependents of deceased insured workers, or to disabled workers. Include "Medicare" premiums; exclude receipts."

b. How much did he receive in 1969 from public assistance or welfare payments?
Include aid for dependent children, old age assistance, general assistance, aid to the blind or totally disabled. Exclude separate payments for hospital or other medical care.


"Public assistance or public welfare payments - include amounts received from Federal, State, or local public programs. Exclude private welfare payments."

c. How much did he receive in 1969 from all other sources?
Include interest, dividends, veterans' payments, pensions, and other regular payments.
(See instruction sheet.)

"Interest, dividends - include amounts received or credited to your account.
Veterans' payments - include money paid for service-connected disabilities, to survivors of deceased veterans, for education and on-the-job training subsistence allowances, and for 'refunds' on 'GI' insurance premiums.
Retirement pensions - include amounts paid by former private employers and by unions, and amounts paid by Federal, State, county, or other governmental agencies.
Other regular payments - include such periodic income as net rental income, unemployment insurance benefits, workmen's compensation, private welfare payments, alimony or child support, Armed Forces allotments, and regular contributions from persons who are not members of your household.
Exclude receipts from the sale or personal property, capital gains, lump-sum insurance or inheritance payments, or pay 'in kind.'"

[1970 Housing questions.]

"If you live in an apartment building and you do not know the answers to questions H14, H15, H16, and H25, ask the person who runs your building (for example, the manager, rental agent, superintendent, janitor, etc.).

[All]

A. How many living quarters, occupied and vacant, are at this address?

"Mark only one circle. This address means the house or building number where your living quarters are located."

[All -- this question filled out by enumerators, not respondents; for IPUMS purposes, the only significant distinctions are between occupied, vacant, and group quarters units.]

B. Type of unit or quarters

Occupied

Vacant Group quarters

For a vacant unit, also fill C, D, A, H2 to H8, and H10 to H12

[All -- this question filled out by enumerators, not respondents]
C. Vacancy status

Year round --

[All -- this question filled out by enumerators, not respondents]
D. Months vacant

[All]
H1. Is there a telephone on which people in your living quarters can be called?

"Mark Yes and enter telephone number, even if the telephone is in another apartment or building."

[All]
H2. Do you enter your living quarters --

"Mark the second circle only if you must go through someone else's living quarters to get to your own."

[All]
H3. Do you have complete kitchen facilities?

Complete kitchen facilities are a sink with piped water, a range or cook stove, and a refrigerator.

"The kitchen sink, stove, and refrigerator do not have to be in the same room. Also used by another household means that someone else who lives in the same building, but is not a member of your household, also uses the equipment. Mark this circle also if the occupants of living quarters now vacant would also use the equipment."

[All]
H4. How many rooms do you have in your living quarters?
Do not count bathrooms, porches, balconies, foyers, halls, or half-rooms.

"Count only whole rooms used for living purposes, such as living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, finished recreation rooms, family rooms, etc. Do not count kitchenettes, strip or pullman kitchens; utility rooms; or unfinished attics, basements, or other space used for storage."

[All]
H5. Is there hot and cold piped water in this building?

"Mark hot water even if you have it only part of the time."

[All]
H6. Do you have a flush toilet?

"See instructions for H3 for meaning of Also used by another household."

[All]
H7. Do you have a bathtub or shower?

"See instructions for H3 for meaning of Also used by another household."

[All]
H8. Is there a basement in this building?

"A house has a basement if there is enclosed space in which persons can walk upright under all or part of the building. A house on a concrete slab has no basement and no air or crawl space below it. A house built in another way is one directly on the ground or resting on a foundation or posts to provide crawl space."

[All]
H9. Are your living quarters -

"Owned or being bought means that the living quarters are owned outright or are mortgaged. Also mark Owned or being bought if the living quarters are owned but the land is rented. Mark Rented for cash rent if any money rent is paid. Rent may be paid by persons who are not members of your household. Occupied without payment of cash rent includes, for example, a parsonage, a house or apartment provided free of rent by the owner, or a house or apartment occupied by a janitor or caretaker in exchange for services."

[All]
H10a. Is this building a one-family house?

b. If "Yes" -- Is this house on a place of 10 acres or more, or is any part of this property used as a commercial establishment or medical office?

[] Yes, 10 acres or more
[] Yes, commercial establishment or medical office
[] No, none of the above

"A commercial establishment is easily recognized from the outside; for example, a grocery store or barber shop. A medical office is a doctor's or dentist's office regularly visited by patients. If your house is on a place of 10 acres or more and also contains a commercial establishment or medical office, mark Yes, 10 acres or more."

[All]
H11. If you live in a one-family house which you own or are buying --
What is the value of this property; that is, how much do you think this property (house and lot) would sell for if it were for sale?

If this house is on a place of 10 acres or more, or if any part of this property is used as a commercial establishment or medical office, do not answer this question.

"Include the value of the house, the land it is on, and any other structures on the same property. If the house is owned but the land is rented, estimate the combined value of the house and the land."

[All]

H12. Answer this question if you pay rent for your living quarters.

"Report the rent agreed to or contracted for, even if the furnishings, utilities, or services are included."

a. If rent is paid by the month --
What is the monthly rent?

"If you pay rent by the month, write in the amount of rent and fill one circle."

b. If rent is not paid by the month -
What is the rent, and what period of time does it cover?



"If rent is not paid by the month, answer both parts of b. For example, $20 per week, $1,500 per year, etc."

[All]
H13. Answer question H13 if you pay rent for your living quarters.

In addition to the rent entered in H12, do you also pay for -

"If exact costs are not known, estimate as closely as possible. Report amounts even if bills are unpaid or are paid by someone else. If the bills include utilities or fuel used also by another apartment or a business establishment, estimate the amounts for your own living quarters. If gas and electricity are billed together, enter the combined amount on the electricity line and bracket () the two utilities."


a. Electricity?

b. Gas?

c. Water?

d. Oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.?

[All]
H14. How are your living quarters heated?

"This question refers to the type of heating equipment and not to the fuel used. A heat pump is sometimes known as a reverse cycle system. A floor, wall, or pipeless furnace delivers warm air to the room right above the furnace or to the room(s) on one or both sides of the wall in which the furnace is installed. These furnaces do not have ducts leading to other rooms. Any heater that you plug into an electric outlet should be counted as a portable room heater -- not a built-in electric unit."

[All]
H15. About when was this building originally built?
Mark when the building was first constructed, not when it was remodeled, added to, or converted.

[All]
H16. Which best describes this building?

"Count all occupied and vacant living quarters in the house or building, but not stores or office space. Detached means there is open space on all sides, or the house is joined only to a shed or garage. Attached means that the house is joined to another house or building by at least one wall which goes from ground to roof."

[All]
H17. Is this building --

"A city or suburban lot is usually located in a city, a community, or any built-up area outside a city or community, and is not larger than the house and yard. All living quarters in apartment buildings, including garden-type apartments in the city or suburbs, are considered on a city or suburban lot. A place is a farm, ranch, or any other property, other than a city or suburban lot, on which this residence is located."

[All]
H18. Last year, 1969, did sales of crops, livestock, and other farm products from this place amount to --

"Fill the circle for the total (gross) amount of money received from the sales of crops, livestock, and other farm products produced on this place during the calendar year 1969."

[15%]
H19. Do you get water from --

"If a well provides water for six or more houses or apartments, mark a public system. If a well provides water for five or fewer houses or apartments, mark an individual well."

[15%]
H20. Is this building connected to a public sewer?

"A public sewer is operated by a government body or a private organization. A septic tank or cesspool is an underground tank or pit used for disposal of sewage."

[15%]
H21. How many bathrooms do you have?

A complete bathroom is a room with flush toilet, bathtub or shower, and wash
basin with piped water.
A half bathroom has at least a flush toilet or bathtub or shower, but does not have
all the facilities for a complete bathroom.

[15%]
H22. Do you have air-conditioning?

"Count only equipment with a refrigeration unit to cool the air. Mark an individual room unit for air conditioners which are installed in a window or in an outside wall and are used to cool one or more rooms. Mark a central system for a central installation which cools the entire house or apartment."

[15%]
H23. How many passenger automobiles are owned or regularly used by members of your household?
Count company cars kept at home.

"Do not count cars permanently out of working order. Also do not count taxicabs, pickups, or larger trucks."

[5%]
H24a. How many stories (floors) are in this building?

"Do not count a basement as a story."

b. If 4 or more stories --
Is there a passenger elevator in this building?

"Do not count elevators used only for freight."

[5%]
H25. "Gas from underground pipes is piped in from a central system such as a public utility company or a municipal government. Bottled, tank, or LP gas is stored in tanks which are refilled or exchanged when empty. Other fuel includes any fuel not separately listed, for example, purchased steam, fuel briquettes, waste material, etc."

a. Which fuel is used most for cooking?

b. Which fuel is used most for house heating?

c. Which fuel is used most for water heating?

[5%]
H26. How many bedrooms do you have?

[5%]
H27. "Mark the Yes circle whether you own the appliance or it is provided as part of the equipment in your living quarters. Do not count coin-operated equipment or appliances in storage."

a. Do you have a clothes washing machine?

b. Do you have a clothes dryer?

c. Do you have a dishwasher (built-in or portable)?

d. Do you have a home food freezer which is separate from your refrigerator?

[5%]
H28a. Do you have a television set? Count only sets in working order.

b. If "Yes" -- Is any set equipped to receive UHF broadcasts, that is, channels 14 to 83?

"Count any set equipped to receive UHF (ultra high frequency) broadcasts, even if there are no such broadcasts in your area. Include sets that can be tuned directly to channels 14 to 83 and sets that receive UHF broadcasts by means of a converter. Also include sets that receive UHF broadcasts through a community antenna (CATV) or master antenna."

[5%]
H29. Do you have a battery-operated radio?

"A battery-operated radio is one that can be run on batteries and does not need to be plugged into an electric socket. Include batter-operated sets owned by any member of the household."

[5%]
H30. Do you (or any member of your household) own a second home or other living quarters which you occupy sometime during the year?

"Do not count vacation trailers, tents, or boats. Also do not count second homes used only for investment purposes."

Endnotes:

1. FOSDIC=Film Optical Sensing Device for Input to Computers. FOSDIC forms have small circles which respondents have to fill in with a Number 2 lead pencil.