1870 Federal Census of the
Dakota Territory
 
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The 1870 federal census is the ninth census of the United
States. It was authorized by Congress on May 23, 1850 (9 Stat. 428), and was begun on June 1, 1870. The enumeration
was to be completed within five months.
By the time of the 1870 federal census, the vast region of the former unattached lands of the Nebraska Territory
west of the Missouri River in present-day North Dakota and South Dakota had become part of the Dakota Territory.
The 1870 enumeration of the Dakota Territory included Pembina County in present-day eastern North Dakota, and Bon
Homme, Brookings, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Deuel, Hutchinson, Jayne, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Todd, Union, and Yankton
Counties in present-day South Dakota.
Several military forts (trading posts) were also enumerated along the Missouri River, including Fort Buford, Fort
Stevenson, and Fort Rice, as well as Fort Totten, in present-day North Dakota, and the Grand River Agency, the
Cheyenne Agency, and Fort Sully, in present-day South Dakota.
A total of 14,181 persons were enumerated in the Dakota Territory in 1870, including 2,405 persons in present-day
North Dakota, and 11,776 persons in present-day South Dakota.
The 1870 federal census contains this information:
 address
name of every person
in the family
age at last birthday
sex
color
profession, occupation,
or trade
value of real estate
value of personal
estate
state, territory,
or country of birth
whether parents
are of foreign birth
month born, if born
within the year
month married, if
married within the year
whether attended
school within the year
whether unable to
read and write
whether deaf-mute,
blind, insane, or idiotic
whether male eligible
or ineligible to vote
  
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