This group of volunteers has been trained to begin indexing the 1940 census when it is released next Monday, April 2. Hopkins County Genealogical Society is sponsoring

this group through FamilySearch to assist with the indexing project coordinated locally by Marynell Bryant. Those who will be participating include (l to r) Linda Johnson,

Don Fausett, Marynell Bryant, Lavyn Sisco, Pam White, Gloria Hargrave, a Rains county volunteer, and Jerry Graves. Other volunteers are being trained this week.

 

1940 Census Released April 2nd

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

 

After the 72 year required waiting period, the 1940 U.S. Census information was released, today, on April 2nd. However, many that tried to access the information found some "glitches" in the program, on the internet and reported having problems downloading the information.

Personally, I tried to download the page that would have the town of Reilly Springs, in Hopkins County, Texas, on it (ED-112-13) and could not get the information for my family to download. It could be that so many people were attempting to access the information, that system was temporarily overwhelmed.

However, many might ask, "What's all the interest in the 1940 Census?"

Well, this is just another "window" into the past for genealogists and historians, to find out about family members and things that were happening locally, in the first few months of 1940.

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know, that in 1940:

Henry Fonda had just appeared in January 1940 in John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath."

Winston Churchill had just been elected Prime Minister of England.

Some 12,000 census workers had completed the 1940 census and found the U.S. population to be 132.2 million.

The First Selective Service Draft numbers were drawn in 1940.

President F.D. Roosevelt was elected to the historic third term in 1940.

German troops had marched into Paris, France, in June 1940.

And, in 1940, the average cost of a home in the U.S. was $3920.00.

 

 

 

 

 

The average U.S. Wage earner made $1725.00.

A gallon of gasoline cost only 11 cents.

Average paid for house rent was $30.00 per month.

A radio cost $16.95.

A new car cost $850.00.

And, a Hoover vacuum cleaner was a "whopping" $52.50.

The 40 hour work week was begun in 1940>

Life Magazine cost 10 cents per issue, and the new "nylon" stockings had just come onto the market!

 

 

 

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