Deciphering Language & Nativity Codes Appended to 1930 Census in One Step

Stephen P. Morse, PhD   Joel D. Weintraub, PhD   David R. Kehs, PhD




COLUMN A
Native Language or State of Birth
If person was a US citizen at birth and
   born in US or territories:   this is the person's state or territory of birth
   foreign born:   this is "X0"
   born at sea:   this is "X9"
If person was not a US citizen at birth:   this is the person's native language
Native Language:  code starts with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or V

Language Code means



State of Birth:  code starts with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or X

State Code means



COLUMN B
Country of Birth:  code starts with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or V

The country of birth code specifies the birth country of either the person, his mother or his father according to the following charts

NATIVE BORN CITIZEN   FOREIGN BORN CITIZEN   BORN AT SEA   NON-CITIZEN
mother
native
mother
foreign
mother
at sea
father native blank mother blank
father foreign father father father
father at sea blank "V9" blank
mother
native
mother
foreign
father native blank mother
father foreign (not a citizen)
mother
native
mother
foreign
father native blank mother
father foreign "V9" "V9"
person


Country Code means




COLUMN C
Birth Type:  code is blank, 0, 1, 2, or V

NATIVE BORN CITIZEN   FOREIGN BORN CITIZEN   BORN AT SEA   NON-CITIZEN
mother
native
mother
foreign
mother
at sea
father native blank "2" blank
father foreign "1" "0" "0"
father at sea blank "0" blank
mother
native
mother
foreign
father native blank "2"
father foreign (not a citizen)
mother
native
mother
foreign
father native blank "2"
father foreign "V" "V"
"V"


© Stephen P. Morse, Joel D. Weintraub, David R. Kehs, 2005