Scope and Content: From 1790 to 1837, population censuses in Massachusetts were limited to those taken decennially by the federal government under constitutional provision.  Starting in 1837 the General Court authorized state decennial censuses to supplement the federal ones, for determining representation in the legislature and other purposes.  These state censuses have been conducted by authority of constitutional and statutory provisions under the auspices of the secretary of the Commonwealth.  St 1971, c 820 provided for the taking of a special census of inhabitants of wards and precincts of cities and towns to be used as a basis for redividing representative, senatorial, and councillor districts in accordance with Const Amend Art 92, ratified 1970.  The census was taken by city and town officials and returns made to the state secretary, for whom the Census Division inspected results for errors and inconsistencies before submitting them to the General Court.  Returns consist of census lists recording number of inhabitants in wards and precincts, ward and precinct maps, certified statements about returns, receipts, and some correspondence relating to redivision of wards and precincts.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by municipality
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