The United States Census 1840 was the sixth census in the United States since 1790 . As a result of the census, a population of 17,069,453 people was determined for the USA on June 1, 1840, of which 2,487,355 were slaves .
The data contain information on the name of the head of the family, the number of free white people (men and women, differentiated according to thirteen age groups), number of free black people and number of slaves (differentiated according to six age groups), the number of deaf, blind and feeble-minded people and others because of mental handicaps under care, employment (according to seven groups), schools and pupils, illiterate people, veterans who receive state pensions.
The state population figures from the 10-year United States censuses are key to determining the number of representatives from those states in the United States House of Representatives . The adjustment is usually made in the next but one Congress after a census.
Most populous cities
The 50 most populous cities in the United States by population in 1840.
