1890
Census questions as they appeared on the schedule or questionairre.
| Questions | Options Appearing on Schedule or Questionairre | Instructions to Marshalls and Assistant Marshalls | Column/Question Number |
| Inquiries (Color) Twenty Censuses: Population and Housing Questions 1790-1980. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1979. pp. 26 |
Whether white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian | Write white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian, according to the color or race of the persons enumerated. Be particularly careful to distinguish between blacks, mulattoes, quadroons, and octoroons. (pp. 28) | 4 |
| Place of Birth Twenty Censuses: Population and Housing Questions 1790-1980. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1979. pp. 27 |
Give the place of birth of the person whose name appears at the head of the column opposite inquiry 1, and for whom the entries are being made. (pp. 29) |
10 | |
|
Place of Birth of Father |
Give the place of birth of the father of the person for whom the entires are being made. (pp. 29) | 11 | |
| Place of Birth of Mother Twenty Censuses: Population and Housing Questions 1790-1980. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1979. pp. 27 |
Give the place of birth of the mother of the person for whom the entries are being made. (pp. 29) | 12 | |
| Number of years in the United States | Give the answer in figures as 1, 2, 6, 10, etc., according to the number of years such person...may have resided in the United States. (pp. 29) | 13 | |
| Whether naturalized | Write "Yes" or "No," as the case may be. (pp. 29) | 14 | |
| Whether naturalization papers have been taken out | If not naturalized, write "Yes" or "No," as the case may be, in answer to this inquiry. pp. 29) | 15 | |
| Able to speak English. If not, the language or dialect spoken. | This inquiry should also be made of or concerning every person 10 years of age or over. If the person is able to speak English so as to be understood in ordinary conversation, write "English," otherwise, write the name of the language or dialect in which he usually expresses himself, as "German," "Portuguese," "Canadian French," "Pennsylvania Dutch," etc. For all persons under 10 years of age use the symbol "X." | 21 |