:
442
HB
2385
A52
1953

Farms and
Farm People

R
WASH.
C
OREGON
CALIF.
IDAMO
MO OUNTA
NEV.
A Special
Cooperative Study
UTAM
ARIZ.
MONT.
:
WYO.
IN
COLO.
N. MEX.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
BUREAU OF HUMAN NUTRITION AND HOME ECONOMICS
POPULATION, INCOME
AND HOUSING
N. DAK.
S. DAK.
NORTH
CHARACTERISTICS
BY ECONOMIC
CLASS OF FARM
1
WEST
{
NEBR.
CENTRAL
KANSAS
OKLA.
MINN.
WASHINGTON, D. C., JUNE 1953
WEST
IOWA
MO.
H
SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS
ARK.
;
WIS.
LA.
EAST
NORTH CENTRAL
| IND.
OHIO
ILL.
MISS.
MICH.
TENN.
EAST
KY.
ALA.
SOUTH CENT
RAL
SOUTH
ATLANT
GA.
MIDDLE
ATLANTIC
PA.
8.C.
VA.
32.4
N. Y.
N. C.
FLA.
ac.
MAINE
NEW
ENGLAND
VT
R.M.
OONN.
-DEL
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
24
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
GENERAL LIBRARY
DEPARTMENT
*
*
UNITED
STATES
OF COMMERCE
OF
AMERICA
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
SINCLAIR WEEKS, Secretary
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
ROBERT W. BURGESS, Director
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
EZRA TAFT BENSON, Secretary
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
O. V. WELLS, Chief
BUREAU OF HUMAN NUTRITION and HOME ECONOMICS
HAZEL K. STIEBELING, Chief
1
UNITED
STATES DEPA
MEX
AGRICU
Farms and
Farm People
Population, Income, and
Housing Characteristics
by Economic Class of Farms
A Special Cooperative Report
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1953
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Robert W. Burgess, Director
AGRICULTURE DIVISION
Ray Hurley, Chief
Warder B. Jenkins,
Assistant Chief
II
HB
2385
.A52
1953
W
COTTED
DEPARTIR
COMMERCE
DATES &
AMERICA
BUREAU OF HUMAN NUTRITION
AND HOME ECONOMICS
Hazel K. Stiebeling, Chief
FAMILY ECONOMICS DIVISION
Gertrude S. Weiss, Head
Motoronge
SUGGESTED IDENTIFICATION
K
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMICS
O. V. Wells, Chief
DIVISION OF FARM POPULATION
AND RURAL LIFE
Margaret J. Hagood, Head
DIVISION OF STATISTICAL AND
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Nathan M.Koffsky, Associate Head
DIVISION OF FARM MANAGEMENT
AND COSTS
Carl P. Heisig, Head
UNITED
BUT OF/
U. S. Bureau of the Census, Farms and Farm People--Population, Income, and Hous-
ing Characteristics by Economic Class of Farm--U. S. Government Printing Office,
Washington 25, D. C., 1952
LARICULTURE

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.
or any of the Field Offices of the Department of Commerce, Price 50 cents
Reference Room
life ful
Divd
OLCS
PREFACE
The purpose of this report is to bring together data to show char-
acteristics of the farm operator families, their housing, and other
items including amounts and sources of family income by farm character-
istics particularly economic class of farm and net cash income of farm
families. The data on which this report is based were obtained by
matching records for the 1950 Censuses of Agriculture and Population
for approximately 11,000 farms and farm operators. The report has been
prepared cooperatively by the Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of
Commerce, and the Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics and the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
The tabulations and compilation of the data were performed largely
by the Bureau of the Census. Carl R. Nyman, Clinton F. Wells, John C.
Volentine, Samuel S. Murray, Orville M. Slye, and J. Thomas Breen of the
Agriculture Division, Bureau of the Census, reviewed the tabulations on
which the report was based. The analysis presented in the Chapters 2 to
5 of this report were prepared by the following personnel:
Chapter 2.........Jackson V. McElveen, Agricultural Economist
Bureau of Agricultural Economics
Chapter 3.........Ernest W. Grove, Analytical Statistician
Bureau of Agricultural Economics
Chapter 4.....
.Helen R. White, Analytical Statistician
Bureau of Agricultural Economics
Chapter 5.........Barbara B. Reagan, Home Economist
June 1953
Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics'
Mr. Earl E. Houseman, Statistical Assistant, Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, assisted in the selection of the sample and coordinated the
planning and analysis performed by personnel in the Department of Agri-
culture.
(III)
"
transfer to
Stacks
5-17-66
Chapter
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
1.-Introduction.
2.-Low-production farms..
3.-Income of farm-operator families
in 1949...
4.-Population in farm-operator
households....
5.-Housing facilities and equipment, and.
home food-production practices.
(V)
Page
1
9
23
45
65
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
(1)
Introduction..
Purpose and scope...
Source of data.....
Reliability of the estimates..
Definitions and explanations..
A farm.
Farm operator...
Residence of farm operator.
·
Age of operator....
Classification of farms..
Farms by economic class.
Part-time farms..
Residential farms.
Abnormal farms...
Tenure of operator..
Farms by type……….
Value of farm products sold..
Off-farm work and other income.
Residence on a farm....
• •
Table-
Income..
Source of the income data.
Occupation.....
Professional, technical, and kindred workers..
(2)
•
•
· •
Farmers and farm managers.....
Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm.
Clerical and kindred workers...
Sales workers....
2
• •
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers...
Operatives and kindred workers...
D
CONTENTS
Page
3
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5
сл
5
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6
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6
6
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6
TABLE
Occupation-Continued
Private household workers..
Service workers, except private household...
Farm laborers and foremen....
Laborers, except farm and mine..
Population characteristics..
Years of school completed.
Marital status...
Labor force..
Families and households.
1.-Sampling variability by magnitude of estimates, for the United States and regions: 1950..
..
Family...
Family head..
Household...
••
•
Housing characteristics and household equipment and facilities..
Dwelling unit........
Tenure of dwelling unit...
Bathing facilities..
Cooking fuel..
Kitchen sink...
Condition of dwelling unit.
Water supply....
Toilet facilities..
Refrigeration equipment.
Telephone...
Electricity.. . . . . .
•
· •
··
Home food-production practices.
Gardens for home use..
Farm slaughter...
•
•
•
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3
INTRODUCTION
Purpose and scope.-The plan for this report developed dur-
ing discussions of proposals for the analysis of the data from
the 1950 Census of Agriculture. As the 1950 Censuses of Popula-
tion, Housing, and Agriculture were taken simultaneously, there
were many requests for the correlation of data from the three
censuses for the farm and its associated household, family, and
dwelling unit. These requests could be met only by matching in-
dividual reports for 1950 Censuses of Population, Housing, and
Agriculture. The objectives of this report are to help provide
answers to such questions as-What sources and amounts of income
do farm-operator families have? How does the distribution of
total money income of farm-operator families compare with that
of all families? What are the main problems associated with
farms producing relatively small amounts of agricultural prod-
ucts? On such farms, what is the income and productivity of
farm-operator families when both farm and non farm employment
and income are taken into consideration? How do the charac-
teristics of the operators, families, and dwellings associated
with these farms compare with other farms? What are the major
variations in composition and characteristics of farm-operator
families by economic class of farm and other farm characteris-
tics? What household facilities and equipment do farm-operator
families have and how are they related to the size of the farm
business and family income?
Source of data. -The data included in this report repre-
sent estimates based upon a sample of approximately 11,000
farms and the associated farm-operator households, families,
and dwelling units, or one-fifth of one percent of all such units
in the United States. The sample was taken from 5,260 enumera-
tion districts, or 5 percent of the enumeration districts having
farms in 1950. Within these enumeration districts, the sample
comprised approximately 4 percent of the farms and the associated
households, families, and dwelling units. In each enumeration
district the farms, households, families, and dwelling units were
selected by taking those farms included in the sample for the
1950 Census of Agriculture for which the head of the household
was in the 1950 Census of Population 20-percent sample, and,
consequently, for whom there was information in regard to in-
come, etc. (For a description of the sample used for the 1950
Census of Agriculture, see page xvi of the Introduction to Volume
II, General Report-Statistics by Subjects, of the 1950 Census
of Agriculture, Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of Com-
merce. For a description of the sample used for the collection
of data on income, etc. for the 1950 Census of Population, see
page xxiii, of Volume II, Characteristics of the Population, of
the reports of the 1950 Census of Population.)
|
Magnitude
of
estimate
5,000...
10,000...
25,000...
50,000..
100,000.
•
•
•
250,000...
500,000...
1,000,000...
1,250,000.
1,500,000.
•
Table 1.-SAMPLING VARIABILITY BY MAGNITUDE OF ESTIMATES, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
Variability of estimates for presence of kitchen sink, refrigeration
equipment, cooking fuel, and age of dwelling unit
North
South
•
•
2,000,000...
2,500,000..
3,000,000...
4,000,000..
5,000,000.
•
·
· •
United States
Standard
error
3,600
5,000
7,800
11,400
16,000
25,000
34,000
45,300
50,200
53,400
57,500
59,300
59,100
52,000
30,400
Percent
of
estimate
72.0
50.0
31.2
Standard
error
3,600
5,000
22.8
7,800
11,300
16.0 15,800
10.0 24,200
6.8 32,000
4.5 37,400
4.0 37,500
3.6 36,700
25,000
2.9
2.4
2.0
1.3
0.6
•
Percent
of
estimate
72.0
50.0
31.2
Standard
error
3,600
5,000
7,800
22.6 11,400
15.8 15,900
9.7 24,400
6.4 36,700
40, 500
41,700
41,400
3.7
3.0
2.4
1.2
•
36,000
19,400
Percent
of
estimate
-
N
1.8
0.8
West
Standard
error
72.0 3,600
50.0
5,000
31.2
7,900
22.8 10,800
15.9 14,400
9.8 17,400
7.3
4.1
3.3
2.8
The sample used for the 1950 Census of Agriculture was
comprised of all large farms and a systematic sample of every
fifth non large farm. For the 1950 Census of Population, the
sample was a systematic sample of every fifth person enumerated
in the census.
In preparing the data for this report, separate estimates
were made for large farms and the associated households, families,
and dwelling units and for non large farms and their associated
households, etc. Estimates were made for each of these two groups
for each of the three geographic regions, the North, the West,
and the South, by multiplying the totals for farms in the sample
by the ratio of farms in the sample to the total number of such
farms as shown by the 1950 Census of Agriculture. Data for each
region were obtained by adding the estimates for large farms and
the remaining farms. Totals for the North and West were obtained
by adding data for the two regions and totals for the United States
were obtained by adding estimates for all three regions.
Data on presence of kitchen sink, refrigeration equipment,
cooking fuel, and age of dwelling unit were available for a sample
of one-fifth of the dwelling units for the farm-operator families
included in the sample. Estimates for these items were made by
multiplying by 5 the estimates made in accordance with the procedure
outlined above.
A discussion of the effect of the method of selecting the
sample for this report, and a discussion of the comparability of
the estimates for this sample with data given in the reports for
the 1950 Census of Population, Housing, and Agriculture, appears
in the various chapters.
Reliability of the estimates.-As the data given in this
report are estimates based upon tabulations of data for a sample
of farms and the associated farm-operator families, households,
and dwelling units, they are subject to sampling variability.
The following table indicates the approximate standard errors
for groups of items, according to the magnitude of the estimate.
The chances are about two out of three that the estimates would
differ from the totals that would have been obtained from a tabu-
lation for all farms, and farm operator households, families,
and dwelling units by less than the standard error. The chances
are about 19 out of 20 that the differences would be less than
twice the standard error and 99 out of 100 that it would be less
than two-and-one-half times the standard error.
The estimates are also subject to errors of responses and
to nonreporting. The possible effect of these other errors are
not included in the table below. The effects of some of these
errors are indicated elsewhere in this report.

Percent
of
estimate
72.0
50.0
31.6
21.6
14.4
7.0
United States
Standard
error
1,600
2,200
3,500
5,000
7,000
10,000
15,100
20,200
22,000
23,300
25,100
26,000
25,900
22,700
13,400
Percent
of
estimate
32.0
22.0
14.0
10.0
7.0
1.3
1.0
0.9
0.6
0.3
Variability of all other items
North
Standard
error
...
4.0 10,600
3.0 14,000
2.0 16,800
1.8 16,800
1.6 16,000
10,900
1,600
2,200
3,500
5,000
7,000
Percent
of
estimate
32.0
22.0
14.0
10.0
7.0
South
·
Standard
error
1,600
2,200
3,500
5,000
7,000
4.2 10,700
2.8 14,300
1.7 17,700
1.3 18,200
1.1 18,100
0.5
15,700
8,500
Percent
of
estimate
4.3
2.9
1.8
1.5
1.2
0.8
0.3
West
Standard
error
32.0
1,600
22.0
2,200
14.0
3,500
10.0
4,700
7.0 6,300
7,600
·
Percent
of
estimate
The chances are 2 out of 3 that the estimated total obtained by a complete tabulation for all farms, households, families and dwelling units would differ from the estimate
the item by less than the standard error or percent shown.
(3)
32.0
22.0
14.0
9.4
6.3
3.0
for
4
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
Definitions and explanations are presented only for those
items for which table descriptions are considered inadequate.
Qualifications or limitations of the data are discussed in later
chapters. The descriptive terms and explanations given below are
taken largely from the reports of the 1950 Censuses of Popula-
tion, Housing, and Agriculture. For more detailed descriptions
and explanations of terms, reference may be made to the following
reports of the 1950 Census:
1950 Census of Agriculture-Volume II, General Report--Statis-
tics by Subjects.
1950 Census of Population-Volume II, Part 1, Chapter B.
1950 Census of Housing-Volume III, Farm Housing Character-
istics.
A farm. For the 1950 Census of Agriculture, places of 3 or
more acres were counted as farms if the value of agricultural
products in 1949, exclusive of home gardens, amounted to $150
more. The agricultural products could have been either for home
use or for sale. Places of less than 3 acres were counted as
farms only if the value of sales of agricultural products in 1949
amounted to $150 or more. Places operated in 1949 for which the
value of agricultural products in 1949 was less than these minima
because of crop failure or other unusual situation, and places
operated in 1950 for the first time were counted as farms if nor-
mally they could be expected to produce these minimum quantities
of farm products.
Farm operator.-A "farm operator" is a person who operates
a farm either performing the labor himself or directly supervising
it. He
He may be an owner,
an owner, a hired manager, or a tenant, renter, or
share cropper.
If he rents land to others or has land cropped
for him by others, he is listed as the operator of only that land
which he retains. In the case of a partnership, one member was
included as the operator. The number of farm operators is con-
sidered the same as the number of farms.
Total.....
Residence of farm operator.-Farm operators were classified
by residence on the basis of whether or not they lived on the
farm operated.
or
A summary of the data from the tabulations for this report
regarding the residence on the farm operated is as follows:
Residing on farm operated..
Not residing on farm operated..
Residence not reported....
Farm operators reporting
5,380, 127
5,084,961
169, 310
125,856
However, many of the farm operators not residing on the
farm resided in the same enumeration district in which their farm
was located.
For these nonresident operators, data were obtained
regarding the characteristics of the household, family, and dwel-
ling unit. Data on population and most data on dwelling units
were not included in the tabulations for 38,937 farm operators
not residing on the farm operated and not living in the
tion district in which their farm was located, because of the
cost of locating reports regarding the household, family, and
dwelling unit of such farm operators.
enumera-
Age of operator.-The age classification is based on the
age of the person at his last birthday as of the date of his
enumeration, that is, the age of the person in completed years.
-
CLASSIFICATION OF FARMS
Farms by economic class.-The same classification of farms
by economic class as used in other tabulations from the 1950 Cen-
sus of Agriculture is also used in this report. This classifica-
tion was made in order to present an accurate description of the
farms in each class and in order to provide basic data for an
analysis of the organization of United States agriculture.
The classification of farms by economic class was made on
the basis of three factors, namely, total value of all farm prod-
ucts sold, number of days the farm operator worked off the farm,
and the relationship of the income received from non farm sources
by the operator and members of his family to the value of all
farm products sold. Institutions, experimental farms, grazing
associations, and other community projects were classified as
abnormal, regardless of any of the above-mentioned factors.
In making the classification of farms by economic class,
farms have been grouped into, two major groups, namely, commer-
cial farms and other farms. In general, all farms with a value
of sales of farm products amounting to $1,200 or more were clas-
sified as commercial. Farms with a value of sales of $250 to
$1,199 were classified as commercial only if the farm operator
worked off the farm less than 100 days and the income of the
operator and members of his family received from non farm sources
was less than the total value of all farm products sold. Farms
with a value of sales of all farm products of less than $250,
as well as county, State, private institutional, and experi-
mental farms, were classified as "other."
Commercial farms have been divided into six groups
basis of the total value of farm products sold, as follows:
I.
II.
III.
IV..
V.
VI...
··
O
Class
on the
Value of farm products sold in 1949
$25,000 or more
10,000 to $24,999
5,000 to 9,999
2,500 to 4,999
1,200 to 2, 499
*250 to 1, 199
*Provided the farm operator worked off the farm less than 100 days
and provided the income the farm operator and members of his family re-
ceived from nonfarm sources was less than the value of all farm products
sold.
Other farms have been grouped into three classes as follows:
Part-time farms. -Farms with a value of sales of farm prod-
ucts of $250 to $1,199 were classified as part time provided the
farm operator reported (1) 100 or more days of work off the farm
in 1949, or (2) the non farm income received by him and members of
his family was greater than the value of farm products sold.
Some
Residential farms.-Residential farms include all farms ex-
cept abnormal farms with a total value of sales of farm products
of less than $250. Some of these represent farms on which the
operator worked off the farm more than 100 days in 1949.
represent farms on which the income from non farm sources
greater than the value of sales of agricultural products. Others
represent subsistence and marginal farms of various kinds. Some
farms are included here which, under normal conditions, may have
qualified as commercial farms.
was
Abnormal farms.-Insofar as it was possible to identify
them, abnormal farms include public and private institutional
farms, community enterprises, experiment station farms, grazing
associations, etc. In most of the tables, data for abnormal
farms are included with those for part-time farms.
Tenure of operator.-Farm operators are classified accord-
ing to the tenure under which they hold their land on the basis
of the total land owned, total land rented from others, and to-
tal land managed for others.
Full owners own land but do not rent land from others.
Part owners own land and rent land from others.
Managers operate farms for others and are paid a wage or sal-
ary for their services. Persons acting merely as caretakers
or hired as laborers are not classified as managers.
Tenants rent from others or work on shares for others all the
land they operate.
C
Croppers are crop-share tenants whose landlords furnish all
the work power.
The landlords either furnish all the work
animals or furnish tractor power in lieu of work animals.
Croppers usually work under the close supervision of the
landowners or their agents and the land assigned them is
often merely a part of a larger enterprise operated as a
single unit.
Farms by type.-The classification of farms by type was
made on the basis of the relationship of the value of sales from a
particular source or sources to the total value of all farm
products sold from the farm. In some cases, the type of farm
was determined on the basis of the sale of an individual farm
INTRODUCTION
5
product, such as cotton, or on the basis of closely related prod-
In other cases, the type was de-
ucts, such as dairy products.
termined on the basis of sales of a broader group of products
such as corn, sorghums, all small grains, field peas, field beans,
cowpeas, and soybeans.
and soybeans. Part-time, residential, and abnormal farms
were not classified by type. In order to be classified as
particular type, sales or anticipated sales of a product or a
group of products had to represent 50 percent or more of the to-
tal value of products of the farm.
The types of farms for which data are shown, together with
the product or group of products that had to represent 50 percent
or more of the total sales in order for the farm to be so clas-
sified, are as follows:
Type of farm
Cotton.
Cash-grain.....
Vegetable....
Fruit-and-nut....
Dairy...
Other field-crop Peanuts, Irish potatoes, sweetpotatoes, tobac-
CO, sugarcane, sugar beets for sugar, and
other miscellaneous crops.
Poultry.
•
Livestock farms
other than diary
and poultry.
General...
Product or group of products amounting to 50
percent or more of the value of all farm
products sold.
Cotton.
Corn, sorghum, small grains, field peas, field
beans, cowpeas, and soybeans.
Vegetables.
Berries and other small fruits, and tree fruits
and nuts.
Milk and other dairy products.
The criterion of 50 percent of the total sales
was modified in the case of dairy farms. A
farm for which the value of sales of dairy
products represented less than 50 percent of
the total value of farm products sold was
classified as a dairy farm if:
(a) Milk and other dairy products accounted
for 30 percent ог more of the total
value of products, and
(b) Milk cows represented 50 percent or more
of all cows, and
(c) Sales of dairy products, together with
the sales of cattle and calves, amounted
to 50 percent
more of the total
sales.
Chickens,
products.
eggs, turkeys, and other
poultry
mo-
Cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, goats, wool,
hair, goat milk, and products from animals
slaughtered on the farm, provided the farm did
not already classify as a dairy farm.
Farms were classified as general when the val-
ue of products from one source or group of
sources did not represent as much as 50 per-
cent of the total of the value of all farm
products sold. Separate figures are given
for three types of general farms:
(a) Primarily crop.
(b) Primarily livestock.
(c) Crop and livestock.
Primarily crop farms are those for which the
sale of one of the following crops or groups
of crops-vegetables, fruits and nuts, cotton,
cash grains, or other field crops --did not
amount to 50 percent or more of the value of
all farm products sold, but for which the
value of sales for all these groups of crops
represented 70 percent or more of the value
of all farm products sold.
Primarily livestock farms are those which could
not be classified as dairy farms, poultry,
farms, or livestock farms other than dairy and
poultry, but on which the sale of livestock
and poultry and livestock and poultry products
amounted to 70 percent or more of the value of
all farm products sold.
-
General crop and livestock farms are those
which could not be classified as either crop
Type of farm
General-Con....
Miscellaneous....
percent
Product or group of products amounting to 50
or more of the value of all farm
products sold.
farms or livestock farms, but on which the
sale of all crops amounted to at least 30 per-
cent but less than 70 percent of the value of
all farm products sold.
This group of farms includes those which had
50 percent or more of the total value of prod-
ucts accounted for by sale of horticultural
products; or sale of horses; or sale of fur
animals; or sale of forest products; or sale
of bees, wax, and honey.
Value of farm products sold. The value of farm products.
sold, as obtained in the 1950 Census of Agriculture, represents
the approximate total of the gross cash income.
Off-farm work and other income.-Many farm operators re-
ceive a part of their income from sources other than their farms.
The questionnaire for the 1950 Census of Agriculture included
several inquiries relating to work off the farm and non farm income.
These inquiries called for work off the farm by the farm opera-
tor; work off the farm by other members of the operator's fam-
ily; and income from other sources, such as sale of products
from land rented out, cash rent, boarders, old age assistance,
pensions, veterans' allowances, unemployment compensation, in-
terest, and help from other members of the operator's family.
Another inquiry asked whether the income from off-farm work and
other sources was greater than the total value of all agricul-
Off-farm work in-
tural products sold from the farm in 1949.
cludes work at nonfarm jobs, businesses, or professions, whether
performed on the farm premises or elsewhere; also work on some-
one else's farm for pay or wages. Exchange work was not to be
included.
Total...
House on a farm.....
House not on a farm...
Location of house not reported.
M
The purposes of these four inquires were (1) to obtain in-
formation in regard to the extent that farm operators performed
off-farm work and their dependence on other income, and (2) to
provide a basis for the classification of farms by economic class.
The intent of the inquiry in regard to whether or not a member
of the family had a non farm job, and the inquiry regarding in-
come of the farm operator from non farm sources was to obtain
more accurate replies to the inquiry regarding the relationship
of the income from off-farm work and other sources to the total
value of all agricultural products sold.
Residence on a farm. -The 1950 Census of Population in-
cluded all persons living on farms as farm population, without
regard to occupation. The determination as to whether or not the
house or dwelling unit was located on a farm was made on the
basis of the inquiry, "Is this house on a farm?", made for every
house or dwelling unit. However, persons living on what was
sidered farm land were to be classified as non farm if they paid
cash rent for their house and yards only.
However, not all farm operators were reported as living
on a farm, as indicated by the following data from tabulations
made for this report:
Total...
House on a farm....
House not on a farm
Location of house
not reported......
Total
5,380, 127
5,022, 329
281,057
76,741
Farm operators reporting
5,380, 127
5,022, 329
281,057
76,741
Farm operators
reporting
Residence Residence
on farm not on farm
operated operated
5,084,961 169, 310
4,788, 114
230,665
66, 182
Moreover, some of the farm operators reporting their house
on a farm did not live on the farm operated as indicated by the
following figures:
124,040
37,498
7,772
Residence
of farm
operator
not
reported
125,856
-
110,175
12,894
2,787
-
-
-
6
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
INCOME
Income is the sum of the money received from wages or sal-
aries, net income (or loss) from self-employment in a business,
profession, or farm, and income other than earnings. This last
category includes net income (or loss) from rents, or receipts
from roomers or boarders; royalties; interest, dividends, and
periodic income from estates and trust funds; pensions; vet-
erans' payments, armed forces allotments for dependents, and
other governmental payments or assistance; and other income
such as contributions for support from persons who are not mem-
bers of the household, alimony, and periodic receipts from in-
surance policies or annuities. The figures in this report rep-
sent the amount of income received before deductions for personal
income taxes, social security, bond purchases, union dues, etc.
Receipts from the following sources were not included as
income:
the value of income "in kind," such as food produced and
consumed in the home, free living quarters, etc.; withdrawals of
bank deposits; money borrowed; tax refunds; gifts; and lump-sum
inheritances or insurance payments; money received from the sale
of property such as stocks, bonds, a house, or a car, unless the
recipient was engaged in the business of selling such property.
Source of the income data. -Information was requested of per-
sons 14 years of age and over in the sample on the following income
categories: (a) the amount of money wages or salary received in
1949; (b) the amount of net money income received from self-em-
ployment, including farm or business, in 1949; and (c) the amount
of other income received in 1949, such as interest, dividends,
veterans' allowances, pensions, or rents. If the person was the
head of a family, these three questions were repeated for the
other family members as a group in order to obtain income of the
whole family.
+
vider
croppers.
<<
The figures in this census, as in all field surveys of in-
come, are subject to errors of response and nonreporting. In
most cases, the schedule entries for income are based not on
records but on memory. The memory factor in data derived from
field surveys of income probably produces underestimates, be-
cause the tendency is to forget minor or irregular sources of
income. Other errors of reporting are due to misunderstanding
of the income questions or to misrepresentation. For a more
detailed appraisal of the data on income, reference should be
made to Chapter 3 of this report.
OCCUPATION
In the 1950 Census of Population, information on occupa-
tion, industry, and class of worker was collected for persons
in the experienced civilian labor force. All three items re-
lated to one specific job held by the person. For an employed
person, the information referred to the job he held during the
census week (April 1950). If he was employed at two ог more
jobs, the job at which he worked the greatest number of hours
during the census week was reported. For an experienced unem-
ployed person, the information referred to the last job he had
held.
The occupation information presented-here was derived from
answers to the question, "What kind of work was he doing?" The
data given in this report are usually for 12 major occupation
groups. The composition of each major occupation group is in-
dicated by the following illustrated list:
Professional, technical, and kindred workers. - Includes
Accountants; Architects; Artists; Auditors; Authors; Chemists;
Chiropractors; Clergymen; College presidents, professors, and
instructors; Conservationists; Dentists; Draftsmen; Editors; Em-
balmers; Farm management advisors; Foresters; Funeral directors;
Home management advisors; Judges; Lawyers; Librarians; Personnel
workers; Pharmacists; Physicians; Professional nurses; Radio
operators; Recreation workers; Religious workers; Reporters;
Social workers; Surveyors; Teachers; Technical engineers; Vet-
erinarians.
Farmers and farm managers.-Includes tenant farmers and
Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm. -In-
cludes Buyers; Building superintendents; Credit men; Postmas-
ters; Public administration officials; Purchasing agents; Rail-
road conductors; Ship officers, pilots, pursers, and engineers;
Shippers of farm products; Union officials.
Clerical and kindred workers.-Includes Bank tellers; Bill
and account collectors; Bookkeepers; Cashiers; Dentist's office
attendants; Express agents; Express messengers; Library assist-
tants and attendants; Mail carriers; Messengers; Office boys;
Office machine operators; Physician's office attendants; Rail-
way mail clerks; Receiving clerks; Secretaries; Shipping clerks;
Station agents; Stenographers; Telegraph messengers; Telegraph
operators; Telephone operators; Ticket agents; Typists.
-
Sales workers.-Includes Advertising agents and salesmen;
Auctioneers; Demonstrators; Hucksters; Insurance agents and bro-
kers; Newsboys; Peddlers; Real-estate agents and brokers; Stock
and bond salesmen.
-
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers. Includes Bakers;
Blacksmiths; Boilermakers; Bookbinders; Brickmasons; cabinetmakers;
Carpenters; Die makers; Electricians; Engravers; Excavating ma-
chinery operators; Forgemen; Goldsmiths; Lithographers; Locomo-
tive engineers; Locomotive firemen; Log and lumber scalers and
graders; Loom fixers; Machinists; Mechanics; Metal molders; Op-
ticians; Painters (construction and maintenance); Paperhangers;
Photoengravers; Pipe fitters; Plasterers; Plumbers; Road machin-
ery operators; Roofers; Sheet metal workers; Stationary engi-
neers; Stereotypers; Stonemasons; Structural metal workers; Tail-
ors; Telegraph and telephone linemen and servicemen; Tile set-
ters; Tinsmiths; Tool makers; Typesetters; Watchmakers.
Operatives and kindred workers.-Includes Apprentices; Auto
service attendants; Bus conductors and drivers; Chauffeurs; De-
liverymen; Dressmakers; Dry cleaning operatives; Dyers; Fruit,
nut, and vegetable graders and packers; Laundry operatives; Meat
cutters; Metal grinders and polishers; Milliners; Mine operatives
and laborers; Motormen; Painters (except construction and main-
tenance); Railroad brakemen and switchmen; Routemen; Sailors;
Sawyers; Seamstresses; Stationary firemen; Street railway con-
ductors; Surveying chainmen, rodmen, and axmen; Taxicab drivers;
Textile spinners; Textile weavers; Tractor drivers; Truck driv-
ers; Welders.
G
POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
Private household workers. Includes housekeepers and laun-
dresses in private households.
Service workers, except private household.-Includes At-
tendants and ushers in amusement places; Barbers; Bartenders;
Beauticians; Boarding house keepers; Bootblacks; Bridge tenders;
Charwomen; Cooks, except in private households; Detectives; Door-
keepers; Elevator operators; Firemen (fire protection); Guards;
Hospital attendants; Janitors; Manicurists; Midwives; Policemen;
Porters; Practical nurses; Sextons; Stewards; Waiters; Watchmen.
Farm laborers and foremen.-Includes both paid and unpaid
family farm laborers, and self-employed farm service laborers.
Laborers, except farm and mine.-Includes Car washers;
Fishermen; Garage laborers; Groundskeepers; Longshoremen; Oystei-
men; Raftsmen; Stevedores; Teamsters; Woodchoppers.
·
Years of school completed.-Education by years of school
refers to time in "regular" schools. Vocational, trade, and
business schools were excluded unless such schools were graded
and considered a part of the regular school system. Persons had
to complete a grade in order to be counted as completing that
grade.
Marital status. -Data on marital status are based on the
replies to the question, "Is he now married, widowed, divorced,
separated, or never married?" The classification refers to the
status at the time of enumeration of all persons 14 years old
and over.
Three groups are shown in these tables-single, mar-
ried, and widowed or divorced. Single persons include all who
have never married. Persons classified as married comprise those
who have been married once and those who remarried after having
INTRODUCTION
7
been widowed or divorced. Persons reported as separated are
also included in the "married" group. In the third group are
all persons reported as either widowed or divorced.
Labor force. -The labor force includes all persons clas-
sified as employed or unemployed, and also members of the armed
forces.
Employed persons comprise all civilians 14 years old and
over who, during the census week, were either (a) "at work".
those except unpaid family farm laborers who did any work for
pay or profit, or worked without pay for 15 hours or more on a
family farm or in a family business (the number of persons in
the labor force includes approximately 93,000 unpaid family farm
laborers who worked less than 15 hours during the census week);
or (b) "with a job but not at work"--those who did not work and
were not looking for work but had a job or business from which
they were temporarily absent because of vacation, illness, in-
dustrial dispute, bad weather, or layoff with definite instruc-
tions to return to work within 30 days of layoff.
Unemployed persons 14 years old and over are those not at
work during the census week but were either looking for work or
would have been looking for work except that (a) they were tem-
porarily ill, (b) they expected to return to a job from which
they had been laid off for an indefinite period, or (c) they
believed no work was available in their community or in their
line of work.
FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS
Family.-A family is a group of two or more persons re-
lated by blood, marriage, or adoption, and living together.
In this report the farm operators living alone or living
with persons not related to them are shown in some tables and
usually are treated as families rather than as single indivi-
duals.
The total number of persons in families was not tabulated
but counts of each family size were obtained in single person
intervals in twelve groups. Families consisting of more than 12
members are counted in the "12 or more
group. In computing the
average size of family, it has been assumed that the average num-
ber of persons in families of 12 or more was 12. The effect on
the average size of family because of this assumption is slight.
Family head.-A family head is defined in the 1950 Census
as either (a) head of household with related persons present in
household or (b) person unrelated to household head but with
persons related to him comprising a family of which he is the
head.
Household. A household includes all the persons who occupy
a house, an apartment or other group of rooms, or a room,
room, that
constitutes a dwelling unit. In general, a group of rooms oc-
cupied as separate living quarters is a dwelling unit if it has
separate cooking equipment or a separate entrance; a single room
occupied as separate living quarters is a dwelling unit if it has
separate cooking equipment or if it constitutes the only living
quarters in the structure. A household includes the related fam-
ily members and also the unrelated persons, if any, such as lod-
gers, foster children, wards, or employees, who share the dwelling
unit. A person living alone in a dwelling unit or a group of un-
related persons sharing the same living accommodations as part-
ners is also counted as a household.
One person in each household is designated as "head."
Hence, by definition a count of heads of households is the same
as a count of households which, in turn, is the same as a count of
occupied dwelling units.
HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
Dwelling unit. -A dwelling unit is a group of rooms or a
single room occupied, or intended for occupancy, as separate
living quarters by a family or other group of persons living to-
gether or by a person living alone. In this study the count of
dwelling units (farm operators' dwellings) is the same
as the
count of farms. Approximately 39,000 of the dwelling units in-
cluded in the tabulations for this report were vacant dwellings.
:
4
Tenure of dwelling unit.-A dwelling unit is " owner-occu-
pied" if the owner was one of the persons living in the unit even if
the dwelling unit was not fully paid for or had a mortgage on it.
When the owner of the unit was a member of the household but
was temporarily away from home, as in the case of military ser-
vice or temporary employment away from home, the unit was still
classified as 11
owner-occupied."
All occupied dwelling units that are not "owner-occupied"
were classified as "renter-occupied" whether or not any money
rent was paid for the living quarters.
Condition of dwelling unit. To measure condition, the dwelling
units were classified as "not dilapidated" or "dilapidated." A
dwelling unit was reported as dilapidated when it had serious
deficiencies, was run-down or neglected, or was of inadequate
original construction, so that it did not provide adequate shel-
ter or protection against the elements or endangered the safety
of the occupants. A dwelling unit was reported as dilapidated
if, because of either inadequate original construction or dete-
rioration, it was below the generally accepted minimum standard
for housing and should be torn down or extensively repaired or
rebuilt.
Specifically, a dwelling unit was to be reported as dilapi-
dated if-
A
b. Substantial sagging of floors, walls, or roof.
c. Extensive damage by storm, flood, or fire.
1. It had one or more critical
or more critical deficiencies, as for example:
a. Holes, open cracks, rotted, loose, or missing materials
over a considerable area of the foundation, outside walls,
roof, or inside walls, floors, or ceilings.
2. It had a combination of minor deficiencies which were pres-
ent in sufficient number and extent to give evidence that
the unit did not provide adequate shelter or protection
against the elements or was physically unsafe. Examples
of these deficiencies are-
-
a. Holes, open cracks, rotted, loose, or missing materials
over a small area.
b. Shaky or unsafe porch, steps, or railings.
c. Broken or missing window panes.
d. Rotted or loose window frames which are no longer rain-
proof or windproof.
Damaged, unsafe, or makeshift chinmey.
f. Broken, loose, or missing inside stair treads or risers,
balusters, or railings.
g. Deep wear on doorsills, door frames, outside or inside steps,
or floors.
3. It was of inadequate original construction.
inadequate original construction are-
-
a. Makeshift walls.
b. Lack of foundation.
Examples of
c. Dirt floors.
d. Inadequately converted cellars, garages, barns, and
similar places.
Water supply.-A dwelling unit has "piped running water"
if water is piped to it from a pressure or gravity system. "No
piped running water" includes water from a hand pump or from a
well or stream or where no piped running water is available with-
in the structure.
A dwelling unit is counted as having hot piped running
water whether it is available the year round or only part of the
time. For example, hot running water may be available only dur-
ing the heating season or at various times during the week.
Toilet facilities.-A dwelling unit is reported as having
a flush toilet if the toilet is inside the structure and is op-
erated by means of water piped to it.
Bathing facilities.-A dwelling unit has a bathtub or shower
if either type of equipment, supplied with piped running water
(not necessarily hot water), is available inside the structure
for the use of the occupants of the dwelling unit.
Cooking fuel.-The fuel used most for cooking was reported.
Where the fuel used most was not readily ascertainable for com-
bination stoves, the fuel listed first was reported.
Kitchen sink.-A dwelling unit is reported as "with kitchen
sink" if a sink, located within the structure and with a drain-
pipe leading to the outside, is available for use by occupants of
the unit. The sink need not have running water piped to it.
8
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Refrigeration equipment. -The principal refrigeration
equipment available to the dwelling unit was reported, whether
or not it was in use at the time of enumeration. "Mechanical"
refrigeration includes any type of refrigerator operated by
electricity, gas, kerosene, gasoline, or other source
of power.
"Ice" refrigeration includes a refrigerator, box, or chest cooled
by ice supplied from an outside source. "Other" refrigeration
includes other devices or methods used to refrigerate food, such
as a spring house, cooler, well cooler, an ice house in which
storage space is provided for perishable food, and any evapora-
tive cooler which is operated by application of water.
Telephone.-The data in regard to telephone relate to the
farm and not necessarily to the dwelling of the farm operator as
the telephone may not have been located in the dwelling of the
farm operator.
Electricity.
If the farm had electricity, it was
counted
a farm reporting electricity, although electricity may not
have been installed in the dwelling of the farm operator. Elec-
tricity could have been either from a power line or from a home
plant.
G
-
HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES
Gardens for home use. -Farms on which any vegetables,
sweet corn or melons were harvested in 1949 for home use were
counted as farms reporting gardens for home use.
Farm slaughter.-Farms reporting farm slaughter include
those on which hogs, calves, cattle, sheep, or lambs were butch-
ered by or for the farm operator in 1949.
Chapter 2
LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS
1
(9)
>
יז
Introduction..
Low-production farns......
The economic classification of farms.
Age of farm operator....
Off-farm work……..
Occupation of farm operator.
Table-
3
..
(10)
CONTENTS
Page
11
12
14
14
15
15
TABLES
Tenure of farm operator.
Factors affecting off-farm work..
Education of farm operator...
Kind of road and distance to
trading center.
Summary.
►
•
1.-Farms, value of farm products sold, family income, and persons in families of farm operators, by economic class of farm, for the United States: 1950...
2.-Family income of farm operators of low-production farms, by economic class of farm and age of operator; for the United States and regions: 1950..
3.- Family income of farm operators of low-production farms, by days of off-farm work by farm operators, by age of operator; for the United States: 1950...
4.-Family income of farm operators of low-production farms, by occupation and days of work off the farm by farm operators, for the United States and regions;
and by economic class of farm, for the United States: 1950.....
5.-Family income of farm operators of low-production farms, by tenure of farm operator by economic class of farm; for the United States and regions: 1950....
6.-Farm operators classified according to other members of family having other income, income other than from the farm operated, and relationship of other
income of family to value of farm products sold, by age of farm operator, for the United States and regions: 1950....
7.-Schooling of farm operaters, kind of road on which farm is located, and distance to trading center, by number of days of work off farm by the farm operator,
for the United States and regions: 1950……….
1950.......
··
Page
17
17
17
19
.20
Page
11
13
15
16
18
19
20
LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS AND THE LOW-INCOME PROBLEM IN AGRICULTURE
Disparity in the distribution of gross agricultural income
is one of the chief causes for concern over the welfare of a sub-
stantial part of the farm population. Over 3 million farms had
gross farm sales that amounted to less than $2,500 in 1949. This
is 60 percent of the farms counted in the 1950 Census of Agricul-
ture. (See table 1.) The relatively small sales of farm products,
and the considerable amounts needed for cash operating expenses,
raise doubt as to the adequacy of incomes available to many of
the operator families on these farms. Low output per farm and
per farm worker raise questions as to the efficiency with which
resources are used on these farms compared with efficiency on
other farms and in other sectors of the economy. Yet in forma-
tion necessary for a complete picture of either the magnitude of
this problem or of the types of families affected has been
lacking.
Jackson V. McElveen, Division of Farm Management and Costs, Bureau of Agricultural Economics
Farms..
Use of over-all data on farm size and gross income distri-
bution has often resulted in conflicting conclusions-partly be-
cause of the difficulty in defining a farm, partly because of
traditional concepts of the farm as the major occupation of farm
people.
What was typical a few decades ago applies to a much
smaller segment of farm people today. Better roads, automobiles,
radios, and numerous other improvements in transportation and com-
munication, have brought farm people closer to urban life. The
expanding economy has demanded an increased quantity and variety
of goods and services. Industry is becoming widely dispersed
throughout many areas that were formerly rural. These develop-
ments have created new and varied job opportunities for farm
•
Table 1-FARMS, VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FAMILY INCOME, AND PERSONS IN FAMILIES OF FARM OPERATORS,
BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Value of farm products sold... .
Percent of total for all farms.
Average per farm...
Under $500..
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,999...
$3,000 and over.
•
Farm operators by family income from all sources:
Number reporting.
..
Percent distribution:
Number reporting.
Under $500...
$500 to $999.
·
$1,000 to $1,999..
$2,000 to $2,999. ..
$3,000 and over.
• •
Families of farm operators.
+ •
• ·
Persons under 14....
Persons 14 and over.
Average per family.
•
Persons in families, all ages
Average per family..
• •
•
• •
•
• •
►
• •
• • •
•
Item
Persons in labor force.
Average per family.
Percent of persons 14 and over.
INTRODUCTION
•
262023 O - 53 - 2
•
• •
Size of family group:
1 person..
2 persons.
3 or 4 persons
5 or more persons
1Percent not shown when less than 0.5.
Unpaid family workers.
Percent of persons in labor force.
•
percent distribution..
· ·
•
..total..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
·
•
·
• •
•
•
•
dollars (000)..| 22,481,713
percent..
.dollars..
•
·
•
•
·
••
•
· •
•
··
·
•
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
•
•
*
•
•
• •
number.. 5,380,127
100
•
·
percent..
percent..
percent..
number..
persons..
persons.
persons.
•
•
persons..
persons..
.persons..
persons..
percent..
Total,
all
farms
..persons..
.percent..
100
4,179
4,856, 417
656,570
709,6.50
1,206,055
863, 310
1,420,832
100
14
15
25
18
29
operators reporting..
operators reporting.
215,562
1,217,528
operators reporting.. 2,084,069
.operators reporting.. 1,824,031
5,341,190
21,573,540
4.0
6,661,833
14,911,707
2.8
8, 104, 014
1.5
54
2,815,578
35
Total
3,793,005
71
21,945,822
98
5,786
3,408, 016
442,842
484,089
852, 139
584,673
1,044,273
100
13
14
25
17
31
3,769,059
15,180, 403
4.0
4,659,337
10,521,066
2.8
5,900,602
1.6
56
2,270,724
38
people. This has been part and parcel of the migration from
agriculture and the over-all reduction in farm numbers.
140, 383
854,577
1,501,652
1,272,447
Among those who took up nonfarm jobs were many who con-
tinued to live on the farm and carry on some agricultural opera-
tions. Also, city workers moved to the country, supplementing
their incomes by farming while enjoying advantages of country
living. The merging of farm and non farm sectors has raised prob-
lems of classification. Data on farm sales alone are inadequate
to appraise problems of income distribution in agriculture, for
many operator families depend largely upon earnings from off-farm
jobs and businesses. For others, pensions, old-age assistance,
and incomes from rents or other investments are of primary impor-
tance. Farm income does not reflect total income nor the produc-
tivity of these families. A primary need is knowledge of the de-
gree of dependency upon agriculture.
The economic classification of farms has made substantial
progress in clarifying the concept of a farm. The separation of
commercial farms from part-time and resi den ti al farms is an impor-
tant step forward. Commercial farms may be defined broadly as
those operated as business units to provide the major source of
income for the farm family. The porportion of commercial farms
that reported other income exceeding farm sales are as follows:
class I, 5 percent; class II, 4 percent; class III, 5 percent;
class IV, 10 percent; class V,. 21 percent; class VI, none. Fur-
ther division of the commercial farms on the basis of value of
farm products sold provides a good measure of the size of the
farm business. In contrast, farming operations on part-time and
residential farms are usually supplementary to the off-farm eco-
nomic activity of the operator and members of his family.
On

Classes
I and II
485,822
9
438, 230
11,019
10,987
47,613
68,626
299,985
100
3
3
11
16
68
Commercial farms
13,999
83,325
Class III Class IV
227,691
156,371
753,305
14
11,149,903 | 5,317,502 | 3,335,828 1,638, 427
50
24
15
7
22,951 7,059 3,674 1,782
907,873
17
693,476
22,060
36,291
143,157
96, 116
241,586
166,332 170,473
325,636
100
3
5
21
24
47
14,096
148, 385
330,186
256., 265
822,741
69,327
Class V
100
8
12
29
21
30
919,651
17
829,035
119,428
143,589
274,260
145,432
245,239 146,326
21,328
201.528
356., 103
324,452
100
14
17
33
18
18
Class VI
35, 171
211,709
343,977
321,807
726,354
14
504, 162
2
694
Total
100
35
32
23
5
4
481,386 748,932 903,411 912,664 722,666 | 1,572, 131
1,944,628 3,046,019 3,745,993 | 3,727,250 2,716,513 | 6,393,137
4.0
4.1
4.1
4.1
3.8
4.1
586,151 937,983 1,171,669 | 1,171,589 791,945 2,002,496
1,358,477 2,108,036 2,574,324 | 2,555,661 | 1,924,568 | 4,390,641
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.8
792,672 | 1,227,749 | 1,444,425 1,433,382 1,002,374 2,203,412
1.6
1.6
56
505,092 326,166
35
1.4
52
58
306,741
39
1.6
58
533,420
43
1.6
56
599,305
41
1.4
50
544,854
25
33
1,587, 122
29
535, 891
2
338
624,534 | 1,448,401
221,008 213,728
197, 106 225, 561
145,523 353,916
33,810 278,637
27,087 376,559
100
15
16
24
19
26
55,789 75,179
209,630 362,951
243,695 582,417
213,552
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
625,525
12
463, 129
2
740
591,960
52,788
79,399
172,342
122,850
164,581
100
9
13
29
21
2228
(11)
18,434
140, 290
245,653
551,584 214,538
Resi-
dential
961,597
18
72,762
(1)
76
856,441
160,940
146, 162
181,574
155,787
211,978
618,915 953, 216
2,516,460 | 3,876,677
4.1
4.1
772,345 | 1,230, 151
1,744,115 | 2,646,526
2.8
2.8
939,189 | 1,264,223
1.5
1.3
54
48
266,750 278,104
28
22
100
19
17
21
18
25
56,745
22,661
336,764
337,046
12
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
most of the part-time and residential farms the income from non-
farm sources exceeded the value of farm sales. Low volume of
farm sales and substantial amount of off-farm work indicate that
for many of these operators the farm is largely a place to live
and only incidentally a supplemental source of income.
The matching of data for the 1950 Censuses of Population,
Housing, and Agriculture has provided needed information on fam-
ily and income characteristics of farm-operator families. It has
made possible the relating of total income of family members from
all sources to the size of the farm business as measured by farm
sales. This has facilitated an appraisal of the relationship be-
tween low agricultural production and low family income. Such in-
formation is basic to analysis of problems of income distribution
in agriculture, and is necessary to an understanding of the kinds
and sizes of farms in the United States.
An attempt has been made in this chapter to determine the
extent of low farm-operator family incomes when farm and off-farm
incomes of all family members are combined. In so doing, the
economic classification of farms, specifically the separation of
the commercial from part-time and residential farms, has been
examined for its effectiveness in defining dependency upon agri-
culture.
Gross farm sales are the total receipts from farm market-
ings. They are the basis of the economic classification of farms.
But out of gross sales must be paid the cash expenses of the farm
business. Gross farm sales are not to be confused with total
family income. Total family income includes sales from the farm,
after deduction of cash farm-operating expenses, as well as all
other income of the operator and family members. Included
in total family income are such items as net business receipts
from the farm and other businesses, wages and salaries from off-
farm jobs, pensions, allotments, and income from boarders or lod-
gers or from rents and investments.
I
But cash income of farm-operator families does not take into
consideration the value of farm products produced and consumed in
the home. Many of these families have home gardens, use farm-
produced dairy and poultry products, or butcher meat animals for
home use.
Also, cash farm income does not include the value of
the house occupied rent free by the operator's family.
With re-
spect to the content or level of living associated with a par-
ticular monetary income, the cash incomes reported by farm-opera-
tor families are not fully comparable with those reported by urban
families.
Family composition
Total cash income of farm-operator families amounted to
less than $1,000 on 1,366,000 farms in 1949, or a fourth of the
farms in the United States. No attempt is made here to assess
the relative amounts of cash income needed by operator families
to maintain adequate levels of living. Income groups are used
to isolate farm-operator family characteristics that appear to be
related to income and as a basis for describing relative income
levels.
Average size of operator's
family....
.number of persons..
Total number of families (000)....
Cash needs are probably dependent largely upon the size and
age of the family. Needs of a young family with children, for
example, may be greater than those of an elderly couple or one
without children. The sizes and composition of operator families
that reported less than $1,000 income are as follows:
•
Percent distribution by
family composition:
Husband and wife with-
No children under 18.. percent..
1 or 2 children
under 18..
3 or 4 children
•
under 18...
All other units.
•
··
·
percent..
percent..
.percent..
·
United States
3.9 3.8
927 439
37
25
Commercial Other Commercial Other
farms
farms farms farms
322 123
13
25
38
21
South
12
29
4.3
633
A
3323
225
-
26
15
26
4.0
344
37
22
14
27
Size of family on these farms is somewhat smaller than the
average for all farms; however, the average was nearly four per-
sons per family for the United States and slightly more than four
for the South. Families on the commercial farms tended to be
slightly larger than those on the other farms, composed princi-
pally of part-time and residential units.
Two-fifths of the commercial farm operators with family in-
comes of less than $1,000 had a wife and one or more children under
18 years of age. Children under 18 were reported by a third of
the part-time and residential units. (See chapter 3 for a more
detailed description of family composition by income groups and
by economic class.)
The regional distribution of farms with operators having
family income of less than $1,000 by tenure and type is as follows:

Tenure and type of farm
J
Total number of families (000)...
Percent of farms operated by-
Owners and managers.
All tenants..
Croppers (South only)......
Percent distribution by type of farm:
Cotton..
All other field crops..
Dairy, poultry, and other livestock..
General farms.
Miscellaneous and unclassified…….
•
United States
Commercial Other Commercial Other
farms farms farms farms
927 439
57
43
34
24
31
10
1
75
25
South
...
633
46
54
29
49
26
15
9
1
344
282
71
29
10
Approximately two-thirds of the families with incomes under
$1,000 were on commercial farms. Two-thirds of these were in the
South. Over three-fourths of the families on noncommercial farms
were in the South. There, low family incomes appear to be closely
associated with cotton farming and the cropper system of manage-
ment. Half of the families on commercial farms in the South were
on cotton farms, and nearly a third were families of croppers.
On the other hand, the operators of noncommercial farms were most-
ly owners. Less than a third were tenants and only 10 percent
were croppers. The noncommercial farms were not classified by type.
LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS
This chapter deals principally with low-production farms
farms that had sales of farm products amounting to less than
$2,500 in 1949. These are grouped in the economic classi fication
as class V and class VI commercial farms and as part-time and
residential farms. Most (nearly 85 percent) of the operators
with family income of less than $1,000 were on these farms. Of
all persons living in farm-operator households, about 60 percent
were on low-production farms. Yet these farms produced only about
a tenth of all products grown in the United States for sale.
Average sales per fam were extremely low in comparison with those
on larger commercial farms.
The term "low-production" farms, as used here, refers to the
relatively small size of the farm business. It is not intended
to reflect total productivity and incomes of operator families on
these farms. However, the size of the farm business is usually too
small to provide the operator family with full-time work on the
farm. Cash income available to families on these farms appears to
be dependent largely upon off-farm sources of income.
Separation of the operators of low-production farms for
special study admittedly ignores characteristics of operators on
some of the larger business units in agriculture who also reported
low family incomes. Family incomes of under $1,000 were reported
by operator families on a fifth of the class IV commercial farms
(those that reported gross farm sales of $2,500 to $4,999) and
about 7 percent of those that reported $5,000 or more sales of
farm products.
Some of the farms with gross sales amounting to $2,500 or
more, yet reporting less than $1,000 operator family income,
represent cases in which farm sales were lower in 1949 than would
normally be the case. Market output on the individual farm may

LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS
13
vary considerably from year to year even though cash expenditure
items remain relatively fixed over a period of years.
This may
be because of variations in yields, due to weather or other pro-
duction conditions, or because of larger or smaller sales out of
livestock inventories in the particular year.
On the other hand, the volume of production on farms with
sales significantly less than $2,500 is so small that low cash
income from farming may be a chronic problem. It is recognized
that some of these families also represent farms that had abnor-
mally low sales of farm products in 1949. When farms are classi-
fied by the amount of farm sales, farms with lower than normal
yields or sales out of livestock inventories tend to be classified
in lower value-of-sales groups than identical farms with normal
yields or sales out of inventories in the particular year. Like-
wise, farms with higher than normal sales tend to be classi fi ed
in larger value-of-sales groups.
M
Farm sales on the low-production farms range from less than
$250 on residential farms up to as much as $2,500 on class V com-
mercial farms. Many of the operator families on these farms have
substantial off-farm income. This is particularly true of those
on part-time and residential farms. Many others depend almost en-
tirely upon income from the farm. But even when farm and nonfarm
incomes are combined, the total family income available is in many
cases extremely small. Nearly 40 percent of the operator families
on these farms reported total family incomes of less than $1,000.
By economic class:
Class V....
Class VI.
UNITED STATES
Low-production farms, total...
·
Part-time.
Residential
By age of operator:
Class VI:
· ·
Region, economic class of farm, and age
of operator
...
Operators reporting age.
Under 55 years..
55-64 years..
65 years and over..
By economic class and age of operator:
Class V:
Operators reporting age.
Under 55 years....
55 years and over..
Operators reporting age
··
..
Under 55 years..
55 years and over
Part-time:
Table 2.-FAMILY INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS OF LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS of farm and age
OF OPERATOR; FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
•
Operators reporting age.
Under 55 years...
55 years and over
Residential:
By economic class:
Class V....
Class VI...
Part-time..
Residential...
By age of operator:
• •
Operators reporting age.
Under 55 years..
55 years and over
• · •
By economic class:
Class V....
Class VI...
Part-time.
Residential..
By age of operator:
[
Operators reporting age.
•
Under 55 years..
55-64 years...
65 years and over.
•· •
...
..
..
M
Operators reporting age.
Under 55 years.
55-64 years..
65 years and over.
T
NORTH AND WEST
Low-production farms, total....
• •
• •
•
· • •
• ·
▸
Low-production farms, total...
•
• •
•
SOUTH
•
•
+
•
•
·
•
·
•
• J
•
•
.number.. 3,230,725 2,900,233
829,035
624,534
590,223
856,441
number..
number..
.number..
.number..
.number..
number..
..number..
•
.number.. 3,024,458 2,720,256
number.. 1,868,944 1,713,980
number.. 602,354 535,404
470,872
..number..
553,160
number..
number..
.....number..
•
.number..
.number..
.number..
•
··
•
•
•
number..
number..
number..
..number..
number..
number..
number..
• •
number..
number..
.number..
..number..
Total,
all
farm
operators
..number.. 1,174,365
•
·
919,651
726,354
623,123
961,597
867,681
575,844
291,837
number.. 1,121,723
.number..
..number..
..number..
677,426
356,391
321,035
..number..
..number..
585,867
412,632
173.235
893,484
524,077
369,407
.number.. 2,056,360
389,687
189,430
272,619
322,629
643,824
243,373
234, 526
529,964
536,924
350,504
638,968
number..
number.. 1,225,120
Number
Half of these, over a half a million, reported total incomes of
less than $500. Another 40 percent reported from $1,000 to $3,000.
Only 20 percent reported incomes of $3,000 or more.
Of the total number of low-production farms, about two-thirds
are in the South, which contains slightly less than half of all
farms.. (See table 2.) In terms of operator total family income,
even greater contrast is apparent between the South and the rest
of the country. Total family incomes were under $1,000 on nearly
half of the low-production farms in the South compared with only
a fourth in the North and West. However, when comparisons are
made between white-operator families in the South and all-operator
families in the North and West, levels of income are much closer.
The comparisons are as follows:

358,981
318,634
Total reporting
Percent
of all
farm
operators
782,850
518,471
264,379
580,872
312, 563
268,309
556,129
395,677
160,452
800,405
487,269
313,136
1,050, 004
348,515
158,249
255, 283
287,957
1,006, 294
589,110
219,184
198,000
1,850,229
1,902,735 1,713,962
1,124,870
316,220
272,872
Color of operator
480,520
466,285
334,940
568,484
Low-production farms..
North and West.
South..
White..
Nonwhite.
90
90
86
95
89
no 2008
90
92
89
85
222 *** 20m
90
90
91
86
88
84
95
96
93
90
93
85
89
**** 828*
89
84
94
89
90
92
90
84
90
2008 2288
91
87
96
89
90
92
•
86
•
..
Number
1,120,420
263, 017
418,114
132,187
307,102
1,042,590
553,704
222,427
266,459
Farm operators by family income
Under $1,000
$1,000-$2,999
244,608
156,736
87,872
388,136
197,972
190, 164
125,891
74, 350
51,541
283,955
124,646
159,309
256,850
72,666
88,528
36,300
59,356
244, 244
82,159
65,153
96, 932
863,570
190,351
329,586
95,887
247,746
798,346
471, 545
157,274
169, 527
Percent
of
total
-Number
2,900, 233
1,050, 004
1,850, 229
1,409, 502
440,727
39
2520 8225
32
67
36
38
32
42
57
292 www
67
63
71
23
19
32
35
26
51
24
2812 2400
56
14
14
30
49
47
*28* *INI
40
71
29
44
47
42
Operators reporting total family income
$1,000- $3,000
$2,999 and over
Total
50
62
Percent of
total
39
24
47
39
72
Number
1,231,052
419,692
179,333
294,666
337,361
1,159,579
793, 607
216,731
149,241
398,510
272,442
126,068
168,279
101,837
66,442
276,467
202,529
73,938
316,323
216,799
99,524
469,958
182,372
58,043
111,679
117,864
Under
$1,000
453, 128
288,708
90,181
74,239
761,094
237,320
121,290
182,987
219,497
706,451
504,899
126,550
75,002
Percent
of
total
42
51
29
WARE CON
50
39
43
46
40
32
51
53
** 2min om
48
29
33
25
50
51
46
40
44
32
45
52
37
44
41
45
49
41
37
41
NBAR WUND
49
26
55
39
41
45
40
27
Percent of Percent of
total
total
42
45
41
46
27
$3,000 and over
Number
548,761
146,326
27,087
163,370
211,978
518,087
366,669
96,246
55,172
139,732
89,293
50,439
24,457
12,754
11,703
153,771
118,798
34,973
200,127
145,824
54,303
323,196
93,477
11,678
107,304
110,737
308,922
218,243
63,850
26,829
225,565
52,849
15,409
56,066
101,241
209,165
148,426
32,396
28,343
Percent
of
total
19
@*** 2222
18
28
25
19
21
4
18
12
18
17
19
4
4
4
22223
28
30
31
25
30
17
31
27
7
42
38
31
37
29
14
12
H370 2300
11
17
18
12
13
10
2724
19
10
12
15
1

14
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
About the same proportion of white-operator families in the
South reported family incomes of less than $1,000 as was the case
for all operators of low-production farms. Two-fifths of the
white-operator families in the South reported incomes below $1,000
compared with nearly three-fourths of the nonwhite families. Near-
ly a third of the families on low-production farms in the North
and West, only 15 percent of the white operators in the South, and
almost none of the nonwhite operators reported incomes from all
sources of $3,000 or more.
THE ECONOMIC CLASSIFICATION OF FARMS
•
-
In the economic classification, farms with sales of $250
to $1,199 were separated into two groups, class VI commercial
farms and part-time farms. Separation was based on the amount of
off-farm work reported by the farm operator and whether income
from off- farm sources exceeded farm sales. These farms were
classified as part-time if the operator worked off farm 100 days
or more, or if family income from off-farm sources was greater
than sales of farm products. Those on which the operator did not
work off farm as much as 100 days, and income from off-farm sources
was of less importance than farm sales, were classified as class
VI commercial farms.
The low-income problem is found in its most acute form
among operator families on class VI farms. Total family incomes
of less than $1,000 were reported by operators on two-thirds of
these farms. More than a third reported total family incomes of
less than $500. Less than 10 percent reported as much as $2,000.
Most (about three-fourths) of the class VI farms were lo-
cated in the South. There, they appear to be concentrated in the
general farming areas of the Appalachian and Ozark-Ouachita Moun-
tains and plateaus, and throughout the cotton South. In the
South, also, a higher proportion reported family incomes of under
$1,000. But wherever their location, incomes of operator families
on most of the class VI farms were extremely low. The criteria
employed in the farm classification resulted in segregating a
group of farms upon which the operator families were dependent
primarily upon gross farm sales of less than $1,200. Of all farm-
operator families in the United States with total family incomes
of less than $1,000, a third were on class VI commercial farms.
On the other hand, most (nearly 80 percent) of the operator
families on part-time farms had incomes from all sources that ex-
ceeded $1,000. Over a fourth reported incomes of $3,000 or more.
Only 10 percent of all farm-operator families with total incomes
of less than $1,000 were on part-time farms.
Over half of the part-time farms are found in the South. But
of those with family incomes of less than $1,000, nearly three-
fourths were in the South. Less than 15 percent of the families
part-time farms in the North and West reported incomes of un-
der $1,000 compared with nearly 30 percent in the South.
on
The larger volume of farm production for sale on class V
commercial farms ranging from $1,200 to $2,499, resulted in some-
what higher family incomes. Put almost a third of the operator
families on these farms, as well, reported total incomes of under
$1,000; nearly two-thirds reported less than $2,000. Slightly
less than 60 percent of the class V commercial farms were found
in the South, but nearly three-fourths of those with operator-
family incomes under $1,000 and two-thirds of those with incomes
under $2,000 were found in the South. Two-fifths of the operator
families on class V farms in the South reported incomes of less
than $1,000 as compared with a fifth in the North and West.
Farms with less than $250 value of farm products sold were
termed residential in the economic classification of farms. The
size of the farm business on these farms was so small they were
considered to be used primarily for residential purposes. A high
proportion of the farm operators worked off the farm 100 days or
more, and on most of these farms off-farm income exceeded income
from farm sales. There is apparently considerable mixture as to
the types of situations represented by operator families on these
farms. Incomes cover a fairly broad range. A little more than a
third reported incomes of less than $1,000; nearly a fifth report-
ed incomes of less than $500. In contrast, a fourth reported in-
-
comes of $3,000 and over. These variations reflect the varying
range of amounts of off-farm income.
Of the approximately 1 million residential farms, two-
thirds are in the South. Over two-fifths of the operator fam-
ilies on these farms in the South reported incomes of less than
$1,000 compared with only a fifth of those in the North and West.
On the other hand, nearly two-fifths of the operator families on
residential farms in the North and West reported incomes of $3,000
or more compared with less than a fifth in the South. (See chap-
ter 3 for a more complete discussion of farm-operator family in-
come and averages per farm by economic class of farm.)
AGE OF OPERATOR
Operators of low-production farms were somewhat older on
the average, than all farm operators. The average age for all
farm operators in the country in 1950 was 48.3 years compared
with an average age of 49.6 years for operators of low-produc-
tion farms. But age of operator varied considerably among the
economic classes of low-production farms. The average ages and
proportions of operators in different age groups are shown below.

Economic class
All farms.
Low-production
farms....
Class V....
Class VI...
Part-time.
Residential..
··
Total
Number
(000)
5,051
Operator family income
from all sources
Low-production farms:
Operators reporting
income....
3,024
868
677
586
893
Under $1,000.
$1,000 to $2,999.
$3,000 and over.
• ·
Operators reporting age
•
Inder 55 55 to 64 65 and over
Percent of
total
66
Total
62
66
52
71
59
Number
(000)
2,720
1,042
1, 160
5 18
Percent of Percent of
total
total
19
J
20
19
23
17
20
15
Although operators of class VI and residential farm opera-
tors were older than the average for all farm operators, operators
of part-time farms and class V farms were somewhat younger. A
fourth of the operators of class VI farms and a fifth of those on
residential farms were 65 years of age or older. Only 12 percent
of the operators of part-time farms were 65 or older.
The proportion of the operators of low-production farms who
were 65 years old and over was slightly higher in the North and
West than in the South-- about 20 percent in the North and West
compared with 17 percent in the South. In the South about two-
thirds and in the North and West about three-fifths of the opera-
tors of low-production farms were under 55 years old.
Total income of operator families was closely associated
with the age of the operator. The older operators reported small-
er incomes. The age of operators of low-production farms by in-
come groups were as follows:
24222
63
53
68
71
18
15
25
12
21
Average
age
Years
20
21
19
18
48.3
49.6
47.7
51.6
47.8
51.1
·
Operators reporting age
Under 55 55 to 64 65 and over
Percent of Percent of
total
total
Percent of
total
-

17
26
13
11
Of the operators of low-production farms that reported in-
comes of less than $1,000, more than a fourth were 65 years of
age or older.
Operators in this age group comprised only a tenth
of those reporting family incomes of $3,000 or more. In contrast,
the proportion of operators under 55 increased from slightly over
half of the lower income group to nearly three-fourths of the
group reporting incomes of $3,000 or more.
Altogether, nore than half of the operators of low-production
farms over 65 years of age reported family incomes of less than
LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS
15
$1,000; only about 10 percent reported as much as $3,000 family
income.
In contrast, two-thirds of the operators under 55 had
incomes in excess of $1,000. Over a fifth reported as much as
$3,000 total family income. Nevertheless, over half a million
operators on low-production farms under 55 years of age, reported
family incomes from all sources of less than $1,000.
Lower family incomes reported by the older operators is ex-
plained, in part, by the relatively limited amount of off-farm work
done by these operators. A little over 10 percent reported 100
or more days of off-farm work. (See table 3.) In contrast, 100
or more days of off-farm work was reported by over two-fifths of
the operators under 55 years of age.
The extent of the operator's off-farm work was closely asso-
ciated with total family income. Of the operators with family in-
comes under $1,000, only 10 percent reported 100 or more days off-
farm work. Over 70 percent of those with incomes of $3,000 or
more reported off-farm work of 100 days or more. Most (about 85
percent) of the operators who reported 100 or more days work
off farm reported total family incomes in excess of $1,000. Less
than half of those who worked off farm less than 100 days re-
ported as much as $1,000 family income.
Fewer operators of low-production farms in the South than
in the North and West worked off farm 100 or more days-only 28
percent of those in the South as compared with 45 percent in the
North and West combined. (See table 4.) Of those working 100 or
more days in the North and West, 95 percent had incomes in excess
of $1,000 and 50 percent had incomes of $3,000 or over. In the
South about 80 percent of those working off farm 100 or more days
reported family incomes of $1,000 or more, but only a little over
a fourth reported as much as $3,000 family income.
as
However, total family incomes of operators in the North and
West were not as dependent upon off-farm work of the operator
were those in the South. Of the operators who did not work off
farm as much as 100 days, three-fifths of those in the North and
West reported incomes in excess of $1,000 compared with two-
fifths in the South. About 14 percent of those in the North re-
ported family incomes of $3,000 or more compared with 6 percent
in the South.
OCCUPATION OF FARM OPERATOR
Most of the farm operators who did not work off farm as much
as 100 days reported their occupation as farmer. The Census
question on occupation related to the work performed the week pre-
ceding the enumeration. In case the operator worked both on the
farm and at an off-farm occupation, the occupation reported was
that which the farm operator considered as his major occupation.
Therefore, most of those who worked off farm less than 100 days,
Low-production farms, total...
Reporting age..
Days of off-farm work
and
age of operator
By days farm operator worked off farm
in 1949 and age of operator:
Operators reporting days worked....
Under 100 days...
Under 55 years.
55-64 years...
65 years and over
Not reporting age..
100 days or more.
Reporting age....
•
•
•
•
Under 55 years..
•
Not reporting age..
•
OFF-FARM WORK
•
•
•
•
55 years and over..
•
•
•
Operators not reporting days worked...
•
.
•
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
...number of operators..
•
•
number.. 3,230,725
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.....number.. 3,146,896
operators reporting.. 2,095,892
Table 3.-FAMILY INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS OF LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS, BY DAYS OF OFF-FARM WORK BY FARM
OPERATORS, BY AGE OF OPERATOR; FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Farm operators by family income
Under $1,000
$1,000-$2,999
Total,
all
farm
operators
•
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
...number of operators..
..number..
1,961,951
1,048,103
423,444
490,404
133,941
1,051,004
995, 137
787,134
208,003
55,867
83,829
Number
and those whose income from off-farm work was of less importance
than income from the farm business, were likely to be classified
as farmers. About 90 percent of the operators working off farm
less than 100 days reported their occupation as farmer.
Most (about three-fourths) of the operators who worked off
farm 100 or more days reported their off-farm occupation. Nearly
all of these reported a non farm occupation. Farm labor on other
farms was reported by only 2 percent of the operators who worked
off farm 100 or more days. However, the proportion reporting the
major occupation as farm labor on other farms was slightly higher
among the operators with total family income of under $1,000.
The occupation reported varied considerably by family in-
come.. Among the operators that reported family income of less
than $1,000, farming was the most frequently reported occupation
regardless of the amount of off-farm work. Where the reported
family income was $3,000 or more, more than two-thirds of the
operators reported a nonfarm occupa
tion.
By age groups, more of the older operators reported their
occupation as farmers and farm managers. Occupations reported
by operators of low-production farms by age groups were as follows:

Low-production farms:
Operators reporting age.
Under 55...
55 to 64..
65 and over..
2,900,233
Economic class and age
Total
2,828,521
1,841,411
1,723,240
Class V commercial..
Class VI commercial..
Part-time.
Residential.
939,402
368,216
415,622
118,171
987,110
937,030
744,561
192,469
50,080
71,712
Percent
of all
farm
operators
90
90
88
88
90
87
85
88
•
94
94
253535
• •
··
95
93
90
86
Number
1,120,420
1,093,585
960,348
896,193
• •
456,742
190,358
249,093
64,155
133,237
124,298
90,646
•
33,652
8,939
26,835
Number
2,670, 324
1,775,694
516, 141
378,489
Percent
of
total
Tot el
The larger proportion of older operators reporting their
occupation as farmers is to be expected since fewer of them
worked off farm 100 or more days. Only 11 percent reported a
nonfarm occupation-about the same proportion that reported 100
or more days of off-farm work and that reported total family in-
comes of $3,000 or more. Over a third of the operators under 55
years of age reported a non farm occupation. This is consistent
with the greater amounts of off-farm work reported by these opera-
to rs.
39
ANNONCA ≈2270 ☹
39
Nearly 90 percent of the small commercial farm operators
reported their occupation as farmer. In the other 10 percent,
two-thirds reported a non farm occupation and a third reported
the major occupation as farm labor on other farms.
In contrast,
52
49
52
60
54
Operators reporting occupation
1,203,145
52 728,850
13
13
12
864,091
647,675
561,082
768,910
17
18
37
Farm
owners and
managers
Percent of
total
Number
1,231,052
86
01
48
30
682,118
418,453
140,730
122,935
46,732
67
62
70
86
474,295
452,186
357,779
94,407
22,109
27,907
Farm
laborers
and foremen
Percent
of
total
Percent of Percent of
total
total
42
233 4
43
40
40
45
38
30
40
3
3
48
48
48
49
44
39
23
2
Number
Nord arm
occupations
$3,000 and over
548,761
531,791
152,213
144,929
64,207
37,128
43,594
7,284
379,578
360,546
296,136
64,410
19,032
16,970
♡ a tour to
Percent
of
total
12
5
49
30
35
——
28
11

19
19
8
870
10
10
6
N WWBWW
38
38
40
33
38
24
16
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 4.-FAMILY INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS OF LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS, BY OCCUPATION AND DAYS OF WORK OFF
THE FARM BY FARM OPERATORS, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS; AND BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM,
FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Farm operators by family income
Under $1,000
$1,000-$2,999

Region, economic class, days of
off-farm work, and occupation of operator
Low-production farms, total..
By occupation of operator:
Operators reporting occupation.
Farmers and farm managers...
Farm laborers and foremen.
Nonfarm occupation......
Operators not reporting occupation..
By days farm operators worked off
farm in 1949 and occupation:
UNITED STATES
Operators reporting work off farm.
Under 100 days......
Classes V and VI farms...
Reporting occupation..
By occupation of operator:
Operators reporting occupation.
Farmers and farm managers..
Farm laborers and foremen.
Farmers and farm managers.
Farm laborers and foremen.
Non farm occupation.......
Operators not reporting occupation.
...
•
•
•
Part-time and residential farms..
By occupation of operator:
Operators reporting occupation.
Farmers and farm managers.....
Farm laborers and foremen.....
Nonfarm occupation......
Operators not reporting occupation.
D
Non farm occupation...
Operators not reporting occupation...number..
100 days or more...
• ·
By days farm operator worked off farm in 1949:
Operators reporting work off farm...
Under 100 days...
100 days or more.
Low-production farms, total.
By occupation of operator:
Operators reporting occupation.
Farmers and farm managers.
Farm laborers and foremen.
Nonfarm occupation....
Operators not reporting occupation.
▸
· •
·
By days farm operator worked off farm in 1949:
Operators reporting work off farm...
Under 100 days.
100 days or more.
Reporting occupation..
Farmers and farm managers.........number..
Farm laborers and foremen...... ..number..
Non farm occupation.....
number..
Operators not reporting occupation...number..
..
NORTH AND WEST
•
•
SOUTH
Low-production farms, total...
By days farm operator worked off farm in 1949:
Operators reporting work off farm.
Under 100 days.....
100 days or more.
By occupation of operator:
Operators reporting occupation.
Farmers and farm managers.
Farm laborers and foremen..
Nonfarm occupation......
Operators not reporting occupation...
•
...
• · ·
•
•
By days farm operator worked off farm in 1949:
Operators reporting work off farm...
Under 100 days...
100 days or more.
..
•
number.. 2,838,360
number.. 1,903,913
80,562
..number.. 853,885
392,365
number..
...number..
•
•
..number..
..number..
..number..
number..
..number..
.number..
•
•
•
·
·
..number..
·
number..
..number..
..number..
..number..
..number..
• •
•
.number..
number..
[]
•
..number..
number..
number..
number..
...number..
•
• •
•
number..
•
•
number..
.number..
number..
•
..number..
...number..
.number..
.number..
number..
.number..
..number..
number..
.number..
•
..number.. 1,599,169 1,413,065
.number.. 1,439,299 1,266,981
number..
159,870
146,084
number.. 1,584,720
1,446,664
Total,
all
farm
operators
3,230,725
...number..
..number..
number..
number..
• •
56,439
108,283
322,778
1,051,004
999,841
253,438
22,543
723,860
51, 163
1,646,005
1,511,897
1,333,315
39,451
139,131
134,108
3,146,896 2,828,521
2,095,892 1,841,411
1,595,380
1,773,114
1,608,392
1,448,020
1,326,463
570,598
41, 111
714,754
258,257
1,547,727
656,593
891,134
1,174,365
1,046, 611
603,852
25,332
417,427
127,754
..number.. 2,056, 360
Total reporting
number.. 1,791,749
1,300,061
55,230
436,458
264, 611
Number
2,900,233
..number.. 2,012,021
...number.. 1,468,104
.number..
543,917
2,610,529
1,726,708
70,059
813,762
289,704
46,981
100,379
246,031
987,110
955, 544
239,769
21,498
694,277
31,566
1,453,569
1,361,025
1,199,918
32,618
128,489
92,544
1,249,504
526,790
37,441
685,273
197,160
1,415,456
574,430
841,026
1,134,875 1,018,423
627,788
507,087
547,723
470,700
1,050,004
963,214
546,359
21,141
395,714
86,790
1,850,229
1,647,315
1,180,349
48,918
418,048
202,914
1,810,098
1,293, 688
516,410
Percent
of
total
90
2262
92
91
87
95
74
90
88
90
90
83
93
76
94
96
95
95
96
62
88
90
90
83
92
69
88
88
91
91
94
92
91
96
76
91
87
94
89
2008
92
90
83
95
68
90
87
93
90
22887
92
91
89
96
77
288888
Number
1,120,420
956, 160
826,128
35,779
94,253
164, 260
1,093,585
960,348
810,318
741,973
28,420
39,925
150,030
133,237
125,333
67,853
6,305
51,175
7,904
681,131
625,202
587,156
18,420
19,626
55,929
665,862
650,965
14,897
439,289
330,958
238,972
17,359
74,627
108,331
427,723
309,383
118,340
256,850
215,303
189,574
5,797
19,932
41,547
245,795
221,595
24,200
863,570
740,857
636,554
29,982
74,321
122,713
847,790
738,753
109,037
Percent
of
total
39
37
48
51
12
57
39
52
51
51
60
40
61
13
13
28
29
7
25
47
46
49
56
15
60
47
51
10
30
26
45
46
11
55
30
54
14
24
22
35
27
5
48
24
40
5
47
45
54
61
18
60
47
57
21
Number
1,231,052
1,138,145
737,773
27,455
372,917
92,907
1,203,145
728,850
655,922
596,911
14,871
44,140
72,928
474,295
4:56,946
122, 441
12,058
322,447
17,349
599,025
568,356
508,936
11,045
48,375
30,669
581,126
517,356
63,770
632,027
569,789
228,837
16,410
324,542
62,238
622,019
211,494
410,525
469,958
438,377
267,867
10,097
•
160,413
31,581
459,409
250,373
209,036
761,094
699,768
469.906
17,358
212,504
61,326
743,736
478,477
265,259
Percent
of
total
42
+32 2 2
44
43
39
46
32
43
40
41
41
32
44
♡♡♡ go go g
30
48
48
51
56
46
55
41
42
42
34
38
33
41
41
44
44
46
43
44
47
32
44
37
49
45
46
49
48
41
36
45
46
44
41
42
40
35
51
30
41
37
51
$3,000 and over
Percent
of
total
Number
548,761
516,224
162,807
6,825
346,592
32,537
531,791
152,213
129,140
109, 136
3,690
16,314
23,073
379,578
373,265
49,475
3,135
320,655
6,313
173,413
167,467
103,826
3,153
60,488
5,946
166,077
98,660
67.417
375,348
348,757
58,981
3,672
286,104
26,591
365,714
53,553
312,161
323,196
309,534
88,918
5,247
215,369
13,662
313,219
75,755
237,464
225,565
206,690
73.889
1,578
131,223
18,875
218,572
76,458
142,114
19
20
9
10
43
11
19
8
8
8
8
16
9
38
39
21
15
46
20
12
12
9
10
47
6
500 13
8
46
26
28
11
10
42
13
26
9
،
37
31
32
16
25
54
16
31
14
50
12
13
6
3
31
9
12
6
28
LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS
17
over half of the operators of part-time and residential farms re-
ported an occupation other than farmer. Less than 3 percent re-
ported their occupation as farm laborer.
TENURE OF FARM OPERATOR
Most of the low-production farms were owner-operated. Of
all farms that produced products for sale valued at less than
$2,500, three-fourths were operated by owners, part-owners, or
managers. Only a fourth were tenant-operated. The proportion
of tenancy was higher among the small commercial farms. For the
country as a whole, a third of the operators of small commercial
farms were tenants; but only 15 percent of the operators of
part-time and residential farms were tenants. (See table 5.)
In the South a third of the low-production farms were
tenant-operated compared with 10 percent in the North and West.
Half of the small commercial farms and almost a fourth of the
part-time and residential farms in the South were tenant-opera-
ted. In contrast, 15 percent of the small commercial and less
than 10 percent of the part-time and residential farms in the
North and West were tenant-operated.
There was a close association of tenancy with low family
income.
Over half of the tenant operators reported family in-
comes of less than $1,000 as compared with about a third of the
owner operators. Only 7 percent of the tenant operators re-
ported incomes of $3,000 or more compared with a fourth of the
owner operators.
In comparing family incomes of owner operators with those
of tenant operators it must be kept in mind that somewhat dif-
ferent types of farm income are represented. The tenant pays
rent to a landlord for use of land and buildings. For him, in-
come from the farm is largely a return for management and labor.
Represented in the farm income of the owner operator, on the
other hand, is the return on capital invested in land and build-
ings after such fixed costs as depreciation, taxes, and insurance
have been taken into account.
Three-fourths of the operators of low-production farms in
the South were white. The percentage of white operators varied
by tenure from 87 percent among owners to 53 percent among
tenant operators. More than 85 percent of the operators of part-
time farms were white, and only slightly less of the operators
of residential farms. Many more of the operators of small com-
mercial farms - a fourth of the operators of class V farms and
over a third of the operators of class VI farms-were nonwhite.
Nearly half of all tenants in the South were nonwhite compared
with a little over 10 percent of the owners, part-owners, and
managers.
FACTORS AFFECTING OFF-FARM WORK
Adequacy of family incomes on small farms is dependent
largely upon off-farm income. Off-farm work of the operator ap-
pears to be the most important source. Nearly 90 percent of the
operators of low-production farms who worked off farm 100 or
more days reported family incomes in excess of $1,000, and al-
Of the operators not
most two-fifths reported $3,000 or more.
working off farms as much as 100 days, over half reported to tal
family incomes amounting to less than $1,000; only 8 percent re-
ported as much as $3,000.
tors.
Capabilities for off-farm work are influenced by many fac-
Few are measurable in quantitive terms. Migration from
farms to nonfarm areas or to areas where off- farm jobs are
available is a highly selective process. Individual attributes
such as special skills, health, or initiative are undoubtedly
important.
·
It is shown in this report that age is an important fac -
tor relative to the operator working off farm. Most of the
operators who worked off farm 100 or more days were under 55
years of age. Very few operators 65 years or older worked off
farm and only about a fourth of those 55 to 64 reported as much
as 100 days work off farm. The limitations imposed by age upon
capabilities for many kinds of work are generally recognized.
For older operators, a change of occupation or the movement to
areas of better employment would probably be more difficult.
Also, many of the older operators may be partially retired and
not looking for work.
However, when off-farm work of other family members is
taken into consideration, there is an interesting counterpart.
About the same proportion of operators 65 years and over
ported family members working off farm as was reported by younger
(See table 6.)
operators.
Data are not available on the com-
parative amounts of work involved. Lower family incomes of many
older operators would indicate that off-farm work of both operator
and family members is likely to be limited to fewer days and
consequently provide less income.
A substantially higher proportion of older operators re-
ported other income (income in addition to that received from
the sale of farm products). Over a third of the operators 65
and over reported other sources of income compared with slightly
less than a fourth of all operators and a little over a fifth of
the operators under 55. And in the South, over
over two-fifths of
the older operators reported other income. This probably indi-
cates the greater degree of dependency of the older operators
upon pensions, allotments, and incomes from rents and other in-
how-
vestments. From data on total family income it appears,
ever, that amounts received were in many cases small.
For the United States as a whole, a third of the operators
65 and older reported other income exceeding farm sales; the
In the South
proportion was less for the younger operators.
nearly two-fifths of the operators 65 and over reported other
income exceeding farm sales.
farm sales. In the North and West only a
fourth of the operators reported other income exceeding income
from farming and there was little variation by age groups.
Education of operator
Part-time and residential
farms....
.number.
Operators reporting-
Years of schooling....
Not completing
school.....
Completing elemen-
tary school, but
not high school...
Completing high
school or more....
•
EDUCATION OF FARM OPERATOR
re-
Nearly all farm operators (98 percent) reported that they
had attended school. Completion of elementary grades was
ported by three-fourths, an additional fifth completed high
school, and about 1 out of 20 attended college.
Work off farm appeared to be associated with education.
Only a fifth of the farm operators in the United States that did
not complete the elementary grades in school worked off farm 100
or more days. (See table 7.) In comparison, a fourth of those
reporting completion of elementary grades and a third of those
completing high school reported 100 or more days of off- farm work.
The relation ship between education and the amount of work
off-farm is even more pronounced for operators of part-time and
residenti al farms than for all farm operators. The comparative
data for part-time and residential farms are given below:
Total,
all farm
opera-
tors
583,691
218,718
Total
Number Number
1,584, 720 1,547,727
1,548,701 1,513,807
746, 292
732,604
Farm operators reporting as
to work off farm
By days of off-farm work
570,002
211, 201
None
Percent
of total
31
31
39
25
117
Under
100 days
Percent
of total
11
11
15
9
re-
3
C
-

100 or
more
days
Percent
of total
58
58
46
65
80
In relating the off-farm work and educational characteris-
tics of operators of part-time and residential farms, two points
deserve emphasis. First, operators who have completed more
years of schooling are more likely to work at off-farm jobs.
Over 80 percent of those that reported the completion of high
school reported off-farm work as compared with about 60 percent
18
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 5.-FAMILY INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS OF LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS, BY TENURE OF FARM OPERATOR BY
ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM; FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]

Region, economic class, and color or
tenure of operator
UNITED STATES
Low-production farms, total...
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers.
All tenants.
Classes V and VI farms.
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers.
All tenants...
Class V farms..
Class VI farms...
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers.
All tenants.
Part-time farms..
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers.
All tenants.
.
Part-time and residential farms.....
By tenure of operator:
•
Owners, part owners, and managers..
All tenants…..
•
Residential farms..
..
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers.
All tenants.
•
• •
··
Part-time and residential farms.
By tenure of operator:
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers..
All tenants..
Classes. V and VI farms.
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers..
All tenants..
•
Owners, part owners, and managers.
All tenants.
NORTH AND WEST
Low-production farms, total...
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers.
All tenants.
White..
Nonwhite.
All tenants.
White..
Nonwhite.
Low-production farms, total.
By color of operator:
White operators.
•
•
•
•
SOUTH
•
·
··
•
Classes V and VI farms..
By color of operator:
White operators...
Nonwhite operators.
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers
All tenants.
Part-time and residential farms..
By color of operator:
White operators...
Nonwhite operators.
By tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners,
All tenants...
..
•
Nonwhite operators.
By color and tenure of operator:
Owners, part owners, and managers.
•
4
•
and managers.
D
•
...
•
•
•
••
•
•
..
•
•
•
.number..
..number..
..number..
..number..
.number..
..number..
2,424, 011
806,714
..number..
1,646,005
.number.. 1,097,728
.number..
548,277
number..
919,651
...number..
...number..
..number..
.number..
480,036
246,318
.number..
1,584,720
number.. 1,326,283
258,437
623,123
·
number..
..number..
number..
•
•
number..
..number..
• •
•
•
•
•
•
number.. 1,053,494
...number..
120,871
..number..
579,117
502,972
76,145
595,248
550,522
44,726
number..
·
number..
number..
number..
number..
number..
·
.number..
number..
•
Total,
all
farm
operators
3,230,725
number..
.number..
number..
..number..
number..
617,692
301,959
726,354
..number.. 2,056,360
1,557,773
498,587
number..
...number..
514,573
108,550
961,597
811,710
149,887
1,174,365
..number..
....number..
...number..
..number..
...number..
..number..
1,370,517
1,193, 471
177,046
685,843
364, 302
321,541
..number..
1,066,888
..number.. 737,302
..number..
329,586
594,756
472,132
989,472
820,471
169,001
775,761
213,711
Total reporting
→
Number
2,900,233
2,171,371
728,862
1,453,569
967, 367
486,202
829,035
552,849
276,186
624,534
414,518
210,016
1,446,664
1,204,004
242,660
590,223
485,359
104,864
856,441
718,645
137,796
1,050, 004
935,975
114, 029
506,764
435,360
71,404
543,240
500,615
42,625
1,850, 229
1,409,502
440,727
1,235,396
1,077,812
157,584
614,833
331,690
283,143
946,805
659,825
286,980
532,007
414,798
903,424
749,677
153,747
703,389
200,035
· · .
Percent
of all
farm
operators
90
28 8 8 8 8 200
90
90
88
88
89
90
90
91
86
80 ã ã * 2 * * 8 82
86
85
91
91
94
95
94
97
89
89
92
89
* * * * 2 2 20
89
94
88
87
94
91
91
95
90
20 2008
90
88
90
90
89
90
91
88
* ** *8 22:
89
89
87
89
88
91
91
91
91
94
Farm operators by family income
Under $1,000
Number
1,120,420
715, 531
404,889
681,131
386,360
294, 771
263,017
129,742
133,275
418,114
256,618
161,496
439,289
329,171
110,118
132,187
95,726
36,461
307,102
233,445
73,657
256,850
225,731
31,119
161,194
140,624
20,570
95,656
85,107
10,549
863,570
547,660
315,910
489.800
384,971
104,829
373,770
162,689
211,081
519,937
302,544
217,393
245,736
274,201
343,633
245,116
98,517
244, 064
99,569
Percent
of
total
39
33
56
47
40
61
32
22 223
48
67
☺ ☺ ☺ ☺☺ NAN ☺ 22
62
77
30
27
45
22
20
35
36
32
53
24
22 ≈ 22
24
27
32
32
29
18
12345
17
47
aw w at 22 3 24222* 2 w
39
72
40
36
67
61
49
75
55
46
76
46
38
33
64
$1,000-$2,999
35
50
Number
1,231,052
954,659
276,393
599,025
434,689
164,336
419,692
300, 062
119,630
179,333
134,627
44,706
632,027
519,970
112,057
294,666
235,718
58,948
337,361
284,252
53,109
469,958
412, 010
57,948
240,415
201,948
38,467
229,543
210,062
19,481
761,094
642,589
118,505
66 125,869
542,649
494,102
48,547
218,445
148,487
69,958
358,610
291,127
67,483
232,741
402,484
351,462
51,022
309,908
92,576
Percent
of
total
42
44
38
41
45
34
51
54
43
29
32
21
44
43
46
50
49
56
39
40
39
45
44
51
47
46
54
42
42
46.
41
En #mon 8 * * * *
46
27
44
46
31
36.
45
25
38
44
24
44
30
45
47
33
44
46
€3,000 and over
Number
548,761
501, 181
47,580
173,413
146,318
27,095
146,326
123,045
23,281
27,087
23,273
3,814
375,348
354,863
20,485
163,370
153,915
9,455
211,978
200,948
11,030
323,196
298,234
24,962
105,155
92,788
12,367
218,041
205,446
12,595
225,565
219,253
6,312
202,947
198,739
4,208
22,618
20,514
2,104
68,258
66,154
2,104
53,530
14, 728
157,307
153,099
4,208
149,417
7,890
Percent
of
total
19
23
7
12
15
6
∞ a
18
22
8
4
62
2
26
29
8
28
32
9
25
28
8
31
22232
21
21
17
40
41
30
12
16
1
16
18
3
4
6
1
7
9- °* ~ am a
made
10
1
10
4
17
20
3
21
4
LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS
19
1950
Table 6.-FARM OPERATORS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO OTHER MEMBERS OF FAMILY HAVING OTHER INCOME, INCOME
OTHER THAN FROM THE FARM OPERATED, AND RELATIONSHIP OF OTHER INCOME OF FAMILY TO
ΤΟ VALUE OF
FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, BY AGE OF FARM OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS:
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Farm operators reporting age
55-64 years

Total number of farm operators.
With any income other than
from farm operated...
With other members of family
with nonfarm job or business or
working on other farms in 1949..
Region and item
UNITED STATES
With other income exceeding value
of farm products sold...
With value of farm products sold
greater than other income..
With relationship of other income
to value of farm products not
reported...
With any income other than
from farm operated...
Total number of farm operators..
With other members of family
with nonfarm job or business or
working on other farms in 1949...
With other income exceeding value
of farm products sold.....
··
NORTH AND WEST
With value of farm products sold
greater than other income..
With relationship of other income
to value of farm products
not reported..
With any income other than
from farm operated...
SOUTH
Total number of farm operators...
With other members of family
with nonfarm job or business or
working on other farms in 1949...
With other income exceeding value
of farm products sold....
..
With value of farm products sold
greater than other income.
With relationship of other income
to value of farm products not
reported.....
•
operators reporting..
operators reporting none..
operators not reporting..
...
operators reporting..
operators reporting none..
operators not reporting..
4 D •
...operators reporting..
operators reporting..
•
operators reporting..
operators reporting none..
operators not reporting..
► • ··
··
•
..number of operators..
operators reporting..
operators reporting none..
operators not reporting..
•
··
•
•
....
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..number of operators..
...operators reporting..
operators reporting none..
operators not reporting..
•
•
..operators reporting..
operators reporting none..
operators not reporting..
operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
.number of operators..
Total, all
farm
operators
5, 380, 127
985,558
4,162,830
231,739
1,305,947
3,851,036
223,144
1,520,728
1,859,497
1,999,902
2,728,910
484,951
2,108,478
135,481
595, 301
1,999, 453
134,156
659,130
999,617
1,070,163
2,651,217
500,607
2,054, 352
96,258
710,646
1,851,583
88,988
861,598
859,880
929,739
of those that did not complete the elementary grades in school.
Second, operators with more schooling are likely to work a
greater number of days off the farm. Of the operators who
worked off farm, nearly all of those who completed high school
worked 100 or more days. Of those who did not complete the
elementary grades, only about 3 out of 4 worked as much as 100
days.
Those who worked off farm 100 or more days usually had a
year-round job. Most of the operators working off farm 100 or
more days worked 200 days or more. In contrast,
In contrast, work off farm
less than 100 days is likely to represent seasonal jobs, fre-
quently of a less skilled nature. The greater amounts of off-
farm work reported by operators with more years of schooling
probably represents the somewhat higher skills expected to be
found among these operators. But education is also related to
age. The younger farm operators have had more years of school-
ing. And more of the younger operators worked at off-farm jobs.
Total
5,051,337
929, 504
3,926,818
195,015
1,233, 563
3,626,111
191,663
1,432,014
1,756,453
1,862,870
2,597,098
460, 180
2,016, 595
120, 323
572,859
1,902, 473
121,766
629,887
953,724
1,013,487
2,454, 239
469,324
1,910,223
74,692
660,704
1,723,638
69,897
802,127
802, 729
849,383
Under 55 years
Number
3, 355, 432
574,418
2,670,652
110,362
741,194
2,497,521
116,717
951,327
1,177,330
1,226,775
1,715,766
280,534
1,368,528
66,704
349,746
1,295,375
70,645
423,373
628,974
663,419
1,639,666
293,884
1,302, 124
43,658
391,448
1,202,146
46,072
527,954
548,356
563,356
Percent
of
total
66
62
68
57
60
69
61
66
67
66
66
61
68
55
61
68
58
67
66
65
67
8888
63
68
58
59
70
66
66
68
66
Number
951,266
216,694
685,469
49,103
226,040
678,482
46,744
265,245
310,647
375, 374
498,680
124,240
342,695
31,745
112,668
355, 203
30,809
126,348
177,597
194,735
452, 586
92,454
342,774
17,358
113,372
323,279
15,935
138,897
133,050
180,639
Percent
of
total
19
23
17
25
--
18
19
24
19
18
20
19
27
17
26
20
19
25
20
19
19
18
20
18
23
17
19
23
17
17
21
1
65 years and over
Percent
of
total
Number
744,639
138,392
570,697
35,550
266,329
450,108
28,202
215,442
268,476
260,721
382,652
55,406
305,372
21,874
110,445
251,895
20,312
80,166
147,153
155,333
361,987
82,986
265,325
13,676
155,884
198,213
7,890
135,276
121,323
105,388
15
15
15
18
22
12
15
15
15
14
15
12
15
18
19
13
17
13
15
15
15
18
14
18
24
11
11
17
15
12
Age and education would seem to have a joint influence upon
amount of off-farm work.
While educational levels of farm operators were somewhat
higher in the North and West than in the South, the relationship
between education and off- farm work of the operator in each
a whole.
region was about the same as for the United States as a
KIND OF ROAD AND DISTANCE TO TRADING CENTER
The kind of road on which the farm was located and the
distance to the trading center most frequently used were ap-
parently related to the amount the operator worked off the
farm. More of the operators living on hard- surfaced roads
worked off farm than those living on gravel or dirt roads-44
percent of those living on hard-surfaced roads compared with
37 percent of those on other types of roads. Nearly a thi rd
of those living on hard-surfaced roads worked off farm 100 or
20
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 7.-SCHOOLING OF FARM OPERATORS, KIND OF ROAD ON WHICH FARM IS LOCATED, AND DISTANCE TO TRADING
CENTER, BY NUMBER OF DAYS OF WORK OFF FARM BY THE FARM OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
REGIONS: 1950
All farm operators..
Years of schooling...
Not completing elementary school.
Completing elementary school
but not high school...
Completing high school or more..
• · •
Under 1 mile....
1 to 4 miles..
5 miles and over..
• •
Kind of road on which farm is located..
hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale..
Dirt or unimproved..
Distance to trading center visited
most frequently...
All farm operators...
•
• •
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and
For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Farm operators reporting as to work off the farm
By days of off-farm work
Under 100 days
Percent
of
total

1 to 4 miles...
5 miles and over....
•
Region and item
UNITED STATES
Years of schooling...
Not completing elementary school..
Completing elementary school
but not high school...
Completing high school or more...
Kind of road on which farm is located..
Hard surface....
Gravel, shell, or shale..
Dirt or unimproved..
Distance to trading center visited
most frequently.....
Under 1 mile...
Under 1 mile.
1 to 4 miles…….
5 miles and over.
..
·
··
NORTH AND WEST
• ·
All farm operators.
Years of schooling..
Not completing elementary school.
Completing elementary school
but not high school.....
Completing high school or more..
Distance to trading center visited
most frequently..
SOUTH
Kind of road on which farm is located.
Hard surface……….
··
Gravel, shell, or shale..
Dirt or unimproved......
• ·
•
......number..
...operators reporting..
operators 'reporting..
•
·· •
• •
.operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting.
C
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
•
......number..
...operators reporting..
....operators reporting..
•
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting.
··
....operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..
··
•
·· •
•
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
....operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
• •
•
•
•
• •
••
•
•
......number..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.....operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
• · • ...
•
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
....operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
• •
Total,
all
farm
operators
5,380,127
5,281,934
2,227,352
2,178,460
876,122
5,230, 510
390,644
2,034,838
2,805, 028
2,728,910
2,680,382
634,769
1,421,592
624,021
5,131,627
1,638,355
5,027,720
1,596,484
1,785,375 1,751,896
1,707,897
1,679,340
2,603,344
938,290
1,089,157
575,897
2,649,378
174,392
1,025,373
1,449,613
756,868
252,101
Number
2,528,283
700,065
696,218
1,132,000
2,581,132
216,252
1,009,465
1,355,415
5,252,761
5,159,970
2,182,816
2,127,382
849,772
Total
5,122,900
386,426.
1,993, 339
2,743,135
2,653,557
2,608,853
619,318
1,386,820
602,715
2,651,217 2,599,204
2,601,552 2,551,117
1,592,583 1,563,498
2,543,405
909,879
1,067,250
566,276
2,586,788
171,752
1,003,491
1,411,545
2,484,315
686,605
684,646
1,113,064
more days compared with only a fifth of those living on gravel
or dirt roads.
2,536,112
214,674
989,848
1,331,590
Distance to the trading center most frequently used is
not always a good measure of the farm's proximity to town or
to a place of nonfarm employment. The trading center may be a
nearby general store, or, in some cases, it may not be the town
or city nearest the farm. However, distance to trading center
probably provides a general indication of the distance to nonfarm
business activity.
740,562
247,057
A third of the operators living less than 1 mile from the
trading center worked off farm 100 or more days. Off-farm work
of operators living greater distances from the trading center
amounted to fewer days out of the year. Only a fourth of those
living 1 to 4 miles and a fifth of those living 5 or more miles
from the trading center reported 100 or more days of off-farm work.
The off-farm work of both the operator and family members
is likely to be conditioned by the relative convenience in com-
muting to places of nonfarm employment. All-weather roads and
nearness to the job are important. However, in analyzing the
relationships shown above, it would be well to take into consid-
eration some of the selective factors involved. Operators who
Percent
of all
farm
operators
98
98
188 88 ****
3,176,468
3,119,950
98 1,394,303
98
97
98
97
98
98
98
99
98
98
568 85 8588
97
97
98
98
97
98
97
98
98
98
98
98
97
*** ** ****
98
98
98
98
98
98
98
98
98
98
888
99
Number
98
98
None
1,279,903
445,744
3,044, 490
892,132
1,099,001
1,053,357
3,102,915
199,675
1,183,940
1,719,300
1,605,144
1,579,848
411,913
845,910
322,025
1,539,940
503,807
677,078
359,055
1,568,444
77,826
593,143
897,475
1,571,324
1,540,102
982,390
433,993
123,719
1,504,550
388, 325
421,923
694,302
1,534,471
121,849
590,797
821,825
Percent
of
total
60
18 ON Bo♡♡
60
64
60
52
61
56.
63
63
61
52
59
63
60
61
32 22
67
61
53
61
55
63
33333
63
61
45
59
64
2240 og 888
60
60
63
59
50
61
57
62
62
61
57
60
62
Number
859,521
848,693
370,159
343,805
134,729
830,236.
225,685
305,411
299,140
845,122
60,067
327,140
457,915
427,515
422,257
84,231
236,778
101,248
418,838
126, 703
191,330
100,805
422,523
26,774
161,976
233,773
432,006
426,436
285,928
107,027
33,481
411,398
98,982
114, 081
198,335
422,599
33,293
165,164
224, 142
16.
16.
17
16
16.
17
14
17
18
16.
16.
16
17
16.
16
14
17
17
16
14
18
18
16.
16
16
17
17
17
18
14
14
17
14
17
18
17
16.
17
17
100 days or more
Percent
of
total
Number
1,216,772
1,191,327
418,354
503,674
269,299
1,152,994
478,667
347,484
326, 843
1,174,863
126,684
482,259
565,920
620,898
606,748
123,174
304, 132
179.442
584,627
279,369
198,842
106,416
595,821
67,152
248,372
280,297
595,874
584,579
295, 180
199,542
89,857
568,367
199,298
148,642
220,427
579,042
59,532
233,887
285,623
23
23
19
22 2229
24
32
23
30
20
19
23
33
24
21
**2 22 2220
23
23
20
30
23
31
19
19
23
39
25
20
2120 70 2222
23
23
19
27
36
23
29
20
23
28
24
21
work off farm tend to be concentrated in areas of industrial de-
W
velopment and near towns and cities. In these localities, more
of the rural roads are likely to be hard-surfaced. Also the
operators who work off farm include some who moved into the par-
ticular area because of better job opportunities. Many of these
are likely to have selected a farm largely on the basis of con-
venience in commuting to an off-farm job.
SUMMARY
Low family incomes appear to be a chronic problem among
many operator. families on small farms. Three-fifths, or over 3
million, of the farms in the United States in 1949 produced
farm products for sale valued at less than $2,500. Many of the
operator families on these low-production farms were dependent
entirely upon this income for family living expenses, after the
deduction of cash farm- operating costs. For others, the farm
is largely a place to live and provides only a supplementary
source of income. They depend largely upon off-farm sources
of income. But even when farm and off-farm incomes of operator
and family members are combined, total cash income in 1949 was
often small. Two-fifths reported a family income of less than
$1,000; more than 80 percent reported less than $3,000.
LOW-PRODUCTION FARMS
21
1
Altogether, nearly 1.4 million farm-operator families in
the United States reported total income from all sources amount-
ing to less than $1,000 in 1949. Nearly 85 percent of these
were on low-production farms; nearly three-fourths were in the
South.
The operators who reported family incomes of less than
$1,000 were somewhat older than all farm operators. In more
than a fourth of the cases the operator was 65 years or older.
However, three-fourths of a million were under 65, and most of
these were under 55 years old. The operator families were
slightly smaller, on the average, than those reporting larger in-
How-
Also, fewer families reported children under 18.
ever, children under 18 were reported by nearly two-fifths of
these families. A fairly high proportion of the operators re-
porting family incomes of less than $1,000 were tenants and, in
the South, nearly two-fifths were non white. More than 85 per-
cent gave their occupation as farmers. Only a tenth worked
off farm as much as 100 days.
comes.
The economic classification of farms provides a useful
framework for analysis of problems of income distribution in
agriculture. It clarifies the concept of a farm and provides a
good measure of the size of farm business. It is particularly
useful in the separation of commercial farms from part-time and
residential units.
The low-income problem is found in its most acute form
among operator families on class VI commercial farms. Operator
families on these farms were, by Census definition, dependent
primarily upon sales of farm products that amounted to less than
$1,200. Total family income from all sources amounted to less
-
than $1,000 on two-thirds of these farms. On class V com-
mercial farms, families were also dependent primarily upon
farm income. Operator - family incomes were somewhat higher
because of the larger size of farm business, but almost a
third reported total incomes of less than $1,000.
In contrast, operator families on part-time farms were
dependent largely upon off-farm sources of income. While
the size of the farm business was about the same as that
of class VI commercial farms, families of operators of part-
time farms depended largely upon off-farm work or other non-
farm income. Nearly 80 percent reported family incomes in
Over a fourth had incomes of $3,000 or
excess of $1,000.
more.
A substantial proportion of the operator families on resi-
dential farms reported low cash incomes. Because of the small
size of the farm business on these farms (gross farm sales amount-
ing to less than $250) problems confronting such operator families
are probably quite different from those of families on small com-
mercial farms. Families on these residential farms are affected
less by agricultural price levels and policies, perhaps, than by
conditions of nonfarm employment.
Although off- farm work of the operator appears to be a ma-
jor factor affecting differences in income available to operator
families on low-production farms, it is recognized that capa-
More
bilities for off-farm work are conditioned by many factors.
of the younger operators and more of those with more years of
schooling worked off farm 100 or more days. Also, the kind of
road the farm was located on and the nearness to nonfarm business
activity appeared to be influential.
Chapter 3
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR
FAMILIES IN 1949
(23)
Introduction..
Limitations of the data...
Summary distributions of family income.
Table-
CONTENTS
· (24)
Page
25
25
25
Analysis of family income by economic class of farm...
Interpretation of the results....
TABLES
1.-Distribution of farm-operator families, rural-farm families, and all families by total money income in 1949, for the United States..
2.-Distribution of farm-operator families and all families by total money income in 1949, by regions.....
3.-Number of farms in 1950, farm-operator families reporting family income in 1949, and percentage of farm-operator families reporting income in 1949 from
various sources, by economic class of farm, for the United States.....
4.-Average value of farm products sold, average total of specified expenditures, and average farm and family income in 1949 for farm-operator families,
by economic class of farm, for the United States.....
5.-Percentage distribution of average farm-operator family income in 1949 by source, by economic class of farm, for the United States.....
6.-Value of farm products sold, farm expenditures, and income of farm operators and other family members by source; by economic class of farm,
1950........
for the United States and regions:
7.- Percent distribution of farm operators, by income groups for each source of income, for each economic class of farm, for the United States and regions: 1950....
Page
26
28
Page
25
26
27
2230
28
31
43
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES IN 1949
Ernest W. Grove, Division of Statistical and Historical Research, Bureau of Agricultural Ecnomics
INTRODUCTION
The 1950 Census of Population obtained information on the
money income of individuals and families in 1949 on the basis
of a 20-percent sample. The tabulations of these data as pub-
lished in regular reports of the Census of Population show sep-
arate income distributions for families and unrelated indivi-
duals in the urban, rural -non farm, and rural-farm populations.
But farm operators and their families, defined in terms of the
definition of a farm established for the 1950 Census of Agri-
culture, could not in many cases be identified as such from in-
formation available from the Population Census alone. This
identification could be made and an income distribution estab-
lished for all farm-operator families only by combining infor-
mation obtained in the Agriculture and Population Censuses.
In the Population Census, information was requested of
persons 14 years of age and over in the sample on the following
income categories: (1) The amount of money wages or salary re-
ceived in 1949; (2) the amount of net money income received from
self-employment in 1949 (farm, business, or professional prac-
tice); and (3) the amount of other income received in 1949, such
as interest, dividends, veterans' allowances, pensions, or rents.
If the person was the head of a family, these three questions
were repeated for the other family members as
a group to obtain
the income of the whole family.
By identifying heads of families in the 20-percent sample
of the Population Census who were operators of farms included in
the Census of Agriculture, and by combining information from the
the two Censuses, family-income data from the Population Census
were tabulated for farm-operator families in relation to the
economic classification of farms determined from the Agricultu re
Census.
LIMITATIONS OF THE DATA
records
The figures on income, as indicated in regular reports of
the Census of Population, are subject to errors of response and
nonreporting which probably lead to some understatement of total
income. The schedule entries are generally based not on
but on memory.
The memory factor in data derived from field sur-
veys of income probably produces underestimates because the tend-
ency is to forget minor or irregular sources of income. Other
errors of reporting are due to misunderstanding of the income
questions or to misrepresentation.
tion
Another possible source of understatement is the assump
made in the editing process that there was no other income in the
family when only the income of the head of the family was reported.
This assumption was adopted for about 5 percent of the fam-
ilies in order to make maximum use of the information obtained.
In most of the fully reported cases, the head's income consti-
tuted all or most of the total family income.
These qualifications apply to all the income data collected
in the 1950 Census of Population, including those here presented
for farm-operator families. There are three additional known
limitations in the data for farm-operator families. First, there
is evidence of some non reporting of farm income, total family
income having been recorded in a significant number of cases
clusive of income received from the farm operated. The evidence
is given in table 3, and rough adjustments have been made in
tables 4 and 5 to allow for such nonreporting. However, no ad-
justments were feasible in the straight family income distribu -
tions of tables 1 and 2.
The second limitation arose in the process of matching agri-
culture reports with their counterparts among the population re-
ports. In a few cases the operator of a farm determined from the
Agriculture Census, whose name appeared on a sample line of the
Population Census, turned out not to be the family head. Total
family income in such cases was not available, but the personal
income of operators who were not family heads was counted as total
In some of these cases,
family income in the income tabulations.
the operator's income may have been the same as or a close ap-
proximation of total family income, but in other cases it most
probably was not.
-
Separate analysis of this group shows a distribution of in-
come considerably di fferent from that of family heads and an esti-
mated average reported income about 20 percent lower than the
average income of families with operator heads. However, the
number involved is so small-only 3 percent of the total - that
their inclusion is not believed to have had any significant ef-
fect on the results. For example, the estimated average of all
family incomes would not have been increased by more than one
percent if operators who were not family heads had been excluded.
The third limitation, also a minor one, arose from the fact
that a small segment of the agriculture reports could not be
matched with corresponding population reports.
The expanded
agriculture sample covered 5,380,000 farms, the population sample
only 5, 341,000. The difference of 39,000 is primarily farms
where the operator's residence was not in the same enumeration
district as his farm and the matching population report could not
be located. In non-resident cases for which the schedules were
matched- that is, where the operator and his family lived in the
same enumeration district though not on the farm itself-- family
incomes averaged from 20 to 25 percent higher than the incomes of
farm-resident operator families. There is a strong probability,
therefore, that family incomes for the unmatched cases were on
the whole quite a bit higher than the general run of farm-operator
family incomes. Again, however, the number involved is too
small--less than one percent of the total-to have any significant
effect on the over-all results.
SUMMARY DISTRIBUTIONS OF FAMILY INCOME
Subject, therefore, to the general qualification that the
degree of understatement of income may be slightly greater for
farm-operator families than for other families, the distribution
of all farm-operator families in the United States by total
money income is given in table 1 and compared with national dis-
tributions for the rural- farm and total populations taken from
The latter also
regular reports of the Census of Population.
show income distributions of persons 14 years of age and over by
major occupation group, including farmers and farm managers as
one group.
These represent persons whose principal occupation
in the week preceding the census was farmer or farm manager, a
less inclusive definition than that of farm operator in the Census
of Agriculture. These income distributions, moreover,
reflect
the personal income of those farm operators included therein,
not the total income of their families, and thus cannot be com-
pared with the distribution of farm-operator families by total
family
income given in the first column of table 1.
An income distribution of families whose heads reported
the major occupation of farmer or farm manager would be of some
TABLE 1.-DISTRIBUTION OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES, RURAL-Farm FAMILIES, AND ALL FAMI-
LIES BY TOTAL MONEY INCOME IN 1949, FOR THE UNITED STATES
Total number of families (000)..
Number reporting income (000)...
Total..
...
Under $1,000.
$1,000 to $1,999...
$2,000 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999...
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over.
Median income 2
•
•
•
Item
•
• •
•
· •
•
·
·· •
•
• •
•
..
Farm-
operator
families'
Rural-
farm
families
NUMBER OF FAMILIES
5,420
5,178
100.0
28.1
24.8
17.8
11.8
5,380
4,856
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION BY TOTAL
6.8
3.5
2.2
2.8
2.2
$1,867
FAMILY INCOME
100.0
31.6
24.5
17.8
10.9
5.8
3.3
1.9
2.4
1.8
$1,729
All
families
¹Of which about 4 percent were single-person families.
2Medians computed from $500 income intervals.
<<>>>
(25)
·

38,311
36,440
100.0
14.7
14.6
19.1
19.4
12.1
7.8
4.3
4.9
3.1
$3,073
26
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
comparative interest, but such a distribution has not been tabu-
lated from the 1950 Census data. Consequently, of the 1949 in-
come distributions available from published Census reports, that
for rural-farm families, given in the second column of table 1,
seems to be most nearly comparable with the distribution for
farm-operator families developed in this study. Most farm-
operator families are rural-farm families. However, a few live
on urban farms and a few others do not live on the farms they
operate or on any other farm. On the other hand, rural-fam
families would include some farm-laborer and other families who
live on rural farms but do not operate them.
Despite these differences, farm- operator families and
rural-farm families overlap to a considerable extent. As might
be expected, therefore, the income distributions of the two
groups are quite similar. Also as expected, because rural-farm
families include some farm-laborer families, the median income
of farm- operator families in 1949 was a little larger than that
for rural-farm families-$1,867 as compared with $1,729.
The median income of operator families was only 61 percent
as large as that for all families in the United States. This com-
parison reflects money income only, and nonmoney income is rel-
atively much more important for farm-operator families than for
others. But while the inclusion of nonmoney income would cer-
tainly have reduced the difference just cited, it would probably
not have eliminated it.
Total number of families (000).....
Number reporting income (000)...
Total!...
Under $1,000...
$1,000 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,999. .
$3,000 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5,999...
$6,000 to $6,999
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over.
Median income 2
··
Table 2.-DISTRIBUTION OF FARM OPERATOR FAMILIES AND ALL FAMILIES BY TOTAL MONEY INCOME IN 1949,
BY REGIONS
D •
...
•
•
•
Item
•
-
•
Of which a few were single-person families.
2Medians computed from $500 income intervals.
Farm-
operator
families¹
2,268
2,067
Nor th
100.0
15.9
23.1
21.2
15.8
9.5
4.7
2.9
4.1
2.8
$2,438
ANALYSIS OF FAMILY INCOME BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM
Tables 3-5 summarize the results of an analysis, for the
United States as a whole,
a whole, of the data on farm-operator family
incomes in 1949 by economic class of farm. The various economic
classes of farms as established in the 1950 Census of Agriculture
are fully defined in terms of upper and lower limits for value of
farm products sold (see table 4), except for class VI and part-
time farms which are distinguished on the basis of criteria set
forth in footnote 6 of table 4. This is the first time that de-
tailed income data have been obtained for farm-operator families
associated specifically with each economic class of farms.
Class I and class II farms are shown separately in tables
3-5 in order to bring out the marked differences in their income
characteristics. They are lumped together in other tabulations in
this report because for most other characteristics they are not
significantly different and also because the size of the sample
on a regional basis did not in some cases permit separate tabula-
tions for class I farms.
"Abnormal" farms, lumped with part-time farms elsewhere in
this report, are excluded entirely from tables 3-5. They include
such categories as public and private institutional farms, commu-
nity enterprises, experiment station farms, and grazing associa-
tions. Information was obtained in some cases on the wages or
-
It should be noted that about 4 percent of all farm-operator
families as shown by this report for the United States are single-
person families-"unrelated individuals" in the usual terminology
of income distributions. There is, therefore, some question as
to whether income distributions for operator families should be
compared with other distributions for families alone or for fam-
ilies plus un related individuals. However, the 4 percent of un-
related individuals included in the operator distribution compa res
with 11 percent for the total of rural-farm families and unrelated
individuals and 22 percent for all families and unrelated indivi-
duals in the United States. In view of these wide differences in
the relative importance of unrelated individuals, and considering
the fact that their incomes are generally much lower than those
of families, the more reasonable comparison would seem to be with
income distributions for families alone.
The highest regional median income for farm-operator fam-
ilies in 1949 was $2,682 in the Western region (see table 2). At
$2,438 in the North, it was not much lower. But the median income
for operator families in the South was only $1,284, about half
that of the other two regions. The same regional order, and about
the same relative differences, are evident in the median incomes
for all families in the three regions and also in the ratios of
operator- family to all family incomes. The median income of
operator families was 78 percent as large as the median for all
families in the West, 73 percent in the North and 57 percent in
the South. The income distribution for operator families in the
South includes cropper families.

All
families
100.0
10.8
11.7
19.7
21.5
13.5
South
8.8
4.9
5.6
3.5
$3,319
Farm-
operator
families¹
NUMBER OF FAMILIES
21,643
20,532
11,546.
11,012
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION BY TOTAL FAMILY INCOME -
2,651
2,383
All
families
100.0
41.0
27.3
14.2
7.6
3.9
2.1
1.3
1.4
1.2
$1,284
Farm-
operator
families 1
100.0
23.8
20.9
19.1
14:4
8.5
5.1
2.9
3.1
2.2
$2,248
West
461
406
100.0
15.2
19.0
21.0
16.4
9.9
5.3
3.3
5.0
4.9
$2,682
All
families
5,122
4,896.
100.0
10.5
12.3
17.2
21.7
14.5
9.2
5.3
5.8
3.5
$3,430
family-
salaries received by hired managers, but, in general,
income data are not applicable to farms of this type.
Table 3 shows the total number of farms in each economic
class, the number for which total family income was recorded in
the Population Census, and the percentages reporting each of the
six sources of family income. Total family income was recorded
for 90 percent of all farms, and this ratio did not vary mate-
rially among the different economic classes. On the other hand,
there were significant variations in the percentages reporting
each of the specified sources of income.
A third of all farm operators reported income from wages
or salaries. However, only a fifth of the commercial operators
reported such income whereas three-fifths of the noncommercial
operators reported it. Within the commercial group, the per-
centage of operators reporting wages or salaries increased uni-
formly from class I to class VI with two exceptions: (1) The
percentage for class I operators was greater than that for either
class II or class III operators; and (2) the percentage for class
VI operators was smaller than that for class V operators. By
definition, a class VI operator did not work more than 99 days
off his farm in 1949. In view of this limitation, it is worth
noting that a fourth of all class VI operators reported some
wage or salary income in 1949, a higher fraction than that for
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
27
Table 3.-NUMBER OF FARMS IN 1950, FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES REPORTING FAMILY INCOME IN 1949, AND PERCENTAGE
OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES REPORTING INCOME IN 1949 FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF
FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES

Economic class of farm
•• ·
All farms
Commercial farms.
Class I....
Class II..
Class III…..
Class IV...
Class V.
Class VI.
•
3
·
Other farms 3
Part-time.
Residential…….
...
··
•
...
•
Total
number
of farms
(000)
262023 O - 53 - 3
5,378
3,793
97
389
753
908
920
726
1,585
623
962
Farm-operator families for
which total family income
was reported
Number
(000)
4,855
3,408
85
354
693
823
829
624
1,447
590
857
Percent of
total number
of farms
Percent
any other commercial class except V. As to class I operators,
the percentage reporting wage or salary income was undoubtedly
boosted by the relatively greater incidence of hired managers
as operators in this class. If managers had been excluded,
class I operators would probably have shown the smallest per-
centage of any class.
Wage or salary income of family members other than the
farm operator was reported by nearly a fifth of all farm-operator
families, but by only a sixth of all commercial farm families as
As with
compared with a fourth of the noncommercial group.
operators' wage or salary income, the incidence of wage or salary
income of other family members increased uni formly from class I
to class V within the commercial group, and then dropped off in
class VI. On the other hand, the percentages reporting self-
employment income of other family members declined somewhat from
class I to class VI. In general, self-employment income of other
family members was reported rather infrequently, but unlike the
other supplementary sources of farm-operator family income it
was reported a little more frequently by the commercial than by
the noncommercial or "other farm" group.
Income other than earnings from wages, salaries, or self-
employment was reported by a fifth of the commercial farm opera-
tors, by nearly a third of the noncommercial operators, and by a
fourth of the total for the two combined. Relatively fewer class
VI operators reported income from these other sources than did
the operators of any other class, evidently a reflection of the
definitional limitation imposed on class VI with respect to
family income from non farm sources. Income other than earnings
received by other family members was reported for relatively
few families, but the incidence of this type of income was
nearly twice as great for noncommercial farm families as for
commercial.
90
90
88
91
92
91
90
86
91
95
89
The column of percentages in table 3 referring to income.
of the operator from his farm needs to be interpreted with some
care for two reasons. First, the percentages reflect reports of
the operator's income from any non farm business or professional
practice he may have had as well as from his farm. This double
coverage is probably negligible for commercial operators, but it
may be of some importance in the noncommercial group. The second
difficulty is that, despite the possibility of double coverage
just mentioned, the percentages are low from the standpoint of
farm income alone.
In the income tabulations of this study, it was not pos-
sible to distinguish between a report of "zero" or "none" and a
report of "information not available." This necessitated the
general assumption, in analyzing the data, that only those re-
porting income from a particular source had any income from that
source. The result may be some understatement of family in-
But there is no definite evidence of understatement ex-
And
cept in the case of income of the operator from his farm.
come.
Farms reporting specified sources of family income as percentage of farms
for which total family income was reported
Income of operator from-
Wages or
salary
n
Farm¹
Percent
75
89
88
93
92
90
85
85
43
5 M
55
35
Percent
33
22
18
12
15
22
30
24
¹And non farm business and professional practice, if any, applying mainly to operators of part-time and residential farms.
2And in a few cases from another farm.
3Excluding "abnormal" farms to which family income data are not generally applicable.
61
62
60
Sp
Any other
source
Percent
24
21
23
24
23
20
21
17
31
33
30
Income of other family members from-
Business or Wages or
salary
profession2
Percent
7
7
11
8
8
7
7
6
Сл
5
65
6
Percent
19
17
14
15
16
17
20
15
26.
28
24
Any other
source
Percent
7
6
6
5
4
576
11
11
11
in that case some allowance for nonreporting, however arbitrary,
seemed essential.
It would not be unreasonable to expect 100 percent or at
least nearly 100 percent frequencies in the column for farm in-
come of the operator. Instead, family income was recorded ex-
clusive of any income from the farm-and from any nonfarm busi-
ness or professional practice- for 11 per cent of the commercial
Wi thin
farms and for 57 percent of the noncommercial farms.
the commercial group, the non reporting of farm income was greatest
in classes V and VI. It was also greater in class I than in
classes II, III, and IV.
There is no single factor to account for this situation.
Probably the principal elements that contribute to a full ex-
planation are the following:
(1) New farm operators in 1950 when the census was taken-
persons who were not farm operators in 1949 and consequently had
no self-employment income in 1949. However, the number of such
new operators was probably quite small in relation to the total
umber of operators, and this small number must have been fairly
well distributed among all the economic classes. Consequently,
such new operators can account for only a small fraction, probably
less than one percent, of the total nonreporting of farm income→
and for none of its variation among economic classes.
-
(2) Hired managers as farm operators who reported their in-
come from wages or salaries- but not any farm income because that
accrued to absentee owners. The 1950 Census of Agriculture found
23,000 hired managers in all, or less than a half of one percent
of all farm operators. Clearly, this has very little general sig-
nificance. But it probably does account for the relatively high
incidence of non reporting for class I farms, where nearly 7 per-
cent of the operators are hired managers. If hired managers had
been eliminated, the percentage of class I operators reporting
their farm income would probably have been the highest of any
class, though still somewhat short of the necessary 100 percent.
However, the incidence of non reporting would then have increased
almost continously from class I to class VI, and on to part-
time and residential farms-making the third and fourth explana-
tory factors discussed below more plausible than they might other-
wise be.
(3) Misrecording of farm income under another heading.-
This undoubtedly occurred in some instances when, through error
on the part of either the enumerator or the respondent, the opera-
tor's income from his farm was erroneously counted as income from
wages and salaries, income from other sources, or as income of
other family members. The frequency of this type of mis recording
is unknown, but it was probably quite small. To the extent that
it occurred, however, it may have been more common in the lower
value-of-sales classes than in the higher.
(4) Farm income not reported because it was negligible
after expenses, or even a net loss on a cash basis.
A report was
28
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
supposed to be made in any case, and some operators did report
zero or negative net incomes. But it seems likely that others.
simply failed to mention their farm income when it was negligible
or negative in amount. This could occur at any level of value
of products sold, but the lower the latter the more likely it
would be.
This type of non reporting, therefore, was probably
most prevalent among part-time and residential farm operators,
and to a lesser extent perhaps also among classes V and VI com-
mercial operators.
men-
(5) Farm income simply not reported.-The four factors
tioned above account for some of the nonreporting in all economic
classes, and probably most of it in the lower value-of-sales
classes. But some remains unaccounted for. Critical examination
of a small group of the individually matched reports strongly sug-
gests that significant amounts of farm income were simply not re-
ported in a few cases, but that family income was recorded anyway.
This was probably most common in the case of class I-III operators
and perhaps class IV also.
÷
Table 4 shows averages by economic class of farm for the
value of farm products sold, for the total of eight expense items
reported on the agriculture questionnaire, and for the first minus
the second. Using these independently reported data as a par-
tial guide, together with the conclusions described above with
respect to the interpretation of nonreporting, averages were al so
computed by economic class of farm for (1) the net income of
operators from their farms (including any income from non farm busi-
ness or professional practice), and (2) total farm-operator fam-
ily income, allowing in both cases for nonreporting in the first.
In their general effect, these averages are based on the assump-
All farms 5.
Commercial farms..
Class I....
Class II..
Class III..
Class IV.
Class V..
Class VI6.
•
•
Table 4.—AVERAGE VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, AVERAGE TOTAL of
TOTAL OF SPECIFIED EXPENDITURES, AND AVERAGE
FARM AND FAMILY INCOME IN 1949 FOR FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE
UNITED STATES
•
•
Other farms 5
Part-time 6
Residential..
• •
Economic class of farm
··
•
Lower
limit
Value of farm products sold
Dollars
0
250
25,000
10,000
5,000
2,500
1,200
250
0
250
0
Upper
limit
Dollars
None
None
None
24,999
9,999
4,999
2,499
1,199
tion that unreported farm income had an average of zero for class
V, class VI, part-time, and residential farms, but that its average
was equal to that of reported farm income for farms in classes
I-IV. In other words, the distributions of family income were
accepted as reported for the first group, but were in some small
degree adjusted upward for the second. Medians of family incomes
actually reported are given in table 4, by economic class of
farm, for comparison with the adjusted arithmetic means of family
income.
1,199
1,199
249
The adjusted averages of family income are based on totals
of family income in each economic class which were obtained as
the sum of (1) income aggregates derived from size distributions
for each of the three sources of operators' income and (2) actual
totals of income reported for each of the three sources of income
of other family members. However, the totals of family inco
obtained in this manner were also checked with and in some cases
adjusted to independent totals developed from the size distribu-
tions of family income itself. Assumptions made in deriving ag-
gregates from size distributions were (1) that averages for in-
come intervals up to $5,000 were equal to their respective mid-
points, (2) that averages for intervals above $5,000 were a lit-
tle lower than the mid-points, (3) that farm losses for operators
reporting them averaged $750, and (4) that averages for the open-
end interval of $10,000 and over were $14,000 in the case of
wages and salaries and $15, 000 in all other cases with one ex-
ception, namely (5) that the average farm income of class I
operators in the open-end interval was $25,000. This last as-
sumption is quite arbitrary, but it is consistent with the known
characteristics of class I farms.
Money incomes of all farm- operator families in the United
States averaged $2,650 in 1949. Family incomes in the case of
commercial farms averaged $2,815, or a fourth higher than the
average of $2,260 for noncommercial farms. There was wide
variation in family incomes among the various classes of com-
mercial farms, ranging from an average of more than $10,000 for
class I farms down to only $975 on the average for class VI farms.
Incomes of part-time farm families averaged $2,400, 10 percent
above the average for residential farm families and almost as
large as the average family income on class IV commercial farms.
Median family income was, of course, consistently lower
than the arithmetic mean for the same economic class, and tended
to be a smaller fraction of the arithmetic mean at the higher
levels. The medians, however, show relationships among the eco-
nomic classes very similar to those indicated by the arithmetic
means.
Average
Dollars
4,165
5,785
54,860
14,990
7,060
3,670
1,780
690
290
620
80
Average
per farm of
specified
expendi-
tures 1
Dollars
2,060
2,805
30,590
7,160
3,210
1,660
770
350
280
440
180
Calculated
net value of
farm products
sold per
farm2
Dollars
2,105
2,980
24, 270
7,830
3,850
2,010
1,010
340
10
180
-100
Average
income
of farm
operator
from farm³
Dollars
1,575
2,075
8,880
4,730
3,030
1,750
980
550
·
385
440
350
Adjusted
average
family
income
4
Dollars
2,650
2,815
10,200
5,600
3,700
2,500.
1,900
975
2,260
2,400
2,175
Median
family
income
-

Dollars
1,867
1,900
5,500
3,950
2,820
2,020
1,470
730
1,790
1,940
1,650
¹Average expenditure per farm for hired labor; machine hire; feed for livestock and poultry; purchase of livestock and poultry; seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees; gasoline and oil;
tractor repairs; and other machinery repairs. These items account for approximately 65 percent of the total production expenses of farm operators in 1949 according to estimates by
the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the United States Department of Agriculture.
2Average value of farm products sold minus total of specified expenditures.
3And from nonfarm business or professional practice, if any, applying mainly to operators of part-time and residential farms.
Adjusted for nonreporting of operator's income from farm.
Excluding "abnormal" farms to which family income data are not generally applicable.
With the same limits for value of farm products sold, class VI and part-time farms are distinguished by the fact that the latter include all farms in this value-of-sales group
where (1) the operator worked 100 or more days off the farm in 1949 or (2) non farm family income was larger than the value of farm products sold.
INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS
The net money income of operators from their farms, in-
cluding also any other self-employment income they may have had,
averaged $1,575 for all farm operators in 1949. The average for
commercial operators was $2,075; that for noncommercial operators
was only $385, probably including at least some nonfarm business
and professional income. Among the various classes of commercial
operators, average sel f-employment income varied from $8,880
class I operators down to $550 for class VI operators.
time farmers, average self-employment income was $440, a fourth
higher than the average for residential farmers but below
that
for even the lowest commercial class.
for
For part-
Because the Bureau of Agricultural Economics regularly pub-
lishes annual estimates of the average income of all farm opera-
tors without any breakdown between commercial and noncommercial
operators, considerable interest attaches to the question as to
how the average farm income of commercial operators compares with
that for all operators taken together. Although blurred by the
inclusion of some non farm business and professional income,
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
29
the data in table 4 nevertheless throw considerable light
on this question. The average of $2,075 for commercial operators
is 32 percent larger than the average for all operators. If the
income from non farm businesses and pro fessional practices-included
mostly for noncommercial operators-could be eliminated alto-
gether, the commercial average would most probably be from 35 to
38 percent higher than the over-all average. On the other hand,
it must be remembered that this refers to money income alone,
whereas nonmoney income from the farm is more evenly distributed
than money income. Non money income is relatively much more im-
portant for noncommercial than for commercial farms; and if it
were to be included the differential would be reduced again, prob-
ably to around 26 or 27 percent.
This estimate for 1949 may be compared with an estimated
differential of 27 percent in 1944, based largely on a study of
data obtained in the 1945 Census of Agriculture. (See Sizes of
Farms in the United States by Kenneth L. Bachman and Ronald W.
Jones, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin No.
1019, July 1950, page 7.) Evidently the average income rela-
tionship between commercial farms and all farms did not change
very much from 1944 to 1949, nor has this relationship been
disturbed by the simplification of definitions for commercial
and noncommercial farms in the 1950 Census.
The average of operators' net money income for all farms
in table 4 is from 10 to 15 percent lower than a similar average
for 1949 derived from aggregate estimates of farm cash income
and expenses published by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
If nonfarm business and professional income were removed from
the former average, the difference would probably be around 15
percent. Before adjustment for nonreporting of farm income,
the discrepancy was probably close to 20 percent.
The independent data on farm expenses and value of prod-
ucts sold, taken from the 1950 Agriculture Census, provide some
basis for checking the class averages of operators' net money
income from the farm in table 4. However, the data on expenses
do not cover all expenses, and the proportion that they do cover
may vary somewhat among the different economic classes. In ad-
dition, there is probably some understatement in the value of
products sold, and this also may vary in relative importance by
economic class.
For these reasons, the information obtained in the Agri-
culture Census cannot provide any conclusive test of the relia-
bility of the income data obtained in the Population Census.
In fact, an examination of the data in table 4 indicates that
only for class VI farms are the averages derived from the Agri-
culture and Population Censuses clearly inconsistent, although
there is also some evidence of inconsistency in the case of
part-time and residential farms.
By definition, operators of class VI farms cannot have had
any significant amounts of nonfarm business or professional in-
come; and the average self-employment income of $550 for class
VI operators- based on the assumption that unreported farm in-
come was zero-must have been almost entirely farm income. That
being the case, it cannot be reconciled with an average value of
only $690 for farm products sold as reported in the Agriculture
Census, along with an average total of $350 for the eight reported
expense items.
There are three possible explanations for this inconsist-
ency, namely, that class VI operators (1) exaggerated their net
income in the Population Census, (2) overstated their expenses
in the Agriculture Census, or (3) understated the value of farın
products sold as reported in the Agriculture Census. The first
two of these cannot be completely ruled out, but only the last
seems particularly plausible. If it is accepted as the principal
explanation, the value of farm products actually sold by class
VI operators must have averaged from 25 to 50 percent higher than
was reported. But regardless of the reason or reasons for the
inconsistency, the fact remains that these class VI operators
were really low-income farmers with an average net family income
of less than a thousand dollars in 1949.
as
The first explanation for the inconsistency listed above,
namely, exaggeration of net money income as reported in the Popu-
ulation Census, does not seem very likely in view of the repeated
occurrence of general under- reporting in various field surveys of
income. On the other hand, it cannot be altogether dismissed
an impossibility. The Population Census obtained information on
the operator's farm income in response to a single question:
"Last year, how much money did he earn working in his own busi-
ness, professional practice, or farm? (Enter net income)." In
answering this question, class VI operators may have overlooked
some of their legitimate expenses, such as depreciation, which a
more detailed questionnaire, covering both gross income and ex-
penses, would have revealed. Such a detailed questionnaire was
used in the last previous field survey of farm operators' income,
covering the year 1946, and the results indicated a much greater
concentration of cases in the lower net income and net loss
brackets than is to be found in the 1949 distributions here pre-
sented. (See The Size Distribution of Farm Operators' Income in
1946 by Nathan M. Koffsky and Jeanne E. Lear, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Washington, D. C.,
September 1950). On the other hand, it must also be noted that
the unadjusted results of the detailed 1946 questionnaire un-
covered only half of the total net money income actually received
by farm operators from farming in that year as contrasted with
coverage of at least 80 percent in the unadjusted data for 1949.
In the absence of any conclusive evidence one way or the other,
understatement of the value of farm products sold remains by far
the more plausible explanation of the discrepancy found in the
data for class VI operators.
two
on
There is a possibility that the value of farm products sold
was considerably understated by part-time and residential farm
operators as well, although the evidence is weaker for those
classes of operators than for class VI operators. Data from the
Agriculture Census on expenses and products sold suggest that
net money income from the farm was very small on the average
for part-time farmers, and a substantial average net loss for
residential farmers. Since residential farmers out-number part-
time farmers, an average for the two combined could not exceed
zero and would probably be negative. But this implies that,
the average, all of the self-employment income reported by these
farmers in the Population Census was from nonfarm businesses and
professional practices. It is rather difficult to believe that
enough part-time and residential operators has this type of non-
farm income for the over-all averages of their self-employment
incomes to be as high as they are without some positive farm in-
come being included as well. And if any farm income is included
at all, the value of farm products sold must on the whole have
been understated.
a
-
Additional indirect evidence on this question is furnished
by the data on major occupation reported by farm operators in the
Population Census. "Farmer or farm manager" was the occupation
reported by 43 percent of all operators classified as part-time
or residential on the agriculture questionnaire. This percentage
is the same as the percentage of part-time and residential opera-
tors who reported self-employment income (table 3). The identity
of these two percentages is purely coincidental, of course, for
the occupational data refer to principal occupation in the week
preceding the census in 1950, whereas the income data refer to
the year 1949. Nevertheless, the close correspondence in the
two types of information creates a strong presumption that most
of the part-time and residential operators who reported any self-
employment income in 1949 were reporting on their income from
the farms operated.
Table 5 shows the percentage distribution of total farm-
operator family incomes by source for each economic class, after
adjustment for the non reporting of farm income as described above.
Farm income itself, including any other self-employment income
of the operators, was 60 percent of total family income for all
economic classes taken together. This source accounted for three-
fourths of the total income of commercial farm families as
30
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
contrasted with only a sixth of the total for the noncommercial
group. Among the commercial classes, farm income declined in
relative importance from 87 percent of the total in class I to
only 52 percent in class V, but increased slightly in class VI.
Wage and salary income comprised 29 percent of the total
for all farm-operator families, but only 16 percent for those
on commercial farms as compared with 69 percent for
for those on
part-time and residential farms. Wage and salary income re-
ceived both by operators and by other family members generally
increased in relative importance from class I to class V in the
commercial group, but declined again in class VI.
In both non-
commercial classes, wages and salaries received by the operators
alone were 50 percent or more of total family income.
Other sources of income were relatively unimportant, rep-
resenting 10 percent of the total for commercial farm families
and 14 percent for the noncommercial group. However, they were
most important of all in the case of class VI commercial farms
where they accounted for a sixth of the total family income.
•
TABLE 5.-PERcentage DistRIBUTION OF AVERAGE FARN-OPERATOR FAMILY INCOME IN 1949 BY
SOURCE, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES

Economic
class
of
farm
All farms2...
Commercial farms
Class I.....
Class II...
Class III..
Class IV.
Class V...
Class VI...
Other farms 2.
Part-time.
Residential.
...
•
•
• •
Total
family
income
Percent
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
Income of
operator
from
farm 1
Percent
60
74
87
84
82
70
52
56
17
18
16.
Wages and salaries
received by-
Other
family
members
Operator
Percent
20
10
5
4
5
12
22
17
555555
53
50
Percent
9
6.
2
4
4
7
12
10
16
16.
16
Other income of-
Other
Operator family
members
Percent
7
6
3
4
5
6
10
11
11
13
10
Percent
4
4'
3
4
4
5
4
6
en en en
3
3
3
1And from non farm business or professional practice, if any, applying mainly to oper-
ators of part-time and residential farms.
2Excluding "abnormal" farms to which family income data are not generally applicable.
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
31
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see
page 3]

Value of farm products sold in 1949:
All farm products sold...
Farms by value of farm products sold:
$1 to $249..
$250 to $399..
$400 to $599.
$600 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $2,499...
$2,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.....
•
$1 to $99..
$100 to $199.
$200 to $499..
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $2, 499.
$2,500 and over.
Machine hire..
...
Specified farm expenditures in 1949:
Hired labor.
•
• · •
·
THE UNITED STATES
Tractor repairs..
Region and item
Feed for livestock and poultry...
Livestock and poultry purchased...
Seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees
purchased.
Gasoline, and other petroleum
fuel and oil.......
...
• •
•
•
Other farm machinery repairs...
Farm operators by income in 1949:
Income from wages or salary.
•
·
•
No farm products sold.
Livestock and livestock products sold....... farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
·
Under $500...
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1, 499. .
$1,500 to $1,999. ..
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499. .
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income from wages or salary..
See footnote at end of table.
·
• •
...
·
•
·
•
•
•
•
→
·
•
·
•
· →
•
·
··
·
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
·
•
•
·
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting.,
number..
•
+
•
•
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
•
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Total,
all farms
5,048,334 3,793,005
22,481,713
21,945,822
630,471
296, 440
335, 751
507,987
470, 179
659, 297
620,041
522,347
518,790
487,031
331,793
4,229,901
12,449, 456
2,651,097
2,264, 875
918,218
418,881
535, 710
327, 102
273, 523
177,663
2,800,718
615,587
3,927,309
3,188,948
2,994,790
2,530, 520
3,386,973
581, 308
3,050, 380
1,159, 378
2,108, 152
394,006
2,371,265
392,094
Total
1,619,933
502, 391
231,566
171,791
153, 182
160,407
119, 134
112,592
62, 165
38,276
19,811
20,954
15,725
*6,633
5,306
3,721,257
132,083
161,995
300, 609
392,021
659,297
620,041
522,347
518,790
485,822
...
3,220, 234
12,137,630
2, 314,984
2, 196, 327
700,744
372, 160
497,016
307,154
262, 348
175,562
2,363,207
581,352
2,921,766
2,990,641
2,375,224
2,452,607
2,660,688
550,157
2,648,038
1,111,074
1,954,967
382,027
2, 168, 178
381,777
735, 187
334,646
107, 523
72,916
50,723
46,163
32,891
32,396
19,674
11,450
7,221
8,244
5,709
4,006
1,625
3,033,872
Classes
I and II
..
O
•
485,822 753, 305 907,873 919,651
11,149,903 5, 317, 502 3,335, 828 1,638, 427
|
485,822
435, 243
1,416,024
29,557
27,548
71,892
67,077
102, 234
136,935
349,764
217,001
428,949
1,434, 909
375,989
1,669,255
385,191
237,068
Commercial farms
459,474
445,756
413, 548
168,388
401,254
162,562
Class III
58,257
15,572
9,591
6,575
5,907
6,244
3,704
2,268
2,011
409
1,454
719
967
1,366
1,470
423,129
氤
​•
234,515
518,790
•
438,282 708, 613 804, 766
6,118,661 | 3,262,689 | 1,816, 233
586,723
386, 394
124,902
92,659
130,397
113,936
100, 193
24,636
580, 020
153, 292
672,600
798,433
599,723
399,537
628,606
153,949
Class IV
695, 246
313,764
600, 290
104, 272
602,273
111,045
620,041
287,832
1,584
...
572,315
255,938
177,356
104,717
159, 460
76, 116
44, 264
10,402
611, 585
122,986
756, 587
447,740
624, 403
228,501
674,153
87,884
733, 311
226,890
549,485
70,691
588,938
67,011
102,444 177,981
37,636 75,486
17,135 28,951
12,904
15,930
11,575
9,468
8,396
9,448
5,535
9,991
6,310
9,622
5,915
683
1,054
5,261
1,582
3,164
1,056
Class V
1,584
155
646,488 725,430
260, 354
659,297
721,797
735,453
105, 525
104,492
43,727
13,250
1,715
524,828
64,915
625,058
207, 134
482,792
119,907
Class VI
607,469
54, 232
726, 354
504, 162
480,705 239,998
103,946 34,024
211,996 156,933
41,711
30,775
6,298
2,407
1,874
297,010
23,159
438,572
102, 424
292,317
35, 406
630,471
132,083 164,357
161,995 173,756
300,609 207,378
131,667 78,158
365,269
17,025
1,209
331,793
546,776 1,009,667
204,594 311,826
531,650 228,357
96,956 27,709
299,969 91,675
30,537 8,139
394,452 181,261
32,385 8,774
Total
248,945 147,560
103,243 102,709
33,427 18,419
26,447 11,060
18,545 5,228
1,054
3, 164
2, 108
1,054
528
517
21,021
10,497
12,088
10,011
4, 198
3,668
2,110
667
1,052
2,634
1,056
Other farms
Part-
time
and
abnormal
663,719 575,106
1,255, 329
535,891
336, 113
68,548
217,474
46,721
38,694
19,948
11,175
2, 101
437,511
34, 235
1,005, 543
198,307
619,566
77,913
402, 342
48,304
153, 185
11,980
203,087
10,317
884, 746
167,745
124,043
98,875
102,459
114, 244
86,243
80,196
42,491
26,826
12,590
12,710
10,016
2,627
3,681
687,385
164, 357
173,756
207,378
78,158
624,858 630,471
463,129 72,762
1,209
667
504,853
264,538
Resi-
dential
630,471
•
331, 126
504,814
47,287
726,285 354,429 371,856
31,151
20,596 10,554
208,281
127,832
42, 188
26,360
124, 463
93,011
12,603
7,894
6,833
34, 118
30,800
13, 115
5,388
5,787
528 1,573
265,665 171,846
25,319
8,916
445,595 559,948
114,491 83,816
330,272 289,294
56,413 21,500
248,226 154,116
32,400 15,904
104,324 48,861
8,716
3,263
138,923
64,164
7,007
3,310
367,605 517,141
64,741 103,004
63,099
60,944
45,215
53,660
64, 138
38,321
42,067 72,177
32,604 53,639
35,363 44,833
18,391
24,100
13,690 13,136
3,672 8,918
6,282
6,428
4,216
5,800
1,054
1,573
1,045
2,636
251,310 436,075
32
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM, EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS. OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Percent distribution by economic class
Value of farm products sold in 1949:
All farm products sold...
$250 to $399.
$400 to $599.
$600 to $999...
Farms by value of farm products sold:
$1 to $249...
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $9,999. .
$10,000 and over..
$1 to $99...
$100 to $199.
$200 to $499..
$500 to $999.
•
No farm products sold..
Livestock and livestock products sold..
$1,000 to $2,499..
Specified farm expenditures in 1949:
Hired labor......
$2,500 and over.
Machine hire.....
•
O
Tractor repairs..
Region and item
THE UNITED STATES
·
Feed for livestock and poultry.
Livestock and poultry purchased.
Seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees purchased...
•
Gasoline, and other petroleum fuel and oil……….
•
Other farm machinery repairs..
Farm operators by income in 1949:
Income from wages or salary.
Under $500..
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999..
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5,999. .
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income from
wages or salary.......
··
..
•
See footnote at end of table.
·
·
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
·
•
·
•
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
. farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting.
. farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
. farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
•
•
..
farms reporting..
dollars..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
•
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
→
number..
Classes
I and II
5550
10
100
10
49
16
63
3
7
13
21
37
77
2 23
12
35
11
45
13
66
11
41
•15
38
20
43
17
41
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
2
3
1
7
3
6
21
28
11
Class
III
15
24
45
100
21 26
17
22
17
14
22
24
35
37
14
21
25
17
25
20
16
19
26
23
27
28
26
25
28
6
7
7
8
6
5
5
6
1
3
8
24
3
17
Class
IV
18
15
100
55
19
15
2 = 2 8
22
11
19
25
30
23
16
6
22
20
19
14
21
9
20
15
24
2220
26
18
25
17
11
15
13
9
8
6
8
9
10
14
8
15
7
19
Class
V
18
7
55
100
17
6
18
5
23
225
20
13
5
1
19
11
16
6
16
5
18
9
17
8
14
8
17
8
15
21
14
15
12
13
9
11
16
11
19
10
17
·16
18
Class
VI
14
2
45
48
59
28
13
2
9
2
17
10
6
2
1
1
11
4
11
3
10
1
11
3
7
2
4
2
8
2
9
20
8
6
3
1
3
2
2
1
---
CAJ
3
3
7
15
Part-time
and
abnormal
(1)
(1)
(¹)
12
2
55
52
41
17
12
2
8
2
14
8
6
4
2
9
4
11
4
11
2
10
4
8
CA)
3
сл
5
2
6
2
23
13
26
26
25
26
27
31
30
36
19
30
27
16
20
7
Residential
(1)
(¹)
•
12
100
•
100
12
5
1
10
3
1
2
1 '1
2
i
6
1
14
3
10
1
11
2
5
1 2
1
3
1
22222223
21
27
31
42
45
y ~ w w A w w +
45
40
39
34
45
31
37
24
50
12
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
33
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Commercial farms

Farm operators by income in 1949-Continued
Income from farm, business, or profession.. operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting,.
...
UNITED STATES—Continued
Under $500..
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999. .
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income from farm,
··
Region and item
business, or profession.
Income from all other sources..
Under $500...
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income from any other source.
Income of family members other than the farm operator:
Income from wages or salary.....
··
Income from all other sources..
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999...
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999...
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999...
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income.
Total income of family from all sources:
Income from all sources,
Under $500...
$500 to $999..
..
··
•
See footnote at end of table.
··
.......number..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
number..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Income from farm, business, or profession......farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
•
•
•
..
•
Total,
all farms
··
3,642,680
869,457
679,104
522,125
338,451
327,531
167,394
189,521
107,743
100,017
57,013
87,753
59,423
75,514
61,634
1,698,510
1,150,708
604,339
228,110
201,281
53,495
22,731
7,149
10,838
4,429
3,841
1',338
2,261
2,088
2,891
5,917
4,190,482
. families reporting..
families reporting.. 4,856,417
656,570
.. families reporting.. 709,650
families reporting..
658,379
families reporting.
547,676
.families reporting..
516,310
families reporting.. 347,000
families reporting.. 339,364
233,823
195,013
.families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting.
families reporting..
134,604
168,405
105,267
138,400
families reporting..
.families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
105,956
484,773
945,950
1,113,330
325,290
339,314
349,225
171,641
Total
3,017,565
540,122
543,079
469,929
307,241
307,546
153,219
177,428
100,418
95,284
53,849
83,018
55,591
73,408
57,433
751,494
702,985
364, 387
124,555
143,343
31,991
13,862
4,515
6,114
3,231
2,787
812
1,209
528
2,363
3,288
3,066,074
576,497
597,966
247,641
297,094
189,420
98,896
3,408,016
442,842
484,089
473,428
378,711
360,824
223,849
234,026
163,164
143,030
95,469
119,764
80,562
119,669
88,589
361,043
Classes
I and II
Class III Class IV Class V Class VI
403,337
13,008
14,516
18,595
29,254
48,072
27,679
36,782
27,471
33,088
16,233
23,122
31,913 35,680
27,801
21,466
37,221
29,593
5,706
48,039
637,306
25,018
46,573
742,657 700,991
87,839 | 166,386
121,790 | 181,123
153,617 | 155,200
96,363 83,278
77,680
80,825
106,057
81,232 59,936
48,746
70,596
53,461 20,175
55,960 13,047
33,307 32,276 5,256
26,602 28,625 5,917
12,757 1,056
11,065 3,832
3,164 2,108
2,926 1,571
1,582 2,106
78,049 111,626
106,021
157,445
53,667 · 93,324
22,689 21,462
16,108 27,124
7,488
2,418
2,509
1,739
1,582
681
2,815
1,573
517
977
1,735
286
155
$28
262
1,191
375,365
526
526
1,584
591,487
63,306 112,530
84,004 114,883
38,319 52,229
88,792 71,193
24,020 28,989
17,478 15,727
438,230
693,476
11,019
22,060
10,987
36,291
65,693
17,680
29,933
77,464
39,749 107,228
28,877 59,104
77,491
35,578
34,021
45,553
38,145
33,865
24,909
35,210
21,950
↑
31,219
46,759
· 33,747
44',689
12,313
43,818
66,354
43,156
55,456
681
947,016
160,754 | 211,673
163, 040-171,868
189,392
104,611
447,723
81,512 73,657 62,227 239,952
29,084 30,491 20,829 103,555
35,300 50,091 14,720 57,938
10,000 9,979 2,106 21,504
4,881. 2,627
2,106
8,869
1,200
1,052
2,634
1,045
4,724
1,209
1,198
1,054
526
1,052
1,560
528
2,629
618,055 1,124,408
526
528
528 1,569
740,371 | 740,796
142,383 | 164,177
153,210 184,067
61,218 55,373
73,505 46,784
42,115 54,337
21,805 25,221
533,274
625,115
247,871
329,335
179,077 136,025
64,837 52,196
17,521 31,210
12,249
19,985
3,158
14,175
1,043
12,093
2,108
7,325
4,733
3,164
1,052
681
528
1,052
4,735
3,832
2,097
2,106
4,201
Total
528
526
517
94,101 369,453
61,802 515,363
40,502 77,649
16,821
42,220
39,959 159,805
18,665 72,745
822,741 | 829,035 624,534 1,448,401
69,327 119,428 221,008 213,728
96,116 143,589 197,106 225,561
126,636 | 159,621 103,798 184,951
114,950 114,639 41,725 168,965
93,463 98,151 22,233 155,486
77,010 47,281 11,577 123,151
71,618, 43,032
6,307
48,710 29,095 5,785
46,282 22,104
2,634
22,371 12,623 4,347
39,135
22,123 12,904
2,768 48,641
13,688 8,545 2,632 24,705
15,400 14,193
1,569
5,047 3,830
80,670 83.629
105,338
70,659
51,983
18,731
17,367
1,045
98,132
123,730
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
Besi-
dential
324,066 301,049
164,278 165,057
81,683 54,342
29,577 22,619
17,529 13,681
11,064
8,921
5,230
8,945
4,735
7,358
3,648
3,677
1,056
3,677
1,582
1,582
528
4,207
526
3,306
1,052
1,054
1,578
2,623
526
294,849 652,167
192,036 255,687
90,607 149,345
35,787 67,768
43,429 14,509
11,034 10,470
5,039
3,830
1,054
1,580
2,101
2,623
1,198
528
526
1,052
1,043
528
1,045 1,584
426,879 697,529
517
166,513 202,940
219,806 295,557
34,888 42,761
17,870 24,350
63,776 96,029
34,122 38,624
856, 441
591,960
52,788 160,940
79,399 146,162
90,102 94,849
82,240 86,725
71,714 83,772
51,136 72,015
43,273 62,065
33,425 37,234
21,021 30,962
20,600 18,535
22,065 26,576
8,399 16,306
10,009 8,722
5,789 11,578
26,955 96,775
34
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Percent distribution by economic class
Farm operators by income in 1949-Continued
Income from farm, business, or profession......... operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
Under $500..
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over......
·
►
Not reporting income from
farm, business, or profession..
Income from all other sources..
UNITED STATES-Continued
Income from farm, business, or profession.
Income from all other sources...
Total income of family from all sources:
Income from all sources,
Under $500...
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999..
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999...
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999…….
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999. .
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income.
...
•
Region and item
•
Under $500.....
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999..
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4, 499.
$4,500 to $4,999....
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income from any other source.
income of family members other than the farm operator:
Income from wages or salary....
·
•
• •
·
•
See footnote at end of table.
·
:
•
•
•
··
..number..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
number..
·
•
•
•
.
families reporting..
families reporting..
.families reporting..
··
.farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
..
.farms reporting..
dollars..
··
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
Classes
1 and II
11
1
2
4
9
15
17
19
25
33
28
36
36
49
78
5
9
9
10
8
5
11
10
26
22
45
21
7
25
9
20
9
7
8
12
26
7
10
9
2
2
3
5
8
8
10
15
20
19
21
21
32
63
9
Class
III
17
3
7
2 2 2 2 2 2~
15
24
32
29
37
31
27
41
41
47
39
9
7
14
15
9
13
14
8
22
233
15
12
39
23
55
14
12
10
16
21
8
9
14
3
5
10
14
21
17
23
19
17
23
28
32
32
12
11
Class
IV
2220
10
18
29
28
25
32
30
30
29
22
13
5
4
3
9
14
13
13
18
19
21
6
14
..
23
9
18
15
14
19
22
12
13
17
11
14
19
21
18
88223
21
21
24
17
13
13
11
5
17
Class
V
19
19
27
30
25
18
12
7
5
6
2
4
4*
2
3
12
15
12
13
25
19
12
17
10
27
27
18
17
17
17
14
16
15
17
18
20
24
21
19
14
13
12
11
9
8
8
10
4
17
Class
VI
15
29
26
12
5
4
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
11
9
10
9
7
4
9
15
12
14
18
15
10
6
12
5
11
11
13
34
28
16
8
4
3
2
2
1.
3
2
3
1
1
20
Part-time
and
abnormal
9
19
12
6
5
3
3
2
3
1
3
1
1
1
3
17
17
15
16
22
21
17
15
19
14
47
50
18
18
10
18
20
11
5
18
20
12
8
11
14
15
14
15
13
14
11
15
13
8
7
5
6
Residential
8
19
8
4
4
3
5
4
3
4
3
5
сл
6
1
4
* 2 * 2
38
22
25
30
7
20
2222
24
27
14
39
25
27
17
2 2 323
21
27
13
7
2 23
27
18
25
21
14
16
16
21
18
16
16
14
16
15
6
11
20
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
35
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Commercial farms

Value of farm products sold in 1949:
All farm products sold.......
Farms by value of farm products sold:
$1 to $249....
$250 to $399.
$400 to $599.
$600 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $3,999. .
$4,000 to $5,999.....
$6,000 to $9,999. .
$10,000 and over.
•
No farm products sold..
Livestock and livestock products sold....
$1 to $99...
$100 to $199..
$200 to $499.
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 and over..
Specified farm expenditures in 1949:
Hired labor...
Region and item
•
...
Machine hire....
NORTH AND WEST
Tractor repairs..
•
Feed for livestock and poultry...
farms reporting..
1,522,007
1,462,492
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
472,602
farms reporting.. 239,050
302,781
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
209,954
179,791
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
117,829
1,711,657
409, 183
2,227,392
2,405,213
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees purchased...... farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Gasoline, and other petroleum fuel and oil.....farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
1,845,666
2,003,221
1,908,751
410,601
2,067,363
856, 535
1,581,957
285,014
1,643,340
316,745
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Livestock and poultry purchased...
Other farm machinery repairs.
•
Farm operators by income in 1949:
Income from wages or salary..
•
Under $500..
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499...
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499...
$2,500 to $2,999...
$3,000 to $3,499. .
$3,500 to $3,999. . .
$4,000 to $4,499. .
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999. .
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income from
wages or salary..
•
See footnote at end of table.
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
·
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
•
...
•
farms reporting..
198,099
farms reporting..
107,822
106,476
169,365
175,215
292,858
357,224
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
391,772
409, 748
395,134
125, 197
2,352,097
dollars (000).. 10,249,913
..
•
farms reporting.. 2,603,713
dollars (000).. 16, 215, 204
•
Total,
all farms
.number..
787,664
176, 548
108,449
78,501
71,774
85,250
74,950
76,359
45, 239
25, 126
13, 499
14, 177
8,051
5,797
3,944
1,918,897
Total
2,132,467
15,989,873
35, 299
40,179
76,068
134,713
292,858
357,224
391,772
409,748
394,606
1,963,824
10,082,482
1,405,640
1,425,758
398,881
223,673
289,119
203,156
175,083
115,728
1,511,682
390, 377
1,836,095
2,300,575
1,566,206
1,962, 124
1,626, 133
394,657
1,828,856.
834, 363
1,474, 102
277,998
1,550, 126
311,220
402, 186
140, 303
66,462
38,538
33,642
32,022
25,527
24,351
14,846
7,768
5, 117
6,356
2,243
3,696
1,315
1,715,775
Classes
I and II
394, 606 594, 199
8,833,824 | 4,170,893
··
394,606
360, 127
5,240,853
45,872
14,736
7,393
4,222
4,606
3,675
2,652
2, 113
1,701
409
1,454
409
131
Class III
1,056
1,315
346,590
• •
184,451
409,748
354,486 457,383
997,806 262,283
27,824 109,648
78,457
26,496.
63,321
101,899
59,680 88,594
83,260 63,866.
14,919
93,905
288,202
474,571
148,358
351,353
1,162,086
313,436
1,440,090
313,968
114,966
541,405
648, 408
486,722
288,743
502,300
119,882
175,938
378,717
559,439
342,998
345,542
124,054
340,678
136,042
··
566., 865
2,808,964
255, 084
493, 352
80, 542
503, 319
96,316
78,896
30, 117
13,298
9,438
5,786
6,292
4,483
5,258
528
528
1,584
1,584
512,663
Class IV Class V Class VI
564,545 | 389,687
2,137,246 | 713,951
·
357,224
207,321
•
96., 829
292,858
529,757 341,001
1,448,489 485, 342
334,497 200, 469
112,963 42,177
124,075 101,907
67,897 40,146
81,147 33,853
34,994 17,798
21,181 5,731
5,203 1,034
407,093 | 258,517
85,375 34,020
497,142 308,589
306,812 141,207
417,342 245,904
147,883 66,621
440,266 | 275,685
62,187 31,051
505,487 286,346
167,640 56, 102
404,337 186,846
50,633 19,077
426,587 | 222, 511
53,568 21,722
3,157
1,056
2,112
1,056
109,662 | 125,025
39,563 31, 181
20,009 20,493
7,359 13,823
9,471 10,655
6,292 15, 235
7,887 8,393
8,932
6,992
4,708
7,381
3, 146
2,090
1,584
1,056
1,056
451,628 259,779
189,430
133,959
35, 299
40,179
76,068
37,884
·
166,074
98,834
58,805
10,529
35,427
10,677
8,899
2,090
1,045
66.7
83,299
7,656
137,606.
42,062
102,802
18,788
93,914
5,599
98,867
12,540
44,025
3,692
57,031
3,272
42,731
24,706
5,269
3,696
3, 124
528
2, 112
1,056
528
528
517
667
145, 115
Total
471,246
225,330
198,099
72,523
66,297
93,297
40,502
•
528
125,197
388,273
167,431
116,367
36,734
73,721
15,377
13,662
6,798
4,708
2,101
199,975
18,806
391,297
104,639
279,460
41,097
282,618
15,944
238,507
22,172
107,855
7,016
93,214
5,525
·
385,478
36,245
41,987
39,963
38, 132
53,228
49, 423
52,008
30,393
17,358
8,382
7,821
5,808
2, 101
2,629
203, 122
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
273, 147
200, 319
72,523
66., 297
93,297
40,502
• •
528
667
230,093
149,121
Resi-
dential
198,099
25,011
198,099
124,530
158,180
18,310
80,585 35,782
22,213 14,521
48,564
25,157
12,242
3,135
12,606
1,056
5,225
1,573
1,551
3,157
528
131,225
14,965
203, 231
1,573
68,750
3,841
188,066
36,921
162, 168 117,292
29,991 11,106
159,715 122,903
67,717
12,081
3,863
149,089
89,418
16,756
5,416
73,722
34, 133
5,584
1,431
72,182
21,032
3,978 1,547
190,559 194,919
16, 214
20,031
27,280
20,493
18, 178
22,605
21,032
14,707
19,470
19,954
30,623
28,391
25,740
15, 235
9,482
3, 146
3,652
2,112
528
1,045
26, 268
15, 158
7,876
5,236
4, 169
3,696
1,573
1,584
80,637 122,485
36
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER ·
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Percent distribution by economic class
Class
IV
Value of farm products sold in 1949:
All farm products sold.....
Farms by value of farm products sold:
$1 to $249.
$250 to $399...
$400 to $599...
$600 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $3,999…….
$4,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $9,999. .
$10,000 and over..
No farm products sold...
Livestock and livestock products sold..
$1 to $99..
$100 to $199..
$200 to $499...
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 and over.
Machine hire..
NORTH AND WEST-Continued
•
Specified farm expenditures in 1949:
Hired labor..
•
Tractor repairs..
Region and item
•
•
Feed for livestock and poultry....
··
Livestock and poultry purchased..
Under $500...
$500 to $999.....
Seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees purchased..
Gasoline, and other petroleum fuel and oil……..
Other farm machinery repairs.
...
Farm operators by income in 1949:
Income from wages or salary.
...
$1,000 to $1,499...
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999 .
$5,000 to $5,999…….
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over..
...
Not reporting income from
wages or salary.
··
See footnote at end of table.
•
•
..farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
..farms, reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
•
..
··
·
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
.farms reporting..
.farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
.farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
•
farms reporting..
dollars..
..farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
..farms reporting..
dollars..
··
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..number..
Classes
I and II
15
54
··
99
15
51
3388
23
68
6
11
21
28
46
80
17
36
16
48
17
72
16
43
18
40
2020
44
21
43
6
8
7
5
6
4
4
3
4
2
11
3
2
18
33
1.8
··
··
Class
III
22 23
23
26
47
100
222 223
24
27
30
18
23
33
34
42
36
13
28
28
24
27
26
14
26
29
27
30
31
28
31
31
10
17
12
12
8
7
6
7
1
2
11
27
27
22
13
53
23
14
22
8
26
28
27
17
12
4
24
21
22
13
23
7
23
15
24
20
26
18
26
17
14
22
18
9
13
7
11
9
10
13
8
15
13
24
Class
V
15
4
55
100
100
14
5
13
3
22
17
11
8
3
1
15
8
14
6
13
3
14
8
14
7
12
7
14
7
16
18
19
18
15
18
11
12
16
13
15
11
13
18
14
Class
VI
7
1
388 333
42 243
45
22
A
7
1
4
1
7
4
3
1
1
1
5
2
6
2
6
1
5
1
5
1
3
1
3
1
5
сл
14
5
5
4
1
3
1
1
2
4
5
8
Part-time
and
abnormal
(¹)
(1)
10
1
67
62
55
23
1
10
1
сл
5
2
10
5
4
2
1
8
4
9
3
9
1
8
3
7
2
5
сл
2
4
1
pand
24
11
25
26
25
27
28
34
34
38
23
26
26
9
26
4
Residential
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
•
8
100
99
7
2
1
5
1
1
2
1
4
1
8
2
6
1
6
1
4
1
2
1
25
。 + 1 8 8 8
9
14
25
28
36
38
34
34
31
39
29
2 * 79
46
27
40
6
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
37
Table 6.—VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]

NORTH AND WEST-Continued
Farm operators by income in 1949:-Continued
Income from farm, business, or profession.. operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
Under $500...
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999...
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999...
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999...
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999....
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income from farm,
business, or profession....
Income from all other sources.
Under $500....
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999...
$3,000 to $3,499. .
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5,999. .
$6,000 to $6,999. ...
$7,000 to $9,999....
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income from any other source.......
Income of family members other than the farm operator:
Income from wages or salary..
...
...
...
..
•
Region and item
Income from all other sources.
Total income of family from all sources:
Income from all sources.
Under $500..
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999..
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999. ...
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999...
$6,000 to $6,999...
···
•
··
$7,000 to $9,999. .
•
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income..
•
See footnote at end of table.
•
•
·
·
number..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
•
farms reporting.
dollars (000)..
Income from farm, business, or profession......farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
.farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
•
·
•
•
•
•
O
··
Total,
all farms
•
1,954,866
269,164
258,426
286,566
221,585
236,190
120,796
144,407
84,876
79,719
45,718
64,947
42,713
55,089
44,670
..number.. 2,137,070
751,695
569,491
330,720
116,842
60,341
25,307
11,962
3,157
8,424
2,757
1,056
131
528
1,562
2,891
3,813
.families reporting.. 2,473,808
. families reporting..
152,258
families reporting..
237,640
280,645
273,813
. families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
311,569
212,405
. families reporting..
226,241
•
families reporting..
166,368
families reporting.. 142,164
. families reporting..
95,060
119,360
families reporting..
families reporting..
73,303
families reporting.. 105,473
families reporting.. 77,509
families reporting.. 232,753
472,108
633,159
154,861
227,613
141,018
76,449
Total
1,733,968
161,430
220,392
263,455
207,362
228,303
113,459
137,048
80,707
77,090
43,606
61,790
41,140
54,561
43,625
383,993
420,353
245,041
79,563
52,993
18,531
9,344
2,101
5,278
2,240
528
131
528
528
2,363
1,184
1,697,608
322,246
395,901
135,227
212,498
97,614
55,768
1,929,512
115,947
178,295
227,504
219,671
245,658
156,056
169,976
123,897
111,221
71,334
92,069
57,540
93,890
66,454
188,449
Classes
I and II
Commercial farms
Class III Class IV Class V
332,058
10,129
511,216
18,025
29,586
9,472
15,716
61,961
24,210 69,779
43,244 90,122
24,894
41,908
58,188
30,160
23,695
27,521
27,673
22,394
13,448 18,975
27,146 24,634
15,431
22,541
29,143
21,238
4,344
37,697
2,660
667
528
131
60,404
80,343
80,237
122,696
45,711 79,709
17,612
17,625
9,486
14,190
1,056
4,858
1.457
1,584
1,056
1,573
517
528
262
139
312,225 468,863
1,584
51,574
93,655
67,341 99,939
32,345 42,822
73,685 62,779
17,520 21,841
12,328 13,218
469,165 | 289,687
38,456 47,355
66,560 69,982
96,499 65,996
65,329 40,146
55,458 34,749
37,681 8,448
38,973 9,210
23,705 4,730
23,210 3,813
10,127 1,056
7,909 1,573
2,112 1,056
2,090 1,045
1,056 528
92,125 95,117
104,095 80,560
59,110 42,097
19,987 15,763
12,898 12,745
7,370 4,719
3,674 2,101
1,045
1,045
528
528
528
517
457,195 304,244
86,007 67,393
105,419 102,149
32,659 21,615
47,904 23,250
24,076 24,200
12,932 11,940
Class VI
528
1,045
528
Total
131,842 220,898 131,611 89,287
47,465 107,734
38,034
44,792
63,657 44,077
26,979 11,055
8,943
23,283
23,111
14,168
7,898
14,223
10,010
· 4,213
3,135
7,887
4,752
4,730
528
517
3,685
4,202
1,056
1,573
1,573
1,056
2,629
1,573
528
1,045
56,004 367,702
32,765 149,138
18,414 85,679
8,576
37,279
3,674
7,348
6,776
528
528
2,618
1,056
3,146
517
528
517
155,081
7,337
7,359
4,169
2,629
2,112
3,157
1,573
528
1,045
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
23,617 149,862
21,052 237,258
5,786 19,634
4,880
15,115
9,977 43,404
5,352 20,680
3,652
3,157
2,596
1,056
1,056
528
Resi-
dential
228,117
80,806
139,585
68,332
41,008
13,695 23,584
44,671
5,247
2,101
2,618
4,158
1,045
1,573
528
528
2,101
1,045
517
528
I
1
1,034
517
528
528
2,629
1,045 1,584
439,462 202,864 236,598
517
77,835 72,027
118,665 118,593
13,167 6,467
10,748 4,367
20,118 23,286
10,432 10,249
355,806
8,295
551,296
14,696
25,245
14,275 50,345
7,521
23,527 61,900
25,411
515,646 348,515 158,249 544,296 256,339 287,957
28,144 24,222 40,590 36,311 11,605 24,706
49,147 48,444 47,938 59,345 24,695 34,650
74,778 57,948
26,301 26,840
71,137 47,311
27,907 26,235
62,645 50,501
32,109 33,802
51,762 26,612
25,362 30,987
50,578 24,467
25,234 31,031
35.405 19,998
25,751 16,720
29,131 33,348 14,740
15,235 15,708
18,968 25,278 17,111 8,415
14,288 9,438
28,865 35,558 16,863 8,015
13,123 14,168
16,596 26,754 8,954 4,708
4,191 11,572
34,284 34,911
12,089 12,089
6,853
4,730
50,935
9,744 3,685 1,045
3,685 7,370
45,644 36,289
14,857 29,447
33,869 90,767
48,058
64,557
34,352
28,801
31,513
32,946
30,158 53,141
15,796 54,142
7,876 65,911
4,213 56,349
1,573 56,265
2,629 42,471
1,056 30,943
1,562 23,726
2,768 27,291
528 15,763
517 11,583
1,045 11,055
29,597 44,304
36,656
40,263
38
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Percent distribution by economic class
Farm operators by income in 1949-Continued
Income from farm, business, or profession.........operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
··
NORTH AND WEST-Continued
Under $500...
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499...
$2,500 to $2,999...
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999...
$6,000 to $6,999...
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over......
Not reporting income from farm,
··
··
Region and item
business, or profession..
Income from all other sources.
Under $500.....
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999....
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over.....
...
•
Income from farm, business, or profession.
Income from all other sources....
Under $500...
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499...
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999. .
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income.
...
Total income of family from all sources:
Income from all sources......
...
..
Not reporting income from any other source..
Income of family members other than the farm operator:
Income from wages or salary.
See footnote at end of table.
•
•
•
..number..
.operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
•
•
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..number..
•
·
•
..
farms reporting..
dollars..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
.families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting.
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
Classes
I and II
17
4
4
6
11
18
∞ 2 2 ∞ is a
21
21
28
35
29
42
36
53
84
8
14
14
15
16
4
12
32
24
50
100
34
9
4
15
11
11
21
32
12
16
14
5
3
5
9
11
12
13
19
23
2220
24
23
33
66
16
•
Class
III
26
7
11
22
31
38
35
40
32
28
42
38
53
39
10
11
22
24
15
24
19
13
33
19
19
55
22
20
16
28
28
15
17
22
10
11
18
23
29
23
29
21
20
27
30
36
33
13
17
Class
IV
24
14
26
34
29
23
31
27
28
29
22
12
5
4
2
12
18
18
17
21
29
31
100
14
21
18
17
21
21
17
17
21
18
21
27
26
220
24
22
21
23
18
14
12
11
5
20
Class
V
15
18
22 23
27
18
15
7
6
6
5
2
2
2
2
1
13
14
13
13
21
19
1.8
33
12
19
14
14
14
16
14
10
17
16
14
16
20
21
17
16
13
11
12
10
9
7
6
11
1
16
•
Class
VI
(1)
(1)
(¹)
7
18
17
8
4
2
1
1
2
7
6
6
7
6
2
4
19
18
7
5
3
4
2
7
7
6
27
20
11
6
3
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
13
Part-time
and
abnormal
7
24
10
5
5
2
3
2
3
1
2
1
19
12
12
12
9
10
9
17
25
33
18
27
9
16
19
9
5
14
14
10
8
10
9
10
10
12
11
15
11
15
11
6
6
5
6
Residential
5
16
4
3
2
1
3
3
2
2
2
4
4
1
2
30
14
14
20
3
16
13
17
12
19
50
33
42
11
15
19
4
2
17
13
12
16
15
10
10
11
15
14
10
11
10
12
16
4
10
13
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
39
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of dɛ .a, see page 3]

SOUTH
Value of farm products sold in 1949:
All farm products sold......
Farms by value of farm products sold:
$1 to $249...
$1 to $99....
$100 to $199..
$200 to $499..
$500 to $999..
...
Machine hire..
•
farms reporting..
432,372
$250 to $399.
farms reporting..
188,618
farms reporting..
229,275
farms reporting.. 338,622
294,964
$400 to $599..
$600 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $5,999..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
366,439
farms reporting..
262,817
farms reporting..
130,575
$6,000 to $9,999. .
farms reporting.. 109,042
farms reporting..
$10,000 and over.
No farm products sold...
Livestock and livestock products sold……. farms reporting..
91,897
206,596
farms reporting..
1,877,804 1,256,410
2,199,543 2,055,148
dollars (000)..
•
$1,000 to $2,499...
$2,500 and over...
Specified farm expenditures in 1949:
Hired labor......
Tractor repairs...
Region and item
Feed for livestock and poultry
Livestock and poultry purchased...
··
•
Other farm machinery repairs.
•
►
··
• •
Farm operators by income in 1949:
Income from wages or salary.
Under $500....
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499. .
•
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999. ..
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999. . .
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999. .
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income from
wages or salary...
...
•
•
•
•
..
See footnote at end of table.
..
...
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees purchased......farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Gasoline, and other petroleum fuel and oil.....farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
·
•
·
•
•
D
•
O []
·
•
*
..
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
··
•
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting,.
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
·
•
··
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
·
•
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Total,
all farms
2,444,621
6,266,509
1,129,090
802,384
445,616
179,831
232,929
117,148
93,732
59,834
1,089,061
206,405
1,699,917
783,735
1,149,124
527,299
1,478,222
170,707
983,017
302,843
526,195
108,993
727,925
75,348
832,269
325,843
123,117
93,290
81,408
75,157
44,184
36,233
16,926
13,150
6,312
6,777
7,674
836
1,362
Total
.number.. 1,802,360
1,660,538
5,955,948
96,784
121,816
224,541
257,308
366,439
262,817
130,575
109,042
91,216
909,344
770,569
301,863
148,487
207,897
103,998
87,265
59,834
851,525
190,976
1,085,671
690,066
809,018
490,483
1,034,555
155,500
819,182
276,711
480,865
104,028
618,052
70,557
333,001
194,343
41,061
34,378
17,081
14,141
7,364
8,045
4,828
3,682
2,104
1,888
3,466
310
310
1,318,097
Classes
I and II
91,216
91,216 159,106 343,328 529,964
2,316,079 1,146,609 1,198,582 924,476
| |
Commercial farms
12,385
836
2,198
2,353
1,301
2,569
1,052
155
310
Class III Class IV
78,155 141,748
877,808 453,725
310
836
310
155
76,539
50,064
109,042
23,548
7,519
3,837
3,466
3.682
2,104
1,052
1,052
155
526
•
80,757 129,340
418,218 124,111
15,254
237,818 280,236
142,975 61,770
53,281 110,089
36,820 65,379
1,733
1,052
14,202
8,571
28,498
7,397
18,974
78,313 70,639
25,342 41,122 25,929
36,327 23,083 7,519
43,030 9,717 5,199
681
61,562 105,449 204,492 266,311
68,642 38,325 37,611 30,895
77,596 131,195 259,445 | 316,469
272,823 150,025 140,928 65,927
62,553 113,001 207,061 | 236,888
229,165 110,795 80,618 53,286
126,306 233,887 331,784
34,067 25,697 23,180
227,824 | 245,304
59,250 40,853
145,148 | 113,123
20,059 11,460
162,351 | 171,941
13,443 10,662
71,223
61,130
80,757
135,807
102,758
58,680
68,006
106,938
44,334
23,729
60,576
98,954
26,521
14,428
•
155
··
133,825
262,817
80,511
Class V Class VI
163,525
366,439
•
275,009 380,796
367,745 250,111
• •
68,319 123,920
35,923 72,062
8,942 12,934
12,624
8,571
2,104 7,890
3,156 5,786
2,104 2,104
3,156
2,630
1,207 2,630
1,052
2,104
1,578
526
1,578
526
1,052
273,802 | 403,940
432,372
96,784 91,834
121,816 107,459
224,541 114,081
93,783 37,656
681
206,596
380,702 621,394
105,761 144,394
Total
•
536,924 784,083 351,711 432,372
370,202 310,561 262,811 47,750
181,193
23,495
121,506
31,034
21,876
4,208
1,362
1,207
213,711 237,536
15,503 15,429
300,966 614,246
60,362 93,669
189,515 340,106
16,619 36,816
271,355 443,667
11,425 15,207
129,490 163,835
15,169 26,132
47,650 45,330
4,447
4,964
124,230 109,873
5,502 4,792
1,052
•
104,829 499,268
78,003 131,500
13,150 82,056
7,364 58,912
2,104
526
1,052
1,052
526
64,327
61,016
36,820
28,188
12,098
9,468
4,208
4,889
4,208
526
1,052
219,746
31,814
143,753
31,344
25,032
13,150
6,467
429,991
Other farms
484,263
Part-time
and
abnormal
91,834
107,459
114,081
37,656
681
Resi-
dential
206,596
274,760 346,634
115,417 28,977
432,372
127,696 92,050
19,976 11,839
75,899
67,854
21,876
9,468
18,194
6,838
7.890' 5,260
3,837 2,630
2,630
2,104
526
134,440 103,096
10,355 5,074
242,364 371,882
46,774 46,895
168,104 172,002
26,422 10,394
194,714 248,953
8,516 6,691
99,137 64,698
15,644 10,488
30,602 14,728
3,132 1,832
66,741 43,132
3,029 1,763
•
177,046 322,222
44,710 86,790
33,664 48,392
24,722 34,190
20,143 44,184
19,462 41,554
11,572 25,248
9,623 18,565
3,156
8,942
4,208
3.260
526
3,682
2,259
2,104
1,052
170,673 313,590
40
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see
Page 3]
Percent distribution by economic class
Value of farm products sold in 1949:
All farm products sold......
Farms by value of farm products sold:
$1 to $249..
$250 to $399..
$400 to $599..
$600 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499. .
$1,500 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $3,999...
$4,000 to $5,999...
$6,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over.....
$1 to $99...
$100 to $199..
$200 to $499..
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 and over..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
..farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
No farm products sold...
Livestock and livestock products sold………………………………….farms reporting..
dollars..
Machine hire...
Specified farm expenditures in 1949:
Hired labor......
...
Region and item
SOUTH-Continued
...
Feed for livestock and poultry....
Livestock and poultry purchased..
Tractor repairs.
Seeds, bulbs, plants, and trees purchased……..
Gasoline, and other petroleum fuel and oil..
Other farm machinery repairs…….
Under $500....
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499...
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999...
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999. .
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income from
wages or salary......
..
Farm operators by income in 1949:
Income from wages or salary.
•
...
See footnote at end of table.
··
•
.
•
•
..
·
··
farms reporting..
dollars..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
..farms reporting..
farms reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
··
.farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting.
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
·
..number..
•
Classes
I and II
(1)
(?)
(1)
4
37
99
4
40
7
52
1
4
6
220
72
6
33
บว
5
35
5
43
5
36
8
34
13
41
8
35
jrad
1
2
3
CA)
2
3
2
2
5
11
37
11
Class
III
7
18
38
100
8
21
11
15
3
8
2283
12
39
16
10
19
8
19
10
21
9
20
14
19
2020
14
19
3
2
3
4
5
3
2
3
1
4
..
11
7
Class
IV
14
19
··
100
62
15
17
21
18
12
20
34
35
25
9
19
18
15
18
18
15
16
15
23
19
28
18
22
18
8
11
7
9
3
4
5
7
7
16
8
16
•
15
Class
V
22
15
55
100
20
11
25
8
25
36
30
220
8
1
24
15
19
8
21
10
22
14
25
13
21
11
24
14
15
22
11
14
10
8
5
9
16
8
25
8
21
223
Class
VI
22
6
51
53
66
32
20
5
16
3
27
17
9
4
1
2
20
8
18
8
16
3
18
7
13
5
9
4
17
7
13
24
11
8
3
1
2
3
3
14
24
Part-time
and
abnormal
...
14
4
...
49
47
34
13
1
15
5
Сл
11
2
17
12
8
7
4
...
12
5
14
6
15
5
13
5
10
5
6
3
9
4
21
14
27
27
25
26
26
27
19
32
8
39
27
63
9
Residential
18
1
100
··
100
18
1
8
1
15
5
3
4
3
9
2
22
6
15
2
17
4
7
3
3 2
6
2
39
27
39
37
54
55
57
51
53
40
58
33
27
77
17
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
41
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Commercial farms

SOUTH-Continued
Farm operators by income in 1949:-Continued
Income from farm, business, or profession..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
Under $500.....
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499...
$1,500 to $1,999. .
•
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999...
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999...
$5,000 to $5,999...
$6,000 to $6,999...
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over...
Not reporting income from farm,
•
•
•
··
Region and item
··
•
•
business, or profession..
Income from all other sources.
Under $500....
$500 to $999....
$1,000 to $1,499...
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999…….
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999...
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income from any other source......
Income of family members other than the farm operator:
Income from wages or salary.
...
Income from all other sources.
Total income of family from all sources:
Income from all sources..
Under $500.....
$500 to $999....
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999. .
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999. .
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999...
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income......
•
See footnote at end of table.
•
·
D
•
•
•
•
946,815
..number..
.operators reporting.. 581,217
.operators reporting.. 273,619
..operators reporting..
111,268
..operators reporting..
140,940
..operators reporting..
28,188
..operators reporting..
10,769
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
...operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
•
D
• •
•
•
•
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
Income from farm, business, or profession......farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
farms reporting..
dollars (000)..
•
•
··
··
•
•
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
. families reporting..
··
Total,
all farms
1,687,814
600,293
420,678
235,559
116,866
91,341
46,598
45,114
22,867
20,298
11,295
22,806
16,710
20,425
16,964
2,104
number.. 2,053,412
families reporting.. 2,382,609
..families reporting..
504,312
. families reporting..
families reporting..
472,010
377,734
•
. families reporting.. 273,863
families reporting..
204,741
. families reporting.. 134,595
•
113,123
67,455
52,849
39,544
families reporting..
49,045
families reporting.
31,964
32,927
. families reporting..
families reporting..
28,447
families reporting.. 252,020
•
3,992
2,414
1,672
2,785
1,207
1,733
526
473,842
480,171
170,429
111.701
208,207
95,193
Total
1,283,597
378,692
322,687
206,474
99,879
79,243
39,760
40,380
19,711
18,194
10,243
21,228
14,451
18,847
13,808
367,501
282,632
119,346
44,992
90,350
13,460
4,518
2,414
836
991
2,259
681
681
2,104
1,368,466
254,251
202,066
112,414
84,596
91,806
43,128
1,478,504
326,895
305,794
245,924
159,040
115,166
67.793
64,050
39,267
31,809
24,135
27,695
23,022
25,779
22,135
172,594
Classes
I and II
71,279
2,879
5,044
2,879
5,044
4,828
2,785
6,622
3,776
5,415
2,785
4,767
6,035
8,078
10,342
17,645
25,784
7,956
5,077
6,622
1,362
1,052
681
155
310
1,207
155
155
1,052
63,140
11,732
16,663
5,974
15,106
6,500
5,151
82,424
2,724
3,466
3,405
6,406
5,880
3,466
6,777
2,508
5,199
5,941
6,345
5,354
9,534
15,419
6,500
Class III Class IV Class V Class VI
126,090
6,993
16,987
15,719
11,046
15,935
6,838
12,408
5,786
4,208
4,147
1,1,046
5,260
8,355
1,362
31,283
34,749
13,615
3,837
12,934
2,630
155
526
526
526
•
18,875
14,944
9.407
8,414
7,148
2,509
142,180
7,364
11,046
15,348
15,564
16,461
11,046
12,934
11,201
4,734
5,941
11,201
6,993
9,778
2,569
15,193
273,492 411,304 401,432 404,217
49,383 119,031 200,406 221,601
55,230 111,141 134,285 97,991
57,118 89,204 41,554
31,034 43,132 9,623
29,085
16,987
25,774 25,187
12,098
7,519
2,630
15,780 11,727
6,838
526
4,734
3,156
16.987 3,837
8,571
526
5,415 2,104
2,630
2,104
1,052
3,156 2,259
1,578
2,259
1,052 1,052
836
526
526 1,578
1,578
3,156
68,629 | 116,556
58,945 91,308
22,402 31,560
9,097 14,728
22,402 37,346
2,630 5,260
1,207
526
155
··
681
...
526
1,052
122,624' 283,176 436,552
681
56,376 96,784
47,791 81,918
28,559 33,758
25,600 23,534
18,039 30,137
8,873 13,282
1,052
1,052
681
1,052
1,052
133,388 579,314
71,846 298,585
43,813 154,273
12,253 66,276
11,046
50,590
1,578
14,728
1,578
6,251
1,052
1,578
1,578
681
526
526
1,052
526
526
Total
462,974 684,946
70,484 219,591
40,750 278,105
34,716 58,015
11,941
27,105
29,982
13,313
116,401
52,065
2,104
1,052
Other farms
Part-
time
and
abnormal
307,095 480,520 466,285 904, 105
41,183 95,206 180,418 177,417
46,969 95,145 149,168 166,216
61,858 101,673 73,640 131,810
43,813 67,328 25,929 114,823
30,818 47,650 14,357 89,575
25,248 20,669 7,364
21,040 18,565 4,734 49,073
13,305 9,097 '3,156 28,188
12,934 7,364 1,578
21,040
5,260 4,208 2,785
66,802
5,260 4,889
4,734 3,837
3,311 2,104
15,409
21,350
8,942
7,148
1,362 2,785
35,026 47,340
6,312
68,535 79,426
•
·· •
192,455 211,762
100,621 120,980
54,704 43,287
15,409
13,676
7,519
9,468
6,312
5,786
1,578
5,260
1,578
3,156
1,052
2,104
2,104
526
1,578
1,733
526
1,578
526
526
1,052
1,578
526
Resi-
dential
155,264 424,050
123,704 174,881
49,599 104,674
22,092 44,184
38,182 12,408
8,416
6,312
2,785
3,466
526
1,052
1,578
681
1,052
526
526
224,015 460,931
88,678 130,913
101,142 176,964
21,721 36,294
7,121 19,983
43,658 72,743
23,690 28,375
335,621 568,484
41,183 136,234
54,704 111,512
63,801 68,009
54,333 60,490
39,605 49,970
25,774 41,028
18,039 31,034
7,674 20,514
5,786 -15,254
6,312 9,097
8,942 12,408
4,734
3,156 3,992
2,104 4,208
12,098 67,328
4,208
42
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS SOLD, FARM EXPENDITURES, AND INCOME OF FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS BY SOURCE; BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Con.
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Percent distribution by economic class
SOUTH-Continued
Farm operators by income in 1949:-Continued
Income from farm, business, or profession...
Under $500...
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999...
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999...
$7,000 to $9,999. .
$10,000 and over.
Not reporting income from farm,
•••
...
...
...
Region and item
Income from farm, business, or profession.
Income from all other sources...
Total income of family from all sources:
Income from all sources.
Under $500..
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999...
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999. .
$7,000 to $9,999…….
$10,000 and over.
...
Not reporting income.
O
•
business, or profession..
Income from all other sources.
Under $500.....
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4,499……….
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999....
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over..
Not reporting income from any other source.....
Income of family members other than the farm operator:
Income from wages or salary....
..
¹Percent not shown when less than 0.5.
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
►
•
•
•
•
·
•
•
.number..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
..operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
operators reporting..
.operators reporting..
.number..
•
• •
•
··
•
·
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
.. families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
.families reporting..
.families reporting..
families reporting..
. families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
families reporting..
··
•
··
·
..
•
..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
farms reporting..
dollars..
Classes
I and II
(¹)
4
1
1
4
5
6
15
2 2 2
17
27
25
21
36
40
61
2
4
3
5
5
5
10
17
6
19
43
13
9
50
3
2
3
4
14
3
5
3
1
1
1
2
3
3
CA
6
4
10
15
13
17
29
54
3
Class
III
7
1
4
7
9
17
15
28
25
21
37
48
31
41
8
3
6
5
3
9
9
1
13
44
30
6
4
3
6
8
3
3
6
1
2
4
6
8
8
11
17
9
15
2 2 2 2
23
22
30
9
6
Class
IV
16
8
13
24
27
28
34
38
37
27
23
14
6
4
3
7
10
8
8
16
9
11
28
19
14
12
10
17
23
9
9
13
8
10
14
16
15
19
19
20
24
13
11
15
10
5
14
Class
V
2220
24
26
38
37
28
25
9
2
10
•••
10
6
3
9
12
16
12
13
26
19
5
4
41
50
21
20
17
20
21
14
14
20
19
20
27
25
23
15
16
13
14
11
10
12
6
10
19
Class
VI
24
33
32
18
8
8
6
1
5
5
6
••
6
5
14
12
16
11
8
6
15
26
19
23
15
8
20
11
14
14
20
36
32
19
9
7
5
4
5
3
7
7
3
27
Part-time
and
abnormal
11
17
13
7
6
7
3
CA)
3
5
5
••
3
5
9
16
21
18
20
27
30
26
13
19
61
100
11
19
21
13
6
21
25
14
8
12
17
20
19
19
16
11
11
16
18
13
10
7
сп
5
Residential
13
20
10
6
8
6
11
7
9
10
5.
7
10
3
9
45
30
38
40
9
22280
32
26
65
41
44
22
∞ ≈ 2 ∞ in o
28
37
21
18
35
30
* ~ * ~ 22 22
24
27
24
18
24
30
27
30
29
23
25
15
12
15
27
INCOME OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
43
Table 7.-PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF FARM OPERATORS, BY INCOME GROUPS FOR EACH SOURCE OF INCOME, FOR EACH
ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Commercial farms

UNITED STATES
Farm Operators by Income in 1949
Income from wages or salary.
Under $500...
• ❤
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,499..
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999. .
•
$4,000 to $4,499.
•
Under $500..
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over
..
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999..
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over.
•
..
•
O • ·
•
•
· •
• •
...
•
Income from farm, business, or profession.
Under $500...
• • • •
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to. $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499..
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over.
Income from all other sources.
··
··
•
• •
• •
•
• •
•
• ·
•
• O
· •
•
•
· •
·
• •
• • •
• • ►
• •
• •
·
• • •
• ·
• •
• • •
· · • •
• • •
·
•
Total income of family from all sources.
Under $500....
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4', 499..
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over
$4,000 to $4,499
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999..
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over..
• • ·
• •
.. •
• •
• •
• •
•
..
•
• •
•
• • •
·
• •
..
•
• ..
U
•
· •
•
•
Income from wages or salary..
Under $500....
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499..
$3,500 to $3,999.
•
•
• D
·
NORTH AND WEST
Farm Operators by Income in 1949
•
•
· *
··
•
• ↓
* 2
• •
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over...
..
..
··
•
Income from farm, business, or profession.
Under $500..
$500 to $999..
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999..
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499.
• •
• ..
Region and item
··
•
• • •
•
•
262023 O 534
....
See footnote at end of table.
•
•
•
D
•
►
•
•
•
•
·
•
•
•
·
•
··
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
•
• •
•
percent..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
•
•
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
··
··
U • •
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
•
•
percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
· •
• • •
•
•
percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
•
·
U •
•
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
•
•
•
..percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
•
•
··
• ·
...percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
..percent..
..percent..
...percent..
...percent..
•
..
·
•
•
•
•
•
• • •
•
·
.percent..
..percent..
• ..
•
•
•
•
•
percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
...percent..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
D
•
percent..
percent..
D
•
..percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total,
all
farms
(1)
(
100
31
14
11
9
10
7
7
4
211) pl
2
1
1
100
24
19
14
9
9
5
5
3
3
22222
2
2
2
2
2
100
53
20
17
5
217
2
1
1
1
100
14
15
14
11
11
7
7
5
4
3
3232
2
100
22
14
10
9
11
10
10
6
3
2
2
1
1
Jamal J
100
14
13
15
11
12
6
7
1 (1)
Total
4
4
(1)·
FEEEEE
100
46
15
10
7
6
4
4321AAAA
100
18
18
16
10
10
5
6
3323222
100
52
18
20
5
2
1
1
100
13
14
14
11
11
7
7
5
43424&
4
4
100
35
17
10
8
8
6
6
4
2
1
211
2
1
100
9
423232
543423 3
13
15
12
13
7
8
4
2
Classes
I and II
(
(1)
100
27
16
11
10
11
6
4
3
1
2
1
223
100
345
4
7
12
7
9
7
8
4
8
5
9
12
100
51
21
15
2
2
1
3
312
1
2
1
100
3
3
4
7
9
7
8
8
9
6
8
5
10
15
100
32
16
9
10
8
6
5
4
1
3
1
23
100
3
3
5
7
13
7
9
7
8
4
8
5
9
11
Class III Class IV
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
100
37
17
13
9
8
5
6
1
1
2
· 2
100
4
7
12
13
17
8
11
5
4
4
6
4
5
1.
100
59
14
17
5
1
1
1
gand
1
100
3
5
9
11
15
9
11
7
557562
100
38
17
12
7
8
6
7
1
1
•.•
2
.2
2
100
4
6
12
14
18
8
11
5
4
4544 - |
1
(1)
100
42
16
9
7
5
.6
5
3
3
300
1
2
1
100
12
16
21
13
11
7
8
4
4
(1)
(i)"
(1)
21
100
50
18
22
6
3
100
8
12
15
14
11
9
9
6
6
3
3
2
2-
100
36
18
7
9
6
7
6
4
3
1
2
1
100
8
14
21
2
1 (1)
14
12
8
8
5
Class V Class VI
522
(1)
GEEE
GEEE
100
41
13
11
7
8
4
5
42
4
2
1
1
1
100
24
26
22
12
9
3
2
1
211
Janak
1
100
42
18
29
6
2
1
1
1
0
•
1
100
14
17
19
14
12
6
5
432212
2
2
100
25
16
11
9
12
7
7
6
3
2
1
1
1
..
100
16
24
23
14
12
3321
3
3
2
(1)
(1)
3€
100
70
12
7
**(i)"
1 (1)
(1)
41~AA
4
2
1
1
100
46
34
12
3
2
~ 1
1
100
59
20
14
2
2
1
--
1
1
100
35
32
17
7
4
2
~1
1
1
prod
1
100
58
12
9
7
1
5
2
1
1
1
2
100
36
34
18
6
4
1
··
··
1
Total
(1)
1)
100
19
14
11
12
13
10
9
5
3
1
1
1
100
53
22
8
2~~ WY ∞
5
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
100
54
23
13
5
2
p p
1
1
Jumal
1
100
15
16
13
12
11
9
7
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
100
9
11
10
10
14
13
13
8
5
2
2
2
1
--
1
100
49
17
10
6
4
3
3
2
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
P
(1)
(1)
(1)
1
1
· 1 (1)
100
18
17
12
10
11
9
10
5
4
1
27
2
1
100
51
25
9
5
HEN W
3
2
1
1
100
47
19
23
6
2
1
1
god grad
1
1
1
100
9
13
15
14
12
9
7
6
4
3
4
1
2
2 -
1
100
11
14
11
10
12
11
14
8
5
2
2
21
1
100
48
20
11
8
4
3
2
2
1
1
Resi-
dential
(1)
(1)
EE
(1)
100
20
12
10
12
14
10
9
753211
1
100
55
18
8
5
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
100
58
27
6
4
211 1
2
1
1
1
100
19
17
11
10
10
8
7
4
4
2
327 A
3
2
1
1
100
8
8
10
10
16
15
13
8
4
322 - H
3
2
2
1
1
100
49
12
10
5
4
4
52213NI
1
44
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 7.-PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF FARM OPERATORS, BY INCOME GROUPS FOR EACH SOURCE OF INCOME, FOR EACH
ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS:
1950-Continued |
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Commercial farms

•
NORTH AND WEST-Continued
Farm Operators by Income in 1949-Continued
Income from all other sources.....
Under $500.....
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over.
Total income of family from all sources.
··
· •
•
...
...
....
··
··
• ·
··
…………
………….
Under $500...
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999..
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999..
$5,000 to $5, 999...
$6,000 to $6,999...
$7,000 to $9,999..
$10,000 and over.
• ··
...
....
···
…………
....
...
………….
SOUTH
Farm Operators by Income in 1949
Income from wages or salary.
Under $500....
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999...
$2,000 to $2,499...
$2,500 to $2,999..
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499.
$4,500 to $4,999...
$5,000 to $5,999...
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over.....
··
...
...
• • •
··
...
Income from farm, business, or profession.
Under $500....
$500 to $999...
•
$1,000 to $1,499.
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499.
$3,500 to $3,999...
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999.
$5,000 to $5,999.
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999.
$10,000 and over....
•
•
• •
.. •
• •
...
...
· •
• •
Income from all other sources..
Under $500.....
$500 to $999.
$1,000 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999.
$2,000 to $2,499.
$2,500 to $2,999.
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999..
$4,000 to $4,999..
$4,500 to $4,999. .
$5,000 to $5,999. .
$6,000 to $6,999...
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over...
··
Total income of family from all sources.
···
··
Region and item
•
..
....
Under $500..
$500 to $999...
$1,000 to $1,499....
$1,500 to $1,999……….
$2,000 to $2,499..
$2,500 to $2,999...
$3,000 to $3,499...
$3,500 to $3,999.
$4,000 to $4,499...
$4,500 to $4,999.......
...
•
$5,000 to $5,999...
$6,000 to $6,999.
$7,000 to $9,999...
$10,000 and over........
¹Percent not shown when less than 0.5.
•
ค
#
*
..percent..
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• ..
• ..
D
…….
··
•
• ··
•
··
•
·· •
•
..percent..
...percent..
•
·
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
...
•
· • O
•
..
..
..
C
··
•
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U
..percent..
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...
• E
percent..
percent..
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percent..
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..percent..
·
percent..
percent..
....percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
...percent..
.....percent..
•
··
•
•
··
percent..
percent..
percent..
......percent..
•
·
·
....
··
...
··
..
...
··
...percent..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
··
• · •
percent..
percent..
•
•
..percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.....percent..
....percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
..percent..
...percent..
.....percent..
...percent..
percent..
D
•
•
•
...percent..
..percent..
...percent..
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percent..
percent..
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•
··
·
...percent..
...percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
..percent..
...percent..
..
Total,
all
farms
100
58
21
11
4
003
CC
100
6
10
11
11
13
9
9
7
6
(1)
(1)
211
1
1
000000
4
(1)
LO E SE En
5
3
100
39
15
11
10
9
5
4
3
4
100
36
25
14
7
2211
5
- 1 CA (A) (
3
3
1
1
pap pel parl
1
1
1
100
47
19
24
1
521
2
100
21
20
16
11
9
6
5
322NAAH
1
1
1
Total
100
58
19
13
4
(1)
(
(1)
CECC
42
CE
2
1
1
100
6
9
12
11
13
8
9
6
6
4
5
353
100
58
12
10
5
4
2
2
1
1
— — Anal
1
100
30
25
16
8
6
3
3
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
100
42
16
32
521
5
2
1
1
100
22
21
17
11
8
5
4
3
2
2
222 -
2
1
•
Classes
I and II
100
57
22
12
(1)
(¹)
(1)
1
2
(0) == 1)
3
1
1
100
2
2
4
7
10
7
8
9
9
5
8
5
10
14
100
7
18
19
11
21
8
1
3
CA)
• •
313 –
7
1
100
4
7
4
7
7
4
9
5
8
4
7
8
11
15
100
31
20
26
5
4
3
1
1
5
1
1
4
100
3
4
4
8
7
4
8
3
6
7
8
6
12
19
Class III Class IV
·
100
65
14
12
(1)
4
1
1
1
100
3
5
9
11
16
9
12
6
5
5
6
5
6
2
100
32
16
15
16
9
4
4
1
2
1
100
6
13
*12.
9
(1)
13
5
10
5
3
3
9
4
7
1
1-
100
39
11
37
8
2
2
2
100
5
8
11
11
12
8
9
8
3
4
8
5
7
2
100
56
19
12
7
4
(1)
красив
1
100
5
10
15
14
12
10
10
7
6
3
3
2
27
1
100
53
13
13
3
5
3
4
2
3
1
2
100
18
20
21
11
9
6
6
3
2
1
100
38
15
38
4
2
•
1
1
100
13
15
17
14
10
8
7
4
4
2
221)
Class V Class VI
(1)
100
52
20
16
6
1
100
7
14
17
14
14
8
7
6
(1)
3
1
1
1
(1)
(1)
4
(1)
227 M
2
100
58
10
10
6
5
2
3
2
1
1
1
3
100
29
27
1
22
10
6
3
1
1
•
100
35
16
41
6
1
1
•
1
100
20
20
21
14
10
4
4
2
2
1
1
1
1
jand
8
(1)
100
56
26
11
2
2
(1)
(1)
•
(1)
(1)
(1)
2
100
26
30
19
10
5
3
1
2
1
2
12
1
100
74
13
7
2
1
1
1
1
100
50
33
10
221
100
61
17
15
221
2
100
39
32
16
6
3
2
1
1
1
Total
100
57
25
5
5
8
(1)
212
2
100
7
11
10
10
12
10
10
8
1
CE
(1)
6
4
5
3
100
26
16.
12
13
12
322
7.
6
221
2
2
100
55
24
7
· 1
4
3
211 —
1
1
1
1
100
52
22
17
5
211
2
1
100
20
18
15
13
10
7
5
3
fuel pont found~~~ W
2
2
2
1
1
1
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
(1)
(1)
100
60
20
8
4
2
1
3
(1)
(¹)
(1)
100
5
10
10
11
13
10
10
10
6
(1)
1
1
(1)
2
2
6
5
2
100
25
19
14
11
231
11
7
5
22
1
1
•••
100
52
28
8
4
3
1
1
1
1
1
100
40
18
31
7
2
100
12
16
57
19
16
12
8
522
2
2
3
1
1
1
Resi-
dential
(1)
(1)
100
55
(1)
3
2
100
(1)
(1)
29
3
5
2
1
1
1
1
1
9
12
9
9
12
11
11
6
5
3
DIN 42 M
5
3
100
27
15
11
14
13
8
6
3
2
1
1
1
100
57
20
6
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
jul prend
1
1
100
60
25
7
4
2
1
1
100
24
20
12
11
9
7
5
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
Chapter 4
POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR
HOUSEHOLDS
(45)
Introduction...
Definition of farm population and population in
farm-operator households........
Problems in defining farm population..
Definition of farm population..
Definition of population in farm-operator households...
Age, sex, and color composition of the population
in farm-operator households..
Age..
Sex....
Color of population...
Diagram-
..
Table-
• ·
CONTENTS
Page
47
·
47
47
48
48
48
48
55
58
CHARTS
Other population characteristics.
Marital status of farm operators.....
Years of school completed by farm operators..
Labor-force status and occupation..
Fertility.....
TABLES
Degree of dependence on agriculture..
Limitations of the data...
1.-Selected population groups by age and sex, for the United States: 1950...
2.-Population in farm-operator households by age and sex, by economic class of farm, for the United States: 1950...
3.- Population in farm-operator households-Fertility ratios, by economic class of farm, for the United States:
1950..
Children under 14 years of age.
Distribution of the population under 14 years of age, by sex.
Age not reported.
Fertility ratios..
•
•
··
1950....
1.-Population in farm-operator households, by economic class of farm, for the United States and regions: 1950...
2.-Population in farm-operator households, by age and sex and by economic class of farm, for the United States:
3.- Median age of the population in farm-operator households, by sex and by economic class of farm, for the United States and regions: 1950.
4.- Farm operators and other members of farm-operator households, by age and by economic class of farm, for the United States: 1950..
5.-Dependency ratios for farm-operator households, by economic class of farm, for the United States and regions: 1950..
6. -Population in farm-operator households, by age and sex, for the United States and regions:
1950......
7.-Number of males per 100 females, for the population 14 years of age and over in farm-operator households, by age and by economic class of farm,
for the United States: 1950....
8.-Population in farm-operator households, by color and by economic class of farm, for the United States and the South: 1950...
9.-Population in farm-operater households, by age and color and by economic class of farm, for the United States: 1950...
10.-Population in farm-operator households, by age and color, for the United States and the South: 1950...
11.-Median age of the population in farm-operator households, by color and by economic class of farm, for the United States and the South: 1950.
12.-Marital status of farm operators, by economic class of farm, for the United States: 1950....
13.-Years of school completed by farm operators, by economic class of farm, for the United States: 1950...
14.-Median years of school completed by farm operators, by economic class of farm, for the United States and regions: 1950..
15.-Persons in farm-operator families by labor-force status, by economic class of farm, for the United States and regions:
16.-Occupation of farm operators, by economic class of farm, for the United States:
1950.......
17.-Occupation of farm operators, for the United States and regions: 1950...
18.- Fertility ratios for farm-operator households, by economic class of farm, unstandardized, standardized for age of woman, and standardized for age and
marital status of woman, for the United States and regions: 1950....
19. -Fertility ratios for farm-operator households, by age and marital status of woman, for the United States and regions: 1950.
20.-Farms and population in farm-operator households, by degree of dependence on agriculture, for the United States: 1950...
(46)
·· •
• ▸
*
•
1950...
...
•
262023
..?
•
•
•
Page
58
58
59
59
60
61
63
63
63
63
64
Page
49
52
62
Page
47
50
51
54
555555
56
56
57
58
58
59
59
60
60
61
61
288883
63
63
64
POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
The number and characteristics of persons in farm-operator
households have both simple and complex relations with the number
of farms and their characteristics. The apparent simplicity of
some of the relationships can be illustrated in a cursory exami-
nation of the geographic distribution of farms and the population
in farm-operator households. The relative distributions in 1950
were as follows:
United States..
North.
South.
West.
•
• •
Helen R. White, Division of Farm Population and Rural Life, Bureau of Agricultural Economics
·
Region
INTRODUCTION
Farms
100
1222
42
49
9
Population in farm-
operator households
100
40
52
8
Obviously, the number of persons in the farm-operator household
population is determined rather largely by the number of farms.
The difference between the two percentages for a given region are
directly attributable to variations in the average size of house.
hold among the regions and indi rectly to the numerous factors af-
fecting the average size of household. (In the United States,
residence of the operator and other members of his household in a
geographic area other than that in which his farm is located is a
very minor factor in the differences between the relative geo-
graphic distributions of farms and of farm-operator household
population. Less than 39,000 of the more than 5 million farms
covered by the 1950 Census of Agriculture were not located in the
enumeration district in which the farm operator resided.
As agri-
culture and population schedules were matched only when the oper-
rator's residence and farm were in the same enumeration district,
technically these data do not reflect this minor source of varia-
tion. In view of the small numbers involved, this factor can be
ignored as a source of variation among regions.)
The complexity of the relations between the number and
characteristics of the farm-operator household population and
the number and characteristics of the farms can be illustrated in
an examination of variations in the size of households by economic
class of farm. The larger the size of the farm-operator household,
the greater the potential manpower available for operating the
farm and the greater the possibilities of economic achievement.
But this is true, of course, only within the limits set by age,
education, sex, health, and other characteristics of the people
in the household and the quality of the soil, equipment and capi-
tal available, size, and other characteristics of the farm. On
the other hand, having more persons economically dependent on a
farm than the farm can support may lead to depletion of the phys-
cal resources and underutilization of the human resources of the
farm. The relative economic success of the farming operations
also affects the size of the household. If the net profit from
the farming operations is small, members of relatively large
families may have additional motivation to seek employment off
the family farm; this frequently involves migration from the fam-
ily residence and a consequent reduction in the size of the house-
hold. Conversely, children of successful farmers are more likely
to be well-educated and, therefore, to seek employment in other
fields and other areas.
These relationships are shown by the data for this report.
In the North and West (combined), the average size of household
decreased consistently from 4.2 persons per household for eco-
nomic classes I and II to 2.9 for class VI. In the South, where
families are generally larger, the average size of household in-
creased from 3.9 for classes I and II to 4.7 for class IV and then
decreased to 4.1 for class VI. The average size of the house-
holds on part-time farms (including abnormal) and of residen ti al
farms was larger in both the North and West and in the South than
those of class VI farms. Substantial proportions of the operators
of part-time and residential farms worked off the farm 200 days or
In fact, the income from other sources exceeded the value
of the farm products sold for approximately 87 percent of the
more.
families of part-time farm operators and for approximately 65
percent of the families of residential farm operators but for
none of the families of class VI farm operators. (The defini-
tion of class VI farms excludes from this group families whose
other income exceeds farm sales.) Thus, the class VI families are
economically less able to retain members of their households
than the part-time or residential families.
The variation in the size of households is reflected in the
relative distributions of farms and of farm-operator household
population by economic class of farm (table 1). The proportion
of farms in classes I through IV was 58 percent, 22 percent, and
52 percent in the North, South, and West, respectively, in 1950.
The corresponding proportions of the farm-operator household
population in these classes was 61 percent, 23 percent, and 55
percent.
TABLE 1.-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE
UNITED STAtes and ReGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of re-
liability of the data, see page 3.
For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]

Economic class of farm
All farms..
Commercial farms.
Classes I and II.
Class III.....
Class IV.
Class V....
Class VI..
•
....
• •
•
•
Other farms.
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential..
·
All farms..
Commercial farms
Classes I and II.
Class III... .
Class IV.
Class V..
Class VI.
► • •
..
•
• D
•
·· •
•
Other farms.
Part-time and abnormal...
Residential……….
•
United
States
21,875,464
15,406,849
2,000, 292
3,085,110
3,792,538
3,775,809
2,753,100
6,468,615
2,552,990
3,915,625
100.0
70.4
9.1
14.1
17.3
17.3
12.6
29.6
11.7
17.9
North
POPULATION
8,724,032
6,931,214
1,283,036
2,094, 103
1,908,299
1,176,912
468,864
1,792,818
860,636
932,182
100.0
South
79.4
14.7
24.0
21.9
13.5
5.4
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
20.6
9.9
10.7
11,419,190
7,228,317
347,867
682,585
1,610,073
2,386,632
2,201,160
4,190,873
1,490,229
2,700,644
100.0
63.3
3.0
6.0
14.1
20.9
19.3
36.7
13.1
23.7
DEFINITION OF FARM POPULATION AND
POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
West
1,732,242
1,247,318
369,389
308,422
274, 166
212,265
83,076
(47)
484,924
202, 125
282,799
100.0
72.0
21.3
17.8
15.8
12.3
4.8
In the North and West more than half of the farm-operator
household population was in households of operators of classes
I through IV farms-farms for which the total value of products
sold was equal to or exceeded $2,500. In the South, which con-
tained approximately half of the total farm-operator household
population, less than a fourth of the farm-operator household
population was associated with farms of classes I through IV.
Of the roughly 13 million persons in the United States in house-
holds of operators of farms classified as classes V, VI, part-
time, residential, and abnormal, 68 percent were in the South.
28.0
11.7
16.3
Problems in defining farm population. In the United
States, the term "farm population" is popularly associated with
the idea of farm-operator families which live on the farms they
operate and which depend entirely or largely on farming for their
livelihood. This concept has arisen from our historic way of
living and farming. Even today approximately 95 percent of the
farm operators live on the farm they operate and roughly 66 per-
cent receive more gross income from the farm than from other
sources. Superficially it would seem that a completely satis-
factory classification of population into farm and non farm could
be constructed on the basis of farm residence. However, in many
other parts of the world and even in some parts of the United
States the typical farm-family settlement pattern is a village or
cluster of homes not on, but surrounded by, farmland. For
48
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
example, in 1950, roughly 19 percent of the farm operators in
Utah did not live on farms.
If
There are other difficulties in the practical application
of the above concept to the problem of classifying population as
farm or non farm. An increasing proportion of farm operators are
If the farm operator
doing work other than on their own farm.
does not do any work other than on his own farm, other members of
his family may have off-farm work. In addition to problems re-
lating to the residence and degree of dependence on agriculture
of farm-operator families, there are problems in classifying
other groups.
These include such groups as farm laborers or farm-
laborer families residing on farms, farm-laborer families not re-
siding on farms, and families or single individuals renting farm
houses but not renting any of the farmland in the property.
the classification is based on farm residence, a practical and
Because of
valid way of identifying farms must be established.
these and other problems, censuses conducted by other countries
have tended to include tabulations of the population dependent
on agriculture based on the occupation or industry classification
of persons in the labor force; persons not in the labor force
being allocated to the occupation or industry group of the head
of their household or of the person on whom they are economical-
ly dependent. (Problems in classifying the population dependent
on agriculture are discussed in greater detail in a report pre-
pared by the United Nations entitled Population Census Methods,
Lake Success, New York, 1949, pp. 145-158. Some specific aspects
of the problem in the United States are described in the joint
Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Agricultural Economics report
entitled Farm Population, Series Census-BAE, No. 16, March 1953.)
-
Definition of farm population. In the 1950 United States
Census of Population and Housing, the residence classification of
population into farm and non farm was made largely on the basis of
responses to the question "Is this house on a farm (or ranch)?"
However, enumerators were instructed to classify as non farm all
persons in institutions, summer camps, tourist cabins, and simi-
lar places on farms and all persons paying cash rent for a farm
Both the
house and yard but not renting any of the farmland.
farm and nonfarm populations have been further classified ac-
cording to urban and rural residence. (Relatively little data
are available on the characteristics of the urban-farm or total
farm population, the three-way classification of urban, rural non-
farm, and rural farm having been used most frequently.)
Definition of population in farm-operator households.-The
definition of the population in farm- operator households is fairly
obvious from examination of the basic definitions of a farm, a farm
operator, and a household given in the Introduction to this report.
However, the following facts need to be remembered in eval -
uating and analyzing the data in this report:
-
1. The population data in this report relate only to the farm-
operator households for places counted as farms in the 1950
Census of Agriculture.
2. Data on farm-operator households for approximately 39,000
or 0.8 percent of all farm operators were not tabulated as
the farm operators lived in enumeration districts other than
the enumeration district in which the farm was located.
3. Some households located on farms and containing persons
counted as farm population in the 1950 Census of Population
do not contain a farm operator, and are, therefore, not in-
cluded in the data given in this report. Such households
include households of farm laborers and farm landlords not
operating farms but living on farms, as well as households
on places considered as farms but without sufficient agri-
cultural operations and agricultural production to qualify
as farms according to the definition used for the 1950
Census of Agriculture.
4. The population data in this report include persons in a
considerable number of households containing a farm operator
who were not counted as part of the farm population in the
1950 Census of Population because the household was not
considered as being on a farm.
The following data indicate the relative composition of the
farm population for the 1950 Census of Population and the popula-
tion in farm- operator households as estimated from
as estimated from tabulations
made for this report:
-
Item
Total population..
Persons included in farm population
and in farm-operator household
population...
Persons included in farm-operator
household population but not as
farm population in Census of
Population....
Persons included in farm population
but excluded from farm-operator
household population because place
did not qualify as farm2.
Other persons not included in farm-
operator households, but included
in farm population³.
Farm
Farm-
population, operator
1950 Census of
household
Population population
123,332,000
21,875,000
20,851,000
·
XXXXXXXX
1,756,000
20,851,000
1,024,000
XXXXXXX
725,000
Total farm population as shown by the 1950 Census of Population.
2Estimates based upon tabulation of data for a sample of 1,408 house-
holds taken from 5,260 or 5 percent of the enumeration districts having
farms in 1950. .This figure is subject to considerable sampling vari-
ability.
XXX
XX
Estimates obtained by subtracting totals for groups listed from the
total farm population.
This
The above data indicate that the population of farm- operator
households included in this report and included in the farm popu-
lation as shown for the 1950 Census of Population represented
20,851,000 persons or 89 percent of the 23, 332,000 farm population.
On the other hand, the population of farm-operator households in-
cludes 1,024,000 persons not included in the 1950 farm population.
Also, the 1950 farm population included 2,481,000 other persons
not included in the population of farm- operator households.
total comprises 1,756,000 persons in households on places consid-
ered as farms in the 1950 Census of Population, but not qualify-
ing as farms for the Census of Agriculture and 725,000 persons in
other households not containing a farm operator. These households
consist largely of households of farm landlords and farm laborers.
The relationship of the population of farm- operator house-
holds to total farm population should be considered in using data
in this report to supplement data on farm population.
AGE, SEX, AND COLOR COMPOSITION OF THE
POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
Age.-As approximately 21 million of the 23 million persons
in the total farm population of the United States in April 1950
were also part of the 22 million persons in farm- operator house-
holds, the similarity of the age-sex distribution of the farm-
operator household population to that of the rural-farm population
shown in diagram 1, is not surprising. (Differences between these
two groups are attributable to exclusion of persons in urban farm-
operator households from the rural-farm population as well as to
the points previously discussed.) The population pyramids for both
of these groups have much broader bases, representing larger pro-
portions of persons under 20 years of age, than the urban popula
tion. The slimness of these columns from ages 20 to 24 years
through 40 to 44 years and more rectangular shape from 20 to 24
years through age 59 also contrasts with the breadth in the young
adult ages and more tapering shape of the urban pyramid.
Even though the number of young persons in the farm-operator
household population is relatively large, it does not seem exces-
sive in terms of long-run replacement needs assuming that each of
In
the present operators will eventually be replaced by another.
April 1950, there were roughly 107 males under 35 years of age
(excluding operators) for every 100 operators. (This figure is an
understatement insofar as it does not allow for females of any age
or older males who are not operators or for persons not in farm-
operator households who may become operators.) Some of these
young males will prefer non farm employment; some will, of course,
die prior to the death or retirement of the present operators.
If the number of farms continues to decline- there was a decrease
of about one-fifth between 1935 and 1950-the number of operator-
Diagram I-SELECTED POPULATION GROUPS BY AGE AND SEX
FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
AGE
70 TO 74
65 TO 69
60 TO 64
55 TO 59
50 TO 54
45 TO 49
40 TO 44
35 TO 39
30 TO 34
25 TO 29
20 TO 24
15 TO 19
10 TO 14
5 TO 9
UNDER 5
AGE
70 TO 74
65 TO 69
60 TO 64
55 TO 59
50 TO 54
45 TO 49
40 TO 44
35 TO 39
30 TO 34
25 TO 29
20 TO 24
15 TO 19
ΙΟ ΤΟ 14
5 TO 9
UNDER 5
MALE
6 5 4 3 2
MALE
TOTAL
Lo
PERCENT
-
FEMALE
2 3 4 5 6
RURAL FARM
FEMALE
MALE
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
PERCENT
6 5
4
3 2
MALE
6 6 6 5 4 3 2
URBAN


1
O
PERCENT
FEMALE
2 3
POPULATION IN ALL
FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
4 5 6


FEMALE
| O 1 2 3 4 5 6
PERCENT
•
(49)
50
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 2.-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY AGE AND SEX AND BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE
UNITED STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of the data, see page 3.
Commercial farms

Total, all ages.
Under 5 years...
5 to 9 years..
10 to 14 years..
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years,
25 to 29 years.
30 to 34 years..
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years.
60 to 64 years..
65 to 69 years..
70 to 74 years.
75 years and over..
...
Males, all ages.
··
..
...
...
• •
•
...
Under 5 years...
5 to 9 years.
10 to 14 years..
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years..
30 to 34 years..
35 to 39 years..
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years..
50 to 54 years,
55 to 59 years..
60 to 64 years..
65 to 69 years...
70 to 74 years.
75 years and over..
Females, all ages.
...
....
•
Under 5 years...
5 to 9 years...
10 to 14 years...
15 to 19 years.
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years..
30 to 34 years..
35 to 39 years….
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years..
50 to 54 years..
55 to 59 years..
60 to 64 years..
65 to 69 years.
70 to 74 years..
··
•
···
··
...
·
·
•
75 years and over
•
•
•••
...
..
•
..
.
|
Total, all ages.
Under 5 years..
5 to 9 years..
10 to 14 years.
15 to 19 years.
20 to 24 years…….
25 to 29 years..
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years..
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years..
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years.
70 to 74 years...
75 years and over.
Males, all ages.
Under 5 years...
5 to 9 years...
10 to 14 years..
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years.
25 to 29 years.
30 to 34 years..
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years..
45 to 49 years..
··
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
..
•
•
··
•
··
•
•
··
··
•
•
•
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years.
60 to 64 years..
65 to 69 years..
70 to 74 years.
75 years and over..
10 to 14 years.
15 to 19 years.
20 to 24 years.
25 to 29 years.
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years..
40 to 44 years...
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years.
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years.
70 to 74 years..
•
··
··
•
❤
•
··
·
···
· •
...
•
•
females, all ages..
Under 5 years..
5 to 9 years...
•
..
·
•
•
•
75 years and over.
POPULATION
•
• ·
Age
..
··
→
Total,
all farms
21,875,464
2,324,569
2,392,744
2,412, 128
2,043,979
1,262,270
1,265,435
1,344,474
1,494,049
1,389,503
1,237,196
1,185,038
1,065,654
850,002
693, 143
440,774
474,506
11,462,311
1,186,597
1,228,250
1,255,603
1,124, 198
704,212
612,907
660,039
752,758
736,440
635,270
619,942
580,877
465,413
394,058
257,657
248,090
10,413, 153
1,137,972
1,164,494
1,156,525
919,781
558,058
652,528
684,435
741,291
653,063
601,926
565, 096
484,777
384,589
299,085
183,117
226,416
100.0
10.6
10.9
11.0
9.3
5.8
5.8
6.1
6.8
6.4
5.7
5.4
4.9
3.9
3.2
2.0
2.2
100.0
10.4
.10.7
11.0
9.8
6.1
5.3
5.8
6.6
6.4
5.5
5.4
5.1
4.1
3.4
2.2
2.2
100.0
10.9
11.2
11.1
8.8
5.4
6.3
6.6
7.1
6.3
5.8
5.4
4.6
3.7
2.9
1.7
2.2
Total
15,406,849
1,658,263
1,642,864
1,687,504
1,442,911
900,339
918,367
943,925
1,052,671
989,972
863,847
849,932
760,732
625,449
493,527
277,510
299,036
8,150,931
846, 969
843,750
879,496
801,744
514,516
455,901
471,261
526,298
538,814
444,172
456,057
417,760
344,271
290,036
167,097
152,789
7,255,918
811, 294
799,114
808,008
641, 167
385, 823
462,466
472,664
526,373
451, 158
419,675
393,875
342,972
281,178
203,491
110,413
146,247
100.0
10.8
10.7
11.0
9.4
5.8
6.0
6.1
6.8
6.4
5.6
5.5
4.9
4.1
3.2
1.8
1.9
100.0
10.4
10.4
10.8
9.8
6.3
5.6
5.8
6.5
6.6
5.4
5.6
5.1
4.2
3.6
2.0
1.9
100.0
11.2
11.0
11.1
8.9
5.3
6.4
6.5
7.3
6.2
5.8
5.4
4.7
3.9
2.8
1.5
2.0
Classes
I and II
2,000,292
3,085,110
206,224 332,210
205,694 338,231
209,217
330,214
273,914
170,384
138,216
168,351
198,911
214,409
251,333
218,542
190,234
133,900
148,591
165,738
147,201
125,287
108,910
88,364
58,397
39,429
25,518
29,222
1,089,967
105,711
106,045
107,577
99,860
82,716
77,163
71,647
84,981
85,131
69,463
62,723
51,527
32,931
23,497
13,430
15,565
910,325
100,513
99,649
101,640
70,524
55,500
56,737
76,944
80,757
62,070
55,824
46,187
36,837
25,466
15,932
12,088
13,657
100.0
10.3
10.3
10.5
8.5
6.9
6.7
7.4
8.3
7.3
6.3
5.4
4.4
2.9
2.0
1.3
1.5
100.0
9.7
9.7
9.9
9.2
7.6
7.1
6.6
7.8
7.8
6.4
5.7
4.7
3.0
2.2
1.2
1.4
100.0
11.0
10.9
11.2
7.8
6.1
6.2
8.5
8.9
6.8
6.1
5.1
4.0
2.8
1.8
Class III
1.3
1.5
182, 441
134,842
101,346
60,873
42,419
46,840
1,655,378
170,293
174,287
178,087
159,711
97,515
101, 243
111,079
127,042
124,803
98,602
98,437
76,821
59,321
32,146
24,757
21,234
1,429,732
161,917
163,944
152, 127
114,203
70,836
97,668
103,330
124,291
93,739
91,632
84, 004
58,021
42,025
28,727
17,662
25,606
100.0
10.8
11.0
10.7
8.9
5.4
6.4
6.9
8.1
7.1
6.2
5.9
4.4
3.3
2.0
1.4
1.5
100.0
10.3
10.5
10.8
9.7
5.9
6.1
6.7
7.7
7.5
6.0
5.9
4.6
3.6
1.9
1.5
1.3
100.0
11.3
11.5
10.6
8.0
5.0
6.8
7.2
8.7
6.6
6.4
5.9
4.1
2.9
2.0
1.2
1.8
Class IV
3,792,538
388,838
416,745
455, 112
359,539
215,855
230,524
240,618
256,958
243,499
205,796
206,927
186,842
154,814
105,360
61,571
63,540
2,009,613
198,737
214,127
238,735
199,358
126,014
109,808
120,638
129,687
130,060
106,788
111,972
101, 143
84,303
69,013
37,855
31,375
1,782, 925
190, 101
202,618
216,377
160,181
89,841
120.716
119,980
127,271
113,439
99,008
94,955
85,699
70,511
36,347
23,716
32, 165
100.0
10.2
11.0
12.0
9.5
5.7
6.1
6.3
6.8
6.4
5.4
5.5
4.9
4.1
2.8
1.6
1.7
100.0
9.9
10.6
11.9
9.9
6.3
5.5
6.0
6.4
6.5
5.3
5.6
5.0
4.2
3.4
1.9
1.6
100.0
10.7
11.4
12.1
9.0
5.0
6.8
6.7
7.1
6.4
5.6
5.3
4.8
4.0
2.0
1.3
1.8
Class V
3,775,809
422,511
412,461
420,834
369,712
218,280
220,128
212,937
240,427
229,010
202,375
197,742
194,912
156,315
136,053
65,150
76,962
1,978,177
215,333
211,341
219,930
204,959
123,010
102,958
103,675
118,513
117,248
102,640
108,005
110,893
83,487
75,338
41,294
39,553
1,797,632
207,178
201,120
200,904
164,753
95,270
117,170
109,262
121, 914
111,762
99,735
89,737
84,019
72,828
60,715
23,856
37,409
100.0
11.2
10.9
11.2
9.8
5.8
5.8
5.6
6.4
6.1
5.4
5.2
5.2
4.1
3.6
1.7
2.0
100.0
10.9
10.7
11.1
10.4
6.2
5.2
For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
Other farms
5.2
6.0
5.9
5.2
5.5
5.6
4.2
3.8
2.1
2.0
100.0
11.5
11.2
11.2
9.2
5.3
6.5
6.1
6.8
6.2
5.5
5.0
4.7
4.0
3.4
1.3
2.1
Class VI
2,753,100
308,480
269,733
2-72,127
269,362
159,637
134,904
127,370
138,215
151,720
140, 155
153,912
155,772
154,577
151,812
82,852
82,472
1,417,796
156,895
137,950
135,167
137,856
85,261
64,729
64,222
66,075
81,572
66,679
74,920
77,376
84,229
90,042
49,761
45,062
1,335,304
151,585
131,783
136,960
131,506
74,376
70,175
63,148
72,140
70, 148
73,476
78,992
78,396
70,348
61,770
33,091
37,410
100.0
11.2
9.8
9.9
9.8
5.8
4.9
4.6
5.0
5.5
5.1
5.6
5.7
5.6
5.5
3.0
3.0
100.0
11.1
9.7
9.5
9.7
6.0
4.6
4.5
4.7
5.8
4.7
5.3
5.5
5.9
6.3
3.5
3.2
100.0
11.3
9.9
10.3
9.8
5.6
5.3
4.7
5.4
5.2
5.5
5.9
5.9
5.3
4.6
2.5
2.8
Total
6,468,615
666,306
749,880
724,624
601,068
361, 931
347,068
400,549
441, 378
399,531
373,349
335,106
304, 922
224,553
199,616
163, 264
175,470
3,311,380
339,628
384,500
376,107
322,454
189,696
157,006
188,778
226,460
197,626
191,098
163,885
163, 117
121,142
104,022
90,560
95,301
3,157,235
326,678
365,380
348,517
278,614
172, 235
190,062
211,771
214,918
201,905
182, 251
171,221
141,805
103,411
95,594
72,704
80,169
100.0
10.3
11.6
11.2
9.3
5.6
5.3
6.2
6.8
6.2
5.8
5.2
4.7
3.5
3.1
2.5
2.7
100.0
10.3
11.6
11.4
9.7
5.7
4.7
5.7
6.8
6.0
5.8
5.0
4.9
3.7
3. 1
2.7
2.9
100.0
10.4
11.6
11.0
8.8
5.5
6.0
6.7
6.8
6.4
5.8
5.4
4.5
3.3
3.0
2.3
2.5
✓
Part-time
and abnormal
2,552,990
256,011
287,567
279,816
241,591
152, 026
148,214
167,452
191,978
170,263
151,350
133,218
113,652
89,165
59,463
53.260
57,964
1,319,701
130,566
147,551
145,362
130,564
80,767
69,115
78,620
101,677
82,091
80,071
67,001
62,834
43,655
37,148
30,551
32, 128
1,233,289
125,445
140, 016
134,454
111,027
71,259
79,099
88,832
90,301
88,172
71,279
66,217
50,818
45,510
22,315
22,709
25,836
100.0
10.0
11.3
11.0
9.5
5.9
5.8
6.6
7.5
6.7
5.9
5.2
4.4
3.5
2.3
2.1
2.3
100.0
9.9
11.2
11.0
9.9
6.1
5.2
6.0
7.7
6.2
6.1
5.1
4.8
3.3
2.8
2.3
2.4
100.0
10.2
11.4
10.9
9.0
5.8
6.4
7.2
7.3
7,1
5.8
5.4
4.1
3.7
1.8
1.8
2.1
Residential
3,915,625
410,295
462,313
444, 808
359,477
209, 905
198,854
233,097
249,400
229,268
221,999
201,888
191,270
135,388
140, 153
110,004
117,506
1,991,679
209,062
236,949
230,745
191,890
108,929
87,891
110,158
124,783
115,535
111,027
96,884
100,283
77,487
66,874
60,009
63,173
1,923,946
201,233
225,364
214,063
167,587
100,976
110,963
122,939
124,617
113,733
110,972
105,004
90,987
57,901
73,279
49,995
54,333
100.0
10.5
11.8
11.4
9.2
5.4
5.1
5.9
6.4
5.8
5.7
5.1
4.9
3.4
3.6
2.8
3.0
100.0
10.5
. 11.9
11.6
9.6
5.5
4.4
5.5
6.3
5.8
5.6
4.9
5.0
3.9
3.3
3.0
3.2
100.0
10.5
11.7
11.1
8.7
5.2
5.8
6.4
6.5
5.9
5.8
5.5
4.7
3.0
3.8
2.6
2.8
POPULATION
51
replacements needed will also decline. As approximately 168 males
in the farm-operator household population will reach age 20 dur-
ing the next decade for every 100 expected deaths or retirements
among males 20 to 64 years of age, absorption of almost all of these
males into the farm labor force is not expected. (The figure 168 is
specifically the ratio, multuplied by 100, of expected survivors
to 1960 of males 10 to 19 years of age in 1950 to the sum of (1)
expected deaths during 1950-60 to males 20 to 54 years of age and
of (2) males 55 to 64 years of age in 1950, assuming the 1950
level of mortality.) This figure is lower than the similar re-
placement rate for rural-farm males for 1940-50, the value of
which was 179 (Conrad Taeuber, Replacement Rates for Rural-Farm
Males Aged 25-69 Years, by Counties, 1940-50, Bureau of Agricul-
tural Economics, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1944).
The relatively large number of young people and of aged
persons in the rural-farm population and in the farm-operator
household population represent an added burden of dependency on
the economically active members of these groups.
Crude measures
of this dependency load, the ratio of persons under 15 years and
70 years and over to persons 20 to 64 years of age, for 1950, are
as follows:
United States.
United States.
Urban....
Rural nonfarm.
Rural farm...
Farm-operator household population..
Persons 15 to 19 years of age and 65 to 69 years of age are de-
liberately omitted from both the numerator and denominator of this
ratio because significant numbers of these groups are in the la-
bor force and because of urban-rural differentials in employment
opportunities for persons in these age groups. Not only do the
rural-farm and farm-operator household populations have greater
dependency loads, but the income available for support of these
dependents is less than that available to the urban and rural-
nonfarm populations. (Figures on family income for the various
residence groups do not indicate fully differences in family in-
come per capita because of differences in family size and because
they do not take into account the value of home-produced farm prod-
ucts consumed by rural families.) The median income in 1949 of
families and unrelated individuals in these population groups was
as follows:
•
....
Residence
· •
Urban.
Rural nonfarm.
Rural farm.
Farm-operator household population..
Residence
Ratio
54.7
46.6
64.4
75.1
72.5
Median income
(dollars)
2,619
2,970
2, 186
1,567
1,867
(See chapter 3 for analysis of income variations and for discus-
sion of the limitations of these data. The number, of unrelated
individuals in the farm- operator household population was rela-
tively small.)
Variations in the age-sex composition of the population in
farm-operator households by economic class of farm are shown in
diagram 2. The most obvious contrast is the more pyramidal dis-
tribution of the population associated with classes I and II farms
and class III farms and the gradual shift to the more rectangular
distributions of groups under 20 years and 20 years of age and
over in classes V, VI, and residential. In fact,
In fact, the distribution
of the population associated with classes I and II farms resembles
that of the urban population except for the relatively greater
numbers of persons 5 to 19 years of age on the high-income farms.
The increase in the proportion of aged persons from classes
I and II to class VI is striking. While only 4.7 percent of the
population associated with classes I and II was 65 years old or
older, 11.5 percent of the population associated with class VI
farms was in this age group. The corresponding percentages for
the population on part-time and residential farms were 6.7 and
9.4, respectively. Detailed percentage distributions for each
economic class are given in table 2.
The proportion of persons under 15 years of age tended to
increase from classes I and II to V, rising from 31.1 percent to
33.3 percent. In the population associated with class VI farms,
however, only 30.9 percent were under 15 years of age.
Thus,
despite the increase in the proportion of aged persons from
classes I and II to class VI, the median age decreased from 27.6
years for classes I and II to 26.0 for class V (table 3). For
the population on class VI farms, however, the median age was
28.6 years.
TABLE 3.-MEDIAN AGE OF THE POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY SEX AND BY
ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of
reliability of the data, see page 3.
For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
United States
North and West
Total Male Female

Economic class
of farm
All farms..
...
Commercial
farms..
Classes I and II.
Class III.
Class IV.
Class V..
Class VI.
•
•
Other farms..
Part-time and
abnormal....
Residential..
•
··
··
Total Male Female
27.0
26.9
27.1
29.9 30.2
29.7
South
•
Total Male Female
24.1 23.7
27.0 27.1 27.0 30.0 30.2 29.8 23.3 23.2
27.6 27.8 27.4 27.6
27.6
27.5 27.9 28.6
27.5 27.4 27.7 27.9 28.1 27.7 25.0 23.8
26.3 26.3 26.3 30.1 30.4 29.7 21.1 20.7
26.0 25.7 26.3 33.2 33.4 33.0 22.0 21.8
28.6 29.3 28.0 46.2 47.5 44.5 25.0 25.4
29.6 30.2 29.2 25.5 24.6
27.0 26.8 27.2 29.7 30.2
29.2 25.5 25.1
26.8 26.0 27.4 29.6 30.1
29.2 25.4 24.3
26.9 26.4
27.3
24.5
23.4
26.7
27.1
21.6
22.2
24.7
26.3
25.8
26.6
The age structure of the population associated with each
economic class of farm reflects to some extent the age distribu-
tion of farm operators. As shown in table 4, the age distri-
butions of operators change from a peaked, clustered form for
classes I and II to a more flattened, dispersed form for class VI.
Classes V and VI contained both greater proportions of young op-
erators and greater proportions of old operators. The age dis-
tributions of the operators of both class VI and operators of
residential farms are more markedly skewed toward the older ages.
The statement that the age structure of the population in each
economic class reflects the age distribution of the operators may
seem slightly strange at first glance. The median age of all per-
sons in class V farm-operator households was 1.6 years lower than
the median age of all persons in classes I and II farm-operator
households; the median age of other members of class V households
was only 1 year less than that of classes I and II; but the median
age of class V operators was 3.9 years higher than the median age
of classes I and II operators. Thus, there is a smaller decrease
(or an actual increase) between classes I and II and class V for
the two components than for the whole. Four factors contribute
to this apparent anomaly: (1) A median simply divides a distri-
bution into two groups of equal size without regard to the dis-
tribution of items within these two groups; (2) a larger propor-
tion of class V operators than of classes I and II operators were
under 25 years of age; (3) a larger proportion of non-operator
members of class V households than of classes I and II households
were in the younger age groups; and (4) non-operators are greater
in number than operators in both groups.
Both the age of the operator and the age of the other members
of the household affect the productivity of the farm and cons e-
quently its economic class. Older operators, particularly those
65 years of age and over, lack the physical strength of healthy
young adults; they may be semiretired; and some
and some or all of their
children may have left the household. Thus, those operators 25
to 54 are likely to be more productive, to have more productive
farms, and a greater value of farm products sold. In fact, roughly
11 percent of the operators 25 to 54 years of age had classes I
and II farms as contrasted with 6 percent of the operators under
25 or 55 years of age and over.
Insofar as gross value of products sold is an indicator of
the income available to the household, those farm- operator house-
holds least able to support a large number of dependents have the
largest ratios of persons in the dependent ages to persons in the
working ages.
As shown in table 5, the number of persons in the
Diagram 2-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
BY AGE AND SEX, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM,
FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
ALL FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
MALE
AGE
70 TO 74
65 TO 69
60 TO 64
55 TO 59
50 TO 54
45 TO 49
40TO 44
35 TO 39
30 TO 34
25 TO 29
20 TO 24
15 TO 19
IOTO 14
5 TO 9
UNDER 5
AGE
70 TO 74
65 TO 69
60 TO 64
55 TO 59
50 TO 54
45 TO 49
40T044
35 TO 39
30TO 34
25 TO 29
20 TO 24
15 TO 19
IOTO 14
5 TO 9
UNDER 5
(52)
6 5 4
3
2
MALE
6 5 4 3 2
0
PERCENT
FEMALE
2 3
CLASS III
FEMALE
4 5
5
0 1 2 3 4
PERCENT
6
6
6
6 5
CLASSES I AND II
MALE
FEMALE


4 3 2
1 О | 2
PERCENT
CLASS I
MALE
3 4 5 6.


FEMALE
5 6 6 6 5 4 3 2 |0| 2 3 4
PERCENT
5 6
Diagram 2-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
BY AGE AND SEX, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM,
FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
CLASS I
AGE
70 TO 74
65 TO 69
60 TO 64
55 TO 59
50 TO 54
45 TO49
40 TO 44
35 TO 39
30 TO 34
25 TO 29
20 TO 24
15 TO 19
10 TO 14
5 TO 9
UNDER 5
AGE
70 TO 74
65 TO 69
60 TO64
55 TO 59
50 TO 54
45 TO 49
40 TO44
35 TO 39
30 TO 34
25 TO 29
20 TO 24
15 TO 19
10 TO 14
5 TO 9
UNDER 5
6 5 4
MALE
3 2 1
6 5 4 3 2
0
PERCENT
I
PART-TIME AND ABNORMAL
FEMALE
MALE
FEMALE
2 3 4
PERCENT
0 1 2 3
5 6
6 5
4 5 6 6
6
MALE
4 3 2
CLASS VI


O 1
PERCENT
RESIDENTIAL
MALE
FEMALE
5 4 3 2 1
5
2 3 4 5 6


FEMALE
│
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
PERCENT
(53)
54
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 4.-FARM OPERATORS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY AGE AND BY ECONOMIC CLASS
OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of the data, see page 3.
Commercial farms
Total, all ages......
POPULATION
Operators and Members of Household¹
Under 25 years..
25 to 34 years..
35 to 44 years..
45 to 54 years...
55 to 64 years.
65 years and over
Median age2..
Median age.
··
· •
Median age..
••
Total, all ages.
..
Under 25 years..
25 to 34 years.
35 to 44 years..
45 to 54 years.
55 to 64 years....
65 years and over.
•
·
•
•
...
•
•
...
Total, all ages..
Under 14 years..
14 to 24 years
25 to 34 years.
35 to 44 years.
45 to 54 years.
55 to 64 years.
65 years and over.
..
•
...
•
•
··
…….
Total, all ages.
Under 25 years.
25 to 34 years.
35 to 44 years..
45 to 54 years...
55 to 64 years.
··
65 years and over.
• •
...
·
•
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Operators and Members of Household¹
•
Under 25 years.
25 to 34 years..
35 to 44 years.
45 to 54 years.
55 to 64 years.
65 years and over.
···
•
•
•
Total, all ages..
•
O
Under 14 years..
14 to 24 years.
25 to 34 years..
35 to 44 years.
45 to 54 years.
55 to 64 years....
65 years and over.
•
•
·
·
Total, all ages..
..
·
……….
D
•
··
•
Age
..
Operators ¹
1
Other Members
Operators¹
Other Members
•
·
..
►
•
··
• •
·
•
•
•
Total,
all farms
21,875,464
10,435,690
2,609,909
15,406,849
7,331,881
1,862,292
2,883,552 2,042,643
2,422,234 1,713,779
1,915,656 1,386,181
1,608,423 1,070,073
27.0
1,310,576
1,189,101
1,005,280
786,484
47.6
5,341,190 3,769,059
180,262
136,607
869,487
640,546
936,059
841,064
704,777
510,006
47.1
100.0
16,534,274 11,637,790
6,661,833 4,659,337
3,593,595 2,535,937
1,740,422 1,221,746
1,106,584
1,572,976
1,233,133
910,376
821,939
18.5
47.7
11.9
13.2
11.1
8.8
7.3
100.0
3.4
16.3
24.5
22.3
18.8
14.7
Total
100.0
40.3
21.7
10.5
9.5
7.5
5.5
5.0
27.0
¹Includes only farm operators for which population data are available.
2Computed from detailed age distribution.
872,715
681,404
560,067
18.6
100.0
47.6
12.1
13.3
11.1
9.0
6.9
100.0
3.6
17.0
24.9
22.3
18.7
13.5
100.0
40.0
21.8
10.5
9.5
7.5
5.9
4.8
Classes
I and II
234,197
146,761
94,169
27.6
2,000,292
929,735 1,442,920 1,836,089
282,491 413,320 471,142
312,939
469,875
500,457
372,675
412,723
236,188
150,132
481,386
12,212
101,612
145,507
119,845
71,179
31,031
43.7
1,518,906
586, 151
331,372
180,879
167,432
114,352
75,582
63,138
19.2
dependent ages per 100 persons in the working ages, increases from
classes I and II to class VI. Although the increase in the number
of persons under 15 years of age per 100 persons 20 to 64 years of
age is sizable, the increase in the number 70 years and over per
100 persons 20 to 64 years of age is even more marked. The latter
ratio rises from 4.9 for classes I and II to 12.6 for class VI.
Because of higher fertility, higher mortality, and greater
net losses through migration after childhood, the farm-operator
household population in the South is younger than that in the
North and West. From the data tabulated for this report, the me-
dian age was estimated to be 24.1 years in the South and 29.9
years in the North and West in April 1950. For each of the eco-
nomic classes except I and II, the median ages were also lower in
100.0
46.5
14.1
15.7
11.7
7.3
4.7
100.0
2.5
21.1
30.2
24.9
14.8
6.5
-100.0
Class III
38.6
21.8
11.9
11.0
7.5
5.0
4.2
27.5
3,085,110 3,792,538 3,775,809
748,932
16,757
146,095
215,222
189,369
125,973
55,516
44.8
2,336,178
937,983
488, 180
267,225
254,653
183,306
110,215
94,616
18.7
100.0
46.8
13.4
15.2
12.1
7.6
4.9
100.0
2.2
19.5
28.8
25.3
16.8
7.4
Class IV
100.0
40.2
20.9
11.4
10.9
7.8
4.7
4.1
341,656
230,471
26.3
2,889,127
1,171,669
637,796
311,913
265,611
213,998
171,915
116,225
18.3
100.0
903,411
912,664
26,624
47,127
159,229
144,785
234,846 214,650
198,725
200,308
169,741
174,225
114,246
131,569
46.6
47.6
48.4
12.4
13.2
10.9
9.0
6.1
100.0
3.0
17.6
26.0
22.0
18.8
12.6
For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
Other farms

100.0
Class V Class VI
40.6
22.1
10.8
9.2
7.4
5.9
4.0
2,753,100
1,843,798 1,279,339
433,065 262,274
469,437
289,935
400,117
351,227
278,165
26.0
2,863,145
1,171,589
625,082
288,280
254,787
199,809
177,002
146,596
18.2
100.0
48.8
11.5
12.4
10.6
9.3
7.4
100.0
5.2
15.9
23.5
21.9
19.1
14.4
100.0
40.9
21.8
10.1
8.9
7.0
6.2
5.1
294,067
310,349
317,136
28.6
2,030,434
791, 945
453,507
173,449
164,101
161,250
146,690
139,492
18.9
722,666 1,572,131
33,887
88,825
125,834
132,817
163,659
177,644
53.6
100.0
46.5
9.5
10.5
10.7
11.3
11.5
100.0
4.7
12.3
17.4
18.4
22.6
24.6
Total
100.0
39.0
22.3
8.6
8.1
7.9
7.2
6.9
6,468,615
3,103,809
747,617
840,909
708,455
529,475
538,350
26.9
43,655
228,941
374,517
348,037
300,503
276,478
49.0
4,896,484
2,002,496
1,057,658
518,676
466,392
360,418
228,972
261,872
18.2
100.0
48.0
11.6
13.0
10.9
8.2
8.3
100.0
2.8
14.6
23.8
22.1
19.1
17.6
100.0
40.9
21.6
10.6
9.5
7.4
4.7
5.3
Part-time
and
abnormal
2,552,990
1, 217, 011
315,666
362,241
284,568
202,817
170,687
27.0
618,915
22,231
100,380
165,673
147,819
105,861
76,951
46.4
1,934, 075
772,345
422,435
215,286
196,568
136,749
96,956
93,736
18.6
100.0
47.7
12.4
14.2
11.1
7.9
6.7
100.0
3.6
16.2
26.8
23.9
17.1
12.4
100.0
39.9
21.8
11.1
10.2
7.1
5.0
4.9
Resi-
dential
3,915,625
1,886,798
431,951
478,668
423,887
326,658
367,663
26.8
953,216
21,424
128,561
208,844
200,218
194,642
199,527
50.9
2,962,409
1,230,151
635,223
303,390
269,824
223,669
132,016
168, 136
18.0
100.0
48.2
11.0
12.2
10.8
8.4
9.4
100.0
2.3
13.5
21.9
21.0
20.4
20.9
100.0
41.5
21.4
10.2
9.1
7.6
4.5
5.7
the South. These differences between the median ages in the Sou th
and in the North and West increase from 2.9 years for class III
to 21.2 years for class VI. Southern farm operators were also
somewhat younger than those in the North and West, although the
regional differences are by no means as marked for these groups
as for all household members. The regional differences in median
age of farm operators were greatest for classes V and VI (see
table 3 of chapter 5).
Higher fertility, higher mortality, and greater net losses
through migration in the South also account for the higher de-
pendency ratios found in this region. The greater number of per-
sons in the dependent ages (under 15 and 70 years and over) per
100 persons in the working ages (20 to 64 years) in the South
POPULATION
55
Table 5.-DEPENDENCY RATIOS FOR FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED
STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of the data, see page 3:
Economic class of farm
All farms..
Commercial farms..
Classes I and II..
Class III..
Class IV.
Class V..
Class VI.
•
• •
•
Other farms..
Part-time and abnormal,
Residential..
[Data are based upon a sample.
Age
POPULATION
Total, all ages.
Under 5 years.
5 to 9 years,
10 to 14 years.
15 to 19 years.
20 to 24 years.
25 to 29 years..
•
•
•
•
D •
30 to 34 years..
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years.
··
··
•
··
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years..
•
•
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years..
70 to 74 years.
75 years and over.
•
Under 5 years..
5 to 9 years..
10 to 14 years.
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years.
30 to 34 years.
•
··
•
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total, all ages……………….
35 to 39 years..
40 to 44 years.
•
·
•
•
·
•
•
•
•
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years.
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years.
70 to 74 years..
75 years and over.
•
•
+
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Table 6.-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY AGE AND SEX, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
REGIONS: 1950
For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of the data, see page 3. For limitations of the data, see text, page
631
United States
·
•
..
Total
•
•
•
21,875,464
2,324,569
2,392,744
2,412,128
2,043,979
1,262,270
1,265,435
1,344,474
1,494,049
1,389,503
1,237,196
1,185,038
1,065,654
850,002
693,143
440,774
474,506
100.0
10.6
10.9
11.0
9.3
5.8
5.8
6.1
6.8
6.4
5.7
5.4
4.9
3.9
3.2
2.0
2.2
Persons under 15 years and persons 70 years
and over per 100 persons 20 to 64 years
United
States
72.5
Male
70.4
60.6
65.6
71.4
74.7
•
77.2
77.8
70.9
82.6
100.0
11,462,311 | 10,413, 153
1,186,597
1,228,250
1,255,603
1, 124, 198
704,212
612,907
660, 039
752,758
736,440
635,270
619,942
580,877
465, 413
394,058
257,657
248, 090
10.4
10.7
11.0
9.8
6.1
5.3
5.8
6.6
North and
West
6.4
5.5
5.4
5.1
4.1
3.4
2.2
2.2
Female
1,137,972
1,164,494
1,156,525
919,781
558,058
652,528
684,435
741,291
653,063
601,926
565,096
484,777
384,589
299,085
183,117
226,416
100.0
10.9
11.2
11.1
8.8
5.4
6.3
6.6
7.1
6.3
5.8
5.4
4.6
3.7
65.2
2.9
1.7
2.2
63.6
61.7
64.7
63.9
63.0
65.5
70.8
67.0
74.3
South
Total
8,724,032
864,010
906,393
860,965
710,620
482,868
530, 157
568,204
639, 120
568,996
520,671
499,250
476,702
383,850
309,097
185,711
217,418
100.0
9.9
10.4
9.9
8.2
5.5
6.1
80.0
6.5
7.3
6.5
6.0
5.7
5.5
4.4
3.5
2.1
2.5
78.9
55.6
69.2
82.9
82.2
80.2
81.8
73.9
86.6
North
Male
4,665,187
444,057
468, 186
453,744
399,128
287,273
263,895
283,433
330,460
317,525
272,497
269,037
262,737
204,082
176,239
116,509
116,385
100.0
9.5
10.0
Sex.-Diagram 1 shows that in April 1950 the rural-farm
population and the population in farm- operator households con-
tained somewhat larger proportions of males than females. More
precise measures of the sex composition of these populations can
9.7
8.5
6.2
5.7
6.1
7.1
6.8
5.8
West.
relative to the North and West is due entirely to the relatively
greater proportions of persons under 15 years per 100 persons in
the working ages. In every economic class except part-time and
residential, the number of persons 70 and over per 100 persons in
the working ages was lower in the South than in the North and
With respect to dependency ratios as well as median age,
differences between the South and the North and West were
least for classes I and II. As these classes are the more cosmo-
politan part of the farm- operator household population, the simi-
larity of the South to the North and West is not unexpected.
(Data for classes I and II for the South in this report must be
used with caution as they are based on a relatively small number
of farms.)
5.8
5.6
4.4
3.8
2.5
2.5
Persons under 15 years per 100 persons
20 to 64 years
United
States
64.3
63.1
55.7
60.3
64.9
67.1
64.6
67.1
62.5
70.4
Female
4,058,845
419,953
438,207
407,221
311,492
195,595
266, 262
284,771
308,660
251,471
248, 174
230,213
213,965
179,768
132,858
69,202
101,033
100.0
10.3
10.8
10.0
North and
West
7.7
4.8
6.6
7.0
7.6
6.2
6.1
5.7
5.3
4.4
3.3
1.7
2.5
56.9
55.4
56.4
59.1
56.5
51.4
40.8
62.1
59.1
64.9
Total
11,419, 190
•
1,290,359
1,292,308
1,365,948
1, 196, 942
693, 125
625,415
672,075
737,914
690,266
603,393
584,491
498,987
392,994
324, 402
223, 722
226,849
100.0
11.3
11.3
12.0
10.5
6.1
5.5
5.9
6.5
6.0
5.3
5.1
4.4
3.4
2.8
1.9
2.0
United States.
For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]

South
•
South
•
Ma le
71.8
72.8
52.4
64.6
77.8
77.2
70.9
70.1
65.1
73.1
5,868,382
655,411
659,862
704,297
642,655
369,280
295,527
322,743
365, 911
351,054
301,950
298,693
267, 162
213,333
183,202
122,458
114, 844
100.0
11.2
11.2
12.0
11.0
6.3
5.0
5.5
6.2
6.0
5.1
5.1
4.6
3.6
3.1
2.1
2.0
Persons 70 years and over per 100 persons
20 to 64 years
United
States
Residence
Female
5,550,808
634,948
632,446
661,651
554,287
323,845
329,888
349,332
372,003
339,212
301,443
285,798
231,825
179,661
141,200
101,264
112,005
100.0
11.4
11.4
11.9
10.0
5.8
6.0
6.3
6.7
6.1
5.4
5.2
4.2
3.2
2.6
1.8
2.0
Urban.
Rural nonfarm.
Rural farm..
Farm-operator household population.
8.3
7.3
4.9
5.4
6.4
7.6
12.6
•
10.6
8.4
12.2
North and
West
Total
1,732,242
170,200
194,043
185,215
136,417
86,277
109,863
104, 195
117,015
130,241
113, 132
101,297
89,965
73,158
59,644
31,341
30,239
100.0
9.8
11.2
10.7
7.9
5.0
6.3
6.0
6.8
7.5
6.5
5.9
5.2
4.2
3.4
1.8
1.8
8.3
8.2
5.3
5.6
7.4
11.6
24.8
ALL
ages
98.6
8.7
7.9
9.5
94.6
103.6
110.1
(1)
West
Male
928,742
be made in terms of the number of males per 100 females.
for April 1950 are as follows:
87,129
100,202
97,562
82,415
47,659
53,485
53,863
56,387
67,861
60,823
52,212
50,978
47,998
34,617
18,690
16,861
100.0
9.4
10.8
10.5
8.9
5.1
5.8
5.8
6.1
7.3
6.5
5.6
5.5
5.2
3.7
2.0
1.8
South
Female
Number of males
per 100 females
14 years
of age
and over
97.0
92.2
103.2
112.2
112.1
8.2
INot available. See section of this chapter on "Limitations of
Data."
6.2
3.2
4.7
5.0
5.0
9.3
11.7
8.8
13.5

803,500
83,071
93,841
87,653
54,002
38,618
56,378
50,332
60,628
62,380
52,309
49,085
38,987
25, 160
25,027
12,651
13,378
100.0
The data
10.3
11.7
10.9
6.7
4.8
7.0
6.3
7.5
7.8
6.5
6.1
4.9
3.1
3.1
1.6
1.7
These particular values of the number
of the number of males per 100 females--
the sex ratio-have been brought about by a number of factors.
56
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
In the United States the sex ratio of births has had a fairly
constant value of about 106. Births, therefore, tend to cause
the sex ratio of the total population to approach 106. The high-
er the birth rate, the greater the effect of births on the sex
ratio of the total population. The sex ratio for the population
of the United States would, of course, be the same for all age
groups if it were not affected by differential mortality and in-
ternational migration. During the past decade, withdrawal of
men from continental United States to the armed forces overseas
has also been an important factor. The rather large differences
in the sex ratios of the various residence groups within the
United States in 1950 represent primarily the effects of internal
migration.
Variations in the sex ratio by age within the farm-operator
household population resembled those of rural-farm population, as
shown below.
་
Age
14 years and over......
14 to 24 years.
25 to 34 years..
35 to 44 years..
45 to 54 years.
55 to 64 years.
65 years and over...
14 years and over.
14 to 24 years..
25 to 34 years..
35 to 44 years.
45 to 54 years..
55 years and over.
As there were 116.7 males for every 100: females in the rural - farm
population 15 to 24 years of age in 1940-those who would be 25
to 34 years old in 1950-the low sex ratio of the 25-to-34 year
old group reflects largely the influences of World War II.
• •
...
•
All farms.
Commercial farms..
Classes I and II.
Class III...
Class IV.
Class V..
Class VI..
•
Class V....
Class VI..
·
•
Other farms...
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential..
··
All farms'..
Commercial farms.
Classes I and II.
Class III..
Class IV.....
•
1950
Table 7.-NUMBER OF MALES PER 100 FEMALES, FOR THE POPULATION 14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER IN FARM-OPERATOR
HOUSEHOLDS, BY AGE AND BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES:
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data see page 3]
Commercial farms
O
Age
Other farms..
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential...
·
·· •
•
Farm-operator
Rural farm household population
112.2
112.1
122.4
95.2
106.8
107.6
120.4
127.0
··
Economic class of farm
POPULATION
116.7
99.8
105.3
110.0
121.8
128.5
D
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total,
all
farms
112.1
122.4
95.2
106.8
107.6
123.3
Total
115. 3
•
126.4
99.1
109.0
110.7
126.5
Classes
I and II
125.7
138.6
111.3
119.1
129.6
131.7
Total
21,875, 464
15,406, 849
2,000,292
3,085,110
3,792,538
3,775,809
2,753,100
Although the age distribution of population associated with
classes I and II farms was similar to the urban population, the
sex composition was not. In fact, the sex ratio was, with one
exception, higher for classes I and II in every age group shown
in table 7 than for any other economic class. Males on high-in-
come farms have less economic motivation toward migration than
those on low-income farms. Conversely, a farm with few adult
males
to share the farm work may be less productive and, there-
fore, in a lower economic class than it would otherwise be. The
decrease in the sex ratio from classes I and II to class VI is
shown in table 7. Even more pertinent than the decrease in the
sex ratio is the decrease in the average number of working-age
males.
As shown below, classes I and II farms averaged somewhat
more than one working-age male in the household while class VI
farms averaged less than one.
6,468,615
2,552,990
3,915,625
100.0
70.4
9.1
14.1
17.3
17.3
12.6
Class III
29.6
11.7
17.9
120.2
142.2
105.6
115.5
112.2
124.6
Classes I and II..
Class III...
Class IV.
Class V...
Class VI..
White
..
Other farms.
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential....
Class IV
All farms...
Commercial farms..
18,887,170
13,303,783
1,978,431
3,006, 887
3,443,607
3,018, 070
1,856,788
Table 8.-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY COLOR AND BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE
UNITED STATES AND THE SOUTH: 1950
5,583,387
2,282,740
3,300,647
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of the data, see page 3. For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
United States
South
100.0
70.4
10.5
15.9
18.2
16.0
9.8
Economic class
··
115.9
29.6
12.1
17.5
129.1
95.7
107.9
112.8
130.3
Class V
112.3
Nonwhite
125.2
91.3
100.9
111.2
125.7
2,988,294
· 2,103,066
21,861
78,223
348,931
757,739
896,312
885,228
270,250
614,978
100.0
··
70.4
0.7
2.6
11.7
25.4
30.0
Class VI
29.6
9.0
20.6
106.7
103.5
96.7
103.8
92.9
123.3
Total
11,419,190
7,228,317
347,867
682, 585
1,610,073
2,386,632
2,201,160
4,190,873
1,490, 229
2,700,644
Total
100.0
63.3
3.0
6.0
14.1
20.9
19.3
104.6
36.7
13.0
23.7
113.2
86.1
101.7
100.4
116.3
Males 20 to 64
years old per farm
1.08
1.11
White
Other farms
!
Part-time
and
abnormal
8,523,708
5,191,821
331,622
609,015
1,284,850
1,643,688
1,322,646
3,331,887
1,228,354
2,103,533
100.0
60.9
3.9
7.1
15.1
19.3
15.5
107.6
39.1
14.4
24.7
1.28
1.19
115.4
88.0
103.0
107.0
123.4
1.13
1.06
0.92
1.02
1.08
0.98

Resi-
dential
Nonwhite
102.7
محمد
111.8
84.7
100.8
96.3
112.7

2,895,482
2,036,496
16,245
73,570
325,223
742,944
878,514
858,986
261,875
597,111
100.0
70.3
0.6
2.5
11.2
25.7
30.3
29.7
9.1
20.6
POPULATION
57
Table 9.-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY AGE AND COLOR AND BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR
THE UNITED STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of the data, see page 3.
For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
Commercial farms

Under 5 years,
5 to 9 years..
White, all ages..
10 to 14 years….
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years..
30 to 34 years..
35 to 39 years…..
•
40 to 44 years..
45 to 49 years...
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years,
60 to 64 years..
65 to 69 years.
70 to 74 years..
75 years and over.
Color and age
Under 5 years...
5 to 9 years..
10 to 14 years..
15 to 19 years.
20 to 24 years.
25 to 29 years….
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years.
Nonwhite, all ages..
40 to 44 years..
45 to 49 years...
50 to 54 years...
55 to 59 years....
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years….
70 to 74 years..
75 years and over.
POPULATION
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
White, all ages..
Under 5 years...
5 to 9 years.
10 to 14 years...
15 to 19 years....
20 to 24 years.
25 to 29 years..
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years..
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years..
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years.
70 to 74 years.
75 years and over.
Under 5 years.
5 to 9 years...
10 to 14 years....
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years.
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years.
··
Nonwhite, all ages.
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years,
50 to 54 years..
55 to 59 years...
60 to 64 years...
..
··
•
Total,
all.
farms
18,887,170
1,894, 921
1,998,736
2,007,911
1,696,021
1,057,442
1,086,836.
1,203,137
1,325,450
1,240,935
1,103,566
1,073,662
970,100
776,157
620,358
401, 137
430,801
2,988,294
429,648
394, 008
404, 217
347,958
204,828
178,599
141,337
168,599
148,568
133,630
111,376
95,554
73,845
72,785
39,637
43,705
100.0
10.0
10.6
10.6
9.0
5.6
5.8
6.4
7.0
6.6
5.8
5.7
5.1
4.1
3.3
2.1
2.3
100.0
14.4
13.2
13.5
11.6
6.9
6.0
4.7
5.6
5.0
4.5
3.7
3.2
2.5
2.4
1.3
1.5
65 to 69 years.
70 to 74 years..
75 years and over..
¹Distribution not shown because of small numbers in sample.
Total
13,303,783
1,346,449
1,355,709
1,399,809
1,195,171
756, 770
791,367
847,343
935,155
882,974
771,429
771,889
693,085
570,555
452,853
255,247
277,978
2, 103, 066
311,814
287, 155
287,695
247,740
143,569
127,000
96,582
117,516
106., 998
92,418
78,043
67,647
54, 894
40,674
22,263
21,058
100.0
10.1
10.2
10.5
9.0
5.7
5.9
6.4
7.0
6.6
5.8
5.8
5.2
4.3
3.4
1.9
2.1
100.0
14.8
13.7
13.7
11.8
6.8
6.0
4.6
5.6
5.1
4.4
3.7
3.2
2.6
1.9
1.1
1.0
Classes
I and II
1,978,431
205,707
202,538
206,061
168,280
134,253
132,568
147,943
164,005
147,201
124,233
107,856
87,319
57,869
38,384
24,992
29,222
21,861
(2)
(¹)
(¹)
(2)
(1)
(¹)
COO COO
(1)
(¹)
(¹)
(¹)
(1)
(1)
(¹)
(1)
(¹)
(1)
(1)
(¹).
0000000 00000000
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
100.0
(2)
10.4
10.2
10.4
8.5
6.8
6.7
7.5
8.3
7.4
6.3
5.5
4.4
2.9
1.9
1.3
1.5
Class III
3,006, 887
325,968
330,359
317,091
258,669
160, 819
195,750
213,356
247,656
211,539
186,030
179, 807
131,526
100,292
59,819
41,892
46,314
78,223
(1)
(2)
(1)
(¹)
(1)
(1)
100 00
(1)
(1)
(¹)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1.)
(1)
(1)
(¹)
100.0
(¹)
(¹)
(¹)
(1)
(1)
(¹)
(¹)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(?)
(¹)
10.8
11.0
10.5
8.6
5.3
6.5
7.1
8.2
(¹)
(1)
(¹)
(1)
(¹)
7.0
6.2
6.0
4.4
3.3
2.0
1.4
1.5
Class IV
3,443,607
341,519
369,404
399,370
306,946
191,661
206,194
226,431
240, 123
222,985
194,224
196,416.
177,768
147,452
102,213
58,413
62,488
348,931
47,319
47,341
55,742
52,593
24, 194
24,330
14,187
16,835
20,514
11,572
10,511
9,074
7,362
3,147
3,158
1,052
100.0
9.9
10.7
11.6
8.9
5.7
6.0
6.6
7.0
6.5
5.6
5.7
5.2
4.3
3.0
1.7
1.8
100.0
13.6
13.6
16.0
15.1
6.9
7.0
4.1
4.8
5.9
3.3
3.0
2.6
2.1
0.9
0.9
0.3
Class V
3,018,070
303,629
299,889
308,788
286,072
177,236
173, 134
175.412
189,904
192, 174
168,007
168,644
175,966.
142,633
126,049
59,888
70,645
757,739
118,882
112,572
112,046.
83,640
41, 044
46,994
37,525
50,523
36,836.
34,368
29,098
18,946
13,682
10,004
5,262
6,317
100.0
10.1
9.9
10.2
9.5
5.9
5.7
5.8
6.3
6.4
5.6
5.6
5.8
4.7
4.2
2.0
2.3
100.0
15.7
14.9
14.8
11.0
5.4
6.2
5.0
6.7
4.9
4.5
3.8
2.5
1.8
1.3
0.7
0.8
Class VI
1,856,788 5,583,387
169,626
548,472
153,519
643,027
168,499
608, 102
175,204
500,850
92,801
300,672
83,721
295,469
84,201
355,794
93,467
390,295
109,075
98,935
119,166
120,506
122,309
126,388
70,062
69,309
896,312
138,854
116,214
103,628
94,158
66,836
51,183
43,169
44,748
42,645
41,220
34,746
35,266
32,268
25,424
12,790
13,163
100.0
9.1
8.3
9.1
9.4
5.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
5.9
5.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.8
3.8
3.7
100.0
15.5
13.0
11.6
10.5
7.5
5.7
4.8
5.0
Total
4.8
4.6
3.9
3.9
3.6
2.8
1.4
1.5
357,961
332, 137
301,773
277,015
205,602
167,505
145,890
152,823
885, 228
117,834
106,853
116, 522
100,218
61,259
51,599
44,755
51,083
41,570
41,212
33,333
27,907
18,951
32,111
17,374
22,647
100.0
9.8
11.5
10.9
9.0
5.4
5.3
6.4
7.0
6.4
5.9
5.4
5.0
3.7
3.0
2.6
2.7
100.0
13.3
12.1
13.2
11.3
6.9
5.8
5.1
5.8
4.7
4.7
3.8
3.2
2.1
3.6
2.0
2.6
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
2,282,740 3,300,647
327,179
386, 053
360,664
294,795
174,643
162,549
221,293
256,974
247,438
206,055
126, 029
132,920
154, 269
175,630
159, 199
136,968
121,461
106,797
85,474
51,555
49, 041
51,637
270,250
34,718
30,593
32,378
35,536
25,997
15,294
13, 183
16,348
11,064
14,382
11,757
6,855
3,691
7,908
4,219
6,327
100.0
9.7
11.3
10.8
9.0
5.5
5.8
6.8
7.7
7.0
6.0
5.3
4.7
3.7
2.3
2.1
2.3
100.0
12.8
11.3
12.0
13.1
9.6
5.7
4.9
6.0
Residential
4.1
5.3
4.4
2.5
1.4
2.9
1.6
2.3
201,525
214,665
198, 762
195,169
180,312
170,218
120, 128
115,950
96,849
101, 186
614,978.
83, 116.
76,260
84, 144
64,682
35,262
36,305
31,572
34,735
30,506
26,830
21,576
21,052
15,260
24, 203
13,155
16,320
100.0
9.9
11.7
10.9
8.9
5.3
4.9
6.1
6.5
6.0
5.9
5.5
5.2
3.6
3.5
2.9
3.1
100.0
13.5
12.4
13.7
10.5
5.7
5.9
5.1
5.6
5.0
4.4
3.5
3.4
2.5
3.9
2.1
2.7
58
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Color of population.-Roughly one-seventh of the total pop-
ulation in farm-operator households in April 1950 were nonwhite.
As shown below, nonwhites formed larger proportions of the rural -
farm and farm-operator household populations than of the urban or
rural-non farm populations:
United States..
Urban.....
Rural nonfarm.
Rural farm.
Farm-operator household population.
• •
·
Residence
United States..
Urban....
Rural nonfarm.
Rural farm...
Residence
•
Although the proportion of nonwhites in the total population has
been relatively constant during the last 30 years, there have been
significant changes in the proportions which they form of the
three major residence groups and in their distribution by resi-
dence. The residence distribution of nonwhites from the Popula-
lation Censuses of 1930, 1940, and 1950 was as follows:
United States..
•
1950
New urban
definition
100.0
61.6
17.2
21.2
Percent norwhite
10.5
10.1
8.7
14.5
13.7
Old urban
definition 1940 1930
100.0 100.0 100.0
58.8 47.9 43.2
20.1 16.7 17.3
35.3
21.2
39.5
Thus, the relatively high fertility of the nonwhite rural-farm and
farm-operator household population has been more than offset by
losses through net migration from the farm population and by
mortality. (Eleanor H. Bernert has estimated that between 1930
and 1940, net migration rates for nonwhite rural-farm males and
females were 17.1 and -22.4 percent, respectively. Corresponding
rates for white rural - farm males and females were -9.0 and -14.0
See Volume and Composition of Net Migra-
percent, respectively.
United
tion from the Rural-Farm Population, 1930-40, for the
States, Major Geographic Divisions, and States, United States De-
partment of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 1944.)
As a result of higher fertility, mortality, and net loss
through migration among the nonwhite farm- operator household pop-
ulation, the median age was much lower than that of the corre-
sponding white population or that of the urban nonwhite population.
In April 1950, the median ages of the various white and nonwhite
residence groups were as follows:
Residence
White Norwhite
30.8
26.1
32.0
28.4
27.9
28.6
-
28.7
23.5
18.5
18.8
Urban.
Rural nonfarm.
Rural farm...
Farm-operator household population.
Detailed age distributions of the white and nonwhite farm-operator
household populations are shown in tables 9 and 10.
as so -
A study of the relative mobility of the populations
ciated with the different economic classes of farms and different
income classes would aid considerably in the analysis of the rel-
ative age distributions of the white and nonwhite farm-operator
household population. As the median ages of the total white pop-
ulation and of the total nonwhite population of the United States
differ by less than 5 years, the greater disparity in the median
ages of the white and nonwhite farm-operator household populations
may be largely associated with disparities in income. More than
half of the nonwhite farm-operator household population was in
classes V and VI as contrasted with about one-fourth of the white
farm-operator household population (table 8). Probably within
any one of the economic classes, larger proportions of nonwhites
than of whites have lower incomes.
OTHER POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
Marital status of farm operators.-In April 1950, almost
90 percent of the farm operators were married (table 12) as con-
I
i
TABLE 10.-POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY AGE AND COLOR, FOR THE UNITED
STATES AND THE SOUTH: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of re-
liability of the data, see page 3. For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
United States
South

All ages.
...
Under 5 years.
5 to 9 years.
10 to 14 years..
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years..
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years.
Age
All ages.
·
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years.
· •
40 to 44 years..
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years.
•
• •
•
•
·
·
...
►
Under 5 years.
5 to 9 years...
10 to 14 years.
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years.
25 to 29 years.
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years.
❤
··
70 to 74 years
• •
75 years and over
•
• •
• •
•
► •
•
•
· ·
•
• •
•
•
• •
•
· •
·
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years.
50 to 54 years.
55 to 59 years..
60 to 64 years.
65 to 69 years..
70 to 74 years.
75 years and over.
··
•
• •
All farms.
·
• •
•
•
• • ·
Commercial farms.
Classes I and II……..
Class III..
Class IV..
Class V...
Class VI.
•
Economic class of farm
•
••
•
•
•
·
White
18,887,170
1,894,921
1,998,736
2,007,911
1,696,021
1,057,442
1,086,836
1,203,137
1,325,450
1,240,935
1,103,566
1,073,662
970,100
776,157
620,358
401,137
430,801
·
··
•
•
•
•
100.0
D
10.0
10.6
10.6
9.0
5.6
5.8
6.4
7.0
6.6
5.8
5.7
5.1
4.1
3.3
2.1
2.3
Nonwhite
2,988,294
White
POPULATION
28.6
429,648
394,008
404,217
347,958
28.8
27.7
27.8
27.7
28.9
35.0
204, 828
178, 599
28.2
28.1
28.3
141,337
168,599
148,568
133,630
111,376
95,554
73,845
72,785
39,637
43,705
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
100.0
14.4
13.2
13.5
11.6
6.9
6.0
4.7
5.6
United States
5.0
4.5
3.7
3.2
2.5
2.4
1.3
1.5
TABLE 11.-MEDIAN AGE OF THE POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS,
ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOUTH:
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of re-
liability of the data, see page 3. For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
South
Other farms..
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential..
¹Median not shown because of small numbers in sample.
Nonwhite
18.8
18.3
(1)
(1)
White
17.3
17.1
19.8
20.1
20.4
19.9
8,523,708 2,895,482
872,250
418,109
911,390
380,918
971,664
856,310
497,358
456,358
535,063
573,533
544,837
474,486
475,218
408,295
321,779
254,239
185, 141
185,787
100.0
10.2
10.7
11.4
10.0
5.8
5.4
6.3
6.7
6.4
5.6
5.6
4.8
3.8
3.0
2.2
2.2
White
Nonwhite
26.7
26.3
28.7
26.8
23.3
25.4
30.4
394,284
340,632
195,767
169,057
137,012
164,381
27.2
27.0
27.4
145,429
128,907
109,273
90,692
71,215
70,163
38,581
41,062
100.0
14.4
13.2
13.6
11.8
6.8
5.8
4.7
5.7
BY COLOR AND BY
1950
5.0
4.5
3.8
3.1
2.5
2.4
1.3
1.4

Nonwhite
18.7
18.2
83
17.0
17.1
19.7
20.0
20.3
19.9
trasted with only 64 percent of rural-farm males 14 years of age
and over.
(Data on marital status by age groups from the 1950
Population Census are not available.) The higher proportion mar-
ried among farm operators reflects primarily their older age dis-
tribution and better economic position. Inclusion of some non-
farm persons,
of some urban persons (both farm and non farm), and
of some women in the operator group is probably of minor impor-
tance. The older age distribution is probably the most important
factor, for if rural-farm males had had the same age distribution
as farm operators, roughly 80 percent rather than 64 percent would
have been married. In the distribution by economic class of farm,
the high proportion of widowed and divorced among the operators
of classes V and VI, part-time, and residential farms is of inter-
est. This high proportion is attributable largely to the older
age distribution of these groups of operators.
POPULATION
59
TABLE 12.-MARITAL STATUS OF FARM OPERATORS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED
STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement
of reliability of data, see page 3]
All farms.
Commercial farms.
Economic class of farm
Classes I and II..
Class III...
Class IV.
Class V..
Class VI.
Other farms....
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential...
All farms...
Commercial farms.
Classes I and II.
Class III.
Class IV..
Class V.
Class VI..
None.....
•
Elementary:
The median years of school completed by farm operators was
the same as that for rural-farm males for April 1950.
Labor-force status and occupation.-Approximately 54 percent
of the population 14 years of age and over in farm-operator fam-
ilies were in the labor force in April 1950. Corresponding per-
centages
for the urban, rural-non farm, and rural - farm populations
were 55, 49, and 51, respectively. About 1 percent of the differ-
ence between the percentage for farm- operator families and that
for the rural - farm population is probably due to the inclusion of
unpaid family workers who worked less than 15 hours as members of
the labor force in the farm-operator family data; also the effect
of limiting these data to families is difficult to estimate. Some
of the difference between the proportion for farm- operator famil-
ies and for rural- farm population may be real, however, as there
are more opportunities for part-time employment of women and older
children and for employment of aged and handicapped persons on a
farm than in nonfarm work. Probably because of the increase in
the proportions of women
women and of
and of aged males in the populations
from classes I and II to class VI, the proportion in the labor
force decreased from classes I and II to class VI. (See table 15.)
About 4 out of every 5 persons classified as farm operators
in the 1950 Census of Agriculture were reported as farmers or
farm managers in the 1950 Population Census. (This proportion
and the following percentages relate
percentages relate to operators for whom
occupation was reported.) The proportion of operators who were
an
Table 13.-YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED BY FARM OPERATORS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED
STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Commercial farms
College:
7 years..
8 years..
None..
..
Totall
1 to 4 years..
5 and 6 years.
High School:
Total reported....
··
1 to 3 years.
4 years..
Elementary:
Not reported.
Years of school completed
College:
1 to 3 years.
..
4 years or more.
High School:
D ·
7 years..
8 years...
FARM OPERATORS
..
•
Total reported..
1 to 4 years.
5 and 6 years…..
D
A •
• · •
1 to 3 years.
4 years..
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Other farms...
10:0
Part-time and abnormal..
Residential....
6.9
12.0
¹Data are not available on marital status of 39,000 farm operators. These are pri-
marily operators who do not reside in the enumeration district in which their farm is
located.
• •
...
•
·
Years of school completed by farm operators.-The education
of the farm operator is undoubtedly associated with the quality
of the farm and equipment which he inherits or is initially able
to buy, and with the efficiency with which the farm is operated.
One or more years of college had been completed by 14 percent of
·
1 to 3 years.
4 years or more....
•
•
Total 1
·
5,341, 190
3,769,059
481,008
748,932
903,789
262023 0 - 53 - 5
912, 664
722,666
1,572,131
618, 915
953, 216
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
•
··
Single
•
··
...
·
FARM OPERATORS
279,156
4,688, 067
218,679
31, 525
41,905
40,871
59,110
45, 268
60,477
23, 142
37,335
Total,
all farms
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
786,512
727,295
571,313
1,422,340
5,341,190
5,281,934
142,232
756,120
580,341
190,361
105, 420
59,256
100.0
2.7
5.2
5.8
6.5
5.6
4.5
14.9
13.8
10.8
26.9
Married
14.3
11.0
6.5
6.3
3.6
2.0
3.8
3.7
3.9
3,333, 140
432,213
677,441
815,606
801,503
606,377
1,354,927
553, 227
801,700
87.8
88.4
89.9
90.5
90.3
87.8
83.9
86.2
89.4
84.1
Total
3,769,059
3,731,357
95,423
518,549
474,784
391.776
1,068,257
525,319
448,928
140,500
67,821
37,702
100.0
2.6
13.9
12.7
10.5
28.6
Widowed or
divorced
14.1
12.0
3.8
1.8
373,967
217,240
17,270
29,586
47,312
52,051
71,021
156,727
42,546
114,181
7.0
5.8
3.6
3.9
5.2
5.7
9.8
Classes
I and II
481,386
477,126
1,832
19,053
26,956
35,385
122,908
77,968
125, 591
45,013
22,420
4,260
100.0
0.4
4.0
5.6
7.4
25.8
16.4
26.3
&&
9.4
4.7
the operators of classes I and II farms as contrasted with 1 per-
cent of the operators of class VI
VI farms (table 13). The median
years of school completed, shown in table 14, dropped from 10.2
years for classes I and II to 6.9 years for class VI. More than
three-fourths of the latter group had not completed any years of
school above the elementary grades. In view of the age distribu-
tion of operators--roughly one-half of whom are more than 47.6
years of age-relatively few of them can be expected to complete
any additional years of education.


Class III
748,932
743,530
6,313
41,005
60,873
65,131
272,396
118,599
128,885
37,520
12,808
5,402
100.0
0.8
5.5
8.2
8.8
36.6
16.0
17.3
5.1
1.7
Class IV
903,411
899, 042
17,840
92,800
114,425
93,824
300,428
139,411
98,862
26,981
14,471
4,369
100.0
2.0
10.3
12.7
10.5
33.4
15.5
11.0
3.0
1.6
Class V
912,664
897,415
27,364
170,729
144,678
102,736
229,564
112,804
71,268
24,664
13,608
15,249
100.0
3.0
19.0
16.1
11.5
25.6
12.6
7.9
2.8
1.5
Class VI
722,666 1,572,131
1,550, 577
46,809
714,244
42,074
194,962
127,852
94,700
142,961
76,537
24,322
6,322
4,514
8,422
100.0
5.9
27.3
17.9
13.3
20.0
10.7
3.4
Total
0.9
0.6
267,963
252,511
179,537
354, 083
230,801
131,413
49,861
37,599
21,554
100.0
3.0
17.3
16.3
11.6
22.8
14.9
8.5
3.2
2.4
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnormal
618,915
612,074
15,266
82,829
92,077
69,070
144,903
105,424
61,416
23,262
17,827
6,841
100.0
2.5
13.5
15.0
11.3
23.7
17.2
10.1
3.8
2.9
Resi-
dential
953,216
938, 503
31,543
185,134
160,434
110,467
209,180
125,377
69,997
26,599
19,772
14.713
100.0
3.4
19.7
17.1
11.8
22.3
13.4
7.4
2.8
2.1
Data are not available on years of school completed for 39,000 farm operators. These are primarily operators who do not reside in the enumeration district in which their farm
is located.
60
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE'
Table 14.—MEDIAN YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED BY FARM OPERATORS, BY ECONOMIC CLass of
OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement
of reliability of the data, see page 3]
Economic class of farm
All farms..
Commercial farms.
Classes I and II..
Class III...
Class IV...
Class V..
Class VI.
··
•
•
Other farms.
Part-time and abnormal..
Residential...
Labor-force status
Total persons:
All ages...
UNITED STATES
14 years and over..
Persons in labor force..
Percent in labor force:
All ages...……
14 years and over.
NORTH AND WEST
Total persons:
All ages....
14 years and over.
Persons in labor force..
Percent in labor force:
All ages....
14 years and over
Total persons:
All ages.....
•
14 years and over.
•
SOUTH
..
Persons in labor force..
Percent in labor force:
All ages.......
14 years and over.
•
reported as farmers and farm managers decreased from 94 percent
for operators of classes I to III farms to 86 percent for operators
of class V farms (table 16). The higher proportion of class VI
than of class V operators reported as farmers and farm managers
is due to the definition of class VI and part-time farms; both
have a gross value of farm sales of $250 to $1,199 but the op-
erators of part-time farms either (1) worked off their farms 100:
days or more in 1949 or (2) had non farm family incomes which ex-
ceeded the values of farm products sold. When class VI and part-
time operators are combined, the proportion reported as farmers
and farm managers is 71 percent. Thus, the proportions form a
more uniform series from classes I and II through residential than
is at first apparent.
ers or
There are a number of reasons why persons classified as farm
operators in the Census of Agriculture were not reported as farm-
farm managers in the Census of Population. As noted on
page 6, in the Population Census the occupation classification
relates to the job held during the census week, (the calendar week
If an
preceding the enumerator's visit) or to the last job held.
employed person had two or more jobs, the occupation reported is
the one in which the greatest number of hours was worked during
the census week. In the Census of Agriculture a farm operator is
a person who operates a farm, either performing the labor himself
or directly supervising it. The classification is not affected
by the amount or types of work done during the census week.
(These definitions were designed to meet specific needs. Di ffer-
ences between the two types of data attributable to differences
•
United States
8.3
8.4
10.2
8.7
..
8.4
8.0
6.9
Table 15.-PERSONS IN FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES BY LABOR-FORCE STATUS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE
UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
··
8.1
8.3
7.8
North and West
[Data are based upon a sample.
Total,
all
farms
21,573,540
14,911,707
8, 104, 014
37.6
54.3
10,268,835
7,290,696
4,177,133
40.7
57.3
8.7
8.7
10.2
8.8
8.6
8.6
8.3
34.7
51.5
8.7
8.8
8.7
Total
15, 180,403
10,521,066
5,900,602
38.9
56.1
8,030,277
5,740,033
3,347,732
41.7
58.3
11,304,705
7,150,126
7,621,011 4,781,033
3,926,881 2,552,870
South
7.2
35.7
53.4
7.1
10.5
8.5
7.6
6.8
6.1
7.2
7.5
7.0
Classes
I and II
!
in definition should not be interpreted as casting doubt on the
validity or reliability of either.) As approximately 38 per-
cent of the operators had done some off-farm work during the past
year, the fact that the farm operator had another job at which
more time was spent during the census week probably accounts for
most of the operators who were reported in other occupations.
Fertility. In April 1950, there were 556 children under 5
years old for each 1,000 women 15 to 49 years old in the house-
holds of operators of class VI farms. In the households of classes
I and II farm operators, there were 450 children under 5 for each
1,000 women 15 to 49 years old. As shown in diagram 3 and in
table 18, these ratios (unstandardized) do not increase in an or-
derly way from classes I and II to class VI. Some of the depart-

41.1
59.1
ure from a fairly smooth progression is caused by variations in
the age and marital status of the women associated with different
economic classes of farms. (The standardized ratios show what the
ratios of each economic class would have been if (1) the age dis-
tribution of women for that economic class had been the same as
for women in all farm-operator households and if (2) the age and
marital status distribution within age groups had been the same as
for women in all farm-operator households.) When the effects of
these variations are excluded, the resulting ratios standardized
for age and marital status increase consistently from classes I
and II to class VI.
343,626
244,393
134,391
39.1
55.0
The failure of part-time and residential farms to fit into
this pattern is of particular interest. Even when part-time and
class VI data are combined, the ratios do not have an orderly pat-
tern of increase and decrease from classes I and II through resi-
dential. (The ratios for the combined group are 489 and 494 un-
standardized and standardized for age and marital status, respec-
tively.) Fertility ratios are rather sensitive indicators of
heterogeneity between groups. . These data are evidence that, even
though class VI and part-time farms have the same gross values of
farm sales and, with residential, are part of a continuous scale
by value of farm sales, part-time and residential are actually
special groups which must be treated separately in the economic
class of farm scale. (The data on percentage of operators re-
ported as farmers or farm managers are, by their nature, a.spe-
cial case which should not be interpreted as contradicting this
conclusion.)
Al though the tremendous rise in the number of births and in
the birth rate during the 1940's was most marked in the urban
Commercial farms
1,944,628 · 3,046,019
1,358,477 2,108,036
1,227,749
792,672
40.8
58.4
Class III
1,601,002 2,365,693
1,114,084 1,633,320
658,281 978,138
40.3
58.2
41.3
59.9
Class IV
3,745,993
2,574,324
1,444, 425
38.6
56.1
2,150, 122
1,529,025
886,888
41.2
58.0
Class V
3,727,250
2,555,661
1,433,382
38.5
56.1
1,368,651
1,019,792
590,786
43.2
57.9
Class VI
35.7
54.9
2,716,513 6,393,137
1,924,568 4,390,641
1,002,374 2,203,412
36.9
52.1
Total
42.9
52.6
34.5
50.2
544,809 2,238,558
443,812 1,550,663
233,639 829,401
37.1
53.5
Other farms
33.1
48.4
Part-time
and
abnormal
2,516,460
1,744, 115
939,189
37.3
53.8
680,326 1,595,871 2,358,599 2,171,704 4,154,579 1,474,975
474,716 1,045,299 1,535,869 1,480,756 2,839,978 1,014,908
249,611 557,537 842,596
533,430
36.7
34.9
36.2
1,374,011
768,735
35.4
52.6
53.3
51.9
52.6
1,041,485
729,207
405,759
39.0
55.6
-

Resi-
dential
3,876,677
2,646,526
1,264,223
32.6
47.8
1,197,073
821,456
423,642
35.4
51.6
2,679,604
1,825,070
840,581
31.4
46.1
POPULATION
61
Table 16.-OCCUPATION OF FARM OPERATORS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample, For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Commercial farms

Occupation
FARM OPERATORS
Total farm operators¹
··
Total reported..
Professional, technical, and kindred workers..
Farmers and farm managers...
Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm.
Clerical and kindred workers..
Sales workers...
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers..
Operatives and kindred workers....
Private household workers and service workers.
Farm laborers and foremen...
Laborers, except farm and mine
...
Occupation not reported....
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
D
Total reported...
Professional, technical, and kindred workers
Farmers and farm managers..
Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm..
Clerical and kindred workers...
.... ··
Sales workers..
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers..
Operatives and kindred workers..
Private household workers and service workers
Farm laborers and foremen...
Laborers, except farm and mine.
Occupation
•
Total farm operators¹...
....
....
•
Total reported...
...
Professional, technical, and kindred workers..
Farmers and farm managers....
Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm
Clerical and kindred workers..
Sales workers.......
• ·
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers..
Operatives and kindred workers.....
Private household workers and service workers...
Farm laborers and foremen..
Laborers, except farm and mine.
Occupation not reported..
··
•
.
.. ..
· D
•
Total reported..
....
Professional, technical, and kindred workers...
Farmers and farm managers.....
Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm
Clerical and kindred workers.
Sales workers..
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers..
Operatives and kindred workers....
....
Private household workers and service workers
Farm laborers and foremen...
Laborers, except farm and mine.
...
...
..
•
⋅ •
·
O •
•
•
·
•
•
Total,
all
farms
5,341,190
4,904, 499
58,906
3,822,366
122,186
42,867
41,324
237,234
292,276
45,218
123,146
118,976
436,691
United
States
5,341, 190
4,904,499
58,906
3,822, 366
122,186
42,867
41,324
237,234
292,276
45,218
100.0
1.2
77.9
2.5
123,146
118,976
436,691
0.9
0.8
4.8
6.0
0.9
2.5
2.4
100.0
1.2
77.9
2.5
0.9
0.9
4.8
6.0
0.9
2.5
2.4
Total
3,769,059
3,572,105
28,289
3,250,738
45,996
12,217
11, 194
53,247
51,351
10,533
80,062
28,478
196,954
North
and West
FARM OPERATORS
2,706,561
2,542,310
35,081
2,009,514
54,266
23,250
19,448
130,456
139,736
24,178
46,843
59,538
164,251
PERCENT
100.0
0.8
91.0
1.3
0.3
0.3
1.5
100.0.
1.4
79.1
2.1
0.9
0.8
5.1
5.5
1.0
1.4
0.3
2.2
0.8
1.8
2.3
Classes
I and II
481,386
467,276
1,854
437,924
9,834
667
South
2,634,629
2,362,189
23,825
1,812,852
67,920
19,617
21,876
106,778
152,540
21,040
76,303
59,438
272,440
14,110
100.0
1.0
76.8
2.9
0.8
0.9
4.5
6.5
0.9
3.2
2.5
2,099
1,195
3,692
¹Data are not available on occupation of 39,000 farm operators. These are primarily
operators who do not reside in the enumeration district in which their farm is located.
population and has tended to reduce urban-rural differentials in
fertility, the number of children under 5 per 1,000 women 15 to 49
was still greater for the rural-farm population than for either
the rural-nonf arm or urban populations in 1950. (These ratios
were 372, 507, and 521 for the urban, rural-non farm, and rural-
farm populations, respectively. It should be noted that these
figures are not comparable with those shown in tables 18 and 19
because the latter are based on children in the family and women
in the household.) Also, a survey taken in April 1949 indicated
that fertility (as measured by standardized rates) was higher in
the families of farmers and farm managers than for any other ma-
jor occupation group except farm laborers and foremen. (See U.S.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Popula-
tion Reports, Marital Fertility: April 1949, Series P-20, No.
27, February 1950.)
-
9,354
657
100.0
0.4
93.7
2.1
0.1
0.4
0.3
0.8
··
2.0
0.1
Class III Class IV
748,932
720,098
4,867
678,976
5,045
1,056
2,108
4,737
5,912
2,099
12,669
2,629
28,834
100.0
0.7
94.3
0.7
0.1
0.3
0.7
0.8
0.3
¹Data are not available on occupation of 39,000 farm operators. These are primarily operators who do not reside in the enumeration district in which their farm is located.
TABLE 17.-OCCUPATION OF FARM OPERATORS, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of re-
liability of data, see page 3]
DEGREE OF DEPENDENCE ON AGRICULTURE
1.8
0.4
903,411
872,965
9,457
801,051
7,317
4,201
2,261
10,487
11,728
2,636
18,586
5,241
30,446.
100.0
1.1
91.8
0.8
0.5
0.3
1.2
1.3
0.3
2.1
0.6
Class V
912,664
864,091
9,484
741,953
19,588
4,722
4,726.
29,458
21,061
3,164
17,349
12,586
48,573
100.0
1.1
85.9
2.3
0.5
0.5
3.4
2.4
0.4
2.0
1.5
Class VI
722,666.
647,675
2,627
590,834
4,212
1,571
...
7,370
8,958
2,634
22,104
7,365
74,991
100.0
0.4
91.2
0.7
0.2
··
•
1.1
1.4
0.4
3.4
1.1
Total
1,572,131
1,332,394
30,617
571,628
76,190
30,650
30,130
183,987
240,925
34,685
43,084
90,498
239,737
100.0
2.3
42.9
5.7
2.3
2.3
13.8
18.1
2.6
3.2
6.8
Other farms
Part-time
and
abnorma]
618,915
563,484
15,240
272,827
31,311
16, 298
12,626
75,174
78,902
10, 520
15, 240
35,346
55,431
100.0
2.7
48.4
5.6
2.9
2.2
13.3
14.0
1.9
2.7
6.3
Resi-
dential
953,216
768,910
15,377
298,801
44,879
14,352
17,504
108,813
162,023
24,165
27,844
55,152
184,306
·
100.0
2.0
38.9
5.8
1.9
2.3
14.2
21.1
3.1
3.6
7.2
Some of the problems in defining farm population and the
use by other countries of the concept of economic dependence on
agriculture were mentioned earlier in this chapter. Because a
good operational definition of farm population is of primary im-
portance, one of the objectives of this project has been to ob-
tain some data relative to the use of the concept of dependence
on agriculture.
Several tabulations relative to dependence on agriculture
have been made. From these tabulations, an attempt will be made
(1) to explore and analyze alternative definitions of farm popu-
lation and (2) to measure gradations in degree of dependence on
agriculture. The following four questions from the Census of
Agriculture questionnaire were used as the basis of these tabu-
lations:

1. "How many days did you work last year off your farm? In-
clude work at a nonfarm job, business, profession, or
someone else's farm . .
2. "Did any other member of your family living with you have
a non farm job, business, profession, or work on someone
else's farm last year?"
3. "Did you have any income last year from any of the follow-
ing sources--sale of products from land rented out, cash
rent, boarders, old age assistance, pensions, veterans'
allowances, unemployment compensation, interest, and help
from members of your family?"
4. "Was the income which you and your family received from
work off the farm and from other sources
greater
than the total value of all agricultural products sold
from your place last year?"
Supplementary information was used to determine the classifica-
tion for most of the cases where information was not given in
response to the last two questions. The number of farm opera-
tors classified on the basis of this supplementary information
totaled 419,000 or 7.9 percent of all farm operators.
Table 20 shows a detailed distribution of farms and of the
farm-operator household population by the operator's response to
the above questions. Almost two-fifths of the population in farm-
operator households were completely dependent on their farm in-
come-neither the operator nor any of his family worked off the
family farm and the operator did not have any income from out-
side sources. (No account has been taken of the work or income
of the roughly 300,000 persons 14 years of age and over in farm-
operator households but not in farm-operator families.) This
-
•
RATIO
O
500
250

(62)
RATIO
500
250
O
Diagram 3.
FERTILITY RATIOS
UNSTANDARDIZED
ALL
FARMS I811 III
IV
III IV V VI PT. &A
ECONOMIC CLASS
PT. & A = PART-TIME AND ABNORMAL
*
R
POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS
*
BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES:
1950
ليه
STANDARDIZED FOR AGE
ALL
FARMS I&II
III
IV V VI PT.&A
ECONOMIC CLASS
R
مريم
STANDARDIZED FOR AGE AND
MARITAL STATUS
ALL
FARMS I&II
↓
III IV V VI PT.&A
ECONOMIC CLASS
BR = RESIDENTIAL
(RATIOS REPRESENT NUMBER OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD PER 1,000 WOMEN 15 TO 49 YEARS OLD, UNSTANDARDIZED,
STANDARDIZED FOR AGE OF WOMAN, AND STANDARDIZED FOR AGE AND MARITAL STATUS OF WOMAN)
POPULATION
63
Table 18.--FERTILITY RATIOS FOR FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM, UNSTANDARDIZED,
STANDARDIZED FOR AGE OF WOMAN, AND STANDARDIZED FOR AGE AND MARITAL STATUS OF WOMAN, FOR THE
UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Rates represent number of children under 5 years old in farm-operator families per 1,000 women 15 to 49 years old in farm-operator households. Data are based upon a sample.
For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
United States
North and West

All farms.
Commercial farms
Classes I and II....
Class III...
Class IV...
Class V..
Class VI..
• •
•
•
Economic class of farm
···
Other farms...
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential..
………
Region and
age of woman
►
• •
•
UNITED STATES
Total, 15 to 49 years | 4,811,082 | 2,324, 569
15 to 19 years.
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years..
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years.
•• •
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years.
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years..
• •
•
TABLE 19.-FERTILITY RATIOS FOR FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY AGE AND MARITAL STATUS OF
WOMAN, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Rates represent number of children under 5 years old in farm-operator families per 1,000
women 15 to 49 years old in farm-operator households. Data are based upon a sample.
For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
Total women
·
•
NORTH
Total, 15 to 49 years 1,866,425
15 to 19 years...
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years.
35 to 39 years.
· • U
30 to 34 years..
35 to 39 years.
40 to 44 years.
45 to 49 years.
• • •
•
• •
•
· •
•
•
•
· •
•
SOUTH
Total, 15 to 49 years 2,570,010 | 1,290,359
15 to 19 years..
20 to 24 years.
25 to 29 years..
•
15 to 19 years....
20 to 24 years..
25 to 29 years.
30 to 34 years..
WEST
Total, 15 to 49 years
• •
•
•
•
• •
[
•
•
•
Number
of
1
women
Children under
5 years old
Number 2
919,781 71,034 77
558,058 462,169 828
652,528 658,084 1,009
684,435
505,585 739
741,291 382,474 516
653,063
601,926
181,564 278
63,659 106
Per
1,000
women
60,628
62,380
52,309
Unstand-
ardized
502
554,287 52,191 94
323,845 290,420 897
329,888 342,440 1,038
349,332 259,626 743
372,003
199,401 536
339,212
108,394 320
301,443
37,887 126
483
374,647 170,200 454
54,002
2,508 46
38,618 31,908 826
56,378
48,028 852
50,332
38,811 771
31,765 524
15,367 246
1,813 35
494
450
478
468
515
556.
459
427
482
483 3,649,552
119,757
392,736
592,572
641,150
864,010 463 1,437,509
311,492 16,335 52
195,595 139,841 715
266,262 267,616 1,005
284,771
29,302
135,291
238,243
265, 568
291,035
239,561
238,509
207,148 727
151,308 490
57,803 230
23,959 97
308,660
251,471
248,174
Women ever
married
Number
of
women
707,996
621,864
573,477
1,911,430
86,419
230,205
303,507
328, 201
358,028
321,241
283,829
Standardized
for age
300,613
4,036
27,240
50,822
47,381
58,933
61,062
51,139
Children
under 5
per
1,000
women
789
540
292
111
601
557
1,034
1,123
780
520
241
100
483
675
604
1,262
1,128
791
557
337
133
493
432
566
621
1,171
945
819
539
252
35
468
464
517
580
637 1,161,530
593
1,177
1,111
800,024
165,322
59,956
43,285
33,295
31, 199
28,449
461
425
488
Standardized
for age and
marital
status
Number
of
single
3
women
428,916
282,190
60,304
28,019
19,203
17,625
11,910
9,665
658,580
467,868
93,640
26,381
21,131
13,975
17,971
17,614
74,034
49,966
11,378
5,556
2,951
1.695
1,318
1,170
Includes proportionate share of women of unknown age.
2Adjusted to include all children under 5 in farm-operator families. See text.
3 Includes all women of unknown age allocated to these age groups.
come,
group is the solid core of those economically dependent on agri-
culture. In addition, about 28 percent of the farm-operator
household population were primarily dependent on their farm in-
the value of farm sales being greater than family income.
from other sources. Of the remainder, for which the value
of farm sales was less than family income from other sources,
37 percent were in households where the farm operator worked
off the farm less than 100 days. In these cases, the farm
income may have been less than income from the outside source
because of crop failure or some other unusual reason.
483
487
428
461
475
505
563
474
434
505
Unstand-
ardized
461
476
469
502
467
468
424
412
369
454
Standardized
for age
451
460
453
472
456
449
455
415
374
454
Standardized
for age and
marital
status
459
463
448
470
462
458
481
440
396.
483
Unstand-
ardized
for age
502
512
376
393
470
539
581
484
468
494
South
Standardized
for age
510
525
339
472
473
551
604
485
459
501
Standardized
for age and
marital
status
504
509
338
443
488
527
578
492
460
513
LIMITATIONS OF THE DATA
The nature of the sample, definitions, and limitations of a
general nature are discussed in the Introduction to this report.
This section relates only to certain limitations of the data used
in this chapter.
Children under 14 years of age. -Data on the number of
children under 14 years of age in farm-operator households were
not tabulated. Therefore, in the farm-operator household popu-
lation tables, data on the number of children under 14 years of
Inclusion of per-
age in farm-operator families have been used.
sons under 14 years in farm-operator households but not in farm-
operator families would have increased the total farm-operator
household population by approximately 57,000. Thus, the total
farm-operator household population has been understated by about
0.3 percent and the population under 14 by about 0.9 percent.
Inclusion of these children would have lowered the median ages
and decreased the percentages of persons 14 years old and over.
Distribution of the population under 14 years of age, by
sex.-As data on persons under 14 years of age, by sex, were not
tabulated, the distributions by sex of persons in this age group,
shown in several of the tables, are estimates based on the percen-
tage of males and the percentage of females in the rural-farm pop-
ulation, by age and by regions, for April 1950. Median ages by
sex for the farm-operator household population are, of course,
based on these estimates.
Age not reported.-When the age of a person was not report-
ed in the Population Census, it was estimated on the basis of
other available information. In most cases, these estimated ages
were entered on the schedules. In some instances, however, the
estimated age was not entered on the schedule but was punched di-
rectly on the tabulation cards. The latter group was tabulated
As this represented only a
as "age unknown" for this report.
residual group of an already small number of cases of age un-
known, it has been distributed proportionately among persons 20
years of age and over.
In the Census of Agricultu re, age was not estimated for
In order to estimate the age
those operators of unknown age.
distribution of members of the household other than operators,
shown in table 4, operators of unknown age have been distrib-
uted proportionately among the various age groups of operators
with age reported. In preparing this table, two other assump-
tions had to be made. One was that all operators were 14 years
of
age or older. The second assumption concerned the 39,000
farm operators for whom population information was not avail-
able. These operators and other members of their households are
not represented in the data on the farm-operator household pop-
ulation; therefore, these farm operators had to be taken out of
the age distribution of operators prior to subtraction to obtain
The num-
the age distribution of non-operator household members.
ber of such operators was small.

Therefore, the total number of farm operators shown in
table 4 is 5, 341, 190 rather than 5, 380, 127- the total number of
(The
farms and farm operators shown elsewhere in this report.
64
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 20.-FARMS AND POPULATION IN FARM-OPERATOR HOUSEHOLDS, BY DEGREE OF DEPENDENCE ON AGRICULTURE,
FOR THE UNITED STATES:
1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page
3.
For limitations of the data, see text, page 63]
Population

Farm-operator households, total..
Farm-operator households by source of income:
Without other income....
With other income less than value of
farm products sold.....
With other income greater than value
of farm products sold....
All other households...
Farm-operator households by amount of off-farm work:
No off-farm work by operator or
family members, total......
Without other income..
Degree of dependence
on agriculture
·
•
With other income less than value
of farm products sold...
With other income greater than
value of farm products sold.
No off-farm work by operator but
some by family members...
With other income less than value
of farm products sold...
With other income greater than
value of farm products sold...
1
...
Some off-farm work by operator..
1 to 99 days...
With other income less than
value of farm products sold..
With other income greater
than value of farm products
sold....
··
…………
1 to 49 days..
With other income less than
value of farm products sold..
With other income greater
than value of farm
products sold..
All other households....
50 to 99 days.
With other income less than
value of farm products sold..
With other income greater
than value of farm
products sold....
··
100 days or more..
With other income less than
value of farm products sold..
With other income greater
than value of farm
products sold....
..
·· •
...
100 to 199 days..
With other income less than
value of farm products sold..
With other income greater
than value of farm
products sold....
200 days or more..
With other income less than
value of farm products sold..
With other income greater
than value of farm
products sold...
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
Farm-
operator
households,
totall
•
5,341,190 21,875,464
2,030,712 8,090,777
1,444,194 6,134,257
1,615,063
6,742,585
251,221
907,845
2,617,677
2,030,712
335,602
251,363
205,578
576,819
482, 191
418,353 1,972,206
250,479 1,172,819
167,874
799,387
2,053,939
8,906,177
854,389
3,708,154
648,811
2,855,432
94,628
277,570
166,620
110,950
1,199,550
209,302
990,248
301,353
94,571
206,782
898, 197
114,731
All ages
783,466
251,221
¹Includes only farm-operator households for which population data are available.
latter figure differs slightly from the final count of farms and
farm operators in the 1950 Census of Agriculture because of round-
ing of the expansion factors used in processing the sample data.)
The figure 5, 341, 190 (and comparable figures for its components)
has been used in other tables where data on operators from the
Population Census are shown or where comparisons are made be-
tween farms and population or operators and population.
Fertility ratios.-As noted on the tables, the fertility
ratios are also based on data for children in farm-operator fam-
ilies and for women in farm-operator households. The figures on
total women include proportionate shares of the women tabulated
as of unknown age. Because necessary data on women by age and
10,089,236
8,090,777
1,180,375
818,084
852,722
2,486,841
2,095,178
391,663
1,221,313
760,254
461,059
5,198,023
925,631
4,272,392
1,332,503
413,325
919,178
3,865,520
512,306
Under
14 years
6,661,833 | 15,213,631
14 years
and over
2,479,186 5,611,591
1,856,811 4,277,446
2,058,346
267,490
3,013,859
2,479,186
4,684, 239
640,355
7,075,377
5,611,591
305,293 875,082
229,380 588,704
431,730 1,540,476
251,654
921,165
180,076
619,311
2,948,754 5,957,423
1,210,409 2,497,745
991,683
1,863,749
218,726 633,996
810,349 1,676,492
716,786 1,378,392
1,738,345
308,181
93,563 298,100
400,060
821,253
274,897
485,357
125,163 335,896
3,459,678
617,450
1,430,164 2,842,228
467,071
865,432
139,516
273,809
327,555 591,623
1,271,274 2,594,246
168,665 343,641
3,353,214 1,102,609 2,250,605
907,845 267,490 640,355
Farm-
operator
households,
total
100
38
27
30
5
en
98888
49
38
6
5
8
5
3
38
16
12
4
11
9
2
5
сл
3
2
22
4
19
6
2
4
17
2
15
5
Percent distribution
All ages
100
37
28
31
4
46
37
5
4
9
5
4
41
17
13
4
11
10
2
6
3
2
24
4
20
6
2
4
18
2
15
4
Population
Under
14 years
.100
37
28
31
4
45
37
5
3
6
4
3
44
18
15
CA)
3
12
11
1
6
4
2
26
5
21
7
2
5
19
3
17
4
14 years
and over
100
37
28
31
4
47
37
6
4
10
6
4
39
35335
16
12
4
11
9
2
5
сл
3
2
23
4
19
6
2
4
17
2
15
4
marital status were not available, all women of unknown age allot-
ted to ages 15 to 49 years were assumed to be single.
The age-specific rates are based largely on tabulations of
children by age of mother in households containing only one woman
ever married-assuming that this woman was the mother of all of
the children in that family. The distribution of children by age
of mother in households containing two or more women ever married
was estimated indirectly from age-specific rates for women ever
married in households containing only one woman of this marital
status. About 386,000 children under 5 years of age, or 17 percent
of all children of this age, were in households containing two or
more women ever married.
1
Chapter 5
HOUSING FACILITIES AND
EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-
PRODUCTION PRACTICES OF FARM-
OPERATOR FAMILIES
(65)
Introduction..
Dwelling units covered...
Farm-operator dwellings..
Comparison with farm dwellings of Censuses of
Population and Housing....
Housing characteristics compared with Census of Housing.
Tenure of dwelling unit compared with Census of Housing.
House, garden, and household equipment by economic
class of farm.
Housing on low-production farms...
Class V and VI commerical farms...
Part-time and residential farms
Table-
•
..
[
•
•
•
CONTENTS
Page
67
67
67
5889
……….
67
68
69
69
69
69
70
TABLES
House, garden, and household equipment by economic class
of farm-Continued
Housing on median family farms to large-scale units.
Construction of new houses.....
Home food-production practices.
Housing and household equipment by income
and tenure..
Tabulation procedures and limitations of data...
..
1.-Housing characteristics and equipment of farm-operator dwelling units and all dwelling units on rural farms, for the United States and regions:
2.-Tenure of farm-operator dwelling units, by tenure of farm operator: 1950...
3.-Family and housing characteristics and equipment, and food-production practices, by economic class of farm, for the United States and regions: 1950..
4.-Family and housing characteristics and equipment, by family income, for the United States and regions: 1950........
5.-Family and housing characteristics and equipment, for commercial and other farms, by family income, for the United States and regions: 1950..
6.-Family and housing characteristics and equipment, for commercial and other farms, by family income, by tenure of operator, for the United States and regions: 1950....
7.-Home food-production practices and family and farm characteristics of commercial and other farm operators, by presence of home gardens, for the United States and
regions; and by race in the South: 1950...
(66)
Computation...
Regional combinations..
Inclusion of vacant dwellings.
Family composition, size, and persons per room..
1950....
•
Page
70
70
71
71
72
72
72
72
72
Page
68
69
74
79
84
89
97
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES
OF FARM-OPERATOR FAMILIES
Barbara B. Reagan, Family Economics Division, Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics
INTRODUCTION
This chapter brings together information from the Census
of Agriculture and the Censuses of Population and Housing on the
living situation of farm-operator families. Data from the Cen-
suses of Population and Housing on the condition and equipment
of the dwelling unit previously have not been presented in re-
lation to the business of farming, In this chapter, living con-
ditions are related to both family characteristics, such as in-
come,
and the size of the farm business as indicated by the eco-
nomic class of farm.
The Census of Housing contributes data on the housing and
household equipment of farm dwelling units-the size and age of
the house, the presence of running water, kitchen sink, other
plumbing facilities, refrigerator, and the type of cooking fuel.
The Census of Agriculture adds information on selected electrical
household equipment, telephones, electricity on the farm, dis-
tance from usual trading center, kind of road on which the farm
is located, and some indication of home food-production prac-
tices. The Census of Population contributes additional informa-
tion on family income, size of family, stage in the family life
cycle, and formal education of the operator, factors related to
the level of living achieved. The economic classification of
farms is provided by the Census of Agriculture.
The definition of a farm used in this report is that of
the Census of Agriculture which is not the same as that of the
Censuses of Population and Housing. Coverage of farm dwelling
units differs in other respects also. Most farm families are
included by both, but the differences affect the interpretation
of statistics on housing and equipment. Even though the sample
size permits tabulations for only major geographic regions of
the United States, knowledge of the direction and probable ex-
tent of these differences should enhance the usefulness of the
Census tabulations for other regions, individual States, and
economic areas and survey data based on various Census defini-
tions.
DWELLING UNITS COVERED
Farm-Operator Dwellings
This report presents housing data for 5,380,000 farm-
operator dwelling units. Most of the dwelling units covered are
those of resident operators living on farms in rural areas.
The composition of the group covered is as follows:
Farm-operator dwelling units..
Units on farms operated.
In rural areas¹.
In urban areas 2
Nonresident operator units.
On other farms.
Not on farms.
Whether living on farm, not reported.
Whether resident operator, not reported...
•
..
Number
5,380,000
5,085,000
4,989,000
96,000
169,000
124,000
37,000
8,000
126,000
-
Obtained by subtracting number in urban areas from units on farms.
2
Assumes that the 96,000 farms in urban areas according to Census
of Population and Housing definitions were the units in those areas
classified as farms in the Census of Agriculture and that all were oc-
cupied by resident operators.
Operator dwelling units not on farms account for less
than 1 percent of the total, and dwellings of all nonresident
operators, for only about 3 percent. Among the nonresident op-
erators who live on farms they do not operate are sons who live
in the homes of parents but operate other farms, and farm opera-
tors who room and board on other farms. The remaining nonresi-
dent operators probably lived in nearby towns or even in cities
some distance away. This practice has grown since 1940 in the
Plains and a few Mountain States where the type of farming such
as wheat farming does not require constant presence of the farm
operator, and the family wishes to take advantage of community
facilities such as schools or perhaps better housing available
in town. Housing data are not available for all the nonresident
operator dwellings shown in the estimates from this study (see
page 72 of this chapter).
Data in this report somewhat underestimate the number of
nonresident operator dwelling units. The 1950 Census of Agricul-
ture shows nearly 5 percent nonresident operators. The under-
statement is greatest in the West where nonresident operators
are relatively more important. Probably the number of nonresi-
dent operators living in towns or cities is the segment that is
underestimated.
The dwelling units covered by this report include only a
few in urban areas. They are either urban residences of the non-
resident farm operators described above or operator dwelling
units on farms in urban areas. The number of operators living
in areas classed as urban by the Censuses of Population and Hous-
ing is not available from this project but has been estimated
using the Census of Housing report of 96,000 dwellings on farms
in urban areas based on the Census of Population definition of
farm. Other Census data suggest that most of the operator dwel-
lings on urban farms are in the North. All operator dwellings
in urban areas, those of nonresident operators living in towns
plus those living on farms within urban areas, probably account
for no more than 3 percent of the total farm-operator dwelling
units.
M
Comparison with Farm Dwellings of Censuses
of Population and Housing
-
For the most part, this report covers only occupied dwel-
ling units. The tabulations include only 39,000 vacant units,
fewer than 1 percent of the operator dwellings. The reasons for
inclusion of the vacant units and the various statistics that
they affect are discussed on page 72 of this chapter. About 25,000
of the vacant dwelling units are included because information
for the dwellings of nonresident operators was not available.
G
For the 1950 Census of Housing the classification of dwel-
ling units as farm or non farm was made largely on the basis of
the answer to the question, "Is this house on a farm (or ranch)?"
However, enumerators were instructed to classify as non farm all
institutions, summer camps, tourist cabins, and similar places
even though on farms, and all dwelling units on farms for which
cash rent was paid for the house and yard only.
In this report,
on the other hand, farm-operator dwelling units are the dwel-
lings, wherever located, of farm operators with a farm defined as
a place of 3 acres or more that produced $150 in agricultural
products exclusive of home gardens, or a place of less than 3
acres if $150 was received from the sale of agricultural products.
The counts of farm dwelling units included in the Census
of Housing and in this report with the different definitions of
a farm and with the different procedures as to inclusion of vacant
(67)
·
68
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
units, units of operators who do not live on farms, and units
occupied by persons who do not operate farms are as follows:
Units in rural areas.
Occupied....
Size:
Condition:
Vacant......
Units temporarily occupied by
persons whose permanent resi-
dence is elsewhere.
Units in urban areas......
Occupied by resident operators
and those nonresident opera-
tors living on farms.......
Units included in both
groups...
Not dilapidated.
Dilapidated...
1 or 2 rooms.
3 or 4 rooms
5 or 6 rooms.
7 or more rooms
*Year built:
Water supply:
• •
Units included only in
farm-operator group....
Operator units included
only in Census of Housing
Units on farms occupied by
other than operator......
· ·
•
Total dwelling units...
....
1945 or later.
1940 to 1944.
1930 to 1939.
1920 to 1929....
1919 or earlier...
....
••
•
• •
Total as shown by the 1950 Census of Housing.
2 Estimate based on data obtained by tabulation of data for this pro-
ject.
Estimates based upon tabulation data for a sample of 1,408 households
taken from 5, 260, or 5 percent of enumeration districts having farms in
1950. This figure is subject to considerable sampling variability.
Estimates obtained by subtracting totals for all groups listed from
the total number of dwelling units.
Assumes that the 96,000 farms in urban areas according to Census of
Population and Housing were the units in those areas classified as farms
by Census of Agriculture and that all were occupied by resident operators.
•
Characteristic
The central core of 4,978,000 dwelling units covered in both
sets of reports is by far the major part of each group. It is
93 percent of the farm-operator dwelling units covered in this
report. It is 87 percent of the occupied dwellings on farms in
Table 1.-HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT OF FARM-OPERATOR DWELLING UNITS AND ALL DWELLING UNITS
ON RURAL FARMS. FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data. see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on
a 20 percent subsample]
[Data from this project are based upon
United States
No piped running water inside structure..
Plumbing facilities:
Flush toilet inside structure.
Installed bathtub or shower.
*Kitchen sink….
*Refrigeration:
Mechanical...
Ice....
Other or none.
*Cooking fuel:
Coal or wood.
Liquid fuel....
Gas or electricity.
Other or none.
…………
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure..
Cold piped running water inside structure.....
Dwelling
units on
farms,
Census of Census of
Housing Agriculture
definitions definitions
16,454,000 5,380,000
•
16,358,000
15,721,000
24,978,000
3493,000
4250,000
1593,000
144,000
196,000
Farm-
operator
dwelling
units,
this
project
Percent
84
16
4
29
22828
38
29
9
6
14
14
57
225 230 822
31
12
57
33
58
66
Farm
operator
dwelling
units,
12
49
8
...
42
1
5,284,000
5,245,000
5,211,000
4,978,000
233,000
....
39,000
596,000
Dwelling units
on rural farms,
Census of Housing
Total
Percent
81
19
7
32
UN CAN Aännö mww.
36
25
10
5
15
16
54
29
14
57
28
30
1
Occupied
Percent
83
17
5
31
37
27
10
5
15
16
54
8 M58 Swi
Housing Characteristics Compared with Census of Housing
When the farm universe is limited to operator dwelling
units as defined in this report, the housing statistics reveal
larger houses, in better condition and better equipped, but not
newer (see table 1). As might be expected, the contrast is
sharper for items that are reported for all dwelling units, in-
cluding those vacant at the time of enumeration, than when the
comparison is made for occupied units. In either case, the
amount of change in the percent having a specified housing fa-
cility or piece of equipment is relatively small.
The situation for the North and West combined and for the
South is similar to that for the country as a whole. Fewer of
the dwelling units of farm-operator families are dilapidated.
Relatively more are larger and more have hot and cold running
water than all dwelling units on rural farms. In the North and
West the proportion of operator houses built since 1945 is smal-
ler, but this difference does not hold for the South. In both
regions, relatively more dwellings occupied by farm-operator
families have kitchen sinks, mechanical refrigerators, and ga s
or electric cook stoves than do all rural-farm occupied dwel-
ling units.
29
31
55
63
12
25
50
rural areas and 78 percent of all dwelling units on rural farms
covered by reports of the Census of Housing.
9
39
2
Inclusion of vacant houses in the Census of Housing lowers
the quality of farm housing reported in that Census.
The great
difference in the quality of occupied and vacant housing can be
inferred from data on dilapidation in table 1. Vacant units
comprise only 10 percent of the total number of units on rural
farms but reduce the proportion of units that are not dilapi-
dated by 4 percentage points. A fourth of the units vacant at
the time of the Census were for seasonal workers, and another
third or more were nonseasonal but dilapidated units. Some of
the vacant units on farms were probably the relatively inferior
houses of former farm operators, vacated in the course of con-
solidation of farm units.
Farm-
operator
dwelling
units.
this
project
The inclusion of farm dwellings occupied by someone other
than a farm-operator family also tends to lower somewhat the
Percent
93
7
3
17
38
42
imamo oma aut ano
5
3
9
13
70
46
13
41
42
45
77
79
5
16
37
6
56
1
North and West
•
Dwelling units
on rural farms,
Census of Housing
Total
Percent
828
12
ww33
20
39
8
4
10
12
66
41
15
44
Occupied
Percent
D
•
··
..
~~∞☹ Baã ã
75
75
6
19
39
8
52
Farm-
operator
dwelling
units,
this
project
Percent
1235
75
5
41
39
15
LONG BEN 123 maa
14
9
20
17
40
18
11
71
18
37
53
18
29
62
9
27
2
South
Dwelling units
on rural farms,
Census of Housing¹
Total
Percent
70
30
8
202 220 22
45
35
12
13
7
21
39
15
13
72
•
Occupied
Percent
33
50
CON TO*~
18
32
64
. 10
-
24
2
-

¹U. S. Bureau of the Census, U. S. Census of Housing; 1950, Preliminary Reports, Series HC-5, Nos. 1 and 3, and based on data from Volume I, General Characteristics and from Vol-
ume III, Farm Housing Characteristics.
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES
69
Among these
level of housing reported in the Census of Housing.
units are those provided year-round hired farm workers and dwel-
lings occupied by partners or relatives of the operators. Spe-
cial tabulations made from the 1945 Census of Agriculture for
the Bureau of Agricultural Economics and Bureau of Human Nu-
trition and Home Economics have shown that housing provided reg-
ular hired farm workers, although not as modern as that of their
employers, is similar to operator housing on the smaller farm
enterprises in the area.
The rent-free category as reported by the Census of Housing.
may include many share tenants and croppers as well as managers
and hired farm workers getting their housing on the employing
farm as a perquisite (doubtless the hired farm workers were pri-
marily regular workers at the time of year at which the census
was taken) and relatives of the operator who receive the house
either as a gift or as part of some farm operation or rental
agreement with the operator. However, it is recognized that
Census enumerators may enter share tenants and possibly croppers
as renters paying cash rent rather than as occupying their dwel-
ling rent-free. From this project, it is estimated that 185,000
nonoperator occupied dwelling units are on farms as defined by
the Census of Housing. These undoubtedly cover the regular
hired farm workers provided houses as perquisites and relatives
of the operator included in the rent-free group. This estimate
suggests that such cases may comprise about a fifth of the rent-
Since the number of vacant houses exceeds the number of
units occupied by someone other than the operator and since the
quality of the former is undoubtedly poorer than that of the
latter, the inclusion of vacancies is the more important of the
two in explaining differences in levels of housing shown by the
Census of Housing and this project.
free group on farms for which data are shown in the Census of
Housing.
The effect of differences in the definition of farm on the
The net ef-
kind of housing reported is difficult to appraise.
fect of the difference in definition of the farm and the exclu-
sion from this report of the nonoperator farm units can be judged
by comparing the occupied dwelling units from the Census of Hous-
ing with units covered by this project (see table 1).
The coverage of urban farms and, to a limited extent, the
dwellings of nonresident operators, by the Census of Agriculture
definitions tends to raise the level of housing and so to increase
the difference between the Census of Housing and this report. Al-
though analysis of the data for nonresident operators is limited by
the small number of sample cases provided by this project and by the
fact that data for all nonresident operators cannot be included,
available data suggest that a larger proportion of the nonresi-
dent operators had running water piped into the dwelling, flush
toilets, and installed bathtubs or showers. It is also reason-
able to assume that farm operators in urban areas have better
housing than do resident operators in rural areas.
These groups
are such a small proportion of all operators, however, that in-
cluding them has little effect on the picture of farm housing.
1
Tenure for Dwelling Unit Compared with Census of Housing
The picture of dwelling-unit tenure of farm operators ob-
tained from this project is different from that given for oc-
Since
cupied units on rural farms in the Census of Housing.
the tenure arrangement under which the dwelling unit is occupied
is a major classification for the farm dwelling unit statistics
in volume III of the 1950 Census of Housing, examination of the
The
farm-operator group aids in interpretation of these data.
differences in the distributions of dwelling units by tenure for
the United States are as follows:
Occupied farm-operator dwelling
units¹........
......number (000).. 5,341 3,823 904 614
100
11
17
72
percent distribution...
Occupied dwelling units on rural farms,
Census of Housing2. number (000).. 5,660 3,702 1,084
100
percent distribution..
19
66
number (000).. -319 +121
percent of occupied dwelling
units on rural farms..
874
15
- 180 -260
Difference...
..
Rent
Total Owner Renter free
··
W
6
3
17 30
1
Excludes 39,000 vacant operator dwellings, primarily of operators who
did not live in the Enumeration District in which the farm was located.
2U. S. Bureau of the Census, U. S. Census of Housing: 1950. Vol. III
Farm Housing Characteristics. Data are based upon a 20 percent sample of
all farm dwelling units.
→
The dwelling units on farms that are occupied by others
than farm operators could account for a part of the difference
between the two in the rent-free category. Urban dwelling units
occupied by operators who do not live on the farm they operate,
which are included in the farm-operator dwelling unit group but
not in the Census of Housing, would fall in the owner or renter
categories. Although it is not known how to divide them, they
probably account for most of the difference in the owner group,
and add to the discrepancy in the renter group. The major por-
tion of the net effect of different definitions of the farm and
of inclusion of urban units then falls in the renter group.
1
From this project, the farm tenure composition of each
of the dwelling unit tenure groups for farm operators has been
obtained (see table 2). In general, those operators who are
shown as owning their dwelling unit are shown as owning their
farm, but the two rent groups show considerable divergence. A
croppers;
third of the operators in the rent-free group are
sixth, farm owners; and half are tenants other than croppers.
The renter group is about a sixth croppers and a sixth farm
owners; some of these farm owners are part-owners of the farm
and presumably rent the dwelling and part of the land farmed,
and own the rest of the land.
a
TABLE 2.-TENURE OF FARM-OPERATOR DWELLING UNITS, BY TENURE OF FARN OPERATOR: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of re-
liability of data,' see
page 3]
TENURE OF DWELLING UNIT

Tenure of farm operator
Total...
...
Owner or manager..
Part owner、
Tenant other than cropper in
South....
Cropper in South.
•
Total....
Owner or manager.
Full owner or manager
Part owner..
Tenant other than cropper in
farm.
··
South....
Cropper in South..
• ·
•
•
Total
(000)
5,380
3,932
846
1,078
371
100
73
57
16
20
7
Owner Renter
100
100
100
(000)
3,823
3,665
734
100
100
133
26
100
96
77
19
3
1
(000)
71
93
87
904
131
72
635
138
PERCENT OF EACH DWELLING UNIT TENURE GROUP
12
7
100
15
78
70
15
Rent-
free
17
3
9
(000)
614
102
38
306
206
PERCENT OF EACH FARM TENURE GROUP
59
37
100
16
10
6
50
33
Total...
Owner or manager..
Part owner.
··
Tenant other than cropper in
South....
Cropper in South.
¹Primarily farms where operator's dwelling was not in same Enumeration District
2Percent not shown when less than 0.5.
11
3
4
Vacant
dwelling
unit1
(000)
29
56
39
34
2
(?)
4
1
100
87
81
6
10
3
1
1
as
HOUSE, GARDEN, AND HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT BY ECONOMIC CLASS OF FARM
Housing on Low-Production Farms
Class V and VI commercial farms. -Data on family income
and size of the farm business suggest that the low-income prob-
lem among farm-operator families is most acute on class VI com-
mercial farms. This class also ranked lowest in the housing and
equipment items considered in this chapter (see table 3). These
are the farms that had from $250 to $1,200 worth of farm sales,
on which operators had less than 100 days of work off their farms
during the year, and on which other income of the family did not
exceed the value of farm sales. Two-thirds of the class VI group
had family income under $1,000, and another sixth had income from
income from $1,000 up to $1,500.
70
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
I..
Farms in class V also were relatively low-production farms,
but family income is higher in this group, and housing and equip-
ment is better. By definition, gross farm sales range from $1,200
up to $2,500 for this class, and no limit was set on non farm in-
come. A third has family income of less than $1,000 and about a
sixth had more than $3,000.
The class VI commercial farm families represent about an
eighth of all farm-operator families, and the class V about a
sixth. Three-fourths of the class VI and more than half of the
class V units are in the South. Tobacco and cotton farmers make
up a large part of these groups. Class VI farms are numerous in
the hilly upland sections of the South and the Mississippi Del-
ta; the class V farms are more widely distrbuted.
In the South, fewer than 15 percent of the class VI com-
mercial farms had running water piped into the dwelling or used
electricity or gas for cooking, and fewer than 20 percent had
kitchen sinks with drains. Very few of the class VI commercial
farms in the South had telephones, and about a third of the dwel-
lings were classed as dilapidated by the Census enumerator.
Even though class VI commercial farms ranked lowest in
percentage with electricity, as well as with other conveniences,
about 60 percent of the farms of this class in the South had
electricity. Presumably in most instances this means that elec-
tric lighting was in the dwelling, although among croppers it
is not certain that enumerators interpreted electricity on the
farm to mean on the cropper unit. A fourth of the families had
electric washing machines, and slightly more had mechanical re-
frigerators. The dwelling was smaller on the average than those
in other classes of farms in the South. The number of persons
per room was 0.9, which was the same as the average for all farm
operators in the South.
The operators in the South were older on the average in
'class VI than in most of the other classes and had somewhat small-
er families. The proportion of couples with no children under
18 at home was larger. About three-fourths of the operators had
not completed elementary school, the largest proportion of any
class.
Houses of class V commercial farm operators were larger
and less often dilapidated than of class VI, as well as better in
other respects. In the South, a fourth had piped running water,
two-fifths had electric washers, and more than half had mechanical
refrigerators.
Operator housing on class V and VI commercial farms in the
North and West is better than in the South. For example, about
half of the operator dwellings on class V farms in the North and
West had piped running water compared with a fourth in the South.
Also, more northern farmers reported kitchen sinks with drains,
but no running water. Many of the units that had kitchen sinks
with drains but had no piped running water probably had hand
pumps in the kitchen.
-
Part-time and residential farms.-The part-time and resi-
dential farms that together make up the "other" operator group
have considerably better housing than the farms in class V and
VI. For most of these families, farming is a supplementary source
of income, and family income is higher than on class V and VI com-
mercial farms. The class limits on volume of farm sales are the
same for class VI commercial farms as for the part-time units.
The residential units had less than $250 worth of farm sales and
about a third of them had no cash sales, yet only a fifth of the
part-time and a third of the residential units had family incomes
under $1,000. About a fourth in each group had incomes over $3,000.
As housing facilities vary not only with income but also
with location in relation to a population center, these noncommer-
cial farms may be expected to differ from other farms in regard
to housing facilities. More than half of these families lived
within 5 miles of their usual trading center, a larger proportion
than any other class. A third lived on hard-surface roads-a
larger proportion than for any other class of farms except the
largest scale commercial farms.
■
These "other" operator families had hot and cold running
water piped into their dwellings and the other plumbing facilities
in somewhat larger proportion than operator families among the
-
class V commercial farmers. In other respects the housing and
equipment situation of this combined group was similar to that
of class V farms. This may be related to the fact that the in--
come distribution of the "other" group is not greatly higher than
the class V group, and their distribution according to the edu-
cational level,of the operator is more similar to that of the
class V group than any other class of farm.
For many purposes, it is well to consider the residential
farm units separately from the part-time units. As noted above,
the family income distribution of the residential group was a
little lower than that of the part-time units.
There was no
difference in the average size of family, but the operators in
the residential group were older, and the proportion of units
with children under 18 at home was smaller. A fifth of the
operators of residential farms were 65 or older compared with
about a tenth of part-time farm operators. The distribution of
operators by years of school completed shows a lower level of
formal education among the residential group than among the part-
time farmers; this may well be related to the differences in age
distribution. Except for class VI, the residential group prob-
ably includes the highest proportion of those who have retired
from active work.
The proportion of the dwelling units located within 5 miles
of the usual trading center was somewhat larger for the residen-
tial farm units than for the part-time units; 13 percent were
located within 1 mile of the usual trading center. This is the
result of the slight concentration of residential units near
large metropolitan centers. A slightly higher proportion of the
residential units were on hard-surface roads.
Notwithstanding locations closer to usual trading cen-
ters, the proportion of residential farm-operator dwelling units
with running water and other plumbing facilities was slightly
lower among residential than among part-time units. Also for
most of the selected equipment items that are considered to be
more desirable, the proportion was lower. Income and age dif-
ferences are important elements in the explanation.
Housing on Medium Family Farms to Large-Scale Units
me -
The size of the dwelling and the proportion of units not
considered dilapidated increase from the class V commercial farms
by classes up through the class I and II units. Similarly, the
percentage with running water and other plumbing items, kitchen
sinks, electricity, and the selected electrical equipment,
chanical refrigerators, gas and electric cook stoves, and tele-
phones also increased as the size of the farm business increased.
On the class I and II farms, most of the operator dwell-
ings had electricity, kitchen sinks with drains, and mechanical
refrigerators, but 20 percent did not have running water piped
inside the dwelling. About 30 percent did not have hot and cold
running water or the other plumbing facilities. About a third
had home freezers.
-
On the largest scale commercial farms, housing differences
between the South and the North and West are few.
The operator
dwellings on this size farm enterprise that did not have kitchen
sinks with drains were primarily in the South. Both telephones
and electric washing machines were relatively more frequent in
the North and West than in the South. However, the sample of
class I and II farms in the South is so small that the housing
data presented in table 3 for such farms cannot be interpreted as
a precise measure of the situation.
Construction of New Houses
Age of dwelling is a rough indicator of housing quality.
It can be only a very incomplete indicator, however, since these
data relate to the year of original construction and houses may
have been remodeled. In addition, some new houses are of rel-
atively cheap and unsubstantial construction.
Well over half of all operator dwellings were built before
1920 and less than a tenth have been built since 1944. As indi-
cated by the age of farm-operator dwellings standing at the time
of the census, building since World War II has been heavier in
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES
71
the South than in the North and West. In the latter region,
only 5 percent of operator dwellings were built in 1945 or later;
in the South, 14 percent.
Much of the new building has been on low-production farms.
Only about a fourth of the dwellings built for operator families
in 1945 or later are on class I to IV commercial farms, which
comprise 40 percent of all farms. In the North and West, a larg-
er proportion of the houses occupied by operators of class VI
and part-time farms had been built in 1945 or later than in other
classes - larger also than the proportion these farms made up of
the total. Building rates in the other two low-production classes
were more closely in line with the proportion of farms. In the
South, the low-production farm operators reported the same pro-
portion of the new dwellings as their weight in the total number
of farms; among these farms, however, the new building rate was
high for residential farm operators and low for class V operators.
The great majority of the new operator dwellings are
owner-operated farms. In both regions new operator dwellings were
built on owner-operated farms at a slightly higher rate than on
tenant-operated farms. In the North and West, owner-operated
farms comprised 80 percent of all farms and reported 89 percent
of all new operator dwellings. Similar figures for the South
are 66 and 76 percent, respectively (see table 6). In the latter
region the remainder of new dwellings were divided proportionately
between croppers and other tenants. Data for the 1950 Census of
Housing indicate, however, that a large proportion of the new
dwellings occupied by croppers and other tenants had only one or
two rooms and were of inadequate original construction and hence
were classified as dilapidated. In the South, nearly half of the
new houses were occupied by families with income between $1,000
and $3,000; in the North and West, nearly as many were occupied
by families with $3,000 or more income (see table 4). For both
regions this is more than the proportion of families in these
income groups.
Home Food-Production Practices
In the South nearly 80 percent of farm-operator families
raise vegetables for home use, compared with nearly 70 percent in
the North and West. A somewhat larger proportion of southern than
northern farmers have chickens, but nearly three-fourths of the
northern farm-operator families have one or more milk cows com-
pared with about two-thirds in the South. Fewer farm families
produce their own 'meat than have the other types of home food
production. In both regions about two-thirds of the farm fam-
ilies slaughter meat animals, with pork by far the most frequent
kind of home-produced meat.
- These data on the proportion of farm-operator families with
various types of home food production tell only part of the story.
They do not show how much garden produce, milk, or meat the farm
families produced and used themselves or what share of their
total food supply came from home production, measured either by
its nutritional contribution or its money value, However, other
studies indicate that families with gardens consume more fruits
and vegetables than those without gardens.
Gardens make a great
contribution to diets as fruits and vegetables provide nearly all
of the ascorbic acid and a large part of the vitamin A in diets
in this country. According to studies of food consumption in the
South, farm families that did not keep at least one cow con-
sumed very little milk, and had diets low in calcium and ribo-
flavin. Home -produced meat is important because it helps supply
protein along with milk and eggs from the farm, and it makes a
major contribution to the money value of the farm family's food.
In the South, class of farm is related to the frequency of
these home food-production practices. The proportion with a gar-
den increased from 55 percent on class I and II commercial farms
up to nearly 85 percent on the class V and VI commercial farms.
The part-time and residential units fell into an intermediate
position, about 75 percent reporting gardens. The proportions of
families on commercial farms that kept chickens and slaughtered
hogs also increased as the size of the farm business decreased,
although differences were not as marked as for gardens. Milk
COWS,
on the other hand, were reported more frequently on the
larger farms. On the largest commercial farms, nearly 80 percent
of the southern farm-operator families had milk cows;
smallest commercial units, a little less than 70 percent.
on the
In the North and West the proportion of the largest com-
mercial farms, class I and II farms, following these home food-
production practices was smaller than of the medium-size com-
mercial units. Then from the class III units down to the smallest
commercial units, the proportion with milk cows, chickens, gar-
dens, and the proportion slaughtering decreased. The proportion
of part-time and residential units with each of these practices
was somewhat lower than that of the smallest commercial unit for
all practices except gardens.
Farm- operator families that have gardens have other kinds
of home food production more frequently than do operator families
without gardens. Nearly 85 percent of the families that had gar-
dens, kept chickens; nearly 75 percent kept milk cows, and 70 per-
cent slaughtered meat animals (see table 7). The percentages were
from 10 to 20 points lower for families that did not have gardens.
These differences are found in both regions and for both commer-
cial and other farms within the region.
In the South, the practice of having a garden was about
equally common among white and nonwhite farm-operator families
and included around 80 percent of each group. Among those who
had gardens, there was little difference in the percentage that
kept chickens or slaughtered hogs for home use. But only half
of the nonwhite families that had gardens kept milk cows, compared
with three-fourths of the white operators that had gardens. Non-
white farmers in the South operated dairy farms less frequently,
but the difference was not great enough to explain the difference
in the proportion having milk cows.
;
•
-
HOUSING AND HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT BY INCOME AND TENURE
The importance of family income as a factor affecting
housing has already been shown by the better operator housing on
noncommercial farms, especially the part-time farms, than on class.
VI commercial farms, where farm incomes were lower and there was
less non farm income. With separate tabulations for commercial
and "other" farms, the effect of family income is even clearer
(see table 5). The least well equipped farm houses are those of
farm operators with family incomes below $1,000. But even with
incomes of $3,000 or more, on both the commercial and the "other"
farms, about 3 in 10 dwellings did not have piped running water
inside the structure; nearly half did not have flush toilets;
and 1 in 10 did not have mechanical refrigerators.
Tenants in the North and West had such facilities as
ning water less often than owners, but there was little differ-
ence between farm-tenant and owner housing in the equipment that
was not part of the house. Because facilities and equipment are
closely related to the level of family income (see table 4), the
comparison is made for houses on commercial farms in the
broad family-income groups. Compared with those in the same in-
come groups, fewer tenants than owners had the basic housing
facilities (see table 6). Nearly two-thirds of the owner-op-
erators of commercial farms with income over $3,000 had hot and
cold running water compared with less than half of the tenants.
Few owners, but a fourth of the tenants, had kitchen sinks but
not running water; many of them probably had hand pumps at the
kitchen sink. In contrast, tenants more often than owners had
telephones; tenants about as often as owners had electric washing
machines; and only slightly fewer tenants than owners had me-
chanical refrigerators and electric or gas cook stoves.
Persons per room were the same for farm owners and tenants
in the North and West, 0.6 persons per room. Tenants' houses
were larger than owners', on the average, but the average tenant
family was larger. The tenant operators were younger, averaging
37 years of age on commercial farms compared with 51 among the
owners, and had more children under 18 still at home.
C
?
-
In the South, farm owners have considerably better dwel-
lings and more equipment than the tenants other than croppers.
For example, on the farms where family income was from $1,000
72
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
up to $3,000, 36 percent of the owners' and 14 percent of the
tenants' (other than croppers') houses had running water. Dif-
ferences between cropper units and those of other tenants are
not as great.
Computation
TABULATION PROCEDURES AND LIMITATIONS OF DATA
The sample design and sampling errors, definitions of
items, and limitations of a general nature are discussed in
chapter 1. This section presents only the procedures of par-
ticular importance to the data presented primarily in this chapter.
--
GAR
Most of the data in the accompanying tables are percen-
tages, rounded to the nearest whole number. Percentages are
used for convenience in showing patterns of differences among
groups. Counts of the number answering the question as to
whether the family or dwelling unit had a particular char-
acteristic or item are given so that values for other combina-
tions of families or dwelling units can be computed. These
counts also indicate the extent of incomplete reporting, and may
aid in appraising the estimates.
For a few items drawn from the Census of Agriculture the
base of the percentages shown is the total number of farm opera-
tors, because tabulation procedures did not distinguish between
a zero entry and an incomplete report. In such instances the
percentage shown as having the item may be somewhat understated,
though the error is probably small. These items are electricity,
electric water pump, electric water heater, electric washing
machine, home freezer, telephone, and the selected home food-
production practices.
K
Four of the items drawn from the Census of Population and
Housing-age of dwelling unit, refrigeration, kitchen sink, and
cooking fuel-were based on a subsample of approximately 20 per-
cent of the dwelling units. In this project, data for these
sample items have been estimated by multiplying the number in the
sample by five. However, the sampling rate for this sample was
not always exactly 20 percent. Therefore, the resulting esti-
mate of the number reporting is occasionally higher than the
total number in the group, because the sampling rate sometimes
was slightly greater than 20 percent. In such cases the ac-
curacy of the percentages shown is not impaired. However, the
estimated number reporting cannot be subtracted from the total
number of farm-operator units to show the number not reporting.
Regional Combinations
Data for the North and West were combined into one region
for nearly all tables in this report. The number of cases in
the West makes up only 17 percent of the total for the combined
regions. In general, there are only small differences between
the North and West as to family characteristics, but there are
marked differences for some of the housing and equipment data.
Differences are large for running water. More than 80
percent of the farm-operator families in the West have running
water piped into the structure compared with about 50 percent
in the North (see table 5). The difference occurs in the pro-
portion of units that have both hot and cold running water, not
those with cold water only. Also a larger proportion of the
western farm- operator dwellings have flush toilets and installed
bathtubs or showers than in the North.
The North and West are little different in the proportion
of farm-operator dwellings that had electricity or the selected
electrical equipment for which data are available. Relatively
more western farm-operator families had kitchen sinks with drains,
84 percent compared with 76 percent in the North. The proportion
of farms with telephones is lower in the West, 51 percent, com-
pared with 62 percent in the North.
When the North is considered separately, there were slightly
more farms with electric water pumps than farms with running
water piped into the dwellings. (A similar difference is shown
for class III and class IV farms in the North and West, combined.)
This is explained by the differing definitions of the Census of
Agriculture and the Census of Housing. The Census of Agriculture
reports only electric water pumps; a farm with an electric
pump
for the barn or for irrigation, but not with running water in the
house, would be counted as having the pump. In the Census of
Housing, the question relates to piped running water inside the
dwelling unit structure regardless of the type of pump or water
system.
Inclusion of Vacant Dwellings
When an operator did not live in the Enumeration District
in which his farm was located, data for his farm obtained in the
Census of Agriculture were included in the tabulations for this
report. However, population and housing data were not available
for that operator. Consequently, population and family character-
istics, such as education of operator, size of family, and family
income, are not known for that family. If there was a vacant
dwelling unit on such a farm, data for this unit from the Census
of Housing were included in this project; if there was no vacant
dwelling on the farm, characteristics of the dwelling unit are
considered to be not known.
Data on 'electricity on the farm obtained for the Census
of Agriculture related to the farm and not necessarily to the
operator's dwelling. Consequently, when the operator is non-
resident and there is a vacant dwelling, the farm may have
been counted as having electricity because either the vacant
dwelling unit had electricity or there was electricity else-
where on the farm.
Only 39,000, or fewer than 1 percent of the farm-operator
dwellings included in the tabulations for this report, were va-
cant units. In most cases, the operators of the farms on which
these dwellings were located did not live in the Enumeration
District in which the farms were located. About 25,000 of them
were nonresident farm operators.
Family Composition, Size, and Persons per Room
The definition of the family is that used by the Census
of Population, except that the few one-person operator units are
treated as families rather than as single individuals, and in
contrast to many family living studies, the family includes all
in the household who are related to the operator without regard
to the degree of financial dependence.
The family composition classification used in this report
differs from that used in many family living studies in that
relatives of the operator such as parents, brothers or sisters,
or older children may be present without affecting the family-
type classification. Other studies frequently limit the family
type to husband and wife and no persons other than the specified
number of children; however, classifications used in family living
studies are often based on persons in the economic family and
exclude from consideration related members who comprise separate
financial units.
In a few cases, the family composition classification does
not relate to the family of the operator. When the operator was
not the head of the household, but instead was related to the
person listed as the head of the household, the family-type clas-
sification was based on all persons related to the head of the
household. For example, if an older woman, her grown son, and
his wife are a family operating the farm and if the mother is
listed as the head of the household, but the son is listed as
the farm operator, the family composition classification would
be other than husband-wife family. If the classification had
been based on the operator's family situation, the family would
have been designated as a husband-wife family with no children
under 18 at home. Only about 3 percent of the total number of
families in this project are so classified.
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 73
1
The average size of household shown in this chapter is
the aggregate number of persons in the household divided by the
total number of farm-operator households; that is, the total
number of farm operators. The average size of family is the
total number of persons related to the operator divided by the
number of operators reporting. Families with 12 or more persons
were considered to have 12 members.
Persons per room were computed by dividing the number of
persons per operator family by number of rooms per dwelling unit,
with units of 12 or more rooms considered to have 12 rooms. How-
ever, the aggregate number of rooms included rooms in the few
vacant operator dwelling units. Estimates of persons per room
have not been restricted to those families who reported both
rooms and persons.
-
74
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 3.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES, BY ECONOMIC
CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms

·
Farms.
Farm operator occupied dwelling units.
Owner occupied..
Renter occupied.
Rent free..
Vacant farm operator dwelling units
Farm operators reporting..
Operator residing on farm operated...
Operator not residing on farm operated.
Average size of operator's family..
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting..
Operator only...
Husband and wife with-
• ··
No children under 18....
1 or 2 children under 18..
3 or 4 children under 18.
Work off farm………
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME
Number of rooms::
TENURE OF DWELLING UNIT
All other units...
Median age of operator
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting.
100 days or more..
··
• •
Did not complete elementary school...
Completed elementary school, but not high school.
Completed high school or more...
•Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting..
1 or 2 rooms...
3 or 4 rooms
5 or 6 rooms.
7 or more.
···
Farm operators reporting..
Rooms
Persons per room.
Condition:
*Year built:
··
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm........
Any income other than from farm operated or wages.
Other income of family exceeding value of farm
products sold………….
··
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
..
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated.
Dilapidated...
...
...
Item
RESIDENCE
•
……..
[]
Farm operators reporting..
1945 or later.
1940 to 1944....
1930 to 1939.
1920 to 1929..
1919 or earlier..
•
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile...
1 to 4 miles.........
5 to 9 miles..
10 miles or more...
•
...
•
..
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
Median distance...
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
Hard surface....
Gravel, shell, or shale...
Dirt or unimproved.
See footnotes at end of table.
··
•j. •
...
.number.. 5,380,127
....number..
5,341,190
number. 3,823,245
.....number..
...number..
904, 079
613,866
number..
38,937
··
..
..number..
•
.percent..
.percent..
....number..
..percent..
..number..
percent..
percent..
..percent..
• •
**
•
...percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
..number..
.....percent..
.percent..
....
percent..
...
years..
.percent..
...... percent..
:
percent..
percent..
average number….
average number….
..number.. 5,281,934
•
··
percent..
Total,
all
farms
...
.....percent..
..percent..
..
UNITED STATES
5,254,271
.percent..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
..miles..
···
97
3
4.0
5,341,190
4
..number.. 5,285,641
.34
31
15
16
47.6
42
41
17
.number.. 5,278,828
percent..
84
.percent..
16
40
23
..number.. 4,971,420
percent..
percent..
percent..
...number.. 5,252,761 3,702,632
.percent..
..percent..
5,380,127
18
24
28
·4
29
38
29
5.6
0.7
9
6
14
14
57
number.. 5,230,510
7
39
223
5.6
number.. 5,131,627
.percent..
percent..
percent..
Total
32
35
33333
3,793,005
3,769,059
2,539,140
735,330
494,589
23,946
3,715,198
97
3
CAJ
4.0
3,769,059
4
34
32
15
15
47.1
3,731,357
02080
40
42
18
27
9
3,793,005
14
19
9
3,722,816.
3
ww.
5.8
0.7
3,727,963
86
14
3,507, 885
8
5
13
14
60
3,712,337
6
37
34
23
6.0
3,635,933
30
37
33
Classes I Class
and II
III
-
485,822 753,305
481,386
325,575
748,932
520, 313
157,658
70,961
4,373
100, 288
55,523
4,436
478,639
96
4
4.0
481,386
3
30
40
17
10
43.7
477,126
17
43
40
475,622
22
5
сл
12292
485,822
10
4
472,222
1
11
36
52
6.8
0.6
478,612
97
3
419,385
7
4
123
14
63
469,558
5
37
33
25
6.2
41
37
22
97
3
4.1
740,869 892,993
748,932
2
31
37
17
13
44.8
743,530
23
53
24
737,508
25
7
753,305
13
17
5
сл
739,078
1
14
37
48
6.6
0.6
742,799
95
5
736,770
6
3
6
13
72
741,187
5
34
36
25
6.5
459,983 729,973
33
44
23
Class
IV
907,873 919,651
903,411
619,016
912,664
600, 146
167,381
145,137
6,987
176,907
107,488
4,462
97
3
4.1
903,411
2
3235
17
14
46.6
899,042
35
49
16
890,861
28
10
907,873
16
19
11
893,644
2
21
42
35
6.0
0.7
893,153
89
11
876,560
5
6
13
14
62
896,691
4
39
34
23
Class
V
6.0
898, 594
96
4
4.1
912,664
4
36
29
14
17
47.6
897,415
50
38
12
890,190
35
18
919,651
18
23
21
902, 035
4
35
152
5.4
0.8
900,204
81
19
874,560
7
5
14
15
59
898, 011
6
38
34
22
5.9
875,620 874,155
29
28
37
35
34
37
Class
VI
726,354 1,587, 122
722,666 1,572, 131
474,090 | 1, 284, 105
133,096 168,749
115,480 119,277
3,688 14,991
704,103 1,539,073
97
3
3.8
39
23
11
19
722,666 | 1,572, 131
8
5
53.6
22
Total
4.7
0.8
97
3
714,244 | 1,550,577
64
31
5
713,195
70
30
4.1
708,451 1,550, 129
69
57
14
2
17
15
50
33
29
16
706,890
8
39
31
22
17
726,354 1,587, 122
11
28
14
38
74
5.4
49.0
715,837 | 1,562,825
7
44
35
14
48
38
14
5,
NAUG
600,610 | 1,463, 535
11
8
19
15
47
5.2
0.8
1,550,865
80
20
1,518,173
12
42
28
18
4.6
696,202 | 1,495,694
24
36
33
29
43
35
Part-time
and
abnormal
625,525
618,915
498,541
66,579
53,795
6,610
611,317
96
4
4.1
618,915
3
33
32
18
14
46.4
612,074
42
41
17
622,372
74
62
625,525
32
44
87
618,171
5
31
41
23
5.3
0.8
609,761
84
16
621,865
9
9
18
15
49
10
40
29
21
4.9
Resi-
dential

597,137.
34
32
34
961, 597
953, 216
785,564
102,170
65,482
8,381
927,756
98
2
4.1
953,216
6
34
27
15
18
50.9
938,503
52
36
12
927,757
65
54
961, 597
26
34
65
944, 654
6
36
40
18
5.1
0.8
941,104
77
23
1237288
841,670
20
15
45
604,879 913,294
23355
13
43
27
17
4.4
898,557
38
27
35
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 75
Table 3.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES, BY ECONOMIC
CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms
[Data are based upon a sample. For a
Water supply:
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting.
··
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure....
No piped running water inside structure..
Farm operators reporting...
Bathing facilities:
་
Flush toilet inside structure.
Other toilet facilities, including privy
None....
Farm operators reporting.
Electricity on farm:
With electricity2,
**Refrigeration:3
Installed bathtub or shower.
No installed bathtub or shower.
Farm operators reporting presence of:2
Electric water pump..
Electric water heater.
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer.
*Cooking. fuel:3
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical....
Ice.....
Other or none.
..
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
*Kitchen sink:
Farms.
Farm operators reporting..
Coal or wood...
Telephone:
Liquid fuel....
Utility or bottled gas.
Electricity.
Other, or none.
•
U
With telephone2..
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink..
··
………
...
··
With one or more milk cows.
Slaughtering:
Hogs....
Cattle, excluding calves.
Owner occupied.
Renter occupied..
Rent free...
HOME FOOD PRODUCTION PRACTICES ²
...
…………
Item
With chickens 4 months old and over on hand.
With garden....
Farms...
Farm operator occupied dwelling units..
•
TENURE OF DWELLING UNIT
Vacant farm operator dwelling units
RESIDENCE
•
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting.
Operator only.....
Husband and wife with-
262023 0.- 53 - 6
Farm operators reporting....
Operator residing on farm operated..
Operator not residing on farm operated...
··
M
No children under 18...
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME
Average size of operator's family.
..
1 or 2 children under 18.
3 or 4 children under 18..
All other units....
• •
...
···
....
**
•
•
Median age of operator....
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting...
·····
Did not complete elementary school....
Completed elementary school, but not high school.
Completed high school or more.
See footnotes at end of table.
•
··
.number..
..percent..
..percent..
....percent..
·
•
• •
• •
•
...percent..
..percent..
percent..
• ·
•
•
•
.number..
..percent..
..percent..
• • •
..percent..
• ·
•
•
percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
•
C
•
·
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
•
•
..number..
percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
•
•
..
....
··
•
•
.percent..
• •
.percent..
··
number.. 5, 324, 514
30
66
4
•
·
percent..
..percent..
曝
​•
...
...
•
•
..number.. 5,380,127.
..percent..
70
59
9
percent..
percent..
•
number.. 5,359,610
....number..
Total,
all
farms
percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
5,312,789
31
12
57
number.. 5,482,865
58
UNITED STATES-Continued
5,283,703
33
67
►
78
39
17
59
12
.....number.. | 2,673,942
percent..
..percent..
years..
66
12
22
5,462,065
49
8
24
18
1
38
..number.. 2,706,561
.percent..
.number.. 2,728,910 2,132,467
.number.. 2,706,561 2,117,961
...number.. 2,122,962
....number..
number..
1,596,114
380,059
141,788
14,506
number..
422,629
160,970
22,349
97
3
3.8
5
3253
15
.13
Total
47.9
..number.. 2,680,382
percent..
..percent..
..percent..
24
53
23
3,746,121 481,007
33
70
12
10
55
20
88889
79
81
73
72
NORTH AND WEST
3,754,686
65
4
23683
3,727,022
80
43
19
62
14
3,742,845
69
10.
21
3,800,190
46
8
25
19
2
3,815,665
61
43
3,793,005
74
64
12
2,096,463
96
4
3.8
4
37
32
15
12
Classes
I and II
47.6
2,100,186
23
54
23
481,162
65
34
ដ្ឋ ~
93
1483
478,369 741,206
70
47
30
53
74
44
35
501,310
96
2,2
488,165
21
5
40
33
1
497,485
88
70
485,822
75
57
26
74
61
2,117,961 392,962
3
388,785
96
4
4.1
30
38
18
11
Class
III
43.8
389,038
16
43
41
744,887
44
54
2
744,887 898,418 905,965 715,844
48
32
22
10
14
14
8
38
54
82
91
62
30
82
21
816,990
86
3
11
738,995
30
5
35
28
2
733,780
82
62
753,305
84
66
21
82
69
98
2
4.0
591,559
2
Class
IV
31
37
17
13
44.5
587,735
19
56
25
897,222
33
67
83
902,623 906,493
29
22
69
73
2
5
44
17
67
11
853,480
74
7
19
921,745
44
8
26
20
2
925,160
68
45
907,873
78
67
12
82
72-
Class
V
97
3
3.8
1265
13
37
32
16
12
48.0
898,593
24
76
74
30
10
54
8
586,807 555,977 382,306
95
5
858,120
59
15
26
931,480
55
12
20
12
1
936,805
50
31
394,606 594, 199 564,545 389,687 189,430
392,462 591,559 561,290 384,804 187,846
264,539 417,677 428,693 317,496 167,709
81,906 128,728 106,113 46,988 16,324
46,017 45,154 26,484
2,144 2,640 3,255
3,813
20,320
4,883
1,584
919,651
69
61
5
80
77
561,290 384,804
3
6
3.6
42
26
11
15
Class
VI
51.2
559,706 377,445
23
28
54
59
18
18
61
719,521 | 1,569,828
11
81
8
15
5
32
4.
712,945
37
20
43
711,632 | 1,556,681
14
86
719,805
75
6
10
7
2
15
726,354
66
64
1
84
78
182,588
95
5
2.9
187,846
15
Total
51
15
7
12
1,566,668
60.4
27
13
60
186,262
39
52
9
722,435 | 1,667,200
26
51
27
69
4
30
70
133
73
2239
12
53
1,616,765
59
16
25
1,661,875
55
7
20
17
1
. 28
1,587,122
59
49
3
75
74
596,443
588,600
526,848
42,570
19,182
7,843
577,479
97
3
3.8
588,600
7
33
31
16
13
48.9
580,196
26
51
23
Part-time
and
abnormal
617,654
30
13
57
618,708
30
66
4
615,552
32
68
1280
79
34
13
59
10
622,250
61
17
22
664,600
51
8
22
18
1
667,285
53
33
625,525
65
54
4
79
76
. 273,814
271,196
243,708
18,403
9,085
2,618
266,444
97
3
3.8
271,196
4
33
35
16
12
47.3
267,511
24
52
24
Resi-
dential
949,014
25
12
63
951,120
25
70
5
941,129
28
72
70
26
11
49
8
994,515
58
15
27
997,275
57
7
18
17
1
999,915
49
26
961,597
56
202 203
46
72
73
322,629
317,404
283,140
24, 167
10,097
5,225
311,035
97
3
3.8
317,404
8
34
28
16
14
50.6
312,685
28
50
22
-



76
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 3.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES, BY ECONOMIC
CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS:
STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms

Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm..
100 days or more.
Number of rooms:
Condition:
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCCME-Con.
Farms.
Other family members working off the farm.....
Any income other than from farm operated or wages..
Other income of family exceeding value of farm
products sold....
Farm operators reporting
1 or 2 rooms..
3 or 4 rooms
5 or 6 rooms.
7 or nore………
*Year built:
Rooms...
Persons per room.
Water supply:
•
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated..
Dilapidated..
•
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later...
1940 to 1944...
1930 to 1939...
1920 to 1929.
1919 or earlier.
1 to 4 miles...
5 to 9 miles...
10 miles or more.
Median distance.....
Toilet facilities:
•
...
•
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile...
Bathing facilities:
*Refrigeration: 3
··
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting.
Hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale.
Dirt or unimproved...
*Cooking fuel:3
*Kitchen sink:
· •
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
Telephone:
··
Electricity on farm:
With electricity2..
Farm operators reporting..
• ··
Farm operators reporting..
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure.
No piped running water inside structure...
Flush toilet inside structure..
• •
Other toilet facilities, including privy
None..
Farm operators reporting...
•
• ··
With telephone 2.
..
··
Installed bathtub or shower...
No installed bathtub or shower.
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical....
Ice......
Other or none.
...
…………
•
··
O
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Farm operators reporting presence of:2
Electric water pump.
Electric water heater..
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer..
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink...
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood....
Liquid fuel.…….
Utility or bottled gas..
Electricity.
Other or none
Item
•
...
•
...
See footnotes at end of table.
•
•
•
•
●
·
·
•
•
•
•
O
•
.average number..
....average number..
...percent..
.percent..
· Đ
··
•
•
• •
•
• ហ
•
•
•
•
•
•
·
•
•
• ·
•
·· •
•
•
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.number.. 2,682,385
.percent..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
•
►
•
D
•
•
•
·
··
··
•
.number..
.....percent..
..percent..
percent..
O
O
·
.percent..
•
•
.number.. '2,653,557
•
percent..
percent..
•
C
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
...miles..
• ·
•
0
.number.. 2,680,305
percent..
.percent..
•
•
number.. 2,728, 910
18
22
·
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
number.. 2,682,168
Total,
all
farms
....number.. 2,692,544
.percent..
..percent..
.number..
.percent..
percent..
..percent..
.percent..
...percent..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
NORTH AND WEST-Continued
40
23
percent..
24
.number..2,649,378
...number..
percent..
3
17
38
42
6.3
0.6
..percent..
number.. 2,603,344
93
7
5
3
9
13
70
.number.. 2,706,745
percent..
percent..
percent..
..number.. 2,749,520
percent..
.percent..
...percent..
7
38
34
21
5.7
36
42
22
2,701,487
45
13
42
42
57
1
45
55
85
54
24
77
18
79
5
16
2,857,235
38
6
29
26
1
2,863,335
77
Total
60
2,073,438
28
10
2.,132,467
15
18
9
2,094,613
2
15
37
46
6.5
0.6
2,100,131
94
6
2,109,340
4
2
7
13
74
2,083,547
5
37
35
23
6.0
2,047,523
33
45
22
2,112,348
46
12
4225
2, 116, 550
42
57
1
5555
2,104,450
45
87
58
27
78
19
2,162,635
81
4
15
2,193,680
35
6
31
27
1
2,197,085
78
Classes I
and II
63
386,294
22
4
394,606
10
17
3
383,636
1
8
33
58
7.0
0.6
389,594
97
3
350,400
6
3
10
10
71
382,118
5
38
35
22
6.0
375,112
42
42
2215
16
391,834
70
10
20
391,834
64
35
1
389,722
69
31
94
76
46
88
36
412,640
96
2
2
393,765
23
4
35
37
1
394,420
91
77
Class
III
581,032
25
6
594, 199
14
16
4
584,706
1
11
34
54
6.8
0.6
586,323
96
4
592,730
3
(4)
4
12
81
583,443
5
35
36
24
6.3
577,118
34
48
18
587,885
50
13
37
587,885
46
52
2
585,256
49
51
92
66
31
86
22
659,025
87
2
11
591,245
28
4
34
32
2
588,660
83
71
Class
IV
550,689
29
11
564,545
16
18
10
554,524
2
14
40
44
6.4
0.6
555,085
93
7
556,780
2
4
8
14
72
556,519
4
39
35.
22
6.0
545, 442
29
45
26
559,298
37
13
50
561,399
34
65
1
559,309
37
63
84
53
21
75
13
514,515
81
2
17
620,375
39
6
31
23
1
623,015
78
60
Class
V
373,902
43
26
389,687
20
24
28
384,418
2
22
39
37
6.0
0.6.
384, 968
91
9
427,765
4
2
9
13
72
378,351
6
39
33
22
5.7
367,274
31
45
24
387,047
35
14
51
387,575
34
64
2.
384,935
36
64
81
4423
46
15
72
13
352,385
69
9
22
417,080
43
8
28
19
2
419,775
70
55
Class
VI
181,521
23
189,430
9
15
187,329
5
33
37
25
5.3
0.5
184,161
84
16
181,665
12
1
9
16
62
183,116
7
40
31
22
5.7
182,577
33
35
32
186,284
24
12
64
152535
24
75
1
185,228
26
74
73
30
11
55
5
224,070
59
13
28
171,215
64
8
14
14
•
171,215
51
Total
38
580,119 271,713 308,406
79
OF 228 2
71
596,443
29
35
187,857 590,195
78
587,555
6
23
41
30
5.7
0.7
580,174
90
10
573,045
7
5
16
12
60
565,831
13
41
30
16
4.6
555,821
46
42223
589,139
42
17
41
52535
(4)
42
57
1
588,094
44
56
81
2221
42
17
72
14
586,885
69
10
21
663,555
44
7
24
25
666,250
74
Part-time
and
abnormal
48
86
74
273,814
32
40
87
270,668
5
19
44
32
5.9
0.6
266,466
92
8
265,265
8
7
16
7
62
265,421
.11
42
28
19
4.7
260,680
42
34
24
1225
270,151
42
18
40
270,679
43
56
1
270,679
44
56
85
46
17
77
14
258,535
68
13
19
300,885
42
7
27
24
300,940
74
Resi-
dential

52
73
20 225 2
68
322,629
316,887
6
26
39
29
5.6
0.7
313,708
88
12
307,780
6
4
16
16
58
300,410
14
41
32
13
4.5
295,141
49
30
21
318,988
41
16
43
325585
319,516
42
56
2
317,415
43
57
78
39
17
68
13
328,350
71
7
22
362,670
43
7
22
27
1
365,310
74
46
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 77
Table 3.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES, BY ECONOMIC
CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3.
Commercial farms
Other farms

Farms...
With one or more milk cows
Slaughtering:
Hogs..
Cattle, excluding calves.
Farms.
With chickens 4 months old and over on hand.
With garden...
•
Farm-operator occupied dwelling units
Owner occupied.
Renter occupied.
Rent free...
HOME FOOD PRODUCTION PRACTICES 2
Vacant farm-operator dwelling units¹
#
Farm operators reporting.
Operator residing on farm operated..
Operator not residing on farm operated.
Operator only......
Husband and wife with-
Number of rooms:
Average size of operator's family..
Composition of operator'a family:
Farm operators reporting....
No children under 18..
.
1 or 2 children under 18..
3 or 4 children under 18.
All other units....
Condition:
• •
1 or 2 rooms..
3 or 4 rooms;.
5 or 6 rooms
7 or more.
• •
Median age of operator.....
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting.....
Year built:
•
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting.
•••
Work off farm....
100 days or more
Rooms...
Persons per room.
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME
Farm operators reporting.
•
TENURE OF DWELLING UNIT
•
Did not complete elementary school..
Completed elementary school, but not high school.
Completed high school or more...
•
•
•
.....
•
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm.
Any income other than from farm operated or wages.
Other income of family exceeding value of farm
products sold…….
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated.
Dilapidated..
•
• •
U
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later.
1940 to 1944.
1930 to 1939..
1920 to 1929...
1919 or earlier..
•
Item
D
•
1 to 4 miles..
5 to 9 miles...
10 miles or more..
Median distance...
• • •
•
•
• •
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile..
RESIDENCE
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
•
D
...
• •
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting.
Hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale..
Dirt or unimproved.
See footnotes at end of table.
· •
•
·· •
•
►
··
• •
··
•
•
•
··
}
•
•
.number.. |2,728,917
..percent..
•
•
•
..number..
...percent..
percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
.percent..
•
..
•
• •
•
[ •
•
• •
•
..
• •
.number..
2,651,217
number.. 2,634,629
.number.. 1,700,283
...number..
..number..
..number..
...percent..
percent..
percent..
···
• •
•
•
•
...percent..
percent..
..number..
.....percent..
•
•
•
•
•
•
• ·
•
..average number..
average number..
percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
...percent..
.percent..
•
..number.. 2,634,629
percent..
•
..percent..
..percent..
•
..years..
•
•
· •
percent..
Total,
ali
farms
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
•
•
NORTH AND WEST-Continued
73
37 18
53
17
..number.. 2,651,217
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
..miles..
75
.number.. 2,601,552
68
.number..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
481,450
452,896
16,588
.number.. 2,599,204
4.3
.number.. 2,603,473
percent..
.percent..
3
32
30
16
19
47.3
2,580,329|| 1,618,735
97
3
61
29
10
..number..2,598,523
40
23
19
27
33
5
41
39
15
4.9
0.9
number.. 2, 289, 035
14
9
75
25
.number.. 2,581, 132
8
40
30
22
5.4
20
17
40
Total
2,528,283
28
28
44
2,132,467 394,606
79
75
SOUTH
58
20
77
67
1,660,538
1,651,098
943, 026
355,271
352,801
9,440
97
3
4.3
1,651,098
3
31
31
16
19
46.3
1,631,171
61
29
10
1,629,194
26
7
382220
1,660,538
14
10
1,628,203
4
41
39
16
5.0
0.9
1,627,832
76
24
1,398,545
13
8
20
16
43
1.628,790
Classes I Class
and II
III
7
37
32
24
5.9
1,588,410
26
28
46
59
31
74
62
89,854
94
6
3.9
91,216 159,106
88,924 157,373
61,036 102,636
18,382 28,930
9,506
25,807
2,292
1,733
88,924
1
34
44
15
6
43.3
88,088
23
38
39
89,328
21
8
91,216
11
28
10
88,586
2
23
202
5.8
0.7
89,018
96
4
68,985
15
9
34
20
22
87,440
6
32
26
36
7.3
594,199
86
84,871
36
20
44
66
26
81
70
2898986
154,062
4
4.3
157,373
2
29
38
17
14
46.0
155,795
39
39
22
156,476
24
8
159,106
11
19
10
154, 372
1
26
49
24
5.7
0.8
156,476
91
9
144, 040
18
13
15
17
37
157,744
6
31
35
28
6.9
152,855
31
25
44
Class
IV
564,545
84
62
17
79
67
337,016
97
3
4.7
342, 121
2
29
32
19
18
44.4
339,336
55
34
11
340,172
28
9
343,328
16
22
13
339,120
2
32
47
19
5.3
0.9
338,068
81
19
990,679
529,964
343,328
536,924
342,121 527,860 534,820 983,531
190,323 282,650 306,381 757,257
70,794 120,393 116,772 126,179
81, 004 124,817 111,667 100,095
1,207
2,104
2,104
7,148
319,780
11
11
21
14
43
340, 172
5
38
32
25
6.0
Class
V
330,178
29
24
47
389,687
73
47
10
838
75
68
516,288
97
3
4.5
527,860
2
2222
30
32
17
19
45.2
519,970
65
27
8
529,964
17
22
16
517,617
5
44
36
15
4.9
0.9
515,236
74
26
446,795
10
8
18
18
46
ܕ
Class
VI
519,660
7
36
35
22
6.0
189,430
66
506, 881
26
28
46
44
5
516,288 | 526,930
22
30
12
75
65
521,515
98
2
4.1
534,820
5
36
26
12
21
50.3
527,982
74
23
3
536,924
12
14
528,508
7
49
34
10
J
4.5
0.9
529,034
66
34
418,945
16
5
21
15
43
523,774
9
39
31
21
5.4
22273
Total
513,625
596,443
53
35
7
66
70
961,594
97
3
4.2
983,531
4
32
28
17
19
49.0
970,381
62
29
9
970,010
62
50
990,679
28
40
73
975,270
5
42
39
14
4.9
0.9
970,691
74
26
890,490
14
10
21
17
38
952, 342
11
42
27
20
4.7
939,873
31
27
42
Part-time
and
abnormal
273,814
59
41
9
221 222
71
75
351, 711
347,719
254,833
48,176
44,710
3,992
344,873
95
5
4.2
347,719
2
33
30
19
16
45.7
344,563
57
32
11
360,659
63
51
351,711
32
46
85
347,503
4
41
39
16
4.9
0.9
343,295
78
22
356,600
10
10
20
21
39
339,458
9
40
29
22
5.2
336,457
29
30
41
Resi-
dential
322,629
47
29
5
6888
62
66
638,968
635,812
502,424
78,003
55,385
3,156
616,721
98
2
4.2
635,812
5
32
27
15
21
51.0
625,818
64
28
8
619,351
61
48
638,968
25
37
65
627,767
6
41
40
13
4.8
0.9
627,396
72
28
533,890
17
9
22
14
38
612,884
12
44
25
19
4.4
603,416
32
26
42
78
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 3.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES, BY ECONOMIC
CLASS OF FARM, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms
[Data are based upon a sample.

Water supply:
Farm operators reporting..
Toilet facilities:
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure.
No piped running water inside structure.
Bathing facilities:
Electricity on farm:
With electricity2,
Farm operators reporting.
Flush toilet inside structure…….
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None....
Farm operators reporting.
Installed bathtub or shower..
No installed bathtub or shower..
*Refrigeration: 3
*Cooking fuel: 3
Farm operators reporting presence of:2
Electric water pump.....
Electric water heater.
Electric washing machine..
Home freezer...
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical...
Ice.......
Other or none.
*Kitchen sink:
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Telephone:
With telephone 2
....
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood...
Liquid fuel.…….
Utility or bottled gas.
Electricity..
Other or none.
Farms...
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink..
•
··
....
•
··
··
Item
·
...
With one or more milk cows.
Slaughtering:
Hogs..
Cattle, excluding calves..
•• • ·
...
•
·
··
With chickens 4 months old and over on hand.
With garden....
•
HOME FOOD PRODUCTION PRACTICES 2
•
..
• ·
.. •
·
•
....percent..
..percent..
.percent..
•
•
•
•
··
•
O
• C
•
•
•
•
·
··
•
•
•
....percent..
..percent..
...
•
..number..
..percent..
percent..
number.. | 2,617,769
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
U
•
•
.number.. 2,611,302
...percent..
...percent..
•
•
percent..
•
•
Total,
all
farms
.percent..
percent..
..percent..
...number.. 2,610,090
.percent..
SOUTH-Continued
18
11
71
18
76
6
percent..
.percent..
2,591,159
21
79
170
.number.. 2,604,830
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
2222223
10
42
88888
..number.. 2,619,530
percent..
53
...number.. 2,651,217
..percent..
67
66
1
61
9
18
10
2
37
16
8888
84
Total
78
1,633,773
18
12
70
1,638,136
18
76
6
1,622,572
21
79
71
24
10
41
8
1,580, 210
53
17
30
1,606, 510
62
10
18
8
8 2
2
1,618,580
37
16
1,660,538
69
71
2
Classes I
and II
86
79
89,173
69
14
17
89,328
69
32832
(4)
12233
72
28
88,647 155,950
91
67
32
63
32
88,670
97
3
94,400
14
8
68
10
103, 065
76
43
91, 216
78
51
6
Class
III
76
55
157,002
39
21
40
157,002
38
60
2
41
59
90
47
23
66
16
157,965
83
5
12
147,750
40
7
39
12
2
145,120
75
29
159,106
79
68
3
85
69
Class
IV ·
339,120
22
16
62
341,224
20
76
4
337,913
25
75
82
30
11
52
8
338,965
61
16
23
301,370
55
11
17
14
3
302,145
47
20
343,328
68
53
75
88888
80
Class
V
518,918
12
12
76
518,918
13
80
7
513,658
15
85
69
18
7
41
5
505, 735
53
19
28
514,400
63
16
14
6
1
517,030
34
13
529,964
67
71
1
85
83
Class
VI
529,560
6
7
87
531,664
6
84
10
526,404
9
91
57
10
3
24
3
548,590
80
5
(4)
852
2
7
536,924
66
72
Total
488,875 1,029,880
28
24
48
87
83
977,529 347,503
18
20
10
9
72
71
979,633
18
76
6
968,587
21
79
68
21
551,220 1,000,950
19
36
9
42
6
(4)
38890
998,320
62
8
17
12
1
17
990, 679
63
58
81
76
Part-time
and
Resi-
abnormal dential
Information on family characteristics not obtained for operators of these farms, but information on the farm and the vacant dwelling on the farm is included.
2Base of percent is total number of farms; no distinction is made between no report on item and operator not having item.
Occupied dwelling units.
*Percent not shown where less than 0.5.
348,029
20
74
6
344,873
23
77
74
24
10
46
7
363,715
57
20
23
363,715
59
8
19
13
1
(4)
366,345
37
18
351,711
69
65
2883
86
77
27727205
630, 026
631,604
17
76
7
623,714
20
80
65
20
9
39
5
666,165
51
19
30.
634,605
64
7
16
12
1
634,605
35-
15
638,968
60
54
1
2222
78
76
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES
79
Table 4.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, BY FAMILY INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Under
$1,000
$1,000-
$1,999
$2,000-
$2,999
$3,000-
$3,999
$4,000-
$4,999

Farms...
White..
Nonwhite..
•
Full owners, part owners, and managers.
Tenants except croppers in South..
Croppers in South.....
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family.
Average size of operator's household.
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting..
Husband and wife with-
No children under 18..
1 or 2 children under 18..
3 or 4 children under 18.
All other units 3.
·.·
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm.....
100 days or more.
Commercial farms...
Median age of operator..
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting..
.Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting.
Average income.
Cash-grain...
Cotton....
Did not complete elementary school...
Completed elementary school, but not high school..
Completed high school or more..
Other field-crop.
•
Dairy.
Poultry.......
··
Rooms:
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut.
-
Condition:
Farms.
Other family members working off the farm...
•
Any income other than from farm operated or wages..
Other income of family exceeding value of farm products sold..
Other livestock..
General farms...
Miscellaneous and unclassified.
··
Rooms..
Persons per room.
*Year built:
Farm operators reporting.
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME²
• ··
•
•
•
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated.
Dilapidated....
1 to 4 miles....
5 to 9 miles...
10 miles or more.
Median distance....
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later..
1940 to 1944....
1930 to 1939...
1920 to 1929.
1919 or earlier.
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile...
COLOR AND TENURE
··
•
•
··
•
·
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
•
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
Item
··
Hard surface..
Gravel, shell, or shale.
Dirt or unimproved...
See footnotes at end of table.
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
··
•
TYPE OF FARM
• •
•
• ·
•
→
•
• · •
...number..
percent..
..percent..
•
• ·
•
•
·
•
..percent..
.percent..
.percent..
...percent..
·
·
• •
•
•
..number..
.percent..
...percent..
..percent..
O ··
•
number..
...percent..
...percent..
..number..
.number..
....percent..
.percent..
•
... percent..
•
• •
•
..number..
.dollars..
..number..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
• •
•
.percent..
percent..
...percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
•
·
.percent..
percent..
percent..
number..
average number..
...average number..
>
··
UNITED STATES
•
• •
number..
number..
•
.number..
..percent..
percent..
·
.years..
..number..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
··
•
•
•
•
...
..percent..
.percent..
..miles..
.number..
.percent..
.percent..
....number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
+
1,366,220
74
26
63
21
16
3.9
3.9
1,366,220
38
23
13
26
51.9
1,351,707
65
29
6
1,366,220
464
1,334,657
34
10
1,366,220
13
23
23
926,931
2
6
35
16
11
4
15
10
1
1,347,294
4.9
0.8
1,335,749
72
28
1,178,815
9
5
18
16
52
1,336,113
8
41
31
20
5.1
1,310,547
24
31
451
1,206,055
91
9
70
23
7
4.0
4.0
1,206,055
34
33
15
18
46.0
1,194,475
44
44
12
1,206,055
1,392
1,181,028
38
21
350555
1,206,055
16
27
852,139
3
11
17
13
16
4
22323
13
1
1,185,520
5.1
0.8
1,183,833
82
18
1,096,085
9
6
16
13
56
1,170,645
7
38
33
22
5.8
1,153,376
27
38
35
863,310
96
4
2222
76
4.1
4.2
863,310
30
40
16
14
44.3
855,416
31
48
21
863,310
2,356
843,413
46
33
863,310
20
27
35
593,770
4
14
9
8
19
4
21
20
1
846,787
5.4
0.8
846, 068
90
10
797,610
9
4
13
15
59
842,119
8
36
33
23
5.9
827,767
33
38
29
573,187
99
1
~8080
18
4.3
4.4
573,187
28
36
22
14
45.0
571,099
27
49
24
བྱསགས
573,187
3,360
560,178
51
36
573,187
24
25
35
397,849
4
15
7
7
18
6
786
27
751||
27
15
1
565,437
6.3
0.7
567,407
92
8
591,245
5
6
14
13
62
560,788
7
40
31
22
5.5
548,825
40
37
23
329,617
100
(1)
78
21
1
4.1
4.2
329,617
32
36
20
12
45.5
327,363
23
50
27
329,617
4,360
324,428
49
36
329,617
27
222
23
32
238,499
3
17
8
426 222
22
27
11
325,662
6.3
0.7
326,462
96
4
336,315
10
5
12
11
62
321,210
8
39
33
20
5.5
311, 057
44
34
22
$5,000-
$9,999
412,072
99
1
85
3-
14
1
4.4
4.5
412,072
34
32
17
17
47.1
411,027
23
47
30
412, 072
6,472
400,046
45
31
412,072
29
23
29
319,467.
4
19
7
4
17
5
29
14
1
400,034
6.5
0.7
404,278
95
5
394,975
9
3
9
11
68
398,291
6
39
32
23
5.8
390,466
40
40
20
80
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 4.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, BY FAMILY INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
$1,000-
$1,999

Water supply:
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting.
...
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure..
Cold piped running water inside structure…..
No piped running water inside structure........
Farm operators reporting....
Bathing facilities:
Flush toilet inside structure..
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None...
Electricity on farm:
With electricity
Farm operators reporting..
Installed bathtub or shower..
No installed bathtub or shower.
Neither....
All other 5.
*Refrigeration:6
Farm operators reporting presence of:
Electric water pump....
Electric water heater..
Electric washing machine..
Home freezer..
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical..
Ice.....
Other or none.
*Cooking fuel:6
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood…….
*Kitchen sink:
Liquid fuel...
Utility or bottled gas.
Electricity..
Other or none.
Telephone:
With telephone
Farm operators reporting...
With kitchen sink……….
Farms..
White...
Nonwhite..
•
•
...
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water inside structure...percent..
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running water
inside structure...
Full owners, part owners,
Tenants..
..
·· •
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
...
•
Ską
•
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm...
100 days or more
...
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting...
Husband and wife with-
No children under 18....
1 or 2 children under 18...
3 or 4 children under 18.
All other units³
•
•
•
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family.
Average size of operator's household...
and managers
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME 2
•
COLOR AND TENURE
··
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting....
Average income.
Item
•
•
•
Median age of operator..
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting...
Did not complete elementary school.
Completed elementary school, but not high school...
Completed high school or more..
•
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm...
Any income other than from farm operated or wages.....
Other income of family exceeding value of farm products sold..
See footnotes at end of table.
··
UNITED STATES-Continued
..number..
.percent..
..percent..
...percent..
• •
•
.number..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
• [
•
•
•
•
D
•
..percent..
·· •
• •
• •
.number..
.percent..
.percent..
•
number..
.percent..
...percent..
..percent..
··
■ ··
.percent..
percent..
percent..
.number..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
··
..number..
.percent..
•
...number..
percent..
percent..
•
..
.percent..
..percent..
...number..
..number..
·
• ··
..number..
·
percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
• ··
..
...
number..
percent..
percent..
..percent..
··
• •
··
•
number..
.dollars..
■years….
•
....number..
....percent..
percent..
NORTH AND WEST
..number..
percent..
.percent..
percent..
Under
$1,000
1,347,312
12
10
78
1,351, 524
13
80
7
1,341, 533
15
85
62
19
42
35
4
18
6
35
4
1,387,225
41
20
39
1,371,295
73
7
13
5
2
1,371,305
34
18
389,898
99
1
83
17
3.2
3.2
389,898
45
20
9
26
56.8
386,741
36
52
12
389,898
514
374,641
28
7
389,898
12
222
1,190,286
22
2260
12
66
22222
1,193,974
75
4
1,182,927
24
76
77
31
45
20
A
33
12
59
9
1,265,730
64
12
24
1,244,205
53
10
22
14.
1
1,231,035
50
32
554,458
100
(¹)
223
77
3.5
3.6
554,458
38
34
11
17
47.1
552,346
24
58
18
554,458
1,418
542,055
36
18
33223
554,458
$2,000-
$2,999
853,574
33
16
51
855,149
32
66
2
849,879
35
65
85
45
39
11
5
45
18
72
12
893,650
75
10
15
831,225
42
9
26
22.
1
839,125
67
45
523,974
99
1
76
24
3.9
4.0
523,974
31
41
15
13
44.3
522,918
20
54
26
523,974
2,359
512,121
44
29
523,974
17
23
27
$3,000-
$3,999
567,405
47
16
37
568,461
44
54
2
564,631
47
53
90
59
30
6
ел од
5
888888
58
26
79
18
499,625
86
4.
10
L~~721
629,450
30
10
32
27
624,280
73
55
392,609
100
(1)
22232
79
21
4.2
4.3
392,609
28
36
23
13
44.8
391,047
21
52
27
392,609
3,370
383,808
49
33
392,609
21
222
29
$4,000-
$4,999
329,617
56
13
31
329,089
51
48
1
328,033
55
45
91
64
26
5
5
58
30
79
22
300,310
94
1
5
363,465
27
4
36
32.
1
363,475
90
59
237,224
100
79
21
4.1
4.2
237,224
3322
12
45.6
235,651
20
53
27
237,224
4,357
233,397
46
34
237,224
25
20
28
$5,000-
$9,999
407,970
65
13
22
407,970
60
39
405, 188
63
37
92
73
18
4
5
633000
(¹)
67
37
81
28
444,200
90
3
7
444,950
21
7
34
37
1
444,940
87
66

298,136
100
84
16
4.3
4.5
298,136
34
31
19
16
46.9
297,091
19
50
31
298,136
6,523
289,421
45
29
298,136
28
21
25
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 81
Table 4.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, BY FAMILY INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample ]
$1,000-
$1,999
$5,000-
$9,999

Commercial farms.
Vegetable and fruit-and-aut.
Cash-grain..
Cotton....
Other field-crop..
Dairy....
Poultry.....
Other livestock..
General farms..
...
Miscellaneous and unclassified.
Rooms:
Farm operators reporting….
Condition:
Rooms..
Persons per room.
+
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated...
Dilapidated...
*Year built:
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later..
1940 to 1944.
1930 to 1939……….
1920 to 1929...
1919 or earlier.
•
Water supply:
Distance to. trading.center:
·
Farm operators reporting..
Under 1 mile...
1 to 4 miles....
5 to 9 miles..
10 miles or more..
Median distance.
Toilet facilities:
...
··
Kind of road.on which located:
Farm operators reporting.
Bathing facilities:
Hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale...
Dirt or unimproved..
•
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
Farm operators reporting..
………….
Farm operators reporting.
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure..
No piped running water inside structure..
Electricity. on farm: ·
With electricity.
•
*Refrigeration: 6
Farm operators reporting..
inside structure.
Neither..
All other 5
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
Flush toilet inside structure....
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None.....
*Cooking fuet:6
••
Installed bathtub or shower...
···
*Kitchen sink:
No installed bathtub or shower..
Telephone:
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical...
Ice......
Other or none
...
Farm operators reporting presence. of 14
Electric water pump….
Electric water heater.......
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer.
•
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood....
Liquid fuel....
'Utility or bottled gas..
Electricity.
Other or none.
Item
TYPE OF FARM
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink…..
··
···
With telephone*.
See footnotes at end of table.
•
..
•
··
Under
$1,000
NORTH AND WEST-Continued
..number..
percent..
...percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
pencent..
percent..
··
•
•
...percent..
..percent..
•
number..
average number..
average number..
....number..
percent..
percent..
•
•
··
··
•
··
•
..number..
..percent..
..percent..
•
....percent..
..percent..
..percent..
···
...
•
number..
....percent..
.percent..
...percent..
•
.number..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
.miles..
•
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water inside structure...percent..
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running water
•
•
...
··
..number..
percent..
..percent..
.percent..
•
•
··
•
•
•
number..
.percent..
percent..
.percent...
··
...
.number..
.percent..
.percent..
•
•
• ..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
• ··
...percent.
•
percent..
··
percent..
..percent..
•
.number..
..percent..
..percent...
percent..
··
percent..
.number..
..percent..
..percent..
▼
•
• •
percent..
percent..
.percent..
··
…..number..
..percent..
..percent..
294,242
4
14
1
1
30
7
28
14
1
386,752
5.7
0.6.
379,415
86
14
356,705
7
3
6
16
68
.381,883
7
40
32
21
5.4
379,771
30
39
31
385,718
26
14.
60
386,744
25
74
1
384,673
29
71
72
36
35
24.
5
35
12
60
8
405,765
57
12
.31
386,125
62
8
19
10
1
.388,765
64
45
447, 175
4
18
1
1
26
5
29
15
1
546,021
6.0
0.6
546,593
91
9
477,565
2
3
12
7
76
536,190
6
35
38
21
6.1
526,285
29
45
26
548,683
33
13
54
188856
5,50,267
30
69
1
10350
547,110
33
84
43
41
12
4
48
18
74
13.
595,690
74
7
19
618,100
42
7
29
21
1
612,820
69
54
$2,000-
$2,999
401,714
4
19
1
1
24
4
26
20
1
515,125
6.3
0.6
513,199
95
5
523,315
4
2
11
14
69
511,880
7
37
34
22
5.9
505,944
34
44
22
518,446
41
16
43
520,547
38
60
2
517,907
42
58
88
c700c 3
52
35
8
5
5225
82
16
558,090
81
5
14
504,635
38
7
27
26
2
507,275
79
61
$3,000-
$3,999
294,532
5
17
1
2
21
6
31
16
1
386,437
6.6
0.6
388,407
94
6
437,460
4
4
13
12
67
386,306
6
42
31
21
5.4
377,344
41
43
16
387,879
52
15
33
388,935
48
51
1
95580
387,890
91
8 255
63
27
64
29
84
20
337,645
87
2
11
454, 320
27
7
35
30
1
449, 150
79
66
$4,000-
$4,999
182,555
3
19
(¹)
135222
233,269
6.7
0.6
234,595
97
.3
257,415
6
4
7
13
70
229,869
8
38
34
20
5.6
224,450
43
39
18
237,224
58
12
30
236,696
53
46
1
9533
235,640
57
43
91
65
26
4
5
62
30
84
24
226,200
93
1
6
267,235
26
3
37
33
1
269,875
95
69
242,971
4
21
1
2
18
5
32
16
1
290,616
6.8
0.6
293,653
96
4
306,635
6
1
8
9
76
288,286
5
41
34
20
5.5
282,875
40
46
14
296,293
67
12
21
296,293
61
38
1
294,192
64
36
92
76
16
4
4
24820
72
41
86
29
324,135
89
2
9
325,355
21
5
29
43.
2
322,715.
89
74
82
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 4.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, BY FAMILY INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample..]

Farms.
White...
Nonwhite..
Full owners, part owners,
Tenants except croppers..
Croppers.
•
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting..
Husband and wife with-
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family.
Average size of operator's household...
··
No children under 18...
1 or 2 children under 18.
3 or 4 children under 18.
All other units 3.
• ··
Farm operators reporting..
Work off farm..
100 days or more.
Commercial farms.
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting.
Average income.
Rooms:
....
Median age of operator..
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting..
Did not complete elementary school.
Completed elementary school, but not high school.
Completed high school or more..
•
Condition:
Vegetable, and fruit-and-nut.
Cash-grain.
Cotton...
Other field-crop.
Dairy..
Poultry.
Other livestock..
General farms....
Miscellaneous and unclassified.
……….
•
*Year built:
• ·
•
Rooms..
Persons per room.
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm...
Any income other than from farm operated or wages....
Other income of family exceeding value of farm products sold.
Farm operators reporting.
·· ·
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME²
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated….
Dilapidated...
· •
• •
•
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later.
1940 to 1944.
1930 to 1939..
1920 to 1929.
1919 or earlier..
1 to 4 miles……
5 to 9 miles..
10 miles or more
Median distance...
• •
and
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile..
•
·
•
·
· · •
❤ •
•
managers.
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting.
....
...
•
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
COLOR AND TENURE
Hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale..
Dirt or unimproved..
See footnotes at end of table.
Item
·
•
*
• ·
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
• •
TYPE OF FARM
•
•
·
•
•
•
•
•
·
•
•
•
•
·
· •
• • ·
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
number..
.percent..
..percent..
4
•
•
• •
•
•
percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
•
•
•
• •
· •
• ■
.number..
..percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
number..
..dollars..
•
•
·
number..
..percent..
.percent..
·
·
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
..number..
.average number..
.average number.
•
•
•
SOUTH
number..
percent..
.percent..
percent..
•
•
• ·
number..
number..
..number..
percent..
percent..
number.
percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
..years..
•
number..
.percent..
.percent..
• •
..percent..
..percent..
number..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
.miles..
number..
percent..
percent..
percent..
.number..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
Under
$1,000
976,322
65
35
5225
23
4.2
4.2
976,322
3242
33
25
15
27
49.8
964,966
76
20
4
976,322
444
960, 016
36
12
976., 322
14
22
24
632,689
1
2
50
23
2
3
9
9
1
960,542
4.5
0.9
956,334
66
34
822, 110
10
6
23
16
45
954, 230
9
41
31
19
5.0
930,776
22
28
50
$1,000-
$1,999
651,597
83
17
64
24
12
4.4
4.4
651,597
32
32
18
18
45.0
642,129
61
32
7
651,597
1,371
638,973
40
24
651,597
19
31
37
404,964
2
3
33
27
6.
4
13
11
1
639,499
4.9
0.9
637,240
75
25
618, 520
15
9
20
18
38
634, 445
8
40
29
23
5.5
627,091
26
31
43
$2,000-
$2,999
339,336
93
7
(1)
76
18
6
4.4
4.5
339,336
29
39
16
16
44.3
332,498
49
37
14
339,336
2,351
331,291
49
39
339,336
24
35
48
182,959
3
5
29
23
8
3
14
15
331,662
5.3
0.8
332,869
83
17
274,295
19
10
18
18
35
330,239
10
35
31
24
5.9
321,823
33
27
40
$3,000-
$3,999
180,578
97
3
85
10
5
4.5
4.5
180,578
27
37
3220
16
45.4
7220883
180,052
40
180,578
3,340
176,370
54
44
2229
180,578
103,317
2
6
22
23
04823
10
18
12
179,000
5.6
0.8
179,000
88
12
153,785
9
14
16
16
45
174,482
8
37
32
23
5.8
171,481
37
23
40
$4,000-
$9,999
206,329
97
3
82
14
4
4.3
4.4
206,329
2835
15
15
46.6
938955
205,648
34
27
206, 329
5,470
201,656
50
40
206,329
32
30
42
132,440
2
222654-2
12
29
12
16
14
8
201,811
5.7
0.8
202,492
93
7
167,240
22
9
22
11
36
201,346
8
36
30
26
6.0
194,198
43
22
35
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 83
Table 4.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, BY FAMILY INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3.
Under
$1,000
Water supply:
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting.
...
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure.
No piped running water inside structure...
Farm operators reporting...
Bathing facilities:
Flush toilet inside structure...
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None....
Farm operators reporting..
Installed bathtub or shower.
Electricity on farm:
With electricity'
No installed bathtub or shower..
inside structure.
Neither..
•
All other 5
U
*Refrigeration: 6
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical……..
Ice.....
Other or none.
Farm operators reporting presence of:*
Electric water pump.....
Electric water heater..
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer..
Electricity...
Other or none.
*Kitchen sink:
·
Cooking fuel:6
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood...
Liquid fuel..
..
Utility or bottled gas..
Telephone:
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
.....
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink.
With telephone.
·
•
• •
··
Item
·
•
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water inside structure...percent..
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running water
•
·
·
•
•
•
.number..
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
•
number..
..percent..
percent..
..percent..
..number..
...percent..
.percent..
O
1 •
• ·
• •
..percent..
•
•
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
•
D
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
..number..
....percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
SOUTH-Continued
•
•
•
number..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
•
··
•
...number..
....percent..
.percent..
961,594
6
8
86
964,750
7
83
10
956,860
10
90
57
13
44
40
3
11
3
24
3
981,460
33
24
43
985,170
78
6
11
3
2
982,540
22
Z
Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
$1,000-
$1,999
$2,000-
$2,999
$3,000-
$3,999

641,603
14
11
75
643,707
13
81
6
635,817
17
83
71
23
48
26
4
21
*Base of percent is total number of farms; no distinction is made between no report on item and operator not having item.
No report on presence of piped running water, or dwelling with piped running water but no electricity reported on farm.
"Occupied dwelling units.
~
7
46
6
670, 040
55
16
29
626,105
64
12
14
8
2
618,215
32
14
335,128
22
17
61
334,602
23
74
3
331,972
25
75
81
35
45
16
4
31
11
57
7
335,560
66
17
17
326,590
50
11
24
15
331,850
49
21
179,526
37
18
45
179,526
37
61
2
176,741
40
60
89
52
36
8
3
43
21
68
14
161,980
86
8
6
175,130
39
17
24
18
2
175,130
59
30
$4,000-
$9,999
204,070
54
15
31
204,070
52
47
1
203,389
55
45
90
65
24
6
5
2252
31
67
21
194,175
92
4
4
215,825
24
9
40
26
1
215,825
78
39
Percent. not shown when less than 0.5.
Information on family characteristics not obtained for a few farms with vacant operator dwellings, primarily operators with dwellings not in same enumeration district as rest of
farms, but information on the farm and the vacant dwelling on the farm is included.
3 Includes single-person units.
84
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 5.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms

Farms..
White.....
Nonwhite..
Full owners, part owners, and managers..
Tenants except croppers in South.
Croppers in South..
-
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting.
Husband and wife with-
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family..
Average size of operator's household.
No children under 18...
• •
1 or 2 children under 18.
•
3 or 4 children under 18.
All other units.
.Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting……………
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm...
100 days or more.
Commercial farms..
Median age of operator
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting….
....
Did not complete elementary school....
Rooms:
Dairy.....
Poultry...
Completed elementary school, but not high school...
Completed high school or more..
Families with income under $10,000...
Average income of such families.
Cash grain.
Cotton...
Other field crop..
Vegetable, fruit, and nut..
Other livestock..
General farms.
....
.....
Condition:
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME 2
*Year built:
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm..
Any income other than from farm operated or wages..
Other income of family exceeding value of farm products sold.
··
Miscellaneous and unclassified.
Rooms..
Persons per room..
....
►
Farm operators reporting.
•
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated..
Dilapidated..
...
....
• • •
►
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later...
1940 to 1944.
1930 to 1939.
1920 to 1929..
1919 or earlier.
1 to 4 miles………
5 to 9 miles..
...
10 miles or more.
Median distance..
COLOR AND TENURE
...
•
··
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting..
Under 1 mile...
··
..
··
Item
···
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
Hard surface..
Gravel, shell, or shale...
Dirt or unimproved.....
See footnotes at end of table.
•
·
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
TYPE OF FARM
..
..
··
•
•
•
·
•
.number..
...percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
··
··
•
··
•
•
•
•
•
•
·
•
•
•
•
[ ·
•
S
•
··
•
•
.number..
..percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
•
number..
..percent..
dollars..
•
· •
•
.number..
..percent..
...percent..
..percent..
•
U
·
•
·
•
•
·· ··
...
number..
..percent..
.percent..
•
..percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
.number..
average number..
...average number..
··
..
...
number..
.number..
•
··
··
UNITED STATES
.number..
..years..
•
number..
percent..
percent..
number..
.percent..
.percent..
.number..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
...percent..
percent..
•
•
.number..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
....percent..
miles..
percent..
percent..
•
•
number..
.percent..
..percent..
percent..
Under
$1,000
926,931
73
27
57
23
20
3.9
4.0
926,931
37
25
13
25
50.2
918,738
63
31
6
926,931
100
463
906,934
26
2
926, 931
11
14
4
926,931
2
6
35
16
11
4'
15
10
1
913,258
5.0
0.8
989985
909, 586
74
26
157,924
9
4
15
18
54
909,443
7
40
32
21
5.5
892, 827
24
33
43
$1,000-
$2,999
1,436,812
94
6
69
26
5
4.0
4.0
1,436,812
33
37
14
16
45.0
1,422,074
35
47
18
1,436,812
100
1,771
1,402,050
27
8
1,436,812
13
21
10
1,436,812
3
-~~BEE~~
1,407,794
5.8
0.7
1,408,381
87
13
259,827
8.
5
13
12
62
1,408,712
5
35
37
23
6.3
1,383,435
28
40
32
$3,000 and
over
1,044,273
99
1
77
21
2
4.2
4.3
1,044,273
33
34
19
14
46.2
1,042,039
24
49
27
1,044,273
92
4,683
1.020.007
33
16.
1,044,273
21
21
14
1,044,273
4
17
7
5
19
5
70032
28
13
1,022,693
6.6
0.6.
1,033,174
95
5
210,500
7
4
11
13
65
1,022,897
5
38
33
24
6.1
994,895
37
40
23
•
•
•
Under
$1,000
439,289
77
23
75
17
8
3.8
3.8
439,289
38
21
12
29
55.7
432,969
69
26
5
439,289
100
466
427,723
.50
28
439,289
19
42
64
433,510
4.8
0.8
426,163
67
33
77,839
9
8
23
13
47
426,670
10
45
29
16
4.6
417,720
24
28
48
$1,000-
$2,999
632,553
92
8
83
14
3
4.2
4.2
632,553
33
33
17
17
45.5
627,817
47
41
12
632,553
100
1,848
622,545
75
66
632,553
28
41
81
624,512
5.1
0.8
621,520
82
18
118,812
13
8
19
17
43
604, 052
12
26
21
4.7
597,708
34
31
35
$3,000 and
over
376,559
99
1
95
5
(1)
4.5
4.5
376,559
46.0
29
35
21
15
372,372
25
47
28
376,559
95
4,337
366,925
88
85
•
376,559
41
32
80
O
370,793
5.9
0.8
369,192
92
8
71,626
10
9
16
10
55
359,257
13
41
30
16
4.6
354,160
56
25
19
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES
85
Table 5.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3.
Commercial farms
Other farms

Bathing facilities:
Water supply:
...
Farm operators reporting.
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure...
No piped running water inside structure...
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting.
Flush toilet inside structure..
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None.....
Farm operators reporting..
Installed bathtub or shower.
Electricity on farm;
With electricity
No installed bathtub or shower...
··
Farms..
4
All other 5.
Farm operators reporting' presence of : 4
Electric water pump....
Electric water heater.
Electric washing machine..
Home freezer.
•
•
...
*Refrigeration: 6
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical..
Ice....
Other or none.
*Cooking fuel:6
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood...
White.
Nonwhite...
..
··
...
*Kitchen sink:
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink..
Telephone:
With telephone.
……….
•
Liquid fuel.....
Utility or bottled gas..
Electricity..
Other or none.
..
•
...
•
··
Electricity and, water, supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water inside structure...percent..
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running water
inside structure.
Neither..
•*•
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
· •
•
100 days or more..
·· ·
...
Composition of operator's family:
·
Farm operators reporting..
Husband and wife with-
<<
•
Full owners, part owners, and managers..
Tenants.
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family.
Average size of operator's household.
•
►
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME 2
Item
COLOR AND TENURE
•
No children under 18....
1 or 2 children under 18..
3 or 4 children under 18.
3
All other units
Median age of operator..
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting....
Did not complete elementary school...
•
...
Item
• •
D
► .
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting...
Families with income under $10,000..
Average income of such families.
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm....
Completed elementary school, but not high school.
Completed high school or more.
..
...
• •
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm.
Any income other than from farm operated or wages..
Other income of family exceeding value of farm products sold.
See footnotes at end of table.
··
•
UNITED STATES—Continued
•
•
•
·
► • •
•
·
•
O
•
•
•
•
.number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.number..
.percent..
..percent..
·
·
• •
• • D
•
•
•
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
•
•
number..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
·
•
D
•
.number..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
►
..number..
.percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
"
· •
•
..
·
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
percent..
•
•
•
•
•
..number..
.percent..
•
number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
• • •
• •
··
• •
•
percent..
•
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
years..
•
number..
..percent..
...percent..
..percent..
·
.number..
..number..
•
•
[] •
·
number..
..percent..
.dollars..
..number..
··
•
.number..
•
•
•
•
.percent..
percent..
number..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
Under
$1,000
NORTH AND WEST
Under
$1,000
913,795
13
10
77
916,427
13
80
7
910,637
16
84
64
2 22
21
43
32
222333
21
37
184,706
44
18
38
186,951
71
7
15
5
2
187,479
35
294,242
99
1
81
19
3.2
3.2
4
294,242
7
47
22
9
22
55.2
20
293, 197
35
54
11
4
294,242
100
513
283,187
22
2
294,242
10
17
6
$1,000-
€2,999
1,418,120
1,420,745
1,411,802
Commercial farms
$1,000-
$2.999
848,889
99
1
72
28
29
14
57
3.7
3.8
302,337
72
9
19
848,889
27
70
3
278, 014
45
9
26
18
2
35
37
13
15
45.6
278,014
61
846,249
20
57
23
31
69
848,889
100
1,855
828,329
28
9
83
848,889
12
18
8
39
43
14
4
43
17
67
12
43
$3,000 and
over
1,035,803
1,035, 286
53
46
1
1,027,614
56
44
$3,000 and
over
786,381
100
78
22
4.2
4.3
786,381
57
13
30
32
33
20
15
46.2
784,302
21
51
28
786,381
92
4,704
767,685
91
193,863
91
2
7
34
14
65
25
220,666
26
7
36
30
1
786,381
20
19
12
555
220,149
84
5
64
34
80
26
63
Under
$1,000
$1,000-
$2,999
22-20
229,543
99
1
92
Other farms
8
3.7
3.8
229,543
32
36
15
17
46.1
229,015
28
55
17
433,517
9
9
82
229,543
100
1.950
225,847
85
75
229,543
25
38
83
434,571
11
80
9
988-88
430,896
14
86
55
15
2243
39
12
3
29
4
92,213
34
25
41
87,308
78
5
10
5
2
86,782
30
14
$3,000 and
over
219,097
100
94
6
4.3
4.4
219,097
31
34
22
13
46.0
215,962
18
49
33
$1,000-
$2,999
219,097
95
4,397
213,300
92
90
219,097
39
28
79
625,740
22
13
65
626,266
23
73
4
621,004
25
75
76
2 $24
32
44
20
28
10
58
7
129,539
60
16
24
136,544
56
9
18
16
1
135,490
49
26
North,
all
farms
2,267,481
99
1
79
21
3.8
3.9
2,251,514
36
32
15
17
47.7
2,230,922
25
53
22
2,067,393
97
2,676
2,201,751
38
22
2,267,481
17
21
22
$3,000 and
over
374,462
2555585
374,462
54
45
1
373,410
56
44
བྷུནཝ ཚ
67
23
5
5
West,
all
farms
54
26
78
16
71,136
89
4
7
88,913
25
7
34
34
89,450
80
51

461,429
99
1
88
12
3.7
3.7
455,047
35
30
16
19
48.6
449,460
20
49
31
406,415
95
2,879
451,806
48
31
461,429
23
28
35
86
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 5.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms
$3,000 and
over

Commercial farms.
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut.
Cash-grain.
Cotton..
Other field-crop..
Dairy.
Poultry
Other livestock.
General farms...
Rooms:
.....
···
•
Condition:
*Year built:
Miscellaneous and unclassified.
Farm operators reporting.
Rooms..
Persons per room.
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated..
Dilapidated..
•
Water supply:
•
Toilet .facilities:
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later...
1940 to 1944...
1930 to 1939..
1920 to 1929...
1919 or earlier..
··
•
• •
Bathing facilities:
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile...
1 to 4 miles...
5 to 9 miles……….
10 miles or more.
Median distance..
Electricity on farm:
With electricity
..
•
*Refrigeration:6
•
a
inside structure.
Neither...
· All other5
•
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
*Cooking fuel:6
Hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale..
Dirt or unimproved.
•
Farm operators reporting.
Ice....
Other or none.
*Kitchen sink:
Telephone:
• •
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
-
Farm operators reporting.
• •
..
Farm operators reporting.
...
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure....
No piped running water inside structure.
………….
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
.....
Flush toilet inside structure.
...
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None.....
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical...
·
Installed bathtub or shower.
No installed bathtub or shower.
•
..
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood..
•
Liquid fuel....
Utility or bottled gas
Electricity..
Other or none.
•
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink...
Farm operators reporting presence of:4
Electric water pump....
Electric water heater..
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer...
•
•
•
•
··
•
··
··
TYPE OF FARM
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Item
With telephone*.
See footnotes at end of table.
♦
+
•
•
•
.. •
2
→
•
*
1 ·
•
C ✓
Under
$1,000
NORTH AND WEST-Continued
.number..
.percent..
...percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
...percent..
....percent..
..percent..
*
.number..
average number..
..average number..
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
·
B
• •
·
4 ·
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water inside structure...percent..
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running water
number..
percent..
..percent..
..number..
...percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
..miles..
number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
.number..
..percent..
...percent..
percent..
• •
• • •
•
• •
.number..
...percent..
percent..
..percent..
..number..
....percent..
percent:.
percent..
•
·
•
•
• • •
• •
•
● •
number..
..percent..
percent..
•
··
•
·
..percent..
percent..
percent..
• •
• ..
•
•
..percent..
..percent..
··
.percent..
•
• •
....number..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
•
•
•
number..
...percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent.
percent..
•
..
•
percent..
percent..
• •
·· •
number..
..percent..
• •
•
percent..
294,242
4
14
1
1
30
7
28
14
1
292,141
5.9
0.5
288,995
88
12
59,252
8
2
4
17
69
287,800
.5
39
33
23
5.9
287,800
30
39
31
292,152
27
13
60
292,680
26
72
2
291,624
31
69
75
37
38
21
4
88883
15
63
9
61,683
63
9
28
56,193
57
9
22
11
1
56,721
67
49
$1,000-
$2,999
848,889
4
18
1
1
25
4
29
17
1
833,176
6.3
0.6
835,496
93
7
155,956
3
2.
9
10
76
832,826
5
35
37
23
6.3
819,647
30
47
23
839,665
38
13
49
841,238
35
63
2
88883
838,081
62
87
48
39
9
4
55
22
79
15
183,273
81
5
14
171,945
38
6
31
23
2
171.945
74
62
$3,000 and
over
786, 381
4
19
1
2
21
6
32
14
1
769,629
6.9
0.6
777,696
96
4
162,939
4
1
7
13
75
769,988
4
41
33
22
5.8
750,712
37
46
17
780,325
60
12
28
779,808
55
44
1
774,550
58
42
91
67
crviã
23
69
36
85
27
149,674
92
1
7
170,104
25
5
35
34
1
189,587
87
72
$1,000-
$2,999
227,969
5.5
0.7
224,296
91
9
44,220
4
2
17
12
65
215,244
12
41
29
18
4.8
212,582
36
35
29
227,464
32
19
49
227,464
35
63
2
226,936
36
64
82
46
3356
13
6
≈431
38
73
11
47,483
65
5035
10
25
52,074
49
9
19
22
1
51,546
71
43
215,434
6.1
0.7
215,412
93
7
49,379
10
7
17
8
58
209,098
13
41
32
14
4.6
205,424
61
27
12
218,052
62
16
22
218,052
59
41
(1)
218,052
60
40
92
72
19
NÊLO
4
5
57
26
83
19
41,525
86
3
11
54,197
21
6
36
37
54,208
87
63
North,
all
farms
1,805,219
2
18
1
1
26
5
30
16
1
2,228,016
6.5
0.6
2,231, 184
93
7
2,257,080
3
2
7
11
77
2,206,122
6
39
35
20
5.7
2,164,680
33
45
22
2,248,608
39
14
47
2,252,832
37
61
2
2,241,216
40
60
85
50
35
11
4
54
22
77
18
2.323,715
77
6
17
2,421,395
37
6
30
26
1
2,435,250
76
62
West,
all
farms
327,248
18
15
4
4
16
7
21
13
2
454, 152
5.2
0.7
449, 121
91
9
425, 305
10
7
20
22
41
443,256
10
36
27
27
5.8
438,664
50
25
25
452,879
71
11
18
453,913
64
*
35
1
451,328
68
32
87
74
11
7
8
55
35
78
18
425,805
83.
4
13
435,840
40
5
25
30
428,085
84
51
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 87
I
Table 5.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms

Farms.
White..
Nonwhite.
•
•
Full owners, part owners, and managers.
Tenants except croppers
Croppers ...
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting.
Husband and wife with-
No children under 18...
▼
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family
Average size of operator's household...
1 or 2 children under 18.
3 or 4 children under 18..
All other units 3
Rooms:
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm...
100 days or more.
...
Commercial farms.
Median age of operator.
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting.........
...
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut.
Cash-grain...
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting...
Families with income under $10,000..
Average income of such families.
*Year built:
Did not complete elementary school.
Completed elementary school, but not high school...
Completed high school or more..
Rooms.
Persons per room.
……….
...
Cotton..
Other field-crop.
Dairy
Poultry.....
Other livestock.
General farms..
Miscellaneous and unclassified..
•
Farm operators reporting.
....
Condition:
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated.
Dilapidated..
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm...
Any income other than from farm operated or wages....
Other income of family exceeding value of farm products sold.
TYPE OF FARM
...
•
...
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME
...
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later.
1940 to 1944.
1930 to 1939.
1920 to 1929.
1919 or earlier.
..
•
Median distance..
..
··
•
•
•
1 to 4 miles.
5 to 9 miles.
10 miles or more.
•
•
COLOR AND TENURE
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting..
Under 1 mile...
•
•
•
•
↓ •
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
...
• •
►
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
Hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale..
Dirt or unimproved..
See footnotes at end of table.
Item
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
··
•
• •
....
...
· •
2
·
• • •
•
+
• ··
• •
•
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
.
·
..number..
...number..
•
..percent..
..percent..
•
•
number..
..percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
•
•
..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
number..
.. percent..
.dollars..
··
...number..
...percent..
percent..
percent..
.number..
.percent..
..percent..
• •
•
· •
.percent..
.percent..
.. •
D
· •
•• •
•
•
.number..
percent..
percent..
O •
SOUTH
•
•
..percent.
percent.
number..
•
..number..
..average number..
..average number..
· • •
..number..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
number...
...percent..
.percent..
•
years..
•
a
• •
number..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
...number..
....percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
.miles..
...number..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
Under
$1,000
632,689
61
39
46
25
29
4.3
4.3
632,689
33
26
15
26
47.8
625,541
76
20
4
632,689
100
440
623,747
27
2
632,689
11
12
3
632,689
1
2
50
23
2
3
9
9
1
621,117
4.6
0.9
620,591
68
32
98,672
10
5
22
18
45
621,643
8
40
31
21
5.3
605,027
21
29
50
$1,000-
$2,999
587,923
85
15
63
24
13
4.4
4.4
587,923
30
37
16
17
44.4
575,825
56
34
10
587,923
100
1,649
573,721
25
7
587,923
14
25
13
587,923
2
4
33
26
6
3
13
12
1
574,618
5.1
0.9
572,885
78
22
103,871
14
9
19
16
42
575,886
6
*36
33
25
6.2
563,788
26
30
44
$3,000 and
over
257,892
97
3
77
17
6
4.2
4.3
257,892
34
37
16
13
46.3
257,737
35
38
27
257,892
91
4,618
252,322
33
20
257,892
22
28
20
257,892
2
10
25
16
14
4
17
9
3
253,064
5.7
0.7
255,478
91
9
47,561
18
12
22
14
34
252,909
5
33
33
29
6.8
244, 183
36
22
42
Under
$1,000
343,633
71
29
71
19
10
4.0
4.0
343,633
37
22
14
27
53.5
339,425
77
20
3
343, 633
100
452
336,269
52
29
343,633
19
40
62
•
•
•
338,899
4.4
0.9
335,743
63
37
65,750
10
8
24
13
45
332,587
9
45
29
17
4.7
325,749
22
26
52
$1,000-
$2,999
403,010
87
13
77
18
5
4.4
4.4
403,010
33
31
19
17
45.2
398,802
58
33
9
403,010
100
1,790
396,698
70
61
403, 010
29
43
81
·
•
•
396,543
4.9
0.9
397,224
77
· 23
74,592
18
11
20
20
31
388,808
12
41
25
22
4.7
385,126
32
29
39
•
$3,000 and
over
157,462
97
3
95
4
1
4.5
4.6
157,462
26
35
20
19
46.0
156, 410
36
42
22
157,462
96
4,255
153,625
81
78
157,462
43
37
80
155,358
5.6
0.8
153,780
91
9
22,247
12
12
14
14
48
150,159
12
42
28
18
4.7
148,736
50
21
29
88
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 5.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
Commercial farms
Other farms

Water supply:
Farm operators reporting...
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure..
No piped running water inside structure..
Toilet facilities:
....
Farm operators reporting…..
Flush toilet inside structure.
Other toilet facilities, including privy
None...
Bathing facilities:
Farm operators reporting.....
Installed bathtub or shower...
Electricity on farm:
With electricity,
No installed bathtub or shower..
inside structure.
Neither....
All other 5
•
*Refrigeration:
.Ice....
Other or none.
Farm operators reporting presence of:
Electric water pump...
Electric water heater.
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer..
6
*Cooking fuel:
•
*Kitchen sink:
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical……….
Telephone:
··
With telephone
• •
•
6
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood..
Liquid fuel...
Utility or bottled gas.
Electricity..
•
Uther or none.
• ·
...
• •
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water inside structure.
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running water
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink...
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
• •
·
•
...
..
• • •
•
Item
• D
• •
D
+ •
··
.number..
....percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
• •
..number..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
• •
• •
•
•
•
·
•
.. •
•
•
•
·
•
•
• • ·
·
..
•
•
· ·
..number..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
• • •
• • •
· • •
percent..
percent..
.percent..
•
··
·
• •
•
C
•
SOUTH-Continued
percent..
.number..
..percent..
percent..
•
•
• •
•
percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
number..
percent..
percent..
percent..
•
percent..
percent..
.percent..
...number..
.percent..
Under
$1,000
.percent..
621,643
6
9
85
623,747
7
83
10
619,013
9
91
60
14
44
38
4
232
12
25
3
123,023
34
23
43
130,758
77
6
12
3
2
130,758
21
7
$1,000-
$2,999
578,455
16
15
69
579,507
17
78
5
573,721
20
80
76
28
47
21
4
26
9
50
7
119,064
60
14
26
106,069
59
13
18
9
1
106,069
41
16
$3,000 and
over
255,478
48
16
36
3 Includes single person units.
4Base of percent is total number of farms; no distinction is made between no report on item and operator not having item.
5No report on presence of piped running water, or dwelling with piped running water but no electricity reported on farm.
"Occupied dwelling units.
255,478
47
51
2
253,064
51
49
90
60
29
6
5
48
28
64
23
44,189
88
5
7
50,562
29
14
37
18
2
50,562
74
38
Under
$1,000
339,951
6
7
87
340,477
8
81
11
337,847
11
89
54
11
42
44
3
9
3
23
3
72,743
33
26
41
66,326
77
6
10
4
3
65,750
22
9
$1,000-
$2,999
398,276
17
10
73
398, 802
17
78
5
394,068
19
81
73
25
47
25
3
23
8
49
5
82,056
57
19
24
84,470
60
9
17
13
1
83,944
35
16
$3,000 and
over
¹Percent not shown when less than 0.5.
2Information on family characteristics not obtained for a few farms with vacant operator dwellings, primarily operators with dwellings not in same enumeration district
of farms, but information on the farm and the vacant dwelling on the farm is included.
156,410
49
15
36
156,410
48
51
1
155,358
50
50
90
60
29
7
4
0022
50
26
72
12
29,611
91
7
2
34,716
30
9
32
29
35,242
69
35
as rest
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES
89
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
United States
Farms..
White..
Nonwhite.....
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family
Average size of operator's household...
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting.
Husband and wife with-
No children under 18...
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME¹
1 or 2 children under 18.
Rooms:
3 or 4 children under 18...
All other units 2.
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm..
100 days or more.
Commercial farms..
...
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting..
Median age of operator......
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting.
Did not complete elementary school
Completed elementary school, but not high school.....
Completed high school or more..
..
•
•
•
Condition:
Families with income under $10,000.
Average income of such families.
•
• ·
•
COLOR
•
Rooms.
Persons per room..
Item
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut..
Cash-grain.
Cotton...
Other field-crop.
Dairy.
Poultry..
Other livestock..
General farms.
Miscellaneous and unclassified.......
•
Farms....
Other family members working off the farm...
Any income other than from farm operated or
Other income of family exceeding value of
farm products sold...
Farm operators reporting.
··
•
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated..
•
•
•
...
Dilapidated..
See footnotes at end of table.
·
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
• •
• •
TYPE OF FARM
•
· • •
•
•
A •
•
•
· • •
·
·
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
·
•
•
•
..
.number..
..percent..
.percent..
•
• •
•
·
..number..
..percent..
.percent..
..number..
.percent..
wages.......percent..
•
•
number..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
.number..
.number..
.number..
number.
.percent..
.dollars..
•
•
number..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
.years..
·
.percent..
•
..
•
·
number..
average number..
..average number..
...number..
percent..
percent..
Commercial farms
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
2,603,442
96
4
3.8
3.9
2,582,938
39
29
14
18
50.9
2,558,161
35
47
18
2,324,769
96
2,442
2,533,223
27
10
2,603,442
15
21
10
2,603,442
4
11
10
8
20
6
25
14
2
2,553,269
6.1
0.6
2,558,383
91
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
878,016
87
13
4.4
4.5
875,100
24
41
18
17
39.1
866,702
(3)
37
43
20
805,364
99
2,147
862,598
26
6
878,016
11
16
7
878,016
1
19
26
9
10
1
20
14
863,786
5.8
0.8
863,819
81
19
Other farms
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
1,328,157
93
7
4.0
4.0
1,313,692
288
36
15
21
50.4
1,297,915
45
40
15
1,205,213
99
2,193
1,296,428
69
59
1,328,157
29
38
75
··
1,308,068
5.3
0.8
1,299,796
83
17
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
199,527
75
25
4.5
4.5
199,001
24
33
20
23
41.7
196,371
63
28
9
186,380
100
1,455
194,785
63
49
199,527
23
40
70
196,370
4.5
1.0
192,683
64
36
Under $1,000
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
861,264
87
13
3.5
3.5
861,264
44
20
10
26
57.0
852,847
58
35
7
861,264
100
480
839,177
31
11
861,264
13
28
28
848,650
5.2
0.7
841,308
79
. 21
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
285,985
66
34
4.5
4.6
285,985
27
31
16
26
44.2
283,881
68
27
5
285,985
100
458
279,139
35
8
285,985
12
18
18
•
·
•
282,303
4.6
1.0
279,678
62
38
$1,000-$2,999
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
1,500,520
96
4
3.9
3.9
1,500,520
36
33
15
16
48.7
1,491,557
37
48
15
1,500,520
100
1,818
1,465,751
44
29
1,500,520
19
28
35
·
1,473,998
5.7
0.7
1,472,107
89
11
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
·
•
470,483
90
10
4.3
4.3
470,483
23
46
16
15
38.1
462,602
36
44
20
•
470,483
100
1,770
463,112
34
18
470,483
14
25
23
461,524
5.6
0.8
461,536
81
19
!
90
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]

Farms..
White.....
Nonwhite.
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family.
Average size of operator's household.
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting.
Husband and wife with—
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME 1
No children under 18....
1 or 2 children under 18..
3 or 4 children under 18..
All other units 2.
··
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm...
100 days or more.
Rooms:
Median age of operator.
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting.
Did not complete elementary school.
Completed elementary school, but not high school....
Completed high school or more..
Commercial farms..
COLOR
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting..
Families with income under $10,000..
Average income of such families..
··
Item
Condition:
··
··
Farms...
Other family members working off the farm.
Any income other than from farm operated or wages...
Other income of family exceeding
value of farm products sold...
Farm operators reporting.
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut.
Cash-grain...
Cotton..
Other field-crop.
Dairy...
Poultry..
Other livestock..
General farms...
Miscellaneous and unclassified.…….
Rooms.
Persons per room.
•
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated.....
•
··
Dilapidated....
See footnotes at end of table.
•
TYPE OF FARM
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
•
•
●
•
•
.number..
...number..
•
percent..
.percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
·
...number..
..percent..
...percent..
.percent..
•
·
..number..
.percent..
.percent..
•
D
•
number..
..percent..
percent..
number..
..percent..
...percent..
•
•
•
..number..
percent..
.dollars..
•
.number..
C
..
··
...number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
•
• percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
·
years..
·
•
percent..
..number..
....average number..
..average number..
number..
..percent..
percent.
·
•
$3,000 and over
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
1,168,198
99
1
4.2
4.3
1,168,198
34
32
19
15
48.0
1,162,294
25
48
27
1,168,198
92
4,619
1,138,661
51
38
1,168,198
28
25
35
1,145,992
6.4
0.7
1,153,413
95
5
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
235,276
99
1
4.3
4.4
235,276
23
42
23
12
38.0
234,759
20
50
30
235,276
97
4,471
230,913
34
17
235,276
16
17
14
231,187
6.6
0.7
231,595
93
7
Under $1,000
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
532,093
89
11
3.4
3.4
582,093
44
22
10
24
56.2
527,892
53
39
8
532,093
100
487
518,414
22
2
532,093
10
18
5
532,093
3
7
18
11
17
6
22
14
2
524,206
5.4
0.6
United States-Continued
521,579
83
17
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
210,583
68
32
4.6
4.7
210,583
27
32
16
25
43.1
209,531
65
29
6
210,583
100
457
206, 371
28
1
210,583
10
11
3
210,583
1
9
46
15
6
2
11
10
207,427
4.8
1.0
207,434
66
34
Commercial farms
$1,000-$2,999
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
980, 024
97
3
3.8
3.9
980,024
38
33
13
16
49.3
974,745
34
49
17
980,024
100
1,781
955,263
27
9
980,024
14
22
10
980, 024
4
10
9
9
21
5
25
16
1
959,438
5.9
0.6
960,538
91
9
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
378,940
92
8
4.2
4.3
378,940
23
48
15
14
38.2
372,111
31
46
23
378,940
100
1,790
371,569
26
7
378,940
11
20
9
378,940
1
19
19
10
12
2
21
16
372,086
5.8
0.7
372,099
84
16
$3,000 and over
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
812,652
100
(3)
4.1
4.2
812,652
36
31
18
15
48.8
810,935
25
48
27
812,652
90
4,750
791,693
35
17
812,652
22
23
15
812,652
5
15
6
5
22
LO
6
26
13
2
796,213
6.6
0.6
804,706
96
4
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
215,841
(3)
99
4.3
4.4
215,841
24
42
23
11
37.6
215,324
(3)
19
51
30
215,841
97
4,481
212,534
29
11
215,841
14
15
9
215,841
1
27
9
4
10
1
32
222 223
16
211,752
6.6
0.7
212,688
93
7
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 91
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
*Year built:
Farm-operators reporting.
1945 or later..
1940 to 1944...
1930 to 1939..
1920 to 1929...
1919 or earlier...
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile..
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
Water supply:
1 to 4 miles..
5 to 9 miles......
10 miles or more.
Median distance.......
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting.
Hard surface......
Gravel, shell, or shale.
Dirt or unimproved...
Bathing facilities:
...
•
Farm operators reporting..
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure..
Cold piped running water inside structure..
Electricity on farm:
With electricity".
•
No piped running water inside structure.
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting...
Farm operators reporting...
Flush toilet inside structure...
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None.......
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
*Kitchen sink:
Installed bathtub or shower...
...
No installed bathtub or shower.
Telephone:
•
O
Electric water pump...
Electric water heater..
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer..
*Refrigeration: 6
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical..
Ice......
Other or none..
*Cooking fuel:6
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running
water inside structure……….
Neither....
All others
Farm operators reporting presence of ‘—
•
··
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood...
Liquid fuel..
Utility or bottled gas
Electricity...
Other or none.
262023 - 53 - 7
Farm operators reporting.
"With kitchen sink...
Item
...
•
..
.. ··
..
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water
inside structure...
• O
•
With telephone*.
See footnotes at end of table.
•
....number..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
..
• •
•
.number..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
...
•
..number..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
percent..
miles..
· •
· ··
•
···
...number..
.percent..
...percent..
.percent..
•
O
.number...
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
• •
•
··
• • •
•
··
·
..percent..
.percent..
...percent..
•
..percent..
D
• ·
•
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
...
....number..
...percent..
.percent..
percent..
..number..
.percent..
.percent..
·
·
.....number..
...percent..
..percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
• •
percent..
• ··
•
D ..
.number..
..percent..
..percent..
Commercial farms
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
2,466,875
8
5
12
14
61
2,544,892
6
36
34
24
6.2
2,493,404
32
38
309
2,572,343
40
13
47
2,577,757
38
60
2
2,560,084
41
59
84
50
33
12
5
595
50
23
69
17
2,558,735
77
7
16
2,685,170
45
7
26
21
1
2,702,640
67
48
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
770,620
6
1
14
10
69
869,574
5
40
34
21
5.7
852,177
26
39
35
868,534
23
11
66
870,116
21
74
5
863,279
25
75
75
31
43
22
4
334353
14
58
11
892,120
61
12
27
836,240
43
8
31
15
3
831,615
57
42
Other farms
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
1,229,010
12
9
19
14
46
1,266,580
12
41
28
19
4.7
1,249,893
38
29
33
1,311,911
30
14
56
1,314,545
31
66
3
1,303,504
33
67
77
40
36
19
5
United States-Continued
33
14
58
10
1,384,660
64
13
23
1,414,655
51
6
22
20
1
1,422,610
56
32
Full owners,
Tenants
other than
croppers in part owners,
and managers
South
189,315
6
4
13
22
55
192,155
11
46.
29
14
4.4
186,889
27
30
43
196,380
10
6
84
196,897
10
82
8
196,371
13
87
55
13
41
41
5
11
4
32
1
179,575
34
32
34
186,730
71
13
10
3
3
184, 100
27
Under $1,000
14
757,060
11
7
17
15
50
841,677
9
38
32
21
5.5
825,738
26
33
41
849, 196
16
13
71
852,354
18
77
5
1
846,047
21
79
68
27
40
29
4
23
8
43
6
886,580
49
16
35
922,620
69
6
16
6
3
925,260
43
24
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
253,435
4
2
20
15
59
282,829
6
47
28
19
4.8
277,039
20
30
50
282,301
5
6
89
283,355
5
85
10
281,775
7
93
51
9
41
46
4
11
4
26
1
316, 545
28
28
44
233,015
75
6
15
3
1
230,385
22
13
$1,000-$2,999
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
1,381,525
10
7
15
14
54
1,455,773
8
35
33
24
6.0
1,434,697
30
38
32
1,482,911
31
15
54
1,487,120
30
68
2
1,473,961
33
67
83
42
41
13
4
42
16
68
12
1,575,565
73
10
17
1,549,615
48
8
24
19
1
1,546,975
61
39
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
419,620
6
1
14
11
68
463,363
5
42
34
19
5.5
455,974
28
39
33
465,217
20
11
69
465,217
18
78
4
463,113
22
78
76
28
47
21
4
33
12
59
8
468,095
64
12
24
439,015
46
12
25
14
3
439,015
53
40
92
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
*Year built:
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later..
1940 to 1944..
1930 to 1939...
1920 to 1929...
1919 or earlier...
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile....
Water supply:
:

1 to 4 miles..
5 to 9 miles.
10 miles or more.
Median distance......
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
Hard surface......
Gravel, shell, or shale.
Dirt or unimproved...
...
Bathing facilities:
Farm operators reporting....
..
Farm operators reporting..
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure..
Cold piped running water inside structure..
No piped running water inside structure.
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting...
··
Flush toilet inside structure.
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None....
...
Installed bathtub or shower..
•
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Electric water pump....
Electric water heater.
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer..
•
·
No installed bathtub or shower..
Electricity on farm:
With electricity4.
·
•
*
Item
*Refrigeration:6
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical..
Ice...
Other or none.
*Cooking fuel:6
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood..
Liquid fuel.…….
Utility or bottled gas.
Electricity...
•
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running
water inside structure.
Neither......
All others.
Farm operators reporting presence of ¹—
• • • • •
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running water
inside structure..
··
...
Other or none.
*Kitchen sink:
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink...
Telephone:
With telephone¹.
See footnotes at end of table.
··
....
·
...
•
…………
•
·
··
•
•
..
...number..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.miles..
•
··
•
..number..
..percent..
.percent..
.percent..
··
•
number..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.number...
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
...number..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
...percent..
....percent..
..percent..
·· •
..number..
.percent..
..percent..
·
..percent..
•
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
..number..
...percent..
..percent..
..percent..
• ·
•
..number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
..percent..
• •
.number..
..percent..
.percent..
$3,000 and over
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
1,194,825
+
8
6.
13
13
60
1,133,480
7
39
32
22
5.6
1,107,757
45
34
21
1,160,793
59
14
27
1,159,748
55
44
1
1,154,177
59
41
92
69
22
5
4
64
34
81
23
1,088,610
92
2
6
1,265,245
26
6
34
33
1
1,270,615
84
60
Tenants Full owners,
other than
part owners,
croppers in and managers
South
200,025
8
1
7
7
77
231,842
6
37
34
23
6.0
224,992
31
44
25
232,640
43
15
42
233, 168
38
60
2
230,541
44
56
87
51
34
8
7
54
25
76
23
220,605
81
4
15
269,500
27
9
39
23
2
264,230
79
64
Under $1,000
473,085
10
4
13
17
56
523,021
8
35
34
23
6.0
514,978
26
35
39
524, 219
20
14
66
526,323
20
76
4
523,691
24
76
73
31
41
24
4
29
10
49
7
539,420
55
13
32
583,440
67
6
18
6
3
586, 080
48
United States-Continued
28
179,775
6
1
22
15
56.
Tenants
other than
Tenants
other than
Full owners,
part owners,
croppers in and managers croppers in
South
South
209,531
5
47
27
21
4.8
204, 269
20
31
49
207,951
6
6
88
209,005
5
87
8
207,425
8
92
55
10
44
42
4
14
4
30
2
239,460
33
23
44
169,845
71
8
18
3
169,845
24
Commercial farms
16
$1,000-$2,999
884,835
8
6
13
13
60
960,618
5
34
36
25
6.6
943,780
28
41
31
967,650
33
15
52
971, 333
32
66
2
962,910
35
65
85
45
40
11
4
47
19
71
13
1,025,140
78
8
14
993,145
47
8
25
19
1
993,145
65
45
335,400
4
1
14
9
72
374,980
5
38
36
21
5.9
369,697
27
41
32
374,726
23
13
64
374,726
20
76
4
372,622
25
75
80
32
47
17
4
38
14
65
10
394,495
67
9
24
339,065
38
10
32
17
3
339,315
60
47
$3,000 and over
Full owners,
part owners,
and managers
849,720
7
4
12
14
63
793,654
5
38
33
24
6.1
771,976
39
39
22
807,344
61
13
26
806, 299
56
43
1
801,252
60
40
92
71
21
4
4
67
37
81
27
751,335
93
2
2 5
5
836,400
26
6
34
33
1
839,085
85
64
Tenants
other than
croppers in
South
187,000
8
1
8
4
79
213,989
4
37
35
24
6.2
208, 191
210008
46
26
213,205
43
14
43
213,733
38
60
2
৪
211, 106
44
56
87
50
35
587
55
26
77
24
204,830
83
3
14
253,780
28
8
38
24
2
248,510
80
65
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 93
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS:
REGIONS: 1950–Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3.
Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
North and West

Farms...
White...
Nonwhite..
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family.
Average size of operator's household..
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting..
Husband and wife with—
No children under 18.....
1 or 2 children under 18..
3 or 4 children under 18.
All other units 2
··
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm..
100 days or more.
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting.
Commercial farms...
Rooms:
Families with income under $10,000.
Average income of such families
•
Median age of operator.....
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting......
Did not complete elementary school...
Completed elementary school, but not high school......
Completed high school or more.
··
Condition:
COLOR
•
Farms.
Other family members working off the farm.
Any income other than from farm operated or wages..
Other income of family exceeding value of
farm products sold..
•
Item
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut..
Cash-grain.
Cotton.
Other field-crop..
Dairy.
Poultry..
Other livestock.
General farms...
Miscellaneous and unclassified..
·
··
Farm operators reporting.
Rooms.......
Persons per room.
..
• •
Farm operators reporting..
Not dilapidated...
•
...
TYPE OF FARM
Dilapidated..
See footnotes at end of table.
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
O
•
• •
··
•
•
..percent..
.percent..
..percent..
...percent..
...
"
•
•
·
number..
.percent..
.percent..
•
..number..
number.
•
•
•
..number..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
•
..percent..
percent..
• • •
..percent..
....percent..
• •
.years..
•
.number.. 1,629,227
•
.percent..
• ·
...percent..
..percent..
percent..
..percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
number.. 1,467,072
percent..
.dollars..
Commercial farms
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
1,643,602
99
1
3.7
3.8
....average number..
.average number..
96
2,771
number.. 1, 594, 733
29
11
40
28
14
18
.percent..
..percent..
50.9
number.. 1,643,602
1,611,969
26
52
22
.number.. 1,643,602
percent..
percent..
15
19
10
5
14
1
1
27
7
..number.. 1,613,140
.29
15
1
6.4
0.6
number.. 1,618,625
94
6.
Tenants
488,865
99
1
4.0
4.0
26
45
17
12
37.4
487,700
488,734 823,548
15
56
29
462,440
99
2,661
478,705
27
8
488,865
(3)
12
15
6
488,865
1
29
2
1
15
2
31
19
481,473
6.6
0.6
$1,000-$2,999
481,506
93
7
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
823,548
99
1
3.7
3.7
}
37
33
13
17
49.2
820,897
24
56
20
823,548
100
1,874
804,033
43
26
823,548
16
23
28
··
810,486
6.1
0.6
809,121
93
7
Tenants
254,884
100
(3)
3.8
3.9
254,884
25
51
13
11
37.5
254,367
15
56.
29
254,884
100
1,878
250,143
31
14
254', 884
11
18
11
250,660
6.4
0.6
250,671
92
8
$3,000 and over
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
819,895
100
(3)
4.2
4.3
819,895
35
31
19
15
48.2
815,198
21
51
28
819,895
91
4,683
799,765
50
34
819,895
26
22
309
•
►
802,517
6.7
0.6
810,154
96
4
Tenants
•
185,583
100
4.2
4.4
185,583
24
41
24
11
37.6
185,066
17
51
32
•
185,583
97
4,436
181,220
32
15
185,583
16
15
11
182,546
6.9
0.6
182,954
95
5
$1,000-$2,999
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
613,486
99
1
3.7
3.7
613,486
39
32
12
17
49.8
611,363
23
57
20
613; 486
100
1,843
597,667
28
10
613,486
13
18
9
613,486
5
14
1
1
29
5
28
16
1
601,997
6.2
0.6
Commercial farms
603,778
94
6
Tenants
235,403
100
(3)
3.8
3.9
26
51
13
10
37.6
235,403 613,921
234,886
13
56
31
235,403
100
1,886
230,662
26
9
235,403
11
17
6
235,403
pod
1
29
1
1
16
1
30
21
•
$3,000 and over
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
231,179
6.5
0.6
613,921
100
(3)
4.1
4.3
35
30
19
16
48.9
612,359
22
51
27
61.3, 921
90
4,783
598, 532
35
15
613,921
21
20
14
613,921
5
16
1
2
24
7
29
14
2
600,206
6.8
0.6
231,718 607,337
93
7
96
Tenants
172,460
100
4.2
4.4
172,460
24
41
24
11
37.2
171,943
16
52
32
172,460
97
4,444
169,153
29
10
172,460
15
13
(3)
8
172,460
1
31
1
1
10
2
37
17
169,423
7.0
0.6
170,359
95
5
94
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS:
AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
North and West-Continued
*Year built:
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later..
1940 to 1944.
1930 to 1939.
1920 to 1929..
1919 or earlier...
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 1 mile..
1 to 4 miles.
5 to 9 miles..
10 miles or more
Water supply:
Median distance.
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting.
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
Hard surface...
Gravel, shell, or shale.
Dirt or unimproved...
...
Bathing facilities:
•
.. •
All other 5
Farm operators reporting.
*Refrigeration: 5
No piped running water inside structure.
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting..
Flush toilet inside structure.
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None.......
•
*Cooking fuel:"
...
Kitchen sink:
•
Installed bathtub or shower.
Telephone:
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
No installed bathtub or shower.
•
Electricity on farm:
With electricity".
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running
water inside structure..
..
·
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical..
Ice......
Other or none
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running
water inside structure…….
Neither...
...
Farm operators reporting presence of *—
Electric water pump..
Electric water heater.
Electric washing machine.
Home freezer.
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood..
..
•
Farm operators reporting..
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure......percent..
Cold piped running water inside structure.
...
··
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink...
...
Liquid fuel……….
Utility or bottled gas.
Electricity....
Other or none.
Item
•
··
…….
With telephone".
See footnotes at end of table.
•
·
•
..number..
.percent..
...percent..
...percent..
..percent..
.percent..
•
• ··
•
•
•
· ··
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• •
•
•
•
...percent..
...percent..
• •
•
..number.. 1,569,088
.percent..
percent..
..percent..
•
•
number..
...percent..
....percent..
..number..
..percent..
percent..
.percent..
• •
.number..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
..miles..
··
• •
•
..percent..
•
• •
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
...percent..
..number..
• ·
•
•
· •
•
·
•
percent..
percent..
.percent..
percent..
.number..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
•
•
.
•
Commercial farms
percent..
percent..
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
1,669,020
.percent..
4
3
8
14
71
1,597,709
...number.. 1,648,095
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
5
38
34
23
6.1
35
43
22
1,627,696
49
12
39
1,628,741
45
53
2
1,620,854
48
52
87
57
29
9
5
58
28
78
20
83
4
13
1,698,260
.number.. 1,706, 290
..percent..
78
37
6
28
28
1
62
Tenants
440,320
2
1
7
7
83
485,838
5
39
35
21
5.9
478,435
29
49
22222
485,169
35
13
52
486,225
31
67
2
483,596
36
64
85
45
40
11
4
353235
22
78
17
498,700
77
5
18
495,420
27
6
41
23
3
490,795
78
67
$1,000-$2,999
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
779,285
3
3
12
12
70
795,943
7
36
35
22
6.1
783,809
32
43
25
813,829
38
15
47
815,402
37
61
2
811,717
39
61
87
48
37
10
5
51
21
78
15
875,820
77
7
16
873,845
43
7
26
23
1
871,205
72
55
1
Tenants
221,595
4
8
5
83
252,127
5
38
37
20
5.9
248,420
30
49
21
253,300
31
14
55
253,300
27
71
2
253,300
32
68
85
41
43
12
4
50
19
78
13
277,960
78
5
17
246,250
30
9
37
22
2
246,250
76
66
$3,000 and over
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
890,495
6
3
10
13
68
795,885
6
41
33
20
5.4
776,103
45
39
16
814,378
63
13
24
813,333
59
40
1
810,176
61
39
92
71
20
4
5
68
35
85
25
785,360
91
2
7
901,975
23
5
34
37
1
902,080
88
69
Tenants
171,095
2
2
5
6
85
183,201
5
39
34
22
5.9
180,033
31
52
17
183,999
47
13
40
184,527
40
58
2
182,426
46
54
89
54
34
6
6
62
29
83
23
170,635
87
13
219,530
28
4
40
26
2
216,890
84
73
$1,000-$2,999
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
574,025
3
3
10
12
72
599,124
5
35
37
23
6.4
589,124
30
47
23
605,846
40
13
47
607,419
37
61
2
604, 262
40
60
88
49
38
9
4
55
23
79
16
5
13
Commercial farms
27
23
1
645, 045
72
Tenants
59
205,755
3
8
5
84
233,702
5
37
37
21
6.0
230,523
30
50
20
233,819
32
14
54
233,819
28
70
2
233,819
33
67
86
43
42
11
4
656,775 259,590
78
82
5
17
3333230
53
645,045 214,680
25
42
7
6
43
24
2
79
13
214,680
79
69
$3,000 and over
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
653,995
4
1
8
14
73
598,854
4
41
33
22
5.8
582,746
40
43
17
609,449
63
12
25
608, 404
59
40
1
605,247
61
39
92
71
20
4
5
71
38
86
28
590,880
92
2
6
644,080
24
5
33
37
1
644,135
87
71
Tenants
.

160,700
2
2
6
5
85
171,134
4
39
34
23
6.0
167,966
28
54'
18
170,876
45
13
42
171,404
39
59
2
169,303
45
55
89
53
35
6
6
*28*
63
29
83
24
157,490
88
··
12
206,440
29
3
38
27
3
203,800
84
74
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 95
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
South
Farms.
White.
•
Nonwhite.....
Family and household size:
Average size of operator's family.
Average size of operator's household...
Composition of operator's family:
Farm operators reporting...
Husband and wife with—
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND INCOME
No children under 18.....
1 or 2 children under 18..
3 or 4 children under 18.
All other units 2
··
Farm operators reporting.
Work off farm.....
Rooms:
Income of operator's family in 1949:
Farm operators reporting...
100 days or more.
Median age of operator...
Years of school completed by operator:
Farm operators reporting.....
Did not complete elementary school...
Completed elementary school, but not high school...
Completed high school or more.....
Commercial farms.:
Families with income under $10,000.
Average income of such families.
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut.
Cash-grain....
Cotton...
Other field-crop.
Dairy...
Poultry.
Other livestock...
General farms.
...
Condition;
Item
COLOR
•
• •
Miscellaneous and unclassified..
Farm operators reporting.
Rooms...
Persons per room.
• •
•
Farm operators reporting.
Not dilapidated....
• • •
TYPE OF FARM
•
··
……….
Dilapidated...
See footnotes at end of table.
SIZE AND CONDITION OF DWELLING UNIT
1
•
Farms..
Other family members working off the farm.....
Any income other than from farm operated or wages......percent..
Other income of family exceeding value of
farm products sold...
•
•
❤
..number..
..percent..
..percent..
.number..
...number..
..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
..percent..
•
•
··
•
...number..
percent..
..percent..
.percent..
• •
..
•
..percent..
•
.years..
• •
number.. 953,711
average number…
...average number..
•
Commercial farms
....number..
percent..
percent.
►
Full
owners,
part
owners, except
Tenants
croppers
and
managers
959,840
90
10
.number.. 959,840
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
...percent..
3.9
4.0
number.. 857,697
342,924
98
100
1,890
1,460
...number.. 938,490 383,365
.percent..
..dollars..
...percent..
25
9
26
4
.percent..
....number..
...percent..
•
39
30
13
18
42.5
946, 192
53
34
13
959,840
...number.. 940, 129
5.4
0.7
15
24
11
3
5
24
19
9
5
19
14
2
939,758
85
15
389,151 311,547
71
29
4.9
5.0
22
35
19
24
41.2
386,366 311,021
379,002
66
26.
8
389,151
10
17
9
389,151
(3)
1
6
56
19
3
1
6
8
382,313
4.6
1.1
Full
owners,
part
Croppers
owners,
and
managers
382,313
66
34
42
58
4.8
4.9
24
30
19
27
40.0
304,399
82
15
3
277,883
100
918
307,339
(3)
31
6
311,547
15
8
5
311,547
1
1
59
33
1
1
1
3
305, 761
4.1
1.2
305,761
58
42
Under $1,000
536,492
80
20
3.7
3.8
41
22
12
25
55.8
536,492 220,859
531,232
69
25
6
536,492
100
466
527,550
33
13
536,492
14
29
32
··
527,074
4.9
0.8
Tenants
except
croppers
525,446
74
26
220,859
57
43
4.7
4.8
26
30
17
27
44.9
221,755
82
17
1
220,859
100
429
216,125
37
9
220,859
12
18
19
•
•
217,177
4.2
1.1
216, 125
56
44
Croppers
218,971
35
65
4.6
4.7
218,971
26
25
·
· 20
29
40.6
214,979
88
11
1
218,971
100
407
216,341
41
11
218,971
16
9
10
215,815
3.9
1.2
214,763
58
42
$1,000-$2,999
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers.
676,972
92
8
4.2
4.2
676,972
36
32
16
16
48.1
670,660
53
36
11
676,972
100
1,750
661,718
46
33
676,972
21
34
44
662,986
Tenants
except
croppers
84
16
215,599
79
21
4.8
4.9
21
39
20
20
39.3
208,235
61
30
9
215,599 292,428
215,599
100
1,643
212,969
38
23
215,599
18
32
38
Commercial farms,
under $1,000
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
210,865
67
33
292,428
80
20
3.7
3.7
39
25
12
24
55.2
289,272
65
28
7
292,428
100
472
288,220
22
2
292,428
9
17
4
663,512 210,865 286,642
5.3
4.6
0.8
1.0
5.1
0.7
292,428
2
2
33
19
4
5
18
14
3
286, 116
79
21
Tenants
except
croppers
156,006
58
42
4.9
5.0
25
29
17
29
44.0
154,954
81
18
1
156,006 184,255
156,006
100
427
152,850
28
1
9
10
2
156,006
1
3
62
20
1
2
4
7
152,850
4.3
1.1
Croppers
153,902
59
41
-

184,255
34
66
156,006 184,255
•
4.7
4.8
27
25
19
29
40.5
181,315
88
11
1
184,255
100
400
182,677
35
5
(3)
15
6
2
184,255
(3)
1
64
30
1
1
1
2
181,625
3.9
1.2
180,573
58
42
96
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 6.-FAMILY AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS AND EQUIPMENT, FOR COMMERCIAL AND OTHER FARMS, BY FAMILY
INCOME, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1950-Continued
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3. Asterisk (*) denotes statistics based on a 20 percent subsample]
South-Continued

*Year built:
Farm operators reporting.
1945 or later..
1940 to 1944..:
1930 to 1939..
1920 to 1929.
1919 or earlier...
Distance to trading center:
Farm operators reporting..
Under 1 mile………
1 to 4 miles.
5 to 9 miles.
10 miles or more.
Median distance..
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
Hard surface.....
Gravel, shell, or shale.
Dirt or unimproved..
Water supply:
• O
AGE AND LOCATION OF DWELLING UNIT
Bathing facilities:
...
..
..
··
Home freezer..
*Refrigeration: 6
Cooking fuel:6
•
Farm operators reporting....
Hot and cold piped running water inside structure.
Cold piped running water inside structure..
No piped running water inside structure..
Toilet facilities:
Farm operators reporting..
Flush toilet inside structure...
Other toilet facilities, including privy.
None..
Ice......
Other or none.
··
···
...
...
Electric water pump..
Electric water heater.
Electric washing machine.
....
All other5.
Farm operators reporting presence of 4
•
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
·
·
Farm operators reporting.
Mechanical.......
...
...
...
Farm operators reporting.
Coal or wood……….
Liquid fuel.......
Utility or bottled gas..
Electricity..
Other or none.
*Kitchen sink:
Farm operators reporting.
With kitchen sink...
Telephone:
With telephone*.
Item
Farm operators reporting.
Installed bathtub or shower..
No installed bathtub or shower.
Electricity on farm:
With electricity.
Electricity and water supply:
With electricity reported on farm and piped running
water inside structure..
With electricity reported on farm, but no piped running
water inside structure..
Neither.....
..
...
+
·
•
..
...
•
• •
·
•
·
....number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
•
··
•
...number..
....percent..
.percent..
..percent..
O
•
• •
....
..number..
.percent..
percent..
...percent..
•
· •
•
.number..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..percent..
..miles..
··
•
•
..number..
.percent..
...percent..
.number..
percent..
.percent..
..percent..
•
··
··
...
·
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
··
••
..percent..
..percent..
.....number..
percent..
..percent..
percent..
• •
·
··
percent..
•
··
• • •
percent..
percent..
• • •
Commercial farms
..number..
.percent..
Full
owners, Tenants
part except Croppers
croppers
owners,
and
managers
797,855 330.300
15
10
11
2
21
23
14
15
39
50
947,183 | 383,736
5
7
33
42
33
31
27
22
6.5
5.5
924, 316 373, 742
27
22
29
26.
44
52
944,647 383, 365
8
9
26
16
58
947,432 383, 891
8
84
8
26
70
4
939,758 379,683
30
11
70
89
80
39
40
17
4
83
.34.
15
53
11
61
55
9
23
11
2
14
..number.. 986,910 343,320
..percent..
..percent..
percent..
percent..
percent..
46.
36
4
10
4
32
5
910,640 393, 420
66
38
13
22
21
40
66
12
16.
4
2
996,350 340,820
50
27
270,890
10
7
15
22
46.
297,871
9
44
32
15
4.7
290,352
26.
26.
48
305,761
3
5
92
306,813
4.
86.
10
303,131
6
94
56
7
48
41
4
7
1
17
1
276,150
28
25
47
278,780
82
12
2
4
281,410
7
Under $1,000
3
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
447,875
13
9
24
14
40
524,920
10
36
33
21
5.6
510,037
23
29
48
528,076
9
12
79
530,706
12
81
7
525,972
15
85
66.
20
45
32
3
17
5
33
5
589,895
71
6.
15
Tenants
except
croppers
4
4
205,915
4
3
23
16
54
217,703
6.
49
26
19
4.6
212,969
18
28
54'
217,703
(3)
2
4
94
218,229
2
85
13
217,177
3
97
46
4
41
554,625 242,735
43
22
20
31
37
47
51
4
4
1
17
Croppers
168,320
9
5
211,607
8
46.
31
20
23
43
15
4.6
207,770
22
27
51
215,815
2
3
95
216,341
213,711
(3)
2
87
11
*Base of percent is total number of farms; no distinction is made between no report on item and operator not having item.
No report on presence of piped running water, or dwelling with piped running water but no electricity reported on farm.
"Occupied dwelling units.
5
95
49
5
44
48
3
4
1
10
181,470
19
28
53
589,895 176,985 215,660
31
11
4
$1,000-$2,999
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
2
602,740
19
12
20
17
32
215,660
179,615
85
86
1
10
11
1
1
4
1
659,830
9
35
30
26
6.0
650,888
29
30
41
669,082
21
15
64
670,134
22
74
4
662,244
25
75
80
33
(3)
46
17
4
699,745
67
14
19
31
11
57
8
675,770
54
10
22
14
675,770
46
Tenants
except
croppers
198,025
8
3
21
19
49
211,236
5
46
31
18
5.0
207,554
24
28
48
211,917
6
8
86
6.
88
6.
209,813
10
90
67
13
53
31
3
211,917 288,220
13
81
6
CA
12
3
38
3
190,135
43
22
35
192,675
66
16
10
4
4
192,765
22
Commercial farms,
under $1,000
Full
owners,
part
owners,
and
managers
9
249,065 137,535 136,760
12
10
7
24
16
41
289,798
9
33
35
23
6.1
281,227
22
31
47
286,116
11
15
74
286,116
16
84'
70
24
45
27
4
21
6.
38
5
294,255
45
19
36
342,675
69
6
18
3
4
342,675
34
Tenants
except Croppers
croppers
11
6.
2
27
16
49
154, 954
5
49
25
21
4.7
150,220
19
30
51
153,902
2
5
93
154,428
2
87
11
153,376
3
97
49
(3)
5
43
48
4
5
2
19
176,210
25
25
50
129,645
85
2
11
2
6.
15
25
44
4.
176,891
9
43
32
16
4.8
173,580
23
27
50
181,625
2
4
94
182,151
3
86
11
179,521
4
96
51
5
46
99 999 999
45
4
2
23
10
11
20
.percent..
4
¹Information on family characteristics not obtained for a few farms with vacant operator dwellings, primarily operators with dwellings not in same enumeration district as rest of
farms, but information on the farm and the vacant dwelling on the farm is included.
2Includes single-person units.
3Percent not shown when less than 0.5.
4
1
10
1
grand
144,650
20
29
51
181,470
86
9
1
4
129,645 181,470
13
3
HOUSING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES 97
Table 7.-HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND FAMILY AND FARM CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMERCIAL AND OTHER
FARM OPERATORS, BY PRESENCE OF HOME GARDENS, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS; AND BY RACE IN
THE SOUTH: 1950
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3]
United States
Commercial farms
Without
garden

Home food-production practices:1
Farms.
With one or more milk cows.
Slaughtering:
Hogs....
Cattle, excluding calves.
Calves....
Cattle and/or calves.
Any cattle or hogs..
With chickens 4 months old and
over on hand....
Tenure of farm:
Farms
•
Average size of operator's family......
Age of operator:
Farm operators reporting.
Under 25 years.
25 to 34 years...
35 to 44 years.
45 to 54 years....
55 to 64 years...
65 years and over
Median age.
Type of farm:
Farms..
Full owners, part owners, and managers...percent..
Tenants except croppers in the South.....percent..
Croppers in the South....
Other field-crop.
Dairy.....
Poultry.......
Farms.....
•
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut..
Cash-grain...
Cotton.....
I and II.
III....
IV.
V..
VI..
Economic class of farm:
..
Other livestock.
General farms..
Miscellaneous and unclassified..
•
Item
P
•
•
··
...
··
Part-time and abnormal
Residential…..
Distance to trading center:
Farm-operators reporting.
Under 1 mile....
1 to 4 miles...
5 to 9 miles.
10 miles or more.
Median distance....
·
··
•
··
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting..
Hard surface..
Gravel, shell, or shale...
Dirt or unimproved....
1See footnotes at end of table.
··
...percent..
..percent..
....percent..
.percent..
...percent..
...number..
percent..
..
··
..percent..
•
•
..percent..
....number..
..percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
•
• ·
•
•
•
•
....number..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
•
·
•
.number..
.percent..
percent..
.percent..
···
··
.percent..
..percent..
.percent..
...percent..
.percent..
..percent..
.number..
•
O •
.percent..
..percent..
·
•
•
years..
•
..number..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
percent..
.miles..
•
...number..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
···
•
..
All farms
With
garden
3,919,701
73
65
9
10
18
70
84
...number.. 3,919,701
..percent..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
percent..
3,919,701
74
19
7
4.1
3,695,247
3 4 2 23
15
25
19
15
48.0
3,919,701
3
7
15
9
13
5
18
11
19
8
13
17
18
14
12
18
3,828,834
7
40
32
21.
5.5
3,757,941
31
35
34
Without
garden
1,460,426
61
43
9
11
19
50
66
1,460,426
72
22
6
3.8
1,356,090
4
19
24
21
18
14
46.5
1,460,426
4
15
12
5
11
4
20
10
19
1,460,426
13
16
17
15
11
10
18
1,401,676
8
36
33
23
5.8
1,373,686
35
33333223
With
garden
2,742,484
78
70
12
12
23
86
2,742,484
75 (2)
69
22
9
4.1
2,587,017
3
16
25
23
19
14
47.4
2,742,484
3
-9
19
12
17
5
20
14
1
2,742,484
11
19
24
25
21
2,695,546
.6
38
33
23
5.9
2,643,066
1,050,521
29
38
33
قدند
(2)
65
47
11
14
67
1,050,521
68
25
7
3.8
982,722
5
20
24
20
18
13
45.9
1,050,521
5
19
14
6
14
5
24
12
1
18
22
25
20
15
1,016,791
6
35
35
24
6.3
Other farms
992,867
33
35
32
With
garden
1,177,217
63
55
3
6
8
58
80
1,177,217
86
11
3
4.1
1,108,230
3
14
24
22
20
17
49.3
1,177,217
1,050,521 1,177,217
2
2
6
3
5
6
10
5
61
41
59
1,133,288
11
43
28
18
4.6
1,114,875
35
30
35
►
Without
garden
409,905
(2)
(2)
49
32
3
5
62
409,905
79
16
5
3.9
373,368
3
16
25
21
17
18
48.1
409, 905
2
3
6
23
3
3
12
4
65
409,905
36
64
384,885
13
40
28
19
4.7
380,819
39
26
35
All farms
With
garden
1,845,066
78
59
18
15
31
66
81
1,845,066
82
18
3.9
1,763,595
2
15
26
23
19
15
48.1
1,845,066
4
13
1
1
22
7
25
14
13
1,845,066
13
23
20
14
7
11
12
1,803,366
6
40
33
21
5.6
1,772,388
35
44
21
North and West
Without
garden
883, 844
64
41
14
13
26
50
63
883,844
78
22
3.6
833,503
3
18
24
21
19
15
47.3
883,844
6
20
1
1
15
5
25
13
14
883,844
17
20
22
14
7
8
12
846, 012
7
37
34
22
6.0
830,956
37
39
24
Commercial farms
With
garden
1,425,693
84
64
22
16
243 2
35
72
84
1,425,693
78
22
…………
3.9
1,361,041
3
16
23 23
25
19
14
47.9
1,425,693
4
15
1
1
27
6
29
16
1
1,425,693
17
29
26
19
9
1,400,415
5
39
34
22
5.9
1,378,908
33
46
21
Without
garden
706,774
68
(2)
(2)
46
16
15
65
706,774
76-
24
3.6
670,568
3
19
25
20
19
14'
46.9
706,774
6
23
2
1
18
6
29
14
1
706,774
21
25
27
18
9
683,132
5
36
35
24
6.3
668,615
35
41
24
98
FARMS AND FARM PEOPLE
Table 7.-HOME FOOD-PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND FAMILY AND FARM CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMERCIAL AND OTHER
FARM OPERATORS, BY PRESENCE OF HOME GARDENS, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND REGIONS; AND BY RACE IN
THE SOUTH: 1950-Continued
3 9015 02705 8232
Farms.....
Home food-production practices:1
Tenure of farm:
Farms.
With one or more milk cows..
Slaughtering:
Hogs.
Cattle, excluding calves.
Calves......
Cattle and/or calves...
Any cattle or hogs.
With chickens 4 months old and
over on hand..
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Age of operator:
Average size of operator's
family..
Farm operators reporting.
Under 25 years.
25 to 34 years..
35 to 44 years..
Median age.
45 to 54 years...
55 to 64 years..
65 years and over.
Type of farm:
Farms.
··
...
I and II.
III..
IV....
V..
VI..
...
•
Economic class of farm:
Farms.
• •
Full owners, part owners, and managers...percent..
Tenants except croppers in the South.....percent..
Croppers in the South.
Vegetable and fruit-and-nut.
Cash-grain...
Cotton..
Other field-crop.
Dairy....
Poultry.
Item
··
Other livestock.
General farms...
Miscellaneous and unclassified...
• •
..
Under 1 mile...
1 to 4 miles.
5 to 9 miles...
10 miles or more.
Median distance....
•
•
Part-time and abnormal.
Residential....
• •
··
Distance to trading center:
Farm-operators reporting..
•
··
[Data are based upon a sample. For a description of the sample and a statement of reliability of data, see page 3
North and West-Con.
Other farms

..
Kind of road on which located:
Farm operators reporting...
Hard surface....
Gravel, shell, or shale.
Dirt or unimproved.
•
·
•
•
•
●
•
percent..
..percent..
percent..
..percent..
...percent..
•
•
· ·
•
• •
•
....number..
.percent..
.percent..
..percent..
• •
· •
•
• •
...number..
• •
• •
· •
...number..
percent..
..percent..
.percent..
percent..
years..
•
•
• •
……………
•
...number..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
•
•
.percent..
•
• •
...percent..
percent..
.percent..
•
·
number..
..percent..
...percent..
.percent..
.percent..
...percent..
•
•
...
•
percent..
•
.number..
.percent..
percent..
percent..
•
• •
• • •
• • •
....number..
percent..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
.miles..
•
►
.percent..
percent..
•
..number..
percent..
.percent..
.percent..
·
With
garden
419,373
55
39
7
11
17
46.
70
419,373
94
6
...
3.9
402, 554
1
13
26
23
21
16
48.9
419,373
3
5
..
1
10
11
13
6
51
419,373
49
51
402,951
12
42
30
16
4.6
393,480
45
34
21
Without
garden
177,070
46
(2)
(2)
24
5
7
56
177,070
88
12
3.6
162, 935
3
15
24
24
17
17
48.8
177,070
4
6
1
4
3
12
7
63
177,070
37
63
162,880
15
39
30
16
4.5
162,341
48
26
26
With garden
White
1,629,390
75
71
1
7
9
72
1,629,390
89
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
76
17
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
7
1,522,701
4.1
4
52235
15
20
15
48.2
24
1,629,390
2
2
21
16
6
4
1,629,390
13
11
25
3
6
14
21
18
All farms
14
24
Nonwhite
445,245
(3)
50
74
445, 245
35
29
36
(3)
.1
1
74
84
408,951
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
5.0
23
16
15
46.5
445,245
5
18
23
1
1
54
17
1
445,245
(3)
2
3
21
2
10
26
33
8
21
Without
garden
576,582
55
46
2
8
9
49
70
576,582
60
24
16
4.1
522,587
6
19
24
20
17
14
45.2
576,582
2
7
27
12
4
3
13
5
27
576,582
7
9
12
16
16
14
26
555, 664
10
36
30
24
5.6
542,730
31
25
44
Base of percent is total number of farms; no distinction is made between no report on item and operator not having item.
2Data not available.
3Percent not shown when less than 0.5.
Commercial farms
With garden
White
South
998, 993
79
76.
2
10
12
78
998, 993
69
21
91
I II II I
10
937,634
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
5.8
****
4
23
19
14
47.4
15
25
998,993
2
3
30
23
8
4
998, 993
5
10
23
33
29
15
14
1
Nonwhite
317,798
48
317,798
( 3 )
288,342
IIIIII
(2)
23
17
11
45.2
(2)
74
317,798
(2)
1
1
74
(2)
83
(2)
(2)
27
29
44
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
5.1
317,798
(3)
5
19
25
1
1
68
23
1
2
3
1
2
13
36
49
Without
garden
343,747
58
(2)
(2)
51
2
11
72
343,747
53
26
21
4.1
312,154
7
21
25
20
17
10
44.0
343,747
2
10
39
17
7
2
14
7
2
343,747
12
15
20
26
27
333,659
9
33
33
25
6.2
324,252
30
23
47
Other farms
With
garden
757,844
67
(3)
64
3
3
64
85
757,844
81
14
5
4.3
(3)
705,676
3
15
22
23
19
18
49.5
757,844
2
10
4
3
3
8
5
65
757,844
36
64
730,337
11
43
27
19
4.6
721,395
30
27
43
Without
garden
232,835
M
(2)
(2)
51
39
1
3
66
232,835
72
19
9
4.1
210,433
4
17
24
19
17
19
47.4
232,835
1
1
10
4
1
3
12
2 1993
66
232,835
35365
222,005
13
39
26
22
4.8
218,478
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: O 1953
32
26
42