10/29/2009:
United States census director William Merriam announced his preliminary findings on this date in 1900, and made many in the state of North Dakota extremely happy. Although final results of the 1900 census, the twelfth census in the history of the United States, would not be available until July of 1902, Merriam felt confident enough to issue preliminary population results so that the political implications could be dealt with. One of these implications was that the population of North Dakota had risen nearly seventy-five percent since the 1890 census, and that a congressional seat would be added to the state. With a total population of 319,040, North Dakota was among the states with the highest growth rate in the new census.
The census was a massive undertaking at this early time, devoid of computers and even accurate address and housing records. President McKinley appointed William Merriam to head the task in March of 1899. Merriam, then a prominent Republican organizer and former governor of Minnesota, hired a staff of over 3,000 to assist him. This group was only temporarily employed, however, and by 1902, this number dropped to five hundred. The census recorded not only demographical statistics, but also asked questions relating to such things as agricultural production and government satisfaction.
Although there were no major problems during the 1900 census, Merriam and others involved in the task were able to convince Congress to establish a permanent Census Office.<span </span This office would be able to generate statistical data between census years, and also conduct specific studies necessary to government legislation. Congress passed the motion for the permanent office in 1902, and it became more defined in later years.
As for North Dakota, the state elected Thomas Marshall to serve as its second representative in 1902. Marshall joined incumbent Burleigh Spalding. Unfortunately, the state would only have two representatives until Congress was reapportioned in 1973. state reverted to a sole representative, which continues to be the state of affairs to this day.
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job
Source:
Fargo Forum and Daily Republican, Tuesday (Evening ed.), Oct. 30, 1900: p.1.
"http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F0DE2D71030E132A25753C1A9619C946097D6CF" http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F0DE2D71030E132A25753C1A9619C946097D6CF;" Anderson, Margo 1990. The American Census: A Social History. Yale University Press: New Haven.