1850 Census of
African Americans

Information

• The following boroughs and townships are included in the order in which they were enumerated:
  • Harrisburg (West Ward, South Ward, North Ward, East Ward)
  • Hummelstown
  • Derry Township
  • Middletown
  • Upper Swatara Township (includes Dauphin County Poor House)
  • Portsmouth, Lower Swatara Township (includes a short history)
  • Highspire, Lower Swatara Township
  • Lower Swatara Township
  • Londonderry Township
  • Susquehanna Township
  • Dauphin Borough
  • Middle Paxton Township
  • Lower Paxton Township
  • Halifax
  • Jackson Township
  • Rush Township
  • West Hanover Township
  • East Hanover Township
  • Wiconisco
  • Lykens
• The following townships and locations reported no African American residents: Reed Township, South Hanover Township, Union Deposit, Mechanickstown, Spring Creek, Conewago Township, Matamoras, Jefferson Township, Mifflin Township, Washington Township and Upper Paxton Township.
• Statistics about the data
• Enumerator's Instructions  What constitutes a family?  A dwelling?  Why did enumerators usually only fill in the column for race for African Americans?  How were children listed?  Enumerators had very specific instructions and guidelines for filling out their forms.  Reading over the original instructions given to the people who actually went door-to-door, asked the questions, and filled in the forms will help you understand more about the results.

Locations 

Harrisburg -- West Ward, South Ward, North Ward and East Ward:

• m surnames
• n surnames
• o surnames
• p surnames
• q surnames
• r surnames
• s surnames
• t surnames
• v surnames
• w surnames
• y&z surnames

• Hummelstown (4 African American residents)
• Derry Township (1 African American resident)
• Middletown Borough (26 African American residents)
• Upper Swatara Township (58 African American residents)
• Portsmouth (138 African American residents)
• Highspire (6 African American residents)
• Lower Swatara Township (16 African American residents)
• Londonderry Township (25 African American residents)
• Susquehanna Township (12 African American residents)
• Dauphin Borough (1 African American resident)

• Middle Paxton Township (17 African American residents)
• Lower Paxton Township (4 African American residents)
• Halifax Township (4 African American residents)
• Town of Halifax (15 African American residents)
• Jackson Township (1 African American resident)
• Rush Township (10 African American residents)
• West Hanover Township (4 African American residents)
• East Hanover Township (8 African American residents)
• Wiconisco (2 African American residents)
• Lykens (15 African American residents)

Sources