Wisconsin's African American population from statehood through 1910

Negro Population in the United States 1790-1915

Although relatively small in number until the 20th century, African Americans have lived in Wisconsin since before statehood. Almost all African Americans who came to Wisconsin lived in cities and faced very limited employment opportunities because most factories were segregated and because most of the unskilled jobs had already been taken by earlier immigrants. In 1918, the U.S. Census Bureau compiled a comprehensive statistical profile of African Americans based on 125 years of publications, population schedules, and tables, that purports, in part, to show the progress made by blacks in the United States. These excerpts show the growth of Wisconsin's black population from statehood through 1910, including information on the number of slaves that lived in Wisconsin. The tables also show the state of birth as well as the cities in which most chose to settle. The type font in the tables is very small; to enlarge it, place the cursor over the spot you want to examine, and click.

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