1860 United States census

1860 United States census
← 1850 June 1, 1860 (1860-06-01) 1870 →
1860 U.S. census from the state of New York
General information
Country	United States
Authority	Census Office
Results
Total population	31,443,321[1] ( 35.6%)
Most populous ​state	New York 3,880,735
Least populous ​state	Oregon 52,465

The 1860 United States census was the eighth census conducted in the United States starting June 1, 1860, and lasting five months. It determined the population of the United States to be 31,443,321^[1] in 33 states and 10 organized territories. This was an increase of 35.6 percent^[1] over the 23,191,876^[2] persons enumerated during the 1850 census. The total population included 3,953,760^[3] slaves.

By the time the 1860 census returns were ready for tabulation, the nation was sinking into the American Civil War. As a result, Census Superintendent Joseph C. G. Kennedy and his staff produced only an abbreviated set of public reports, without graphic or cartographic representations. The statistics did allow the census staff to produce a cartographic display, including preparing maps of Southern states, for Union field commanders. These maps displayed militarily vital topics, including the white population, slave population, predominant agricultural products (by county), and rail and post road transportation routes.

This census saw Philadelphia regain its position as a second-most populous American city, which it had lost to Baltimore in 1820, due to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 merging many smaller surrounding townships, such as Spring Garden, Northern Liberties, and Kensington, into the main city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia would lose the second-most populous American city position to Chicago in 1890.