New Philadelphia, Illinois 1870 Federal Census Data

Routing the Hannibal-Naples railroad away from New Philadelphia in 1869 crippled the town (Matteson 1964:9). The effects were reflected in the federal census of 1870 as residents moved away for jobs and economic opportunities near market centers. In 1870, 123 individuals called New Philadelphia home, representing a 23% decline from its population peak of 160 residents just five years earlier. The number of households declined from 29 to 25, a 14% reduction. The Burdick, Clark and Hadsell families continued to hold a presence in the community (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1870).

While New Philadelphia's population was declining, the state of Illinois experienced continued population growth, but not as dramatic as the increase from 1850 to 1860. The federal census reported 2,539,891 people residing in the state, an increase of 48.4% over 1860. The majority of the population, 1,704,291, or 98.9%, were white; but 28,762 black residents represented 1.1% of the state's population, an increase of 0.7% from the last census. Those figures reflect an increase of 21,134, or 277%, from the 1860 census that recorded 7,628 black residents (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1870). Although restricted by the state's stringent Black Codes, people finally freed from slavery and eager for economic opportunities and self-determination made their way to Illinois.

Farming occupied 21 of New Philadelphia's residents, representing 62% of the 34 individuals, or 27% of the population who were gainfully employed outside the home, Three school teachers, 2% of the total population or 9% of those gainfully employed, lived in the town. Other occupations included two blacksmiths, 1% of the population, or 6% of those employed; a carpenter, a coal miner, a minister, a physician, a seamstress, a shop worker, a speculator and a laborer, each representing 1% of the total population, or 3% of those employed outside the home, rounded out the occupations of New Philadelphia's residents. Eighty-nine residents, or 72% of the population, were not employed outside the home (U. S. Bureau of the Census 1870).

Twenty-three individuals, 19% of the town's population, were occupied keeping house. The occupation field was left blank for 58 residents, or 46% of the town's residents. Fifty-four of those individuals, or 95%, were children 15 years of age and under. Of the 7 individuals classified as "at home" in the occupations column of the census report, 4, or 57% were teenagers over 14 years of age; two individuals, or 28% were under 30 years old and one individual, or 14% of the total, was 35 years old (U. S. Bureau of the Census 1870). Census enumerators were instructed to indicate "at home" for children "too young to be involved in production" (www.ipums.umn.edu/usa/voliii/1st1870).

As reported by the census conducted in previous years, 79, or 64% of New Philadelphia's residents were born in the Great Lakes region. Sixty-nine people, or 56% of the population, originated from the state of Illinois. Sixteen people, 13% of the town's residents, came from the country's North East region; 9 individuals, or 7% of the population were born in New York, a North East region state. Another 9 individuals, or 7% of the townsfolk, were born in the South East state of Virginia. Three individuals each from England and Ireland represented 5% of the population (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1870; 1990 Omni-Gazetteer of the U.S.).

The town's population showed a decline in 1870, but the 92 white individuals, or 75%, still held the majority. The 2 black and 29 mulatto individuals represented the minority, or 25% of the total number of townsfolk (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1870).

Geographic Distribution: Place of origin

Region	State/Country	Number	Percent of Residents
Great Lakes	Illinois	69	56
	Indiana	4	3
	Ohio	6	5
	Total	79	64%
North East	New York	9	7
	Pennsylvania	7	6
	Total	16	13%
South East	Virgina	9	7
	Total	9	7%
South Central	Kentucky	6	5
	Missouri	6	4
	Tennessee	1	1
	Total	13	10%
Europe	England	3	2.5
	Ireland	3	2.5
	Total	6	5%
Racial Distribution Race	Black	2	2%
	Mulatto	29	23%
	White	92	75%
	Total	123	100%

Census data collected, formatted, and analyzed by Charlotte King; proofs by Claire Martin.

Source: United States Bureau of the Census, "Population Schedules of the Ninth Census of the United States, 1870, Hadley Township, Pike County, Illinois."

* Source of abbreviation: Omni Gazetteer of the United States of America, 1990, Volumes 1-9.

Transcriptions of the instructions given to the enumerators are available online.

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