1790, underthe authority of secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Seventeen U.S. marshals hired as many assistants as was deemed necessary to travel through the countryside soliciting answers to six questions: the name of the head of the household the number of free white males 16years of age and older; the number of free white males underl 6years of age; the number of free white females: the number of other free persons: and the number of slaves. When the first U.S. census was taken, maps of the new nation were scarce, town and country boundaries were or unknown, and many untrusting citizens were uncooperative. Eighteen months after the enumeration began the work was completed Final tallying revealed a population of slightly less than 4 million inhabitants in the 16 states and The Territory of the United States South of the river Ohio, which later became Tennessee and part of Mississippi During the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century the practice of census taking spread throughout the world International organizations, such as the United Nations have encouraged all countries to adopt uniform standards in taking their census. Decennial censuses are now taken by many countries throughout the world. According to the United Nations about 120 countries conducted censuses between 1980 and 19841790,underthe authority of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Seventeen U.S. marshals hired as many assistants as was deemed necessary to travel through the countryside soliciting answers to six questions: the name of the head of the household; the number of free white males 16years of age and older; the number of free white males under16years of age; the number of free white females; the number of other free persons; and the number of slaves. When the first U.S. census was taken, maps of the new nation were scarce , town and country boundaries were vague or unknown, and many untrusting citizens were uncooperative. Eighteen months after the enumeration began, the work was completed. Final tallying revealed a population of slightly less than 4 million inhabitants in the 16 states and The Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio, which later became Tennessee and part of Mississippi. During the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, the practice of census taking spread throughout the world. International organizations, such as the United Nations, have encouraged all countries to adopt uniform standards in taking their census. Decennial censuses are now taken by many countries throughout the world. According to the United Nations, about 120 countries conducted censuses between 1980 and 1984