A South African Domesday Book: the first Union census of 1911

Abstract

The Union of South Africa was established a century ago in May 1910. The first census of the new united state took place in May 1911. It may therefore be regarded as a foundational, Domesday survey of the country, covering its population, housing, livestock, agriculture and industries. The census was organised with considerable speed, and the compilation and production of the results were equally fast, with all sections and the Director's report completed at the end of 1912, only 19 months after the enumeration. With such haste, some of the details have been lost and with the destruction of most of the original records, there is only a limited possibility of reconstructing the unpublished data. Nevertheless, in scope and inclusiveness, it was never repeated, and therefore remains an under-utilised landmark in the history of the country.