Finally, an examination of the number of rooms by type of structure shows that the larger units tend to be concentrated in one-family structures. It is significant to note, however, that about onethird of the one-room units are in one-family structures.

From the 1940 Census of Housing it is possible to obtain information on the number of rooms1 by urban, rural nonfarm, rural farm, regions,

Considered in the count of rooms as of 1940 are all rooms in use or available for use as living quarters except bathrooms, pantries, halls, closets, screened porches, or unfinished rooms in the basement or attic. A kitchen was counted as a separate room only if partitioned off from floors to ceiling. Rooms used for office purposes by a person living in the dwelling unit were included, while those used as a store or shop are excluded.

divisions, States, metropolitan districts, counties, and urban places of 2,500 population or more. Race break-downs can be secured for most of the above areas with the exception of urban places of 2,500 to 50,000 population. Also tenure and occupancy data by number of rooms can be secured for most of the areas. A further tabulation of number of rooms by contract or estimated monthly rent by tenure and occupancy and on the number of rooms by type of structure is available for a considerable number of the areas mentioned above. No tabulations are available, however, on the condition and age of structure by number of rooms.

Exterior Material

Since the November 1945 housing supplement to the Monthly Report on the Labor Force provided no information as to exterior materials of

structure, the most recent data available are from the 1940 Census of Housing.

In that census, the exterior materials classified were wood, brick, stucco, and other. The clas

sification "other" includes such materials as stone, concrete, cinder block, tile, metal, adobe, and composition shingles. When more than one type of material is used on the exterior of a structure, the type constituting the greater portion of wall area determined the classification.

Over three-fourths of the nonfarm units in the United States in 1940 were in structures whose exterior material was wood. Brick constituted another 15 percent with stucco and "other" responsible for the remaining 8 percent.

While there were considerable variations by regions in the exterior material used in the structure, wood was the material used overwhelmingly. In New England, and the South Central divisions, almost 90 percent of the units were in structures whose exterior material was wood. Brick was especially important in the Middle Atlantic, Mountain, and South Atlantic regions. Outside of the Pacific and Mountain regions, stucco was not used extensively as exterior material of structures.

A break-down of exterior materials of structures is available for urban, rural nonfarm and farm areas, regions, States, counties, metropolitan districts, cities of 50,000 or more, and urban places of 10,000 to 50,000. No data can be secured on urban places of less than 10,000. There is no information on the relationship of exterior materials and age of structure, although such statistics would prove useful in determining the types of exterior materials used at different periods of history.

Age, Condition, and Plumbing Facilities

The adequacy of housing in a qualitative sense is best revealed by an analysis of its phsyical characteristics such as age, condition, and facilities all of which will be considered in this section. While some sound dwelling units are regarded as undesirable because the surrounding neighborhood has deteriorated, it is impossible to measure accurately the number of such units. Design, layout, light, and air are other factors affecting the quality of dwelling units but they too are difficult to measure. Extremely detailed studies conducted under the guidance of the American Public Health Association have indicated that these factors are closely associated with condition and plumbing facilities in the areas covered."

The age of the dwelling units is significant

A. A. Twichell, A New Method for Measuring the Quality of Urban Housing, American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 33, No. 6, June 1943.

because of its close relationship to all the factors mentioned, particularly in urban areas. Although age cannot be accepted as the sole determinant of the livability of dwelling units, in most instances where extensive renovation and repairs have not been undertaken, units past a certain age tend to be in poor condition, lack essential plumbing facilities or have layouts not adapted to modern living. Frequently neighborhood deterioration is associated with age as well.

In the census of 1940 the date of original construction of the dwelling was obtained from the owner if he was an occupant of the building. If not, the date of construction was obtained from a tenant or neighbor. However, the information given frequently was not the actual but the approximate date of construction, since the informant relied on his judgement or memory.

The Census Bureau has tabulated the condition of dwelling units according to the need for major repairs and the presence or absence of private bath, private inside flush toilet, and running water in the dwelling unit.

Unlike the other housing characteristics enumerated in the 1940 census, the determination of state of repair introduced an element of subjective judgment on the part of the enumerators.

It is natural, therefore, in a job as big as the housing census where more than 100,000 enumerators inspected and classified some 35,000,000 dwelling units that some inconsistencies in classification of dwelling units should occur. In individual dwelling units or groups of dwelling units, instances can be found where it is apparent that dilapidated units have been classified as in good condition or vice versa. Taken as a whole, however, the census tabulations of the state of repair of dwelling units are believed to provide an accurate reflection of the condition of our housing inventory.

To be classified as in need of major repairs in 1940 a dwelling unit had to be one in which "parts of the structure such as floors, roof, plaster, walls or foundations required major repair or replacement. A repair is major when its continued neglect will seriously impair the soundness of the structure and create a hazard to its safety as a place of residence.'

In interpreting the definition of major repair the enumerators were specifically instructed that minor defects such as loose shingles or small cracks in plaster or foundation should not be sufficient to

sion were improperly reported according to the date of conversion.

The data on dwelling units by year built compiled in the census of 1940 are not directly comparable with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of the number of nonfarm dwelling units built each year. In addition to the differences in method of reporting and timing there are sufficiently important differences in concept to invalidate any direct comparisons between the two sets of data.

Some units were lost to the supply through con· version of units from residential to nonresidential use, or from a larger number of units to a smaller number. Likewise, other units were destroyed by fire, flood, or disaster, or demolished for various reasons. The total of units lost because of these factors was undoubtedly far below the number added by conversions.

In addition to units added by new construction and conversions, other units were added to the nonfarm housing inventory through reclassification of dwelling units from farm to nonfarm.

Some of these changes were accompanied by a shift from the rural farm to the rural non farm

classification in cases in which the property was no longer being farmed. This occurred when farmers stopped working their farms and went to work in nearby industrial plants but continued living in the same dwelling units, or when the farmers moved away and the new occupants did not engage in farming.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has published an analysis of the changes that occurred in the nonfarm housing inventory from 1930 to 1940.' Of the 4,000,000 increase in nonfarm dwelling units between 1930 and 1940, approximately 2,700,000 were accounted for by new construction, while an additional 725,000 dwelling units were provided through structural conversions. Other units were added through nonstructural conversion in nonhousekeeping structures, and through reclassification of units from the farm to nonfarm classification. Against these additions to the nonfarm supply were charged estimates of losses through demolition and disaster.

In April 1940 the median age of all nonfarm dwelling units in the United States was almost

7 Housing and the Increase in Population, Monthly Labor Review, U. S. Department of Labor, March 1942.

DIVISION IN 1940

SOURCE: Bureau of the Census

20

10

U.S. NE MA. E.N. W.N. S.A. E.S. W.S. Mr. P.
C. C.
C. C.

P.

M.A.

Middle Atlantic

C.

C. C.

E.N.

E North Central

C.

PERCENT BUILT 1930-1940

U.S. N.E. M.A. E.N. W.N. S.A. E.S. W.S. MI. P. C. C.

E.S. E. South Central

C.

W.S. W. South Central C.

C. C

40

30

20

25 years.

Urban units had a median age of 26 years as compared with the median age of 20 years of rural nonfarm dwelling units. The disparity in ages revealed by these data reflect the trend in the 1930's toward suburban living and the coincident development of rural nonfarm areas near large cities.

The nonfarm housing inventories of the extreme western and southwestern parts of the country are relatively newer than in the other sections. Approximately one-quarter of the dwelling units in the Pacific, Mountain, and West South Central States as of 1940, had been built in 1930 and later. Fewer than 8 percent of the nonfarm units in the West South Central and Pacific States had been built prior to 1900, and 14 percent of the units in the Mountain States.

In the nonfarm housing inventory in New England, on the other hand, only 10 percent of the units had been built after 1930 while 39 percent of the units had been built before 1900. The median age of nonfarm units in New England, 34 years, was the highest for all geographic divisions. The next highest median ages in 1940 were 30 years in the West North Central States and 28 years in the Middle Atlantic States.

ing units, were in need of major repairs. An additional 6,699,000 dwelling units, although in good condition, did not have a private bath and private flush toilet within the unit. Thus a total

1

Source: Bureau of the Census.

748221-48- -5

55