The total number of dwelling units

in theWashington, D. C., Metropolitan District has increased about 100,000 since 1940, accord ing to estimates released today by J. C. Capt, Director, Bureau or the Census, Department of Commerce. The total number of dwelling units in the Washington, D. C., Metropolitan District was about 353,000 in April, 1947, or 40 percent more. than the figure reported for April, 1940, the last Federal census. Almost all of the dwelling units were ordinary dwelling. units. However, about 1,700 were "other dwelling places" such as trailers, tourist cabins, and shacks.

In April, 1947, homes occupied by their owners represented about 40 percent of all occupied dwelling units, which was about the same as the proportion in 1940 138 percent). or the ordinary occupied dwelling units in 1947, about 275,000, or 80 percent, were occupied by white households and about 68,000, or 20 percent, were occupied by nonwhite households. These percentages are the same as reported in 1940.

About 6 percent (20,000) of the ordinary dwelling units were in need of major repairs in 1947, as compared with 4 percent. (11,000) in 1940.

The median size of household and the median number of rooms in dwelling units in the Washington, D. C., Metropolitan Di strict were about the same in 1947 as in 1940. The extent or overcrowd ing was also about the same in 1947 as in 1940.

The survey indicated that almost 9 out of every 10 dwelling units in the metropolitan district had all of the following designated facilities: Electric lighting and running water; and flush toilet, bathtub or shower, and installed cooking facilities for exclusive use of unit's occupants.

The median monthly rent of tenant-occupied dwelling units in the Washington, D. C., Metropolitan District increased from $41 in 1940 to about $50 in 1947. Approximately 8,000 of the units in 1947 rented for less than $20, as compared with 15,000 units which rented for less than $20 in 1940. In 1947 about 22,000 rented for less than $30 as compared with about 37,000 such units in 1940. About 104,000 units rented for $50 or more per month in 1947 as compared with less than 47,000 in 1940. The rental data presented in this report are not comparable with the figures on changes in rent obtained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for its consumers' price index. See the section on Comparability of rental data, below.

The survey further shows that 16 percent of the dwelling units occupied by veteran households (that is, households in which the head or a relative of the head was a veteran of World War II) contained one or more husband-wife subfamilies, as compared with only 8 percent of the nonveteran households. However, the size, condition, and facilities of the dwelling units occupied by these veteran and nonveteran households were about the same.

The survey further shows that of the total dwelling units in this metropolitan district only 0.2 percent were habitable vacant units offered for rent and 0,2 percent

habitable vacant units offered for sale only. Including vacant units already rented or sold but not yet occupied at the time of the survey and those being held off the market ror various reasons, the total habitable vacancy rate was 1.1 percent. In addition to these vacant units,

0.2 percent of the units were vacant units that were not habitable. Thus the gross vecancy rate for the metropolitan district was 1.3 percent.

were

DET INITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

Description of tables.--Tuble i presents a classification of dwelling units by occupancy Por 1947. Table 2 presents characteristics for all ordinary dwelling units in 1947, with comparative data for 1940 where available, and characteristics for ordinary occupied dwelling units by occupancy, tenure, and color for 1947. Table 3 presents characteristics of dwelling units occupied by veteran and nonveteran households for 1947.

Metropolitan district. --The boundaries of this metropolitan district, shown in the map

on the last page of this report, are those which were established by the Bureau of the Census for use in the Sixteenth Decennial Census.

on a

of the enumeration, a dwelling unit was occupied solely by persons whose usual place of residence was elsewhere, it is classified as "occupied by nonresident." The category "unoccupied" includes seasonal as well as nonseasonal vacancies.

Occupied dwelling units are further classiPied by tenure as "owner-occupied" and "tenantoccupied." An "owner-occupied " dwelling unit is one owned by the head of the household or a mem ber of his family who is living in the dwelling unit or temporarily absent from it. All other occupied dwelling units are classified as "tenant-occupied."

Unoccupied dwelling units are classified as seasonal or non seasonal on the basis of intended occupancy. "Nonseasonal" includes units which are not intended Por occupancy

seasonal basis. A dwelling unit located in the closely built up areas of most cities is considered nonseasonal even though it is used on a seasonal basis by its occupants. "Seasonal" includes all units intended for occupancy during only a portion of the year. Although seasonal dwellings are found prinarily in resort areas, certain dwelling units in rural areas used only for a portion of the year to house migratory workers are included as "seasonal."

Unoccupied vacant nonseasonal dwelling units are classified as habitable or not habitable. The category not habitable" includes not only units reported unfit for human habitation but also units in need of major repairs where similar units in the same neighborhood

are not occupied. Vacant, habitable units are further classified as offered "for rent"; "rented, not yet occupied"; "for sale only"; "sold, not yet occupied"; and "other." A vacant dwelling unit offered both for sale and for rent is classified as "offered for rent." The category "other" includes dwelling units being held to settle an estate, awaiting demolition, being held for absent households, and the like.

Vacant dwelling units under construction or undergoing repairs or alterations are included in the categories "for rent," "rented, not yet occupied," "for sale only," or "sold, not yet occupied" if the vacant unit would be ready for occupancy within one month of the survey date.

or

room

or

Dwelling units.--In general, a dwelling unit is a house or a group of rooms or a single room occupied or intended for occupancy as separate llving quarters by a family or other group of persons living together or by a person living alone. A group of rooms (occupied or intended for occupancy by a family or other group of persons living together or a person living alone) is considered a dwelling unit provided it bas separate cooking facilities or a separate entrance. A single (occupied intended

for OCcupancy by a family or other group of persons living together or a person living alone) is considered a dwelling unit provided it hus separate cooking facilities or provided it has a separate entrance and a private bath or provided it has a separate entrance and is rented unfurnished. Dwelling units

classified by type as "ordinary dwelling units" "other dwelling places." "Ordinary dwelling unitg" include all dtelling units except trailers, tourist cabins, shacks, riverboats, barns, sheds, ruilroad cars, warehouses, and the like which when occupied comprise the category "other dwelling places." Vacant "other dwelling places" are excluded from the data presented in table 1. Living quarters in hotels, dormitories, rooming houses with 10 or more rooms rented or for rent, institutions, jails, hospitals, military or labor camps, etc. are not included in either category for 1947.

as

are

or

Color of occupants.--The color of occupants is determined according to the race of the head of the household. "Nonwhite" includes Negroes, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and other nonwhite races.

Occupancy and tenure.--Ordinary dwelling units are classified according to occupancy as "OCcupied," "oocupied by nonresident," or "unoccupied." To be classified as "occupied" a dwelling unit must be inhabited by persons who make it their usual place of residence, If, at the time

Type of structure.--A "one dwelling unit detached structure" has open space

The total number of dwelling units in theWashington, D. C., Metropolitan District has increased about 100,000 since 1940, accord ing to estimates released today by J. C. Capt, Director, Bureau or the Census, Department or Commerce. The total number of dwelling units in the Washington, D. C., Metropolitan District was about 353,000 in April, 1947, or 40 percent more than the figure reported for April, 1940, the last Federal census. Almost all of the dwelling units were ordinary dwelling units. However, about 1,700 were "other dwelling places" such as trailers, tourist cabins, and shacks.

In April, 1947, homes occupied by their Owners represented about 40 percent of all occupied dwelling units, which was about the same as the proportion in 1940 138 percent). of the ordinary occupied dwelling unit's in 1947, about 275,000, or 80 percent, were occupied by white households and about 68,000, or 20 percent, were occupied by nonwhite households. These percentages are the same as reported in 1940.

About 6 percent (20,000) of the ordinary dwelling units were in need of major repairs in 1947, as compared with 4 percent. (11,000) in 1940.

The median size of household and the median number of rooms 10 dwelling units in the Washington, D. C., Metropolitan District were about the same in 1947 as in 1940. The ertent of overcrowd ing was also about the same in 1947 as in 1940. The

survey indicated that almost 9 out of every 10 dwelling units 10 the metropolitan district had all of the following designated facilities: Electric lighting and running water; and flush toilet, bathtub or shower, and installed cooking facilities for exclusive use of unit's occupants.

The median monthly rent or tenant-occupied dwelling units in the Washington, D. C., Metropolitan District increased from $41 in 1940 to about $50 in 1947. Approximately 8,000 of the units in.1947 rented for less than $20, as compared with 15,000 units which rented for less than $20 in 1940. In 1947 about 22,000 rented for less than $30 as compared with about 37,000 such units in 1940. About 100,000 units rented for $50 or more per month in 1947 as compared with less than 47,000 in 1940. The rental data presented in this report are not comparable with the figures on changes in rent obtained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for its consumers' price index. See the section on Comparability of rental data, below.

The survey further shows that 16 percent of the dwelling units occupied by veteran householas (that is, households in which the head or a relative of the head was a veteran of World War II) contained one or more husband-wife subfamilies, as compared with only 8 percent of the nonveteran households. However, the size, condition, and facilities of the dwelling units occupied by these veteran and nonveteran households were about the same. The survey

further shows that of the total dwelling units in this metropolitan district only 0.2 percent were habitable vacant units offered for rent and 0.2 percent

habitable vacant units offered for sale only. Including vacant units already rented or sold but not yet occupied at the time of the survey and those being held off the market ror various reasons, the total habitable vacancy rate was 1.1 percent.

In addition to these vacant units, 0.2 percent of the units were vocant units that were not habitable. Thus the gross

vacancy rate for the metropolitan district was 1.3 percent.

were

DEF INITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

Description of tables.-- Tuble i presents a classification of dwelling units by occupancy for 1947. Table 2 presents characteristics for all ordinary dwelling units in 1947, with comparative data for 1940 where available, and characteristics for ordinary occupied dwelling units by occupancy, tenure, and color for 1947. Table 3 presents characteristics of dwelling units occupied by veteran and nonveteran housebolds for 1947.

of the enumeration, a dwelling unit was occupied solely by persons whose usual place of residence was elsewhere, it is classified as "occupied by nonresident." The category "unoccupied" includes seasonal as well as nonseasonal vacancies.

Occupied dwelling units are further classified by tenure as "owner-occupied" and "tenantoccupied." An "owner-occupied " dwelling unit is one owned by the head of the household or a nember of his family who is living in the dwelling unit or temporarily absent from it. All other occupied dwelling units are classified as "tenant-occupied."

Unoccupied dwelling units are classified as seasonal or non seasonal on the basis of intended occupancy. "Nonseasonal" includes units which are not intended for occupancy on a seasonal basis. A dwelling unit located in the closely built up areas of most cities is considered nonseasonal even though it is used on a seasonal basis by its occupants. "Seasonal" includes all units intended for occupancy during only a portion of the year. Although seasonal dwellings are found prinarily in resort areas, certain dwelling units in rural areas used only for a portion of the year to house migratory workers are included as "seasonal." Unoccupied or

vacant nonseasonal dwelling units are classified as habitable or not habitable. The category "not habitable" includes not only units reported unfit for human habitation but also units in ed of major repairs where similar units in the same neighborhood are not

occupied. Vacant, habitable units are further classified as offered "for rent"; "rented, not yet occupied"; "for sale only"; "sold, not yet occupied"; and "other." A vacant dwelling unit offered both for sale and for rent is classified as "offered for rent." The category "other" includes dwelling units being held to settle an estate, awaiting demolition,

being held for absent households, and the like.

Vacant dwelling units under construction or undergoing repairs or alterations are included in the categories "for rent," "rented, not yet occupied," "for sale only," or "sold, not yet occupied" if the vacant unit would be ready for occupancy within one month of the survey date.

room

or

Dwelling units.--In general, a dwelling unit is a house or a group of rooms or a single room occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quurters by a family or other

group of persons living together or by a person living alone. A group of rooms (occupied or intended for occupancy by a family or other group of persons living together or a person living alone) is considered a dwelling unit provided it has separate cooking facilities or a separate entrance. A single

(occupied intended for OCcupancy by a family or other group of persons living together or a person ing alone) is considered a dwelling unit provided it hus separate cooking facilities or provided it has a separate entrance and a private bath or provided it has a separate entrance and is rented unfurnished.

Dwelling units classified by type as aordinary dwelling units" or mother dwelling places." "Ordinary dwelling units" include all dwelling units except trailers, tourist cabins, shacks, riverboats, barns, sheds, ruilroad cars, warehouses, and the like which when occupied comprise the cutegory "other dwelling places." Vacant "other dwelling places" are excluded from the data presented in table 1. Living quarters in hotels, dormitories, rooming houses with 10 or more rooms rented or for rent, institutions, jails, hospitals, military or labor camps, etc. are not included in either category for 1947.

as

are

Occupancy and tenure.--Ordinary dwelling units are classified according to occupancy

as "OCcupied," "Occupied by nonresident," or "unoccupied." To be classified as "occupied" a dwelling unit must be inhabited by persons who make it their usual place of residence, If, at the time

Color of occupants.--The color of occupants is determined according to the race of the head of the household. "Nonwhite" includes Negroes, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and other nonwhite races.

Type of structure.--A "one dwelling unit detached structure" has open space

piped to the rooms in the dwelling unit

from a furnace or central boiler or furnished by a pipeless hot air system.

Designated facilities.--The classification of ordinary dwelling units according to designated facilities is based on whether or not they had all of the following facilities: Electric lighting and running water; and flush toilet, bathtub or shower, and installed cooking facilities for exclusive use of the unit's occupants.

Number of rooms.--All rooms used or available for use as living quarters are included in the count of rooms. Bathrooms, strip or pullman kitchens, halls, foyers, pantries, laundries, unrinished

rooms, basement or attic rooms not intended for living quarters, and rooms used for office or business purposes are not included. Rooms used for office purposes by a person living in the dwelling unit such as a doctor, lawyer, or dentist are includ ed in the count of rooms, however.

and contains only one dwelling unit. A "one dwelling unit attuched structure" has one or both sides built directly

against

or having a common wall with an adjoining structure and contains only one dwelling unit. Each unit

in a typical row of three or more "row houses" is included in this Category "Two dwelling unit structures" include a two-unit structure with one dwelling unit on each floor as well as a structure consisting of two dwelling units with a common party wall, each having open space on three sides. A row consisting of only two "row houses" is included as two "one dwelling unit attyched" structures provided that in addition to being attached to each other, either unit is attached to some other structure. The category *3- or 4-dvolling unit structure" includes structures, detached or attached, which contain 3 or 4 dwelling units. A structure which contains a business unit, in addition to 1 to 4 dwelling units, is classified as a "l- to dwelling unit structure with business." Structures containing 5 or more dwelling units with or without a business comprise the category "5or more dwelling unit structure."

State of repair.--Dwelling units reported as "in need of major repairg" include those dwelling units which require ma jor repair or replacement of floors, roof, plaster, walls, foundation, or other major structural components. A repair is major if its continued neglect would seriously impair the soundness of the structure and create a hazard to its safety as a place of residence or if the repair has been neglected so long that the structure is already unsound.

Dwelling units reported as "in good condition or in need of minor repairs" include those which require so structural repairs or only such work

papering, painting, general maintenance, stopping of small leaks, pointing up of masonry, or similar work.

Installed cooking facilities.--By "installed cooking facilities" is meant something more substantial than a one- or two-burner hot plate or other electrical appliance such as a toaster or percolator; stoves either standing on the floor or built into a cabinet

regarded

as installed cooking facilities.

Number of persons.--All persons enumerated as members of the household (including lodgers, servants, and other unrelated persons having no other usual place of residence) are counted in determining the number of persons who occupied each dwelling unit. Students away from home at school and other members temporarily absent are included as members of the household.

Persons per room.--The number of persons per room, used as an index of crowding, was obtained by dividing the number of persons in the household by the number of rooms in the dwelling unit. This computation was made for each occupied dwelling unit.

as

Monthly rent. --The rent shown for tenantoccupied units is that actually paid. If, however, no money rent was paid, as in the case of a doctor, minister, teacher, or farm tenant who receives the use of the house as part of his wages, the monthly rent was based on the monthly rent paid for similar dwelling units in the neighborhood. :

are

Electric lighting.--"Electric lighting" includes lights that are wired to a power line or a home plant even though service may be temporarily suspended.

Veteran and nonveteran households.--"Veteran households" are those in which the head of the household or some member of the household related to the head is a veteran of World War II. A household in which the only veteran

is a lodger or other nonrelative of the head is classified as a nonveteran household. Further, the figures in table 3 on dwelling units occupied

Central heating.--"Central heating" is heating from a steam, hot water, or hot air system,