This is a listing of 17,895 residents of Orange County during the early months of 1920. The list was compiled from the census listings for the county. The names are listed alphabetically. The surname is first, followed by the given name (or first initial) and the middle initial, if this was recorded. Then comes two sets of numbers. The first number is the number of the family in order of visitation. The FAMILY NUMBER is in COLUMN 4 in the census schedule - it is the number immediately left of the name. The second number, which follows the slash (/), is the ENUMERATION DISTRICT [Example: 104/174, where 104 is the family number and 174 is the enumeration district; there are 12 districts, 174 to 185]. Page numbering is 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, ...etc. and each "page" is a wide sheet which is termed below a "double page."

The enumerators made page numbering, family numbering and sequence errors. There are symbols attached to the family number in some instances to indicate duplicate use, etc. [Example: 154+/174]. Understanding the meaning of these symbols is necessary so the user can find the location of the family in the census. The description below of the problems with the enumeration district listings should be referred to when a family number is encountered that has one of these symbols. But it may also be useful to scan the problem descriptions before searching the index to become familiar with the types of problems encountered with page numbering and sequencing.

Following the listing of problems there is an informational description of each enumeration district.

There is no claim that this is an accurate list of all the residents of the county during the first few months of 1920. It is, instead, a list of our compilers' interpretation of the hand-written names on the 1920 census listings. There is, of course, a difference. The reader is advised to search all possible alternate spellings of names in this index. The names are spelled as nearly as possible to the way in which they are spelled in the original census returns. However, it is clear the enumerators recorded some names phonetically, especially given names, and the standard spelling of other common names was different from the usual in some instances. Families also may have changed spellings of surnames over the years. It was also difficult (or impossible!) to decipher the enumerator's handwriting on occasion, and those names are often so indicated. Other entries may have been incorrectly deciphered, which is why alternative spellings and phonetic pronunciations need to be examined by users of the index. While we have attempted to ensure each person entered on the census is listed here, there is a possibility that we have missed someone on the lists. We welcome corrections to the listing, or different interpretations of names.

--- PROBLEMS WITH THE LISTINGS ---

--- Enumeration District 174 --
Family numbers 149 and 150 were repeated at the top of the 16th page (8B) of the listing, and then family numbers 151 through 156 were repeated on the 17th page (9A) following the first listing of that series on page 16. These repeat family numbers are indicated by the "plus" symbol (+) following the number.

--- Enumeration District 175 ---
The enumerator did not miss or repeat any family numbers in this enumeration.

--- Enumeration District 176 ---
While the enumerator did not miss or repeat any family numbers, there is a problem with the order. Numbers 1 through 184 (part) are on pages 1A to 10B; then 184 (part) starts again on page 13A, running through 204 (part) on page 13B; then back to page 11A with family 204 (part) through family 244 (part) on page 12B [NOTE: actual page 11B is numbered 12B and actual page 12B is numbered 13B, but follow the page/family number sequence]; then to 244 (part) on page 14A and in order through family 296 on page 16B.

--- Enumeration District 177 ---
Family numbers 100 through 119 were repeated on the original when the enumerator reached 199 and started again with 100 instead of 200 [page 12A], then picked up a correction with family number 220 [page 13A]. These entries are indicated by the suffix "percent" symbol (%) on the family number, for example, 109%. Additionally, family number 230 is shown on the original as 130 [page 13A], but is in order and is corrected to 230 on this compilation.

--- Enumeration District 178 ---
The listing in this district uses two sets of family numbers. The one for the unincorporated area runs from 1 to 252 and the one for Carrboro runs from 2(no "1"!) to 212 - the Carrboro group is indicated by the letter "c" following the family number. Additionally, several pages are out of order so the following guide should be used: The unincorporated area portion has families 1-239(part) on pages 1A-12B, then 239(part)-252 on pages 24A-24B. The Carrboro portion has families 2-115(part) on pages 13A-18B; then 115(part)-134(part) on pages 23A-23B; then 134(part)-205(part) on pages 19A-22B; then 205(part)-212 on page 25A. The numbering in the unincorporated portion is corrected and overwritten, so is difficult sometimes to read the family numbers without looking at several pages and studying the number sequence. The enumerator made numbering errors by using family number 145 twice on pages 7B and 8A and number 143 twice on page 19B, and the second use is indicated by the "tilde" symbol (~) after the family number (and the "c" for Carrboro), but these are not difficult to locate as they are consecutive.

--- Enumeration District 179 ---
The enumerator did not repeat any family numbers in this enumeration; however, family number 3 was lined out and not used and family number 34 is lined out and entered at the end, recorded as being added by the clerk.

--- Enumeration District 180 ---
The enumerator made numbering errors by using family numbers 271 and 272 twice on page 11B and number 346 twice on page 14B, and the second use is indicated by the "and" symbol (&) after the family number. Also, he included additional persons from earlier families on the final page, and these too are indicated by "&" following the number (i. e., these persons will be listed not in the original family but on the last page [15B]). He also put one person down twice on the last page (Koonts, Henry 49&).

--- Enumeration District 181 ---
Family numbers 237 through 244 were marked out on the original and corrected on a separate page. Families 264 and 265 were marked out in their place in the original order and were enumerated on the final page. IMPORTANT: Additionally, the enumerator made two major numbering errors; family numbers 104 through 171 were involved. Numbers 104 through 154 were first repeated; then 142 through 171 were repeated (142 through 154 for the second time!). For clarification, the family numbers in the first repetition, 104 through 154, are followed by a "pound" symbol (#). The family numbers in the second repetition, 142 through 171, are followed by a "dollar" symbol ($). If the names you are searching for have one of these suffixes, be sure to look at the later numberings for the family enumeration.

--- Enumeration District 182 ---
Family numbers 75 through 85 were repeated beginning at the top of page 9 of the listing, when the enumerator started a new day with numbers he had used previously. These repeat family numbers are indicated by the "at" symbol (@) following the number (number 81 was unused on this go-around). The enumerator sometimes let his pen run nearly dry, and some entries are not readable. He also had some letters that were almost indistingushable from one another, such as capital Y and L, R and B, and O and A; likewise small letters such as a, o, v, m, n, r, and w tended to run together or appear similiar. He also tended to tail off at the end of names, and his writing often got smaller as he went down the page. Reading his work was a challenge, and researchers may need to be creative when looking for names in this listing.

--- Enumeration District 183 ---
The household/family numbers 291 through 299 and 317 were not used, the enumerator having skipped them during a renumbering of his listings.

--- Enumeration District 184 ---
The enumerator did not miss or repeat any family numbers in this enumeration.

--- Enumeration District 185 ---
Family numbers 90, 142, 177, 188 and 202 were not used, the enumerator having skipped them during a renumbering of his listings; number 132 was used for two families. Additionally, and importantly, the final page was not correctly renumbered, resulting in there being two sets of numbers 259 - 267 (although 266 was skipped on the last page!). For clarification, the families on the final page have been renumbered in this compilation and these reconstituted numbers are followed by an "asterisk" symbol (*).

--- DESCRIPTION OF THE ENUMERATION DISTRICTS ---

--- Enumeration District 174 ---
White Cross Precinct, Bingham Township -- Description
Bingham Township occupies the southwest section of Orange County, and contains the hamlets of White Cross, Oaks, Orange Grove, Teer and Dodson's Crossroads. The Haw River borders the southwestern corner. State Route 54 runs west from Carrboro-Chapel Hill across the township toward Graham and Burlington. The old Chapel Hill-Greensboro road runs across the southern part of the township to the Quaker Meeting House site at Cane Creek in Alamance County, where it turns northwestward toward Greensboro. The area today remains primarily rural agricultural, with some housing developments in the southeastern corner near Carrboro.
The enumeration was accomplished between January 22 and March 10, 1920, by R. L. Smith. It comprises 20 double pages (1A/1B thru 10B), listing exactly 1,000 persons. White Cross precinct of Bingham Township is the designation given to District 5, Enumeration District 174, and is found on the census microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314).
Exactly which area of the township made up the White Cross precinct is not identified in the census. White Cross is on Route 54 in the south central part of the township, and it is reasonable to suspect that the enumerator was assigned the southern portion of the township. The other portion of the township was referred to as Cates precinct, and is Enumeration District 175. [Published Summer-Fall Quarterly, 1995]
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--- Enumeration District 175 ---
Cates Precinct, Bingham Township --- Description
Bingham Township occupies the southwest section of Orange County, and contains the hamlets of White Cross, Oaks, Orange Grove, Teer and Dodson's Crossroads. The Haw River borders the southwestern corner. State Route 54 runs west from Carrboro-Chapel Hill across the township toward Graham and Burlington. The old Chapel Hill-Greensboro road runs across the southern part of the township to the Quaker Meeting House site at Cane Creek in Alamance County, where it turns northwestward toward Greensboro. The area today remains primarily rural agricultural, with some housing developments in the southeastern corner near Carrboro.
The enumeration was accomplished between March 29 and April 29, 1920, by R. L. Smith. It comprises 17 double pages (1A/1B thru 9A), listing 808 persons. Cates precinct of Bingham Township is the designation given to District 5, Enumeration District 175, and is found on the census microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314).
Exactly which area of the township made up the Cates precinct is not identified in the census. The other portion of the township was referred to as White Cross precinct, and is Enumeration District 174. White Cross is on Route 54 in the south central part of the township, and it is reasonable to suspect that the enumerator was here in ED 175 enumerating the northern part of the township. This is supported by the number of Dodson families, which may identify with Dodson's Crossroads, and also a Nicks family, which may identify with Nicks Road (SR 1119). [Published Fall Quarterly, 1996]
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--- Enumeration District 176 ---
Part of Cedar Grove Township (1 of 2) --- Description
This compilation is the first part of the 1920 federal census for Cedar Grove Township. No precinct identification was given.
Cedar Grove Township is located in the northwest corner of Orange County. Historically, according to George W. Tate's 1891 map of the county the northern two-thirds of Cedar Grove Township was a sandy soil which produced pine timber, wheat and tobacco. The southern portion of the township is within the "red lands" and produced chiefly wheat and corn. In the 1890s these products supported several saw and grist mills (Sharp's, Allen's, Warren's, McAdam's, Smith & Guess', Parker's, Compton's, Hawkin's, and Wood's) which were located on the rivers and creeks. The township also supported several church congregations. Roads gave access to the mills and churches, and small towns were located where several roads intersected. In 1997, the township is still rural, with only a few small communities - Carr, Cedar Grove, Kennedy, and McDade - shown on the county map. Efforts are underway to preserve some of the rural character and historic aspects of the area as development moves in the direction of the township.
The enumeration was accomplished between February 5 and March 10, 1920, by Bernice Wagoner. It comprises 32 double pages (1A/1B thur 16B), listing 1,567 persons. It is identified as District 5, Enumeration District 176, on the microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314).
It is not clear which part of the township this list covers. [Published Summer Quarterly, 1994]
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--- Enumeration District 177 ---
Part of Cedar Grove Township (2 of 2) --- Description
This compilation is the second part of the 1920 federal census for Cedar Grove Township. No precinct identification was given. The reader is referred above for a description of the township.
The enumeration was accomplished March 17 through March 30, 1920, by Bernice Wagoner. It comprises 27 double pages (1A/1B thru 14A), listing 1,308 persons, with the final page only partially full. It is identified as District 5, Enumeration District 177, on the microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314).
As in part 1 above, it is not clear which part of the township this list covers. [Published Summer Quarterly, 1996]
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--- Enumeration District 178 ---
Part of Chapel Hill Township (1 of 3) --- Description
Chapel Hill Township occupies the southeast corner of Orange County and includes the major population centers of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Several other minor named hamlets in the township are Calvander and Eubanks. Chapel Hill was founded in 1793 along with the establishment of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Until the 1960s it was a typical small college town. Carrboro was for many years a mill town (founded around the Carr Mill) and has managed to maintain its identity despite the prominence of its larger neighbor. The establishment of the Research Triangle Park in 1959 and completion of interstate highway I-40 through the county in the late 1980s along with the maturing of the university into a major educational and research institution has led to today's increasing population growth and building in and around both communities. This has removed much of the small town aspect and rural charm that certainly existed in Chapel Hill Township in 1920.
The enumeration was accomplished between January 8 and March 23, 1920, by J. M. Lloyd. It comprises 48 double pages (1A/1B thru 25A), listing 2,392 persons. This part of Chapel Hill Township is designated as District 5, Enumeration District 178, and is found on the census microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314).
This list appears to cover the unincorporated area of Chapel Hill Township south of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and the Town of Carrboro. [Published Summer Quarterly, 1997]
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--- Enumeration District 179 ---
Part of Chapel Hill Township (2 of 3) --- Description
The reader is referred above for a description of the township.
The enumeration was accomplished between March 29 and May 5, 1920, by J. M. Lloyd. It comprises 29 double pages (1A/1B thru 15A), listing 1,443 persons. This part of Chapel Hill Township is designated as District 5, Enumeration District 179, and is found on the census microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314).
This list appears to cover the unincorporated area north of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, as the enumerator listed the roads in the area where the families resided. These included: Hillsboro, University (probably the hamlet of University Station, in southern Eno township), and Durham RFD routes; Greensboro Road; Chapel Hill Rail Road; Hillsboro-Chapel Hill Road; Blackwood Station and Durham Road; Oxford Road (the late 1700s road that ran from Chapel Hill to Oxford, now virtually absorbed into modern roads such as Franklin Street on the northeast side of Chapel Hill}; Patterson Mill Road; both "Old" and "New" Chapel Hill Road; Mount Moriah Road, and one curious entry that perhaps bears some research - "Potters Field." [Published Winter Quarterly, 1997]
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--- Enumeration District 180 ---
Part of Chapel Hill Township (3 of 3) --- Description
The reader is referred above for a description of the township.
The enumeration was accomplished between January 3 and January 13, 1920, by Ralph D. Williams. It comprises 30 double pages (1A/1B thru 15B), listing 1,482 persons. This part of Chapel Hill Township is designated as District 5, Enumeration District 180, and is found on the census microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314).
This list appears to cover a major portion of the Town of Chapel Hill and is titled "Chapel Hill Town." [Published Spring Quarterly, 1997]
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--- Enumeration District 181 ---
Cheeks Township --- Description
Cheeks Township is in the west central area of Orange County. It includes the towns of Efland and a portion of Mebane. The major highway westward from Hillsborough, now Route 70, passed through these communities and bisected the township from east to west. Additionally, the railroad was and is today north of and parallel to the route. The present Interstate 85/40 lies to the south of this old route and the railroad.
The enumeration was accomplished January 15 through February 23, 1920 by Mrs. Florence Fitzpatrick, a resident of the township. It comprises 43 double pages (1A/1B thru 22B, with page 17B blank), listing 2,049 persons, although several pages are only partially full. It is identified as District 5, Enumeration District 181, on the microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314). [Published Winter Quarterly, 1996]
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--- Enumeration District 182 ---
Eno Township --- Description
Eno Township occupies the east central section of Orange County, and contains the only one small named hamlet, University, located on the Southern Railway, a former stop for the railroad from which a spur runs south to Chapel Hill and the Univerity of North Carolina facilities. Present US Route 70 and Interstate 85 cross the township at its southern end. Other major roads are St. Mary's road in the north, a very old road, and Pleasant Green Road which runs north-south through the eastern part of the township. The Eno River runs generally west-east through the township, with a southerly jog in the center.
The enumeration was accomplished between January 7 and January 31, 1920, by John A. McCauley, a resident of the township. It comprises 25 double pages (1A/1B thru 13A), listing 1,203 persons. The township is designated District 5, Enumeration District 182, and is found on the census microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314). [Published Spring Quarterly, 1996]
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--- Enumeration District 183 ---
Hillsboro Township (not including the Town of Hillsboro) --- Description
Hillsboro Township, now renamed Hillsborough as the county seat was originally, sits approximately in the center of the county. It includes the town of Hillsborough, but the census for the town was listed separately in Enumeration District 184, so town residents will not be in this listing.
The enumeration was accomplished January 19 through February 18, 1920, by Thomas D. Tinnin, a resident of the Town of Hillsboro. It comprises 43 double pages (1A/1B thru 22A), listing 2,129 persons. It is identified as District 5, Enumeration District 183, on the microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314). [Published Fall Quarterly, 1994]
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--- Enumeration District 184 ---
Town of Hillsboro --- Description
Hillsboro Township, now renamed Hillsborough as the county seat was originally, sits approximately in the center of the county. It includes the Town of Hillsborough, but the census of the town was listed separately in the enumeration, and residents of the town will be found in this listing.
The enumeration was accomplished between January 5 and January 17, 1920, by Thomas D. Tinnin, a resident of the town. It comprises 24 double pages (1A/1B thru 12B), listing 1,180 persons. It is identified as District 5, Enumeration District 184, on the microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314). [Published Winter Quarterly, 1995]
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--- Enumeration District 185 ---
Little River Township --- Description
Little River Township is in the northeast corner of Orange County. It includes the small crossroads settlements named Caldwell and Schley and is bisected in a northeasterly direction by current Route 57, a main road which leads to Roxboro in Person County. Major waterways often mentioned in deeds are the Little River and its north and south forks. Streams in the north of the township flow into the Flat River in southern Person County, and early deeds often mention land in this area as being "on the Flat River." Roads in the township even today may bear the names of the families living there in this 1920 census, many of whose ancestors had lived in the area for generations, some back to the time of original settlement.
The enumeration was accomplished January 7 through February 10, 1920 by Hardy G. Terry, a resident of the township. It comprises 27 double pages (1A/1B thru 14A), listing 1,334 persons. It is identified as District 5, Enumeration District 185, on the microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314). [Published Spring Quarterly, 1995]

Source: District 5, Enumeration Districts 174 - 185, Microfilm for Orange County, North Carolina (T625-1314)

Compiled 1994-1997 by Richard Ellington, Milton Forsyth, Betty Jackson, Janet Krakauer, Richard McKee, and Ray Watson, Members of the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society. Project Originated by the Publications Editor, 1991-1995, Elizabeth Moorman. Previously Published by Enumeration District in the Society Quarterly "The Trading Path." This County-wide Listing Prepared by Milton Forsyth.

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