Census in Chernihiv - 15 December 1865 year

Among the collections of the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after V.V. Tarnovsky is the most complete collection of Chernihiv periodicals, published in the city in the 19th and early 20th centuries. So, among the publications of the newspaper "Chernihovskie gubernskie vedomosti" for 1866 year we meet materials about a one-day census in the city, який відбувся 15 December 1865 year. So, at that time it was almost in the city 17 thousands of residents, among which near 3 thousands of nobles, 6 gunsmiths, 20 actors, 5 photographers, over 1100 cats.

Population censuses on Ukrainian lands have been known since the days of Kyivan Rus. Their spread and intensive development of "statistics" methods took place in the 17th-18th centuries. The main purpose of censuses is population taxation.

Over 160 years ago, the Chernihiv Statistical Committee prepared and conducted a one-day census in the city. Among its organizers was the outstanding Ukrainian historian Oleksandr Lazarevskyi (Secretary of the Statistical Committee).

Oleksandr Lazarevskyi. Chernihiv, 1865 рік

House owners were given special forms to fill out a few days before the survey. Officials helped illiterate citizens fill out the questionnaire.

The census materials give an idea of ​​the quantitative composition of the city's population, social status, their religion, occupation, specialization of the population, little known, and craft specialties that no longer exist. Nationality is not actually displayed, but one can assume, that the majority were Ukrainians. There were all residents in the city 16 895 (9223 husband, 7672 women), who lived in 1633 houses. Among the occupations of the townspeople, the field of service and trade dominated. All official positions were held by men (860). Craftsmen were counted 1326. Men were mostly engaged in handicrafts. Many women were servants, worked in trade, tailoring, did household chores, we meet them among actresses. They were also midwives, confectioners. Specialties that have disappeared today: shornik, shmukler, cartwright, furrier, coppersmith, breeder.

All residents in the city - 16 895 (9223 husband, 7672 women).

Natives of the city - 6329, natives of the province - 6334, residents of other provinces - 4079.

Written - 5780, illiterate - 11 115.

Married men - 3197, bachelors - 3135. Married women - 2657, unmarried - 1661. They were divorced 7 людей (one man and 6 women). Children to 7 years - 4176. Pupils were counted 1095.

The townspeople had horses 1184, cows - 1197, pigs - 1142, dogs - 1160, cats - 1122, goats - 539, sheep - 44.

Social composition.

Nobles - 2935 (men and women).

Merchants - 521.

Citizen - 6835.

Cossacks - 456.

Peasant - 2116.

Soldier, who were in service - 985, in stock - 344.

The sphere of service and trade.

So, worked as servants 2585 людей (1019 чоловіків, 1566 women).

Engaged in trade 1169 residents (729 чоловіків, 440 women).

Lived in the city 860 officials (all exclusively male).

The drivers were counted 144 (all men).

paramedics - 35.

Musicians - 27.

Actors - 20 (9 чоловіків, 11 women).

Midwives - 8.

Pharmacists - 7.

Soot shakers - 7.

Artists - 5.

Beggars - 23.

Prisoners - 215 (196 чоловіків, 19 women).

Craftsmen were counted 1326 (1208 чоловіків, 118 women).

Among them were:

tailors - 454 (342 husband, 112 women),

boots - 268 (all men),

carpenters - 144,

blacksmiths - 49,

carpenters - 39,

ovens - 36,

printing house workers - 30,

painters - 27,

bookbinders - 24 (men and one woman),

dyers - 24,

watchmakers - 16,

glaziers - 16,

confectioners - 15 (men and three women),

bricklayers - 14,

jewelers - 13,

glove manufacturers - 12,

coopers - 11,

barbers - 10,

candle manufacturers - 10,

wallpaper makers - 8,

manufacturers of carriages - 7,

gunsmiths - 6,

turners - 6,

roofers - 5,

stonemasons - 5,

wheel manufacturers - 5,

photographers – 5,

cigarette manufacturers - 2.

It was in the city 1633 the house (brick - 162, wooden - 1471), of them there were two-story ones 178.

Among the Orthodox clergy was 75 priests and 31 monk.

Citizens of the Orthodox faith - 10 951, jews - 5207, Catholics - 507, Protestants - 98, Muslims - 16.