According to the first United States census, the nation's population in 1790 was 3,929,214.
The census counted the population as of Census Day, August 2, 1790. Congress assigned the work to U.S. marshals, who had to visit households and compile returns across the newly formed country. The results were published in 1791.
The count covered the states and the districts then administered by the federal government. Its schedules classified people into categories including free white people, other free people, and enslaved people, reflecting the legal and social structure of the era.
George Washington and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson both suspected that the figure was an undercount. Long distances, scattered settlements, limited transportation, and refusals to participate made the enumeration difficult. Virginia was the most populous state, while Delaware was the least populous.