1860 U.S. Population Demographics

Helpful Population tables:  1.  1860 U.S. Slave Populations by State   2.  Free Black Population by Region
3.  U.S. States by Admission Date
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Northern, Mid-west, Far West Whites    -  18.5 Million  (19 states)
Northern, Mid-west, Far West Blacks    -       225,000
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Border States White Population              -    2.5 million  (4 states)
Border States Slave Population               -        430,000
Border States Free Blacks                       -          80,000?    
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Confederate States White Population     -    5.5 million  (11 states)
Confederate States Slave Population      -    3.8 million  
Confederate States Free Blacks              -       180,000?
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Almost one-third of all Southern families owned slaves.  In Mississippi and South Carolina it approached one half.  The total number of slave owners was 385,000 (including, in Louisiana, some free Blacks) and 88% of them held fewer than twenty slaves (non-planters).

On a typical plantation (more than 20 slaves) the capital value of the slaves was greater than the capital value of the land and implements. 

Slavery was profitable, although a large part of the profit was in the increased value of the slaves themselves.  With only 30% of the nation's (free) population, the South had 60% of the "wealthiest men."  The 1860 per capita wealth in the South was $3,978; in the North it was $2,040. (source)   Southerners estimated the total value of slaves to be between $2 and $2.8 billion ($50 - $70 billion dollars in today's money).     


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