Whilst looking for items for a forthcoming series, I came across this article in the Fairbanks newspaper. It details a number of interesting points about the then-upcoming 1940 United States Census. What is interesting is that the two enumerators discussed had a long lead time to get to their enumeration districts and a very long route to travel.

The following is an extract, but I’d be happy to email a digital copy of the full article to anyone who wants one.

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Alba To Go 2,500 Miles for Census

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Goddard to Travel 1,750 and Both Routes Believed To Be Longest in Nation

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What is believed to be the longest route under the American Flag for a census enumeration will be traversed by Frank Alba, pioneer Alaskan, who has been named as enumerator for five adjoining districts in Interior Alaska. He will cover a distance of 2,500 miles using a dog team and sled, and having the help of a driver.

Mr. Alba will start on his work this week and finish it by next April. He will fly from this city to Nulato within a few days. There he will be starting his census enumeration.

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Goddard in Lower Kuskokwim

Leaving Fairbanks on the same plane that will take Mr. Alba to Nulato will be William F. Goddard, who will go to Bethel on the Kuskokwim. He is enumerator for three districts in the Lower Kuskokwim country, including Goodnews Bay. He will cover a route of not fewer than 1,750 miles, and will do his traveling with a dog team.

Mr. Goddard’s route probably is the second longest route in the work of census enumeration.

Both Mr. Alba and Mr. Goddard have their homes in this city.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Fairbanks, Alaska Territory, 6 November 1939, page 4, columns 1–2.

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