Prices and Wages by Decade: 1860-1869
Links to government documents and primary sources listing retail prices for products and services, as well as wages for common occupations.
Wages in the United States, 1860-1869
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MISCELLANEOUS
WHOLESALE PRICES in the U.S.
PRICES in FOREIGN COUNTRIES
GENERAL SOURCES
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Unskilled occupations - Average daily wages, 1840-1891Shows wages of laborers, yard hands, watchmen, teamsters, quarrymen, coal-heavers, helpers, unskilled factory operatives, without any geographic breakouts. Source: Journal of Political Economy vol. 13, pp. 361-363.
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Wages for four common occupations in 1860, by stateThe 1860 Census showed average wages for farm hands, day laborers, carpenters and female domestic workers. This source also shows the number of people in each state/territory working in each occupation.
Civil War pay, 1861-1865
- Army
- Officer pay, 1861-1862 in U.S. Army Register.
- Pay, 1863 with additional occupational breakouts
- Officer pay shown in War Claimant's Guide by G. Raff, pp. 180-183.
- Navy
- Officer pay tables for 1860-July 1862 and July 1862-1870.
- Officer and surgeon pay, 1863
- Pay shown in War Claimant's Guide by G. Raff, p. 197.
- Marines
- Officer pay shown in War Claimant's Guide by G. Raff, p. 203.
- Prisoners of War - Pay
A 1864 Union circular recommended paying Confederate prisoners 10¢ per day to mechanics and 5¢ per day to laborers. Additional detail and further explanation in History of prisoner of war utilization by the United States (pub. 1955).
- Army pay for generals, colonels, lieutenants, majors, sergeants, captains, corporals, artificers, musicians, chaplains and privates. Source: Confederate States Almanac (1862)
- Pay for officers, enlisted men, medical department personnel and general staff as well as blacksmiths, carriage makers, armorers and more in Digest of the military and naval laws of the Confederate States... published 1864, pp. 28-31.
- Nurse pay cited in Our Army nurses...during our Civil War (pub 1895)
Civil War nurse- "The pay of those regularly mustered in the service was $12 per month..." (p. 13)
- Hospital matron pay was $6 per month until 1863, when it was increased to $10 (p. 551)
- Contract nurses were paid $13 per month, according to the National Assoc. of Civil War Army Nurses (see entry for Hannah Starbird, p. 59)
Wages by industry and occupation, 1860-1869
A
- Artificial limb makers - Wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
B
- Blacksmiths - BLS Bulletin no. 499.
- Boiler makers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Bricklayers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Building trades - Daily wages in New York in 1869 for carpenters, plasterers, painters, etc.
C
- Cabinet makers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Carpenters - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Coal miners in Pennsylvania, BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Congressional salaries, 1789-present
- Coopers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Cooper shops in western states - Wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Core makers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Cotton mills, weekly wages by state - in Special report on immigration (1869)
D
- Dressers, woolen and worsted goods - BLS Bulletin no. 499
E-F
- Engineers, stationary - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Firemen, locomotive - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Firemen, stationary - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Furnace keepers in Pennsylvania - BLS Bulletin no. 499
G
- Gas works - Wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Glass blowers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Glass works - Employee wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Government salaries, federal and state ca. 1867
Shows salaries by agency and position. Source: World Almanac, 1868, which quoted from the Official Register of the United States volumes (see them here).
H
- Hod Carriers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
FARM WAGES
- National and regional farm wage data
- 1860 - Average monthly earnings with board. See explanation for this table.
- 1866 and 1869 - Wages with or without board, at harvest and other times of year.
- State farm wage data
- In 48 states/territories, 1866-1909 on pages 29-31.
- Average wages per day without board in Table 17.
- Daily wages with board in Table 18.
- "Extras received by laborers" discusses non-monetary benefits paid to farm laborers, pp. 49-52.
- Purchasing power of farm wages over the years discussed, pp. 52-53.
- Wages in southern states only - 1860, 1867, 1868
- Shows monetary pay for outdoor labor on farms, and details the rations and clothing that were distributed along with monetary pay in 1860. States covered: VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, AR, TN.
- Wages in 1860-1869 for NY, NJ, IL, IA and AL in BLS Bulletin no. 499, pg. 225
- Individual states with a long time series:
- Vermont, 1780-1937
Table 26 shows daily and monthly wages with board. Source: Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station. - Missouri, 1866-1930
Wages with and without board, during harvest time or at other times. Source: Missouri State Dept of Agriculture.
- Vermont, 1780-1937
- In 48 states/territories, 1866-1909 on pages 29-31.
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- Hospital staff in St. Louis, 1861: doctor, nurse, apothecary and steward salaries at St. Louis Marine Hospital in this source, p. 15.
- Iron foundry worker wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Iron miners - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Iron molders - BLS Bulletin no. 499
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- Knitters, hosiery - BLS Bulletin no. 499
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- Laborers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Leather worker wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
M
- Machinists - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Manufacturing wages, 1850s-1870s
Published in 1886 as part of the 10th U.S. Census. Also printed in Serial Set Vol. 2150. - Marble cutters - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Mechanical labor wages by state in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Military - SEE box above, "Civil War pay"
- Millwrights, flour mill - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Musical instrument manufacturing wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
P
- Painters - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Paper mills - Wages by state, in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Patent medicine production wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Pattern makers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Plasterers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Plumbers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Pottery and earthenware manufacturing wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Printing and publishing - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Bookbinders, pg. 337
- Compositors, pp. 347-348
- Pressmen, pg. 355
- Press feeders, pg. 340
- Railroad worker wages in Massachusetts - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Railroad machine shop wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Rubber goods manufacturing wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Sewing machine operators - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Shoemaker wages by state in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Shoemakers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Silverware manufacturing wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Spinners - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Stone cutters - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Sawyers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Shipbuilding wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- School teacher wages by state, 1864-1865
Provides average monthly salaries for male and female teachers in the states of MA, PA, CT, MI, OH, VT, ME, IA, WI, IN, NH, IL and CA for the years 1864 and 1865. - School teacher wages in major U.S. cities, ca. 1867
Includes salaries of school principals, "assistants," art teachers and music teachers, broken out by primary grades, grammar school and high school in cities such as Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans, St. Louis, San Francisco, etc. Table is not dated but it is likely from around 1866-1867. - Illinois school teacher pay by sex, 1855-1874
Table shows the high, low and average pay received by school teachers in each year from 1855 to 1874 in Illinois. Source: 11th Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Illinois. - Massachusetts teachers wages - 1865
Shows that the average monthly wages for male teachers is $54.77 and $21.82 for female teachers. Includes other descriptive statistics about the Massachusetts education system. Source: Massachusetts Board of Education - Minnesota school teacher wages by county and sex, 1862
Shows average wages at common and high schools, German and English schools, "Colored" schools, private and select schools. Source: Minnesota Commissioner of Common Schools. - Missouri teacher salaries by county and sex, 1860 and 1868
Report of the public schools of Missouri published in 1869 list average salaries for male and female teachers. Compare to county reports of teacher wages reported for 1860. - California school teacher wages - 1860s
Many of these tables include breakouts for male and female school teachers.
Textile worker tends a carding engine, 1860s Source: Book of TradesT
- Tanners - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Teamsters - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Textile industry wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Cotton mills, wages by state
- Woolen mills, wages by state
W
- Wallpaper ("paper hangings") production wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Wheel and wagon manufacturing wages in Special report on immigration (1869)
- Winders in Massachusetts - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Woodworkers - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Wool sorters - BLS Bulletin no. 499
- Woolen mill wages by state, in Special report on immigration (1869)
Wages by state, 1860-1869
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Wages by occupation and state, 1869-1870Lists average weekly wages by state for factory, mechanical and farm labor. Source: Special report on immigration..., U.S. Bureau of Statistics, 1871.
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Monthly wages by occupation and sex, 1840-1891 (not averaged)Reports monthly wages paid to individual, unnamed male and female employees in a variety of jobs at selected establishments in the northeast U.S. Source: Congressional report Wholesale prices, wages and transportation, pub. 1893. Industries covered:
- Agricultural implement manufacture (MA)
- Ale, beer and porter production (NY)
- Book and newspaper publishers (CT, NY, MD)
- Building trades (CT, MD, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI)
- Railroad car and ship building (DE)
- Wagon and carriage manufacture (NY)
- City public works (MA, NY, PA)
- Cotton milling (MA)
WAGES in CALIFORNIA
See tabs above for additional wage categories
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California wages - 1850s to around 1900Bibliography of California state government publications tells what books list wages for various occupations including teachers (1850s-1880s), railroad employees (1870s-1880s), farm workers (1890s), miners and lumbermen (1902), and sailors (1904). If you need assistance tracking down the publications listed in this bibliography, contact us.
WAGES in MASSACHUSETTS
See tabs above for additional wage categories
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Massachusetts - Wages by occupation, 1860-1897Average weekly wages by occupation in 1860, 1872, 1878, 1881 and 1897. Source: Mass. Bureau of Statistics of Labor 28th Annual report, pp. 4-12.
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Massachusetts wages in manufacturing industries, 1860Compares wages in MA to that of Great Britain (abbreviated G.B. in the tables.)
WAGES in MINNESOTA
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Logging industry wages in Minnesota, 1868 seasonShows average monthly wages paid to men who worked on rafts and for labor in the woods. Also shows the price of logs. Source: Statistics of Minnesota for 1869.
WAGES in NEW HAMPSHIRE
See tabs above for additional wage categories
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New Hampshire prices and wages, 1860sThe 1872 Report of Commissioners on Bureau of Labor Statistics to the [New Hampshire] Legislature is a rich source of wages dating as far back as the 1600s; pages 48-51 focus on 1860-1870.
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Clergy in New Hampshire, 1860sThis publication show the salary paid to a reverend who served in Candia, NH from 1859-1864. Source: History of old Chester [N.H.] from 1719 to 1869 by Benjamin Chase (1869).
WAGES in NEW YORK
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Union wages in New York, 1869Shows weekly wages in 88 trades. Copied from the New York Daily Times newspaper.
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Building trade wages in New York City suburbs, 1869A laborer could earn $2 per day; a plasterer could earn $5.50 per day. See wages for bricklayers, carpenters, painters and more in Woodward's, published 1869.
WAGES in OHIO
See tabs above for additional wage categories
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Wages by occupation in Ohio, 1869Look for entries listing Ohio specifically. Source: "Miscellaneous occupations" in Special report on immigration (1869), pp. 209-212.
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Fire department wages in Cleveland Ohio, 1864-1865Lists all individuals employed by the Steam Fire Department along with job titles and monthly salaries for each man. This source does not provide salary averages.
WAGES in TERRITORIES
- Female servant's average wages in 1869
Pay averaged $50 monthly in Montana Territory, and $40 per month in Idaho and Arizona territories (p. 217). Source: Special Report on Immigration, U.S. Dept of Treasury, Bureau of Statistics, pub. 1871.
Foreign wages by country, then occupation - 1860-1869
WAGES in GREAT BRITAIN, 1860s
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Great Britain or England - Wages by occupation, late 1860sMany tables in this extensive section include a column showing average wages for various occupations in Great Britain or England, usually for the years 1866, 1867 or 1868.
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Great Britain - Wages compared to Massachusetts, 1860-1883Mostly covers manufacturing industries. Wages reported in dollars. Each table spans two pages in the book. Source: Comparative wages, prices, and cost of living, a Mass. state govt report.
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Working class wages in England, Scotland and Ireland, ca. 1867The book Wages and Earnings of the Working Classes (source) published in London discusses earnings by occupation, wages and hours of labor, as well as prices of food, rent, tools, etc. and typical expenses for the working class in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Average wages overall are noted in the introduction. Note that shillings and pence may be written with a slash, so that 6 / 8 would indicate 6 shillings, 8 pence.
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United Kingdom - Wages, 1810-1886Extensive, 437-page government report indicates detailed wages by occupation in many locations throughout the UK. Wages are reported in British currency.
WAGES in AUSTRALIA, 1860s
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Australia - Melbourne wages in 1863 and 1868Wages expressed in pounds, shillings and pence for agricultural laborers, shepherds, masons, bricklayers, carpenters, blacksmiths, cooks, grooms, gardeners, laundresses, maids, nursemaids, household servants, ocean seamen, and more. Source: 1873 edition of the Victorian year-book, an Australian government publication.
WAGES in BELGIUM, 1860s
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Belgium - Wages by occupation in Bavaria, 1866Farm wages for Bavaria appears on page 8. Occupations include watchmakers, roofers, pastry cooks, locksmiths, hatters, glove makers, women lacemakers, pavers, engineers, lamp makers, house painters, stonemasons, cigar makers and more. Exchange rates from francs to dollars are provided.
WAGES in FRANCE, 1860s
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France - Wages, 1860sData and discussion are provided in the "Wages" entry in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, 10th edition, vol. 33, p. 724-726 (source)
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Agricultural Wages in France, 1788-1862Reviews the changes in wages for farm labor in France, giving earnings for various years from 1788 to 1862.
WAGES in IRELAND, 1860s
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England, Scotland and Ireland - Wages and earnings, ca. 1867The book Wages and Earnings of the Working Classes (source) published in London discusses earnings by occupation, wages and hours of labor, as well as prices of food, rent, tools, etc. and typical expenses for the working class in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Average wages overall are noted in the introduction. Note that shillings and pence may be written with a slash, so that 6 / 8 would indicate 6 shillings, 8 pence.
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United Kingdom - Wages, 1810-1886Extensive, 437-page government report indicates detailed wages by occupation in many locations throughout the UK. Wages are reported in British currency.
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Irish farm laborer wages, 1849-1869Also shows prices of bread, milk, whisky, blankets, coal and more. Source: Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, v.33, pp. 153-157.
WAGES in SCOTLAND, 1860s
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Scotland - Carpenter and joiner wages, 1869Wages listed by town. Source: Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, vol. 33, p. 157
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England, Scotland and Ireland - Wages and earnings, ca. 1867The book Wages and Earnings of the Working Classes (source) published in London discusses earnings by occupation, wages and hours of labor, as well as prices of food, rent, tools, etc. and typical expenses for the working class in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Average wages overall are noted in the introduction. Note that shillings and pence may be written with a slash, so that 6 / 8 would indicate 6 shillings, 8 pence.
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United Kingdom - Wages, 1810-1886Extensive, 437-page government report indicates detailed wages by occupation in many locations throughout the UK. Wages are reported in British currency.
WAGES in SPAIN, 1860s
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Spain - Wages in 1827, 1868 and 1902Tells wages in pesetas. Luxemburg and Limburg published in Great Britain by the Historical Section of the Foreign Office p. 44.
WAGES in SWEDEN, 1860s
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Sweden - Farming wages for male and female workers, 1866-1900Shows average yearly salaries (besides room and board) for servants, the value of tenement laborers entire pay (including wages and provisions), summer and winter wages per day, and the wages earned in 300 days in Sweden for the years 1866-1900. Figures shown are in Kronor, but conversion rates for shillings and dollars are included. Source: Sweden: its people and its industry; historical and statistical handbook published by order of the government, Stockholm, 1904.
International wages by occupation (A - Z), 1860-1869
Source: 15th Annual Report of the U.S. Commissioner of Labor: A Compilation of wages in commercial countries from official sources, volume 1 and volume 2 (published 1900). All wage data is cited back to the original government source through report numbers; see the key to report numbers here.
- Cabinet makers (1810-1900)
- Carpenters (1725-1900)
- Carpenter foremen (1854-1900)
- Carriage and wagon trimmers (1839-1900)
- Chair makers (1845-1899)
- Chimney sweeps (1853-1898)
- Cigar makers (1860-1900)
- Clerks (1843-1899)
- Coffee and spice grinders (1861-1898)
- Compositors (1833-1900)
- Cooks (1852-1899)
- Coopers (1725-1900)
- Coppersmiths (1821-1899)
- Curriers, leather (1812-1899)
- Dishwashers (1872-1896)
- Distillers (1840-1899)
- Dock hands (1815-1899)
- Doffers (1839-1900)
- Draftsmen (1848-1899)
- Dressmakers (1851-1898)
- Drivers of delivery wagons (1841-1899)
- Embroiderers (1853-1898)
- Errand boys (1861-1899)
- Farm laborers (1725-1899)
- Farm laborers - Harvest hands (1725-1898)
- Furniture finishers (1845-1900)
- Firemen for illuminating gas (1840-1898)
- Firemen, stationary (1839-1900)
- Fullers, textile (1863-1896)
- Furriers (1860-1898)
- Gas fitters (1840-1900)
- Glass blowers, bottles (1841-1898)
- Glass blowers, window glass (1841-1898)
- Glaziers (1839-1899)
- Glove makers (1841-1898)
- Goldsmiths (1846-1897)
- Gunsmiths (1857-1896)
- Harness and saddle makers (1840-1899)
- Hat makers (1839-1898)
- Hod carriers (1789-1900
- Horse shoers (1839-1900)
- Iron molders (1839-1900)
- Jewelers (1846-1899)
- Newspaper reporters (1853-1898)
- Nurses (1852-1899)
- Office boys (1857-1896)
- Organ makers (1865-1900)
- Painters (1810-1900)
- Pattern makers (1839-1900)
- Piano makers (1865-1898)
- Plasterers (1725-1900)
- Plumbers (1725-1900)
- Porters (1828-1899)
- Potters (1840-1898)
- Prescription clerks (1840-1897)
- Pressmen, printing and publishing (1834-1900)
- Puddlers (1837-1899)
- Quarrymen (1842-1900)
- Roofers (1810-1900)
- Sail makers (1855-1900)
- Salesmen and saleswomen (1840-1899)
- Sawyers, lumber & lumber products (1810-1900)
- Seamen (1834-1900)
- Seamstresses (1836-1898)
- Servants (1768-1899)
- Shepherds (1843-1898)
- Ship carpenters (1812-1900)
- Shoemakers (1810-1899)
- Soap makers (1860-1897)
- Spinners, cotton (1804-1900)
- Spinners, wool (1818-1900)
- Stablemen (1855-1899)
- Stonecutters (1789-1900)
Economic analysis and calculators, 1860s
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Nineteenth Century Wage Trends30-page booklet reviews overall wage trends from 1800-1899. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff Paper #2.
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Calculator: Present-day purchasing power of a historic dollar amountThe MeasuringWorth.com website provides online calculators, guides and tutorials to help researchers understand the current-day value of historic money in the United States, Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
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Historical purchasing power - UK National ArchivesThis calculator can be used to determine the historical purchasing power of currency in the United Kingdom from 1270 to 2017. Purchasing power is represented in its equivalence in horses, wheat, the yearly wages of a skilled tradesperson, and others.
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"How Much is that in Real Money? A Historical Price Index..."Provides explanations and charts to help users calculate the current value of historic dollar amounts. Source: Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Association, Vol. 101 #2. Source
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Prices in the United States, 1860-1869
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Prices of food and dry goods by U.S. region, state and territory, 1869Average retail prices of food, fabrics and other leading articles of consumption. Prices also available by state/territory. Source: Special Report on Immigration published by the U.S. Treasury's Statistics Bureau, pp. 228-230.
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Retail prices by town in 15 states, 1851-1880The 1890 U. S. census shows changing retail prices over time in about 65 towns for items such as fabrics and men's heavy boots. Flours, meats, fish, butter, beans, eggs, milk and other foods are in a separate section starting on p. 44. Click "more..." for direct links to towns.
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Coffee, tea, sugar and molasses prices in 15 states, 1851-1880Shows the changing retail prices over time in about 65 towns. Source: 1890 Census.
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Retail prices before and after the Civil WarComparative cost of provisions, groceries, domestic dry goods, house rent, etc. States included: ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, PA, NJ, DE. Dates compared: 1860-61 and 1867-68. Source: Report from the Special Commissioner of the Revenue, U.S. Dept of Treasury.
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Price of food and provisions in Massachusetts, 1860Shows food prices as well as the cost of soap, firewood and coal. Source: Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, 28th Annual Report, p. 22.
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Boston restaurant prices, September 1865Menu for the Parker House in Boston shows prices for 422 dishes.
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Beer and ale sold by the glass in NYC - Prices pre-1861According to this source, “Previous to the war ...the price per glass of ale or beer, containing fully one-third more than the glasses in use [in 1870] was six cents." Source: One Hundred Years of Brewing, page 230, column 1.
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New York market - Prices of staple items, 1860-1863This U.S. Treasury document shows prices for each month as well as yearly averages from 1825-1863 for flour, rice, fruits, fish, pork, beef, butter, cheese, salt, sugar, molasses, whiskey, brandy, wine, gin, rum, coffee, tea, tobacco and other non-food items. Items sold in large quantities usually indicate wholesale prices.
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Grocery prices in NY, NJ, PA - 1867, 1869, 1874Shows average prices of food and provisions in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in 1867, 1869, 1874. Source: Bureau of Industrial Statistics
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Food and provision prices in New York, 1825-1882Shows the lowest and highest prices for selected food items in NYC over 56 years between 1825-1882. Source: Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics of Michigan, pp. 248-250.
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New York City - Price of delivered milk, 1861The retail price for milk delivery was 6 cents per quart in NYC. This article in a U.S. Dept of Agriculture report explains how fresh milk could get from farm to customer without refrigeration.
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Board rates by city for men and women, 1851-1880Cost to regularly take meals at boarding establishments in selected towns in the states of CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MO, NY, OH, PA and WV. See also a description of boarding houses with further discussion of rates on pages 6-9 of this 1865 source.
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Colorado - Food prices, 1860Average retail prices for food and commodities. Source: Colorado BLS, 4th Biennial report, pp. 175-179.
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Ohio prices, 1830-1862Shows price of coffee, sugar and tallow candles by the pound; corn and wheat by the bushel and more for 1830, 1832, 1835, 1838, 1840, 1845, 1847, 1850, 1853, 1855, 1858, 1860 and 1862. Source: Ohio Commissioner of Statistics, 7th Annual report (1863), p. 621.
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Ohio food prices by city, 1860sPrices in Cincinnati are shown on pages 806-809. Prices in Columbus are on pages 821-823. Prices in Cleveland are on pp. 833-836. All are part of a longer table that shows annual price data from 1825-1892. Source: Ohio Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17th Annual Report.
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Virginia - Prices of food and supplies, 1863-1864A price list prepared by the Confederate military authorities declared the price they would pay in Virginia for food, supplies, animals and other materials needed for the war. The list was to be in effect only for the months of December 1863 and January 1864. It listed prices for bacon, beans, potatoes, coffee, whiskey, molasses, salt and other food items; soap, candles, cloth by the yard, leather, army shoes, wool socks, tent cloths, railroad iron and mules. The price of a mule suitable for pulling a wagon was $300. A horse was $350.
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Western states - Prices, 1865Source: Across the continent: a stage ride over the plains... by Samuel Bowles.
- Colorado prices, p. 65 with detail on Denver prices, p. 22
- Utah prices, pp. 101-102
- California - San Francisco prices, pp. 341-342
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Railroad passenger fares by RR company, 1850-1897Average passenger fares in cents per mile. There is no differentiation between classes of travel. Source: USDS Misc. Bulletin #15, pp. 65-77.
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Transportation rates in western states, 1865Travel guide lists fares of steamship, steamboat, railway and stage coach travel, on or connecting with the Pacific coast, including California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, as well as Canada, Panama, Mexico and more.
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San Francisco fares to other cities and countries, 1869Source: Bancroft's guide for travelers by railway, stage, and steam navigation in the Pacific states, pp. 7-17.
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RR, steamship and stage ticket prices from New York, 1865Ticket prices by rail from NY to Chicago or St. Louis. Steamship ticket prices from NY to California. Stage coach ticket prices from Kansas to Denver, Salt Lake City, Idaho, Montana or California. Source: Shelley's guide (1865).
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Emigrant price for RR ticket from NYC to Chicago, 1863An "emigrant rate" (third class) ticket from New York City to Chicago cost $11 in 1863. Source: International Railway Congress report, p. 4.
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Railroad ticket price from Chicago to eastern cities, 1868Newspaper advertisement shows reduced fares: $19 to Philadelphia; $20 to New York City; $23 to Boston.
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Railroad passenger fares for lines in Pennsylvania - 1861See Question #96 of the survey. Scroll forward in the source to see answers from all the Pennsylvania railroads, pp. 7-194.
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NYC to Tennessee - Route and rates, 1868"It has been agreed to transport immigrants at the rate of two cents per mile..." in Tennessee hand-book and immigrant's guide (source), p. 151.
TRAVEL using ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLES
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Cost to travel six months by covered wagon - ca. 1865This navigation guide to the gold regions gives a list of all items needed for four people to take such a journey (wagon, food, tools, equipment, supplies) and estimates the collective cost at $850. Costs are not itemized.
Four men traveling six months by wagon might need $850 to cover costs of the journey -
Stage coach fare in CA, NV, UT, AZ, OR, ID, WA, MT, etc. - 1869Numerous stage coach lines, routes and fares are listed on pages 44-92 of Bancroft's guide for travelers by railway, stage and steam navigation in the Pacific states (source).
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Stagecoach fares in western states, Summer 1865Overland Stage fares from Atchison Kansas to Denver was $175; to Salt Lake was $350; and to Nevada, California, Montana or Idaho was $500. Source: Across the continent: a stage ride over the plains... by Samuel Bowles, pp. 53-54.
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Prices of horse-drawn vehicles, 1860Shows prices of carriages, buggies and surreys (p. 14) as well as sleighs, farm wagons, road wagons and spring wagons in The Course of prices of farm implements and machinery... (source).
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Horses and mules - Average price per head, 1867-1920Chart shows prices for farm animals. Source: USDA Yearbook, 1919 edition, p. 653.
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Costs to get around town in Boston, 1862-1866Boston guidebook lists rates to ride in hired carriages, as well as baggage allowance, 1864-1866. Source: The Stranger's new guide through Boston and vicinity..., published 1866. Russell's horse railroad guide for Boston and vicinity (May 1862) lists routes and fares as well.
STEAMSHIP TRAVEL
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Travel by ship from New York to California, 1865The Pacific Steamship Company offered first class fare for $350; second class for $250 and steerage for $125. Source: Across the continent: a stage ride over the plains... by Samuel Bowles, p. 388.
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Ocean steamship fares, 1865Shows fares between San Francisco and England, Canada, Panama, Mexico, etc. in the Pacific Ocean section. Includes a section on fares to cross the Atlantic Ocean or travel between Caribbean islands. Source: Guidebook of the Pacific.
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Costs for American tourists in Europe, etc. - 1865Section titled "Skeleton Tours" in the Introduction show the itemized cost of several suggested tourist itineraries. Source: The American travellers' guides. Hand-books for travellers in Europe and the East, covering Great Britain and Ireland, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Tyrol, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Spain, and Portugal.
HOTEL RATES, 1860s
Hotel rates found advertised in newspapers and travel guides.
- 1860
- Philadelphia PA, $1 per day
- 1861
- Buffalo NY, $1 to $1.50 per day
- Philadelphia PA
- Revere House and National Hotel, $1.25 per day
- Jone's Hotel, $1.50 per day
- 1862
- Philadelphia PA, $1.25 per day
- Weston, VA, $1.50 per day
- 1863
- Resort near Harrisburg PA, $2 per day
- 1864
- Dubuque IA, $1.25 per day
- 1867
- New Orleans LA, $2 per day
- Mattawan MI, $1.50 per day
- Gorham NH, $1 to $2.50 per day
- Schoharie Station NY, $2 per day
- Rochester NY, $3 per day
- Scranton PA, $2 per day
- 1868
- Memphis TN, $2.50 per day
- Atlantic City NJ, $3.50 per day
- Cape Island NJ, $4 per day
- Catskill Mountain resort in NY, $4.50 per day
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Prices of farm implements, machinery and tools, 1860Prices of farm implements such as plows and cultivators, carts, engines, tools, equipment and supplies. Tables extend from page 14-28 in this source.
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Cook stove, heat radiator and furnace prices - 1868Commercial catalog shows prices for coal-burning parlor furnaces, heat radiators, and cook stoves. Retail stores could purchase in quantity at a 30% discount off published suggested retail prices.
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Sewing machines for home use - Prices, 1860sAt least a dozen manufacturing companies were producing sewing machines in the 1860s; see market share for the year 1867. Prices recorded below:
Sewing machine for home use, 1864
- 1860
- For $27 to $35 (E. Clark)
- For $50 to $125 (Grover & Baker)
- For $25 to $100 (Chicago brand)
- Normally priced $100 to $165, on sale for discounted prices (Singer)
- 1861
- For $10 (Raymond's)
- For $40 to $125. (Grover & Baker)
- For $40 to $45 (Moore's)
- For $25 (Williams & Orvis)
- 1862
- For $40 (Finkle & Lyon)
- For $30 (Pearl)
- For $40 to $70 (Boudoir)
- For $40 and up (Grover & Baker)
- 1863
- For $40 to $100 (Willcox & Gibb)
- 1864
- For $45 to $100 (Grover & Baker)
- 1866
- For $5 (Family Gem)
- 1867
- For $18 (American Double Thread)
- For $18 (Common Sense brand)
- For $25 (Star and Crescent brands)
- For $35 (Franklin)
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Prices of cows, calves, sheep, lambs and hogs, 1860-1863Shows annual average prices per head for 1860, 1861, 1862 and 1863. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Farm animal prices in western states, 1867Shows the average price per head for horses, mules, cattle & oxen, cows, sheep and hogs in the states of CA, OR, NV, WA, Dakota and NM.
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Farm animal prices by state, 1868Shows prices for horses and mules, oxen and milk cows, and sheep and hogs. Source: Monthly Report of the USDA, March 1838, pp. 135-137.
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Farm animal prices by state and county - 1869-1870Prices for oxen, horses, mules, milk cows, sheep and hogs appear at the the end of each state's section. Source: 1871 U.S. Bureau of Statistics. Click "more" for direct links to each state, then scroll forward several pages to see the animal prices.
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Horses, mules and farm animals - Average prices, 1867-1920Shows average values expressed as price per head. Source: USDA Yearbook, 1919 edition.
- Horses and mules (p. 653)
- Milk cows and other cattle (p. 658)
- Sheep (p. 668)
- Swine (p. 675)
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Horse and mule prices in Virginia, 1863-1864A price list prepared by the Confederate military authorities declared the price they would pay in Virginia for food, supplies, animals and other materials needed for the war. The list was to be in effect only for the months of December 1863 and January 1864. The price of a mule suitable for pulling a wagon was $300. A horse was $350.
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Hog prices in Ohio, 1830-1862Table shows the price of hogs per the 100 pounds for each of these years: 1830, 1832, 1835, 1838, 1840, 1845, 1847, 1850, 1853, 1855, 1858, 1860, 1862. Source: Ohio Commissioner of Statistics, 7th Annual Report (1863).
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Price of artificial limbs - 1860sCongress appropriated funds to help Union soliders obtain prosthetic limbs. "The maximum price that will be paid by the United States is: for artificial legs, $75.00; for artificial arms, $50.00... for artificial feet, $50.00. Should soldiers desire to procure more expensive arms and legs, the maximum price for each will be allowed in part payment."
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Opium price (wholesale), 1840-1891The price more than tripled during the Civil War, from $4.75 per pound in January 1861 to $17.25 in October 1864. Source: 1893 congressional report.
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Hospital rates - South Carolina, 1856-1861(?)The Plan of Organization adopted by the Roper Hospital in Charleston, SC in 1856 includes the rate of board per day and per week in public and private wards. Booklet published 1861.
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Medicine and other drug store item prices, 1867Retail prices for cures, tonics, elixirs, antidotes, creams, pills, powders, capsules, etc. Cocaine was also sold through this catalog. Non-drug items for sale include hair dye, pomades, soap, tooth powder and condoms.
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Medicine prices, 1869Retail prices for remedies, ointments, lozenges, pills, tonics, healing herbs and more in the Catalogue of medicines, druggists' sundries, fancy goods, mineral waters, etc., etc. published 1869 in New York.
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"Female Pills," 1860sThese products claimed to "restore health," but actually contained herbs which acted as abortifacients. Widely advertised in newspapers and sold by mail-order, they were usually priced at $1 per box. Discussed in The Great Crime of the 19th century..., p. 22 (pub. 1867).
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Opium prices, 1840-1891
- WHOLESALE: Opium had a low wholesale price of $4.75/pound in January 1861, and a high of $17.25/pound in October 1864.
- GOVT RATE: Opium was being purchased by the federal government at $13/pound in 1860 and $24/pound in 1864.
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Dentistry - False teeth prices in Iowa, 1864Advertisement in Cedar Falls Gazette newspaper.
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Cost of dying - Funeral services in New York, early 1860s"Burials are serious matters to the poorer classes of the people. An interment, conducted in what is called a decent manner, costs from 25 to 30 dollars," with more extravagant internments costing $50-$100 or more. Source: Three years among the working classes in the United States during the war, published 1865.
PHYSICIANS' FEES
-
Physicians fees as set by medical societies, 1862Volume 3 of The Cincinnati medical and surgical news published in 1862 reports on the fee tables of the following medical associations: Boston Medical Association; Physicians of Louisville (adopted 1859); Medical Association of Alleghany County, PA (adopted in 1848); Union Medical Society of Knightstown, IN; Regular Medical Profession, Cincinnati (adopted in 1859); Henderson County Medical Society, KY; Medico-Chirurgical Society of the City of New York (adopted in 1860); New Castle Medical Society in New Castle, IN; and the physicians of Madison, IN (adopted in 1862).
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Physicians fees in Philadelphia - 1864Shows hows price ranges for the professional services performed by Fellows of the College. Source: College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 1864.
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Physicians fees in Indiana, 1864This shows the fee bill adopted by the physicians of Sullivan county, IN in 1864; listing prices for general visits, obstetrics, surgery, and more. This source also includes a list of articles besides money that one doctor accepted as settlement for his bills.
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Physicians fees in Albany, New York - 1866This list of fees was established by the Albany County Medical Society in 1866, it includes price ranges for medical services, midwifery, operative surgery, and post mortem examinations.
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Physicians fees in Milwaukee, WI - 1868This fee bill was adopted by the Milwaukee City Medical Association in 1868; it gives price ranges physicians could charge for their services. Source: The medical history of Milwaukee, 1834-1914, by Dr. Louis Frederick Frank (1915).
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Medical fees in Rhode Island, 1869The medical register for New England by Francis H. Brown, M.D. (copyright 1879) includes this fee table adopted by the Providence, RI Medical Association in 1869.
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Cost to send a letter by Pony Express, 1860-1861According to Alexander Majors' own memoir, the cost to transport a letter on the Pony Express was $5.00 in gold for each half ounce.
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Cost to mail a letter, 1863-presentChart shows postal rates for mailing a domestic letter. Source: the Historian of the U.S. Postal Service.
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Postage rates for letters mailed in the U.S., 1792-1863Price to mail a domestic letter. Not included are postage rates for ship and steamboat letters and "drop letters" (for local delivery), which were assigned different rates. Source: USPS.
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Cost to mail a letter from US to foreign countries, 1865Source: Guidebook of the Pacific..., p. 170.
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Price of a newspaper subscription, 1869This 1869 directory shows prices and subscription rates for newspapers in in the U.S. and territories, in Canada and in North American British colonies. U. S. paper are listed alphabetically by state, then town.
- California: Pacific Female College (Oakland) 1864-1865
- District of Columbia: Howard University (Washington DC) 1868-1869
- Illinois Normal University, 1864-1865
- Iowa: State University in Iowa City
- 1861-1862
- Preparatory Department (high school) tuition was $6 per term
- Normal School (teacher college) would take two students from each county free; others paid $5 per term
- College tuition was $6 to $8 per term, although two students from each county could receive a full scholarship
- Cost to board with private families in Iowa City, $2 to $2.50 per week
- 1862-63, 1863-64, 1865-66, 1866-67, 1867-68, 1868-69
- Tuition was abolished during these years; students paid a $5 matriculation fee which was waived for four students from each county. After 1865, Union veterans with three year's service could attend for free. After 1867, orphans of Iowa soldiers could attend for free. Cost to board with private families steadily rose from $1.50 to $4 per week over the 1860s.
- 1868-1869
- Law School tuition was $30 per term and board was $2 to $4 per week
- 1861-1862
- Louisiana: Academy for Boys in Baton Rouge, 1866
- Missouri: Saint Louis University, 1860 and 1868-1869
- New York state: Hobart College (Geneva) 1861-1862
- Ohio:
- Antioch College, 1860-61, 1865-66, 1866-67
- Kenyon College and Kenyon Grammar School, 1867-1868
- Virginia: School for Young Ladies in Charlestown, 1866
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Medical colleges in the United States - Fees for the 1861-1862 sessionThe American medical times published this list of medical colleges, which includes fees. Organized by state, the list spans pages 194 to 212 (click 'more...' for full list with direct links).
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Cost to ship soldiers' remains, 1862In the 1860s, the American Express Company was in the business of discreetly shipping valuable goods, jewelry, bank-notes, gold, silver over railroads or other rapid means of conveyance. They would also transport bodies as described in this 1862 publication.
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Retail prices in Massachusetts - 1860Average prices for various foods, provisions, fuels, dry goods, boots, rent and board. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 18 published in 1898.
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New Hampshire prices, 1860sSource: 1872 Report of Commissioners on Bureau of Labor Statistics to the [New Hampshire] Legislature, pp. 48-51.
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Photographs - Cost to have a portrait made, 1862One Boston photographer was advertising portrait services for $3 to $5.
READING and RECREATION
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Theater and opera in St. Louis, 1867Admission prices for the theater and opera in St. Louis ranged from 25 to 75 cents. Source: Guide Book and Complete Pocket Map of St. Louis.
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Chess figures and playing cards - Retail prices, 1864A December 1864 newspaper ad for a drugstore in Biddeford, Maine shows selected prices.
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Book prices, 1869Each issue of the monthly trade magazine The American bibliopolist includes lists of new publications and sales announcements that show prices of books.
Housing, farm and land prices, 1860-1869
"There are many portions of the [American] West
where at the present time (fall of 1866),
this cottage could be fully completed for $400 to $500."
Floor plans and additional detail in:
Woodward's cottages and farm houses,
published 1867, pp. 18-19.
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Average value of farm land and buildings per acre, 1860Average dollar value per acre for farm land (along with any buildings on the land), broken out by U.S. region. Source: 1930 Census of Agriculture.
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Tenements - Monthly rent by U.S. region, 1869Shows average rent for 4-room or 6-room tenements. Data by state is on p. 228-229. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, p. 230.
Alabama
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Land prices and farm rent in Alabama, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Real estate catalog listings for Alabama, 1866Brief descriptions and advertised prices for dwelling houses, land, plantations, etc. in Alabama. (source)
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Alabama farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farmland and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Arkansas
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Land prices and farm rent in Arkansas, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Real estate catalog listings for Arkansas, 1866Catalog provides brief description and asking prices for land and plantations in Arkansas, 1866. (source)
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Arkansas farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farmland and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Arizona Territory
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Land prices and farm rent in Arizona Territory, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
California
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Land prices and farm rent in California, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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California farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Colorado
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Land prices and farm rent in Colorado, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Land price, commissions and fees under the Homestead ActSource: Colorado Territorial Board of Immigration Statement of Facts (1872), pp. 28-29.
Connecticut
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Connecticut farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Dakota
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Land prices and farm rent in Dakota, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
District of Columbia
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Washington DC houses for sale and rent, 1865Classified ads in the Washington Evening Star newspaper sometimes list prices. See additional issues for further examples.
Delaware
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House rents in Wilmington, Delaware, 1862The Wilmington newspaper listed houses for rent along with location and material type (brick or frame). Rents quoted appear to be for a full year's occupancy. Check additional issues of this newspaper for more house rental columns.
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Delaware farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Florida
-
Land prices and farm rent in Florida, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Florida farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Georgia
-
Land prices and farm rent in Georgia, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Real estate catalog listings for Georgia, 1866Catalog briefly describes timber land and plantations for sale, with asking prices. (source), Georgia begins at the bottom of page 6.
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Georgia farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Iowa
-
Land prices and farm rent in Iowa, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Prairie land prices in Iowa, 1866Real estate catalog briefly describes land for sale, with asking prices. (source)
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Iowa farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Idaho
-
Land prices and farm rent in Idaho, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Illinois
-
Land prices and farm rent in Illinois, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Illinois farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Indiana
-
Land prices and farm rent in Indiana, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Indiana farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Kansas
-
Prairie land price in Kansas, 1866Real estate catalog lists prairie land in Kansas for $2.50 an acre. (source)
Kentucky
-
Kentucky - Prices of Land, 1867-68Source: U.S. Dept of Agriculture.
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Land prices and farm rent in Kentucky, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Real estate catalog prices in Kentucky, 1866Catalog shows prices for coal mines and timber land in Kentucky. (source)
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Kentucky farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Louisiana
-
Advertised house and land prices in Louisiana, 1866Real estate catalog briefly describes and lists asking prices for sugar plantations cotton plantations and timber land in Louisiana. It also lists stores, lots and houses for sale in New Orleans and Shreveport, with addresses. (source)
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Land prices and farm rent in Louisiana, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Louisiana farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
-
House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Maryland
-
Land prices in Maryland by county, 1865Document is arranged by counties in short sections. Find the price of various qualities of land in the description under each county. For example, see Worcester County, Somerset County, Dorchester County, Caroline County, Talbot County, Queen Anne's County, Kent County, and all the other counties by scrolling forward in the book or using the "Search in this text" box.
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Land prices and farm rent in Maryland, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Real estate catalog listings for Maryland, 1866Houses, farms and business property are briefly described with asking prices. (source)
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Maryland farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Massachusetts
-
Rents for tenements in Massachusetts, 1860Shows monthly rental rates for 4-room and 6-room tenements. Source: MA Bureau of Labor Statistics 28th Annual Report, p. 23.
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Massachusetts farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Maine
-
Maine farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Michigan
-
Land prices and farm rent in Michigan, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Michigan farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Missouri
-
Land prices in Missouri by county, 1865In addition to telling the price range for land (improved and unimproved), each county also reported whether or not it still had government land available through the Homestead Act at low prices ($1.25 or $2.50 per acre). Reported by the Missouri State Board of Immigration.
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House rents in Missouri, 1851-1880Shows house rents in St. Louis back to 1851, and in Pilot Knob (Cooper County) back to 1858. This table spans pages 104-107 in the book and 1860s rent data falls on pages 105 and 107. Source: U.S. Census Bureau report.
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Land prices and farm rent in Missouri, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Prairie land in Barton County, MO - Price, 1866Real estate catalog describes land and shows asking price. (source)
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Missouri farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Minnesota
-
Land prices and farm rent in Minnesota, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Minnesota farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Montana Territory
-
Land prices and farm rent in Montana Territory, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Mississippi
-
Mississippi - Price of Land in 1867-68Gives average price per acre for counties including Hinds, Madison, Washington, Yazoo, De Soto, and Pike.
-
Land prices and farm rent in Mississippi, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Cotton plantations for sale in Mississippi, 1866Real estate catalog briefly describes cotton plantations and timber land, with asking prices. (source)
-
Mississippi farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
-
House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
North Carolina
-
Land prices and farm rent in North Carolina, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
North Carolina farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
-
Real estate catalog listings in North Carolina, 1866Catalog briefly describes timber land and a plantation for sale, with asking price. (source)
-
House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Nebraska
-
Land prices and farm rent in Nebraska, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Real estate prices and financing in Nebraska, 1850s-1870sThe chapter "Pioneer finance" in the book The Sod-house frontier, 1854-1890: a social history of the northern plains... published 1937 tells about currency problems that led to fraud in the real estate industry.
New Hampshire
-
New Hampshire farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
New Jersey
-
New Jersey farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
New Mexico Territory
-
Land prices in New Mexico Territory, 1869-1870Land was generally $5-15 per acre. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870.
-
New Mexico farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
-
House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Nevada
-
Price of land in Nevada, 1869-1870Land was generally $1.25 to $10 per acre. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
-
Nevada - Average farm land value, 1860Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
-
House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
New York
-
House designs with estimated cost to build, ca. 1867Provides drawings of home exteriors, floor plans, descriptions and estimated costs to build in the New York suburbs. Source: Woodward's Cottages and Farm Houses, published 1867.
- "Low-priced cottage" at the estimated building cost of $600-$1200
- Farm cottage. "...In the immediate vicinity of New York, this cottage could be built for $500 or even less. It might possibly be built now for $1200."
- Parsonage house at the estimated building cost of $5000
- Cottage "...of moderate pretensions ... can be erected at the present time (April 1868) in the suburbs of New York for $1,500 to $1,800."
- French roof cottage at the estimated building cost of $3800
- Gothic cottage at the estimated building cost of $4500
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Real estate catalog listings in New York, 1866Real estate catalog describes a Brooklyn house for sale for $8000 and a 50-acre farm on Long Island for $5000. (source)
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NYC area homes for sale, Sep 1865Asking prices are sometimes included with descriptions of homes for sale in the classified ad sections of the New York Herald newspaper.
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New York farm value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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Prices of building materials and construction labor in New York, 1869Woodward's home plan book includes images of home designs, along with estimated cost to build in the list of plates.
Ohio
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Land prices and farm rent in Ohio, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Ohio farm real estate value by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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Real estate catalog listings in Ohio, 1866Catalog briefly describes properties for sale, with asking price. (source)
Oregon
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Land prices and farm rent in Oregon, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Oregon farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Pennsylvania
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Land prices and farm rent in Pennsylvania, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Pennsylvania farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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Timber land prices in Pennsylvania, 1866Real estate catalog briefly describes timber land for sale, with asking prices. (source)
Rhode Island
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Rhode Island farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
South Carolina
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Real estate catalog listings in South Carolina, 1866Catalog shows cotton plantations and rice plantations for sale as well as small farms, houses, town lots, range land, timber land and more. (source)
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Land prices and farm rent in South Carolina, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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South Carolina farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
Tennessee
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Land prices in Tennessee by county, 1867
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Tennessee land prices, 1867-68Gives price range per acre for many counties. Source: Monthly Report of the USDA, March 1868, p. 122.
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Land prices and farm rent in Tennessee, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Tennessee farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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Real estate catalog listings in Tennessee, 1866Catalog briefly describes farm land, timber land and some plantations for sale in Tennessee, along with asking prices. (source)
Texas
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Texas - Price of Land, 1867-68Gives price range, per acre, for land in Hopkins, Ellis, Navarro, Dallas, Hardin, Cherokee, Houston, Trinity, Falls, McLennan, Bell, Williamson, Washington, De Witt, Goliad, and Cameron counties.
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Land prices and farm rent in Texas, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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House rent, 1869Shows average rent for a 4-room or 6-room tenement in 15 states. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics Special report on immigration, pp, 228-229.
This Texas dwelling was built in 1867 near Pilot Point. Photo taken in 1885.
Source: University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, Special Collections.
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Texas farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Utah
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Utah farm real estate values, 1850-1982Utah farm land and buildings averaged $15 per acre in 1860. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Virginia
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Land prices and farm rent in Virginia, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Real estate catalog listings in Virginia, 1866Catalog briefly describes farms, land and mines for sale in Virginia, along with asking prices. (source)
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Virginia farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Vermont
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Vermont farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Washington Territory
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Land prices and farm rent in Washington Territory, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Washington Territory farm real estate values, 1850-1982Washington Territory farm land and buildings averaged $6 per acre in 1860. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
Wisconsin
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Land prices and farm rent in Wisconsin, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Wisconsin farm real estate values by county, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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Real estate listings in Wisconsin, 1866Catalog briefly describes land for sale, along with asking price. (source)
West Virginia
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West Virginia - Prices of Land, 1866Source: Monthly Reports of the USDA, March 1868, p. 132.
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Land prices by county in West Virginia, late 1860sPrices for improved and unimproved land. Also describes typical terms of purchase. Source: West Virginia handbook and immigrant's guide, pp. 173-190.
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Land prices and farm rent in West Virginia, 1869-1870Prices by county for both improved and unimproved land. Data collected in the winter of 1869-1870. This U.S. Bureau of Statistics publication also shows the value of crop sales by county.
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Farm real estate values by county in West Virginia, 1850-1982Shows average value of farm land and buildings by the acre. See explanation for data in this source, a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture report.
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Timber land prices in West Virginia, 1866Real estate catalog briefly describes land for sale, along with asking prices. (source)
Consumer expenditures, 1860-1869
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Family expenditures in manufacturing towns, 1860 and 1867Shows how much families in New England towns spent on food, provisions and rent, broken out by family size, for up to seven children. The same tables report average weekly wage income by family size. States included: ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, PA, NJ, DE.
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Consumer expenditures in Massachusetts and Great Britain, 1875 and 1883Compares the average annual family expenditures on food (subsistence), clothing, rent, fuel and other sundry expenses. Average family size and earnings are shown on page 464. Source: Massachusetts Annual Report on the Statistics of Labor, 1884.
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Prices in Boston, 1860 & 1881Shows prices of groceries, provisions, fuel, dry goods, boots and rent & board, in Boston in 1860 and 1881. Source: Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics of Michigan, p. 247
Wholesale prices in the U.S., 1860-1869
Our site focuses on retail rather than wholesale prices, but it can be a challenge to find retail prices during the Civil War. Prices could vary greatly from place to place.. The following links to wholesale prices may be helpful to some researchers.
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Wholesale prices by month in the New York market, 1860-1863Shows prices for flour, rice, fruits, fish, pork, beef, butter, cheese, salt, sugar, molasses, whiskey, brandy, wine, gin, rum, coffee, tea, tobacco, candles, hides, furs, leather, nails, whalebone, wool and more. Source: Congressional Serial Set #1186, pp. 354-360.
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Wholesale prices by month in San Francisco, 1863Shows prices for food (pilot bread, coffee, rice, sugar, sardines, etc.) as well as rum, whiskey and wine. Also shows prices for lumber, cement and nails, candles and more.
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Wholesale prices in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1861This is a "Prices Current" column from the Shreveport Daily News. It shows the prices for common items such as sugar, coffee, oil, whisky, pork, and potatoes.
Prices in foreign countries, 1860-1869
Prices in AUSTRALIA, 1860s
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Australia (Melbourne only) - Prices, 1873Prices of food products (meat, vegetables, dairy), tobacco, soap, candles, salt, wine, rum, whiskey, brandy, and more. Prices expressed in pounds, shillings and pence. Source: 1873 Victorian year-book, an Australian government publication.
Prices in BELGIUM, 1860s
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Belgium - Working class family expenses, 1853 and 1867Shows weekly expenses for families of 5 or 6 individuals in Belgium in 1853. Clothing expenses not included. Figures for 1867 are estimated by adding 20% to the 1853 data.
Prices in GREAT BRITAIN, 1860s
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England - Bread prices, 1847-1880Shows average prices of bread in England for each year from 1660-1899 on pages 27-35. Source: Three Centuries of Prices of Wheat, Flour and Bread (not a government document). The introduction to this table explains that these prices are for the type of bread consumed by lower middle classes, not the "fancy bread." Price sources are provided on page 21-22.
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Great Britain - Prices as compared to Massachusetts, 1860-1883Source: 16th Annual Report of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, pp. 244-255.
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Prices paid for food, candles and coal at Greenwich Hospital, 1860 and 1865Greenwich Hospital was in London. See prices it paid in an appendix of Wages and earnings of the working classes with some facts illustrative of their economic condition by Leone Levi (published 1867).
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House rental in England and Wales, 1862Source: Mulhall's dictionary of statistics, published 1886, p. 237.
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Home construction costs - England, ca. 1864Use this chart to estimate the cost of building a dwelling in London. Source: The Gentleman's house...with tables of accommodation and cost, page 392 and following.
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Prices of cotton goods in the United Kingdom, 1867-1884Table shows the average annual prices (in cents) of cotton, cotton yarn, and cotton cloth in the United Kingdom from 1867-1884.
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Price of mowing an acre of grass or crops, 1862Small table at the bottom of the page shows the cost to mow an acre of grass, hoe an acre of turnips, and reap one acre of corn. Also compares to the cost of the same service in 1862 based in Northumberland, p. 52.
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Retail prices in Great BritainShows retail prices of bread throughout the UK as well as other foodstuffs in London from the colonial period up to the 1880s. Source: Wholesale and retail prices in the United Kingdom.
Prices in INDIA, 1860s
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India - Salt retail price, annual averages for 1861-1890Tells how much salt one rupee could buy in the various districts and provinces in India in each year from 1861-1890. The quantity of salt is given in seers. 80 tolahs = 1 seer.
Prices in IRELAND, 1860s
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Ireland - Price of food, 1864-1869Government report shows prices of bread, oats, potatoes and beef at Dublin for each year from 1864-1869.
Prices in ITALY, 1860s
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Italy - Food prices in Milan, 1801-1908Lists prices of wheat, bread, wine, beef, pork, butter and rice. Source: Bulletin of the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Vol. 20 #87, pp. 599-607.
Prices in SPAIN, 1860s
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Spain - Price of bread in 1860 compared to 1910Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities Vol. 3, page 1265.
Prices in SWEDEN, 1860s
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Cereal (wheat, rye, barley, oats) prices in Sweden, 1836-1900This table shows average prices for wheat, rye, barley, and oats in Sweden for 1836 to 1900. Yearly consumption per inhabitant for wheat and rye can be found in another table on page 156 of this book.
Timeline -- Major economic events of the 1860s
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
