1945 Florida census

Subject: 1935 and 1945 Florida Status CensusFrom: "Ann Rabinowitz" Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 19:05:24 -0400X-Message-Number: 5A pilot site on http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html?datestamp=1199738815625#p=0 has provided access to the 1935 and 1945 Florida State Census records. The entry for these records has not been completed yet and they may be removed from time to time to add data, but you can easily see how informative they will be if you take a peek at them.At the present time, you can click on the 1935 Florida State Census, then the County, and if you know the precinct number for the area you are interested in, you will be able to easily find what you want.As I am researching the City of Miami Beach, I found that the 1930 U.S. Census incorporated the enumeration districts of ED73 - 80 and the precincts of 6 and 30-33. So, I knew that I could probably search by those precincts for the 1935 Florida State Census. The actual Census pages provide the Precinct # and the County Name as well as columns for the first/last name, the address, whether they are inside/outside the city limits of Miami Beach, age (male/female), race, relation to family, place of birth (state and/or foreign country), degree of education, owner/renter, and occupation.An example of what you will find is the following family from Precinct 6 in Miami Beach:Mitchel Wolfson, age 30, his wife (first name not given), age 27, daughter Louise, age 2, and son Louis, age 7, living at 5465 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach, along with their cook, maid, and chauffeur. The Wolfsons were all born in Florida, and the adults were all college educated. Mr. Wolfson was a theater owner (Wometco Theaters) and his family was a well-known one in South Florida.The family originally came from Lithuania and settled in Key West prior to moving to Miami/Miami Beach. You can also locate Mitchel Wolfson in the 1910 U.S. Census in Key West with his parents, Louis and Rose Wolfson, and siblings and again in the 1930 U.S. with his wife Frances (her first name is provided this time) and his son Louis, but by now they are living in Miami and he is working as a hotel supplies merchant. Soon, they move to Miami Beach and Mitchel has changed occupations to that of theater entrepeneur.At present, the 1945 Florida State Census cannot be searched by county and gives over 7,000 images to look through. Eventually, this issue will be rectified according to FamilySearch.com.Some of the interesting things that one can find in these census records for the City of Miami Beach is the fact that many Jewish men were college educated and not just grammar or high school graduates; many came from the mid-west and not the northeast as some would assume; and a large number were businessmen in service industries as opposed to being mainly professionals such as doctors and lawyers. In addition, one could find both permanent residents and "snow-birds" (parttimers).So, during the 1935-1945 period, the City of Miami Beach Jewish community did not fit into a fixed stereotype that would later be attached to it.Ann Rabinowitzannrab@bellsouth.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------