The 1880 census of the United States took some 7 or more years to complete because all processing was done by hand from journal sheets. Because the population was growing rapidly, hand tabulation in 1890 would likely take longer than the 10 year period to the next census. A competition was held for a better method and Herman Hollerith, a Census Department employee, came up with his "better mousetrap." It would have been used by Babbage and came from the textile industry.

You are right; the "do not fold, spindle or mutilate" punched card made its entry into the world of numbers here. With it, the initial results of the 1890 census were able to be announced within six weeks. (The magic number for 1890 was 62,622,250 [and the word "chad" is not mentioned in any of the histories].)

Using cards, the Census Department was able to produce many different statistics for the nation -- so many that despite the speed, the cost went up to about double the 1880 census; a vision of times to come where instant information demands processing, useful or not.

Hollerith went on to found the Tabulating Machine Company; to become IBM.

Short bio

World War II