Echoes of 1903: Archival Census Reveals the Century-Old Demographics of San Fernando
A look back into the archival records of the early American period offers a fascinating glimpse into the demographic foundations of the country. Data from the landmark 1903 Census of the Philippine Islands (officially published in Washington, D.C. in 1905) highlights the early population distribution of the municipality of San Fernando.
According to the historical document, San Fernando recorded a total "civilized population" of 3,542 residents at the turn of the 20th century.
The Barrio Breakdown
The census archival image provides a precise breakdown of how the population was distributed across the municipality's various barrios during the early 1900s:
Población: 924 (The largest local center)
Grijalvo: 540
Balogo: 377
San Joaquín: 371
Alianza: 310
Maranghi: 305
Biberhon: 220
Lupi: 180
Pamuquid: 169
Cotmo: 94
San Luis: 26
Santa Cruz: 26
Historical Context
The 1903 Census was the first comprehensive enumeration of the Philippine population conducted under the United States Bureau of the Census. The use of the term "civilized population" was a standard bureaucratic classification of the era, used by the United States government to categorize settled, Christianized communities across the archipelago.
With the Población serving as the bustling core of 924 residents, these figures reflect the modest, rural beginnings of a community that has since undergone over a century of growth, migration, and development.
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