In which decade was a contest held to determine how census data could be tabulated more quickly?

The contest to determine how census data could be tabulated more quickly was held in the 1880s. This timeframe is significant because it was during this decade that the U.S. Census Bureau faced challenges with the increasing population and the amount of data that needed to be processed. The census of 1880 took a considerable amount of time to tabulate, leading to discussions on improving efficiency.

During this period, the introduction of mechanical devices for data processing was explored, which ultimately led to advancements in computing and data handling methods. The work done in this decade laid the groundwork for future innovations in data processing, notably Charles Babbage's analytical engine and others that followed, establishing a foundation for modern computing and statistics.

This historical context highlights why the 1880s is a pivotal decade for developing methods to expedite the tabulation of census data.