Geographical height variation among Ohio Caucasian male convicts born 1780-1849.

To more completely answer questions regarding health in the past, social scientists are utilizing previously underutilized data sources. This study focuses on one such source: penitentiary records, in order to examine geographical variation in height from a sample of 2554 male Caucasian convicts aged 23-45 years. Data collected include height, age, ancestry, nationality, and year and place of birth. Birth places were divided into five geographical areas corresponding roughly to the United States census geography divisions. Average stature for this sample was 68.4+/-2.5 in. (173.7+/-6.4 cm). Regression analyses on height, birth cohort, ancestry, nationality, and place of birth indicate significant but small differences in height across geographical areas. No significant differences were found due to birth cohort.