A U.S. Census report compiled in the early 1900s indicated that there were more than 2,700 almshouses in the United States as of 1903, just a few years after this photo was taken. Most of these almshouses would have been operated by counties, although a relatively few were operated by cities or states. The total number of “paupers,” as they were called, living in these almshouses was more than 81,700, according to the report. Among these, the number of “colored paupers” was more than 6,900 in 1903. That number grew to more than 7,400 in 1905