If you perform the following search in the 1940 federal population census, you get 138 results:
SEARCH—OCCUPATION: astronomer

Now do this search:
SEARCH—OCCUPATION: astrologer
You get 111 results. Well, you may be thinking, that’s vaguely encouraging: this country supported more full-time astronomers than astrologists in the 1940 census (by a very slim margin). But wait—now do this search:
SEARCH—OCCUPATION: fortune teller
You get 142 results. Which means that this country in 1940 had:
138 full-time astronomers
253 full-time astrologers/fortune tellers
Feel free to draw your own conclusions…
How can researchers access the federal population census? You may use Heritage Quest Online from home with a valid SLPL library card and PIN, or at Central Library or any of our branches.
You may use Ancestry Library Edition at Central Library or any of our branches.