In what year did the US hire Herman Hollerith for census purposes?

The correct choice indicates that Herman Hollerith was hired for census purposes in 1880. This was a pivotal year in terms of census data processing in the United States. Hollerith developed a pioneering electromechanical punch card system that significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of data collection and processing for the census.

His technology allowed for faster tabulation of the census results, which had been a lengthy and labor-intensive process prior to this innovation. Hollerith's contributions laid the foundation for modern data processing and ultimately led to the formation of the company that would become IBM. This historical context highlights the importance of the 1880 census in showcasing advancements in data processing technology.