U.S. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION: BRIEF GUIDE TO DECENNIAL CENSUS DATA RESOURCES

Need to know more about the U.S. decennial census? Consult this Guide to the U.S. Decennial Census, which provides information and resources on the history, geographic units, definitions and variables, short and long forms, and historical comparability of the decennial censuses, as well as information about census data products in print, microform, and CD (not listed on this brief guide).

Recent Data (1970-2000)
Data from 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses are readily available online. Data from 1970 and 1980 are available on DVDs; limited 1970 and 1980 data are available online.

• U.S. Census Bureau: American Factfinder
  Data from the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, the American Community Survey (annual data which will replace the decennial census long form in 2010), the population estimates program, the economic census, and annual economic surveys. If American Factfinder doesn't have what you need, try the Census Bureau's other Data Access Tools.
• Census DVD Research Package (Geolytics)
  1970-2000; also includes the Neighborhood Change Database [NCDB] (1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 long form data at the census tract level; can view data for each year in that year's tract boundaries, or normalized to 2000 tract boundaries); 1990 data in 2000 boundaries; 1980 data in 2000 boundaries. Available on workstations in the Government Documents and Information Center.
• Census 2000 at ICPSR
  Full range of Census 2000 aggregate (tabular) data, microdata (individual-level data), and geographic products. Designed for use in statistical software package such as SAS, SPSS, Stata.
• Need more resources for 2000 census data? See this longer guide to Census 2000 Resources.
• Basic Tables: 1990 Demographic Profile Generator (University of Missouri-St. Louis Urban Information Center)
  This application generates a single 1990 "Basic Tables" (demographic profile) report for any of the supported geographic units, including census tract, block group, city (no size limit), 5-digit ZIP code, state, county or metro area for anywhere in the United States. Includes links to help you look up the desired codes.

Historical Data Online

• Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts 1790-2000 (U.S. Census Bureau)
  PDF versions of published Census Bureau reports; some Excel tables.
• Historical Statistics of the United States Millennial Edition Online
  Covers a wide range of topics; statistics are drawn from many sources (not just the decennial census). Date coverage varies by topic; some statistical series go back to the colonial era. Statistical tables can be downloaded in Excel or CSV; chapters and essays available in searchable PDFs. Data typically available at national level only.
• Historical Census Data Browser 1790-1960 (University of Virginia)
  Data available at state and county levels only. Data cannot be downloaded. Thematic maps can be generated from the data selections.
• National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) 1790-2000 (University of Minnesota)
  Aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files. Data can be downloaded for import into Excel, SAS, SPSS, or Stata.
• Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) 1850-2004 (Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota)
  What is microdata and why would I want to use it?

Census Schedules: to look up individuals

Access to individual census records is available from 1790-1930. There is a 72-year restriction on access to individual census records, so records from 1940 will become available in 2012. For resources at Yale, online, and elsewhere, see U.S. Government Information: Genealogy