Research Guides: Census: Historical

Historical Census Related Resources

Census of Population and Housing | Historical Census Decennial Volumes Digitized, 1790-2010
Census of Population and Housing data present here ranges from our most recent census to the historical decennial census conducted throughout the decades. Some of the data were scanned as an effort to make historical census information available to the public.
Social Explorer | Interactive Demographic Maps (1790-2010)
Select "Tables" for historical research.
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Over 15,000 demographic and socio-economic data maps of the United States between 1790 and 2010 ... Social Explorer contains data from the first Census in 1790 to the present day. Using their data, the user can generate maps of population or specific demographic variables by location, as well as reports.
1940. 1940 Census | National Archives
The 1940 census was released April 2, 2012.
1990. 1990 Census
The Census Bureau's gateway to data collected ...
2000. Census 2000 Gateway
The Census Bureau's gateway to data collected ...
Census History
This is the Census Bureau's main history page. It includes history of the Bureau and information on the Census Bureau's efforts to bring historical material to digital format. Links to history pages for the following Census Programs: Agriculture; Demographic; Housing; Economic; Geography; Governments.
Census of Agriculture
The census of agriculture originated as part of the 1820 decennial census, when U.S. marshals began to ask how many people within each household were engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1840, marshals began using separate census schedules to collect data related to agriculture. The census of agriculture continued to be conducted during the same year as the decennial census of population until 1950. Between 1954 and 1974, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the census of agriculture in years ending in "4" and "9."
Demographic
Over the decades, the reach of the census spread to new states and areas under U.S. sovereignty or jurisdiction. Census officials, even when they led temporary offices, have constantly sought to increase both the amount and the diversity of information they collected about the people of the United States. From mortality to home ownership, statistics have given Americans a better idea of the demographic profile of the United States.
Demographic Trends in the 20th Century (Census 2000 pdf)
Part of the Census 2000 Special Reports series, this 222 page pdf issued November 2002 highlights the broad trends that have served to redraw America’s demographic portrait continually over the course of the 20th century. As the United States entered the 20th century, most of the population lived in the Northeast or the Midwest, in nonmetropolitan areas, was male, under 23 years old, White, and rented a home; nearly half lived in a household with five or more other people. One hundred years later, as the United States entered the 21st century, most of the population lived in the South or the West, in metropolitan areas, was female, at least 35 years old, White (but much less so), owned a home, and lived alone or in a household with one or two other people..."
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Suggested Citation. Hobbs, Frank and Nicole Stoops, U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Special Reports, Series CENSR-4, Demographic Trends in the 20th Century,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 2002.
Economic
The growth of the economic census reflects the blossoming industrialization and the spread of communications in the United States since the early 19th century. Temporary census offices took these censuses with increasing detail and accuracy until 1900. Demands for more frequent censuses, resulting in more current economic data, were major factors in the establishment of a permanent Census Bureau in 1902. In the early twentieth century, there were censuses of manufactures every two years. Later, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted these censuses at five-year intervals, and put them on the same schedule as those of the construction, mineral, service, financial, insurance, and real estate industries; surveys of minority- and women-owned businesses; and many more...
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... This integration took place during the 1950's, in order to ensure complete, unduplicated, comparable data for all of their components.

The Census Bureau has increasingly collected companies' data by mail and, for many small establishments, by using administrative records in lieu of questionnaires. The introduction of mechanical tabulation, electronic tabulation, and computers and the Internet increased the variety of data products available and how the information could be accessed.
Georgraphy
Maps are a unique way to study statistical information, making it very easy to compare data across geographic areas. They also provide a quick reference point that can be interpreted by almost anyone, regardless of educational level. The U.S. Census Bureau produced its first map based on census results when it published James D.B. DeBow's 1854 map...
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... Despite this early effort, maps were painstakingly difficult to produce. It was not until the end of the 19th and early 20th century that the Census Bureau regularly published maps, beginning with the statistical atlases produced by Francis A. Walker and Henry Gannett. After Gannett's departure from the Census Bureau, development of atlases for the 1930 and later censuses languished.

The computer revolution of the mid-20th century revitalized interest in development and publication of maps at the Census Bureau. Cartography has since become increasingly important to the operations and planning for the decennial census, with census-takers using increasingly detailed maps to precisely locate housing units.

From J.D.B. DeBow's first regional map of the continental United States, to the development of the TIGER digital mapping system, to the new National Atlas, the Census Bureau has played an important role in the development of American cartography since the nineteenth century.
Governments
The U.S. Census Bureau began collecting data from governments during the 1840 census, when U.S. marshals gathered information about schools and school attendance. Since that time, governments' data collection has expanded to include a quinquennial census and numerous surveys. Data provided by state, county, and local governments (including school districts), in combination with data collected by the economic census and surveys, offer a full picture of the national economy's health. For a general overview of the Census Bureau's collection of data about governments see Factfinder for the Nation: Statistics on Governments [PDF 1.05MB].
Historical Statistics of the United States, 1789 - 1945
For online viewing, all files are in PDF format. Each book (year) with a total file size over 10 MB has been divided into several internally linked PDF files except for the Historical Statistics of the United States, 1789-1945. These same files have also been zipped to provide users a more convenient method of transferring the files to an alternate storage device for offline viewing. The total file size of the online PDF files is similar to that of their ZIP counterparts.
Housing and Related Historic data
The U.S. Census Bureau began collecting data about the characteristics of the nation's housing in the 19th century. In 1940, the number of inquiries expanded to 31 questions using a separate "housing schedule." This "Census of Occupied Housing" included inquiries that collected information about the home's bathroom facilities, water supply, heating equipment, mortgage or rent, and even if the residents had access to a radio...
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The Census Bureau also collected housing-related data as part of its economic censuses. In response to the post-World War I building boom, the Census Bureau began the census of construction industries; in 1950, the residential finance survey began to collect data on mortgage debt and the effectiveness of the residential finance system; and in 1973, collaboration between the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development resulted in the American Housing Survey.

The Census Bureau continued to collect data related to housing via the decennial census' long-form questionnaire until Census 2000, after which these inquiries were collected by the American Community Survey. Additionally, many other demographic and economic surveys collect data related to housing that are vital components in the compilation of data for key economic indicators and help us better understand the nation's economic well-being and demographic trends.
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
Access census raw data from 1790 to 1970. Detailed county and state-level ecological or descriptive data for the United States for the years 1790 to 1970 are contained in this collection. These data files contain extensive information about the social and political character of the United States, including a breakdown of population by state, race, nationality, number of families, size of the family, births, deaths, marriages, occupation, religion, and general economic conditions.
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Though not complete over the full time span of this study, statistics are available on such diverse subjects as total numbers of newspapers and periodicals, total capital invested in manufacturing, total numbers of educational institutions, total number of churches, taxation by state, and land surface area in square miles.
Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses from 1790 to 2000 (pdf report)
The evolution of the decennial census.
National Archives Census Records
Census Records. What Census information can I get on this web site? "Census records are not available online on the National Archives web site. However, we do have the microfilm catalogs online, which can help prepare you for your visit to the National Archives. Ancestry.com and Heritagequest.com have digitized many of the Federal Census records. These web sites are subscription-based, but access is free-of-charge and unlimited from any National Archives facility.
National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS)
The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) provides, free of charge, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2010.
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Highlights of the NHGIS include:
•State and county aggregate data and boundary files (1790-2010)
•Census tract aggregate data and boundary files (1910-2010)
•Census data at all geographic summary levels, including census blocks (1970-2010)
•Boundary files for metropolitan statistical areas (1950-2010)
•Boundary files for all standard geographic summary levels (1990-2010)
•County Business Patterns data (1970-2003)
•SABINS aggregate data and boundary files for School Attendance Boundary Zones, covering each grade, K-12, for many school districts throughout the nation (2009-2010 academic year
Overview. Census: 170- Overview - 2010 Overview
Fulfilling the U.S. Constitution's requirement to count the population has been a complex operation since the first census in 1790. In this section, you can learn about legislation related to the censuses, the efforts to improve the count, and the technical innovations introduced to improve data collection, processing, and publication.
Questionnaires, Census: 1790-2010
Since the first census in 1790, the U.S. Census Bureau has collected data using a census "schedule," also called a "questionnaire." Between 1790 and 1820, U.S. Marshals conducting the census were responsible for supplying paper and writing-in headings related to the questions asked (i.e., name, age, sex, race, etc.). In 1830, Congress authorized the printing of uniform schedules for use throughout the United States. The 1940 Census included separate questionnaires to count the population and collect housing data. The 1960 and later censuses combined population and housing questions onto a single questionnaire mailed to households or completed during a census taker's visit...
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Between 1970 and 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau used two questionnaires. Most households received a short-form questionnaire asking a minimum number of questions. A sample of households received a long-form questionnaire that included additional questions about the household. The 2010 Census had just one questionnaire consisting of ten questions.
Statistical Abstract, Historical
The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.
ProQuest Statistical Abstract
The Statistical Abstract of the United States is a one-volume, comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Use the Abstract as a convenient volume for statistical reference, and as a guide to sources of more information both in print and on the Web.