Home > Research Guides > United States Census Data Resources

This guide provides a starting point for researchers using United States Census Data in electronic format. Additional census material is located in Research Services in Lamont, Level B.


• Census 2000
• 1990 Census
• 1980 Census
• Historical Census (before 1970)
• Public Use Micro-Data (1850-2006)
  
  Unless otherwise noted, the Geolytics Data are located in Research Services in Lamont, Level B. Consult the Hollis catalog for holdings information.

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Census 2000

United States Census Bureau

• Use American Fact Finder to generate tables from the 2000 U.S. Census and other Census Bureau surveys.
• Download Census 2000 redistricting data from the ftp site.

CensusCD 2000 Blocks (Geolytics, Inc.)
Data includes population, racial and ethnic information for all (8 million) 2000 Census blocks. The CensusCD also includes 1990 Census data, which is normalized to be comparable to Census 2000 geographic data.

CensusCD 2000 Redistricting (Geolytics, Inc.)
Data includes all available Census 2000 redistricting data at 19 different geographic levels (ranging from national to block group). The CensusCD also includes 1990 Census data, which is normalized to be easily comparable to Census 2000 geographic data.

CensusCD 2000 Long Form SF3 (Geolytics, Inc.)
Data includes the entire US Census Bureau's SF3 dataset including variables such as income, housing, employment, language spoken, ancestry, education, poverty, rent, mortgage, commute to work, etc. There are 5,500 variables at the Block Group level and over 10,000 more variables at the larger geographies such as tract, zip code, county and state level.

CensusCD 2000 Short Form (Geolytics, Inc.)
Census 2000 demographic data to the neighborhood level. The variables include race, family size, composition of family, age of head of household, age of children, etc. The geographic levels include State, County, Tract, Block Group, MCD/CCD, Place, Congressional divisions and Zip (ZCTA).

CensusCD 2000 Short Form Blocks (Geolytics, Inc.)
The same variables as the CensusCD 2000 Short Form, but the information is available at the Block level.

UCSD Census 2000 Quick Links
A website at the University of California, San Diego that provides links to the US Census Bureau website. The Quick Links site provides access to demographic profiles, geographic maps, Census questionnaires, redistricting data, tutorials, etc.

ICPSR Census 2000
The Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan
has designed this site for social science researchers to use in conjunction with statistical software programs (i.e. SAS, SPSS). The site provides many online tutorials and training guides to assist the user working with census microdata.

ESRI Census Watch
The Environmental Systems Research Institute has designed this website which contains the most recent information about Census-related data sources. Including redistricting, GIS mapping, online training resources, and current news reports.

UCLA Census 2000
The University of California/Los Angeles Institute for Social Science Research Data Archive has created this website which contains adjusted counts for the 2000 United States Census. Technical documentation is included.

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1990 Census

Census CD 1990 (Geolytics, Inc.)
Summary tape files 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D from the 1990 U.S. Census (long-form questionnaire), down to Census Block group. Added estimates (1997) and projections (2002) on demographic and consumer spending for block groups, zip codes, tracts, counties and states. Includes county time-series data on crime, agriculture, industry, employment, etc.

Census CD 1990 Blocks (Geolytics, Inc.)
Population and housing data from the Census Bureau's STF 1B and PL94-171 files, the latest TIGER boundaries, and over 50 geographic identifiers, including 1980 FIPS codes, and Zip Code to census block relationships.

Selected Print Resources:

Understanding the Census: A Guide for Marketers, Planners, Grant Writers and Other Data Users / Michael R. Lavin; Kenmore, N.Y.: Epoch; [Phoenix, Ariz.]: Oryx Press [distributor, library ed.], 1996.

Using the 1990 U.S. Census for Research / Richard E. Barrett; Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 1994.

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1980 Census

CensusCD 1980 (Geolytics, Inc.)
1980 United States Census data, both from the short form questionnaire given to 100% of households(STF-1A) and the long form (STF-3A) data, distributed to 16% of U.S. households. Also, over 50 demographics from the 1990 census have been converted back to 1980 geographic areas.

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Historical

CensusCD 1970 (Geolytics, Inc.)
This CD allows access to over 8,500 geographic and demographic identifiers by geographic area. Census data is from the long form. The data is divided into three seperate groups: housing counts, population counts and geographic identifiers. A complete set of tract maps is also available with this CD.

Neighborhood Change Database: 1970-2000 tract data (Geolytics, Inc.)
This CD provides data from the 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 Long form census data. The data has been normalized, making it easy to compare data throughout the years.

Historical Statistics of the United States
(Also available at many libraries in print.)
Presents the U.S. in statistics from Colonial times to the present. Included are statistics on U.S. population, including characteristics, vital statistics, internal and international migration. Statistics on work and welfare, economic structure and performance, economic sectors, and governance and international relations. Tables may be downloaded for use in spreadsheets and other applications.

Historical Census Browser (University of Virginia)
Provides access to state and county information on demographics, education, the economy and more from 1790-1960. The data and terminology are drawn directly from historical volumes of the U.S. Census of Population and Housing.

Social Explorer
Presents historical census data for the United States through the use of interactive maps and reports. Currently provides access to data from 1790 to 2000 at census tract, county, state and national level.

Ancestry Library Edition
Extensive collection of vital records, directories, censuses, military records, and other material from the United States and Canada, intended for genealogical research. Includes fully-indexed, full-text images of United States federal census returns, 1790-1930.