Decennial Population and Housing Censuses Guide
Factors to Consider Before You Look for Census Data
There are three different things to have in mind as you search Census
statistical data.
1. Date: Censuses are taken once every ten
years. Sometimes the tables in Census reports record statistics from
multiple decades, but very seldom are data for smaller geographies or specific subjects presented over a long period of time in a single volume.
The Historical
Census Browser can help you find data contained in multiple censuses.
That resource and other multi-year compilations of census data are described
in the Multi-Year Statistical Resources page.
2. Geography: We all know some Census
geographies: state, county, city or town. But Census figures are
also reported at geographic levels that are less-well known. Data for
small geographies like "tracts," "block groups," and "blocks" can be even more
significant to planners and researchers than data reported at larger
geographic units.
These resources will help you learn about Census geographies.
1. 1990 Metropolitan Area
graphic
2. Census Small-Area
Geography, p. 2 of a 4 page PDF
3. Census
Geography page from Census Factfinder
4. Census 2000 Geographic
Terms and Concepts, a 27 page PDF
3. Topic: Finding the type of data that you
want within Census documents can be tricky. The questions asked in
censuses have changed over time, and more recent censuses record data on more
topics than did earlier ones. Also the topic you're interested in may
not be one that was addressed by a census questionnaire.
General tips to locate topical statistics:
1. This guide's pages describing decennial Census resources
summarize the questions asked and contain a link to the decade's
questionnaire.
2. "Table Finding Guides" are contained in printed volumes that identify the subjects found in specific tables. There is such a finding guide in the 1850 volume, but this aid does not make a reappearance until 1930.
3. For the 1990 and 2000 censuses, the electronic resources
lead you through a series of steps by which you choose desired geographies and
topics to display.
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