Historical Census Data
Lists online sources for census data. Be sure to also check the Recent Census for links to sources that may go back 10 years or more. Also take a look at the subject areas in this guide (Economic Census, etc.) for older materials from these publications.
- Census PublicationsPublications, briefs, and reports from the Census Bureau. Includes various ways to filter results.
- Census Records Online (NARA)From the National Archives. Links to Census year and then NARA partners that offer these records. Some are only available by subscription.
- Data via FTPDownloadable American Community Survey (ACS) data files, as well as other materials, on the Census Bureau's file transfer protocol (FTP) server.
- Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970Includes more than 12,500 time series, mostly annual, providing a statistical history of U.S. social, economic, political, and geographic development during periods from 1610 to 1970. Census Bureau.
- History: Publications - DemographicCensus Bureau's history of census from 1790 to the present. Includes some historical reports from 1790 to 2000.
- IPUMS NHGIS"The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) provides population, housing, agricultural, and economic data, along with GIS-compatible boundary files, for geographic units in the United States from 1790 to the present."
- IPUMS USA"IPUMS USA collects, preserves and harmonizes U.S. census microdata and provides easy access to this data with enhanced documentation. Data includes decennial censuses from 1790 to 2010 and American Community Surveys (ACS) from 2000 to the present."
- Population and Housing EstimatesThe Population Estimates Program (PEP) produces estimates of the US population, including by states, counties, cities and towns. Includes demographics and housing.
- Statistical Abstract of the United StatesThe authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Census Bureau. 1879-2010.
Print: Older Censuses (General Series)
Here are the General Series (100% questionnaire) materials held by the Blume Library. CDs and DVDs must be requested at the Circulation Counter and may be checked out by St. Mary's students, faculty and staff for 7 days. Non-St. Mary's users may use them in the Library. They are located in a filing cabinet in the Government Documents area, in the Blume Library office.
Census of Population and HousingCall Number: C 3.223/5Primarily, data from the 2000 Census. Includes some data from 1960, 1990, and 2010.
CD/DVD call numbers include C 3.275:F 48/DVD, C 3.282/2-3, and C 3.282/2. Data from 1990-2010.- General Housing CharacteristicsCall Number: C 3.224/3Data from 1970-1980 (Texas only) and 1990 (US).
Print: Older Censuses (Detailed Series)
These reports provide information obtained through the sample questionnaires and their information is therefore more detailed.
- Census of Population: Detailed CharacteristicsCall Number: C 3.223/81960-1980 (Texas only; not published for later years).
- Census of Population: General Social/Economic CharacteristicsCall Number: C 3.223/71960,1980 (Texas only); 1970, 1990 (all states).
- Census TractsCall Number: C 3.223/11Most Texas cities from 1960-1990. These reports are important because they are the smallest geographic area to report sample data.
- Metropolitan Housing CharacteristicsCall Number: C 3.224/41970-1980 (Texas cities only); not published for later years.
- Summary Social, Economic and Housing CharacteristicsCall Number: C 3.223/23Data from, primarily, 1980 - 2000.
Print: Subject & Special Reports
Subject Reports
Population: C 3.223/10: . (1960-90). Housing: C 3.224/10: . (1970-80). These reports primarily cover the entire country, but may have some regional and state tabulations. The titles of Subject Reports have shifted considerably over time, but cover, in greater or less detail from census to census, these subject areas: Families, Education, Labor, Mobility/Migration, Race/Ethnicity.
Special Reports
These are Housing reports: Components of Inventory Change. C3.224/6: . (1970-1980), Employment Profiles of Low-Income Areas. C3.223/17: (1970 only), Residential Finance. C3.224/7: (1970-1980).
Print: Pre-1960 Census Data
The Blume Library also has scattered print holdings from some earlier Censuses.
Volumes for 1920 and 1930 are classified C 3.28/5: and C 3.37/5: , respectively. For these years, information on population, economic conditions and agriculture were combined.
The Census produced some some monographs which cover such subjects as the position of women, the condition of minorities, the farm population and immigrants. There are a few reports from 1920-1970. These volumes are classified C 3.30.
The Library has volumes for 1916, 1926 and 1936 covering Religious Bodies. They are classified C 3.35: .
Finally, the Library has two volumes from the 1890 Census: Report on Indians Taxed and Not Taxed, C 3.11:7 and the Report of Statistics on Churches in the U.S., C 3.11:3.