Census Information
Guide Coverage
The Census Bureau collects a wide variety of information, including demographics, economic information, government employment data, and more. Major online materials, and those found in the Blume Library, are describes in this guide.
The decennial Census, obtained from questionnaire administered every 10 years, is meant ot count the full United States population. The decennial Census is important source of demographic data. You will find information on the current and historic Census in this guide as well as other Census publications.
Location of the Publications in the Library
The Blume Library no longer receives tangible publications. However, the Library has older Census information in print or on CDs/DVDs.
Paper publications will be found in Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) classification order on the Blume Library's 2nd floor. Microfiche is located in cabinets on the west wall of the 2nd Floor. Census CDs/DVDs are housed in the Blume Library office, in the Government Information area, are listed on reserve in the Library Catalog, and must be requested at the Circulation Counter. The general classification for Census Bureau materials is C 3.
Checking out Census Materials
Tangible Census material in the Library's collection may be checked out by St. Mary's students, faculty, and staff . CDs/DVDs are on Reserve and have a loan period of 7 days. Printed items are in the documents stacks on the Blume Library's 2nd Floor and may be checked out for the same periods as books. Microfiche may not be checked out but can be used at the microfiche reader/printer on the 2nd Floor.
Public Access
Members of the general public are welcome to use any of these materials in the Blume Library.
Need to Know to Find Census Data
Formats
Data at Census.gov is available in a variety of formats. Much basic information is provided on webpages, through drop-down menus, and via dynamically-generated databases, maps, and more interface. Some extensive files are available for download in spreadsheet or PDF format. Electronic versions of publications, such as documentation and historical reports, are usually in PDF format.
Census data is not available instantly
As required by the Constitution, the Census Bureau conducts a complete count of residents of the U.S. every ten years. Simple counts of people in states and areas must be available by the beginning of the year following the Census because this data is used to apportion Congressional seats. Other data, such as income, education, etc., usually takes a few years to become available. This detailed data, giving social and economic characteristics of the population of small geographical areas, is usually not available until at least three years after the Census was taken.
Geography matters
The more detailed the statistics one searches for, the less detailed are the geographical areas for which the statistics are available. For example, in 
past Censuses, general population counts were published for places as small as 1,000 people. But poverty status figures were given only for places as small as 2,500. Detailed cross-tabulations of poverty status and educational level may only be given for large (more than 250,000) cities. Thus, two parameters are important when selecting a Census report to study: the kind of statistics one needs, and the geographical area of interest. For more information on Census geography, see the Geography page.
Not all data is created equal, and some isn't created at all
Information contained in the Census volumes is collected from questionnaire responses. Some basic information (e.g.: age, sex, race) is obtained from all residents, whereas other, more detailed questions (e.g.: income, education, employment status) are only asked of a sample. And some questions are not asked at all, (for example, "what is your religion?") which means that no data on these subjects is available from the Census Bureau. For more information on the importance of Census methodology, see the Comparability page.
Tutorials & Guides to the Census
These videos and written tools are designed to help users with Census data.
From the U.S. Census Bureau
- Census AcademyPortal to learning about the huge variety of U.S. Census Bureau data and reports. Includes recorded webinars, Data Gems which are a series of "how-to" videos about how to use specific Census data, courses, etc.
Organizations with Census Tutorials
- CensusScope"Tool for investigating U.S. demographic trends, brought to you by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN) at the University of Michigan." Charts, maps, rankings, etc.
- 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."
Library Guides to the Census
- Statistics, Demographics and Census (UCF Libraries)comprehensive guide to the Census, data about Florida, and other statistical data, mostly US
- US Census Research Guide (Northwestern)Detailed guide to the decennial census, American Community Survey, and more. Northwestern University Libraries guide.
Data Centers
State Data Centers (SDC)
The State Data Center system is a partnership between the Census Bureau and the various states and US territories. They provide local contacts for data of particular interest to their states and regions.
- State Data Center ProgramLists all state data centers; from the Census Bureau
- Texas Demographic CenterDistributes Census information for Texas and also "disseminates population estimates and projections for Texas, as well as other information".
Research Data Centers (RDC)
There are 29 open Federal Research Data Centers. In Texas, Texas A&M at College Station is the primary RDC and host a TXRDC consortium that includes several Texas universities.
- Texas Research Data CenterResearch Data Center at Texas A&M College Station, partnership with the Census Bureau.
Related Reference Sources
The data making up these compilations comes from decennial Censuses, other Census surveys, and other sources. Some sources cite the originating statistics which can be a good way to find additional data.
Online
- 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.
- 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.
County and City Data BookCall Number: C 3.134/4:C 83Data by counties and towns of 2500 or more population from the most recent Censuses as well as from other sources. Some years in print: 1949 - 2007. This is no longer being published by the Census.- Historical Statistics of the United StatesCall Number: C 3.134/2:H 62/Time series, mostly annual, providing a statistical history of U.S. social, economic, political and geographic development. Data is given by nation, states and selected cities. Also online via the Census Bureau.
- State and Metropolitan Area Data BookCall Number: C 3.134/5:Data by regions, states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), MSA counties and central cities. Years held by the Library: 1979, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1997, 2006, 2010. Ceased publication. Some copies at Census.gov.
Statistical Abstract of the United StatesCall Number: Ref HA 202 .U51 & US Docs C 3.134: (2nd Floor)Publication Date: 1878-2023Standard annual summary of US demographic, social, political and economic statistics with recent time series. Some international data.
1878-2012, with some years missing, is online at the US Census Bureau site.
1878-2012 is also available at Hein Online.
1915-2012, with some years missing, is in US Documents C 3.134:. The US Documents editions may be checked out.
2013-2023 is in the print Reference Collection at REF HA 202 .U51.
Note: Blume Library Collections
The Blume Library ceased receiving new tangible government documents in Spring 2016. Library employees withdrew a large numbers of tangible documents during the previous year. Most of these documents are available online from the Census Bureau.