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Last updated August 20, 2002 in the Social Science Reference Center of Princeton University Library
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United States Government Documents Collection of Princeton University Library |
Since the late 18th century, the United States Government has carried out a counting of its people and measured social and economic factors of its national life in the Decennial Census, and in later years related censuses and surveys. Originally designed to provide a basis for a "one man - one vote" rule for political representation, the census quickly became a way to gather much additional information about the country which could be used to inform policy for the government. These data also helped business make informed decisions on development and growth.
1. What kind of data are available in U.S. Census publications? U.S. census information is of two types: "schedule" or individual data and "summary" or statistical data. Please note that it is the National Archives and Records Administration, NARA - and not the Census Bureau, that releases Schedule information. The Census Bureau releases Summary or statistical data as it has from the first U.S. Census; today that release is largely on the web. Schedule Data.
Schedules themselves can be consulted on microfilm at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA) regional centers. The New York address is 210 Varick Street, NY,NY (212-337-1300) and Philadelphia, at 900 Market Street, Room 1350, Philadelphia, PA (215-597-3000). All regional NARA offices hold the schedules. NARA also rents and sells schedule microfilm. Consult the Genealogy Page from NARA for much helpful information at http://www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy/ A good referral for a patron to find help with locating and using schedule data is to the Family History Centers of the Mormon Church. The Princeton Family History Center is at 10 Alexander Road, West Windsor, New Jersey, phone: (609) 452-0802. NJ. Also note that Princeton Public Library lists its census holdings on its web page at princeton.lib.nj.us/princeton/ On the web, the HeritageQuest commercial service at www.heritagequest.com offers indexes to the schedules, and purchase of many schedules on film or CD-ROM. Princeton holds some of these, and will purchase others if there is a teaching or research need for them. Statistical Data.
Using this Guide for 1790 through 1970, and the indexes for 1980 and 1990, statistical tables can then be found in printed format as explained below. There is also a microfilm edition of the decennial census publications for 1790 through 1960 which can be found in Princeton's Microfilm Collection on C Floor of Firestone Library at S00171, (247 reels). Print volumes for the 1790 through 1950 censuses will be found on A Floor in Firestone stacks, under the call number HA201 .[year] Oversize. Years before 1860 are often found in the Rare Books Division, although there is a full set of the 1790 statistical volumes still held in Firestone stacks. For example, the 1940 Census volumes will be found in Firestone stacks at HA201.1940 Oversize, while the 1830 statistical volumes are found in Rare Books (Ex) Oversize HA201 1810q. Even though some of the individual volumes may be smaller than the general guidelines for oversize materials, all census volumes are given this designation so that they can sit together in the oversize section. Statistical summary volumes for 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990 will be found in the Documents Collection of the Social Science Reference Center, under the Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) number (DOCS) C3.222:[year]. For example, the 1980 census volumes will be found at (DOCS) C3.222:980. There are also microfiche components to these censuses, which will be found under that SuDoc number in the (DOCS) microfiche collection. 2000 Census Statistical Data are gradually being released as analysis and tabulation can be carried out by the staff of the Census Bureau. It is presented on the web site of the Census Bureau at www.census.gov. There will be very few print products distributed from this Census; the web will be the main means of distribution. 2. What Electronic Access is Available for Census Data? Increasingly U.S. Census Statistical Data, including historical data from previous censuses, is being made available on the web site of the Bureau of the Census, at www.census.gov . While there is an emphasis on the more recent censuses, some data there goes back many years. A major category on that web page is "Data Access". There will be found the "1990 Decennial Census Lookup" which provides tables of data originally released in CD-ROM format. Princeton still holds these CD-ROMs, but they have been functionally superceded by web access on this site. Among the other useful links found here is the "US Gazetteer - Place name, and ZIP Code Search Engine." Establishing a correlation between zip codes and census data is often useful. Another way that Census data is available in electronic format is through work with raw census data. This is especially appropriate in a research environment such as the one here at Princeton. The Data Librarian and Data Consultants in the Social Science Reference Center are available to help students and faculty identify, acquire, and make appropriate use of these data. Data Services can assist patrons with electronic access to selected parts of all censuses, 1790-1960, from the InterUniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research, ICPSR. Also, they provide assistance with electronic access to summary information from the 1970 and following censuses. Some part of these data and tables can also be accessed through the simplier electronic products called CensusCD produced by the Geolytics Company in East Brunswick, NJ. Several of these are available on library web computers at Princeton. Some CensusCd products will be found listed in the Databases and Reference Tools section of the Library webpage. Others can be found in theSocial Science Reference Center and the Geosciences Library Map Division. The weg sites of a number of foreign government statistical offices increasingly offer data in electronic format. One useful site to access such data is from the University of Auckland at http://www2.auckland.ac.nz/lbr/stats/offstats/OFFSTATSmain.htm 3. What Questions were Asked by the U.S. Census? A basic tenant of work with U.S. Census Data is to be sure that the
elements wanted were actually included in the questions asked in a particular
census. Up until and including 1930, everyone was asked the
same questions. In 1940 and following, there was a short form, asked
of most people, and a long form, asked of a smaller sample of the population.
The long form, with many more and more detailed questions, provided a sample
to given more complete estimated data on the national population.
The First U.S. Census in 1790 asked the name of the head of household, the number of free white males under 16, and 16 or older, the number of free white females of any age, the name of a slave owner, and number of slaves owned by that person. Print Report pages: 56 pages. Schedules: 12 rolls of microfilm; many schedules lost. The Second U.S. Census in 1800 asked the name of the head of household, the number of free white males and free white females in specific age categories, the name of a slave owner, and number of slaves owned by that person. Print report pages: 74 pages. Schedules: 52 rolls of microfilm; some schedules lost. The Third U.S. Census in 1810 asked the name of the head of household, the number of free white males and free white females in specific age categories, the name of a slave owner, and the number of slaves owned by that person. Print report pages: 469 pages. Schedules: 71 rolls of microfilm. The Fourth U.S. Census in 1820 asked the name of the head of household, the number of free white males and free white females in specific age categories, the name of a slave owner, the number of slaves owned by that person, the number of male and female slaves by age categories, and the number of foreigners (not naturalized) in a household. Print report pages: 288 pages. Schedules: 142 rolls of microfilm. The Fifth U.S. Census in 1830 asked the name of the head of household; the number of free white males and free white females in specific age categories; the name of a slave owner and number of slaves owned by that person; the number of male and female slaves by age categories; the number of foreigners (not naturalized) in a household; and the number of deaf, dumb, and blind persons within a household. Print report pages: 214 pages. Schedules: 201 rolls of microfilm. The Sixth U.S. Census in 1840 asked the name of the head of household; the number of free white males and free white females in specific age categories; the name of a slave owner and number of slaves owned by that person; the number of male and female slaves by age categories; the number of foreigners (not naturalized) in a household; the number of deaf, dumb, and blind persons within a household; the number and age of each person receiving a military pension; and the number of persons attending school. Print report pages: 1465 pages. Schedules: 580 rolls of microfilm. The Seventh U.S. Census in 1850, on the census day of 1 June 1950, asked for the first time the name of every person in the household, and also for each person their age as of the census day; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; value of real estate; whether married within the previous year; whether deaf, dumb, blind, or insane; whether a pauper; whether able to read or speak English; and whether they attended school within the previous year. No relationships were asked between members of a household. Print report pages: 2165 pages. Schedules: 1009 rolls of microfilm. The Eighth U.S. Census in 1860, on the census day of 1 June 1860, asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age as of the census day; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal estate; whether married within the previous year; whether deaf, dumb, blind, or insane; whether a pauper; whether able to read or speak English; and whether they attended school within the previous year. No relationships were asked among members of the household. Print report pages: 3189 pages. Schedules: 1438 rolls of microfilm. The Ninth U.S. Census in 1870, on the census day of 1 June, 1870, asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age as of the census day; month of birth if born during the year; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal estate; whether married within the previous year; month of marriage if married within the previous year; whether deaf, dumb, blind, or insane; whether able to read or write; whether father or mother of foreign birth; and whether they attended school within the previous year. No relationships were asked among members of the household. Print report pages: 3473 pages. Schedules: 1748 rolls of microfilm. The Tenth U.S. Census in 1880, on the census day of 1 June, 1880, asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age as of the census day; month of birth if born during the year; relationship to the head of household; name of street and number of house; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; marital status; whether married within the previous year; whether temporarily or permanently disabled; whether crippled, maimed, or deformed; time unemployed during the census year; whether deaf, dumb, blind, or insane; whether able to read or write; birthplace of father and mother; and whether they attended school within the previous year. Print report pages: 21,458 pages. Schedules: 1454 rolls of microfilm. An act of March 1, 1889, provided that the Superintendent
of Census in taking the Eleventh Census should "cause to be taken
on a special schedule of inquiry, according to such form as he may prescribe,
the names, organizations, and length of service of those who had served
in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States in the war of the
rebellion, and who are survivors at the time of said inquiry, and the widows
of soldiers, sailors, or marines." Much of the schedules from the
Eleventh Census were lost to fire.
The Twelfth U.S. Census in 1900 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age, month of birth, relationship to the head of household; name of street and number of house; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; marital status; number of years in the U.S.; birthplace of father and mother; whether parents were of foreign birth; whether able to read or write, speak English, or attended school within the previous year; number of years married; number children born to mother and number of living children. Print report pages: 10,925 pages. Schedules: 1854 rolls of microfilm. The Fourteenth U.S. Census in 1920 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age; relationship to the head of household; name of street and number of house; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; marital status; number of years in the U.S.; birthplace of father and mother; whether parents were of foreign birth; whether able to read or write, speak English, and whether they attended school within the previous year. Print report pages: 14,550 pages. Schedules: 2076 rolls of microfilm. The Thirteenth U.S. Census in 1910 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age; relationship to the head of house; name of street and number of house; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; marital status; number of years in the U.S.; birthplace of father and mother; whether parents were of foreign birth; whether able to read or write speak English, or attended school within the previous year; number of years married, number of children born to a mother, and number of children still living at the time of the census. Print report pages: 11,456 pages. Schedules: 1784 rolls of microfilm. The Fourteenth U.S. Census in 1920 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age; relationship to the head of household; name of street and number of house; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; marital status; number of years in the U.S.; birthplace of father and mother; whether parents were of foreign birth; whether able to read or write, speak English, and whether they attended school within the previous year. Print report pages: 14,550 pages. Schedules:2076 rolls of microfilm. The Fifteenth U.S. Census in 1930, on the census day of 1 April, 1930, (except Alaska October 1 1929) asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age; relationship to head of household; sex; color or race, marital status; age at first marriage; whether they attended school or college within the previous year, whether able to read and write; speak English; place of birth of person, also their mother; also their father; native language if foreign born; citizenship; if foreign born year of immigration to the U.S.; naturalization; trade, profession, or particular kind of work done, such as spinner, salesman, riveter, teacher, etc.; industry or business, such as cotton mill, dry-goods store, shipyard, public school, etc.; class of worker; whether at work yesterday or on the last regular working day; whether a veteran of U.S. military or naval force; if so, what war or expedition; whether home owned or rented; value of home, if owned, or monthly rental, if rented; radio set; does this family live on a farm. Print report pages: 35,700 pages. Schedules: Just released. The Sixteenth U.S. Census in 1940 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age relationship to the head of household, and much additional detail. For questions asked, look at appendices of the Statistical Volumes. Print report pages: 58,400 pages. Schedules to be released 2012. The Seventeenth U.S. Census in 1950 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age relationship to the head of household, and much additional detail. For questions asked, look at appendices of the Statistical Volumes. Print report pages: 61,700 pages. Schedules to be released 2022. The Eighteenth U.S. Census in 1960 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age relationship to the head of household. and much additional detail. For questions asked, look at appendices of the Statistical Volumes. Print report pages:103,000 pages. Schedules to be released 2032. The Nineteenth U.S. Census in 1970 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age relationship to the head of household, and much additional detail. For questions asked, look at appendices of the Statistical Volumes. Print report pages: 200,000 pages. Schedules to be released 2042. The Twentieth U.S. Census in 1980 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age relationship to the head of household, and much additional detail. For questions asked, look at appendices of the Statistical Volumes. Print report pages: 300,000 pages. Schedules to be released 2052. The Twenty-first U.S. Census in 1990 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age relationship to the head of household; and much additional detail. For questions asked, look at appendices of the Statistical Volumes. Print report pages: 500,000 pages. Schedules to be released 2062. Note: The 21st Census in 1990 was the first to use electronic media to produce summary data, and so the page count for products released is not a significant measure for the product output of this and following censuses. The Twenty-second U.S. Census in 2000 asked the name of every person in the household, and also their age relationship to the head of household, and much additional detail. For questions asked, look at facsimile of the questionnaries on the Census Bureau's web site at http://www.census.gov. Print report pages: This measure is no longer significant since reports for this census are released on the Internet. Schedules to be released 2072. 4. What is the Place of Maps in Census Research? Since the stated purpose of the U.S. Census since its inception in 1790 has been to create equitable legislative representation, maps have been an important part of Census work. In later years, when block and census tracks formed the boundaries of statistical reports, census geography became critical to relate to political geography. Block maps were printed and bound into the Census Report volumes by the Census Bureau for the censuses up to and including the 1970 Census. For the 1980 census, a separate set of maps was produced; Princeton is fortunate to have a complete set of these maps in paper. For the 1990 census, maps were available for purchase at a considerable price; therefore, comprehensive sets are unheard of. Stated changed enable the use of earlier maps for block work. Ask a reference librarian the Social Science Reference Center for help with this process. The 2000 census is still being processed; the map question is still open at this writing. When postal zip codes were introduced in the United States in 1963 , the correlation between census geography and civil grography became more important. As a geographer at the U.S. Postal Service stated several years ago, "we deliver mail on both sides of the road, and roads are often the boundary between census divisions." Today, correlations between zip codes and census reports are easily found on the Census Bureau's web site, so that geographic work is not so often done with census maps of blocks and tracks spread out beside maps of political and civil geography as it once was. However, patrons at times want to make sophisticated correlations between census geography and civil or political geography. Princeton is fortunate to have a GIS specialist to help with this process. Referrals can be made to: Tsering W Shawa in the Geosciences and Map Library, 258-6804, shawatw@Princeton.EDU. 5. What are U.S. Special Censuses and Surveys? Special Censuses.
Surveys. Since the Census is such a vital source of information on many aspects of the national life of the U.S., and it is only taken once each decade, it is important to have good estimations of larger population trends on the "in-between" or non-census years. The Current Population Survey, taken in May and October, with some other data collection points during each year, provides data to make projections of data gathered in the Census. The paper print publication Current Population Reports in various series has offered this data in summary form for a number of years. The web page of the Census Bureau today offers much of the same information, often going back over a number of years. Raw data is available at Princeton through the Data and Statistical Services Department in the Social Science Reference Center, and can be accessed directly through the web page of that service. U.S. State and Municipal Census Data.
6. What Foreign Census Data is Available at Princeton? The Population Research Collection in the Stokes Library holds census publications from many other countries. In some cases, these go back over many years. Several important sets and guides are listed in the bibliography which will be found at the end of this guide. Consult the staff in that library for questions about foreign censuses. Individual censuses from many countries are included here. Check the Main Catalog for information on. specific countries. For example, France-Census or Thailand-Census,. Stokes also has the Research Publications collection of foreign censuses on microfilm. Censuses in this collection for individual countries cannot be identified except by asking assistance at Stokes. Additional information on foreign censuses is available in the following
titles:
Africa and Asia HA37.A33D65 1986 (SSRC & SPR) Latin America, Caribbean, North American and Oceania, HA36.G67 1983 (SSRC & SPR) Europe, HA37.E93 G67 1992 (SPR)
7. What are Basic Titles for Census Research at Princeton?
New Jersey
Labor Market Information, from the New Jersey State Data Center
United States. Bureau of the Census.
Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1907-08. 12 v. fronts. (fold. maps) 30 cm. Notes: Roster of heads of families in 1790, so far as can be shown from records of the Census Office. The returns for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia were destroyed by fire in 1814. As the federal census schedules of the state of Virginia for 1790 are missing, the lists of the state enumerations made in 1782, 1783, 1784, and 1785, while not complete, have been substituted. cf. Introd. in vol. for Virginia, Pennsylvania, etc. Contents: Maine -- New Hampshire -- Vermont -- Massachusetts -- Rhode Island -- Connecticut -- New York -- Pennsylvania -- Maryland -- Virginia -- North Carolina -- South Carolina. Location: Firestone Library (F) HA201 1790 .A3 (12 v)
CensusCD 1970 [electronic resource].
"Long form data from the 1970 U.S. census and mapping." Subject(s): United States--Census, 19th, 1970. Location: Accessible from Library Web Computers
Summary Note: Contains the complete results of the 1980 census of population and housing, with over 1500 demographics and geographic identifiers for every geographic area as well as 50 demographics from the 1990 census (converted to 1980 geographic areas) allowing easy decadal time series analysis. Subject(s): United States--Census, 20th, 1980--Databases. United States--Population--Statistics--Databases. Location: Accessible from Library Web Computers
East Brunswick, NJ : Geolytics, 2001- Location: Accessible from Library Web Computers
[East Brunswick, New Jersey] : GeoLytics, c1998. "Contains all the 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"--User guide, leaf 2. Subject(s): Housing--United States--Statistics--Databases. United States--Census, 21st, 1990--Databases. United States--Population--Statistics--Databases. Location: COMPUTER FILE 72 CD-ROM (SG)
Microfilm S00171.(FILM) 247 reels. Indexed by Z7554.U5R47 1975 (Film B, SSRC, SPR).
Bureau of the Census catalog of publications, 1790-1972. -- Washington : U.S.
the Census / United States. Bureau of the Census. For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1974. x, 320, v, 591 p. ; 23 cm. Includes indexes. Supt. of Docs. no.: C 3.163/2-2:790-972 1. United States--Census--Bibliography. 2. United States. Bureau of the Census--Bibliography. I. Library of Congress. Census Library Project. Catalog of United States census publications, 1790-1945. 1974. II. Title. LCCN: 74600076 035: (NjP)1699508 L.C. CALL NO: Z7554.U5.U58 1974 Locations: SSRC, SF and SPR
Geographic Areas Reference Manual,1994 / U.S. Bureau of the Census.
Guide to 1980 U.S. decennial census publications : detailed abstracts and
Information Service, Inc. -- Bethseda, Md. : The Service, c1986. 2 v. ; 28 cm. Contents: [1] Abstracts -- [2] Index. ISBN 088692099X (pbk.) 1. United States--Census, 1980--Abstracts. 2. United States--Census, 1980-- Indexes. 3. United States--Statistics--Abstracts. 4. United States--Statistics- -Indexes. I. Congressional Information Service. II. American statistics index. ID: NJPG87-B13845 CC: 9114 DCF: a CALL: HA202.G84 (SSRC and SPR)
through March 1996. -- Bethesda, MD : Congressional Information Service, c1996. xiii, 243 p. ; 28 cm. ISBN 0886923700 (pbk.) 1. United States--Census, 21st, 1990--Abstracts. 2. United States--Census, 21st, 1990--Indexes. 3. United States--Statistics--Abstracts. 4. United States--Statistics--Indexes. I. Congressional Information Service. II. American statistics index. III. Title: Guide to 1990 US decennial census publications. LCCN: 96209141 035: (OCoLC)35522835 L.C. HA201. 1990as (SSRC and SPR)
Goyer, Doreen S.
1945-1977 Z7164.D3 G69 1979 (SPR)
Latin America, Caribbean, North America and Oceania,
Series II, 1967 and following Series III. Before 1945 Microfilm S0004-S00006 (SPR) Detailed guide in paper format: (SPR) Z7553.C3xR42q |
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