Census Information: Historical Census Research
The United States Constitution includes directives for carrying out a census of the population every 10 years.
About the US Census
The United States Constitution includes directives for carrying out a census of the population every 10 years. Over the past 200 years that charge has expanded and changed to include other census types. In addition, state and local governments create and manage statistics.
Core Resources
- New! 1940 Census Online > National ArchivesView enumeration rolls and maps; use this search tool to find your 1940 enumeration district number: Via SteveMorse.com > Unified 1940 Census Enumeration Lookup Tool
- National Historical Geographic Information SystemThe National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) provides, free of charge, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2010. A project of the Minnesota Population Center.
- IPUMS USA digitized published census volumesThe Census Bureau regularly releases published books of tables within a few years of the enumeration of each census. These books usually contain regular data series tabulated for the entire country and usually all states, counties, and major cities. This site contains links to scans of all available published census volumes in PDF format.
- Selected Historical Decennial Census for Population & HousingDeveloped and maintained by the US Census Bureau, this site provides access to select tables and reports from 1790 to 2000.
- Historical Census Data on the Foreign-Born Population in the U.S. (1850-2000)Produced and maintained by the US Census Bureau, this paper summarizes historical data on the foreign-born population in the United States from 1850 to 2000.
- Native American Genealogical Research Documents (1800-1927?)Collection at the Genealogical Forum of Oregon - find out more at their website http://www.gfo.org
- Social Explorer
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Social Explorer is an online research tool designed to access current and historical U.S. Census data and demographic information. It contains maps, profile reports, data elements, and variables.
- Statistical Abstract of the United StatesThe Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.