Census Information in the Government Documents Department

The U.S. Government regularly collects census data—in agriculture, in business, and about the population of the U.S. The volumes that make up the historic and recent Census of Population are some of the most popular items for study in the Documents Department. Since 1790, the U.S. Government has taken a population census every ten years. Click here for a list of available Census materials in the Government Documents Department locations and on-line versions.

These sites from the the Census Bureau provide population, housing, economic, and geographic data for 2000.
   Census 2000 Home Page
   American Factfinder

The 1990 Census of Population was issued in paper volumes, on CD-ROM, and is available electronically on the web. A single commercial CD-ROM called CensusCD + Mapsis also available in the Documents Department. It includes a full set of Census data from Block Group level up to the nation, all 16 geographies included in the Census long form databases, STF-3-A to D, all tracts, places, counties, states, Congressional districts, Indian, Zip Codes, etc. over 375,000 geographic locations in the U.S.

In addition, the Census Bureau issued many of its subject reports from the 1990 Census on CD-ROM. These CDs are also available in the Documents Department and include topics such as Characteristics of Adults with Work Disabilities, Ancestry of the Population, Characteristics of the Black Population, etc.

Some files from the earlier censuses (1790 - 1960) are on the web at the U.S. Historical Census Data Browser.

NOTE: Many people are interested in the type of census records giving actual names, and family relationships, etc. that are useful to genealogists. This type of census records are usually on microfilm and specific geographic areas are often purchased by libraries and researchers. Our library's collection is on the 1st floor in the Microforms Department. The staff there will be able to help you determine if what you need is in our collection, or could be borrowed. Using the Genealogy Research Guide will also help in locating census information in Alden Library