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Finding Census Data

U. S. census data is available in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and online, depending on the date. One way to begin searching for census data is to use reference works such as the ones listed below.

Reference Works

General Guides to Finding Census Information

• Encyclopedia of the U.S. Census (Ref. HA 3.U55 C66 2000)
• Finding Statistics Online (Ref. HA 33.5. B47 1998)
• Understanding the Census: a Guide for Marketers, Planners, Grant Writers and Other Data Users (Ref. HA 201 1990ar)
• Your Gateway to Census 2000

Historical Census Information

• Bureau of the Census Catalog of Publications, 1790-1972 (Ref. Z 7554 U5 U58)
• Bureau of the Census Catalog 1973-79. (Ref. Z 7554.U5 U32)
• Census Catalog and Guide 1989- . (Ref. Z7554.U5 U32)
• Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970 (Ref. HA 202.B87 1975)
• Population Information in Twentieth Century Census Volumes, 1900-1940. 2 v. (Ref. HA 214 S45 1985)
• Population Information in Twentieth Century Census Volumes, 1950-1980. 2 v. (Ref. HA 214 S45 1988)
• Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts

Print

Vassar has many census documents in print from the first census in 1790 through the 22nd census in 2000.   Search the online catalog using the subject heading: United States Census 1st 1790 [substitute number and date of the appropriate census]

Early census materials are in LC classification and shelved in the main collection. Example:

Subject heading: United States Census 17th 1950

• HA 201 1950.A2
  United States. Bureau of the Census.
  Census of Population: 1950; a Report of the Seventeenth Decennial Census of the United States. v. 3. Census Tract Statistics.

Later census materials are in the Superintendent of Documents Classification. Print volumes are shelved in the U.S. Government Documents collection. Census materials on CD ROM are also in the U.S. Government Documents area, except for CensusCD, which is on a workstation in the Reference room. Example:

Subject heading: United States Census 19th 1970

• U.S. Doc. C3.223/11:970/145 (New York)

Subject heading: United States Census 20th 1980

Much of the 1980 census is on microfiche in the Microtext Room. The Census of Population and Housing is also in print in the documents collection.

• U.S. Doc. C3.223/11:980/260
  The 1980 Census of Population and Housing. Census Tracts.

Microfiche

The 1980 census is filed under "Census" in the non-document microfiche collection.

• New York State Data Center.
  1980 Census of Population, Characteristics of People and Housing ... Census data taken from Summary Tape File 1. 13 microfiche. 1980 Census of Population, Characteristics of People and Housing ... from Summary Tape File 3. 39 microfiche. Census of Population and Housing, 1980 ... Summary Tape File 1. Technical Documentation. 1 microfiche. Census of Population and Housing, 1980 ... Summary Tape Tile 3. Technical documentation. 2 microfiche.

Online

CD-ROMs

• CensusCD (Ref CD ROM Workstation)
  Statistical data from the 1990 census.
• U.S. Doc. CD C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 07 H
  Census of Population and Housing (1990). Subject summary tapefile (SSTF).
• U.S. Doc. CD C 3.282:cd 90-3A-40/
  1990 Census of Population and Housing. New York.
• U.S. Doc. CD C 3.134/2-1
  County and City Data Book
  1994 and 2000. Contains demographic, economic, and governmental data from both the federal government and private agencies, presented for the purpose of multi-area comparisons or single area profiles. Current estimates and benchmark census results are included.

Internet

• Bureau of the Census Website
  Census 2000 is online through the Census Bureau website. The site includes American FactFinder.
• United States Historical Census Data Browser (Univ. of Virginia)
  Census data for each state and country from 1790 to 1960. Includes data on housing, population characteristics, employment/labor, education, etc.