Introduction

The W.E.B. Du Bois Library has extensive holdings of the statistical federal decennial census volumes from 1790 to 2000. They are located in the Government Documents Reference Collection on Floor 6. The 1790 volumes include only names of heads of families. Volumes from 1800 onward include only statistical information and special reports.

To conduct genealogical research with the census, use the microfilm set of the census records by state that contains the names of heads of families and family members. Find these volumes in the Periodicals/Microforms Room along with the indexes. The 1930 census is the most recent census available, as these census records cannot be released until 70 years after they were first taken. The Library holds all the microfilm reels for Massachusetts (UM/Microfilm D372).

The Library Catalog lists all census volumes from 1790-1930 and 1980-2000. Use the Monthly Catalog of Government Publications (UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z1223.A18) and the Bureau of the Census Catalog of Publications (UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z 7554.U5 U58 1974) to access volumes from 1940-1970.

Online Sites for Census Information

American Factfinder.
(Bureau of the Census). Major census 2000 website for population, social, economic, racial, and housing data.

Bureau of the Census home page

Cure for the Common Codes.
(Missouri Census Data Center). Collection of state specific pages that display most of the commonly used geographic codes for each state.  Also contains many links to related web sites.

Frequently Used Sites Related to U.S. Federal Government Information: Census (GODORT)

Multiracial Populations  (Centers for Disease Control, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparaties)
Contains health information about multiracial populations.  Provides statistics, information on the ten leading causes of death, data on health disparaties, and links to related government and nongovernment websites.

Uncle Sam's Reference Shelf.
(Bureau of the Census).  Includes Statistical Abstract of the United States, historical statistics, state statistics, and statistics on race and hispanic origin.  Also includes links to other major statistical sources within the federal government.

United States Historical Census Data Browser
(University of Virginia). Provides a subset of the 1790 - 1960 Decennial Census data, at the state and county level. Available from the University of Virginia website with the "cooperation and consent of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research" (ICPSR)

Historical Data

1990 Census of Population and Housing: Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States.  (Bureau of the Census)
Includes population and housing data with some data down to the place level from 1790 to 1990.

Bureau of the Census Catalog of Publications, 1790-1972.
(UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z7554.U5 U 58 1974)
Complete listing of all census publications with abstracts and subject index.

Census Catalog and Guide
(UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z7554.U5 U32)
Complete listing of census publications from 1973 to present with abstracts and subject index.

Census Index
Sherry Engle, et al., Ohio State University, 2003
Designed to improve access to United States census information in library collections by providing an online index to census publications.

Census of the United States.
(UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. C 3.790: -C3.224/ :1990- )
Extensive statistical collection of census data from 1790-1990. See 'American Factfinder' below for 2000 data.

Population Information in Nineteenth Century Census Volumes.
By Suzanne Schulze. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1983. 446 p.
(UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z 7164 D3 S44 1983+)
Lists volumes issued for each decennial census with subjects covered by geographic levels from national to cities and towns.

Population Information in Twentieth Century Census Volumes, 1900-1940.
By Suzanne Schulze. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1985. 274 p. (UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z 7164 D3 S45 1985+).
Lists volumes issued for each decennial census with subjects covered by geographic levels from national to cities and towns.

Population Information in the Twentieth Century Census Volumes, 1950-1980.
By Suzanne Schulze. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1988. 317p.
(UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z 7164 D3 S46 1988+).
Lists volumes issued for each decennial census with subjects covered by geographic levels from national to cities and towns.

Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts (Bureau of the Census)
Statistics from 1790 at the national, state, county, and place level.  Depending on specificity of data and level of geography, beginning dates of coverage will vary.

United States Historical Census Data Browser.
Provides a subset of the 1790 - 1960 Decennial Census data, at the state and county level. Available from the University of Virginia website with the "cooperation and consent of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research" (ICPSR).

Indexes and Compilations

American Statistics Index. (1970- to present).
(UM/Gov. Doc. Ref. Z 1223 Z915).
Major subject, title index to federal statistics. Includes abstracts of titles with SuDoc call numbers.

County and City Data Book. (1949-to present).
(UM/Ref. HA 202 U581+) and (UM/Gov. Doc. C 3.134/2:C 83/2/  ).
Statistics on population, social, and economic structure of U.S. counties and cities. Current edition available online.

Historical Statistics of the United States from Colonial Times to 1970.
(UM/Ref. Desk HA 202 A385 1975+).
Annual time series data with national coverage of general subject areas such as population, health, commerce, government, etc. with source notes for each table.

State and Metropolitan Data Book. (1979-to present).
(UM/Gov. Docs. C 3.134/5: ).
Social, economic, and political statistics of states and metropolitan areas. Current edition available online.

Statistical Abstract of the United States. (1878-to present).
(UM/Ref. Desk HA 202 U58) and (UM/Gov. Doc. C 3.134:  )
Social, political, and economic statistics of the U.S. along with some state and international statistics. Source citations listed after each table.