The Center for Social Science Computation and Research

Decennial Census Data

Getting started? Trying using Google to query the Census Bureau!


Google



Search the World Wide Web Search Census.gov

2020 Census

The 2020 Census counted every person living in the United States and the five U.S. territories, and it marked the 24th census in U.S. history.

The 2020 Census Apportionment data, the first official 2020 Census numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau, were released on April 26, 2021. The Census Bureau also delivered the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File on August 12, 2021. Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC) is released on May 25, 2023. Detailed Demographic and Housing Characteristics Files are planed to release later in 2023 and 2024.

2010 Census

2010 Census only contains short form questionnaires, Summary File 1 (SF 1) and Summary File 2 (SF 2), with only seven questions. Long form questionnaires Summary File 3 (SF 3) and Summary File 4 (SF 4) are eliminated from the Decennial Census, and American Community Survey estimates become their replacement. The lowest level of geography is the block for SF1 and the census tract for SF2 as in Census 2000.

2000 Census

In Census 2000, Summary File 1 (SF 1) and Summary File 2 (SF 2) contain information collected from 100-percent population; the lowest level of geography is the block for SF1 and the census tract for SF2. Summary File 3 (SF 3) and Summary File 4 (SF 4) contain information collected on a sample basis; the lowest level of geography is the block group and the census tract, respectively. Data are provided in SPSS, SAS format and ASCII.

1990 Census

In Census 1990, Summary Tape File 1 (STF 1) and Summary Tape File (STF 2) contain 100-percent data; Summary Tape File 3 (STF 3) and Summary Tape File 4 (STF 4) contain sample data. Summary tape files were released as file A, file B, file C or file D. The record layout is identical for all three or four files but the geographic coverage differs. Data are provided in SPSS, SAS format and ASCII.

1980 Census

The data structure in Census 1980 is similar to Census 1990. Each summary tape file is composed of three or four parts – file A, file B, file C or file D, which cover different levels of geography. Data are provided in SPSS, SAS format and ASCII.

Decennial Census CDs

Census CDs were produced by GeoLytics Company. Exporting data files (.dbf files) and mapping (Sharp files) population demographics could be done much more quickly for the 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 census respectively with these CDs. They also allow you to compare data from different census years in changing geographic boundaries with the Normalized Data Products. Data are provided in ArcMap/ArcView interchange format and .dbf files.