Resources about the Census
Encyclopedia of the U.S. Census: From the Constitution to the American Community Survey by ISBN: 9781608717835Publication Date: 2011-01-01The new edition highlights changes in the Census Bureau's data collection and dissemination practices for the 2010 enumeration, including the use of a short-form questionnaire for the actual population count, and the release in late 2010 of the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data set based on rolling samples of the U.S. population and gathered using the long-form questionnaire.- Map Guide to the U. S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 byCall Number: G1201.F7 T5 1987ISBN: 0806311886Publication Date: 2005-01-01This work shows all U.S. county boundaries from 1790 to 1920. On each of the nearly 400 maps the old county lines are superimposed over the modern ones to highlight the boundary changes at ten-year intervals. Also included are (1) a history of census growth; (2) the technical facts about each census; (3) a discussion of census accuracy; (4) an essay on available sources for each state's old county lines; and (5) a statement with each map indicating which county census lines exist and which are lost.
U.S. Census Bureau
Online Census Resources & Tools
- Census Data Tools & AppsInteractive mapping tools that gives users easier access to economic and housing statistics.
- QuickfactsQuickFacts is an easy to use application that shows tables, maps, and charts of frequently requested statistics from more than ten Census Bureau censuses, surveys, and programs. Profiles are available for the nation, Cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more are also included.
- Statistical Abstract of the United StatesPublished annually since 1878, the statistics described social and economic conditions in the United States. The government ceased creation of the Statistical Abstracts in 2011. ProQuest is now publishing Statistical Abstract
- TIGER ProductsTIGER = Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing.
TIGER products are spatial extracts from the Census Bureau's MAF/TIGER database, containing features such as roads, railroads, rivers, as well as legal and statistical geographic areas.
Print Census Resources
Often, the print publications by the Census Bureau are more user-friendly than the online products. Here are some of the more useful Census publications:
- Census of AgricultureCall Number: A 92.53
- State and metropolitan area data book. byCall Number: C 3.134/5
- County and city data book. byCall Number: C 3.134/2
- Current population reportsCall Number: C 3.186:P-20
Resources on CD-ROM
These are just some of the resources we have in Gov Info on CD.
- Mapping census 2000: the geography of U.S. diversity. byCall Number: C 3.2:M 32/2002/CDPublication Date: 2002
- Neighborhood change database (NCDB) 2010 : tract data for 1970-80-90-00-10. byCall Number: HA181 .C463 2013Publication Date: 2013
- 2010 Census. Summary file 1: census of population and housing. byCall Number: C 3.282:2010/Publication Date: 2012
- 2010 Census. Summary file 2, Census of population and housing. byCall Number: C 3.282/2-3:2010/Publication Date: 2013
Data Collections
The Census Bureau routinely collects the following data (from http://www.census.gov/about/what.html):
- Decennial Census of Population and Housing The U.S. census counts every resident in the United States. It is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years. Decennial census records are confidential for 72 years.
- Economic Census The Economic Census is the U.S. Government's official five-year measure of American business and the economy.
- Census of Governments Identifies the scope and nature of the nation's state and local government sector including public finance and public employment and classifications.
- American Community Survey (ACS) The American Community Survey (ACS) is a mandatory, ongoing statistical survey that samples a small percentage of the population every year.
- Economic Indicators The Census Bureau releases fourteen different reports on key economic indicators. Each indicator is released on a specific schedule.