U.S. Census and Demographic Information
General guide to understanding and finding demographic data produced by the U.S. Census Bureau
Decennial Census Questionnaires
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Census Questionnaires or SchedulesView Census questionnaires back to 1790
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Decennial Census of Population and Housing Questionnaires & InstructionsInstructions to enumerators back to 1790
About Historical Census Data
Historical data from the Census can be more difficult to find and use than current data. Census methods have changed, and questions have altered over the years. If you are looking for historical data, here are some sources that might help you.
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The Evolution of the American Census, from The PuddingVisualization that shows how census questions changes over time
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Measuring America:The Decennial Censuses from 1790 to 2000For background information on each census including instructions given to enumerators
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Encyclopedia of the U.S. Census: from the Constitution to the American Community SurveyProvides a resource to the history, politics, content, procedures, and uses of the decennial census of the American population, including the fallout from the 2000 census and recent issues affecting the administration of the 2010 count
General Sources for Historical Data
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Social ExplorerSocial Explorer contains data from the first Census in 1790 to the present day. Using their data, the user can generate maps of population or specific demographic variables by location, as well as reports. It is important to remember that it can be difficult to map demographic data over time, since the questions asked and methods used have not remained consistent.
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PUBLISHED CENSUS VOLU-MESIPU-MS has digitized the print census volumes from 1790-2010
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NHGISThe National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS), produced by the Minnesota Population Center at the University of Minnesota provides free access to historical Census information. Note: this resource requires user registration, but registration is free and immediate.
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ICPSRFor raw data from 1790 to 1970, historical Census information can be downloaded from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). ICPSR is accessible through Library Search on the library website.
Historical Census Questions
For a detailed analysis of the evolution of the Census, see the PDF report "Measuring America: The Decennial Census from 1790 to 2000". An especially helpful table on population questions on all of the past Censuses can be found beginning on page 121 of the report.
For additional information, the following is a detailed spreadsheet documenting population and housing items from the Census:
Genealogy and the Census
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Genealogy Research GuideFor additional help with genealogical research, see the U-M Library's Genealogy Research Guide.
Historical Census Publications Online 1790-2000
Historical Census Publications 1790-2000
Print Census volumes are available in the University of Michigan Hatcher Graduate Library
Most of the online resources listed here are freely available on the Internet, except for Social Explorer which is fully available by subscription to those affiliated with the University of Michigan
This table shows a breakdown of publications which offer historical Census information by year.
| Year | Publications | Geographic Notes (Michigan as Example)*** |
|---|---|---|
| 1790 | NHGIS | State and County; 13 states and two territories but not Michigan |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, and Places but not for Michigan | |
| Social Explorer | State and County; 13 states and two territories but not Michigan | |
| 1800 | NHGIS | State and County; 14 states, D.C., and three territories, including Northwest |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1800) | States, Counties, Places and Townships for 14 states, D.C. and three territories, including Northwest) | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State and County; 14 states and three territories; not Michigan or D.C. | |
| Social Explorer | State and County; 14 states, D.C., and three territories, including Northwest | |
| 1810 | NHGIS | State and County; Michigan Territory and Four Districts |
| Printed Census (HA 201 1810) | State, County and Places; Michigan Territory and Four Districts | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County and Places; Michigan Territory and Four Districts | |
| Social Explorer | State and County; Michigan Territory and Five Districts | |
| 1820 | NHGIS | State and County; Michigan Territory and Seven Counties |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, place and township; Michigan Territory, Counties and Detroit (third page to the end) | |
| Social Explorer | State and County; Michigan Territory and Seven Counties | |
| 1830 | NHGIS | State and County; Michigan Territory and Sixteen Counties |
| Digitized Census Volumes (Abstract) | State, County and large cities; Michigan Territory and Sixteen Counties | |
| Social Explorer | State and County; Michigan Territory and Sixteen Counties | |
| Printed Census Abstract (HA 201 .1830) | State, County and large cities; Michigan Territory and Sixteen Counties | |
| 1840 | NHGIS | State and County |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, large cities; Detroit and Monroe | |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1840) | State, County, large cities; Detroit and Monroe | |
| 1850 | NHGIS | State and County |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, County* and Detroit | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1850) | State, County, Place, Township | |
| 1860 | NHGIS | State and County |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Detroit Wards | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, County* and Large Cities; Detroit | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1860) | State, County, Place, Township, Detroit Wards | |
| 1870 | NHGIS | State and County |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, County*, Large Cities; Detroit, Jackson, Grand Rapids | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1870) | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| 1880 | NHGIS | State and County |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, County*, Large Cities; Bay City, Detroit, Grand Rapids | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1880) | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| 1890 | NHGIS | State and County |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1890 | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| 1900 | NHGIS | State and County |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, County*, Large Cities; Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Pontiac, Saginaw, and wards in Detroit | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1900) | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| 1910 | NHGIS | State and County (tracts and EDs for some other states) |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, County*, Large Cities and Some Wards; Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, and wards for several cities | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1910) | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| 1920 | NHGIS | State and County; census tracts for Detroit |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Village, Wards for Several Cities; townships appear separately in Table 53 | |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, County*, Large Cities, Wards. (Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Pontiac, Port Huron and Saginaw; wards for Detroit) | |
| Printed Census (HA 201. 1920) | State, County, Place, Village, Wards for Several Cities; townships appear separately in Table 53 | |
| 1930 | NHGIS | State and County; census tracts for Detroit |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| Social Explorer | State and County | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1930) | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities | |
| 1940 | NHGIS | State and county; tracts for Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Genesee |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities; Tracts for Detroit and Flint in Number of Inhabitants volume but separate volume not digitized; no block or social characteristics digitized as of 10/24/06 | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 1940) | Includes and block and tract data | |
| Social Explorer | Tract maps with selected data | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, Large Cities (Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids Lansing) | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1940 | State, County, City, Township, Ward, tracts, blocks for Several Cities; Tracts for Detroit and Flint; blocks for Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Pontiac, and Saginaw | |
| 1950 | NHGIS | State and county; tracts for Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, and Kalamazoo |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities; tracts and blocks; tracts for Detroit, Flint and Kalamazoo; blocks for Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Highland Park, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Pontiac, Saginaw | |
| Social Explorer | Tract maps with selected data | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State, Large Cities (Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids Lansing) | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1950) | State, County, Place, Township, Wards for Several Cities; tracts and blocks; tracts for Detroit, Flint and Kalamazoo; blocks for Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Highland Park, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Pontiac, Saginaw | |
| 1960 | NHGIS | State and county; tracts for Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Muskegon, Oakland, Saginaw, Washtenaw, Wayne Counties |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, Place, Township; census tracts for Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Muskegon, Oakland, Saginaw, Washtenaw, Wayne; blocks for Adrian, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Inkster, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Inkster, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Monroe, Muskegon, Plymouth, Pontiac, Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores, Saginaw, Troy and Wayne | |
| Social Explorer | Tract maps with selected data | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State | |
| Printed Census (HA 201 .1960 | State, County, Place, Township; census tracts and blocks; tracts for Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Muskegon, Oakland, Saginaw, Washtenaw, Wayne Counties; blocks for Adrian, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Inkster, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Inkster, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Monroe, Muskegon, Plymouth, Pontiac, Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores, Saginaw, Troy and Wayne | |
| 1970 | NHGIS | State, county, SMSA, place, tract, block, Congressional District |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, place, township; tract and block, including Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Saginaw | |
| Social Explorer | Tract maps with selected data | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State | |
| Printed Census (HA 201.1970 | State, County, place, township; tract and block, including Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Saginaw | |
| 1980 | NHGIS | State, county, SMSA, place, tract, zip code |
| Digitized Census Volumes | Minimal data digitized for State, County, Place and Township | |
| Social Explorer | Tract maps with selected data | |
| Simply Map | States, counties, tracts, blockgroups, zipcodes | |
| 1980 Geolytics CD | State, County, place, township, Congressional District, Enumeration Districts, tract and block groups for Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Saginaw | |
| Print Census (HA 201 .1980) | State, county, place, township; PHC series include Congressional Districts; tract data in paper and block data on microfiche (C3.224/5:PHC80-1 in beige cabinet or ASI 1983 2551-1) for: Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Saginaw, Toledo-OH/MI plus areas in Allegan, Midland and Cass Counties; block data on microfiche (C3.224/5:PHC80-1 in beige cabinet or ASI 1983 2551-1) for: Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Saginaw, Toledo-OH/MI as well as parts of Allegan, Alpena, Benqie, Branch, Cass, Chippewa, Delta, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Isabella, Lenawee, Marquette, Mason, Medcosta, Menominee, Midland, Presque Isle, Sanilac, Tuscola and Wexford counties;block group data for Michigan in beige microfiche cabinet | |
| 1990 | NHGIS | State, county, MSA, place, tract, Congressional District, zip code |
| Digitized Census Volumes | State, County, city, township, Congressional District; no tract data digitized; block data not printed. Cartographic boundary files available at http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/tiger-cart-boundary.html | |
| Social Explorer | Tract maps with selected data | |
| Simply Map | States, counties, tracts, blockgroups, zipcodes | |
| 1990 Geolytics CD | State, County, place, township, Congressional District, Enumeration Districts, zip code, tract and block groups for the entire state | |
| Census FTP site | State, County, place, Township, Congressional District, Census Tract, Block Group, Zip Code for entire state | |
| Census Bureau CDs | Use STF1B CD for block data for all areas in nation. PL94-171 data is only online source for block data. | |
| 2000 | NHGIS | State, county, tract, place |
| data.census.gov | State, County, Place, Township, Zip Code, Congressional District, Census Tract, Block Group, Block for entire state | |
| Social Explorer | Tract maps with selected data | |
| Simply Map | States, counties, tracts, blockgroups, zipcodes | |
| 2000 Geolytics CDs | State, County, place, township, zip code, Congressional District, tract, block group and block | |
| Census Bureau CDs | All geographic levels, including zip code, Congressional District, tract, block group and block | |
| IPU-MS (Doc.Cen. uses PDQ) | State and PU-MA** | |
| * ICPSR County Codes at: http://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/ICPSR.shtml ** PU-MA definitions: http://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/tgeotools.shtml *** Not all data available for all geographic levels Census Bureau Archive: http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm Historical Census Browser: http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/ |
Last Updated: Dec 10, 2025 12:53 PM
Subjects: Government, Politics & Law
Tags: census data, clarklibrary, government, statistics