United States Census

The United States Decennial Census is the historical tool used to fulfill the Constitutionally required count of everyone residing in the United States. The data is then used to apportion members of the House of Representatives to each state and to redraw legislative districts. While in the future much of the detailed population information will be gathered by the American Community Survey, the decennial census continues to be an important source of historical data.

If you are interested in more specialized census data check out the Michigan Census Research Data Center.

Things to consider when using United States Census Data

Changes in the coding of race in the 2000 decennial census

Census Taking and Census Undercount: Prickly Statistical, Political and Constitutional Issues

United States Census History

Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses from 1790-2000

Detailed procedural histories of each census

"A Brief History of the United States Census, 1790-2000" [Power Point]

Annotated Bibliography of Census Literature

Supreme Court cases relevant to the Census

Congressional Efforts to Control the Census and the Census Bureau

Related topics and sites

American Community Survey
Geographic Area Defintions
Using American FactFinder
US Census Bureau
Michigan Census Research Data Center
Spatial and Numeric Data Services at the University of Michigan
National Historical Geographic System
Geolytics Neighborhood Change Database


PSC blog

Recent resources, events, news

New Publications

Bingenheimer & Geronimus, "Behavior & HIV"

Wildeman, "Imprisonment & Infant Mortality," PSC Research Report

Next Brown Bag

Tues, Dec 1
Arland Thornton & Barb Koremenos
Mobilizing for Human Rights
For live stream
LINK HERE

W A R N I N G

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