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Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts

United States

1790 to 1990

  1. Population, Housing Units, Area Measurements, and Density [PDF 16k] Includes total population, percent change, housing units and density, and total area and land area Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing, "1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States", (CPH-2).
  2. Urban and Rural Populations [PDF 16k] Includes total United States, urban, and rural populations, percent change, and the percent of urban and rural population by Census. Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing, "1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States", (CPH-2). NOTE: An error in the 1960 rural population count was discovered after the publication of CPH-2-1 from the 1990 Census. The correct 1960 rural population using the ‘Current urban definition’ is 54,054,425.
  3. Mean Center of Population of the United States [PDF 14k] Two tables showing the latitude, longitude and approximate geographic location of the mean and median centers of population from 1790 to 1990. Includes total United States, urban, and rural populations, percent change, and the percent of urban and rural population by Census. Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing, "1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States", (CPH-2).
  4. Statistical Abstract of the United States The Statistical Abstract contains historical census data in the section containing Population Data.

1850 to 1990

  1. Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-born Population of the United States A report comparing native and foreign born populations for selected censuses. Topics include: age and sex, nativity, citizenship status, race and Hispanic origin, and languages spoken at home. Includes background discussion and references. Source: Population Division Working Paper No. 29

1950 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Urban and Rural Housing Units (Table 5). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1960 to 1990

  1. Means of Transportation to Work [TXT 7k] Source: 1990 Census of Population (STF3C), 1980 Census of Population, "General Social and Economic Characteristics, United States Summary", 1970 Census of Population, "Characteristics of the Population, United States Summary", and 1960 Census of Population, "Characteristics of the Population, United States Summary".

1970 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Population and Housing Units for Areas (Table 1). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1980 to 1990

  1. Journey To Work and Place Of Work Tables related to how people get to work, the length of time getting to work, where they work, and if they use a carpool.
  2. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Population, Housing Units and Land Area (Table 6). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.
  3. Top 25 American Indian Tribes [TXT 4k] Source: 1990 Census of Population, "Characteristics of American Indians by Tribe and Language", (CP-3-7).

States, Regions, United States

1900 to 2000

  1. Demographic Trends in the 20th Century [PDF] (CENSR-4) A Census 2000 Special Report. Provides graphical and tabular summaries of population and housing trends based on data items collected on the short-form questionnaire (100-percent data items) in Census 2000. Covers the major subject areas of population size, growth, geographic distribution, age, sex, race and ethnic composition, housing, and households. Text includes 86 figures (including 13 state-level maps) and 5 text tables. Appendix A includes 16 detailed tables with more data for each decade.

1940 to 2000

  1. A half-century of learning: historical census statistics on educational attainment in the united states, 1940 to 2000 (PHC-T-41) In 1940, educational attainment was collected for every person enumerated in the census (i.e., 100% data) and on a sample basis thereafter. At the national level, this report includes tables that show rates of educational attainment by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. At the regional and state levels, educational attainment data are shown by sex, race, and Hispanic origin. The tables show two attainment levels: the percent of the population 25 years and over with a high school diploma or more education and the percent with a bachelor’s degree or more.

States, Divisions, Regions, United States

1790 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Apportionment of Membership of the House of Representatives (Table 3), Decennial Rates of Change in Population (Table 18), Percent Distribution of the Population (Table 20), and Urban and Rural Population (Table 23). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.
  2. Population [PDF 36k] Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing, "1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States", (CPH-2). NOTE Four errors were discovered after the publication of CPH-2-1 from the 1990 Census. The correct 1920 count for Hawaii is 255,881; the correct 1920 count for Maryland is 1,449,661; the correct 1930 count for Delaware is 238,380; and the correct 1970 count for Alaska is 302,583.
  3. Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990 Tables showing population totals by race and by Hispanic origin. Source: Population Division Working Paper No. 56

1900 to 1990

  1. Urban and Rural Populations: 1900 to 1990 [TXT 49k] Contains total and percent of urban and rural populations. Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing, "1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States", (CPH-2); and 1980 PC80-1-1.

1940 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Housing Units (Table 17), Decennial Rates of Change in Housing Units (Table 19), and Percent Distribution of Housing Units (Table 21). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1950 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Urban and Rural Housing Units (Table 24). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1970 to 1990

  1. Persons by Poverty Status Contains total population, population below poverty level, and percent below poverty.
  2. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: 1990 Area Measurements, Density (Table 22); Rank by Population, Population Change, Urban, Rural, Area Measurements, and Density (Table 28); and Rank by Housing Units, Housing Unit Change, Urban, Rural, Area Measurements, and Density (Table 29). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1980 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Number of Counties by Percent Change in Population (Table 43) and Number of Counties by Percent Change in Housing Units (Table 44). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

States

1900 to 1990

  1. Homeownership Table showing homeownership rates.

1940 to 1990

  1. Housing Tables and graphs showing housing trends.

1960 to 1990

  1. Income Tables showing household, family, and person income.

Counties, States, United States

1900 to 1990

  1. Population Census Counts Source: The Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 This report was compiled by the Census Bureau and published by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). It also contains a table that shows the year of the first census in which a county appeared, and the census since which it has not had a significant boundary change. Notes provide information on how the county was formed, changes in the county names, and more. The cost of the 236 page report is $35. NTIS also sells a diskette version for the same price. You can order this report by calling NTIS at (703) 605-6000 or 1-800-553-6847.

1940 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Population and Housing Units (Table 30). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1960 to 1990

  1. Income Tables showing household, family, and person income.

Metropolitan Areas (MAs)

1960 to 1990

  1. Income Tables showing household, family, and person income.

1970 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Population and Housing Units, Land Area and Density (Table 48). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

Largest Cities and Other Urban Places - population totals for the largest urban places in the United States

1790 to 1990

  1. Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places: 1790 to 1990 Includes background discussion, ranking tables, and references Source: Population Division Working Paper No. 27
  2. Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, for Large Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States. Tables showing population totals by race and by Hispanic origin. Source: Population Division Working Paper No. 76

1980 to 1990

  1. Cities with 1990 Population Greater than 100,000 [TXT 24k] Sorted by 1990 population size
  2. Cities with 1990 Population Greater than 100,000 [TXT 23k] Sorted by 1980-90 percent change

Coastal Regions - counties with at least 15 percent of their land area in a coastal watershed or in a coastal cataloging unit

1990

  1. Population [TXT 4k] Number of coastal counties per state in 1990
  2. Population [TXT 91k] 1990 Population counts for coastal counties

1960 to 1980

  1. Population [TXT 3k] Number of coastal counties per state by census year

Places

1790 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes: Urban and Rural Population (Table 7), and Population Rank of Incorporated Places of 100,000 Population or More (Table 46). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1850 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes Rank of 50 Largest Incorporated Places by Population (Table 47). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

1970 to 1990

  1. 1990 Population and Housing Unit Counts: United States (CPH-2) [PDF 17M] Includes Population and Housing Units (Table 45). Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing.

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