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Encyclopedia of the U.S. CensusThe history, politics, content, procedures, and uses of the decennial census of the American population. See the entry under "History of Decennial Censuses". Includes bibliography for each census through 2010.
Raw Data Files
These are computer files intended to be loaded into statistical software for analysis and creating your own tables. In some cases these files can be used with spreadsheet software as well.
Population Schedules
Census population schedules (or "name schedules" or "manuscript census") are copies of the original questionnaires collected during each decennial census. They list the individual names and family information of the people enumerated. Unlike the statistics published soon after the census, the population schedules remain confidential for 72 years. 1930 is the most recent population schedule available.
- Ancestry.comonline access to population schedules, search by name, place, and other characteristics
Contact
Need help? Use the Ask-A-Librarian reference service, or call us at (847) 491-7656, during Research Assistance Desk hours.
To consult with a government information specialist by appointment, contact govinfo@northwestern.edu
About the 1920 Census
Highlights
- 14th decennial census
- US population: 105,710,620
- Illinois population: 6,485,280
- For the first time, the majority of Americans were living in urban areas.
Questions asked
Address; name; relationship to head of family; sex; race; age; marital status; year of immigration to U.S.; whether naturalized and year of naturalization; school attendance; literacy; place of birth of person and parents; mother tongue of foreign born; ability to speak English; occupation; industry, and class of worker. Supplemental schedules for the blind and for the deaf.
For more information:
Statistics of the 1920 Census
Multi-year census compilations (compare across years): These sources tend to include statistics for large geographic areas (e.g. states), but can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.
Digitized Data Sources
- National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS)
Hosted at the University of Minnesota, provides aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2014. Open access to data, although users must create an account. - Social Explorer - subscription database, access to NU-affiliated users only.
Includes Census data 1790-present along with other datasets on health, crime, and other topics. US emphasis but other national data is also available. Data can be mapped or data tables extracted.
Key publications:
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Vol I: Population. Number and Distribution of Inhabitants |
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Vol. II: Population. General report and analytical tables |
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Vol III: Population. Composition and characteristics of the population by states |
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Vol IV: Population. Occupations |
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Vol V: Agriculture. General Report |
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Vol. 6 Agriculture. Reports for states, with statistics for counties and a summary for the United States and the north, south and west (3 pts) |
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Vol VII: Irrigation and Drainage. General Report and Analytical Tables |
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Vol VIII: Manufactures. General report and analytical tables |
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Vol IX: Manufactures. Reports for states, with statistics for principal cities |
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Vol X: Manufactures. Reports for Selected Industries |
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Vol XI: Mines and Quarries. General Report and analytical tables and reports for states and selected industries. |
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Abstract |
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Statistical atlas of the United States. |
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State Compendium |
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Increase of population n the United States 1910-1920. |
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Mortgages on Homes |
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The integration of industrial operation |
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Farm tenancy in the United States |
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School attendance in 1920 |
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Farm population of the United States |
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Immigrants and their children, 1920. |
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The growth of manufactures, 1899 to 1923. |
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Women in gainful occupations, 1870 to 1920. |
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Earnings of Factory workers, 1899 to 1927. |
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Ratio of children to women, 1920. |
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Negroes in the United States, 1920-1932 |
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The blind population of the United States, 1920. A statistical analysis of the data obtained at the Fourteenth decennial census. |
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Mortality rates 1910-1920 with population of the federal censuses of 1910 and 1920 and intercensal estimates of population.
Gov Info Census C 3.2:M 84 |
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