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U.S. Census Research Guide

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts several data collection programs about the U.S. population which have their own language, geography, and data portals. This guide is based on a similar guide created by Kelly Smith at UCSD.

For more info...

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

1950 population schedules have not been released.

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.

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 1950 Census

Highlights of the 1950 Census

Highlights

  • 17th decennial census
  • US population: 150,697,361
  • Illinois population: 8,712,176

Questions asked

Information obtained from all persons: Address; whether house is on farm; name; relationship to head of household; race; sex; age; marital status; place of birth; if foreign born, whether naturalized; employment status; hours worked during week preceding enumeration; occupation, industry, and class of worker.

Information obtained from 20-percent sample: Whether living in same house a year ago; whether living on a farm a year ago; if not in same house, county and state of residence year ago; country of birth of parents; educational attainment; school attendance; if looking for work, number of weeks; weeks worked last year; for each person and each family, earnings last year from wages and salary, from self-employment; other income last year; veteran status.

Information obtained from 3-1/3 percent sample: For persons who worked last year but not in current labor force: occupation, industry, and class of worker on last job; if ever married, whether married more than once; duration of present marital status; for women ever married, number of children ever born.

Supplemental schedules for persons on Indian reservations; infants born in the first 3 months of 1950; Americans overseas.

For more information:

Statistics of the 1950 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.
  • U.S. Census of Population: 1950:  HathiTrust curated collection of digitized volumes

Key publications:

Print available in the Library

Online access

Census Of Population Vol. I: Number of Inhabitants
 Gov Info Census C 3/a. 17

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol. II: Characteristics of the Population (54 parts)
 Gov Info Census C 3/a. 17

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol III: Census Tract Statistics (64 pts)
 Gov Info Census C 3/a. 17

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Employment and Personal Characteristics
 Gov Info Census C 3/a, 17

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports.Occupational Characteristics
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports.Occupation by Industry
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Industrial Characteristics
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. General Characteristics of Families
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Institutional Population
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Marital Status
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Duration of Current Marital Status
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Nativity and Parentage
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Nonwhite Population by Race
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Persons of Spanish Surname
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Puerto Ricans in Continental United States
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. State of Birth
Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Population Mobility - States and State Economic Areas
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Population Mobility - Farm - Nonfarm Movers
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Population Mobility - Characteristics of Migrants
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Characteristics by Size of Place.

 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Education

Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census Of Population Vol IV Special Reports. Fertility
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy in HathiTrust (see "View It" tab)

Census of Housing Vol. I: General Characteristics
  Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Census of Housing Vol. II: Nonfarm Housing Characteristics
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Census of Housing Vol. III: Farm Housing Characteristics
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Census of Housing Vol. IV: Residential Financing, Mortgaged Nonfarm Properties
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Census of Housing Vol. V: Block Statistics (213 pts)
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Links to digital copy HathiTrust (use "View it" tab)

Portfolio of United States Census Maps
Main Library   Government Information   312.73 U581p  

From the Census Bureau