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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...

Population Schedules

1970 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.

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.

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 1970 Census

Highlights of the 1970 Census

Highlights

  • 19th decennial census
  • US population: 203,302,031
  • Illinois population: 11,113,976
  • The Summary Tape Files which were released were the first time tabulations were disseminated in electronic format.

Questions asked

Information obtained from all persons: Address; name; relationship to head of household; sex; race; age; month and year of birth; marital status; if American Indian, name of tribe.

Information obtained from 20-percent sample: Whether residence is on a farm; place of birth; educational attainment; for women, number of children ever born; employment status; hours worked in week preceding enumeration; year last worked; industry, occupation, and class of worker; state or country of residence 5 years ago; activity 5 years ago; weeks worked last year; earnings last year from wages and salary, from self-employment; other income last year.

Information obtained from 15-percent sample: Country of birth of parents; county, and city or town of residence 5 years ago (and whether in city limits or outside); length of residence at present address; language spoken in childhood home; school or college attendance, and whether public, parochial, or other private school; veteran status; place of work--street address, which city or town (and whether in city limits or outside), county, state, ZIP code; means of transportation to work.

Information obtained from 5-percent sample: Whether of Spanish descent; citizenship; year of immigration; whether married more than once and date of first marriage; whether first marriage ended because of death of spouse; vocational training; (for persons of working age) presence and duration of disability; industry, occupation, and class of worker 5 years ago.

Supplemental schedule for Americans overseas.

For more information:

Statistics of the 1970 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 Source

  • 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:

Print available in the Library

Online access

Census of Population:

Vol. I: Characteristics of the Population
A. Number of Inhabitants
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Vol. I: Characteristics of the Population
B. General Population Characteristics
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Vol I: Characteristics of the Population
C. General Social and Economic Characteristics
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Vol I: Characteristics of the Population
D. Detailed Characteristics
 Gov Info Census

From the Census Bureau

Vol II: Subject Reports

National Origin and Language
Negro Population 
Persons of Spanish Origin 
Persons of Spanish Surname 
Puerto Ricans in the United States
American Indians
Japanese, Chinese, and Filipinos in the United States
State of Birth
Mobility for States and the Nation
Mobility for Metropolitan Areas
Lifetime and Recent Migration
Migration Between State Economic Areas
Women by Number of Children Ever Born
Childspacing and Current Fertility
Family Composition
Persons by Family Characteristics
Marital Status
Age at First Marriage
Persons in Institutions and Other Group Quarters
School Enrollment
Educational Attainment
Vocational Training
Employment Status and Work Experience
Persons Not Employed
Persons With Work Disability
Journey to Work
Veterans
Occupational Characteristics
Industrial Characteristics
Occupation by Industry
Government Workers
Occupation and Residence in 1965
Occupations of Persons with High Earnings
Sources and Structure of Family Income
Earnings by Occupation and Education
Income of the Farm-Related Population
Low-Income Population
Low-Income Areas in Large Cities
Americans Living Abroad
State Economic Areas

From the Census Bureau

Population Supplementary Report, PC(S1)

From the Census Bureau
Census Tracts (241 parts)
General demographic trends for metropolitan areas, 1960 to 1970

From the Census Bureau

General demographic trends for metropolitan areas, 1960 to 1970

From the Census Bureau

Employment profiles of selected low-income areas

From the Census Bureau

Census of Housing:

Vol. I: Housing Characteristics for States, Cities, and Counties.
A. General Housing Characteristics

From the Census Bureau

Vol. I: Housing Characteristics for States, Cities, and Counties
B. Detailed Housing Characteristics

From the Census Bureau

Vol. II: Metropolitan Housing Characteristics
 248 parts

From the Census Bureau

Vol. III: Block Statistics
 278 parts

From the Census Bureau

Vol. IV: Components of Inventory of Change
16 parts

n/a

Vol. V: Residential Finance

n/a

Vol. VI: Plumbing Facilities and Estimates of Dilapidated Housing

n/a

Vol. VI: Plumbing Facilities and Estimates of Dilapidated Housing Addendum: Accuracy of Estimates

n/a

Vol. VII: Subject Reports

n/a

 

 

Census Data at ICPSR
Northwestern University is a member of ICPSR.  NU-affiliated users can create an ICPSR account and download data, code books, etc.

ICPSR archives and disseminates census data acquired from the United States Census Bureau as well as files prepared by ICPSR and other principal investigators.The microdata comprise individual responses to census questions.

The Microdata are public-use samples randomly selected from all of data collected by a census. ICPSR has microdata from the censuses of 2000, 1990, 1980, 1970, 1960, 1950, 1940, and some earlier censuses, with sampling fractions ranging from 10 to 0.01 percent.

1970 Census at ICPSR
Summary Statistic Files, Master Enumeration District Lists, Public Use Micro-Samples, and other large components of the 1970 Census are available through ICPSR to NU affiliated users for analysis.

iPUMS at the Minnesota Population Center
The Minnesota Population Center hosts historic U.S. Census data and makes it freely available to all.  Census data from 1960 to 2010 has been harmonized to allow comparisons across time.  Harmonized international census data also allows comparison across national boundaries.  Online tools allow data extraction and limited data analysis.  Online training modules are provided.  Training videos for the online extraction tool are also available.