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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
2010 population schedules not yet 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.
- 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 2010 Census
Highlights of the 2010 Census
- 23rd decennial census
- US population: 308,745,538
- Illinois population: 12,830,632
- Long form (sample data) discontinued, replaced by the American Community Survey (ACS)
Questions asked
Information obtained from all persons: Age, Sex, Race, Hispanic or Latino origin, Household relationship, Tenure (housing unit owned or rented), Vacancy characteristics
For more information:
A Short Introduction to the U.S. CensusStatistics of the 2010 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.
A variety of statistics from the 2010 Census may also be found at the Census 2010 website and in American FactFinder.
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. - Census Bureau Data website - data.census.gov
- 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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Print available in the Library |
Online access |
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Summary Population and Housing Characteristics |
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Population and Housing Unit Counts |
Original electronic files released:
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Online access |
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Census 2000 redistricting data (Public Law 94-171) |
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Summary file 1 |
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Summary file 2 |