Census & Demographics - Government Information - By Topic - Brooklyn College Library LibGuides Home at Brooklyn College Library

Quick Links

Social Explorer This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window

History of the Census

These sources provide insight into how the Census has changed over time

The Evolution of the American Census, from The Pudding
Visualization that shows how census questions changes over time
Measuring America:The Decennial Censuses from 1790 to 2000
For background information on each census including instructions given to enumerators
Census Questionnaires
View Census questionnaires back to 1790

Resources for Historical Census Data

Social Explorer Contains data from the first Census in 1790 to the present day. Allows users to create maps of population or specific demographic variables by location, as well as reports. It is important to remember that it can be difficult to map demographic data over time, since the questions asked and methods used have not remained consistent.
Historical Census Volumes: Census of Population and Housing 1790- The Census Bureau has digitized the historical print volumes and made them available in PDF.
NHGIS The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS), produced by the Minnesota Population Center at the University of Minnesota provides free access to historical Census information. Note: this resource requires user registration, but registration is free and immediate.
ICPSR Provides a variety of studies and downloadable data from the Census ICPSR is accessible through Databases link on the library website.