When using Census data, it is important to have a firm grasp on what it is you want to accomplish through your research. To simply explore what information is available, the U.S. Census Bureau provides a broad yet strong explanation. Before you begin searching for particular data, determine the following factors:
Desired format of the data
Time period
Aggregated data versus information on individuals
Comparing multiple locations to each other versus comparing multiple characteristics of one location
Once you have specific questions in mind, the descriptions of the resources included in this guide should be able to point you in the right direction.
Census materials are located in Wells Library, on the 2nd Floor of East Tower, within Government Information, Maps, and Microform Services.
Decennial Census: The data collected across the United States population every 10 years. The information collected from the 2010 Decennial Census is also available online. IU's collection includes the microfilm editions of the U.S. Decennial Census Publications 1790-1970.
The Economic Census is taken every 5 years and measures American business and economy. Please note that not every industry is included in this census. The U.S. Census Bureau gives a thorough overview of these industries.
Historical Statistics of the United States (HSUS) provides quantitative facts about the U.S. and its states and territories. It expands and revises information provided in Historical Statistics of the U.S., previously produced by the U.S. Bureau of the Census (1949, 1960, and 1975). Footnotes and explanatory information provide instructional information about the data and sources of the data. Data is downloadable in Excel or CSV. Users may create custom tables. Product is searchable.
ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research) supplies the numeric raw data from a variety of sources, including survey research, censuses, and administrative records. PLEASE NOTE: User must create an account while on campus before they can access ICPSR while off campus. Please click "more" for additional details.
ICPSR holdings include several time series and other types of aggregate data. ICPSR datasets were originally collected for specific research or administrative purposes. However, the data have research potential that outlives the original purposes for which they were collected. ICPSR preserves these valuable data resources and makes them publicly available for secondary analysis. ICPSR Direct is a new service providing direct access to the ICPSR data holdings for all students, faculty, and staff at ICPSR member institutions.
ACCESS: Off-campus access is available but users must first create an account on-campus and log in on-campus every 6 months.
Access to statistical content information produced by U.S. federal agencies, states, private organizations, and major intergovernmental organizations. Includes tables, statistical reports, publication abstracts, and datasets. Results are ranked by relevance. Faceted search results can then be filtered by document type, source, date published, geographic area, and more.
International Historical Statistics is collection of statistical data on the Americas, Europe, and Africa, Asia and Oceania covers the years 1750-2010.
The statistics include data on: population, migration, trade, imports and exports, labor force, unemployment, wholesale and consumer prices, education, schools, universities, higher education, agriculture, industry, energy,telecommunications, post, civil aviation, railways, motor vehicles, shipping, TV and radio, Finance, Currency, Government Expenditure, and national accounts.
Web-based mapping application that lets users create professional-quality thematic maps and reports using demographic, business, and marketing data. PLEASE NOTE: Users may "sign in as guest," or register for an individual account if they would like to save their work.
Allows users to:
-Access thousands of demographic, business, and marketing data variables.
-Develop interactive thematic maps and export high-resolution images to word processing or presentation software.
-Select, sort, and compare data across multiple locations and build custom reports that can be exported to a spreadsheet for additional functionality.
-Explore historical census data to understand how regions change over time and use estimates and projections to analyze current and future trends.
-Make informed personal and business-related decisions by asking questions like “what are the social and demographic characteristics of my neighborhood?” and “where should I locate my retail store?”
Access to data maps, profile reports, demographic data, and data elements and variables. Includes interactive tools that allow users to create and share maps, presentations and tables, or compare and analyze data. Includes access to current and historical demographic data.
OneSearch@IU searches most of the Libraries' databases. It is a great place to start your research.
Direct access at: libraries.indiana.edu/databases/onesearch
More databases can be found on the Libraries homepage under the "Research" tab or the "Featured Databases" located at the bottom of the page.
The U.S. Census Bureau is the United States' leading source of data about the nation's people and economy. In addition to the census conducted every ten years, the Bureau carries out many surveys to produce a general view and comprehensive study of the United States' social and economic conditions. It also works with counterpart governments throughout the world. The website carries census data and data from other surveys, reports analyzing the data, maps, tools to access the data, information about methodology, and more.
Statistical data on Indiana, including census and population data, economic and labor reports, and county profiles.
STATS Indiana provides Census information for Indiana including population, economic, and workforce statistics as well as maps. Detailed county information is also provided. (OCLC)
Population: Census counts & 1990 profiles; Census estimates; County projections; Health & vital statistics; households; migration; poverty & welfare -- Economy: Agriculture; Briefing report-IDOC; Building permits; Earnings by industry; Property taxes; Time series; Vehicle registrations -- Workforce: Annual & monthly labor force; Commuting patterns; Education; Employment by industry; Median income; Personal income -- Profiles, etc.: County profiles; FIPS codes; Data definitions (glossary); Tract outline maps.
Popular consumer online genealogy resource that includes birth, death, and marriage records as well as searchable manuscript census records for the U.S. 1790-1930. Similar records are also available for the U.K., Germany, and a few other countries. Only works with the latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, and Safari browsers.