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collections: government documents -- census resources.

Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States stipulates that the Federal government conduct a census every ten years so that the seats each state holds in the House of Representatives can be set at a number proportional to its population. Over the course of two centuries, the decennial census incorporated questions about housing, income, occupation, education, and other demographic conditions. Until 1950 the decennial census also collected extensive data about agriculture, manufactures, and other business concerns.

The UNO Library has acquired a strong collection of decennial census summary reports ranging from 1790 to the present. Original volumes damaged by deteriorated paper or excessive wear have been replaced by high quality reprint editions. Space limitations compelled the library to convert most of the reports of the 1970, 1980, and 1990 censuses to microfiche files. Here is a guide to where the decennial census reports are shelved or filed:

Census of Population

1790-1950, Government Documents Room, Range 3
1960-2000, Government Documents Room, Range 4
1970-1990, Government Documents microfiche cabinets
1990-2000, Government Documents CD-ROM/DVD cabinets
2000, American Statistics Index microfiche cabinets

Census of Housing

Since 1940 much of the housing data collected by the decennial census has been reported separately from the population data. The housing reports are shelved or filed in a manner similar to the population reports:

1940-1990, Government Documents Room, Range 4
1970-1990, Government Documents microfiche cabinets
1990, Government Documents CD-ROM/DVD cabinets

After the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, the Census Bureau distributed only two series of paper reports, so researchers must rely on microfiche or electronic versions (CD-ROM/DVD/Internet) for most of the 2000 reports. The U.S. Census Bureau's primary Internet gateway to the 2000 Census is American Factfinder at http://factfinder.census.gov.

Manuscript Census Forms

By law, the actual census forms must remain confidential for 72 years. These forms, released on microfilm by the National Archives, constitute a rich trove of information for genealogists and other researchers interested in gathering information specific to individuals. The UNO Library has acquired a very limited collection of manuscript census microfilm:

  • Census of Nebraska (1860)
  • Census of Nebraska (1870)
  • Census of Nebraska (1900)
  • Census of Iowa (1900)
  • Census of Oregon (1900)

The manuscript censuses are filed in the U.S. Documents microfilm cabinets. The UNO Library does not own the Soundex index to the manuscript censuses.

The W. Dale Clark Library (the main branch of the Omaha Public Library at 215 South 15th Street) owns a far more extensive collection of manuscript census microfilm. Their genealogy reference service can be contacted by phone at (402) 444-4826 and a comprehensive guide to their genealogy collections and services may be found on the Internet at http://www.omahapubliclibrary.org/genealogy/gen.html.

The Nebraska Library Commission has purchased. a statewide account for HeritageQuest, a database of images scanned from manuscript census forms and other genealogical publications. This online genealogical collection is significantly larger than that found in any library in Nebraska. The UNO Library website includes a link to HeritageQuest, which may be found by following this path: Research --> Electronic Resources --> Enter HeritageQuest in the Locate a Resource box.

Residents of Nebraska may connect to HeritageQuest through the Nebraska Access gateway at http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/nebraskaccess/. Nebraska Access also provides access to a number of other publication databases, and the identification number on a Nebraska driver license or state ID card serves as the login.

Non-decennial Surveys and Reports

The Census Bureau does not lie dormant between the decennial population censuses; instead, it pursues an extensive program of surveys to update population data and to focus on specific demographic trends. The UNO Library owns a strong collection of the non-decennial census reports in paper, microfiche, and microfilm.

The Current Population Reports program includes several major series, and the library has paper copies extending in some cases back into the 1960s. Theses reports are shelved in the Government Documents Room on Range 4 and Range 5 under the basic call number of C 3.186. The major series include:

  • P-20 Population characteristics
  • P-23 Special studies
  • P-25 Population projections
  • P-26 Local population estimates
  • P-28 Special censuses
  • P-60 Consumer income
  • P-70 Household economic studies

The library also purchased a microfiche and microfilm archive of non-decennial census reports that include documents from the 19th & 20th centuries. Indexes to this collection are shelved on top of the microfiche and microfilm cabinets near the Government Documents Room.

The Economic Censuses

During the 20th Century, the Bureau of the Census gradually moved much of the business- and industry-related data collected by the decennial censuses into several new series of reports. The new economic censuses were generally conducted every five years. Paper copies of the following economic censuses are available in the Government Documents Room of the UNO Library:

Census of Agriculture, 1925-1997
Government Documents Room, Range 3
Census of Business, 1948-1967
Government Documents Room, Range 5
Census of Construction Industries, 1967-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 5
Census of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate Industries, 1992
Government Documents Room, Range 5
Census of Governments, 1957-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 5
Census of Manufactures, 1914-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 5
Census of Mineral Industries, 1967-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 5
Census of Retail Trade, 1972-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 5
Census of Service Industries, 1972-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 6
Census of Transportation, 1963-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 6
Census of Wholesale Trade, 1972-1992
Government Documents Room, Range 6

The library also has CD-ROM copies of the economic censuses from 1987 to the present. As a cost-saving measure, the Census Bureau discontinued distribution of paper copies of the economic censuses in 1997. Instead, it offers free access to the data at the Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/.

The library purchased paper copies of the 1997 economic census reports for Nebraska and Iowa. The Nebraska reports are shelved at the Reference Desk on the Library main floor at the call number C 3.258/24, while the Iowa reports are shelved in the Government Documents Room at the call number C 3.258/17.

County Business Patterns

The Government Documents Collection includes paper copies of County Business Patterns covering all 50 states from 1948 through 1997. The Census Bureau discontinued distribution of paper copies to depository libraries beginning with the 1998 reports, so the UNO Library expects to purchase paper copies for Nebraska and the contiguous states. Paper copies are shelved in the Government Documents Room at the call number C 3.204/3; CD-ROM copies are also available for 1986 and succeeding years and the Census Bureau website has data extending back to 1993 at: http://www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html.

Miscellaneous Census Reports

The Census Bureau has always conducted special studies, sometimes on surprising and unexpected topics. For example, the Bureau conducted a special Census of Religious Bodies in 1906, 1916, 1926, and 1936. The reports of these surveys as well as many others are housed in the Government Documents Collection. Researchers will find them among the Special Reports, 1900-1936 on Range 4 in the Government Documents Room and also by reviewing the shelves at the call number C 1.2.

Historical Census Reports on the Internet

A number of Internet sites now offer free access to historical census reports. The sites listed below have proven themselves to be especially valuable:

Historical Decennial Census Reports Online

http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm

In April 2004, the U.S. Bureau of the Census began releasing copies of decennial census reports (1790-1890; 1970-2000) on the Internet. More are scheduled to be released as scanning work is completed.

Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts

http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/hiscendata.html

A series of reports compiling statistics selected from census reports extending from 1790-2000. Of special note are several reports providing city-level data, which tends to be harder to find in a convenient summary format than county, metro area, or state data.

Statistical Abstract of the United States

http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html

In April 2004, the U.S. Bureau of the Census began releasing historical copies of the annual "Statistical Abstract of the United States" on the Internet. The editions extend back to 1878, and the entire run is scheduled to be released as work is completed.

Historical Statistics of the United States, 1790-1970 (Bicentennial Edition)

http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html

This two-volume reference work conveniently compiles demographic and economic data drawn from many disparate sources. The UNO Library's copy of the original is shelved in the Reference Collection at Refer HA202 .B87 1975.

United States Historical Census Browser

http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/

The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan sponsored the creation of a browsable database of data taken from the 1790-1960 U.S. Censuses. This version, offered by the library of the University of Virginia, permits researchers to select up to 15 variables and create tables. As this is summary data, the database does not permit cross-tabulations; even so, for many projects one can conveniently create informative statistical tables. The database's major limitation is that it includes only state- and county-level data; it does not include city-level data.

James T. Shaw
Government Documents Librarian
September 2005