Census and Demographic Data Resources

  • 1990 Demographic Profile Generator (U.S.)--The generator allows you to create a demographic profile for a particular census grouping (e.g., census tract, block group, city, etc.) by entering in FIPS codes, zip codes, etc. There is also a link for code lookup.
  • 2000 Demographic Profiles (U.S.) (Urban Information Center)--This website allows one to look up 2000 Census demographic profiles by state, county, etc.
  • American Factfinder--Basic source for census statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. Users can create data tables from the Decennial Census (1990 and 2000), the American Community Survey (2000-present), and the Economic Census (1997 and 2002) and download those tables into spreadsheet files.
  • Carolina Population Center--The CPC is an organization located at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, that promotes demographic research. There are links to the research projects underway as well as a nice set of links to various demographic research sources.
  • CDC Wonder Population Information--CDC Wonder includes a site that provides population estimates for different age, race, and gender groups. Users can get estimates at the national, state, or county levels, from 1970 onwards.
  • Census Bureau (U.S.)--The Census Bureau gathers a dizzying amount of social, demographic, and economic information about the United States through various means. The Subject Index is a good starting point for browsing and searching through the Bureau's wealth of information.
  • Census Bureau Population Estimates--The Census' Population Estimates site provides annual population estimates for different categories of age, race, and gender, extending back to 1970. Estimates are at the national and state levels, with some additional estimates for counties and metro areas.
  • Current Population Survey--This is a joint project between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau. The CPS is a monthly survey that collects basic socio-demographic information and labor force characteristics. To access CPS data files, users can go through the Data Ferrett (see below). Alternately, they can go to the National Bureau of Economic Research's CPS site here or to the IPUMS CPS site here.
  • Current Population Survey Table Creator--The CPS Table Creator is a convenient way of generating summary tables and breakdowns for topics such as health insurance or poverty or education attainment, drawing on data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the CPS.
  • Data Ferrett--Data Ferrett is ideal for extracting a relatively small number of variables from a dataset or creating your own cross tabs or frequencies. Data Ferrett contains data from various Current Population Surveys, income studies, and health surveys. Alternately, users can use the DataFerrett application that is available on workstations in the Data Center.
  • FEDSTATS--FEDSTATS is the main portal for searching for data produced by U.S. government agencies. Users can search or browse, by topic or by agency.
  • Historical Census Browser--The Geostat Center at UVa has compiled county-level data from the U.S. Census from 1790 to 1960 (using data from ICPSR #0003) and made that data available via a very-user friendly web brower.
  • Historical Statistics of the United States Millennial Edition (HSUS)--The HSUS is an excellent compilation of historical statistics on the United States, extending from colonial times up to the 2000 Census. Tables from the HSUS can be saved as either .pdf files or Excel files. The HSUS is also availabe via Databases at Emory.
  • ICPSR Census 2000 site--This is a special site from ICPSR with Census 2000 data. Data are available in various geographies and formats, including microdata files.
  • IPUMS (Integrated Public Use Microdata Series)--A database hosted at the University of Minnesota, which is an excellent source of US census information from 1850 to 2000.
  • Human Mortality Database (HMD)--The HMD (which requires a free registration) contains population data (e.g. mortality, life expectancy) for many countries (largely from the OECD) and links to related external sites.
  • National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS)-- The NHGIS at the University of Minnesota distributes boundary files for Census tracts back to 1910 (varying by state), as well as historical and current aggregate Census data at various geographic levels.
  • Office of Population Research (OPR)--The well-known OPR at Princeton University archives a number of datasets of interest to those studying demography and demographics.
  • Population Studies Center (University of Michigan)--This is a great site for interdisciplinary research on population studies. The site maintains a significant data archive.
  • SimplyMap--SimplyMap is an Internet-based mapping application that enables users to develop interactive thematic maps and reports using thousands of demographic, business, and marketing data variables. Users can download data in spreadsheet-friendly formats and also use data with GIS software. Go here for a quick guide to SimplyMap. SimplyMap is also availabe via Databases at Emory.
  • State and County Quick Facts--This site contains a clickable map of the US to obtain demographic profiles of different states. The subnational level data is subsequently compared with the U.S. as a whole. There is also a significant amount of data from the 2000 census
  • State of the Cities Data System (SOCDS)--The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has produced SOCDS to provide quick access to tabular data for social, demographic, and economic variables at different geographic levels. HUD has also compiled and organized a collection of datasets produced by or in association with its Office of Policy Development and Research.
  • Statistical Abstract of the United States--Electronic version of the popular resource. The Statistical Abstract contains a wealth of information on numerous socio-economic and demographic indicators for the US. Historical data tables taken from the Statistical Abstract are available here. There is also a CD version of the Statistical Abstract available in the Data Center.
  • StatUSA--StatUSA compiles and provides statistics from the U.S. Government from 1973 onwards (varying by topic) and also provides some limited international data. The data are available in .pdf and/or Excel format. StatUSA is also availabe via Databases at Emory.
  • U.S. Census TIGER Mapping Service--This is another mapping service from the Census Bureau based on 1990 U.S. census data. Researchers can utilize the American Gazetteer to look up place names and codes.
  • U.S. County and City Data Book (University of Virginia)--The 1988, 1994, and 2000 electronic editions are available here. These data books contain a substantial amount of information on a variety of state-level socio-economic and demographic indicators.
  • World Population Prospects-- This database is produced by the United Nations' Population Division and contains cross-national data on basic population demographics and vital statistics (e.g. birth and death rates, maternal mortality, population by age and gender and urban/rural areas).

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