Census Bureau Publications

Most recent Census of Population publications begin with the call number C 3.223:, while most recent Census of Housing publications begin with the call number C 3.224:.  All of these publications are located on the 4th floor of the Zumberge library in the Zumberge Government Docs section.  If you want to search the University Libraries online catalog for Census Bureau publications, you will generally want to perform an Advanced Keyword search.  If you are interested in census publications printed prior to 1970 you may want to check the section of this website on historical census publications and the list of pre-1970 census publications the government documents department has compiled.

1. On the first line, type in United States Census [census number] [year].  For example, if you wanted to look for a census volume from the 1990 Census you would type in United States Census 21st 1990.  If you do not know the number of the census you are interested in, it is not necessary to include that information.
2. Select the geography or topic you wish to search for and enter that on the 2nd line.  You will not want to pick a geography smaller than a large city.  For censuses prior to 1960 you will probably not want to limit your search to a particular geography because of the limited number of volumes GVSU owns. 
3. If you wish to limit your search to Census of Housing or Census of Population publications, add the term "population" or the term "housing" to the third line in your search.
4. If you wish to browse all of the publications from a given census leave the second and third lines blank.

• Statistical Abstract of the United States
  • Multiple Locations, HA202 [Edition #] (1878-present)
  • This work contains data from the Census Bureau, other government agencies, and select private organizations. The current edition of this book can be found in the Zumberge and Steelcase Reference sections. GVSU has every edition of the Statistical Abstract going back to 1878. These are generally shelved in the Zumberge Stacks, either in print or microfiche depending on the year.  Older editions are being scanned and made available online by the Census Bureau.
    
    
• State and Metropolitan Area Data Book
  • Zumberge Reference, Steelcase Reference; HA202 .A3 (latest edition)
  • Zumberge Stacks, HA202 .A3 (older editions)
  • This supplement to the Statistical Abstract of the United States "contains a collection of statistics on social and economic conditions in the United States at the state and metropolitan area levels.  Selected data for component counties and central cities of metropolitan areas are also included."
    
    
• County and City Data Book
  • Zumberge Reference, Steelcase Reference; HA202 .A36 (latest edition)
  • Zumberge Stacks, HA202 .A36 (older editions)
  • Includes data for all U.S. counties, cities with 25,000 or more inhabitants, and places of 2,500 or more inhabitants.

• A Century of Population Growth, from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790-1900.  United States.  Bureau of the Census.
  • Zumberge Reference, HA195 .A5
    
    
• American Population before the Federal Census of 1790.  Evarts B. Greene and Virginia D. Harrington.
  • Steelcase ASRS, HB3305 .G7 1966
    
    
• Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970.  United States.  Bureau of the Census.
  • Zumberge Stacks, HA202 .A385 1975
    
    
• Negroes in the United States, 1920-1932.  United States.  Bureau of the Census.
  • Zumberge Stacks, HA205 .A34 1969
    
    
• Negro Population 1790-1915.  United States.  Bureau of the Census.
  • Zumberge Stacks, HA205 .A33 1969
    
    
• Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 from the Twenty-one Decennial Censuses.  United States.  Bureau of the Census.
  • Zumberge Government Docs, C 3.2: P 81/26

Almost all publications from Census 2000 are available online.  Many of these publications are available in a tangible format at the GVSU libraries, but using the links below you can also access them from any computer.

• Publications Library
  • "View or download published results from Census 2000 available in Portable Document Format (PDF)."
• Census 2000 Briefs
  • "The Census 2000 Brief series will provide the first analysis of Census 2000 population and housing topics to the public. The briefs will focus on discussing the most important aspects of the topics, as well as exploring the geographic distribution of the subject matter."
• Census 2000 Reports
  • "The Census 2000 Special Report series provides an in-depth analysis of Census 2000 population and housing topics to the public. The reports will utilize different modes of analysis, such as discussion text, maps, text tables, and graphics, to examine a wide variety of topics. The Census 2000 Special Report series are analytic tools that provide analysis of the data the U.S. Census Bureau collects, particularly in the areas of geographic distribution, race and ethnicity, immigration, and other areas of demographic research."