The Census Bureau has more to offer than just the results of the
census of population and housing. Through other censuses, surveys, and
estimates programs, it compiles and issues (in reports, computer tape,
and other media) data on subjects as diverse as appliance sales,
neighborhood conditions, and exports to other countries. Here are
examples of the information published about--
People: Age, race, sex, income, poverty, child care, child
support, fertility, noncash benefits, education, commuting
habits, pension coverage, unemployment, ancestry.
Business and industry: Number of employees, total payroll,
sales and receipts, products manufactured or sold.
Housing and construction: Value of new construction, numbers
of owners and renters, property value or rent paid, housing
starts, fuels used, mortgage costs.
Farms: Number, acreage, livestock, crop sales.
Governments: Revenues and expenditures, taxes, employment,
pension funds.
Foreign trade: Exports and imports, origin and destination,
units shipped.
Other nations: Population, birth rates, death rates, literacy,
fertility.
The other censuses, such as agriculture, retail trade, manufactures,
and governments, are collected for years ending in "2" and "7." Surveys
and estimates programs generate results as often as every month.
Many of the monthly "economic indicators" that measure how the
Nation is doing come directly or indirectly from the Census Bureau.
Examples: employment and unemployment; housing starts; wholesale and
retail trade; manufacturers' shipments, inventories, and orders;
export and import trade; and sales of single-family homes.
The other statistical activities of the Census Bureau are described
below. Data users will find more information about them and
descriptions of their data products in the annual Census Catalog
and Guide. Also, special guides and brochures are prepared for
most of them. Contact the Census Bureau's Customer Services for more
information.
Current Demographic and Housing Programs
Two types of current programs complement the 10-year census:
population estimates and surveys. The total population of the United
States is estimated monthly; the population of States, counties, and
metropolitan areas is estimated annually; and the population of places
and other governmental units is estimated every 2 years. Projections of
future population are made at the national and State levels.
The Census Bureau's many household surveys update population and
housing characteristics at the national level and sometimes for States
and metropolitan areas, as well. These surveys also obtain many
characteristics not included in the 10-year census. The Current
Population Survey is taken monthly; the American Housing Survey
national sample is taken biennially; the American Housing Survey
metropolitan sample is taken in 44 areas, 11 per year in a 4-year
cycle; most other surveys are annual or less frequent.
Economic Censuses and Surveys
The economic censuses provide statistics about business
establishments once every 5 years, covering years ending in "2"
and "7." The 1992 Economic Censuses include the censuses of
retail trade; wholesale trade; service industries; transportation,
communications, and utilities; manufactures; mineral industries;
construction industries; and financial, insurance, and real estate
industries. Also included are related programs, such as statistics on
minority- and women-owned businesses, enterprise statistics, and
censuses of economic activity in Puerto Rico and some of the outlying
areas under U.S. jurisdiction.
Several key statistics are tabulated for all industries covered in
the censuses. They are number of establishments, number of employees,
payroll, and measure of output (sales or receipts, and value of
shipments or of work done). Other items vary from sector to sector.
The Census Bureau also has programs that provide current statistics
on such measures as total sales of particular kinds of businesses or
production of particular products. These programs include monthly,
quarterly, and annual surveys, the results of which appear in
publication series such as Current Business Reports and Current
Industrial Reports. The County Business Patterns program offers
annual statistics based on data compiled primarily from administrative
records.
Agriculture Census and Surveys
The agriculture census is conducted concurrently with the economic
censuses. It is the only source of uniform agriculture data at the
county level. It provides data on such subjects as the number and size
of farms; land use and ownership; livestock, poultry, and crops; and
value of products sold.
Results of three surveys--the 1988 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey,
1988 Census of Horticulture Specialties, and 1988 Agricultural
Economics and Land Ownership Survey--are published in conjunction with
the 1987 Census of Agriculture.
Governments Census and Surveys
The census of governments, also for years ending in "2" and "7,"
covers all types of governments: Federal, State, county, municipal
(place), township (county subdivision), school district, and special
district. It provides data on such subjects as number of public em-
ployees, payrolls, revenue, and expenditures.
Annual and quarterly surveys cover the same principal subjects but
generate data only for States and the largest local governments.
Foreign Trade Statistics
Monthly U.S. merchandise trade data compiled by the Census Bureau
summarize export and import transactions and are based on the official
documents filed by shippers and receivers. These figures reflect the
flow of merchandise but not intangibles like services and financial
commitments. The trade figures trace commodity movements out of and
into the U.S. Customs jurisdiction, which includes Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands as well as the 50 States and the District of
Columbia. Data are published separately on trade between the United
States and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S.
territories.
Other Statistical Activities
The Census Bureau also offers international data. It maintains an
international data base which is available to the public on computer
tape and is used to produce the biennial World Population Profile report.
It prepares studies dealing with the demographic and economic character-
istics of other countries and world regions.
Statistical compendia are another important data product. These
publications (sometimes also offered in machine-readable form) draw
data from many sources and reorganize them for convenient use. The most
widely used compendia are the annual Statistical Abstract of the
United States, the County and City Data Book (published every 5 years),
and the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book (published approximately
every 4 years).
Figure 1. 1990 Census Content
100-PERCENT COMPONENT
Population Housing
Household relationship Number of units in structure
Sex Number of rooms in unit
Race Tenure--owned or rented
Age Value of home or monthly rent
Marital status Congregate housing (meals included
in rent)
Hispanic origin Vacancy characteristics
SAMPLE COMPONENT
Population Housing
Social characteristics: Year moved into residence
Education--enrollment and
attainment Number of bedrooms
Place of birth, citizenship,
and year of entry into U.S. Plumbing and kitchen facilities
Ancestry Telephone in unit
Language spoken at home Vehicles available
Migration (residence in 1985) Heating fuel
Disability Source of water and method of
sewage disposal
Fertility Year structure built
Veteran status Condominium status
Farm residence
Economic characteristics: Shelter costs, including utilities
Labor force
Occupation, industry, and
class of worker
Place of work and journey
to work
Work experience in 1989
Income in 1989
Year last worked
NOTE: Questions dealing with the subjects covered in the 100-percent
component were asked of all persons and housing units. Those covered
by the sample component were asked of a sample of the population and
housing units.
Figure 2. 1990 Census Printed Reports
1990 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1990 CPH)
100-Percent Data
Series: 1990 CPH-1
Title: Summary Population and Housing Characteristics
Report(s)
issued for: U.S., States, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Population and housing unit counts, and
summary statistics on age, sex, race, Hispanic
origin, household relationship, units in structure,
value and rent, number of rooms, tenure, and
vacancy characteristics
Geographic areas: Local governmental units (i.e., counties, places,
and towns and townships), other county subdivisions,
and American Indian and Alaska Native areas
Series: 1990 CPH-2
Title: Population and Housing Unit Counts
Report(s)
issued for: U.S., States, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Total population and housing unit counts for 1990
and previous censuses
Geographic areas: States, counties, county subdivisions, places, State
component parts of metropolitan areas (MA's) and
urbanized areas (UA's), and summary geographic areas
(for example, urban and rural)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
100-Percent and Sample Data
Series: 1990 CPH-3
Title: Population and Housing Characteristics for Census
Tracts and Block Numbering Areas
Report(s)
issued for: MA's, and the nonmetropolitan balance of each State,
Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Statistics on 100-percent and sample population and
housing subjects
Geographic areas: In MA's: census tracts/block numbering areas (BNA's),
places of 10,000 or more inhabitants, and counties. In
the remainder of each State: census tracts/BNA's,
places of 10,000 or more, and counties
Series: 1990 CPH-4
Title: Population and Housing Characteristics for
Congressional Districts of the 103rd Congress
Report(s)
issued for: States and DC
Description: Statistics on 100-percent and sample population
and housing subjects
Geographic areas: Congressional districts (CD's)
and, within CD's, counties, places of 10,000 or more
inhabitants, county subdivisions of 10,000 or more
inhabitants in selected States, and American Indian and
Alaska Native areas
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Sample Data
Series: 1990 CPH-5
Title: Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics
Report(s)
issued for: U.S., States, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Statistics generally on sample population and housing
subjects
Geographic areas: Local governmental units (i.e., counties, places, and
towns and townships), other county subdivisions, and
American Indian and Alaska Native areas
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1990 CENSUS OF POPULATION (1990 CP)
100-Percent Data
Series: 1990 CP-1
Title: General Population Characteristics
Report(s)
issued for: U.S., States, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Detailed statistics on age, sex, race, Hispanic origin,
marital status, and household relationship
characteristics
Geographic areas: States, counties, places of 1,000 or more inhabitants,
county subdivisions of 1,000 or more inhabitants in
selected States, State parts of American Indian areas,
Alaska Native areas, and summary geographic areas such
as urban and rural
Series: 1990 CP-1-1A
Title: General Population Characteristics for
American Indian and Alaska Native Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Detailed statistics on age, sex, race, Hispanic origin,
marital status, and household relationship
characteristics
Geographic areas: American Indian and Alaska Native areas; i.e., American
Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands,
tribal jurisdiction statistical areas (Oklahoma),
tribal designated statistical areas, Alaska Native
village statistical areas, and Alaska Native Regional
Corporations
Series: 1990 CP-1-1B
Title: General Population Characteristics for Metropolitan
Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Detailed statistics on age, sex, race,
Hispanic origin, marital status, and household
relationship characteristics
Geographic areas: Individual MA's. For MA's split by State boundaries,
summaries are provided both for the parts and for the
whole MA
Series: 1990 CP-1-1C
Title: General Population Characteristics for Urbanized Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Detailed statistics on age, sex, race, Hispanic origin,
marital status, and household relationship
characteristics
Geographic areas: Individual UA's. For UA's split by State boundaries,
summaries are provided both for the parts and for the
whole UA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample Data
Series: 1990 CP-2
Title: Social and Economic Characteristics
Report(s)
issued for: U.S., States, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Statistics generally on sample population subjects
Geographic areas: States (including summaries such as urban and rural),
counties, places of 2,500 or more inhabitants, county
subdivisions of 2,500 or more inhabitants in selected
States, Alaska Native areas, and the State
portion of American Indian areas
Series: 1990 CP-2-1A
Title: Social and Economic Characteristics for
American Indian and Alaska Native Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Statistics generally on sample population subjects
Geographic areas: American Indian and Alaska Native areas, as for CP-1-1A
Series: 1990 CP-2-1B
Title: Social and Economic Characteristics for Metropolitan
Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Statistics generally on sample population subjects
Geographic areas: Individual MA's, as for CP-1-1B
Series: 1990 CP-2-1C
Title: Social and Economic Characteristics for Urbanized Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Statistics generally on sample population subjects
Geographic areas: Individual UA's, as for CP-1-1C
Series: 1990 CP-3
Title: Population Subject Reports
Report(s)
issued for: Selected subjects
Description: Reports on selected population census subjects
Geographic areas: Generally limited to the U.S., regions, and divisions;
for some reports, other highly populated areas such as
States, MA's, counties, and large places
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 CENSUS OF HOUSING (1990 CH)
100-Percent Data
Series: 1990 CH-1
Title: General Housing Characteristics
Report(s)
issued for: U.S., States, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Detailed statistics on units in structure, value and
rent, number of rooms, tenure, and vacancy
characteristics
Geographic areas: States, counties, places of 1,000 or more inhabitants,
county subdivisions of 1,000 or more inhabitants in
selected States, State parts of American Indian areas,
Alaska Native areas, and summary geographic areas such
as urban and rural
Series: 1990 CH-1-1A
Title: General Housing Characteristics for American
Indian and Alaska Native Areas
Report(s)
Issued for: U.S.
Description: Detailed statistics on units in structure, value and
rent, number of rooms, tenure, and vacancy
characteristics
Geographic areas: American Indian and Alaska Native areas; i.e., American
Indian reservations, trust lands, tribal jurisdiction
statistical areas (Oklahoma), tribal designated
statistical areas, Alaska Native village statistical
areas, and Alaska Native Regional Corporations
Series: 1990 CH-1-1B
Title: General Housing Characteristics for Metropolitan Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Detailed statistics on units in structure, value and
rent, number of rooms, tenure, and vacancy
characteristics
Geographic areas: Individual MA's. For MA's split by State boundaries,
summaries are provided both for the parts and for the
whole MA
Series: 1990 CH-1-1C
Title: General Housing Characteristics for Urbanized Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Detailed statistics on units in structure, value and
rent, number of rooms, tenure, and vacancy
characteristics
Geographic areas: Individual UA's. For UA's split by State boundaries,
summaries are provided both for the parts and for the
whole UA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample Data
Series: 1990 CH-2
Title: Detailed Housing Characteristics
Report(s)
issued for: U.S., States, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Description: Statistics generally on sample housing subjects
Geographic areas: States (including summaries such as urban and rural),
counties, places of 2,500 or more inhabitants, county
subdivisions of 2,500 or more inhabitants in selected
States, Alaska Native areas, and State parts of
American Indian areas
Series: 1990 CH-2-1A
Title: Detailed Housing Characteristics for American
Indian and Alaska Native Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Statistics generally on sample housing subjects
Geographic areas: American Indian and Alaska Native areas, as in 1990
CH-1-1A
Series: 1990 CH-2-1B
Title: Detailed Housing Characteristics for Metropolitan Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Statistics generally on sample housing subjects
Geographic areas: Individual MA's, as in 1990 CH-1-1B
Series: 1990 CH-2-1C
Title: Detailed Housing Characteristics for Urbanized Areas
Report(s)
issued for: U.S.
Description: Statistics generally on sample housing subjects
Geographic areas: Individual UA's, as in 1990 CH-1-1C
Series: 1990 CH-3
Title: Housing Subject Reports
Report(s)
issued for: Selected subjects
Description: Reports on selected housing census subjects
Geographic areas: Generally limited to U.S., regions, and divisions; for
some reports, other highly populated areas such as
States, MA's, counties, and large places
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Figure 3. 1990 Census Summary Tape Files
Summary Tape File
(STF 1A, 1B, etc.)
and data type
(100 percent or
sample)(1) Geographic areas Description
A(2) States, counties, county subdivisions,
places, census tracts/block numbering
areas (BNA's), block groups (BG's).
Also Alaska Native areas and State
parts of American Indian areas
B(2) States, counties, county subdivisions,
places, census tracts/BNA's, BG's,
blocks. Also Alaska Native areas and
State parts of American Indian areas
STF 1 C(2) U.S., regions, divisions, States Over 900 cells/
(100 percent) (including summaries such as items of 100-
urban and rural), counties, percent population
places of 10,000 or more inhabitants, and housing counts
county subdivisions of 10,000 or and characteristics
or more inhabitants in selected for each geographic
States, metropolitan areas (MA's), area
urbanized areas (UA's), American
Indian and Alaska Native areas
D Congressional districts (CD's) of the
103rd Congress by State; and within each
CD: counties, places of 10,000 or more
inhabitants, county subdivisions of
10,000 or more inhabitants in selected
States, Alaska Native areas, and American
Indian areas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A In MA's: counties, places of 10,000
or more inhabitants, and census
tracts/BNA's. In the remainder of
each State: counties, places of
10,000 or more inhabitants, and
census tracts/BNA's
STF 2 B States (including summaries Over 2,100 cells/
(100 percent) such as urban and rural), items of 100-percent
counties, places of 1,000 population and hous-
or more inhabitants, county ing counts and char-
subdivisions, State parts acteristics for each
of American Indian areas, geographic area.
and Alaska Native areas Each of the STF 2
files will include
C U.S., regions, divisions, a set of tabulations
States (including summaries for the total popu-
such as urban and rural), lation and separate
counties, places of 10,000 or presentations of
more inhabitants, county tabulations by race
subdivisions of 10,000 or and Hispanic origin
more inhabitants in selected
States, all county subdivisions
in New England MA's, American
Indian and Alaska Native areas,
MA's, UA's
A(2) States, counties, county
subdivisions, places, census
tracts/BNA's, BG's. Also Alaska
Native areas and State parts of
American Indian areas
B(2) Five-digit ZIP Codes within each
State
STF 3 C(2) U.S., regions, divisions, States, Over 3,300 cells/
(Sample) counties, places of 10,000 or more items of sample
inhabitants, county subdivisions population and hous-
of 10,000 or more inhabitants in ing characteristics
selected States, American Indian for each geographic
and Alaska Native areas, MA's, UA's area
D CD's of the 103rd Congress by State;
and within each CD: counties, places
of 10,000 or more inhabitants, county
subdivisions of 10,000 or more
inhabitants in selected States
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A In MA's: counties, places of 10,000
or more inhabitants, and census
tracts/BNA's. In the remainder of
each State: counties, places of
10,000 or more inhabitants, and
census tracts/BNA's
STF 4 B State (including summaries Over 8,500 cells/
(Sample) such as urban and rural), items of sample
counties, places of 2,500 or population and hous-
more inhabitants, county sub- ing characteristics
divisions of 2,500 or more for each geographic
inhabitants in selected States, area. Each of the
all county subdivisions in New STF 4 files will
England MA's, State parts of include a set of
American Indian areas, and Alaska tabulations for the
Native areas total population and
separate present-
C U.S., regions, divisions, States ations of tabu-
(including urban and rural and lations by race and
metropolitan and nonmetropolitan Hispanic origin.
components), counties, places of
10,000 or more inhabitants, county
subdivisions of 10,000 or more
inhabitants in selected States, all
county subdivisions in New England
MA's, American Indian and Alaska
Native areas, MA's, UA's
Note: STF 420 Place of Work 20 Destinations File. This is a new file for
1990. Comparable data were included as part of STF 4 in 1980, but for
1990 this is a separate file and must be ordered and purchased separately
from STF 4. The file contains 20 place of work destinations for each
county or county equivalent, minor civil division, place of 10,000 or more
persons, and census tract or block numbering area. Data are also provided
for each major race and for workers of Hispanic origin cross-classified by
race. The geographic level of the destinations varies. A destination may
be a place, county, balance of county, metropolitan area, or balance of
metropolitan area.
(1) Similar STF's will be prepared for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
(2) Also available on laser disc (CD-ROM). STF 1B CD-ROM
presents only part of the data for blocks and other areas in
the tape file
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Figure 4. Other 1990 Census Data Products
Title: Subject Summary
Tape Files
Description: Various computer tape files used to produce the subject
reports (1990 CP-3 and 1990 CH-3 series).
Geographic areas: U.S., regions, divisions, States, metropolitan areas
(MA's), and large counties and places
----------------------------------
Title: Public Law 94-171
Data File (redistricting data)
Description: Counts by total, race, and Hispanic origin for the total
population and population 18 years old and over,
and counts of housing units. Available on tape, CD-ROM,
and diskettes
Geographic areas: States, counties, county subdivisions, places, census
tracts/block numbering areas (BNA's), block groups
(BG's), and blocks; voting districts where States have
identified them for the Census Bureau; and American
Indian and Alaska Native areas
----------------------------------
Title: Census/Equal Employment Opportunity
(EEO) File
Description: Sample tabulations showing detailed occupations
and educational attainment data by age; cross tabulated
by sex, Hispanic origin, and race Also supplemental
files with additional tabulations are available
Geographic areas: Counties, MA's, places of 50,000 or more inhabitants
-----------------------------------
Title: County-to-County Migration File
Description: Summary statistics for all intra-state county-to-
county migration streams and significant interstate
county-to-county migration streams. Each record will
include codes for the geographic area of destination,
and selected characteristics of the persons who
made up the migration stream
Geographic areas: States, counties
------------------------------------
Title: Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files
Description: Machine-readable files containing a sample of individual
long-form census records showing most population and
housing characteristics but with identifying information
removed
Title: 5 Percent--County Based
Geographic areas: County groups, counties, county subdivisions, and
places with 100,000 or more inhabitants
Title: 1 Percent--Metropolitan Areas (1990)
Geographic areas: MA's and other large areas with 100,000 or more
inhabitants
Title: 3 Percent--Elderly
Description: As above, but includes only households with at least
one person age 60 or more
Geographic areas: Same as for 5-percent sample
-----------------------------------
Title: Special Tabulations
Description: User-defined tabulations for specified geographic areas
provided on printouts, tapes, or other products
Geographic areas: User-defined areas or standard areas