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Census Data

Overview

This guide highlights information and resources about census data.

Screenshot on employment data for the state of Alabama from the 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

U.S. Census Bureau

Below are some quick information about the U.S. Census Bureau.

  • Mission: "To serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy."
  • Constitutional Mandate: Article I, Section 2
    • "The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
  • Authority: Title 13 and Title 26 of the United States Code.
  • Back to Data Basics Webinar Series: Learn how to work with census data in this free series that is open to the public.

U.S. Government Publishing Office Resources on Census Data

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has information, including official Federal publications, about census data and the U.S. Census Bureau. Click on each of the tabs in this box to see featured resources from the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP), FDLP Academy, FDLP Resource Guides, and GovInfo.

The CGP is a free online resource of bibliographic records for U.S. Government publications. To learn more about how to use this catalog, check out CGP Search Tips/Help. The featured publications are about census data or the Census Bureau's analyses of its data collection and reporting.

Screenshot of "2020 Census : bureau released apportionment and redistricting data"

2020 Census: bureau released apportionment and redistricting data, but needs to finalize plans for future data products: congressional requesters

  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Quoted excerpt: "In response to the COVID-19 national emergency, the Bureau made major and unprecedented adjustments to its plans for the 2020 Census. Operational delays led to the delayed release of the apportionment numbers and redistricting data products. The Bureau is evaluating the effect these adjustments had on the quality of the data collected."

 
Screenshot of the map, "American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States"

American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States: American Indians and Alaska Natives in Alaska

  • Publication Date: 2022
  • See the maps of the United States and Alaska about the populations of American Indians and Alaska Natives in 2020.

 
Screenshot of "An assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the 2020 ACS 1-year data: final report"

An assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the 2020 ACS 1-year data: final report

  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Quoted excerpt: "This report describes the data collection disruptions in 2020, the modifications to standard weighting and estimation to combat the collection issues, and the resulting data quality issues that informed the decision to not release the standard 1-year ACS data products."

 
Screenshot of "Uses of decennial census programs data in federal funds distribution: fiscal year 2021"

Uses of decennial census programs data in federal funds distribution: fiscal year 2021

  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Quoted excerpt: "Participating in a Census Bureau census or survey can make a difference in the amount of federal funding federal assistance programs allocate across the country. While the inventory of programs that use Decennial Census Programs data shifts each fiscal year, this paper demonstrates how critical the data can be to the infrastructure of our communities."

The FDLP Academy offers free webinars and webcasts for Federal Depository Libraries and the general public. Its mission is to "create and deliver enhanced educational opportunities to the FDLP community by fostering collaboration, by facilitating knowledge sharing, and through the application of new methods and use of multiple mediums" about U.S. Government resources. The following webinars contain information related to census data.

Screenshot of "The 1950 Census Release"

The 1950 Census 

  • Recorded on March 23, 2023
  • Length of Time: 60 minutes
  • Speaker: Claire Kluskens (National Archives and Records Administration)
Screenshot of "Census 101"

Census 101 

  • Recorded on May 23, 2023
  • Length of Time: 58 minutes
  • Speaker: Kim Brown (U.S. Census Bureau)
Screenshot of "Census Business Builder 5.3"

Census Business Builder 5.3

  • Recorded on October 26, 2023
  • Length of Time: 60 minutes
  • Speaker: Adam P. Grundy (U.S. Census Bureau)
Screenshot of "data.census.gov 101"

data.census.gov 

  • Recorded on September 14, 2023
  • Length of Time: 60 minutes
  • Speaker: Ileana C. Serrano (U.S. Census Bureau)
Screenshot of "Economic Census 101"

Economic Census 101

  • Recorded on July 18, 2023
  • Length of Time: 59 minutes
  • Speaker: Adam P. Grundy (U.S. Census Bureau)
Screenshot of " Paper Maps & Rogue TIGERs: Using Government Documents to Digitize 1980 Census Blocks for IPUMS NHGIS"

Paper Maps & Rogue TIGERs: Using Government Documents to Digitize 1980 Census Blocks for IPUMS NHGIS

  • Recorded on August 23, 2023
  • Length of Time: 61 minutes
  • Speakers: Kate Knowles (University of Minnesota), Jonathan Schroeder (University of Minnesota), and Jenny McBurney (University of Minnesota)

If interested in learning more about topics that related to, but not specifically about, census data, check out the following FDLP Resource Guides.

Screenshot of "Elections and Voting Rights" website

Elections and Voting Rights

  • Learn about Federal elections processes and voting rights.
  • Guide's Subjects: Amendments, Children, Constitution, Elections, History, U.S. Congress, U.S. Government, U.S. Presidents, Voting Rights
Screenshot of "U.S. Congress" website

U.S. Congress

  • Read about information related to the U.S. Congress, including documents, information, and more.
  • Guide's Subjects: Legislation, Legislative Branch, U.S. Congress, U.S. Government, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate

GovInfo has digitized copies of official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government, including the United States Code. See the sections that pertain to the authority of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Learn more about the FDLP Official Logo Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)
For questions or comments, contact the FDLP Resource Guides Team at @askGPO