U.S. Government Publications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison : Census Resources

The U.S. Census Bureau collects a variety of data about the U.S. population and economy.  While its Decennial Census is perhaps the most well-known survey, having surveyed every household in the U.S. every 10 years since 1790, the Census Bureau conducts a number of other censuses and surveys all the time.  

This page provides just a basic overview of the Census and its surveys.  Please email Beth Harper, the government information librarian, or use Ask a Librarian for more information about Census data.

For more information on finding population and housing statistics from the Census, see the UW-Madison Libraries' research guide U.S. Census of Population and Housing Basics.

Lists of all Census Bureau Surveys & Programs

• Our Surveys & Programs
  • Listed alphabetically by name.
  • From this page, you can also select just demographic surveys and programs, or just economic surveys and programs.
• Census Survey Explorer
  • Filter and search for programs/surveys by geography, frequency, topics, and subtopics.

Decennial Census of Population and Housing--overview

The Decennial Census of Population and Housing is a constitutionally mandated population count undertaken every ten years. Decennial census data includes information about:

Aggregate data is released as available following each census, while individual census records (i.e. personal names and addresses) are kept sealed for 72 years to protect individual privacy.

The most recent Decennial Census was conducted in 2020.  

American Community Survey--overview

The American Community Survey collects more detailed information about a sampling of households on an ongoing basis. The ACS replaced the decennial census "long form" in 2001. 

In 2005, the Census Bureau started collecting detailed data from a sample of the population via the American Community Survey (ACS) (a bit of its history), which is an ongoing survey which provides data more frequently than the Decennial Census. It is sent to a small percentage of the population on a rotating basis throughout the decade. No household will receive the survey more often than once every five years.

The American Community Survey asks questions about

More detailed list of subjects covered  by the ACS (page from the Census Bureau).

Frequency of ACS

American Community Survey 1- and 5-year estimates are period estimates, which means they represent the characteristics of the population and housing over a specific data collection period. Data are combined to produce 12 months (1 year),  or 60 months (5 years) of data.

There will be times when more than one ACS data set is available for an area. For guidance on when to use which data set, see the Census Bureau's page Using 1-Year or 5-Year American Community Survey Data. It means striking a balance between currency and sample size/reliability/precision.

The ACS did provide 3-year estimates between 2005 and 2013, but those have been discontinued.  Data was collected over 36 months, and produced for areas with populations of 20,000+ .

Sources for statistics from the Decennial Census and American Community Survey

These are just three places from which you can retrieve statistics from recent Decennial Censuses and American Community Surveys

• Explore Census Data: https://data.census.gov/
  • Provides free public access.
  • The U.S. Census Bureau's main statistical retrieval tool.
• Missouri Census Data Center
  • Provides free public access.
  • While this site has an emphasis on Missouri, it provides access to data for all the U.S., from the national to the block level.
  • More information at UW-Madison Libraries' guide U.S. Census of Population and Housing Basics: Missouri Census Data Center.
• Social Explorer
  • Available for use in campus libraries, or off-campus use by UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff.
  • Three simultaneous users from UW-Madison licensed.
  • Provides access to demographic and housing data from the American Community Survey, and the Decennial Census back to 1790.
  • Allows users to create maps and reports at all geographic levels, including the state, county, census tract, block group, zip code and census place.

Population Estimates Program (PEP)

The Population Estimates Program (PEP) produces estimates of the population for the United States, states, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, counties, cities, towns, as well as for Puerto Rico and its municipios.

As part of the Federal Depository Library Program, the UW-Madison Libraries make U.S. government publications available to the public at no fee.

The Census Bureau does many surveys of businesses and the economy, and produces economic data across the entire economy on a monthly, quarterly, yearly, and five-year basis.

It conducts two major economic censuses every five years, most recently in 2022:

The Economic Census profiles U.S. national and local economies every five years.

The Census of Governments profiles the nation's state and local government sector, with information on governmental structures, payrolls, and finance, every five years.

Census of Agriculture

This is also conducted every five years, most recently in 2022.  Budgetary responsibility for the Census of Agriculture was transferred to the Department of Agriculture in 1997; the Census Bureau continues to design the questionnaires, mail questionnaires, manage returns, and process the data for the Department of Agriculture.

Census records at the Wisconsin Historical Society

Individual Census records, or schedules, contain personal information and are kept sealed for 72 years to protect individual privacy.  Census records/schedules are very helpful for genealogy research.

The Wisconsin Historical Society Library has census records for the United States (1790-1940), Wisconsin (1836-1905) and Canada (1836-1901).  

• Brief list of Census materials held by the Wisconsin Historical Society Library
  • all the surviving schedules of the 1790-1920 U.S. censuses for all the states on microfilm
  • all available published indexes to these materials
  • Special U.S. federal schedules of Wisconsin
  • all of the 1836-1905 Wisconsin State Censuses
  • indexes to the 1836, 1838, 1842, 1855, 1865 and 1905 state censuses
  • Canada Censuses, 1666-1901
• More detailed information about  the Wisconsin Historical Society Library's Census holdings
• Census Records Research Tips from the Wisconsin Historical Society Library

Census records online

Ancestry Library Edition

• Available for use in campus libraries, or off-campus use by UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff.
• Ancestor search and genealogical information from census records, historical maps, and more.
• The bulk of the census data included is from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western Europe; there are also a limited number of censuses from other parts of the world and U.S. state censuses.

HeritageQuest Online

• Available for use in campus libraries, or off-campus use by UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff.
• Also available for use by all Wisconsin residents via BadgerLink (https://badgerlink.dpi.wi.gov).
  • Provided by the Department of Public Instruction. Funding provided through the Universal Service Fund and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
• Combines searchable text and images of all federal censuses (1790-1930), Revolutionary War records, African-American history, genealogy and local history monographs, and portions of the U.S. Serial Set. 
• Info sheet from BadgerLink.