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Lists major releases of historical census data online for the country, states, cities, metro areas, etc. Very useful starting point for historical census questions.
Decennials - Census of Population and Housing
PDF-format versions of historic US decennial census volumes, 1790 to present. Topics covered include basic counts of population and housing, with race and gender, for the nation, states, counties, townships and municipalities, and some small areas (e.g., wards). From 1840 to present, social and economic information is provided.
Holdings: 1790 to present (backfile in progress: 1790-1860, 1990-2000 available)
PDF-format versions of historic US decennial census volumes, 1790 to present. Topics covered include basic counts of population and housing, with race and gender, for the nation, states, counties, townships and municipalities, and some small areas (e.g., wards). From 1840 to present, social and economic information is provided.
Holdings: 1790 to present (backfile in progress: 1790-1860, 1990-2000 available)
Instructions given to census takers from 1850-2000. It's important to note that census takers filled out the forms until 1960, when self-enumeration began in part.