Research Guides: Finding & Using U.S. Census Data: 2010 Census

2010 Census Data Collection and Navigation

The 2010 Census is part of the Decennial Census program mandated by the US Constitution. The decennial census is used for apportioning Congressional seats, as well as many other purposes, such as demographic research, allocating funding, and informing public policy. The 2010 Census had only 10 questions. They covered these topics:

Race
Ethnicity
Sex
Age
Household Relationship
Housing Tenure (own or rent)

The Questionnaire
The 2010 Census form
2010 Census Data Products Release Schedule
Information from the Census Bureau pertaining to the dates for releasing data from the newest 2010 Census.
2010 Census Demographic Profiles
These profiles provide more subject detail than the recently released 2010 Census redistricting data files. These profiles provide details about race and Hispanic groups, age, sex and housing status. The profiles will be released on a state-by-state basis for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Use this map to explore 2010 Census Demographic Profile data.

Data Retrieval through American Factfinder

American Factfinder is the Census Bureau's main portal for accessing Census data.

American Factfinder
Source for 2000 and 2010 decennial census data. And the 2010 American Community Survey
Tutorials for American Factfinder
Assistance with locating, manipulating, and downloading tables

Past & Present

Dicennial Census Official Publications
Official reports by the U.S. Census Bureau on census data and methods from 1790 to the present
U.S. Census - Research and data from Pew Research Center
Publications by the Pew Research Center on the U.S. Census
Historical Census Data
Great index to locating historical censuses.
more...less...
University of Michigan Library
Current Population Survey
A monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It has been conducted for over 50 years.
more...less...
A joint effort between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau.
Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States
more...less...
U.S. Census Bureau
Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000
Contains copies of the questionnaires and instructions used in each decennial census from 1790-2000. Also available in STROZIER, Documents General Collection C3.2: M46/2.
more...less...
U.S. Census Bureau
Census Records
Census schedules from 1790 to 1950, from the National Archives

Make Maps with Social Explorer

Social Explorer
This program is the easiest-to-use method for accessing and mapping decennial Census and American Community Survey (ACS) data. Unlike American Factfinder, it contains both historical and current data in one place. Currently Social Explorer has less 2010 data than American Factfinder (AFF has the 2010SF1)

For ACS data, to access Margins of Error (MOE) in Social Explorer, make sure you are using the Census Bureau's tables. Social Explorer defaults to using their tables, which are cleaned up, easier to use versions of census data. These are appropriate for some uses, but researchers needing more authoritative data and especially those needing Margins of Error will have to switch to the ACS tables, in the tables portion of the process of selecting data in "Reports"