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The Library

Census Research Guide: 1980

About the 1980 Census

Census Bureau's "By Decade" website

Includes a variety of publications, questionnaires, datasets, and more

Highlights

  • 20th decennial census
  • US population: 226,545,805
  • California population: 23,667,902

Questions asked (see questionnaire)

Information obtained from all persons: age; sex; color or race; if American Indian, name of tribe; relationship to head of family or household; marital status

Information obtained from a sample of the population: ancestry/ethnic origin; age at or date of first marriage; married more than once; if remarried, was first marriage terminated by death?; ill or disabled; school attendance; educational attainment; place of birth; citizenship; if foreign born, year of immigration; language; Spanish origin or descent; number of children ever born to mother; veteran status; in service date; place of residence in previous year; year moved to present residence; industry; occupation; class of worker; employment status; duration of unemployment; year last worked; weeks worked in preceding year; hours worked in preceding week; value of real estate; income; place of work; means of transportation to work

Statistics

Find all 1980 census publications in the Library.

Key publications:

Print available in the Library

Online access

Census of Population

Vol. I: Characteristics of the Population:

Ch. A - Number of Inhabitants (tables 1-13)
[C 3.223/5:980/A ]

 Census Bureau

Ch. B - General Population Characteristics (tables 14-55)
[C 3.223/6:980/B ]

 Census Bureau

Ch. C - General Social and Economic Characteristics (tables 56-193)
[C 3.223/7:970/C ]

 Census Bureau

Ch. D - Detailed Population Characteristics (tables 194-251)
[ C 3.223/8:980/D ]

 Census Bureau

Vol. II: Subject Reports:

Characteristics of American Indians by Tribes and Selected Areas [C 3.223/10:980/2/1C]
American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts on Identified Reservations and in the Historic Area of Oklahoma (Excluding Urbanized Areas) [C 3.223/10:980/2/1D]
Asian and Pacific Islander Population in the United States [C 3.223/10:980/2/1E]
Geographic Mobility for States and the Nation [C 3.223/10:980/2/2A]
Geographic Mobility for Metropolitan Areas [C 3.223/10:980/2/2C]
Living Arrangements of Children and Adults [C 3.223/10:980/2/4B]
Marital Characteristics [C 3.223/10:980/2/4C]
Persons in Institutions and Other Group Quarters [C 3.223/10:980/2/4D]
Journey to Work: Metropolitan Commuting Flows [C 3.223/10:980/2/6C]
Journey to Work: Characteristics of Workers in Metropolitan Areas [C 3.223/10:980/2/6D]
Place of Work [C 3.223/10:980/2/6E]
Occupation by Industry [C 3.223/10:980/2/7C]
Earnings by Occupation and Education [C 3.223/10:980/2/8B]
Poverty Areas in Large Cities [C 3.223/10:980/2/8D]
Characteristics of the Rural and Farm-Related Population [C 3.223/10:980/2/9C]

Supplementary Reports:

Age, Sex, Race, and Spanish Origin of the Population by Regions, Divisions, and States: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-1]
Population and Households by States and Counties: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-2]
Race of the Population by States: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-3]
Population and Households for Census Designated Places: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-4]
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Standard Consolidated Statistical Areas: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-5]
Nonpermanent Residents by States and Selected Counties and Incorporated Places: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-6]
Persons of Spanish Origin by State: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-7]
Detailed Occupation and Years of School Completed by Age, for the Civilian Labor Force by Sex, Race, and Spanish Origin: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-8]
State of Residence in 1975 by State of Residence in 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-9]
Ancestry of the Population by State: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-10]
Congressional District Profiles, 98th Congress [C3.223/12:980-S1-11]
Asian and Pacific Islander Population by State: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-12]
American Indian Areas and Alaska Native Villages: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-13]
Population and Land Area of Urbanized Areas for the United States and Puerto Rico: 1980 and 1970 [C3.223/12:980-S1-14]
Detailed Occupation of the Experienced Civilian Labor Force by Sex for the United States and Regions: 1980 and 1970 [C3.223/12:980-S1-15]
Residence in 1975 for States by Age, Sex, Race and Spanish Origin [C3.223/12:980-S1-16]
Gross Migration for Counties 1975-1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-17]
Metropolitan Statistical Areas [C3.223/12:980-S1-18]
Rural and Farm Population by Current (1980) and Previous (1970) Farm Definitions, for States and Counties: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-19]
Selected Characteristics of Persons With a Work Disability by State: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-20]
Summary Characteristics of the Black Population for States and Selected Counties and Places: 1980 [C3.223/12:980-S1-21]

Census of Population and Housing:

Block Statistics
[C 3.224/5:PHC 80-1-320]

Block Statistics Maps
[C 3.224/5:PHC 80-1-320]

Census Tracts
[C 3.223/11:980/1-380;maps for each volume]

Summary Characteristics for Governmental Units and SMSAs
[C 3.223/23:980/2 to 53]

Congressional Districts of the 98th Congress
[C 3.223/20:80-4-2 to 52]

Census of Housing:

Vol. I: Characteristics of Housing Units
[C 3.224/3:980/A1-57B]

Vol II: Metropolitan Housing Characteristics
[C 3.224/4:980/1-380]

Vol. III: Subject Reports
[C 3.224/10:980/2-6]

Vol. IV: Components of Inventory Change
[C 3.224/6:980-4-1-2B]

Vol. V: Residential Finance
[C 3.224/7:980/v.5]

Note: Much of the information from the original reports is available via Geolytics (a CD available on the Geisel LIbrary Superstation). Please ask at the Research Assistance Desk for access.

 

Original electronic files released:

 

Online Versions

Summary Tape File 1

**Download from the Census Bureau
**Download from ICPSR [UCSD only]

Summary Tape File 2

**Download from ICPSR [UCSD only]

Summary Tape File 3

From Counting California
**Download from the Census Bureau
**Download from ICPSR [UCSD only]

Summary Tape File 4

**Download from ICPSR [UCSD only]

Public Law 94-171

**Download from ICPSR [UCSD only]

Equal Employment Opportunity Special File

**Download from ICPSR [UCSD only]

County-to-County Migration Flow Data File

**Download from ICPSR [UCSD only]

** Files are available for download only.