Census Research Guide: 2010

These are computer files intended to be loaded into statistical software for analysis and creating your own tables. In some cases these files can be used with spreadsheet software as well.

Note: 2010 population schedules have not been released.

Census population schedules (or "name schedules" or "manuscript census") are copies of the original questionnaires collected during each decennial census. They list the individual names and family information of the people enumerated. Unlike the statistics published soon after the census, the population schedules remain confidential for 72 years. 1930 is the most recent population schedule available.

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Highlights

• 23rd decennial census
• US population: 308,745,538
• California population: 37,253,956
• Long form (sample data) discontinued, replaced by the American Community Survey (ACS)

Questions asked

Information obtained from all persons: Age, Sex, Race, Hispanic or Latino origin, Household relationship, Tenure (housing unit owned or rented), Vacancy characteristics

For more information:

Find all 2010 census publications in the Library.

Multi-year census compilations (compare across years): These sources tend to include statistics for large geographic areas (e.g. states), but can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.

A variety of statistics from the 2010 Census may also be found at the Census Bureau's "By Decade" website and in American FactFinder. 

Key publications:

Original electronic files released: