Research Guides
U.S. Decennial Census: 1990
Decade by decade information about how to access and use U.S. Census reports.
About the 1990 census
Highlights
- 21st decennial census
- US population: 248,709,873
- Washington population
Questions asked
- 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
- 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
- Length of service
- In service date
- Place of residence in a 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
- 1990 census of population. General population characteristics. United States.
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Social and economic characteristics. United States
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. The foreign-born population in the United States.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Persons of Hispanic origin in the United States.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Education in the United States.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Characteristics of the Black population.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Characteristics of American Indians by tribe and language.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Supplementary reports. Detailed occupation and other characteristics from the EEO file for the United States.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population. Supplementary reports. Detailed ancestry groups for states.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary population and housing characteristics. United States.
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary population and housing units.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population and housing. Population and housing characteristics for census tracts and block numbering areas.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population and housing. Population and housing characteristics for congressional districts of the 103rd Congress.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary social, economic, and housing characteristics.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of housing: General housing characteristics.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of housing: Detailed housing characteristics.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of housing : metropolitan housing characteristics.
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Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of housing : residential finance.
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Online via HathiTrust - Census of population and housing, 1990 : public law 94-171 data : technical documentation.
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary tape file 1A.
CD-ROM via Summit Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Block statistics.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary tape file 1C : United States summary.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - Congressional districts of the United States : summary tape file 1D, summary tape file 3D : 104th Congress.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary tape file 3A.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary tape file 3B.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Summary tape file 3C : United States summary.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF 1). The foreign-born population in the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 2 ancestry of the population in the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 3. Persons of Hispanic origin in the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 4 : characteristics of adults with work disabilities, mobility limitations, or self-care limitations.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 5. Characteristics of the Asian and Pacific Islander population in the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 Census of population and housing : subject summary tape file (SSTF) 6, education in the United States: technical documentation.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 7 : metropolitan housing characteristics.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) : housing of the elderly.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 Census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 9 : housing characteristics of new units.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 10 : Housing characteristics of mobile homes.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 06, Education in the United States : 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 12, Employment status, work experience, and veteran status.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 13 : characteristics of American Indians by tribe and language.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 14 : occupation and industry : industry by occupation alphabetical index.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 15 : geographic mobility in the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 Census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 16. Fertility.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 17 : poverty areas in the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 18 : housing characteristics of condominium housing.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 19 : the older population of the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 20 : journey to work in the United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 21 : characteristics of the Black population.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Subject summary tape file (SSTF) 22 : earnings by occupation and education.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - The Comprehensive housing affordability strategy (CHAS) database.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. Equal employment opportunity file.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries
Digital copy via US Census Bureau - 1990 census of population and housing. Special tabulation on aging. United States.
CD-ROM via UW Libraries - 1990 census of population and housing. County-to-county migration flow files, special project 312 (SP312). In-migration.
CD-ROM via Summit Libraries
More Information from the US Census Bureau
- Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000A 140-page report released in 2002 detailing the evolution and history of the census questionnaire from its inception in 1790 to 2000.
- Through the DecadesAn overview of the census from 1790 to 2010 that includes the history of census legislation, efforts to improve the count, and the technical innovations introduced to improve data collection, processing, and publication.
- Decennial Census by DecadeDetails events surrounding the decennial census. Click on the desired year.
Guides and Documentation
Census Compilations
- List of Census CompilationsCensus compilations usually cover large areas and can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.
Data Sources
- List of Raw Data SourcesRaw data files are intended to be loaded into statistical software for analysis and table creation. In some cases these files can be used with spreadsheet software as well.
- Social Explorer
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Maps and reports based on U.S. Census and other data sources, 1790 to present. - Explore Census DataPopulation, housing, economic and geographic information from a variety of surveys.
Contact
Need help? Call the Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers help desk at (206) 543-4164 during desk hours. You can also consult the 24/7 Ask Us! reference service.