Data Availability

Tabular data availability

Time series table availability
GIS boundary file availability

Tabular data availability

NHGIS includes summary tables from all U.S. decennial censuses, from the American
Community Survey, and from a selection of other U.S. surveys.
Highlights:

Decennial census data

County and state tables since 1790

Census tract tables since 1910

Tables for all original census summary levels, down to census blocks, since
1970

American Community Survey data

5-year periods from 2005-2009 through 2010-2014

3-year periods from 2008-2010 through 2011-2013

1-year periods from 2010 through 2014

County Business Patterns data (1970-2002, annual)

Agricultural census data (1840-1950)

Religious bodies data (1850-1952)

Manufacturing census data (1840-1940)

2010 Census data for SABINS school attendance areas

The NHGIS Data Finder allows users to explore which tables are available by geographic level,
by year, by topic, and/or by source dataset.
More details:

Overview of NHGIS Datasets

NHGIS Data Table Availability by Topic and Source (PDF)

Time series table availability

NHGIS time series tables cover a range of basic 100%-count statistics from the 1970-2010
censuses as well as several popular sample-based statistics from the 1970-2000 long-form
surveys and the 2008-2012 5-Year American Community Survey. There is also a Total
Population table for states and counties from 1790 to 2010 and a Persons by Sex table for 1820
to 2010.

Nominally integrated time series tables, which align geographic units across time by matching
names and codes without regard to boundary changes, cover up to 8 geographic levels ranging
from the nation down to census tracts. The set of covered levels varies among tables according
to which statistics are available for each level in each source year.
Geographically standardized time series tables, which provide estimates for a single year's
geographic units by interpolating data from other years, currently provide 2000 and 2010 100%count statistics for 2010 geographic units at 10 geographic levels ranging from states down to
block groups.
To see all topics for which time series are available, open the Topics filter window through the
NHGIS Data Finder and look for topics marked with the "TS" icon.
Details for all available time series tables:
NHGIS Time Series Tables Details (PDF)

GIS boundary file availability

The table below summarizes the geographic units and years covered by NHGIS shapefiles.
Note that the extent of coverage may vary among geographic units and across years. For
example, census tracts covered only 8 cities in 1910 and did not cover the entire U.S. until
1990. More detailed coverage information is provided through the links in the table. In addition,
NHGIS is creating interactive web maps to highlight the availability and comparability of
boundary data over time. Currently, thecensus tract and place interactive maps are available.
The years in the table generally identify the survey years for which the boundaries were used in
tabulations, which may differ from the vintages of the boundaries. For example, 2011
NHGIS boundary files represent areas used in 2011 American Community Survey tabulations,
including 2009 Core Based Statistical Areas and 2000 Public Use Microdata Sample Areas.
Unless otherwise noted, the basis for 2000 and all earlier NHGIS boundaries is the 2000
TIGER/Line files, and the basis for 2010 and later years' boundaries is the TIGER/Line release
of the same year.
More information on boundary file years and sources is provided here.
Boundary File Availability by Geographic Unit and Year
Primary Census Divisions

2012201 200 200 199 198

2011
2014
0
9
0
0
0

19501970

19101940

17901900

Nation

Xa

Region

Xa

Division

Xa

State [map] [list]

Xb

County [map] [list]

Xc

Xd

Xd

Xd

Xd

Xd

Census Tract [map][list] [interactive map]

Xc

Xd

Xd

Xd

Xd

Block Group

Xb

X
19501970

19101940

Block

Civil / Urban / Metropolitan Units

2012201 200 200 199 198

2011
2014
0
9
0
0
0

County Subdivision

Xb

Xe

Subminor Civil Division [map]

Place [map] [interactive map]

Xb

Xe

Consolidated City [map]

17901900

Urban Area [map]

Core Based (Metropolitan/Micropolitan) Statistical

Area

Metropolitan Division
Combined Statistical Area

Metropolitan Statistical Area/

Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area [map]

X
X

Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area

Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area [map]

Standard Consolidated Statistical Area [map]

New England City and Town Area[map]

New England City and Town Area Division

Combined New England City and Town Area [map]

New England County Metropolitan Area [map]

Legislative / Electoral Units

Xf

Xb

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) [map]

Xa

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) [map]

Xa

Voting District [map]

School Units

Xb

School District (Secondary) [map]

School District (Unified) [map]

SABINS School Attendance Area[map]

19101940

17901900

19501970

19101940

17901900

19501970

19101940

17901900

19501970

19101940

17901900

Xg
2012201 200 200 199 198
2011
2014
0
9
0
0
0

Alaska Native Regional Corporation

Xa

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/Hawaiian

Home Land[map]

Xb

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area

(Reservation or Statistical Entity Only)

Xa

American Indian Area (Off-Reservation Trust Land

Only)/Hawaiian Home Land

Xb

Tribal Subdivision

Xb

Tribal Census Tract

Tribal Block Group

Other Units

19501970

2012201 200 200 199 198

2011
2014
0
9
0
0
0

School District (Elementary)[map]

Native American / Alaskan / Hawaiian Units

2012201 200 200 199 198

2011
2014
0
9
0
0
0

Congressional District [map]

2012201 200 200 199 198

2011
2014
0
9
0
0
0

5-Digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area

Public Use Microdata Sample Area (PUMA)

X
X

Xb
X

Table notes:
a. Based on 2010 (not 2000) TIGER/Line features
b. 2 versions based on 2000 or 2010 TIGER/Line features
c. 3 versions based on 2000, 2008, or 2010 TIGER/Line features
d. 2 versions based on 2000 TIGER/Line features or conflated to 2008 TIGER/Line features
e. Based on 1992 (not 2000) TIGER/Line features
f. 2012 boundaries for congressional districts are based on features from the special 113th Congress TIGER/Line

release (not 2012 TIGER/Line features)

g. Boundaries available for 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 school years. All are based on 2010
TIGER/Line features, and corresponding tabular data is derived from the 2010 Census.
h. Based on 2000 TIGER/Line features. (Not available in 2010 or 2011 TIGER/Line source files.)
i. 4 versions based on 2000, 2008, 2009, or 2010 TIGER/Line features
j. 3 versions based on 2000, 2009, or 2010 TIGER/Line features
k. Available for 2012 basis only. (Not available in later TIGER/Line source files.)

* Census tract and block group boundaries derived from the 2009 TIGER/Line files are available, but NHGIS
identifies these boundaries with 2000, not 2009, because they do not completely correspond to the units used in
2009 ACS tables. More information is available here.