Twenty-first census of the United States | ||
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![]() U.S. Census Bureau and the cats seal | ||
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General information | ||
Country | United States | |
Results | ||
Total population | 248,709,873 (![]() | |
Most populous | California 29,760,021 | |
Least populous | Wyoming 453,588 |
The United States census of 1990, conducted by the Census Bureau, was the first census to be directed by a woman, Barbara Everitt Bryant. It determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9.8 percent over the 226,545,805 persons enumerated during the 1980 census. [1]
Approximately 16 percent of households received a "long form" of the 1990 census, which contained more than 100 questions. Full documentation on the 1990 census, including census forms and a procedural history, is available from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.
It was the first census to designate "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander" as a racial group separate from Asians.
To increase black participation in the 1990 United States census, the bureau recruited Bill Cosby, Magic Johnson, Alfre Woodard, and Miss America Debbye Turner as spokespeople. [2] The Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. Aggregate data for small areas, together with electronic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System. Personally identifiable information will be available in 2062. [3]
This was the first census since 1880 in which Chicago was not the second-largest city, having been overtaken by Los Angeles. As of the 2020 census, Los Angeles has remained the nation's second-largest city.
Rank | State | Population as of 1990 census | Population as of 1980 census | Change | Percent change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 29,760,021 | 23,667,902 | ![]() | ![]() |
2 | ![]() | 17,990,455 | 17,558,072 | ![]() | ![]() |
3 | ![]() | 16,986,510 | 14,229,191 | ![]() | ![]() |
4 | ![]() | 12,937,926 | 9,746,324 | ![]() | ![]() |
5 | ![]() | 11,881,643 | 11,863,895 | ![]() | ![]() |
6 | ![]() | 11,430,602 | 11,426,518 | ![]() | ![]() |
7 | ![]() | 10,847,115 | 10,797,630 | ![]() | ![]() |
8 | ![]() | 9,295,297 | 9,262,078 | ![]() | ![]() |
9 | ![]() | 7,730,188 | 7,364,823 | ![]() | ![]() |
10 | ![]() | 6,628,637 | 5,881,766 | ![]() | ![]() |
11 | ![]() | 6,478,216 | 5,463,105 | ![]() | ![]() |
12 | ![]() | 6,187,358 | 5,346,818 | ![]() | ![]() |
13 | ![]() | 6,016,425 | 5,737,037 | ![]() | ![]() |
14 | ![]() | 5,544,159 | 5,490,224 | ![]() | ![]() |
15 | ![]() | 5,117,073 | 4,916,686 | ![]() | ![]() |
16 | ![]() | 4,891,769 | 4,705,767 | ![]() | ![]() |
17 | ![]() | 4,877,185 | 4,591,120 | ![]() | ![]() |
18 | ![]() | 4,866,692 | 4,132,156 | ![]() | ![]() |
19 | ![]() | 4,781,468 | 4,216,975 | ![]() | ![]() |
20 | ![]() | 4,375,099 | 4,075,970 | ![]() | ![]() |
21 | ![]() | 4,219,973 | 4,205,900 | ![]() | ![]() |
22 | ![]() | 4,040,587 | 3,893,888 | ![]() | ![]() |
23 | ![]() | 3,685,296 | 3,660,777 | ![]() | ![]() |
24 | ![]() | 3,665,228 | 2,718,215 | ![]() | ![]() |
25 | ![]() | 3,486,703 | 3,121,820 | ![]() | ![]() |
26 | ![]() | 3,294,394 | 2,889,964 | ![]() | ![]() |
27 | ![]() | 3,287,116 | 3,107,576 | ![]() | ![]() |
28 | ![]() | 3,145,585 | 3,025,290 | ![]() | ![]() |
29 | ![]() | 2,842,321 | 2,633,105 | ![]() | ![]() |
30 | ![]() | 2,776,755 | 2,913,808 | ![]() | ![]() |
31 | ![]() | 2,573,216 | 2,520,638 | ![]() | ![]() |
32 | ![]() | 2,477,574 | 2,363,679 | ![]() | ![]() |
33 | ![]() | 2,350,725 | 2,286,435 | ![]() | ![]() |
34 | ![]() | 1,793,477 | 1,949,644 | ![]() | ![]() |
35 | ![]() | 1,722,850 | 1,461,037 | ![]() | ![]() |
36 | ![]() | 1,578,385 | 1,569,825 | ![]() | ![]() |
37 | ![]() | 1,515,069 | 1,302,894 | ![]() | ![]() |
38 | ![]() | 1,227,928 | 1,124,660 | ![]() | ![]() |
39 | ![]() | 1,201,833 | 800,493 | ![]() | ![]() |
40 | ![]() | 1,109,252 | 920,610 | ![]() | ![]() |
41 | ![]() | 1,108,229 | 964,691 | ![]() | ![]() |
42 | ![]() | 1,006,749 | 943,935 | ![]() | ![]() |
43 | ![]() | 1,003,464 | 947,154 | ![]() | ![]() |
44 | ![]() | 799,065 | 786,690 | ![]() | ![]() |
45 | ![]() | 696,004 | 690,768 | ![]() | ![]() |
46 | ![]() | 666,168 | 594,338 | ![]() | ![]() |
47 | ![]() | 638,800 | 652,717 | ![]() | ![]() |
— | ![]() | 606,900 | 638,333 | ![]() | ![]() |
48 | ![]() | 562,758 | 511,456 | ![]() | ![]() |
49 | ![]() | 550,043 | 401,851 | ![]() | ![]() |
50 | ![]() | 453,588 | 469,557 | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | 248,709,873 | 226,545,805 | 22,164,068 | 9.8% |
The results of the 1990 census determined the number of seats that each state receives in the United States House of Representatives starting with the 1992 elections. Consequently, this affected the number of votes each state has in the Electoral College for the 1992 presidential election.
Because of population changes, twenty-one states had changes in their number of seats. Eight states gained at least one seat, and thirteen states lost at least one seat. The final result involved 19 seats being switched. [4]
Gained seven seats | Gained four seats | Gained three seats | Gained one seat | Lost one seat | Lost two seats | Lost three seats |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | Florida | Texas | Arizona Georgia North Carolina Virginia Washington | Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Montana New Jersey West Virginia | Illinois Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania | New York |
The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 census. This was the twenty-second federal census and was at the time the largest civilly administered peacetime effort in the United States.
The United States census is a census that is legally mandated by the U.S. Constitution, and takes place every ten years. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790, under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson; there have been 23 federal censuses since that time.
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, including ancestry, citizenship, educational attainment, income, language proficiency, migration, disability, employment, and housing characteristics. These data are used by many public-sector, private-sector, and not-for-profit stakeholders to allocate funding, track shifting demographics, plan for emergencies, and learn about local communities. Sent to approximately 295,000 addresses monthly, it is the largest household survey that the Census Bureau administers.
The United States census of 1890 was taken beginning June 2, 1890, but most of the 1890 census materials were destroyed in 1921 when a building caught fire and in the subsequent disposal of the remaining damaged records. It determined the resident population of the United States to be 62,979,766—an increase of 25.5 percent over the 50,189,209 persons enumerated during the 1880 census. The data reported that the distribution of the population had resulted in the disappearance of the American frontier.
The United States census of 1850 was the seventh census of the United States. Conducted by the Census Office, it determined the resident population of the United States to be 23,191,876—an increase of 35.9 percent over the 17,069,453 persons enumerated during the 1840 census. The total population included 3,204,313 slaves.
The United States census of 1840 was the sixth census of the United States. Conducted by the Census Office on June 1, 1840, it determined the resident population of the United States to be 17,069,453 – an increase of 32.7 percent over the 12,866,020 persons enumerated during the 1830 census. The total population included 2,487,355 slaves. In 1840, the center of population was about 260 miles (418 km) west of Washington, near Weston, Virginia.
The United States census of 1980, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11.4 percent over the 203,184,772 persons enumerated during the 1970 census. It was the first census in which a state—California—recorded a population of 20 million people, as well as the first in which all states recorded populations of over 400,000.
The United States census of 1790 was the first census of the whole United States. It recorded the population of the United States as of Census Day, August 2, 1790, as mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution and applicable laws. In the first census, the population of the United States was enumerated to be 3,929,214.
The United States census of 1830, the fifth census undertaken in the United States, was conducted on June 1, 1830. The only loss of census records for 1830 involved some countywide losses in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Mississippi.
The United States census of 1860 was the eighth census conducted in the United States starting June 1, 1860, and lasting five months. It determined the population of the United States to be 31,443,322 in 33 states and 10 organized territories. This was an increase of 35.4 percent over the 23,069,876 persons enumerated during the 1850 census. The total population included 3,953,762 slaves.
The United States census of 1880 conducted by the Census Bureau during June 1880 was the tenth United States census. It was the first time that women were permitted to be enumerators. The Superintendent of the Census was Francis Amasa Walker. This was the first census in which a city—New York City—recorded a population of over one million.
The United States census of 1900, conducted by the Census Office on June 1, 1900, determined the resident population of the United States to be 76,212,168, an increase of 21.01% from the 62,979,766 persons enumerated during the 1890 census.
The United States census of 1910, conducted by the Census Bureau on April 15, 1910, determined the resident population of the United States to be 92,228,496, an increase of 21 percent over the 76,212,168 persons enumerated during the 1900 census. The 1910 census switched from a portrait page orientation to a landscape orientation.
The United States census of 1920, conducted by the Census Bureau during one month from January 5, 1920, determined the resident population of the United States to be 106,021,537, an increase of 15.0 percent over the 92,228,496 persons enumerated during the 1910 census.
The United States census of 1930, conducted by the Census Bureau one month from April 1, 1930, determined the resident population of the United States to be 122,775,046, an increase of 13.7 percent over the 106,021,537 persons enumerated during the 1920 census.
The United States census of 1940, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7.6 percent over the 1930 population of 122,775,046 people. The census date of record was April 1, 1940.
The United States census of 1950, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 150,697,361, an increase of 14.5 percent over the 131,669,275 persons enumerated during the 1940 census.
The United States census of 1960, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 179,323,175, an increase of 19 percent over the 151,325,798 persons enumerated during the 1950 census. This was the first census in which all states recorded a population of over 200,000. This census's data determined the electoral votes for the 1964 and 1968 presidential elections. This was also the last census in which New York was the most populous state.
The United States census of 1970, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 203,392,031, an increase of 13.4 percent over the 179,323,175 persons enumerated during the 1960 census.
California is the most populated U.S. state, with an estimated population of 39.2 million as of January 1, 2022. It has people from a wide variety of ethnic, racial, national, and religious backgrounds.