1990 Census Tables and Variables

The variables, cross-tabulations, tables, and geographical areas (and their combinations) that are available differ among the print, CD-ROM, and web resources. For instance, the 1990 data on the major interactive web sites, American FactFinder and Oregon State's Government Information Sharing Project, are based on and are a subset of CD-ROM series. Both web services include all of the tables and variables that the CD-ROMs do with the exception of block data. Both offer only a subset of the combinations of geographical areas that are otherwise available on CD-ROM.

The types of variables on CD-ROM series STF1 and STF3 provide a good indication of the type of variables available in other 1990 Census publications.

• CD-ROM (and informally, web): Oregon State's Government Information Sharing Project provides access to technical documentation. "Table (Matrix) Sections" contain lists of tables and variables available in the 1990 census CD-ROMs (as well as on many websites). "Subject Locators" are rudimentary indexes for these tables. "Definitions of Subject Characteristics" defines items such as "household" and "family". This documentation is also available on the CD-ROM itself and elsewhere.
• Print: The "List of Statistical Tables" and the "Table Finding Guide" in the front of a print publication provide access to the tables found in that publication. "Definitions of Subject Characteristics" in Appendix B defines items such as "household" and "family".
• CD-ROM and print (and informally, web): An excellent index to print (CPH, CP, CH) and CD-ROM (STF) (and informally to web) series is: Lavin, Michael R., Jane Weintrop, and Cynthia Cornelius. 1997. Subject Index to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing. (Davis Reference Desk HA201 1990ze)

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See also Census Questionnaires.
Back to A Guide to the Decennial Census with a focus on 1990 and 2000 census data

Barbara Levergood, Former Electronic Documents Librarian

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