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This data was compiled by CISER (Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research).
Geographic Areas covered in this Project
This project includes data for counties, metropolitan statistical areas, and
central cities for the years 1970, 1980, and 1990. The data for 1960 are
for census tracts and their processing is incomplete. See 1960info.txt.
Counties:
Counties are the primary political divisions of most states. In some states
these divisions are not called counties, so county equivalents are used,
such as parishes in Louisiana, boroughs and census areas in Alaska, independent cities in Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia. Other areas can be treated as county equivalents in census tabulations. Each county and county equivalent is assigned a three-digit FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) code that is unique within State. In the three decades covered by the 1970, 1980, and 1990 censuses, most counties have been unchanged. The counties found in these data are as presented as they were for each census year. The only exception for this is that the Name of the County as given in 1970 comes from the 1980 data. Two files provide information about counties: a list of all counties from all the years and a file of problems covering only counties found in some years but not in others.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas:
Although the terminology has changed, the concept of metropolitan statistical areas has remained the same since the 1950's when it was first established. A
metropolitan area (whether an SMA, SMSA, MSA, or a CMSA containing several PMSAs) is an area consisting of a large population center and adjacent communities (usually counties) that have a high degree of economic and social interaction with that center. Metropolitan statistical areas may
cross state lines. Metropolitan statistical areas are statistical definitions
and have little to do with political boundaries. Metropolitan statistical
areas have a 4 digit FIPS code. The data found in this project are for
MSAs, SMSAs, or CMSAs and PMSAs as defined at the time of the census. The
Names found in the 1970 file are those used in 1970. In
1970 the data are given by state, that is, where Metropolitan statistical
areas cross state boundaries, there will be a separate record for the portion
of the MSA in each state. To find the total for the MSA, you
must sum all the parts from the various states. In 1980 and 1990,
the data are for the SMSA/MSA/CMSA/PMSA regardless of state portions.
There have been many changes in Metropolitan Statistical Area boundaries (whole counties or towns in New England) over time. When comparing data over time, it is good to check the for changes in the component parts (counties or towns). More information about Metropolitan Statistical Area definitions can be found in the file metarea.
Cities:
In the Census, cities are types of "Places." In these data cities were
chosen that were a central city in a Metropolitan Statistical Area or Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area at the time of the 1990 Census. In
each MSA and PMSA, the largest place and, in some cases, additional places
are designated as “central cities” under the offical standards. A few Primary
Metropolitan Statistical Areas do not have central cities. The largest
central city and, in some cases, up to two additional centeral cities are
included in the “title” of the Metropolitan Area; there also are central
cities that are not included in the title. Cities
can cross county boundaries. Some cities that cross
county boundaries can be found in more than one Metroplitan statistical
area. In these data, the counts are for the complete city, not just the portion within a specific MSA. These cities were central cities in 1990 and may not have been central cities in any other years. In all years, the names of the cities were taken from the 1990 files. Thus in 1970 and 1980 some of the names may have the suffix (pt.) indicating that only part of the city was in a specific MSA.However, the data are for the Entire city and Not just the part. The file cisplit gives details about the 1990 cities that were split by MSAs. There is also a list of cities that were not present in 1970 and/or 1980. Each “place” in the census has a five digit FIPS place code and a four digit Census code. These codes are unique within state.
Subject Areas: Data Elements
These files contain data elements covering several topics. To the extent possible, the elements are consistent across time.However, changes in defintions and coverage may cause problems with comparability. There are notes for each of these areas.
Population, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin
Household and Family Composition
A Glossary of Terms, Definitions, and Comparability for these and all subject areas is available in the file: cb90appb.html.