Decennial Census

The Decennial Census Long Form Sample is a 1-in-6 sample of all households in the U.S. The questions asked of this sample include age, race, sex, educational attainment, income, place of work, occupation, household relationships, housing unit characteristics, etc.. Because these files are large, processing with them can be very time and resource intensive. In cases where there is no valid response for an individual (or household where applicable), the item is filled in using a system of allocation. Allocation consists of using the response of a similar observation to fill in a missing item. A great deal of documentation on the Decennial Census is available. Brief descriptions are available on the Census Bureau's website.

The 1960 census was the first to use the "long form" administered to a sample of households, while most households received a "short form" containing only the most basic demographic questions needed for apportionment and to ensure an accurate census total. This method was used through the 2000 census. The social and economic information gathered on the "long form" is now collected using the American Community Survey (ACS), and all respondents received a "short form" in the 2010 census.

Selecting the Decennial Census data for 2020 will result in provisioning of the Master Decennial Files (MDFs). These files do not allow for linkages or provide household structure. To link or obtain household structure, please select the Census Edited File (CEF), ICPSR ID 4456.