Statistics from 1980 Census of Population and Housing

Electronic Records Reference Report

Introduction
Summary Statistic Files
Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS)
Geographic Reference Files
Related Information
Contact Us

Introduction

This reference report provides information about data files from the 1980 Census (20th Census) of Population and Housing in the custody of the National Archives. None of the records described contain individual names or identifiers. The data files contain summary statistics on population and housing characteristics, public use microdata samples, or geographic reference data.

Researchers may order copies of the computerized data files for a cost-recovery fee and analyze the records directly, using whatever hardware and software they have. For more information on ordering data files, see: Ordering Information for Electronic Records. Descriptions of the series and data files listed in this report are in the National Archives Catalog. The National Archives Catalog can be searched by title, National Archives Identifier, type of archival material, or keyword.

Summary Statistic Files

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

• Summary Statistic Data Files from the 20th Census of Population and Housing
  National Archives Identifier: 585715
  Online Access: Download

  This series contains summary statistic data files, including general public use Summary Tape Files (STF) and summary statistic data files created for a specific use. The Bureau of the Census created 5 STFs. Each STF consists of a particular set of subject matter data tables for specific types of areas and the files within each STF differ in the types of geographic areas covered, such as states, counties, minor civil divisions, census tracts, and etc. The catalog description for each STF file details the subject matter and geographic areas covered in the file. Also, the 1980 Census Summary Statistic Data Files Geographic Area Coverage Table provides a comparison of the various geographic areas in the STFs, excluding geographic areas unique to Puerto Rico. STFs 1 and 2 provide data based on the complete count, but, in general, STF2 contains more subject matter detail than STF1. STFs 3, 4, and 5 are based on sample data, with STF4 containing more subject matter detail than STF3. STF5 contains the most subject matter detail of the STFs. The Bureau of the Census also created summary statistic data files for Public Law 94-171 and for Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action uses.

  The technical documentation for the summary statistic data files consists of basic and general documentation and, in some cases, code tables. Basic documentation includes that which is necessary to interpret the structure and content of the files. General documentation includes a description of the 1980 Summary Tape Program, technical information about the various STFs, a glossary of 1980 Census concepts, and sometimes additional information specific to those data files. Documentation often varies for Puerto Rico and other American territories. The unit also has custody of supplementary documentation related to the 1980 Census, such as the Bureau of the Census' "Users Guide: Part C. Index to Summary Tape Files 1-4" (PHC80-R1-C, issued September 1983, 145 pages). Contact staff regarding the availability of supplementary documentation.

  Data files in this series include:

  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 1A (STF 1A)
    National Archives Identifier: 587353
    Data Files: 55 (one per state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the remainder of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
    Geographic Areas: 8 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 1B (STF 1B)
    National Archives Identifier: 587342
    Data Files: 52 (one per state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico)
    Geographic Areas: 9 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table); separate geographic areas for Puerto Rico
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 1C (STF 1C)
    National Archives Identifier: 587354
    Data Files: 1 (one for the United States)
    Geographic Areas: 11 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 1D (STF 1D)
    National Archives Identifier: 587355
    Data Files: 51 (one per state and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: states; congressional districts (CDs) of the 98th Congress; and areas within each CD (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 1F (STF 1F)
    National Archives Identifier: 585755
    Data Files: 1 (one for the United States)
    Geographic Areas: school districts and counties within school districts (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 1H (STF 1H)
    National Archives Identifier: 587345
    Data Files: 10 (one per state redistricted for the 99th Congress)
    Geographic Areas: states; congressional districts (CDs) of the 99th Congress; and areas within each CD (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 2A (STF 2A)
    National Archives Identifier: 978197
    Data Files: 51 (one per state and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: 6 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 2B (STF 2B)
    National Archives Identifier: 849180
    Data Files: 49 (one per state (except MI & VT) and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: 9 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 2C (STF 2C)
    National Archives Identifier: 587359
    Data Files: 3 (all cover the United States)
    Geographic Areas: 14 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 3A (STF 3A)
    National Archives Identifier: 587352
    Data Files: 57 (one per state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories)
    Geographic Areas: 8 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 3B (STF 3B)
    National Archives Identifier: 593726
    Data Files: 51 (one per state and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: five-digit ZIP code areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 3C (STF 3C)
    National Archives Identifier: 593754
    Data Files: 1 (one for the United States)
    Geographic Areas: 10 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 3D (STF 3D)
    National Archives Identifier: 593769
    Data Files: 51 (one per state and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: states, congressional districts (CDs) of the 98th Congress, and areas within each CD (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 3F (STF 3F)
    National Archives Identifier: 593774
    Data Files: 51 (one per state and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: school districts and counties within school districts (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 3H (STF 3H)
    National Archives Identifier: 587349
    Data Files: 10 (one per state redistricted for the 99th Congress)
    Geographic Areas: states; congressional districts (CDs) of the 99th Congress; and areas within each CD (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 4A (STF 4A)
    National Archives Identifier: 610411
    Data Files: 50 (one per state (except HI & ID), the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico)
    Geographic Areas: 6 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 4B (STF 4B)
    National Archives Identifier: 610818
    Data Files: 51 (one per state and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: 10 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 4C (STF 4C)
    National Archives Identifier: 638474
    Data Files: 1 (one for the United States)
    Geographic Areas: 15 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 5A (STF 5A)
    National Archives Identifier: 627770
    Data Files: 2 (both for Illinois)
    Geographic Areas: 5 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Public Law 94-171
    National Archives Identifier: 593809
    Data Files: 51 (one per state and the District of Columbia)
    Geographic Areas: 8 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Equal Employment Opportunity Special File
    National Archives Identifier: 602285
    Data Files: 52 (one per state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico)
    Geographic Areas: 4 selected areas (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Inter-County Migration Flow Data File
    National Archives Identifier: 657129
    Data Files: 1
    Geographic Areas: counties or county equivalents (see catalog description or geographic table)
    Online Access: Download
     
• Comparability between 1980 Census and 1970 Census Summary Statistic Files

  For those researchers interested in comparing 1980 Census data and 1970 Census data, several 1980 Census summary tape files (STF) are comparable to some of the 1970 Census summary counts. The 1980 STF1 is similar in subject matter and geographic detail to the 1970 First and Third Count files. The 1980 STF2 and STF4 are roughly comparable to the 1970 Second and Fourth Counts, respectively. The 1980 STF3 is comparable to the 1970 Fifth Count, while the 1980 STF5 corresponds to the 1970 Sixth Count. For more information about the 1980 census summary tape files available from NARA, please see the 1970 Census (19th Census) of Population and Housing Electronic Records Reference Report. For 1970 Census and 1980 Census tract comparability, see 1980-1970 Tract Comparability File below.

Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS)

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

• Public Use Microdata Files (PUMS) from the 20th Census of Population and Housing
  National Archives Identifier: 593956
  Online Access: Download

  This series contains records for a sample (drawn from long-form questionnaires) of housing units with information on the characteristics of each unit and the people it. The "A," "B," and "C" sample files have a different geographic scheme, although the microdata records do not identify geographic areas with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These three files also differ in sample size, which is a subsample of the sample of households that received census long-form questionnaires. The Bureau of the Census specially prepared the "E" and "F" sample files for other research institutions. Data files in this series include:

  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Public Use Microdata Sample "A"
    National Archives Identifier: 593958
    Data Files: 52 (one per state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico)
    Geographic Areas: census divisions, states, selected Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas of 100,000 or more population, most counties of 100,000 or more population, selected places of 100,000 or more population, and selected county groups
    Sample Size: 5% of households in the Nation
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Public Use Microdata Sample "B"
    National Archives Identifier: 593960
    Data Files: 53 (one per state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and a file for all county groups crossing state lines)
    Geographic Areas: some states, standard metropolitan statistical areas of 100,000 or more population, selected counties of 100,000 or more population, selected places of 100,000 or more population, selected county groups, and a metropolitan/non-metropolitan breakdown
    Sample Size: 1% of households in the Nation
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Public Use Microdata Sample "C"
    National Archives Identifier: 593961
    Data Files: 36 (one for each of the 27 states separately identified and the District of Columbia, and one file for each of the eight groups of the remaining states)
    Geographic Areas: census divisions, some states, selected places of 100,000 or more population, selected urbanized areas, and an urban/rural breakdown
    Sample Size: 1% of households in the Nation
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Public Use Microdata Sample "E"
    National Archives Identifier: 593962
    Data Files: 9 (one for each of the census divisions)
    Geographic Areas: focus on metropolitan/non-metropolitan and rural/urban
    Sample Size: 1% of households in the Nation
    Online Access: Download
     
  • Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Public Use Microdata Sample "F"
    National Archives Identifier: 623650
    Data Files: 4
    Geographic Areas: 50 largest Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas
    Online Access: Download

Geographic Reference Files

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

• Geographic Reference Files and Related Computer Programs from the 20th Census of Population and Housing
  National Archives Identifier: 593968
  Online Access: Download

  This series contains files with political and/or census geographic referencing relating to the 1980 Census. This series includes:

  • Geographic Base File / Dual Independent Map Encoding (GBF/DIME) Computer Program Files
    National Archives Identifier: 594154
    Data Files: 84

    Online Access: Download
    These files include the Correction, Update, Extension (CUE) tape and the Special Program Information Tape (SPIT), both of which are comprised of several computer cartography programs.

  • Geographic Base File / Dual Independent Map Encoding (GBF/DIME) Files
    National Archives Identifier: 594203
    Data Files: 338
    Online Access: Download

    These files provide computerized representations of the Metropolitan Map Series (MMS) and includes streets, address ranges, and other geographic codes for metropolitan areas.

  • Master Area Reference File 2 (MARF 2)
    National Archives Identifier: 594204
    Data Files: 51
    Online Access: Download

    These files contain numeric codes and names for census geographic areas plus 100% and sample data for selected population and housing items.

  • 1980-1970 Tract Comparability File
    National Archives Identifier: 594205
    Data Files: 1
    Online Access: Download
    This file contains records of 1980 Census tracts whose boundaries or identification changed between the 1970 and 1980 Censuses.

Related Information

The U.S. Census Bureau makes some reports related to the 1980 Census of Population and Housing data files available on its website at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/decennial-publications.1980.html

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August 2023

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