Research Guides: LGBT Studies: Find Statistics & Data

Quick Historical U.S. Stats

The latest edition of the Statistical Abstract of the United States (census.gov) provides historical statistics on a range of topics including population, immigration, marital status, households, births and deaths, etc. See also Proquests's version of the Statistical Abstract of the United States.

Historical Polling Data

Polling the Nations This link opens in a new window
Polling the Nations compiles surveys conducted by polling organizations in the United States as well as other countries from 1986 to the present. Each record reports a question asked and the responses given. Also included in each record is the polling organization responsible for the work, the date the information was released, the sample size, and universe. All the surveys reported here were conducted using scientifically selected random samples.

Historical Statistics on the Web

Selected Historical Decennial Census - Population and Housing Counts (U.S. Census Bureau) - Includes three important sources:

Historical Census Reports in PDF format back to 1790, including Census of Population and Housing;
Measuring America, offering individual histories of each census including original questionnaires and instructions; and
Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970 (c1975, PDF doc). Also available in print, but see above for access to the more recent 2006 edition.

Historical Statistics of Canada - Digital version of the 1983, 2nd edition reference work

Historical U.S. Census Browser (University of Virginia Library, Geospatial and Statistical Data Center) - Easy mapping / manipulation of historical U.S. census data from 1790 to 1960