Introduction

The 1990 Census was the first in which the Census Bureau provided significant amounts of data for use on a personal computer. Initially, the Bureau did this with CD-ROMs. This guide describes the data available on CD by file name, data source, lowest level of geography and call number.

There is a separate guide to using the 1990 Census software "GO". Users are strongly advised to read it carefully as these CDs were created in a very different computing environment than what one typically finds today.

There are four general types of CD from the 1990 Census:

• Summary Tape Files
  These CDs were produced directly from the long and short form questions. They are the basic set of information from the Census and go to the lowest geographic levels.
• Special Tabulations
  Special Tabulations are tabulations which don't directly correspond to the 100% or sample breakdown of the standard tabulations, may be combined with other data and may only be produced for one Census. For Census 2000 Special Tabulations, see http://www.census.gov/mp/www/spectab/specialtab.html.
• Subject Summary Tape Files
  Subject Summary Tape Files are derived from all census questions, whether asked of the whole population or just a sample. They are a combination of the types of information available in the Summary Tape Files and are organized around specific subjects.
• Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS)
  Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) are samples of the untabulated responses to the Census. Due to confidentiality requirements the Census Bureau must meet, the responses have had identifying information edited out and are only valid for geographic levels large enough to mask individual responses.

Summary Tape Files These CDs were produced directly from the long and short form questions. They are the basic set of information from the Census and go to the lowest geographic levels.

File Links are to detailed descriptions on the Census web site.	Data Source Questions asked of 100% or a sample of the population.	Lowest Geography Level see diagram	Call Number
Redistricting Data a.k.a. P. L. 94-171	100%	Block	C 3.281:
			Public Law 94-171 Data
STF1A On 18 disks including Puerto Rico.	100%	Block Group	C 3.282:990/#
STF1B On 11 disks including Puerto Rico.	100%	Block	C 3.282/3:CD 90-1 B-#
STF1C	100%	Place of 10,000 or more	C 3.282:990-1C
STF1D Set covers 103rd - 105th Congresses.	100%	County Subdivision	C 3.282/4:104-2 On the same CD as STF3D
STF3A On 63 disks including Puerto Rico	Sample	Block Group	C 3.282/2:CD 90-3 A-#
STF3B On 3 disks.	Sample	Zip Code Areas	C 3.282/2:CD 90-3 B-#
STF3C	Sample	Urbanized Areas	C 3.282/2:CD 90-3 C-2/993
STF3C-1	Sample	Not Urbanized Areas	C 3.282/2:CD 90-3 C-1
STF3D Set covers 103rd - 105th Congresses.	Sample	County Subdivision	C 3.282/4:104-2 On the same CD as STF1D

Special Tabulations Special Tabulations are tabulations which don't directly correspond to the 100% or sample breakdown of the standard tabulations, may be combined with other data and may only be produced for one Census. For Census 2000 Special Tabulations, see http://www.census.gov/mp/www/spectab/specialtab.html.

File Links are to detailed descriptions on the Census web site.	Data Source Questions asked of 100% or a sample of the population.	Lowest Geography Level see diagram	Call Number
Aging	Sample and 100%	County Subdivisions & Places of 2,500 or more	C 3.281/2:CD-90-AOA #-#
Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy	not specified	Places of 10,000 or more	CD-ROM C 3.275:H 81/CD/CORR.-2
EEO On 2 disks	sample-based cross-tabulations	County Subdivisions & Places of 50,000 or more	C 3.283:CD 90-EEO-#
Migration On 2 disks	sample data 1990 Question 14b specifically	County for all states except Minor Civil Divisions of CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT	C 3.284:CD 90-MIG-#
Residential Finance Survey	not specified	Central Cities	Not formally published Available for purchase ONLY
School District Data Book	Sample and 100% NCES-Common Core of Data Survey of Local Government Finance the TIGER/Line Files	School Districts	Not a Depository Publication 1990 Census School District Demographics
Transportation Planning Package On 12 disks	not specified	locally defined areas	CD-ROM TD 1.56/2:BTS-CD-15-#

Subject Summary Tape Files Subject Summary Tape Files are derived from all census questions, whether asked of the whole population or just a sample. They are a combination of the types of information available in the Summary Tape Files and are organized around specific subjects.

File Links are to detailed descriptions on the Census web site.	Data Source Questions asked of 100% or a sample of the population.	Lowest Geography Level see diagram	Call Number
Foreign-Born Population	100% & Sample	State	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 01/994-2
Ancestry	100% & Sample	State	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 02
Hispanic Origin	100% & Sample	State	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 03
Disabilities On 3 separate CDs	100% & Sample	Counties with 50,000 or more	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 04 A-C
Asian & Pacific Islander Population	100% & Sample	State	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 05
Education On 1 CD w/SSTF 12	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 06/CD 90 SSTF 12
Metropolitan HousingOn 8 separate disks	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 07 A-H
Elderly Housing	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 08
New Housing Units	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 09
Mobile Homes	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 10
11 Not Used	11 Not Used	11 Not Used	11 Not Used
Employment, Work Experience & Veteran Status	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 06/CD 90 SSTF 12
American Indians	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 13
Occupation & Industry	100% & Sample	State	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 14
Geographic Mobility	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 15
Fertility	100% & Sample	State	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 16
Poverty Areas	100% & Sample	Place	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 17
Condominiums	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 18
Older Population	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 19
Journey to Work	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 20
Black Population On 3 disks	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 21 A-C
Earnings On 3 disks	100% & Sample	Metropolitan Statistical Area	C 3.286:CD 90 SSTF 22 A-C

Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) are samples of the untabulated responses to the Census. Due to confidentiality requirements the Census Bureau must meet, the responses have had identifying information edited out and are only valid for geographic levels large enough to mask individual responses.

File Links are to detailed descriptions on the Census web site.	Data Source Questions asked of 100% or a sample of the population.	Lowest Geography Level see diagram	Call Number
PUMS 5% On 6 disks including Puerto Rico	untabulated responses	County	C 3.285:CD 90-PUMSA #
PUMS 1% On 2 disks	untabulated responses	Metropolitan Statistical Areas	C 3.285:CD 90-PUMSB #