1960 United States census


The 1960 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 179,323,175, an increase of 19 percent over the 151,325,798 persons enumerated during the 1950 census. This was the first census in which all states recorded a population of over 200,000. This census's data determined the electoral votes for the 1964 and 1968 presidential elections. This was also the last census in which New York was the most populous state.
Detroit lost 220,000 residents in the 1950s, which remains the record for the largest loss of population between two censuses.

Census questions

The 1960 census collected the following information from all respondents:
Approximately 25% of households received a "long form" of the 1960 census, which contained over 100 questions. Full documentation on the 1960 census, including census forms and a procedural history, is available from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

Data availability

from the 1960 census are freely available through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. Aggregate data for small areas, together with electronic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System. Personally identifiable information will be available in 2032.

State rankings

RankStatePopulation as of
1960 census		Population as of
1950 census		ChangePercent
change

City rankings

Locations of 50 most populous cities