What was the total resident population of the United States as determined by the 1980 census?

The 1980 United States census determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805 people.

By what percentage did the U.S. population increase between the 1970 and 1980 censuses?

The U.S. population increased by 11.4% between the 1970 census, which enumerated 203,184,772 persons, and the 1980 census.

What significant population milestone did California achieve in the 1980 census?

California became the first state to record a population of 20 million people in the 1980 census, with 23,667,902 residents.

What demographic distinction was noted for all U.S. states in the 1980 census?

The 1980 census marked the first time that all states recorded populations exceeding 400,000 residents.

Which ethnic group was counted as a distinct ethnicity for the first time in the 1980 census?

The 1980 census was the first to specifically count Hispanic and Latino Americans as an ethnicity.

What information was collected from all respondents for the 1980 census?

The 1980 census collected information on address, name, household relationship, gender, race, age, marital status, and whether the respondent was of Spanish/Hispanic origin or descent.

What change was made in the 1980 census regarding household headship?

The 1980 census was the first not to ask for the name of the "head of household," a change from previous census questionnaires.

What was the purpose of the "long form" distributed during the 1980 census?

The "long form" of the 1980 census, which was sent to approximately 16 percent of households, contained over 100 questions to gather more detailed demographic and social information.

Where can detailed documentation for the 1980 census, including forms, be accessed?

Full documentation for the 1980 census, including census forms and procedural history, is available from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

How is microdata from the 1980 census made available to the public?

Microdata from the 1980 census are freely accessible through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

Where can aggregate data and boundary files for the 1980 census be obtained?

Aggregate data for small areas, along with electronic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System.

When will personally identifiable information (PII) from the 1980 census be released?

Personally identifiable information collected during the 1980 census is scheduled to become available in the year 2052, adhering to the 72-year rule for census data privacy.

Which state was the most populous according to the 1980 census?

California was the most populous state in the 1980 census, with a population of 23,667,902.

Which state was the least populous in the 1980 census?

Alaska was the least populous state in the 1980 census, with a population of 401,851.

Which state experienced the largest population increase in absolute numbers between the 1970 and 1980 censuses?

California experienced the largest population increase, adding 3,714,768 residents between the 1970 and 1980 censuses.

Which state showed the highest percentage population growth between the 1970 and 1980 censuses?

Arizona showed the highest percentage population growth, with an increase of 55.7% between the 1970 and 1980 censuses.

Which state experienced a population decline between the 1970 and 1980 censuses, and by what percentage?

New York experienced a population decline between the 1970 and 1980 censuses, with its population decreasing by 3.7%.

What was the population of Texas in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Texas had a population of 14,229,191 in the 1980 census, representing a 27.1% increase from its 1970 population.

What was the population of Florida in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Florida's population was 9,746,324 in the 1980 census, marking a significant 43.6% increase from its 1970 population.

What was the population of New York in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

New York's population was 17,558,072 in the 1980 census, which was a decrease of 3.7% compared to its 1970 population.

What was the population of Pennsylvania in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Pennsylvania's population was 11,863,895 in the 1980 census, showing a modest increase of 0.6% from its 1970 population.

What was the population of Illinois in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Illinois had a population of 11,426,518 in the 1980 census, representing a 2.8% increase from its 1970 population.

What was the population of Ohio in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Ohio's population was 10,797,630 in the 1980 census, indicating a 1.4% increase from its 1970 population.

Which city was the most populous in the United States according to the 1980 census?

New York City was the most populous city in the United States in 1980, with a population of 7,071,639.

What was the population of Chicago in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Chicago had a population of 3,005,072 in the 1980 census and is located in the Midwest region of the United States.

What was the population of Los Angeles in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Los Angeles had a population of 2,966,850 in the 1980 census and is located in the West region of the United States.

Which city ranked fourth in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Philadelphia ranked fourth in population in the 1980 census, with 1,688,210 residents.

What was the population of Houston in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Houston had a population of 1,595,138 in the 1980 census and is located in the South region of the United States.

Which city ranked sixth in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Detroit ranked sixth in population in the 1980 census, with 1,203,339 residents.

What was the population of Dallas in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Dallas had a population of 904,078 in the 1980 census and is located in the South region of the United States.

Which city ranked tenth in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Baltimore ranked tenth in population in the 1980 census, with 786,775 residents.

What was the population of Washington D.C. in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Washington D.C. had a population of 638,333 in the 1980 census and is located in the South region of the United States.

Which city ranked 50th in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Providence, Rhode Island ranked 50th in population in the 1980 census, with 156,804 residents.

What was the population of the District of Columbia in the 1980 census, and how did it compare to the 1970 census?

The District of Columbia had a population of 638,333 in the 1980 census, which was a decrease of 118,177 people, or 15.6%, compared to the 1970 census.

Which state showed the highest population growth percentage between 1970 and 1980?

Nevada demonstrated the highest percentage population growth, increasing by 63.8% from 488,738 in 1970 to 800,493 in 1980.

What was the population of Alaska in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Alaska's population was 401,851 in the 1980 census, representing a 33.8% increase from its 1970 population.

What was the population of Wyoming in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Wyoming's population was 469,557 in the 1980 census, showing a 41.3% increase from its 1970 population.

What was the population of Utah in the 1980 census, and what was its percentage change from 1970?

Utah's population was 1,461,037 in the 1980 census, marking a substantial 37.9% increase from its 1970 population.

Which city ranked 20th in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Boston ranked 20th in population in the 1980 census, with 562,994 residents.

What was the population of San Diego in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

San Diego had a population of 875,538 in the 1980 census and is located in the West region of the United States.

What was the population of Phoenix in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Phoenix had a population of 789,704 in the 1980 census and is located in the West region of the United States.

Which city ranked 12th in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Indianapolis ranked 12th in population in the 1980 census, with 700,807 residents.

What was the population of San Francisco in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

San Francisco had a population of 678,974 in the 1980 census and is located in the West region of the United States.

Which city ranked 14th in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Memphis ranked 14th in population in the 1980 census, with 646,356 residents.

What was the population of Milwaukee in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Milwaukee had a population of 636,212 in the 1980 census and is located in the Midwest region of the United States.

Which city ranked 18th in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Cleveland ranked 18th in population in the 1980 census, with 573,822 residents.

What was the population of Seattle in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Seattle had a population of 493,846 in the 1980 census and is located in the West region of the United States.

Which city ranked 24th in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Denver ranked 24th in population in the 1980 census, with 492,365 residents.

What was the population of St. Louis in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

St. Louis had a population of 453,085 in the 1980 census and is located in the Midwest region of the United States.

Which city ranked 30th in population in the 1980 census, and what was its population?

Pittsburgh ranked 30th in population in the 1980 census, with 423,938 residents.

What was the population of Atlanta in the 1980 census, and what region was it located in?

Atlanta had a population of 425,022 in the 1980 census and is located in the South region of the United States.

1980 United States Census Wiki: The Decennial Pulse: A Deep Dive into the 1980 U.S. Census

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Census Overview

The Twentieth Count

The 1980 United States census, meticulously conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, established the resident population of the United States at 226,545,805 individuals. This represented a significant increase of 11.4% compared to the 203,184,772 persons enumerated in the 1970 census.^[1]

Landmark Milestones

This decennial count marked several historical firsts. It was the inaugural census where a single state, California, surpassed a population threshold of 20 million residents. Furthermore, it was the first census where every state recorded a population exceeding 400,000. Notably, this census also began the formal enumeration of Hispanic and Latino Americans as a distinct ethnicity.^[1]

Historical Context

The census serves as a foundational dataset for understanding the nation's demographic landscape at a specific point in time. The data collected influences political representation, resource allocation, and policy-making, providing critical insights into the nation's growth and distribution patterns.

Census Questions

Core Information Collected

The 1980 census gathered essential demographic data from all households. The standard questionnaire included inquiries regarding:

Address
Name
Household relationship
Gender
Race
Age
Marital status
Hispanic origin or descent

Notably, this census was the first to discontinue the practice of identifying a single "head of household."^[3]

Extended Data Collection

A significant portion of households, approximately 16%, received an expanded "long form." This detailed questionnaire contained over 100 questions, designed to capture more granular socio-economic and housing characteristics. Comprehensive documentation, including these census forms and procedural histories, is accessible through resources like the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

Data Availability

Accessing Microdata

Microdata, representing individual responses without direct identification, from the 1980 census are publicly accessible. These datasets are available through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), offering researchers detailed insights into individual-level demographic information.

Aggregate Data and Archives

For broader statistical analysis, aggregate data for small geographic areas, along with corresponding boundary files, can be obtained from the National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS). Personally identifiable information collected during the census is subject to a 72-year confidentiality rule and will become publicly available in 2052.^[4]

State Population Rankings

Population Dynamics by State

The 1980 census revealed significant population shifts across the United States. California emerged as the most populous state, a trend that has continued. Conversely, states like New York experienced a population decline between 1970 and 1980, highlighting regional demographic changes. The table below details the population figures and percentage changes for each state.

The following table presents the population data for each state as recorded in the 1980 census, alongside the 1970 figures and the calculated change.

Rank	State	Population (1980)	Population (1970)	Change	Percent Change
1	California	23,667,902	19,953,134	3,714,768 ▲	18.6% ▲
2	New York	17,558,072	18,236,967	–678,895 ▼	–3.7% ▼
3	Texas	14,229,191	11,196,730	3,032,461 ▲	27.1% ▲
4	Pennsylvania	11,863,895	11,793,909	69,986 ▲	0.6% ▲
5	Illinois	11,426,518	11,113,976	312,542 ▲	2.8% ▲
6	Ohio	10,797,630	10,652,017	145,613 ▲	1.4% ▲
7	Florida	9,746,324	6,789,443	2,956,881 ▲	43.6% ▲
8	Michigan	9,262,078	8,875,083	386,995 ▲	4.4% ▲
9	New Jersey	7,364,823	7,168,164	196,659 ▲	2.7% ▲
10	North Carolina	5,881,766	5,082,059	799,707 ▲	15.7% ▲
11	Massachusetts	5,737,037	5,689,170	47,867 ▲	0.8% ▲
12	Indiana	5,490,224	5,193,669	296,555 ▲	5.7% ▲
13	Georgia	5,463,105	4,589,575	873,530 ▲	19.0% ▲
14	Virginia	5,346,818	4,668,494	678,324 ▲	15.0% ▲
15	Missouri	4,916,686	4,676,501	240,185 ▲	8.3% ▲
16	Wisconsin	4,705,767	4,417,731	288,036 ▲	6.5% ▲
17	Tennessee	4,591,120	3,923,687	667,443 ▲	17.0% ▲
18	Maryland	4,216,975	3,922,399	294,576 ▲	7.5% ▲
19	Louisiana	4,205,900	3,641,306	564,594 ▲	15.5% ▲
20	Washington	4,132,156	3,409,169	722,987 ▲	21.2% ▲
21	Minnesota	4,075,970	3,804,971	270,999 ▲	7.1% ▲
22	Alabama	3,893,888	3,444,165	449,723 ▲	13.1% ▲
23	Kentucky	3,660,777	3,218,706	442,071 ▲	13.7% ▲
24	South Carolina	3,121,820	2,590,516	531,304 ▲	20.5% ▲
25	Connecticut	3,107,576	3,031,709	75,867 ▲	2.5% ▲
26	Oklahoma	3,025,290	2,559,229	466,061 ▲	18.2% ▲
27	Iowa	2,913,808	2,824,376	89,432 ▲	3.2% ▲
28	Colorado	2,889,964	2,207,259	682,705 ▲	30.9% ▲
29	Arizona	2,718,215	1,745,944	972,271 ▲	55.7% ▲
30	Oregon	2,633,105	2,091,533	541,572 ▲	25.9% ▲
31	Mississippi	2,520,638	2,216,192	304,446 ▲	13.7% ▲
32	Kansas	2,363,679	2,246,578	117,101 ▲	5.2% ▲
33	Arkansas	2,286,435	1,923,295	363,140 ▲	18.9% ▲
34	West Virginia	1,949,644	1,744,237	205,407 ▲	11.8% ▲
35	Nebraska	1,569,825	1,483,493	86,332 ▲	5.8% ▲
36	Utah	1,461,037	1,059,273	401,764 ▲	37.9% ▲
37	New Mexico	1,302,894	1,017,055	285,839 ▲	28.1% ▲
38	Maine	1,124,660	992,048	132,612 ▲	13.4% ▲
39	Hawaii	964,691	769,913	194,778 ▲	25.3% ▲
40	Rhode Island	947,154	946,725	429 ▲	0.0% ▲
41	Idaho	943,935	712,567	231,368 ▲	32.5% ▲
42	New Hampshire	920,610	737,681	182,929 ▲	24.8% ▲
43	Nevada	800,493	488,738	311,755 ▲	63.8% ▲
44	Montana	786,690	694,409	92,281 ▲	13.3% ▲
45	South Dakota	690,768	665,507	25,261 ▲	3.8% ▲
46	North Dakota	652,717	617,761	34,956 ▲	5.7% ▲
—	District of Columbia	638,333	756,510	–118,177 ▼	–15.6% ▼
47	Delaware	594,338	548,104	46,234 ▲	8.4% ▲
48	Vermont	511,456	444,330	67,126 ▲	15.1% ▲
49	Wyoming	469,557	332,416	137,141 ▲	41.3% ▲
50	Alaska	401,851	300,382	101,469 ▲	33.8% ▲

City Population Rankings

Urban Centers in 1980

The census data also provides a snapshot of urban population distribution. New York City remained the most populous city, followed by Chicago and Los Angeles. The table below lists the top 100 most populous cities, offering insights into the urban geography of the United States at the time.

This table details the population of the 100 most populous cities in the United States according to the 1980 census, along with their respective states and regional classifications.

Rank	City	State	Population	Region
01	New York	New York	7,071,639	Northeast
02	Chicago	Illinois	3,005,072	Midwest
03	Los Angeles	California	2,966,850	West
04	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,688,210	Northeast
05	Houston	Texas	1,595,138	South
06	Detroit	Michigan	1,203,339	Midwest
07	Dallas	Texas	904,078	South
08	San Diego	California	875,538	West
09	Phoenix	Arizona	789,704	West
10	Baltimore	Maryland	786,775	South
11	San Antonio	Texas	785,880	South
12	Indianapolis	Indiana	700,807	Midwest
13	San Francisco	California	678,974	West
14	Memphis	Tennessee	646,356	South
15	Washington	District of Columbia	638,333	South
16	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	636,212	Midwest
17	San Jose	California	629,442	West
18	Cleveland	Ohio	573,822	Midwest
19	Columbus	Ohio	564,871	Midwest
20	Boston	Massachusetts	562,994	Northeast
21	New Orleans	Louisiana	557,515	South
22	Jacksonville	Florida	540,920	South
23	Seattle	Washington	493,846	West
24	Denver	Colorado	492,365	West
25	Nashville-Davidson	Tennessee	455,651	South
26	St. Louis	Missouri	453,085	Midwest
27	Kansas City	Missouri	448,159	Midwest
28	El Paso	Texas	425,259	South
29	Atlanta	Georgia	425,022	South
30	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	423,938	Northeast
31	Oklahoma City	Oklahoma	403,213	South
32	Cincinnati	Ohio	385,457	Midwest
33	Fort Worth	Texas	385,164	South
34	Minneapolis	Minnesota	370,951	Midwest
35	Portland	Oregon	366,383	West
36	Honolulu	Hawaii	365,048	West
37	Long Beach	California	361,334	West
38	Tulsa	Oklahoma	360,919	South
39	Buffalo	New York	357,870	Northeast
40	Toledo	Ohio	354,635	Midwest
41	Miami	Florida	346,865	South
42	Austin	Texas	345,496	South
43	Oakland	California	339,337	West
44	Albuquerque	New Mexico	331,767	West
45	Tucson	Arizona	330,537	West
46	Newark	New Jersey	329,248	Northeast
47	Charlotte	North Carolina	314,447	South
48	Omaha	Nebraska	314,255	Midwest
49	Louisville	Kentucky	298,451	South
50	Birmingham	Alabama	284,413	South
51	Wichita	Kansas	279,272	Midwest
52	Sacramento	California	275,741	West
53	Tampa	Florida	271,523	South
54	Saint Paul	Minnesota	270,230	Midwest
55	Norfolk	Virginia	266,979	South
56	Virginia Beach	Virginia	262,199	South
57	Rochester	New York	241,741	Northeast
58	St. Petersburg	Florida	238,647	South
59	Akron	Ohio	237,177	Midwest
60	Corpus Christi	Texas	231,999	South
61	Jersey City	New Jersey	223,532	Northeast
62	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	219,419	South
63	Anaheim	California	219,311	West
64	Richmond	Virginia	219,214	South
65	Fresno	California	217,491	West
66	Colorado Springs	Colorado	215,150	West
67	Shreveport	Louisiana	205,820	South
68	Lexington-Fayette	Kentucky	204,165	South
69	Santa Ana	California	203,713	West
70	Dayton	Ohio	203,371	Midwest
71	Jackson	Mississippi	202,895	South
72	Mobile	Alabama	200,452	South
73	Yonkers	New York	195,351	Northeast
74	Des Moines	Iowa	191,003	Midwest
75	Grand Rapids	Michigan	181,843	Midwest
76	Montgomery	Alabama	177,857	South
77	Knoxville	Tennessee	175,030	South
78	Anchorage	Alaska	174,431	West
79	Lubbock	Texas	173,979	South
80	Fort Wayne	Indiana	172,196	Midwest
81	Lincoln	Nebraska	171,932	Midwest
82	Spokane	Washington	171,300	West
83	Riverside	California	170,876	West
84	Madison	Wisconsin	170,616	Midwest
85	Huntington Beach	California	170,505	West
86	Syracuse	New York	170,105	Northeast
87	Chattanooga	Tennessee	169,565	South
88	Columbus	Georgia	169,441	South
89	Las Vegas	Nevada	164,674	West
90	Metairie	Louisiana	164,160	South
91	Salt Lake City	Utah	163,033	West
92	Worcester	Massachusetts	161,799	Northeast
93	Warren	Michigan	161,134	Midwest
94	Kansas City	Kansas	161,087	Midwest
95	Arlington	Texas	160,113	South
96	Flint	Michigan	159,611	Midwest
97	Aurora	Colorado	158,588	West
98	Tacoma	Washington	158,501	West
99	Little Rock	Arkansas	158,461	South
100	Providence	Rhode Island	156,804	Northeast

Political Implications

Redistricting Cycle

The population data derived from the 1980 census played a crucial role in the subsequent United States redistricting cycle. Census figures are fundamental for reapportioning congressional seats among the states and for redrawing legislative district boundaries to reflect population changes, ensuring equitable representation.

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References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 1980 United States census Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not official government data or advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting official U.S. Census Bureau publications or seeking professional demographic or policy analysis. Always refer to primary sources for definitive data and context.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

The Decennial Pulse

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Census Overview ℹ️

🔢 The Twentieth Count

⭐ Landmark Milestones

📜 Historical Context

Census Questions 📝

❓ Core Information Collected

📊 Extended Data Collection

Data Availability 💾

💻 Accessing Microdata

🌐 Aggregate Data and Archives

State Population Rankings 📍

📈 Population Dynamics by State

City Population Rankings 🏙️

🏢 Urban Centers in 1980

Political Implications 🏛️

⚖️ Redistricting Cycle

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📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Census Overview

The Twentieth Count

Landmark Milestones

Historical Context

Census Questions

Core Information Collected

Extended Data Collection

Data Availability

Accessing Microdata

Aggregate Data and Archives

State Population Rankings

Population Dynamics by State

City Population Rankings

Urban Centers in 1980

Political Implications

Redistricting Cycle

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

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Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice