IPUMS USA

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

IPUMS USA provides harmonized U.S. census microdata and enhanced documentation, enabling easy access to decennial census data (1790-2010) and American Community Surveys (2000-present) for social, economic, and health research.

Target Customer

{"Researchers in social sciences, economics, and health","Academic institutions and students","Policy analysts and government researchers","Data scientists and methodologists"}

Key Differentiator

Harmonized, longitudinal census data across decades with comprehensive documentation, available free online, plus access to linked and specialized data (e.g., Full Count Data, enslaved persons, mortality, and MLP-linked data).

Implementation Timeline

Online access and data extraction/analysis are available after account creation and login; users can create custom data sets and analyze data online immediately upon access.

Pain Points

1Difficulty accessing and harmonizing census microdata across multiple decades
2Inconsistent variable coding across census years requiring harmonization
3Limited cross-year documentation and comparability prior to harmonization

Key Features

1Harmonized census microdata across multiple years (1790-2010 decennial; 2000-present ACS)
2Enhanced documentation, sample descriptions, questionnaires, and published census volumes
3Create Your Custom Data Set and Get Data Online; Analyze Data Online
4IPUMS Abacus for downloading or revising data extracts
5Specialized datasets and linkage options (Linked Census Data 1850-1950, Enslaved Persons 1850-1860, Mortality Censuses 1850-1880, Full Count Data 1790-1840, MLP linkage, Federal Statistical RDC references)

Target Customer Industries

Client Results

1Ability to study change over time and conduct cross-year, cross-type comparative research
2Creation of custom data extracts and datasets for analysis
3Improved research quality through harmonized data and thorough documentation
4Cross-year comparability and the ability to analyze individuals within family and community contexts

Competitive Advantages

1Data and services are free of charge
2Longitudinal, harmonized data across centuries with extensive documentation
3Diverse datasets and linkages (e.g., full count, enslaved persons, mortality, MLP)
4Support from notable institutions and organizations (NIH, NSF, Ancestry, Stat/Transfer, University of Minnesota)

Key Benefits

1Harmonized, longitudinal census data across decades

2Free access to data and documentation

3Custom data extracts and online analysis

4Rich documentation, sample descriptions, and questionnaires

5Special datasets and linked data options (MLP, full count, enslaved persons, mortality)

Additional Product Information

Product Description

IPUMS USA collects, preserves and harmonizes U.S. census microdata and provides easy access to this data with enhanced documentation. Data includes decennial censuses from 1790 to 2010 and American Community Surveys (ACS) from 2000 to the present.

Target Market

Researchers and institutions conducting social, economic, and health research using U.S. census data (universities, government agencies, policy organizations).

Unique Value Proposition

Harmonized, longitudinal U.S. census data with extensive documentation and free online access, enabling cross-time, cross-type analysis and comparative research.

Technical Requirements

Some site features require JavaScript; no explicit system requirements beyond standard web access provided in content.

Pricing Model

Data and services available free of charge; users must log in to access and manage data extracts.

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