1960 United States Census

1960 United States Census
Original: United States Bureau of the Census Vector: Mysid · Public domain · source
Name	1960 United States Census
Country	United States
Date	April 1, 1960
Population	179,323,175
Percent change	+18.5%
Region type	Most populous state
Region	New York
Pop1	16,782,304
Region type2	Least populous state
Region2	Alaska
Pop2	226,167
Previous census	1950 United States Census
Previous year	1950
Next census	1970 United States Census
Next year	1970

1960 United States Census was the eighteenth decennial enumeration of the United States population, conducted as of April 1, 1960. It was the first census to include the states of Alaska and Hawaii, which had been admitted to the Union in 1959. The count revealed a national population of 179,323,175, marking significant growth and demographic shifts that would influence national policy for the coming decade.

Background and purpose

The constitutional mandate for the census, as outlined in Article I, Section 2, required an updated population count for apportionment of the House of Representatives. The admission of Alaska and Hawaii under the Alaska Statehood Act and the Hawaii Admission Act necessitated their first inclusion in the national count. The Bureau of the Census, led by Director Robert W. Burgess, operated under the authority of the Department of Commerce during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The data was also critical for implementing federal programs under the New Frontier agenda of the incoming John F. Kennedy administration and for enforcing provisions of the emerging Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Data collection and methodology

For the first time, the Bureau of the Census mailed advance questionnaires to most households, a significant shift from the traditional door-to-door enumerator method. The primary form was the "FOSDIC" (Film Optical Sensing Device for Input to Computer) readable questionnaire, designed for processing by new UNIVAC mainframe computer systems. Enumerators were still deployed to follow up on non-responses and in areas with lower mail coverage. The census introduced new questions on plumbing facilities and condominium status, while continuing to collect data on race, Spanish origin, and labor force participation. This technological transition improved efficiency but faced challenges in Appalachia and inner-city neighborhoods like Harlem.

Population findings

The total population of 179,323,175 represented an 18.5% increase over the 1950 United States Census. California surpassed New York as the most populous state by the end of the decade, though New York retained the top spot in the official 1960 count. The Midwest and Northeast saw slower growth, while the Sun Belt states, particularly Florida and Arizona, experienced dramatic increases. For the first time, over half of the population resided in metropolitan areas, highlighting the ongoing post-war suburbanization trend. The census documented the early stages of the Baby Boom generation entering adulthood and recorded significant internal migration patterns, such as the Great Migration of African Americans to cities like Detroit and Los Angeles.

Impact and legacy

The reapportionment based on the census results shifted political power to the Sun Belt, with states like California and Florida gaining congressional seats. The detailed data on urban and rural poverty informed Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty and legislation like the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Demographers used the findings to analyze the growth of suburbs such as Levittown and the decline of central cities, influencing urban planning projects like the Interstate Highway System. The census also provided crucial statistical evidence for Supreme Court cases on legislative redistricting, including Baker v. Carr, which established the "one person, one vote" principle.

Data availability and research use

The Bureau of the Census released data through a series of printed reports, such as the *U.S. Census of Population* volumes. The raw data, with identifiers removed, is available for research through the National Archives and Records Administration and the University of Michigan's Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. The 1960 census serves as a critical baseline for studying long-term trends in American family structure, occupational shifts, and demographic change. It is a foundational source for projects like the Minnesota Population Center's Integrated Public Use Microdata Series and remains vital for historical comparisons with later counts like the 1970 United States Census.

Category:1960 in the United States Category:United States censuses