Theodore J. Hull
April 30, 1999
NN4-CFS-96-999

The data files known as the Census Tract Data, 1950: Elizabeth Mullen Bogue File, were deposited with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) by a deed of gift from Dr. Donald Bogue of The Community and Family Study Center, University of Chicago. The 1950 Census Tract files were originally created by keypunching the data from the printed publications prepared by the Bureau of the Census. Record copies of these publications can be found in the Publication of the U.S. Government (Record Group 287). The 1950 census tract data reported in those publications were manually keypunched by The Community and Family Study Center, under the direction of Dr. Bogue. Much of this work was accomplished by Elizabeth Mullen Bogue, the wife of the principal investigator, Ms. Maggie Gibson, and a number of other students and staff. Related funding for this project (for analysis and student training) came from a number of sources including the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Social Science Division of the University of Chicago.

One of Dr. Bogues students, Dr. Michael White, obtained copies of the Census Tract Data files. Dr. White of the Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University, arranged for the transfer of these files to NARA on behalf of Dr. Bogue. The 1950 Census Tract Data came to NARA in November 1998, along with a copy of the original documentation.

The documentation indicates that the data were originally keypunched onto multiple punchcards for the city/metro area as a whole and for each tract. NARA received 59 files, one per available tracted city, with variable length records. There are two record types in each file; a ' city and metro level' record type with a record length of 2058 and a ' tract level record type with a record length of 1261. Dr. White confirmed that at some point in time the original 80 column records were concatenated into one long record per area. Note that the first eight bytes in each block/record is a binary block length/record counter. NARA prepared record layouts for each record type based on the original documentation and a review of the Census Tract publications for Austin, Texas. A copy of the Austin report is included as part of the technical documentation.

The first two records in each file are for the 'city and metro level data and the remainder of the records in the file contain 'tract level' data, arranged numerically by tract. Each file has two records at the beginning of each file; a 'metro level' record followed by a 'city level' record. When applicable, the 'metro level' record incorporates data tabulated for suburban tracts. In cities without suburban tracts, both a 'metro level' record and city level' record are included in the file, but the data are identical. The 'metro level' and 'city level' records are distinguished by the characters METR and CITY in columns '64-68 of the records.

Documentation for the 1950 Census Tract files consist of this introduction, NARA produced record layouts for the 'city and metro level' and 'tract level' record types, the original documentation for the keypunched files, and a NARA produced sample printout of records from the file for Austin, Texas, and a copy of the publication 'Census Tract Statistics, Austin, Texas'. The 'Census Tract Statistics, Austin, Texas' document includes a list of all tracted cities and indicates those that include surrounding suburban tracts as 'metro' areas. NARA did not receive from the donor, most significantly, files for Honolulu, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco-Oakland, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Apparently those census tract data were never converted to an electronic form.
A copy of a sample census tract publication is included so that the researcher can cross-check the data element titles and relationships between items presented in the original publication. In the process of preparing the NARA record layouts, NARA staff checked as closely as possible the data element titles and locations in the electronic records. Some discrepancies in the data values between the publication and the data file were noted, especially in calculated values (i.e. median income, median rent). Researchers should be aware that, because of the complexity involved in its preparation, there may be instances where the NARA prepared record layout may be in error. The donor could not supply a record layout that matched the current format of the data.

For researchers obtaining copies of these file converted to ASCII, please note that the first eight characters of each record (i.e. the block size/record length counter) will not be converted. Therefore, the actual record length and data element positions will be eight characters less than that indicated in the NARA prepared record layout. A general rule however is that, following the FILE/RECORD TITLE and NUMBER OF TRACTS fields in the 'city/metro area' records, each data element is eight characters in length. In the 'tract' level data, following the TRACT ID and TRACT SEQUENCE NUMBER fields, . each data element is five characters in length.

Record copies of all census tract publications can be found in the Publications of the U.S. Government (Record Group 287), or in various depository libraries across the United States. Among NARA's cartographic holdings are the original enumeration district maps, which also identify the tract areas for the tracted cities.

File No.	File name	City	No. Rec/Blk	No. Bytes	Blk Len	Max Rec Len	Rec Fmt
1	AUSTIN	AUSTIN, TX	26	72840	16432	3612	V
2	BEAUMONT	BEAUMONT, TX	65	179466	16432	3612	V
3	SHREVE	SHREVEPORT, LA	65	179466	16432	3612	V
4	PEORIA	PEORIA, ILL	68	187668	16432	3612	V
5	LANCASTER	LANCASTER, PA	63	173998	16432	3612	V
6	WILKESBA	WILKES-BARRE-HAZLET	97	266954	16432	3612	V
7	LAREDO	LAREDO, TX	20	56436	16432	3612	V
8	WACO	WACO, TX	44	122052	16432	3612	V
9	CHARLESC	CHARLESTON, SC	52	143924	16432	3612	V
10	HAMMIDOH	HAMITON-MIDDLETOWN	44	122052	16432	3612	V
11	LAWHAVER	LAWRENCE, MASS HAV	32	89244	16432	3612	V
12	WATERLOO	WATERLOO, IOWA	32	89244	16432	3612	V
13	GREENSBO	GREENSBORO-HIGH POI	66	182200	16432	3612	V
14	LIMA	LIMA, OH	34	94712	16432	3612	V
15	LORELYOH	LORAIN-ELYRIA, OH	53	146658	16432	3612	V
16	SPRFLDOH	SPRINGFIELD, OH	35	97446	16432	3612	V
17	COLSPR	COLORADO SPRINGS, C	48	132988	16432	3612	V
18	TOPEKA	TOPEKA, KS	41	113850	16432	3612	V
19	KANCITY	KANSAS CITY, KS	223	611438	16432	3612	V
20	SANJOSE	SAN JOSE, CA	129	354442	16432	3612	V
21	SPOKANE	SPOKANE, WASH	75	206806	16432	3612	V
22	TACOMA	TACOMA, WASH	72	198604	16432	3612	V
23	BIRMALA	BIRMINGHAM, AL	108	297028	16432	3612	V
24	NASHVILL	NASHVILLE, TN	88	242348	16432	3612	V
25	DETROIT	DETROIT, MICH	782	2139744	16432	3612	V
26	KALAMZO	KALAMZOO, MICH	42	116584	16432	3612	V
27	UTICAROM	UTICA-ROME, NY	88	242348	16432	3612	V
28	BALTIMOR	BALTIMORE, MD	353	966858	16432	3612	V
29	AKRON	AKRON, OH	98	269688	16432	3612	V
30	CLEVELAN	CLEVELAND, OH	369	1010602	16432	3612	V
31	RALEIGH	RALEIGH, NC	46	127520	16432	3612	V
32	SYRACUSE	SYRACUSE, NY	119	327102	16432	3612	V
33	WAHSDC	WASH, DC-MD-VA	368	1007868	16432	3612	V
34	BOSTON	BOSTON, MASS	447	1223854	16432	3612	V
35	WATERBRY	WATERBURY, CT	42	116584	16432	3612	V
36	CHARLOTT	CHARLOTTE, NC	66	182200	16432	3612	V
37	STEUBNVL	STEUBENVILLE, WEIRTO	48	132988	16432	3612	V
38	TUCSON	TUCSON, AR	52	143924	16432	3612	V
39	SANANTON	SAN ANTONIO, TX	129	354442	16432	3612	V
40	YOUNGSTN	YOUNGSTOWN-WARRE	82	225944	16432	3612	V
41	COLUMBOH	COLUMBUS, OH	150	411856	16432	3612	V
42	LINCOLN	LINCOLN, NEBR	40	111116	16432	3612	V
43	DECATUR	DECATUR, ILL	32	89244	16432	3612	V
44	INDPOLIS	INDPOLIS, IND	185	507546	16432	3612	V
45	MUNCIE	MUNCIE, IND	29	81042	16432	3612	V
46	MILWAUKE	MILWAUKE, WI	295	808286	16432	3612	V
47	DENVER	DENVER, CO	192	526684	16432	3612	V
48	PROVIDNC	PROVIDENCE, RI PAWT	179	491142	16432	3612	V
49	SANBERNA	SAN BERNARDINO-RIVE	188	515748	16432	3612	V
50	PUEBLOCO	PUEBLO, CO	36	100180	16432	3612	V
51	SANDIEGO	SAN DIEGO, CA	243	666118	16432	3612	V
52	LOUISVIL	LOUISVILLE, KY-IND	157	430994	16432	3612	V
53	MONTGOM	MONTGOMERY, AL	37	102914	16432	3612	V
54	HARRISBG	HARRISBURG, PA	88	242348	16432	3612	V
55	MIAMI	MIAMI, FL	179	491142	16432	3612	V
56	ORLANDO	ORLANDO, FL	59	163062	16432	3612	V
57	FALLRIVR	FALL RIVER, MA-RI	29	81042	16432	3612	V
58	OMAHA	OMAHA, NEBR	105	288826	16432	3612	V
59	FTWORTH	FT. WORTH, TX	136	373580	16432	3612	V
60	WINSTSAL	WINSTON-SALEM, MA	43	119318	16432	3612	V
61	TYLER	TYLER, TX	23	64638	16432	3612	V
62	ODESSA	ODESSA, TX	24	67372	16432	3612	V
63	BAKERSFD	BAKERSFIELD. CA	66	182200	16432	3612	V
64	ALLENTWN	ALLENTOWN-BETHLEHE	45	124786	16432	3612	V
65	SANFRAN	SAN FRANCISCO. CA	596	1631220	16432	3612	V
66	LANSING	LANSING, MICH	60	165796	16432	3612	V
67	STLOUIS	ST. LOUIS, MO-ILL	346	947720	16432	3612	V
68	FTSMITH	FT. SMITH, ARK	14	40032	16432	3612	V
69	LITTROCK	LITTLE ROCK, ARK	45	124786	16432	3612	V
70	BATONRGE	BATON ROUGE, LA	50	138456	16432	3612	V
71	MONROE	MONROE, LA	17	48234	16432	3612	V
72	NORLEANS	NEW ORLEANS, LA	183	502078	16432	3612	V
73	OKLACITY	OKLAHOMA CITY, OK	98	269688	16432	3612	V
74	TULSAOKL	TULSA, OK	93	256018	16432	3612	V
75	ABILENE	ABILENE, TEX	30	83776	16432	3612	V
76	CORPUSCH	CORPI CHRISTI, TX	42	116584	16432	3612	V
77	GALVESTN	GALVESTON-TEXAS CIT	31	86510	16432	3612	V
78	HOUSTON	HOUSTON, TX	199	545822	16432	3612	V
79	LUBBOCK	LUBBOCK, TX	27	75574	16432	3612	V
80	SANANGEL	SAN ANGELO TX	17	48234	16432	3612	V
81	TEXARKAN	TEXARKANA, TX-ARK	15	42766	16432	3612	V
82	WICHFALL	WICHITA FALL, TX	26	72840	16432	3612	V
83	PHOENIX	PHOENIX, AR	131	359910	16432	3612	V
84	LASVEGAS	LAS VEGAS, NEV	16	45500	16432	3612	V
85	ALBUQUER	ALBUQUERQUE, NM	56	154860	16432	3612	V
86	OGDENUTA	OGDEN, UTAH	33	91978	16432	3612	V
87	SALTLAKE	SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH	90	247816	16432	3612	V
88	SACRAMEN	SACRAMENTO, CA	100	275156	16432	3612	V
89	SANTABAR	SANTA BARBARA, CA	32	89244	16432	3612	V
90	STOCKTON	STOCKTON, CA	57	157594	16432	3612	V
91	SEATTLE	SEATTLE, WA	251	687990	16432	3612	V
92	HONOLULU	HONOLULU, HI	116	318900	16432	3612	V
93	ROCKFORD	ROCKFORD, ILL	45	124786	16432	3612	V
94	EVANSVLL	EVANSVILLE, IND-KY	57	157594	16432	3612	V
95	FTWAYNE	FT. WAYNE, IND	61	168530	16432	3612	V
96	GARY	GARY, IND	74	204072	16432	3612	V
97	SOBEND	SOUTH BEND, IND	61	168530	16432	3612	V
98	ANNARBOR	ANN ARBOR, MICH	53	146658	16432	3612	V
99	FLINT	FLINT, MICH	77	212274	16432	3612	V
100	GDRAPIDS	GRRAND RAPIDS, MICH	50	138456	16432	3612	V
101	JACKSON	JACKSON, MICH	34	94712	16432	3612	V
102	MUSKEGON	MUSKEGON, MICH	28	78308	16432	3612	V
103	SAGINAW	SAGINAW, MICH	54	149392	16432	3612	V
104	CHICAGO	CHICAGO, ILL	1282	3506744	16432	3612	V
105	CANTON	CANTON, OH	77	212274	16432	3612	V
106	CINCINAT	CINCINNATI, OH-KY	173	474738	16432	3612	V
107	DAYTON	DAYTON, OH	94	258752	16432	3612	V
108	GREENBAY	GREEN BAY, WIS	16	45500	16432	3612	V
109	MADISON	MADISON, WIS	52	143924	16432	3612	V
110	ELPASO	EL PASO, TX	50	138456	16432	3612	V
111	PORTLAND	PORTLAND, OR-WA	247	677054	16432	3612	V
112	DALLAS	DALLAS, TX	251	687990	16432	3612	V
113	BRIDGPRT	BRIDGEPORT, CT	73	201338	16432	3612	V
114	FRESNO	FRESNO, CA	86	236880	16432	3612	V
115	WICHKANS	WICHITA, KS	99	272422	16432	3612	V
116	PITTSBRG	PITTSBRG, PA	677	1852674	16432	3612	V
117	NORFOLKP	NORFOLK-PORTSMITH,	152	417324	16432	3612	V
118	DAVENPRT	DAVENPRT, IOWA	49	135722	16432	3612	V
119	DESMOINE	DES MOINE, IA	61	168530	16432	3612	V
120	SIOUXCIT	SIOUX CITY, IA	23	64638	16432	3612	V
121	SPRGFDMO	SPRGFD, MO	35	97446	16432	3612	V
122	DULUTH	DULUTH-SUPERIOR, MIN	40	111116	16432	3612	V
123	MINNSTPL	MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL,	354	969592	16432	3612	V
124	WILMNGTN	WILMINGTON, DEL-NJ	120	329836	16432	3612	V
125	JACKSNVL	JACKSONVILLE, FL	31	86510	16432	3612	V
126	TAMPSTPT	TAMPA-ST. PETERSBUR	169	463802	16432	3612	V
127	ATLANTA	ATLANTA, GA	181	496610	16432	3612	V
128	AUGUSTA	AUGUSTA, GA	27	75571	16432	3612	V
129	COLUMBGA	COLUMBUS,GA	61	168530	16432	3612	V
130	MACON	MACON, GA	34	94712	16432	3612	V
131	SAVANNAH	SAVANNAH, GA	54	149392	16432	3612	V
132	DURHAMNC	DURHAM, NC	28	78308	16432	3612	V
133	COLUMBSC	COLUMBUS, SC	64	176732	16432	3612	V
134	GREENVIL	GREENVILLE, SC	43	119318	16432	3612	V
135	CHATTANO	CHATTANOOGA, TENN-G	57	157594	16432	3612	V
136	KNOXVILL	KNOXVILLE, TENN	32	89244	16432	3612	V
137	MEMPHIS	MEMPHIS, TENN	127	348974	16432	3612	V
138	NEWPORTN	NEWPORT NEWS-HAMP	24	67372	16432	3612	V
139	RICHMOND	RICHMOND, VA	89	245082	16432	3612	V
140	WHEELING	WHEELING, W. VA-OH	24	67372	16432	3612	V
141	GADSALA	GADSDEN, AL	30	83776	16432	3612	V
142	LEXINGTN	LEXINGTON, KY	30	83776	16432	3612	V
143	MOBALA	MOBILE, AL	41	113850	16432	3612	V
144	ATLANTIC	ATLANTIC CIPI, NJ	25	70106	16432	3612	V
145	JERSEYCT	JERSEY CITY, NJ	156	428260	16432	3612	V
146	NEWARK	NEWARK, NJ	381	1043410	16432	3612	V
147	PATTERSN	PATERSON-CLIFTON-PA	206	564960	16432	3612	V
148	TRENTON	TRENTON, NJ	47	130254	16432	3612	V
149	ALBANY	ALBANY-SCHENECTADY	127	348974	16432	3612	V
150	BINGHMTN	BINGHAMTON, NY	47	130254	16432	3612	V
151	BUFFALO	BUFFALO, NY	216	592300	16432	3612	V
152	ROCHSTNY	ROCHESTER, NY	146	400920	16432	3612	V
153	ALTOONA	ALTOONA, PA	22	61904	16432	3612	V
154	ERIE	ERIE, PA	54	149392	16432	3612	V
155	JOHNSTOWN	JOHNSTOWN, PA	31	86510	16432	3612	V
156	READING	READING, PA	73	201338	16432	3612	V
157	SCRANTON	SCRANTON, PA	33	91978	16432	3612	V
158	YORK	YORK, PA	23	64638	16432	3612	V
159	PHILADEL	PHILADELPHIA, PA	959	2623662	16432	3612	V
160	HARTFORD	HARTFORD, CT	136	373580	16432	3612	V
161	NEWBRITN	NEW BRITAIN, CT	25	70106	16432	3612	V
162	NEWHAVEN	NEW HAVEN, CT	64	176732	16432	3612	V
163	NORWALK	NORWALK, CT	28	78308	16432	3612	V
164	STAMFORD	STAMFORD, CT	43	119318	16432	3612	V
165	PRTLNDME	PORTLAND, ME	39	108382	16432	3612	V
166	BROCKTON	BROCKTON, MA	24	67372	16432	3612	V
167	LOWELL	LOWELL, MA	44	122052	16432	3612	V
168	NEWBDFRD	NEW BEDFORD, MA	30	83776	16432	3612	V
169	PITTSFLD	PITTSFIELD, MA	16	45500	16432	3612	V
170	SPRGFDMA	SPRINGFIELD-CHCOPEE	60	165796	16432	3612	V
171	WORCHEST	WORCHESTER, MA	67	184934	16432	3612	V
172	MANCHEST	MANCHESTER, NH	22	61904	16432	3612	V
173	LOSANGEL	LOS ANGELES-LONG BE	1405	3683026	16432	3612	V
174	TOLEDO	TOLEDO, OH	105	288826	16432	3612	V
175	NEWYORK	NEW YORK, NY	2776	7591340	16432	3612	V

Date : May 5, 1999
Reply to
Ann of : NWME (Hull)
Subject : 1960 Census Tract Level Layout
To : File

Included as part of the technical documentation for the Census Tract Data, 1960: Elizabeth Mullen Bogue file is the original documentation provided with the data files at the time of deposit in the National Archives. Specifically, the documentation provided is the record layout for the tract level records in the data files. Note that the record layout does not account for the first eight bytes which are the embedded block size/RECORD LENGTH COUNTER. Therefore, researchers using the tract level record layout should add eight bytes to the positions indicated in the record layout to identify the exact location of any particular data element. Therefore, the actual length of the tract level records is 2742 bytes; eight bytes longer than that indicated in the original documentation. NARA prepared a layout for the SMSA/CENTRAL CITY record layout based on the listing of data elements presented in the census tract level layout.