Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS)IPUMS consists of microdata from more than fifty high-precision samples of the American population drawn from federal censuses (1850-2000) and from the American Community Surveys (2000+). Allows users to create their own samples of the US population rather than relying on the Census Bureau's pre-set tables.
IPUMS is not a collection of compiled statistics; it is composed of microdata. Each record is a person, with all characteristics numerically coded. In most samples persons are organized into households, making it possible to study the characteristics of people in the context of their families or other co-residents. Because the data are individuals and not tables, researchers must use a statistical package to analyze the millions of records in the database. A data extraction system enables users to select only the samples and variables they require.