Dear IPUMS User,

25 years ago, on a brisk Minnesota morning in early November, Steve Ruggles and the small but mighty original IPUMS team released their first dataset. The original Integrated Public Use Microdata Series included harmonized versions of the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990 U.S. Censuses. The first download of those data occurred on November 19, 1993. ("We didn't have a lot of traffic in those days," Steve remarked.) Since then, IPUMS has become the world's largest accessible database of census microdata, covering more than 100 countries and over 2 billion records. The team is now more than 100 people, and we've reached more than 100,000 users worldwide. .  

We are celebrating this milestone — but we need your assistance. If IPUMS has helped you, consider helping IPUMS. Here are a few ways you can participate.

IPUMS25

Tell us your IPUMS story!

Do you have research that would not be possible without IPUMS data? What's your favorite variable, and why? How has IPUMS played a role in your work? We are gathering IPUMS stories and will share them on Twitter and our blog. Send your contributions to ipumsinfo@umn.edu or tweet us @ipums to be entered into a drawing to win IPUMS swag. Follow along on our social media for all the IPUMS info you never knew you needed to know!

Fundraiser

In honor of the 25th anniversary of IPUMS, we hope to raise $25,000 to make a good thing even better. Visit our IPUMS25 fundraising page to learn more. We are grateful for donations of any amount. It's our turn to promise to use it for good!

Federal Register Notice 83 FR 34111 

If you use IPUMS data, please reply to Federal Register Notice 83 FR 34111 with a brief comment describing your work with microdata or summary files from the ACS or the decennial census. Visit our website for more information about proposed changes and what you can do to help. 

Use it for good!

The IPUMS Team