We are still four years off from our next U.S. Census taking, but our census fascinates me at all times in between. Historical censuses are pivotal pieces in my family history research, and they are just interesting in their own right, for taking a snapshot in time. Census data determine how a lot of governmental money is spent, how school districts are handled, and so many more things. I won’t get into the history of the U.S. Census in this post, except to share a few interesting videos. I found commercials publicizing the 1970, 1980, and 1990 U.S. Censuses, encouraging people to fill them out when they came in the mail. I found it most interesting how the 1970 commercial focused on history and how the results would be tabulated. The 1980 one focused quite a bit on celebrity endorsement, and the 1990 one had a bit of everything. See for yourself!

1970:

1980:

1990: