What is wrong with the 1960 data?
Sadly, this is a common question. The 1960 Census employed a uniquely restrictive data suppression strategy that leaves many data tables with lots of missing data. In addition, the NHGIS can offer only a small set of data tables for states and counties due to a scarcity of digital 1960 Census data, and the 1960 tract data come from 2 separate sources, resulting in some inconsistent redundancy. Review the Tabular Data Documentation page for more detailed information.
The Minnesota Population Center in collaboration with the Census Bureau is currently working to recover lost data from the 1960 Census of Population and Housing. Once completed in 2013, new 1960 summary files will be available along with additional microdata products.
Is there an update on this? I’m looking for county-level demographic info in 1960!