Censuses are not conducted in a vacuum. They occur amidst internal and external crisis, shifts in cultural interests, and events that become "defining moments" for each decade. Census data reflect the growth of the population as well as the changing values and interests of the American people.

Decennial Historical Facts provides a portrait of the United States both statistically and culturally in the following four areas:

Pop Culture – key milestones from the decade following the census.
Population
Census Details
10 Largest Urban Places

1990

ICONS: Stock Market, Iraq War, Internet

Population

248,709,873	U.S. Resident Population
70.3	Population per square mile of land area
9.8	Percent increase of population from 1980 to 1990
50	Number of States

10 Largest Urban Places

Rank	Place	Population
1	New York City, NY	7,322,564
2	Los Angeles, CA	3,485,398
3	Chicago, IL	2,783,726
4	Houston, TX	1,630,553
5	Philadelphia, PA	1,585,577
6	San Diego, CA	1,110,549
7	Detroit, MI	1,027,974
8	Dallas, TX	1,006,877
9	Phoenix, AZ	983,403
10	San Antonio, TX	935,933

The 1990 Census

Cost	$2.5 billion
Cost per Capita (cents)	1005.2
Total Pages in Published Reports	450,000
Number of Enumerators	510,200
Census Bureau Director	Barbara Everitt Bryant
Number of Questions on the Questionnaire	13
Number of Questions on the Long Form	58

Pop Culture

On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait. When negotiations failed, the United States-led coalition of military forces attacked the Iraqi Army in January 1991 and officially liberated Kuwait on February 25, 1991.
On January 31, 1991, the first McDonald's opens in the Soviet Union. At the time, the Moscow restaurant was the largest McDonald's in the world.
Stephen King's Dolores Claiborne, John Grisham's The Pelican Brief, and Danielle Steel's Mixed Blessings, are 1992 Bestsellers.
"Arrested Development" wins the 1993 Grammy for "Best New Artist."
A 51-day standoff in Waco, TX, begins when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempt to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on February 28, 1993.
Matthew Broderick is awarded the 1995 Best Actor Tony Award for his role in the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
Celine Dion's Falling Into You wins the 1996 Album of the Year Grammy.
Diana Princess of Wales dies in a Paris car accident, August 31, 1997.
At age 77, John Glenn becomes the oldest astronaut in space on October 29, 1998.
"American Beauty" earns the "Best Picture" Oscar at the 71st Academy Awards, March 21, 1999.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 10,000 for the first time on March 29, 1999.