Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Services:
Mapping Census Data
Census data is a valuable component to many GIS Projects.
There are many census data resources for GIS available
through Davis Library. Click on the year(s) of interest
to see what resources are available.
Before 1970 |
1970 |
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
1970-2000 |
1980-2000 |
1990-2000 |
Some things to keep in mind when using census
data:
Census Geography is the term used to describe the areas
for which the U.S. Census Bureau tabulates variables. These
areas are updated for each census. Some examples include:
counties, tracts, block groups, and blocks. Blocks are the smallest
census geography. Only general population characteristics are provided at
the census block level. Block level data comes from the short form
questionnaire, which everyone receives. More detailed information is
available at the block group level. Block group level data comes from
the long form, which is given out to a sample (one in six households).
Census geographic areas are organized using FIPS (Federal
Information Processing Standards) codes. See our Federal Information
Processing Standards (FIPS) Codes for Geographical
Areas Page for more information on FIPS Codes.
For a listing of NC FIPS Codes by county, click here.
Some words of caution for those who wish to make comparisons
between censuses:
-
Boundaries change between censuses. The boundaries of many census
geographic units are based on population. Therefore, the boundaries of
these units change with population density. There are some options for
those who wish to normalize data spatially so that comparisons can be made
in spite of changing boundaries. Contact us for more information.
- The nation was not broken down into tracts, block groups, and blocks
for all censuses. For example, there are many portions of North Carolina
that were not broken down into block groups in 1980. Before attempting
to make a comparison between censuses for a certain level of geography,
verify that the area of interest was indeed divided into that level of
geography for the census years being compared.
- Some of the questions asked on the census questionnaire have changed
over time. The ways in which respondents have been instructed to answer
census questions have also changed. For example, race data from the 1990
census is not directly comparable to race data from the 2000 census. This
is because in 1990, respondents had to choose one race; in 2000, respondents
could choose all that were applicable. In order to make a valid
comparison between two censuses, ensure that the questions asked during
the two censuses were identical and that the questions were answered in
an identical way.
-
For detailed information about the census questionnaires
and instructions, see: "Measuring America:
The decennial census from 1790 to 2000" (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002).
For information about the types of data available on
the censuses at a glance, see
Population and Housing Items on the General Census Schedules 1970-2000,
a table compiled by Grace York, University of Michigan Library.
Resources for 2000 Census
Data
-
ESRI Data & Maps 2002 (provides 2000 Census data)
This dataset, which UNC received via the ESRI University
Site License maintained by ITS, includes shapefiles
of Census boundaries with many 2000 Census
demographic variables as attributes. The dataset is
located on the campus network (maintained by ITS),
isis.unc.edu (often assigned to the J: drive). Data is
available at the following geography levels: State,
County, Tract, and Block Group. Complete metadata for
these data is also located on AFS, in the same location
as the shapefiles. Census data from ESRI Data & Maps
2002 is in Geographic Coordinate System, NAD83.
-
State level data
Location on AFS:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps3\usa\dtl_st.shp
Variables include: population 2000, 2000 population
per square mile, race, gender, age, median age,
median age male, median age female, number of
households, average household size, number of
one-person male households, number of one-person
female households, married households with children,
married households no children, single mother
households, single father households, number of
families, average family size, total number of
housing units, number of vacant housing units, owner
occupied housing units, renter occupied housing
units, number of farms in 1997, average farm size in
acres in 1997, total area of cropland in acres in
1997, average sales of agricultural products per
farm, in thousands of dollars in 1997.
-
County level data
Location on AFS:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps3\usa\dtl_cnty.shp
Variables include: population 2000, population 2001,
race, gender, age, median age male, median age
female, number of households, average household size,
number of one-person male households, number of
one-person female households, married households with
children, married households no children, single
mother households, single father households, number
of families, average family size, total number of
housing units, number of vacant housing units, owner
occupied housing units, renter occupied housing
units, number of farms in 1997, average farm size in
acres in 1997, total area of cropland in acres in
1997, average sales of agricultural products per
farm, in thousands of dollars in 1997.
-
Tract level data
Location on AFS (path name varies by state*, nc is the example provided
below):
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps7\southusa\nc\nctrct.shp
Variables include: population 2000, population 2001,
2000 population per square mile, race, gender, age,
median age, median age male, median age female,
number of households, average household size, number
of one-person male households, number of one-person
female households, married households with children,
married households no children, single mother
households, single father households, number of
families, average family size, total number of
housing units, number of vacant housing units, owner
occupied housing units, and renter occupied housing
units.
-
Block Group level data
Location on AFS (path name varies by state*, nc is the example provided
below):
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps7\southusa\nc\ncblkgrp.shp
Variables include: population 2000, 2000 population
per square mile, race, gender, age, median age,
median age male, median age female, number of
households, average household size, number of
one-person male households, number of one-person
female households, married households with children,
married households no children, single mother
households, single father households, number of
families, average family size, total number of
housing units, number of vacant housing units, owner
occupied housing units, and renter occupied housing
units.
-
Additional Block Group level data
Location on AFS:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\library\library3\misc\2000CensusNCBlkGrp.shp
Variables include:
Total Population, Race (White alone, Black or African American alone,
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, Asian alone, Native Hawaiian
and Other Pacific Islander alone, Some other race alone, Two or more
races), Hispanic or Latino, Hispanic or Latino by Race, Educational
attainment by Sex, Sex, Labor Force by Sex (In Armed Forces, Civilian,
Employed, Unemployed), Median household income in 1999, Median family
income in 1999, Population below Poverty, Population above Poverty,
Total Occupied Housing Units, Total Vacant Housing Units, Total Owner
Occupied Housing Units, and Total Renter Occupied Housing Units.
A data dictionary defining this layer's attribute codes is located on AFS in MS Word document format:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\library\library3\misc\2000CensusNCBlkGrp.doc
This data layer was compiled by Davis Library GIS Staff in resoplse to popular
demand for North Carolina Census 2000 socioeconomic data at the block group level.
-
Census 2000 TIGER/Line Data Free from ESRI. Go
to:
http://www.esri.com/data/download/census2000_tigerline/index.html.
Click on “download data”. Select state of
interest. Select by County or Layer. Click on
“Submit Selection”. Check the box next to the
county(ies) of interest (there is a 20 MB download
limit). Click “Proceed to Download”. Click
“Download File”. This data is in Geographic
Coordinate System, NAD83.
Census Blocks and Roads for North Carolina have already
been downloaded for you. These data are located on AFS
at:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\library\library3\tiger_00\
This data is available for the entire state (counties
were merged) or for individual counties, inside the
counties folder. The data for each county is labeled by
NC County FIPS codes.
Demographic attributes must be downloaded separately from
geographic boundary files. To associate the two, join the
demographic data table to the geographic boundary file
using the
FIPS code.
Downloadable Layers include census geographic boundaries
for 1990 and 2000 (county, tract, block group and block)
as well as demographic variables from the 2000 census
that can be joined to the attribute tables of boundary
files. Other geographic data available for download
include: American Indian/Alaska Native areas, CMSA/MSA
polygons, congressional districts, roads, rivers, urban
areas, designated places, key geographic locations,
landmarks, hydrography, roads, rails, misc. transport,
school districts, state legislative districts, traffic
analysis zones, voting districts, and water.
Links to technical documentation for demographic data
are provided on the download page. These documents
provide keys to the variable codes (example: P0010001 is
Total Population).
-
CensusCD 2000 Short Form Blocks (by region) from
GeoLytics. Available from Davis Reference Electronic
Resources, in CD cabinet number 6 filed
alphabetically by Title. This product allows users to
choose the variables they want, and extract them for their
area of interest; variables will be provided at the block level.
Data can be exported in dbf format, or shapefile format.
GeoLytics Products are installed on E-Docs machines 1, 2,
and 3. Exported data can be saved to disc or sent to
campus AFS via FTP. GeoLytics' 2000 spatial data is in
Geographic Coordinate System, NAD83. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
-
CensusCD 2000 Short Form from GeoLytics. Available
from Davis Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet
number 6 organized alphabetically by Title. This product
allows users to choose the variables they want, and
extract them at the mapping unit they are interested in,
down to the block group. Data can be exported in dbf
format, or shapefile format. GeoLytics Products are
installed on E-Docs machines 1, 2, and 3. Exported data
can be saved to disc or sent to campus AFS via FTP.
GeoLytics' 2000 spatial data is in Geographic Coordinate
System, NAD83. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
-
CensusDVD 2000 Long Form Release 2.2 from GeoLytics. Available
from Davis Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet number 6
organized alphabetically by Title. This product allows users to
choose the variables they want, and extract them at the
mapping unit they are interested in, down to the block
group. Data can be exported in dbf format, or shapefile
format. GeoLytics Products are installed on E-Docs
machines 1, 2, and 3. Exported data can be saved to disc
or sent to campus AFS via FTP. GeoLytics' 2000 spatial
data is in Geographic Coordinate System, NAD83. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
-
American
Factfinder from the U.S. Census Bureau
Create tables or thematic maps using this powerful
resource.
Resources for 1990 Census
Data
-
ESRI Data & Maps 2000 (provides 1990 Census data)
This dataset, which UNC received via the ESRI University
Site License maintained by ITS, includes shapefiles
of census geographic data with many 1990 Census
demographic variables as attributes. The dataset is
located on the campus network (maintained by ITS),
isis.unc.edu (often assigned to the J: drive). Data is
available at the following geography levels: State,
County, Tract, and Block Group. Complete metadata for
these data is also located on AFS, in the same location
as the shapefiles. Census data from ESRI Data & Maps
2000 is in Geographic Coordinate System, NAD83.
-
State level data
Location on AFS:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm00\data_maps3\usa\dtl_st.shp
Variables include: population 1990, population 2000,
1990 population per square mile, total number of
households, gender, race, age, never married,
married, separated, widowed, divorced, number of
one-person male households, number of one-person
female households, number of households married with
children, number of households married with no
children, number of single father households, number
of single mother households, total number of housing
units, total number of vacant housing units, number
of owner occupied housing units, number of renter
occupied housing units, median value of all housing
units, median rent charged for all housing units
rented, number of housing units with one detached
unit in the structure, number of housing units with
one attached unit in the structure, number of housing
units with two units in the structure, number of
housing units with three to nine units in the
structure, number of housing units with ten to
forty-nine units in the structure, number of housing
units with fifty or more units in the structure,
number of mobile homes, total number of farms in
1987, average farm size in acres in 1987, total area
of cropland in acres in 1987, and average sales of
agricultural products per farm in thousands of
dollars in 1987.
-
County level data
Location on AFS:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm00\data_maps3\usa\dtl_cnty.shp
Variables include: population 1990, population 2000,
1990 population per square mile, total number of
households, gender, race, age, never married,
married, separated, widowed, divorced, number of
one-person male households, number of one-person
female households, number of households married with
children, number of households married with no
children, number of single father households, number
of single mother households, total number of housing
units, total number of vacant housing units, number
of owner occupied housing units, number of renter
occupied housing units, median value of all housing
units, median rent charged for all housing units
rented, number of housing units with one detached
unit in the structure, number of housing units with
one attached unit in the structure, number of housing
units with two units in the structure, number of
housing units with three to nine units in the
structure, number of housing units with ten to
forty-nine units in the structure, number of housing
units with fifty or more units in the structure,
number of mobile homes, total number of farms in
1987, average farm size in acres in 1987, total area
of cropland in acres in 1987, and average sales of
agricultural products per farm in thousands of
dollars in 1987.
-
Tract level data
Location on AFS (path name varies by state**, nc is the example provided
below):
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm00\data_maps6\southusa\nc\nctrct.shp
Variables include: population 1990, population 2000,
1990 population per square mile, number of
households, gender, race, age, never married,
married, separated, widowed, divorced, number of
one-person male households, number of one-person
female households, number of households married with
children, number of households married with no
children, number of single father households, number
of single mother households, total number of housing
units, total number of vacant housing units, number
of owner occupied housing units, number of renter
occupied housing units, median value of all housing
units, median rent charged for all housing units
rented, number of housing units with one detached
unit in the structure, number of housing units with
one attached unit in the structure, number of housing
units with two units in the structure, number of
housing units with three to nine units in the
structure, number of housing units with ten to
forty-nine units in the structure, number of housing
units with fifty or more units in the structure,
number of mobile homes.
-
Block Group level data
Location on AFS (path name varies by state**, nc is the example provided
below):
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm00\data_maps6\southusa\nc\ncblkgrp.shp
Variables include: population 1990, 1990 population
per square mile, number of households, gender, race,
age, never married, married, separated, widowed,
divorced, number of one-person male households,
number of one-person female households, number of
households married with children, number of
households married with no children, number of single
father households, number of single mother
households, total number of housing units, total
number of vacant housing units, number of owner
occupied housing units, number of renter occupied
housing units, median value of all housing units,
median rent charged for all housing units rented,
number of housing units with one detached unit in the
structure, number of housing units with one attached
unit in the structure, number of housing units with
two units in the structure, number of housing units
with three to nine units in the structure, number of
housing units with ten to forty-nine units in the
structure, number of housing units with fifty or more
units in the structure, number of mobile homes.
-
CensusCD + Maps 1990 from GeoLytics. Available
from Davis Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet
number 6 organized alphabetically by Title. This product
allows users to choose the variables they want, and
extract them at the mapping unit they are interested in,
down to the block group. Data can be exported in dbf
format, or shapefile format. GeoLytics Products are
installed on E-Docs machines 1, 2, and 3. Exported data
can be saved to disc or sent to campus AFS via FTP.
GeoLytics' 1990 spatial data is in Geographic Coordinate
System, NAD83. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
-
CensusCD Blocks 1990 from GeoLytics. Available
from Davis Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet
number 6 organized alphabetically by Title. This product allows users to
choose the variables they want, and extract them for their
area of interest; variables will be provided at the block level.
Data can be exported in dbf format, or shapefile format. GeoLytics
Products are installed on E-Docs machines 1, 2, and 3. Exported data
can be saved to disc or sent to campus AFS via FTP. GeoLytics' 1990
spatial data is in Geographic Coordinate System, NAD83. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
-
Census 2000 (and 1990) TIGER/Line Data Free from ESRI. Go to:
http://www.esri.com/data/download/census2000_tigerline/index.html.
Click on “download data”. Select state of
interest. Select by County or Layer. Click on
“Submit Selection”. Check the box next to the
county(ies) of interest (there is a 20 MB download
limit). Click “Proceed to Download”. Click
“Download File”. This data is in Geographic
Coordinate System, NAD83.
1990 Demographic attributes are not available from this
site. Downloadable Layers include census geographic
boundaries for 1990 and 2000 (county, tract, block group
and block) as well as demographic variables from the 2000
census that can be joined to the attribute tables of
boundary files. Other geographic data available for
download include: American Indian/Alaska Native areas,
CMSA/MSA polygons, congressional districts, roads,
rivers, urban areas, designated places, key geographic
locations, landmarks, hydrography, roads, rails, misc.
transport, school districts, state legislative districts,
traffic analysis zones, voting districts, and
water.
-
American Factfinder from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Create tables or thematic maps using this powerful
resource.
-
Printed copy of the 1990 Census available in Davis
Library Reference, row 12.
Resources for 1980 Census
Data
-
CensusCD 1980 from GeoLytics. Available from Davis
Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet number 6
organized alphabetically by Title. This product allows
users to choose the variables they want, and extract them
at the mapping unit they are interested in down to the
block group. Data can be exported in dbf format, or
shapefile format. GeoLytics Products are installed on
E-Docs machines 1, 2, and 3. Exported data can be saved
to disc or sent to campus AFS via FTP. GeoLytics' 1980
spatial data is in Geographic Coordinate System, NAD83. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
-
Printed copy of the 1980 Census available in Davis
Library Reference, row 12.
Resources for 1970 Census
Data
-
CensusCD 1970 from GeoLytics. Available from Davis
Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet number 6
organized alphabetically by Title. This product allows
users to choose the variables they want, and extract them
at the mapping unit they are interested in (down to the
tract level). Data can be exported in dbf format, or
shapefile format. GeoLytics Products are installed on
E-Docs machines 1, 2, and 3. Exported data can be saved
to disc or sent to campus AFS via FTP. GeoLytics' 1970
spatial data is in Geographic Coordinate System,
NAD27. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
-
Printed copy of the 1970 Census available in Davis
Library Reference, row 12.
Historic Census Data and Boundary Files (Data between 1790 and 2000)
-
The National Historical
Geographical Information System (NHGIS) "is a project to create and freely
disseminate a database incorporating all available aggregate census information
for the United States between 1790 and 2000" [Source: website, accessed 04/24/06].
Tabular data and boundary files (shapefile format) are available for download.
Resource
for comparing 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 Census Data
-
CensusCD Neighborhood Change Database (NCDB) Long Form
from GeoLytics. Available from Davis
Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet number 6
organized alphabetically by Title. This product allows
users to choose the variables they want and extract them
at the tract level. This product simplifies
the comparison by providing 1970, 1980, and 1990 data in 2000 boundaries, and
normalizes the data so that the variables between the four censuses are
comparable, even though the questions- or the ways in which respondents
were instructed to answer the questions- changed between the two censuses.
Data can be exported in dbf format or shapefile format. GeoLytics Products are
installed on E-Docs machines 1, 2, and 3. Exported data
can be saved to disc or sent to campus AFS via FTP. See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
Important: Although this product is very useful because the
changing boundaries between censuses are taken into account, it does
not take into account the fact that the entire nation was not
divided into tracts for all census years. If the geographic area of
interest was not divided into tracts for the selected date, the program
will return a value of 0(!). Always use caution when comparing censuses!
Read Some words of caution for those who wish to make
comparisons between censuses. Additional information is available
in the product's documentation, provided on the CD.
Resource for comparing 1980-2000 Census
Data
-
CensusCD 1980 Long Form in 2000 Boundaries. Available from Davis
Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet number 6 organized
alphabetically by Title. This product allows users to compare data from
the 1980 census with data from the 2000 census. This product simplifies
the comparison by providing 1980 data at 2000 boundaries, and
normalizes the data so that the variables between the two censuses are
comparable, even though the questions- or the ways in which respondents
were instructed to answer the questions- changed between the two censuses.
The data is available for all boundaries at which SF3 data is available
(down to the block group). See our <
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
Important: Keep in mind that the questions asked on the
two censuses may differ; the way in which respondents were instructed to
answer the questions may also differ. Always use caution when comparing
censuses! Read Some words of caution for those who wish
to make comparisons between censuses. Additional information on this
topic is available in the product's documentation, provided on the CD.
Resource for comparing 1990-2000 Census
Data
-
CensusCD 1990 Long Form in 2000 Boundaries. Available from Davis
Reference Electronic Resources, in CD cabinet number 6 organized
alphabetically by Title. This product allows users to compare data from
the 1990 census with data from the 2000 census. This product simplifies
the comparison by providing 1990 data expressed at 2000 boundaries, and
normalizes the data so that the variables between the two censuses are
comparable, even though the questions- or the ways in which respondents
were instructed to answer the questions- changed between the two censuses.
The data is available for all boundaries at which SF3 data is available
(down to the block group). See our
Guide to Using GeoLytics Census CD-Rom Products.
Important: Keep in mind that the questions asked on the
two censuses may differ; the way in which respondents were instructed to
answer the questions may also differ. Always use caution when comparing
censuses! Read Some words of caution for those who wish
to make comparisons between censuses. Additional information on this
topic is available in the product's documentation, provided on the CD.
*Locations of individual
State data on ESRI Data and Maps 2002:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps4\westusa:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming.
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps5\centusa:
Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps6\eastusa:
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Indiana,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm02\data_maps7\southusa:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Tennessee.
**Locations of individual
State data on ESRI Data and Maps 2000:
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm00\data_maps4\westusa:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho,
Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm00\data_maps5\eastusa:
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia,
and Wisconsin.
isis.unc.edu\data\gis\esri\dm00\data_maps6\southusa:
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and
Virginia.
Return to GIS Services
For more GIS assistance,
Please contact Amanda C.
Henley, GIS Librarian
amanda.henley@unc.edu
(919) 962-1151
Can't Find What You Are Looking
For? How Can We Help
You?
