HBHE 240: The Decennial Census

 
* Decennial Census
 
** 1990 Census Geography
 
** Census Questionnaire
 
** Overview of 1990 Decennial Census Resources
 
** Major 1990 Census Datasets: STF 1 and STF 3
 
* Documentation
 
* FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) and other codes for geographical areas relevant for the 1990 Census
 
* Mapping Data Interactively

• American FactFinder via the U.S. Census Bureau. "Quick Tables are predefined tables that give you quick access to frequently requested information for a single geographic area." Detailed Tables provide access to 1990 census data from Census Bureau summary tables. Choose "Quick Thematic Maps" to do thematic mapping. Only a small number of variables can be mapped.
• CensusCD+Maps. Data from the 1990 census via a relatively easy to use software interface on CD-ROM. Includes estimates and projections for state, county, census tract, block group, and ZIP Code. Includes census data and mapping capability. All variables can be mapped. Streets are not included. CD-ROM, Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.
• DDViewer (Demographic Data Viewer) via CIESIN/SEDAC. "DDViewer lets you create maps and calculate statistics for 220 demographic variables from the 1990 U.S.Census."
• TIGER Mapping Service via the U.S. Census Bureau. Only a small number of variables can be mapped.
• Geographic Information Systems Resources and Services at Davis Library

* Mapping Census Data with ArcView

Some useful web pages:

• Geographic Information Systems Resources and Services at Davis Library
• Sources of TIGER/Line and TIGER Spatial Data
• Creating a Map of Census Data Using a Geographic Information System
• A Guide to the Decennial Census with a focus on 1990 and 2000 census data

** Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

"A system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing, and displaying data which are spatially referenced to the Earth." (OS1). Some components of a GIS:

1. software (ArcView, MapInfo)
2. spatial data, e.g. TIGER or TIGER/Line.
3. statistical data (in dBase format) e.g. census data.

** Suggested sources of TIGER data

• Data and Maps (CD-ROM, ESRI) (Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource, campus site license)
• TIGER (CD-ROM, Wessex) (Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource)
• CensusCD+Maps can export shape files and includes statistical data (CD-ROM) (Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource)
• TIGER 1995 (ESRI)
• TIGER/Line public domain data (CD-ROM, Census Bureau, files need to be converted) (Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource)

** Suggested sources of census data

• public domain census data, STF 1A or STF 3A (CD-ROM, Census Bureau) (Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource)
• Pro/Filer (CD-ROM, Wessex) (does not include block data) (Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource)
• CensusCD+Maps can export shape files and includes statistical data (CD-ROM) (Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource)
• American Factfinder via Census Bureau

** Some common queries

1. I want a map of the census tracts and block groups in Orange County, NC. (Use GIS to create this map. You will need spatial data for Orange County census tracts and block groups.)
2. I have a community in Orange County, NC, defined by streets. I want to collect census data for that community. (Use GIS to characterize the community in census geographic terms so that you can then (independently) collect census data for the community. You will need spatial data for Orange County streets, census tracts, and block groups.)
3. I want maps showing the distribution of African Americans in Orange County, NC by census tract. One map will show the raw numbers, one will show the number of African Americans as a percentage of the total population. (Use GIS to create the base map and the thematic maps. You will need spatial data for Orange County census tracts and statistical data by census tract for total population and African Americans.)

* Updating the 1990 Census
 
* A suggested strategy for collecting census data

1. Identify your community in terms of census geography. Determine whether you will need the assistance of maps, GIS, or mapping software in order to do this.
2. Decide for what level of geography you want to collect statistics. For the community as a whole? For subparts of the community? For areas larger than the community?
3. Decide what census variables to gather. For example, if you want income data, do you want household income, family income, or per capita income? Do you want income ranges or a median income? Technical documentation via Oregon State's Government Information Sharing Project is a good place to get Table (Matrix) Sections which contain lists of tables and variables available in the 1990 census CD-ROMs as well as on many websites.
4. Decide for what years you want to gather data (e.g. 1990, 1980, etc.).
5. Decide what format you prefer (electronic, print) if you have a choice. If electronic, carry around an empty floppy disk. Decide what software you will use to store and analyze data. This will determine what output format you will need. (dBASE is good for Excel, ArcView, and MapInfo. Comma delimited is a good "least common denominator" for spreadsheets. Fixed length field is good for statistical applications. Text is good for word processing applications.)
6. Plan where to gather the data. If you come to Davis Library, start at the Reference Desk. If the staff on duty there can't help you, ask for a referral to a specialist in Davis.
7. Get any needed maps.
8. Gather documentation on definitions of geographical areas (e.g. census tract, metropolitan area), population and housing characteristics (e.g. income, family, household, etc.), and statistical concepts.

* Census 2000

Barbara Levergood, Former Electronic Documents Librarian

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