A Suggested Strategy for Collecting Decennial Census Data

Refer to A Guide to the Decennial Census with a focus on 1990 and 2000 census data for more details.

1. Decide for what years you want to gather data (e.g. 1990, 1980, etc.).
2. Decide for what level of geography you want to collect statistics.
3. Decide what census tables and/or 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). This site also provides definitions of subject characteristics.
4. Decide what format you prefer (electronic, print) if you have a choice. If electronic, decide what software you will use to store and analyze the data. This may 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.)
5. Plan where to gather the data. If you come to Davis Library at UNC-Chapel Hill, start at the Reference Desk. If the staff on duty there can't help you, ask for a referral.
6. Get any needed maps.
7. Gather documentation on definitions of geographical areas (e.g. census tract, metropolitan area), population and housing characteristics (e.g. family, household, etc.), and statistical concepts.

Back to A Guide to the Decennial Census with a focus on 1990 and 2000 census data

Barbara Levergood, Former Electronic Documents Librarian

Can't Find What You Are Looking For? How Can We Help You?