Census 2000: American FactFinder Workshop

Introduction

This is a hands-on workshop in which you will learn how to find and collect Census 2000 data and how to create maps and thematic maps on the web using some of American FactFinder's basic and more advanced interfaces. We will first cover the basics of Census 2000 geography, questionnaires, and sources for data and maps. (American FactFinder is the U.S. Census Bureau's premier vehicle on the web for Census 2000 data and mapping. It is freely available on the web at http://factfinder.census.gov/.)

Goals and objectives

You will leave today with the background information and skills that you will need to collect Census 2000 data and maps from American FactFinder. You will know about what other Census 2000 resources are available.

Overview of topics and exercises

Census 2000 Basics

Intermediate American FactFinder

Miscellanea

This workshop makes frequent reference to A Guide to the Decennial Census with a focus on 1990 and 2000 census data.

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Census 2000 Basics

Census 2000 Basics: Map Exercises

Exercise 1: How to read a print census map

Exercise 2: How to view a PDF census map

What we will do

View (on the computer screen) a PDF map for census blocks in census tract 114 in Chapel Hill, Orange County, NC.

How we will do it

  1. Go to the page providing access to Census 2000 Redistricting Data Map Products in PDF format.
  2. Click on "Link to Census 2000 Block Map State Folders." Choose North Carolina and then Orange County.
  3. If there is more than one file in the list, then the first one should be an index file and it should end with "000.pdf". Click on that index file ending in "000.pdf".
  4. If you are asked: "What do you want to do with this file?", choose "Open it".
  5. Adobe Acrobat Reader should be invoked to view the file. Use the zoom tool (it looks like a magnifying glass) to zoom in on the Chapel Hill area. Figure out which other file you need as follows:
    "The county index map will show the county boundaries and the boundaries of any places within the county. It also will have an overlay of a grid of squares. Each square represents the area covered by one of the maps for that county. Using this grid, you can determine which map or maps cover the area of interest. At the center of each grid square you will find a map sheet number. This number is also a part of the file name for the PDF file of the map(s). It is in the last three positions before ".pdf"." For example, PB37135_015.pdf is sheet number 15, shown in grid number 15 for Orange county, North Carolina. "With this information you can download or view the appropriate maps(s)."
  6. There are two potential ways to return to the list of PDF files, depending on how the software is set up. If there is a "Back" button near the top left corner, click on that to return to the list of PDF files. If not, click on "Index of /pl..." at the bottom of the screen to return to the list of PDF files.
  7. Then click on the file for the grid that you decided on. For our exercise, you can pick either of these files:
    PB37135_015.pdf
    PB37135_019.pdf
  8. Again, if you are asked: "What do you want to do with this file?", choose "Open it".
  9. You might not know exactly where census tract 114 is. To find it easily using Adobe Acrobat Reader, click on the binoculars. Type in: 114. Click on "Find".

Advanced exercises to try at home

You can also save these PDF files by right-clicking on the link to a file within Netscape or Internet Explorer.

You can also print out these maps (using a printer) or plot them (using a plotter). Printing From the PDF Map Files provides detailed instructions for how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader to display and print maps. How to Print out Census 2000 Maps in PDF Format provides techniques for printing out these maps on the paper of your choice, providing flexible control over map extent, display resolution, and map size.

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Exercise 3: How to find out what census geographical areas an address is in using American FactFinder's Reference Maps

What we will do

Find out what census tract, block group, and block you live in. Make a map of the block that you live in. Alternatively, find this information about the address for Glen Lennox Apartments: 5 Hamilton Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514. (Answer. Glen Lennox is in: census tract 121, block group 3, block 3012.)

How we will do it

  1. From American FactFinder choose "Reference Maps". (If you choose "Enter a street address to find Census 2000 data", you will not get the functionality that Reference Maps gives you.)
  2. If you get a map of the U.S., choose "Change Selections/Geography" to reset. If not, continue on.
  3. Next to "Choose a Selection Method", click on the "Address" radio button. Note: If you do not see the "Address" radio button, next to "Select year and program" choose "Census 2000".
  4. Enter the address. Click on "Go".
  5. You will get a list of "Geographies Containing" the address. Write down the census tract, block group, and block numbers.
  6. Highlight the line with the block number on it. Click on "Show Map".
  7. Look for your street name with associated census tract, block group, and block numbers. If you do not see the street name, try zooming in.
  8. Optional: If you want to clean up the map a little, choose "Options/Boundaries". Under "Choose a survey instance and select a group of boundaries", make sure that "Census 2000" and "Census Block Hierarchy" are chosen. Uncheck the "Boundary" and "Label" boxes for "2000 Place" and for "1990 Urbanized Area". Click on the "Title" tab. Give the map a title. Click on "Update".
  9. You could then choose "Print/Download".

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Census 2000 Basics: Data Exercises

Some confusing things about census data

Exercise 4: How to collect data on race and Hispanic for a city or town using American FactFinder's Basic Facts-Tables

What we will do

Gather Census 2000 data on race and Hispanic for the place (i.e. city or town) in which you live. (Alternatively, choose Chapel Hill, NC.)

How we will do it

  1. Go to the Census Bureau home page by clicking on "U.S. Census Bureau" (top left corner) then on "American FactFinder". This will restart and reset American FactFinder.
  2. From American FactFinder's front page, select the radio button next to "Start with Basic Facts-Tables".
  3. Next to "Show me", under the heading "New Census 2000 Quick Tables (QT)", choose the table "Race and Hispanic or Latino (QT)".
  4. Next to "for" choose "a City or Town".
  5. Under "select a state" choose "North Carolina".
  6. Under "select a city or town" choose "Chapel Hill". Click on "Go".
  7. You should get a table showing:
    RACE for one race (broken down for individual races) and for two or more races (not broken down)
    HISPANIC OR LATINO
    RACE AND HISPANIC OR LATINO for one race and for two or more races. Note that HISPANIC is not broken down by individual race.
  8. To download, choose "Print/Download" then "Download". Click on the radio button to the left of "Comma delimited - spreadsheet format (.csv file)". Click "OK".
  9. Click on "Save File". Next to "File name", delete the text there and type in: c:\temp\myfile.csv.
  10. You could then open the file using a spreadsheet program like Excel. To do so, start Excel. Choose "File"/"Open", navigate to the c:\temp\ directory, and double click on your file. If the wizard is invoked, tell it that this is a comma-delimited file.

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Exercise 5: How to collect data on race and Hispanic for multiple census tracts using American FactFinder's Basic Facts-Tables

What we will do

Gather Census 2000 data on race and Hispanic for the census tract in which you live compared with other census tracts in your county. (Alternatively, use Glen Lennox' census tract: census tract 121 in Orange County, NC.)

How we will do it

  1. Go to the Census Bureau home page by clicking on "U.S. Census Bureau" (top left corner) then on "American FactFinder". This will restart and reset American FactFinder.
  2. From American FactFinder's front page, select the radio button next to "Start with Basic Facts-Tables".
  3. Next to "Show me", under the heading "Census 2000 Tables for all States", choose the table "Population, Race and Hispanic or Latino (GCT)".
  4. Next to "for" choose County - Census Tract.
  5. Under "select state" choose North Carolina.
  6. Under "select county" choose Orange County. Click on "Go".
  7. You should get a table including data for each of the census tracts in the county. Find the data for the census tract in which you live. Note that you get a slightly table showing:
    RACE for one race (broken down for individual races) and for two or more races (not broken down)
    HISPANIC OR LATINO (not broken down by race).
  8. Note that the strength of this Geographic Comparison Table (GCT) is that it allows you to compare multiple geographical areas within a single table. Note also that the GCT does not break down Hispanic by race whereas the Quick Table (QT) does.
  9. You could then print or download.

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Exercise 6: How to get a general profile using American FactFinder's Basic Facts-Tables

What we will do

Get a handy profile based on Census 2000 data for the state in which you live.

How we will do it

  1. Go to the Census Bureau home page by clicking on "U.S. Census Bureau" (top left corner) then on "American FactFinder". This will restart and reset American FactFinder.
  2. From American FactFinder's front page, select the radio button next to "Start with Basic Facts-Tables".
  3. Next to "Show me", under the heading "New Census 2000 Quick Tables (QT)", choose the table "Population and Housing (QT)".
  4. Next to "for" choose "a State".
  5. Under "select a state" choose "North Carolina". Click on "Go".
  6. You should get a table titled "Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000" showing: sex; ranges of ages; median age; age by sex, for certain age ranges; race; race alone or in combination with one or more other races; Hispanic; relationship; households by type (family vs. non-family households); housing occupancy; housing tenure (i.e. owner- vs. renter-occupied).
  7. You could then print or download.

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Intermediate American FactFinder

Census 2000 Data

American FactFinder portals for acquiring data

A Guide to American FactFinder Geography and Functionality

Portal Pros Cons
Basic Facts - Tables

It is good for novices.

It is good for when you aren't sure what dataset you need to use or when you don't know the terminology.

Census tracts is the smallest level of geography you can get.

You can only get one table at a time.
Quick Tables

You can choose table(s) for one or more geographical areas.

You can get more than one table at a time.

Census tracts is the smallest level of geography you can get.

You need to know what dataset you need to use since you need to choose it first.
Detailed Tables

Has the most tables.

Has the most detailed subjects in tables.

Has the smallest levels of geography.

You can choose table(s) for one or more geographical areas.

You can get more than one table at a time.

You need to know what dataset you need to use since you need to choose it first.
Geographic Comparison Tables

Designed to compare data for e.g. all the counties in the state or all the census tracts within a county.

Census tracts is the smallest level of geography you can get.

Limited number of tables.

You can only get one table at a time.

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Exercise 7: How to get data using American FactFinder's Detailed Tables

What we will do

Gather Census 2000 data on race and Hispanic for the block in which you live. Alternatively, use Glen Lennox': census tract 121 in Orange County, NC; block group 3; block 3012.

How we will do it

  1. Go to the Census Bureau home page by clicking on "U.S. Census Bureau" (top left corner) then on "American FactFinder". This will restart and reset American FactFinder.
  2. From American FactFinder's front page, choose "Data Sets".
  3. Click on "Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data" and hold your mouse in place.
  4. Click on "Detailed Tables".
  5. Next to "Select the type of area", choose "Block".
  6. Next to "Select state", choose "North Carolina".
  7. Next to "Select county", choose "Orange County".
  8. Next to "Select census tract", choose the census tract in which you live.
  9. Next to "Select block group", choose the block group in which you live.
  10. Under "Select one or more geographic areas and click 'Add'", choose the block in which you live. Click "Add".
  11. If there are any other items in the box to which you just added your block, highlight them and click on "Remove".
  12. Click on "Next" or "Show Table".
  13. If you get a table with data in it, choose "Change Selections/Table" to reset. If not, continue on.
  14. Next to "Search", choose "show all tables". This will give you a list of all the tables available in this dataset via Detailed Tables. To see this long list grouped into more manageable subject lists, choose "by subject" instead.
  15. Under "Select a subject and click 'Search'", scroll down until you see "==== Population Totals - Race and Ethnic Groups ===="; within that category, highlight "Race (Including Detailed Categories of Race)". Click on "Search".
  16. Under "Select one or more tables and click 'Add'", highlight each of the following tables. (To choose more than one table, hold down the "Ctrl" key while you click on the table name.)
    P3. Race
    P7. Race (Total Population)
    P8. Hispanic or Latino by Race (Total Population)
    P9. Race (Total Races Tallied)
    P10. Hispanic or Latino by Race (Total Races Tallied)
    When you are done, click on "Add".
  17. If there are any unwanted items in the box, highlight them and click on "Remove".
  18. Click on "Show Table".
  19. You should get a table showing a variety of breakdowns of population by race or by Hispanic and race.
  20. Let's say that you now were interested in finding out what other data you could get for your block broken down by race. You can add to your tables by choosing "Change Selections" then "Tables". Next to "Search", we have already seen that you can search by subject or you can pick from a list of all the available tables. Instead, click on the radio button next to "by keyword".
  21. Under "Enter a keyword and click 'Search'", type race. Click on "Search".
  22. Under "Select one or more tables and click 'Add'", scroll through the list of tables providing data on race. Highlight a table that interests you. Then click on "Data Information". This will give you a table without the data that will help you to decide if you want this table or not. If you want it, choose "Add" to add it to the list of tables you want to collect, and click on "Show Table".
  23. For those of you who need FIPS codes and other geographic identifiers, you can get them by choosing "Options" and "Show Geographic Identifiers".

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Census 2000 Thematic Maps

American FactFinder portals for displaying data on maps

A Guide to American FactFinder Geography and Functionality

Portal Pros Cons
Basic Facts - Maps

It is good for novices.

It is good for when you aren't sure what dataset you need to use or when you don't know the terminology.

Counties is the smallest level of geography you can get.

Maps are not customizable.
Thematic Maps

You can create maps down to the block level.

Maps are customizable.

A little more difficult to use.

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Exercise 8: How to display data on a map using American FactFinder's Thematic Maps

What we will do

Display the data of your choice on a map for the block in which you live. (Alternatively, use Glen Lennox' block: census tract 121 in Orange County, NC; block group 3; block 3012.)

How we will do it

  1. Go to the Census Bureau home page by clicking on "U.S. Census Bureau" (top left corner) then on "American FactFinder". This will restart and reset American FactFinder.
  2. From American FactFinder's front page, choose "Thematic Maps".
  3. Choose "Change Selections/Dataset".
  4. Under "Select a data set and click 'OK'", highlight "Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF1) 100-percent Data". Click "OK".
  5. Next to "Choose a selection method" are options for displaying a map. Choose one of these:
  6. If you get a map with data on it, choose "Change Selections/Theme" to reset. If not, continue on.
  7. Under "Select a subject and click 'Search'", choose a subject that interests you and click on "Search".
  8. Under "Select a theme and click...'", choose a theme that interests you and click on "Next" or "Show Map".
  9. Note that the data are displayed by block.
  10. Click on "Options/Data classes". Change the "Number of classes", the "Color scheme", and/or the "Classing method".
  11. Click on "Features" and check the "Feature" and "Label" boxes for "Street".
  12. Click on "Update". Note: Some of the street names may not be visible until you zoom in further.
  13. You could now Print/Download the map.

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Miscellanea

Some useful web pages

General

Census Bureau home page

Product Overview and Schedule

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

American FactFinder

American FactFinder, the Census Bureau's primary vehicle for the dissemination of Census 2000 data and maps on the Internet

A Guide to American FactFinder Geography and Functionality, a description of the functionality of the portals for data and maps in American FactFinder

Data

Selected Sources of 2000 Census Data, links to a variety of sources for data

Maps

Census Maps and TIGER/Line Data, links to maps for download and information about census maps

Census Maps and Related Product Titles, maps for sale or download

Census 2000 Redistricting Data Map Products, links to PDF map files for download, organized by state and county

Printing From the PDF Map Files provides detailed instructions for how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader to display and print maps. How to Print out Census 2000 Maps in PDF Format provides techniques for printing out these maps on the paper of your choice, providing flexible control over map extent, display resolution, and map size.

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Where to go for help with Census 2000 data or maps

Davis Library, Reference Desk
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-962-1151
http://www.lib.unc.edu/reference/

Ed Bachmann
Odum Institute for Research in Social Science (IRSS)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
ed_bachmann@unc.edu
919-962-0512
http://www.irss.unc.edu/

State Library of North Carolina
109 E. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC
919-733-3270
http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/ncslhome.htm

North Carolina State Data Center
20321 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0321
919-733-4131
http://sdc.state.nc.us/

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Barbara Levergood
Former Electronic Documents Librarian
http://www.lib.unc.edu/reference/instruction/census2000workshop.html
Updated March 27, 2002.