1. Unlocking the Value of Census Data
Noemi Mendez Eliasen
US Census Bureau

2. Agenda Introduction US Census Bureau Data Data Tools Business Planning
Research/Grants
Disaster Planning
Data Tools

3. Census Mission
To serve as the leading source of quality data about the Nation’s People and Economy.

4. What We Do Data we collect: Population & Housing Census: 10 years
Economic Census: 5 years
Census of Governments: 5 years
American Community Survey: Annually
Other Surveys: Varies
Economic Indicators: Varies .

6. Demographic Data Sources
Decennial Census:
Conducted Every 10 years
Also known as 2010 Data
Official Count of Population
Basic Characteristics
American Community Survey (ACS):
Monthly Survey of US population
Characteristics of the US Population
1, 3, and 5 year samples (based on population thresholds)

7. Decennial Census
2010 Census – One of the shortest forms in history, “10 Questions in 10 Minutes”
Subjects asked in 2010:
How many people in home (on April 1, 2010)?
Is home/apartment/mobile home owned or rented?
Sex/age of people living in home?
Racial makeup of people living in home?
Are people of Hispanic or Latino origin?

8. American Community Survey Demographic Characteristics
Age and Sex Group Quarters Population Hispanic/Latino Origin Race Relationship Total Population
The American Community Survey is a nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look at how they are changing.
The American Community Survey’s demographic characteristics include: age, race, sex and Hispanic origin. In the pre-webinar survey we asked what you all would like to find and racial makeup of neighborhoods was one of those requests. You can find the racial breakdown for a neighborhood or place through the American Community Survey, however for counties, states and the nation the Population Estimates are the official source for those numbers.
Use population estimates for official population information on age sex race and Hispanic origin for counties and above. For all other geographies use the ACS. You can find social, economic and housing characteristics broken down by these categories, which I am going to touch on next.

9. American Community Survey Social Characteristics
Educational Attainment
Marital Status/History
Fertility
Grandparent/ Caregivers
Veterans
Disability Status
Place of Birth
Citizenship Status
Year of Entry
Language Spoken at Home
Ancestry / Tribal Affiliation
School Enrollment
Field of Degree
Virginia
Highlight language spoken at home
Social characteristics include topics such as education, marital status, fertility, grandparent caregivers, veterans, disability status, place of birth, citizenship status, year of entry, language spoken at home, ancestry and tribal affiliation. 9 9

10. American Community Survey Economic Characteristics
Income and Earnings
Class of Worker
Employment Status
Occupation
Industry
Commuting to Work
Place of Work
Health Insurance
Food Stamps/SNAP
Virginia
Economic characteristics include such topics as income, benefits, employment status, occupation, industry, commuting to work, and place of work. Data on the economic characteristics of the population are collected to assess the well-being of individuals and households.
One request from the pre-webinar survey was Economic and health indicators, Trends in SS, Medicare and Medicaid since last Census, Jobs, Poverty indicators. These characteristics are all included in the economic characteristics through the American Community Survey.
Patch Request: Data that gives insight into equality, pay, achievement gaps and allows us to drill down between neighborhoods, you can find income inequality stats like the Gini Index and find this for neighborhoods. 10 10

11. American Community Survey Housing Characteristics
Tenure
Occupancy & Structure
Housing Value
Taxes & Insurance
Utilities
Mortgage/Monthly Rent
Virginia
Housing characteristics include topics such as tenure, occupancy and structure, housing value, taxes and insurance, utilities, and mortgage or monthly rent. This housing data gives us a measure of the housing stock of the country. 11 11

12. Economic Census
The U.S. Government’s official five-year measure of American business and the economy.
Forms were sent to more than 4 million businesses (small, medium, large) representing all U.S. locations and industries.
Economic Census conducted on years that end in 2 and 7.
Last Economic Census was conducted in 2012.

13. Who Uses Our Data Businesses Grant Writers Researchers Media
Policymakers
Local/State/Federal Government
Students/Teachers

14. How Businesses Use Census Data
Compare my business to others
Compare my community to others
Identify business markets
Use data in business plans and loan applications
Decide on location for a store
Business owners and managers can compare the operating data for their business to totals and averages for their industry (such as sales per employee) from the national, state, and even local level to evaluate their current operations. Business owners and managers can also compare the data for their business to businesses in related industries and other industries in their local area.
Local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce can compare statistics for the industries in their community to identify opportunities for growth. They can also compare statistics for the industries in their community to neighboring communities, their metro area and state, and to national totals to identify market share and trends.
Business owners and managers can analyze information for their customers at the local level to identify unsaturated or emerging/growing markets for their products and for opportunities for expansion.
Entrepreneurs can use statistics from the Economic Census for the industry that they are considering starting a business in or for related industries at the local level in their business plans. They can also use this information in loan applications to local business lenders and in government business development agencies to validate the potential market they are considering entering.

15. Splash Screen – Includes the first 2 of the 4 steps to use the tool

16. Step 1 – Select the type of business you want to research from the broad menu and then from this detailed list

17. The map then opens with Total Pop displayed as default variable
The map then opens with Total Pop displayed as default variable. The user can then browse the data using the map (step 3).
The map includes all the usual map features (pan, zoom, and show/hide the data panel and legend) as well as a Transparency slider that allows you to better view the base map.
In the upper right corner is a Feedback link that allows the user to provide comments that will help shape future versions of the tool.

18. After browsing the data, the user can view a report (step 4) that includes all of the data available for the industry and area. These can be downloaded, printed, etc…

19. How Government Uses Our Data
To understand the people they serve
To apply for grants
To manage their resources
To plan for emergencies

27. American Fact Finder (AFF)

30. The U.S. Census Bureau released Census Explorer, a new interactive mapping tool that gives users easier access to neighborhood level statistics. The mapping tool uses updated statistics from the American Community Survey (ACS). The new application allows users to map out different social, economic and housing characteristics of their state, county or census tract, and to see how these areas have changed since the 1990 and 2000 censuses.
Will cover a handful of topics:
% 65+ pop
% foreign-born
% w/ bachelor’s
% hs grad
% in labor force
homeownership rate
median household income
1990, 2000, current ACS
States, counties, tracts

31. Ages
Wages
Industry
Race
Ethnicity
Educational Attainment
Sex
Where workers live and where they work
How far workers travel to work and what direction they travel
Who travels to an area for work, lives and works in the same area, and who leaves an area for work

32.
The API allows developers to create custom apps with Census Bureau data. More than 40 topics are available for these communities, such as housing, educational attainment, employment, commuting, language spoken at home, nativity and ancestry.
Data Sets
Developer Forum

33. Available on apple and android phone/tables
Every week, the Department of Commerce releases key Census Bureau economic indicators. Get the latest business news on-the-go as it is released through the Census Bureau's free, easy-to-use mobile app, America's Economy. The app provides real-time updates for 20 key economic indicators from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis. Internet address
A Census Bureau mobile app named "dwellr" can help people on the go access key demographic, socio-economic and housing statistics for thousands of places across the nation. Users can also learn more about where they are by a simple tap of the screen that reveals educational levels, housing values and total population drawn from the American Community Surve

34. Thank You.
Noemi Mendez Eliasen
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