“I’m looking for…” Answers with Census Resources Ray C. Walling Government Documents Intern Numeric and Spatial Data Intern

Resource Demonstration Today we will discuss online resources that might help you answer census related reference questions. Resources to be discussed include:  American FactFinder  Social Explorer  NHGIS  Historical Census Browser

For those participating, you can go to the following web page for links to the resources being discussed: Government Documents Center Website:

Can I help you?

I need to find a statistic/map for…

Where do I go from here? Break the question down into facets What resource meets the criteria:  Map vs. Statistic  Coverage of Decades  Coverage of Geographies  Coverage of Topics  Ability to do complex searches  Speed

“I’m looking for…” Answers with Census Resources Part I: Statistical Search

I’m looking for… “I’m looking for recent information on the number of people by age and sex for census tracts of Flint, MI. Can you help me?” – Student Question in Early June

Breaking Down the Question Break down the question  Decade 2000  Geography Census Tracts of Flint, MI  Question Topic(s) Age by sex Try: American FactFinder, Social Explorer, or NHGIS

American FactFinder Website: Coverage  Decades: 1990 and 2000  Geographies: Detailed Other Qualities  Creates detailed maps  Capable of very complex queries  Average Speed

American FactFinder Summary Files (page 2-3) Summary Files Many ways to download information Census glossary available Also provides the: American Community Survey, Puerto Rico Community Survey, Annual Population Estimates, Economic Census, and the Annual Economic Surveys

Social Explorer Website: Coverage  Decades:  Geographies: US, State, County, Census Tract, (2000 Congressional Districts) Other Qualities  Can create maps quickly  Not able to create queries  Quick in general

Social Explorer Problems  Public version has gaps in coverage  Pre-defined variables are not always consistent over decades and in representation  Only downloadable in MS Excel

NHGIS Website: Coverage  Decades:  Geographies to 1900: US, State, County  Geographies 1910 onward: Detailed Other Qualities  Not able to create queries, but many tables to choose from  Must have an account (free) Many ways to download information

Excuse Me… “Excuse me, can you help me find the population of Chatam County, GA around 1790?”

Breaking Down the Question Break down the question  Decade 1790 Excludes: American FactFinder, Social Explorer  Geography Chatam County  Question Topic Population  Speed Quick Excludes: NHGIS Try: Historical Census Browser

Historical Census Browser Website: Coverage  Decades:  Geographies: State, County Other Qualities  No U.S. totals  Quick, low quality maps  Quickest of the online services  Quick comparison over the decades  Not for complex queries, limited data

Excuse Me… “Can you compare this data from 1790 through 1860?”

“I’m looking for…” Answers with Census Resources Part II: Maps

Excuse Me… “Can you help me find a way to compare the population in Chatam County, GA to the other counties of the state for 1790?”

Breaking Down the Question Break down the question  Decade 1790 Excludes: American FactFinder, Social Explorer  Geography Chatam County  Question Topic Population  Type of Data Map for easy comparison across the state Try: Historical Census Browser

HELP…………………………….. “I have a presentation at 2pm and need a map showing the number of people of Hispanic origin in Chester County, PA in 2000.”

Breaking Down the Question Break down the question  Decade 2000 Excludes: Historical Census Browser  Geography Chester County, PA  Question Topic Hispanic Origin Try: Social Explorer

HELP…………………………….. “Can you provide a comparison map to 1990?”

Find me….. “Find me a map of the median age of the population of counties within Michigan for I have to be somewhere in 10 minutes.”

Breaking Down the Question Break down the question  Decade 2000 Excludes: Historical Census Browser  Geography State: Michigan  Question Topic Median Age Try: American FactFinder

“I’m looking for…” Answers with Census Resources Part III: Guided Practice

Sample Question #1 “I work for La Comunidad Hispania of Kennett Square (borough), PA and want to find out average family size of Hispanic families vs. the community average for 2000.”

Selecting the online resource Break down the question  Decade 2000 Excludes: Historical Census Browser  Geography Place: Kennett Square  Topic Family size by race (complex) Exclude: Social Explorer Try: American FactFinder (Summary File 2)

Sample Question #2 “I want to trace the decline of slavery in Pennsylvania after the Gradual Abolition Act of 1780 until the Civil War (1860).”

Selecting the online resource Break down the question  Decade Excludes: American FactFinder, Social Explorer  Geography State: Pennsylvania  Question Topic(s) Slavery  Type of Info Needed Statistic (over time) Probably Exclude NHGIS Try: Historical Census Browser

Sample Question #3 “I am trying to figure out the areas of the continental United States with the most number of people without education in 1940”

Selecting the online resource Break down the question  Decade 1940 Excludes: American FactFinder  Geography Areas of Continental United States Thought: Might be good to have a detailed map Exclude: NHGIS and historical census browser  Question Topic(s) Education Try: Social Explorer

Sample Question #4 “What was the estimated number of volumes that the University of Michigan Libraries had in 1850?”

Selecting the online resource Break down the question  Decade 1850 Excludes: American FactFinder, Social Explorer  Geography University of Michigan Intuitive: Since limited number of universities/colleges in 1850, probably can find it by a larger geographic group.  Question Topic(s) Education>College>Libraries Try: NHGIS (or Historical Census Browser)

“I’m looking for…” Answers with Census Resources Any Other Questions?