Census 2000 Summary File 3 Product Profile www.census.gov 1

a data products update from the U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Department of CommerceEconomics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Product Profile2003PRODPR/03-1

Issued May 2003

www.census.gov

Census 2000 Summary File 3SF 3 at a Glance

• Key socioeconomic and housing data from Census 2000.

• Measures of economic well-being.

• Key tables repeated for Hispanic and major race groups.

• Complete U.S. coverage, plus Puerto Rico.

• Block group and tract geography.

• All 813 SF 3 statistical tables on the Web and on CD-ROM and DVD.

• Powerful, easy-to-use software on CD-ROM and DVD.

Who We Are, How We Live

In Census 2000, the nation learned manyfacts about our 281 million residents:

• About 54 percent of us were married;10 percent of us were divorced.

• Over 80 percent of us reported having ahigh school diploma or a higher degree.

• Our median household income was about$42,000.

• Almost 76 percent of us drove alone towork; 12 percent carpooled.

• About 35 percent of our homes were builtbefore 1960.

• Over half of American homes rely on gas asa heating fuel.

We learned all this and more from the datacollected on the long form used in Census2000 – and you can obtain such facts for yourcommunity and neighborhood. Of course, inyour neighborhood, community, or state, theproportions may differ. For example,commuting patterns in New York City and LosAngeles differ greatly.

Since Census 2000 is our first “Internetcensus,” all these data are available freeto you on the Census Bureau’s Web sitehttp://www.census.gov.

Employment, home ownership, commuting,education, income and poverty, housing costsand value, disability – these are topics thatdrive America’s headlines, occupypolicymakers and analysts, and concern thepublic as well. They are likewise among thetopics found on the Census 2000 long-formquestionnaire.

Summary File 3 Offers DetailedLong-Form Data

The U.S. Census Bureau has releasedSummary File 3 (SF 3) – the first files withdetailed long-form statistics from Census2000, representing the input of 19 millionhouseholds weighted to reflect the entirepopulation.

SF 3 is arguably the most popular file fromthe census. The data are drawn from yourresponses to 52 “sample” questions asked inCensus 2000. Everyone counted in thecensus answered basic questions on age,sex, race, Hispanic origin, householdrelationship, and renter/owner status – theso-called “short-form” questions. A sample ofthe population (nationally about one in sixhouseholds) received the long form andanswered additional questions on income,education, commuting, and so forth.

Why Do You Ask?During Census 2000, people often askedus why we asked them questions like thoseon disability and the number of bedrooms.Questions appear on the censusquestionnaire only if they are mandated orrequired by legislative or programmaticneeds. For a discussion of the laws orprograms underlying Census 2000questions, users can visit the CensusBureau Web site athttp://www.census.gov/dmd/www/content.htm.

Curious about how the 2000 questionnairediffers from the 1990 version? You’ll findthat information on the Web at http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/90vs00.html.

2 www.census.gov Product Profile Census 2000 Summary File 3

Figure 1. Census 2000 Gateway

SF 3 contains 813 detailed tables,divided into 484 population tables(on marital status, education, income,commuting, and so forth) and 329housing tables (on number of rooms,year structure built, value of home,shelter costs, and the like).

Fifty-one tables are repeated for ninemajor race and Hispanic or Latinogroups:

• White alone.• Black or African American alone.• American Indian and Alaska Native

alone.• Asian alone.• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific

Islander alone.• Some other race alone.• Two or more races.• Hispanic or Latino.• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino.

Figure 2. Table Types in Summary File 3

Repeatedfor race andHispanic/Latino

16

15

0

20

Tableprefix

P

PCT

H

HCT

Content

Population

Population

Housing

Housing

Smallestgeographic area

Block group

Census tract

Block group

Census tract

Numberof tables

288

196

121

208

The Census Bureau previouslyreleased Summary Files 1 and 2, withdata based on the short-formquestions. Summary File 1 providedthese data down to the level of

As the chart below shows, there arefour kinds of tables, distinguished bycontent and geography. The chart alsoshows the 51 tables repeated for the 9race and Hispanic or Latino groupsidentified below.

census blocks; Summary File 2provided these data for up to 249population groups (many as a result ofthe multirace option, used for the firsttime in the multirace census).

Like Summary File 3, Summary File 4will provide sample data from Census2000, with tables repeated for

population groups (race and Hispanicgroups, as in Summary File 2, plus 86ancestry groups). There are 336 totalrepetitions.

Understanding the Data Tables in SF 3

Your “gateway” to Census 2000 ishttp://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html.

The gateway page on the CensusBureau’s Web site gives you one-stopaccess to Census 2000 data files (suchas Summary File 3) and informationabout the way we conducted the census,the data release schedule, the variousdata products, and what you need tounderstand and use data from thecensus.

Census 2000 Summary File 3 Product Profile www.census.gov 3

Figure 3. SF 3 Table SubjectsNote: Asterisk denotes tables repeated for nine race and Hispanic/Latino origin groups.For a detailed breakdown of the tables found in SF 3, see the Summary Table Outlines,Chapter 6 of the Census 2000 Summary File 3 Technical Documentation.

Ancestry XBasic population totals X* XDisability X X*Educational attainment X* XEmployment status X* X*Grandparents as caregivers XHouseholds and families X* XIncome in 1999 (family and nonfamily) X* XIncome in 1999 (household) X* X*Income in 1999 (individuals) X* X*Industry, occupation, and class of worker XJourney to work (commuting) X X*Language and ability to speak English X X*Marital status X XMigration X X*Place of birth, citizenship status, and year of entry X X*Place of work XPoverty status in 1999 (family) X* XPoverty status in 1999 (household) X*Poverty status (individuals) X* X*School enrollment X* XUrban and rural XVeteran status X X*

Bedrooms XContract rent XGross rent X X*Gross rent, as a percentage of household income in 1999 X X*House heating fuel X XHousing units XHousing value X X*Kitchen facilities X X*Meals included in rent XMortgage status X X*Occupants per room X X*Occupancy status XPlumbing facilities X X*Price asked XRent asked XRooms XSelected monthly owner costs X X*Selected monthly owner costs, as a percentage of household income in 1999 X X*Telephone service available X X*Tenure X XUnits in structure X X*Urban and rural XVacancy status XVehicle availability X X*Year householder moved into unit X X*Year structure built X

When to Use SF 1, When toUse SF 3

The long form was sent to a sample ofthe population, and the answers ofthese respondents have been givenweights to produce estimates for thetotal population. Particularly in smallplaces, census tracts, and blockgroups, users may observe differencesin the population totals shown in SF 1and SF 3. For example, Kent County,Delaware, has 34 census tracts; in 18,the weighted population (SF 3) isdifferent from the 100-percent popula-tion (SF 1). Tract 401 has a weightedpopulation of 5,321 and a 100-percentpopulation of 5,337.

The SF 1 tables provide the officialcensus count of the number of peoplein an area. The SF 3 tables provideestimates of the characteristics of thetotal population. The total number ofpeople shown in the SF 3 table (TableP1) is provided for use as the denomi-nator, or base, for calculating propor-tions. The SF 3 tables give the bestestimates of the proportion of peoplewith a particular characteristic, butSF 1provides the official count of howmany people are in the area. SF 3provides both numbers: Table P1 givesthe weighted total population, P2 givesthe unweighted sample count, and P3gives the 100-percent count of thepopulation.

When dealing with items collected onthe short form (for example, totalpopulation, the number of peoplereporting their race or Hispanic origin,the number of housing units, or thenumber of owners and renters) usersshould always view the SF 1 numbersas the official count. For larger places,counties, and states, the weightednumbers and the official numbers willusually agree. But in the case of smallerareas, you should use SF 1 as thesource of reliable numbers.

Population subjects P tables:block groupand census tract

PCT tables:census tract

Housing subjects H tables:block groupand census tract

HCT tables:census tract

4 www.census.gov Product Profile Census 2000 Summary File 3

Internet Access ThroughAmerican FactFinder

Visit the Census Bureau’s award-winning Web site http://www.census.gov and click on theAmerican FactFinder (AFF) for accessto data from SF 3. AFF gives severaleasy-to-use options for using SF 3:

Quick Tables gives you a set of keyvariables for areas down to the levelof census tract or block group.Quick Tables are especially helpful intrying to sort through the data in a filethis large.

Geographic Comparison Tables letsyou see how your state, city, county,minor civil division, township, orcensus tract stacks up in comparisonto others according to key variables.

Thematic Maps lets you display thedata in a map format.

Detailed Tables (Figure 4) gives youdirect access to all the SF 3 tables – all813 tables.

AFF also gives you access to thetechnical documentation and otherreference information to assist you inusing the file. Be sure to look at theSummary File 3 overview pagehttp://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/sumfile3.html for links tothe documentation, the FTP site, andother useful pages. Especially valuableon this page is a search tool that letsyou access Census 2000 and relateddata for each state. If your focus is onjust one state, this is the page toconsult.

Finally, great news for users interestedin 1990/2000 comparisons! The 1990Summary Tape File 3 is in theAmerican FactFinder – with all thespecial tools: Quick Tables, ThematicMaps, and Detailed Tables.

FactFinder Tip #1 – “GeoWithin Geo”

The “geo within geo” button lets youselect all areas of a certain type anddisplay them for the entire nation,state, county, and so forth. You shoulduse this option if, for example, youneed national level summaries ofcounties, metro areas, AmericanIndian areas, or three-digit ZCTAs.This feature would allow you todisplay all tracts in a state – providedthe total doesn’t exceed 7,000entities. (For summaries of areas

Geography in SF 3

Summary File 3 is packed with datafor many kinds of geographic areas. Itserves users interested in the macroview (for example, the United Statesas a whole or entire states) and themicro view (census tracts and censusblock groups), as well as all areas inbetween.

It gives you a summary of geographicareas (for example, all census tracts ina county) or parts of areas (forexample, parts of counties in acongressional district or part of anIndian reservation within a state).

State Files. SF 3 has been released asa series of state files, with a final U.S.summary. There also is a file for theDistrict of Columbia and Puerto Rico.The table designs are standard for eachkind of geographic area. You can obtainSF 3 on a CD-ROM for each state or allthe state files on two DVDs (see theorder form on page 8). The software onthe DVDs will allow you to generatenational or regional totals for geographicareas such as ZCTAs and metro areas,regardless of state.

U.S. File. The national file providessummaries for higher levels ofgeography and covers the entirecountry. This file is designed for userswho need to produce national orregional summaries of an area (e.g.,all ZCTAs nationwide). They will find iteasier to generate these figures usingthe national file on DVD or the “allstates” file on DVD rather than theindividual state files on CD-ROM.

Geographic areas shown include –

• United States• Census Regions• Census Divisions• States• District of Columbia• Puerto Rico• Counties• Metropolitan Areas• Urban Areas• County Subdivsions• Places• Consolidated Cities• ZIP Code Tabulation Areas• Congressional Districts (106th)• American Indian Areas• Alaska Native Areas• Hawaiian Home Lands• Census Tracts• Block Groups

exceeding this limit, you must use theDVD version of the data set.)

FactFinder Tip #2 – Searchby Subject or Keyword

Plowing through all 813 tables in SF 3to find just the tables that show“occupants per room,” for example, isa laborious, error-prone process. Findthe tables you need fast by searchingon subjects or keywords. Subjectsearch gives you a set of topics wethink are important. Keyword searchlets you make the call and enter yourown topic of interest. After you selectthe geography you need, look for thesearch tool on the page that lets youselect the tables you need. (Thisfeature also works for ThematicMaps.)

Download Data FromAmerican FactFinder orFTP

Every AFF data page has a “Download”tab through which you can downloadthese files as .csv or tab-delimited filesinto a spreadsheet program like Excelor Lotus or a database program likeAccess or dBASE. Downloads ofdetailed tables offer additionaloptions. They allow you to input thedata into a database format withlabels or no labels, just the comma-delimited numbers.

In addition, ASCII files in a zippedformat are available free on theInternet via File Transfer Protocol(FTP). Note that these files do notcome with viewing software. Given thesize of the files and the speed of yourmodem and Internet connection,downloading a file may be a time-consuming process. We are unable tooffer technical support for the ASCIIfiles or consult with individual users onthe problems they may encounterreading the files, but we havedeveloped a helpful set of instructionsfor using the ASCII files in Access 97http://www.census.gov/support/SF3ASCII.html.

Census 2000 Summary File 3 Product Profile www.census.gov 5

Figure 4. Go to American FactFinder for Detailed SF 3Data – Down to the Block Group or Census Tract Level

2. Once you’ve selected a tableor tables, go to the “Download”tab in the AFF menu and youcan easily download the dataas a compressed or “zipped”.csv or .xls file. Once you unzipthe file, you can then open it ina spreadsheet or databasesoftware. At this point, you canmanipulate the data to detectthe trends. For example, youlearn that 14 tracts in NewYork County have over 1,000households with a householdincome of $200,000 or more.

(Note: $200,000 is thetopmost income level.)

1. Using American FactFinder(AFF) you can easily analyzetrends within your community –for example, household incomefor census tracts or blockgroups. Here you use the “geowithin geo” feature to select all296 census tracts in New YorkCounty. You then select thetable or tables you want, in thiscase, P52, household income in1999.

(Note: In the census, incomedata are collected for the yearbefore the census.)

6 www.census.gov Product Profile Census 2000 Summary File 3

Figure 5. Powerful Software on SF 3 CD-ROMs and DVDsLets You Control Retrieval and Output

1. Go to “Pick Geography” toselect the geography you wantto highlight – in this case, allZIP Code Tabulation Areas(ZCTAs) in Iowa. Then thesoftware prompts you to pick atable.

2. The “Simple Variables” tab,shown here, lets you choosethe data elements you want –in this case, mortgage status.

3. Then the software promptsyou to save the data to a file onyour hard drive.

4. After you save the data, youare free to bring it up in aspreadsheet or databasesoftware for furthermanipulation.

This tabulation summarizesdata on mortgage status for allfive-digit ZCTAs in Iowa.

(Note: ZCTAs are Census Bureauapproximations of ZIP Codeareas. They do not preciselycoincide with ZIP Code deliveryareas and do not include all ZIPCodes used for mail delivery.For more about these areas, seethe technical documentation.)

Census 2000 Summary File 3 Product Profile www.census.gov 7

Buy SF 3 on CD-ROM orDVD

If you plan to make heavy use of SF 3or to analyze data for more than a fewvariables, you may want to considerpurchasing the SF 3 data on CD-ROMor DVD. You may purchase discs bycontacting the Customer ServicesCenter at 301-763-INFO (4636).

The files on disc come withproprietary software that operates ondesktop computers with MicrosoftWindows 95/98/2000/NT/XPoperating systems. The softwareprovides an expandable hierarchicalmenu or equivalent for the selection ofone or more geographic areas. Theuser software supports selection ofindividual data items, complete datatables, and geographic identifiers toinclude in output files. Figure 5 showshow to download and display SF 3data from the CD-ROM or the DVD.

Users who want both the individualstate files and the national files willhave to buy them separately. Thestate files come on two DVDs or onseparate CD-ROMs for each state. Weexpect the national file to fit on oneDVD.

All the state files found on the FTP siteare available in the ASCII version onDVD, again in zipped format. Westrongly recommend that userspurchase the software-enhancedversion of the SF 3 files. If users stillprefer to use the ASCII files, theyshould consult the instructions wehave developed for using these files inAccess 97, accessible on the Internetat http://www.census.gov/support/SF3ASCII.html .

Census 2000 Maps

If you are planning to use data forcensus tracts or census block groups,you’ll need Census 2000 Maps,available electronically on the Internet(in PDF) and on paper:

Block Maps. Detailed maps (36" x33") showing all levels of geographydown to the level of census blocks.SF 3 does not contain data for censusblocks, but does contain data forblock groups, so these maps are theones to use if you’re studying suchareas. Maps are available for salefrom the Customer Services Center insets for counties, cities, minor civildivisions, and other areas.

Census Tract Outline Maps. Maps(36" x 33") showing the boundaries ofcensus tracts, ideal for most users.Maps are available for sale by countyfrom the Customer Services Center.

Order Discs and MapsOnline or Call!

To order discs, you can use the orderform in this profile or contact theCustomer Services Center at301-763-INFO (4636). For eitherdiscs or maps, contact the CustomerServices Center. Note that all the SF 3state files also are available in an ASCIIversion available on DVD, although werecommend that users purchase thesoftware-enhanced version.

Need to keep up to date on otherCensus 2000 files? You can subscribeto the Census Product Update, abiweekly e-mail and online newsletter,available free from the Census Bureau.Come to http://www.census.gov/mp/www/cpu.html to sign up or to viewthe newsletter online.

For More Information• Visit the Census Bureau’sInternet site at http://www.census.gov, or call ourCustomer Services Center at301-763-INFO (4636).

• Call or visit a Census BureauRegional Office. A completelisting can be found at http://www.census.gov/field/www/.

• Visit your local library. Manymajor university and publiclibraries participate in theFederal Depository LibraryProgram and receive copies ofCensus Bureau reports. For acomplete list, visit http://www.gpo.gov/libraries.

• Call or visit any of 1,800 stateand local planning groups,libraries, chambers ofcommerce, and others thatparticipate in a Census Bureaudata center program. For acomplete list of data centers,visit http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/groupcnr.htm/.Users should also consult theState Data Center Census 2000profiles athttp://www.sdcbidc.iupui.edu/Profiles/profiles.html.

Overseas Service — add $25.00

Check payable to Commerce-Census

9 Census deposit account

Name: Date:

Company:

Address:

Phone: ( ) Fax: ( )

E-mail address:

Order FormYes! I want the Census 2000 Summary File 3. Please send methe CD-ROMs and/or DVDs for the states I have chosen below.I have enclosed $ (check or money order only)for my selection or provided credit card information below.

METHOD OF PAYMENT (please check one) Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, or Discover account number:

Expiration date: Month/Year: /

Name on card:

Signature:

TOTAL $

(City, state, ZIP Code) (No P.O. boxes)

SUBTOTAL $

Note: Although the Census Bureau recommends that users purchase the software-enhanced version of SF 3, we also make SF 3 available in ASCIIformat on the Internet http://www2.census.gov/census_2000/datasets/Summary_File_3 and on DVD or CD-ROM.

To place your order by phone (have your credit card ready) or for further information about Summary File 3 data products, please call our CustomerServices Center at 301-763-INFO (4636), fax your order toll-free to 888-249-7295, or access our Web site at http://www.census.gov and select“Catalog.”

For mail orders only, complete this order form and send it with your payment to: U.S. Department of CommerceU.S. Census Bureau (MS 0801)P.O. Box 277943, Atlanta, GA 30384-7943

Numberof DVD, CD-ROM Price

States (per state) (per set) Quantity Total(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

CD-ROMs (Cont.)Massachusetts 1 $50.00 $

Michigan 1 50.00

Minnesota 1 50.00

Mississippi 1 50.00

Missouri 1 50.00

Montana 1 50.00

Nebraska 1 50.00

Nevada 1 50.00

New Hampshire 1 50.00

New Jersey 1 50.00

New Mexico 1 50.00

New York 1 50.00

North Carolina 1 50.00

North Dakota 1 50.00

Ohio 1 50.00

Oklahoma 1 50.00

Oregon 1 50.00

Pennsylvania 1 50.00

Rhode Island 1 50.00

South Carolina 1 50.00

South Dakota 1 50.00

Tennessee 1 50.00

Texas 2 75.00

Utah 1 50.00

Vermont 1 50.00

Virginia 1 50.00

Washington 1 50.00

West Virginia 1 50.00

Wisconsin 1 50.00

Wyoming 1 50.00

Puerto Rico 1 50.00

Numberof DVD, CD-ROM Price

States (per state) (per set) Quantity Total(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

DVDsSoftware Version 2 $105.00 $(All states and Puerto Rico)

U.S. Summary 1 $70.00

ASCII Version 2 105.00(All states and Puerto Rico)

U.S. Summary 1 70.00

CD-ROMs (Software Version)

U.S. Kit: All states 54 $1,570.00 $

Alabama 1 50.00

Alaska 1 50.00

Arizona 1 50.00

Arkansas 1 50.00

California 2 75.00

Colorado 1 50.00

Connecticut 2 75.00

Delaware 1 50.00

District of Columbia 1 50.00

Florida 1 50.00

Georgia 1 50.00

Hawaii 1 50.00

Idaho 1 50.00

Illinois 1 50.00

Indiana 1 50.00

Iowa 1 50.00

Kansas 1 50.00

Kentucky 1 50.00

Louisiana 1 50.00

Maine 1 50.00

Maryland 1 50.00

SUBTOTAL $