Understanding the CensusA Hands-On Training Workshop
Vanderbilt Census Information Center
March 23, 2003
U.S. Census Bureau
The world’s largest and most comprehensive data collection and analysis organization!!!
200 annual surveys
Decennial Census
Economic Census
Census of Governments
Why Should I Care?Statistical snapshot of the country as a whole, its cities, and its neighborhoodsIt affects our lives in ways we don’t often realize
The road you take to work each dayThe schools your children attend/will attendThe products your grocery store stocksThe hospital that serves your community
Who Uses the Census
National, State, & Local GovernmentBusinessesEducators & ResearchersNon-profit OrganizationsReligious OrganizationsPolitical OrganizationsCommunities
Census 2000 Overview
• Census Geography• Census Basics• Census Terminology • Data Products• Census.gov
Understanding Census Geography
Census BlocksSmallest geographic unit Bounded by streets or legal boundaries
Census Block GroupsCollection of census blocks within a census tract
Census TractsSmall, relatively permanent subdivisions of a countyUsually between 2,500-8,000 persons
Census 2000 ShortCensus 2000 ShortForm QuestionnaireForm Questionnaire
7 Questions7 QuestionsNameNameSexSexAgeAgeRelationshipRelationshipHispanic OriginHispanic OriginRaceRaceOwner/RenterOwner/Renter StatusStatus
Long Form Census Questionnaire
Population HousingMarital Status Units in Structure
Place of Birth & Citizenship Year Structure Built
School Enrollment & Attainment Number of Rooms
Ancestry Monthly Rent
Employment Value of Home
Income & Poverty Pluming/Phone
Disability
What’s New
Hispanic question asked before raceGrandparent as caregiverDisability• Blindness & deafness added• Persons 5 & older (instead of 15 & over)
Race• Option to select one or more race categories• Asian and Pacific Islander category split
Census 2000 Data Products
• Demographic Profiles• Quick Tables• Geographic Comparison Tables• Summary Files (1-4)• Maps/Tiger Files• Printed Reports & Briefs
State & County QuickFacts
• Quick access to facts about geography, business & people
• Population Estimates• Selected short and long-form data• Contains data most often requested
Demographic Profiles
• Demographic Profile• Social Characteristics• Economic Characteristics• Housing Characteristics
***Lowest level of geography: Census Tract
Census Briefs & Reports
• Special topics of interest• Comparison by region, state, and citiesEXAMPLES:•• StateState--toto--State Migration Flows: 1995State Migration Flows: 1995--20002000•• MarriedMarried--Couple and UnmarriedCouple and Unmarried--Partner Partner
HouseholdsHouseholds•• Educational AttainmentEducational Attainment•• Grandparents Living with Grandchildren Grandparents Living with Grandchildren
Summary File 1
• Contains data from short form census• Counts for 5 major races, “other race”,
2 or more races, & hispanic/latino• Lowest level of geography: Census
Block• Contains about 300 tables
Summary File 2
• Contains data from short form census (same data as SF1)
• Data available for 336 race, hispanic/latino, American Indian/Alaskan native & ancestry categories
• Lowest level of geography: census tract• Population threshold: 100
Summary File 3
• Includes data from long-form census• Counts for 5 major races, “other race”,
2 or more races, & hispanic/latino• Census block group lowest level of
geography available• Contains about 800 tables of data
Summary File 4
• Includes same data as available in SF3• Census tract is lowest level of geography• Data available for 336 race, Hispanic/Latino,
American Indian/Alaskan & ancestry categories
• Population threshold (50 unweighted sample cases)
• Lowest Level of Geography: Census Tract• Population threshold:100
Other Census Bureau Products
• Economic Census• American Community Survey• Census Briefs• Statistical Abstract of U.S.• City & County Data Book
Economic Census
• Every 5 yrs (ending in 2 &7)• Sent to 20 million businesses in Dec.
2002• Compliance required by law• Forms are tailored to the business size
& industry• Result will be released beginning this
month
The Economic Census is Important
# Paid employees/annual payroll# Establishments by sectorSalesSurvey of business owners Zip code statisticsSalesE-Commerce swtatistics
American Community Survey
• Replace long-form census in 2010• Provide data every year instead of every 10
years (states, counties, cities, metro. areas & population groups of 65,000+)
• Smaller portion of the population surveyed each year
An individual address has a chance of selection only once in a 5 yr.period!!
QUESTIONS???
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