An Overview: Census 2000 and Its Data Products

1. An Overview:Census 2000 and Its Data Products Presentation derived from one by the US Census Bureau: Available at: http://www.census.gov/mso/www/pres_lib/index2.html

2. The Decennial Census • Longest running federal data collection program in the United States (since 1790) • Census collects basic population counts as well as a wide variety of housing, household, and some basic economic data. (Plumbing data, too!!) • The census provides a “snapshot” of the US population at a certain time (say, the population in 2000).

3. Why is the Census So Important? 1) Required by the ConstitutionIt is how we delineate local voting districts and districts for the House of Representatives in Congress 2) Political PowerIt is how local redistricting for elected offices is done, 3) Money, Money, and more Money!!! Estimated that over $200 billion will be distributed annually based upon 2000 Census data 4) A Rich and Heavily Used Data SetThe data are used by planners, other local government officials, researchers, marketers, for a huge variety of things.

4. Census BIG Points • A wealth of data available through the Census. • Knowing where to get the data and what you are actually getting is the key. • It is best to have an idea of what you want before you attempt to go get the data. Blind searches usually lead to frustration. • A good understanding of the Census Bureau and Census data is a real planning skill. The BIG Point: Census data often represents the starting point for planning-related work. After acquiring Census data, only then is additional data gathered to build upon the general population, housing, and economic data the Census collects and makes available.

5. Census 2000Short Form and Long Form Short form Long form (1 in 6 HH)

6. Census 2000 Short Form Questionnaire 7 Questions Name Sex Age Relationship Hispanic Origin Race Owner/Renter Status

7. Census 2000 Long Form Questionnaire Short Form Questions, Plus Marital Status Educational Attainment Citizenship How long in current residence Where lived 5 years ago Travel to work (how got there, commute time) Employment data (income, type of work) Building data (age, value, # of rooms, plumbing)

8. Capturing Ethnicity

9. Changed Question on Race

10. Race and Ethnicity Tabulation Categories • Single-Race • Two or more races • All-Inclusive Race

11. Population by Race and Hispanic Origin The six racealone groups and the two or more races group, when combined, add up to 100 percent of the population. 100% population

12. What Data Will Be Available? 100% data or short-form information • Summary File 1 • Summary File 2 Sample data or long-form information • Summary File 3 • Summary File 4

13. Understanding the Summary Files • SF1: 100% population and housing unit counts (basic population data) • SF2: More in-depth 100% population and housing unit data (tables with detailed race and ethnicity categories) • SF3: Sample data on population, housing, and socioeconomic characteristics • SF4: More in-depth sample data on population and housing (tables with detailed race and ethnicity categories) • Note: These different files used to be called “STFs” for “Summary tape files”

14. Understanding the Summary Files Planners/Demographers typically use these

15. Examples of SF1 Tabulations P1 Total population P3 Race P8 Hispanic or Latino P12 Sex by age (5-year groupings) P14 Sex by age for the population under 20 (single years of age) P15 Households P17 Average household size

16.    SF1 RepeatingTabulations 5-year groupings

17. Sample Data Summary Files: SF3 Summary File 3 • Counts and cross tabulations of sample items (income, occupation, education, rent and value, vehicles available) • Lowest level of geography: block group

18. Examples of SF3 Tabulations P30 Means of Transportation to Work P31 Travel Time to Work P53 Median Household Income P82 Per Capita Income P87 Poverty Status by Age

19. Release of Census 2000 Products • December 31, 2000 -- Official State counts • April 1, 2001-- Redistricting counts • 2001-- Short-form (100%) data products • 2002-- Long-form (sample) data products All major products are out as of the end of 2003.

20. Census 2000 Gateway

21. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) File Transfer Protocol (FTP) • For downloading complete dataset files • Available at http://ftp2.census.gov

22. Data Accessibility WWWFTPCD-ROM/DVD DifficultyLow High Low CostNo No Yes User LevelAll High All SpeedVariable Variable High Connect IssuesPossible Possible Unlikely Download limits5 MB None CD size Graphical User InterfaceYes None Yes

23. The Most Useful Census Population Web Sites for Planners Census Home http://www.census.gov Census 2000 Gatewayhttp://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html American Factfinder http://factfinder.census.gov State/County Quickfactshttp://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/ 1990 Census Datahttp://www.census.gov/main/www/cen1990.html Selected Historic Datahttp://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/hiscendata.html

24. Cost of Census 2000 Products • Most information free through the Internet (www.census.gov) • Charges for detailed custom tabulations, CD-ROMs, printed reports, print on-demand • Census Bureau’s Customer Service Center (301-763-INFO)

25. Other Sources of Census 2000 Information State Data Centers Census Information Centers Depository Libraries Census Bureau Regional Offices www.census.gov/dmd/www/groupcnr.html