Transcript Slide 1

Know Your Community
How to find and use Demographic
Information
Highlands University
Las Vegas, New Mexico
July 11, 2008
The Government Information in the 21st Century
Program is made possible by a grant from the
U.S. Institute of Museum and Library
Services. Additional support is provided by the
University of Colorado at Boulder as well as
Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public
Records; New Mexico State Library; Wyoming
State Library; and University of Utah.
Where to go first for my
community?
• Census 2000 Decennial Data - still the
most comprehensive data available for
small areas
• American Community Survey – Available
to larger areas, not yet for small
• Estimates and Projections – What is
available for your community and area?
•Census 2000 Decennial Data
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100% characteristics – short form
Population counts for area
Sex
Age
Race
Hispanic or Latino
Limited housing information
Census 2000 Decennial Data
Sample characteristics – long form (one in six) – Examples of
broader subjects
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Marital Status
Place of Birth
Income
Ancestry
Disability
Education
Work status
Occupation
• Language spoken at
home
• Housing
• Value of home
• Telephone service
• Vehicles available
• Utilities
• Etc.
American Community Survey –
Available for larger areas, not yet for small
• Collects data every year instead of every 10
• 3 million households surveyed – sample
• Age, race, income, commute to work, home value,
veterans status, etc.
• Goal: Places or areas less than 20,000 covered in 2008
• In late 2008, the Census Bureau will release data for all
geographic areas with populations of 20,000 or larger.
• In late 2010, the Census Bureau will release data for
areas as small as census tracts and block groups,
nationwide.
• For very small towns, 2010 will be the first time ACS data
are published.
How about ACS information for
your patrons?
San Miguel County (2007 BBER pop. est. 28,655)
Las Vegas – (2006 pop. est. -13,889)
Eagle Nest – (2006 pop. est. -286)
Colfax County (2007 BBER pop. Est. -14,619)
Aztec (2006 pop. est. -7,056)
San Juan County (2007 BBER pop est. -128,884)
Santa Fe City (2006 pop est. -72,056
Santa Fe County (2007 BBER pop est. -151,448)
• How to find out which New Mexico towns
and counties have been included in ACS
to date?
• http://factfinder.census.gov
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http://factfinder.census.gov/
Get a fact sheet for your community
Type in city/county or zip
Tabs at top will inform you of data
availability
• Lets find the data!
• Hints:
• Avoid using the Back Arrow on your
browser – use breadcrumbs whenever
possible
• When using Data Sets, “Clear All
Selections” between searches
Quick Statistics
• Create a general profile or Fact Sheet for
your community or county – can you find
any percentages or rankings?
• http://factfinder.census.gov
Street Address search
Using a street address as a starting point,
find out what Congressional District and
School District the Address is in – What
else can you find?
• http://factfinder.census.gov
Exercise using Census 2000 Using
Data Sets - Quick Tables
• What percentage of the population of Las
Vegas has a High School diploma?
• http://factfinder.census.gov
Exercise using Census 2000 Data
Sets - Detailed Tables
• What is the median age of the population
of Aztec, Eagle Nest, Las Vegas and
Santa Fe?
• How about San Miguel County?
• http://factfinder.census.gov
Exercise using Census 2000 Data Sets - Geographic
Comparison Tables
• What county in New Mexico has the highest percentage
of working single women who also have young children
to care for?
• What county in New Mexico had the highest percentage
of families with income below the poverty level in 1999?
• Which city in NM had the highest percentage of families
with income below the poverty level in 1999?
• http://factfinder.census.gov
Exercise using American
Community Survey
• Develop a profile of the City of Santa Fe
using ACS 2006. Include both statistical
information and graphic information if
possible.
• http://factfiner.census.gov
• Estimates and Projections – What is
available?
• http://www.census.gov/
• Click on estimates
• BIG HINT: Mouse over drop down box for
“Estimates data” upper left.
• Select Geography or subject
Exercise – using the UNM Bureau of Business and
Economic Research site
• What are the most current population
estimates for New Mexico’s cities and
towns?
• http://www.unm.edu/~bber/
Comparison tables set up for you
and more!
• The New Mexico State Library site:
• http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/index.php?option=
com_content&view=article&id=221&Itemid=408
• Census Comparison tables online:
• http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/index.php?option=
com_content&view=article&id=222
• Compare: NM Cities/Towns/Places | Counties |
Pueblos & Reservations | NM to other States
2010 Census
• The census is a count of everyone living in the United
States every 10 years.
• The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
• The next census is in 2010.
• Your participation in the census is required by law.
• It takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
• Federal law protects the personal information you share
during the census.
• Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats
to states, to make decisions at every level of
government, and to distribute $300 billion in federal
funds to communities each year.
• Questions?
Laurie Canepa, Public Services Director,
New Mexico State Library
[email protected]
Reference Desk (505) 476-9702