Transcript Census Data at the Public Library

Researching Your Service Area
John Graham,
Department Manager
Public Documents & Patents Dept.
Uses of Census Data
+ Find demographics of community
+ Get a profile of non-users – who are we not
seeing in the agency
+Program planning & collection development
+ Anticipate & meet changing needs
Geographic Areas
• Data available for
towns, cities,
townships, counties,
and Census
Designated Places,
such as Turpin Hills or
Kenwood
• Neighborhoods, not
used in Census
publications. Need to
find tract boundaries
Census Geography II
• Census Tracts first used for Cincy in 1930.
Designed to be homogenous population
groups, which today average 4,000 people.
• Neighborhood borders usually match tract
borders.
• Tract boundaries have changed over time.
• Blocks are smallest Census geography; data
available 1980-2000.
Cincinnati Census Tract
Boundaries
• Neighborhoods composed of 1 or more
tracts
• Tracts may cross municipal boundaries
• Use Government Resources-Census to find
chart of tract boundaries
• Or use Enter a Street Address feature
Census 2000
• www.census.gov -- American FactFinder
• Phased release of data in Summary Files
• Summary File 4 recently released. Has
ancestry, disability, language data
• Website has 1990 & 2000 data only
• Tract/block boundaries only – no
neighborhoods listed
Summary File 1 (SF 1)
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Basic population & housing counts
Covers 63 racial groups
Actual counts, no sampling or adjustments
From the national level down to the block
level
• Used for House apportionment
Summary File 2 (SF 2)
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Detailed population & housing data
Reported in up to 63 racial/ethnic groups
Also complete count, no sampling
From tract level up to national level
Summary File 3 (SF 3)
• Sample data of 1 in 6 households
• 813 detailed housing, social, and economic
tables, including income, education, and
language
• From block group up to national level
• Lots of breakdowns by race/ethnicity: 51
tables across 9 separate groups
Summary File 4 (SF 4)
• 335 population tables across racial/ethnic
groups
• From tract level to national level
• Detailed characteristics: grandparents as
caregivers, ancestry groups
• Released for Ohio July 27, 2003
What’s Not Available
• Religion
• Appalachian origin
• Names of individuals
or businesses
• Anything more recent
than the last Census in
most cases
• Homeless population –
labeled as Homeless
population
4-part search strategy
• Define your
geographic area: be
flexible regarding
specific area
• Time period.
Remember detailed
data available only
decennially, every 10
years
• Characteristics. Be
sure you’re in the right
Summary File to find
what you need
• Output. Excel, PDF,
just a quick figure
Search Strategy 2
• Visit the Hamilton County Regional
Planning Commission Website
• Visit the Census Bureau Website as needed
or for more details, using the Summary
Files of interest
• Visit the “Census” category in the
Government Resources Website
Search Strategy 3
• www.census.gov
• Go to American
Factfinder
• Choose your file,
Summary File 1, 2 etc.
• Go to Quick Tables
• Choose your
Geographic level,
place, tract, block, etc.
• Pick the data you want
• You can always click
“Change Selections”
to make a change
Census Documents
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Hard copy documents 1790-2000
Arranged by Document Call number
Multiple volumes per year
Use Census Catalog for index
Just ask for assistance!
PLCH has a complete collection
Government Resources Page
Government Resources - Census
Useful Websites
• PLCH: www.cincinnatilibrary.org
• Census Bureau: www.census.gov
• UVA Historical Census Browser
http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/census/
• Hamilton County Regional Planning
Commission http://www.hamiltonco.org/hcrpc/
• OKI www.oki.org Click on Maps & Data
County Planning Commission
Roselawn 1-Page Profile
GIS Service Available
• (Geographic Information System) GIS
• Makes custom maps using Census or other
data
• Staffed at Main by G&B, PD, and History
• 10-day turnaround time
• Free of charge
Roselawn GIS Map