GUIDE TO U.S. CENSUS DATABASES
Scope: Census databases are available for the Decennial Census (every 10 years) and the Economic Census (every 5 years). These are available on the Web, and much of the Decennial Census is available on CD-ROM. The Census 2000 for Population and Housing is the most popular data. The American Community Survey is one of the newer "products" from the Census Bureau. It uses sampling, and gives up-to-date statistics on demographic, housing, social, and economic information for selected locations. Print books are available for the 2000 Census of Housing and Population for many sates and are added to the collection as they become available. These can be found using the online catalog, and are kept in the government documents area, and at Ready Reference. Accessing the databases: Census 2000 (Population & Housing)
Maryland State Data Center provides excellent links to census and demographic information. The URL is: http://www.op.state.md.us/MSDC/ For enhanced searching (cross-tabulations etc.) CD-ROMs, including Summary File 1 (SF 1 - see below) are available at the reference desk. Economic Census Data Start with the Census Bureau homepage: http://www.census.gov/ Under Business, choose Economic Census: http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/econ97.html Searching the Databases: Basic Facts American FactFinder has a "Basic Facts" portion. Most general questions can be answered here using drop-down menus. This section contains: "Popular tables and maps for the U.S., states, counties, cities, towns, and American Indian reservations." Summary File 1 Other information is available under Summary File 1 (SF 1) which gives "counts and information [age, sex, race, Hispanic/Latino origin, household relationship, whether residence is owned or rented] collected from all people and housing units." Information is available down to the block level. (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/sumfile1.html) Choices for viewing include: Detailed Tables, Geographic Comparison Tables, Quick Tables, Thematic Maps and Reference Maps. When using Summary File 1, there are a series of choices the user makes in order to create tables. In Detailed Tables, for example, one can "Choose a Selection Method" (list, name search, address search, map, geo within a geo); next, make a selection from the pull-down menu "Select a Geographic Type," then "Select One or More Geographic Areas, then click "Add," and so forth to create tables with census data. Summary File 2 Summary File 2 (SF 2) offers information on "Population and housing characteristics iterated for many detailed race and Hispanic or Latino categories, and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes." There is a population-size threshold before information is shown for particular group. Information is available down to the census tract level. (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/sumfile2.html) Summary File 3 Summary File 3 (SF3) Social, economic, (income) and housing data from a one-in-six sample. Information is available down to the block group level. (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/sumfile3.html) Summary File 4 Summary File 4 (SF 4) Population and housing information for 336 races from a sample of the population. Information is available down to the census tract level. (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/SF4.html) Maryland State Data Center The Maryland State Data Center has an easy-to-navigate web page for local census information. An excellent feature is the "Address Lookup : Dynamic Maps & Census Reports." Zoom In and Zoom Out features are available to focus searching. For graphically-minded users, this is a very helpful tool. Economic Census information The last Economic Census was conducted in 2002, and the reports will be released between 2004 and 2006. The most recent complete data is from the 1997 Economic Census. Information is available for zip code areas, industry information, Minority-and Women-Owned Businesses, and selected Industry Series reports. Users may search for statistics by zip code area, industry classification, and industry keyword. There is a "Bridge" available to compare the SIC-Stardard Industry Classification (the old system) with NAICS-North American Industry Classification (the new system). "Data for all sectors" enables drilling down to more and more specific information. This is done using the blue arrows, with the exception of zip code areas, which use pull-down menus. For example: 1997 NAICS-Information: Publishing industries, Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Information Services and Data Processing Services. Each of those has further subcategories. For Zip Code Statistics, choose a state with the 1st pull-down menu. Click Go. Use the next pull-down menu to choose the first 3 digits, click Go, choose the 5-digit zip code, and click Go etc. If you have questions about how to use the Census data, please stop by the Reference Desk, or call 410-837-6874.
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