Census Basics An IntroductionRefresher to the Census Data

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Census BasicsAn Introduction/Refresher to the
Census Data

• Maria Olmedo
• Customer Liaison Office
• US Census Bureau
• Washington, DC
• November 9, 2006

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During this course you will learn

• What is the Census Bureau, its history and its
  products.
• What are the uses, who uses and how to use our
  data.
• A general understanding of our censuses and
  surveys.
• What you can expect for the 2010 Census.

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US Census Bureau What is it?

• Lead Data Source
• Title 13
• Privacy and Confidentiality
• Share Expertise
• Innovation

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Census Bureau History

• Need for a census of the entire nation
• First Census 1790
• Thomas Jefferson
• More need of information
• Permanent Institution 1902

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National Center for Education Statistics
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Who we partner with
Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics
The National Science Foundation
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Social Security Administration
Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Census Uses and Applications
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Geography
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Small-Area Geography Overview
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Blocks

• Smallest unit of data tabulation
• Cover the entire nation
• Do not cross census tracts or counties
• Generally bounded by visible features and legal
  boundaries
• Block numbers completely different from 1990
• Size average about 100 people

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Block Groups

• Groups of blocks sharing the same first digit
• Smallest areas for which sample data available
• Size optimally 1,500 people, range between 300
  to 3,000

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Census Tracts

• For the first time for Census 2000 Cover the
  nation
• Relatively homogenous population characteristics
• 65,000 Census tracts across U.S.
• Size optimally 4,000 people, range between 1,000
  and 8,000

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Places

• Incorporated Places
• Census Designated Places

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Minor Civil Divisions (MCD) orCensus County
Divisions (CCD)

• Used to establish and maintain a set of subcounty
  units that have stable boundaries and
  recognizable names
• Do NOT have to follow minimum or maximum
  population guidelines

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Counties

• Counties in 48 States
• Independent Cities in 4 States
• Parishes in Louisiana
• Cities and Boroughs in Alaska

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Other Geography Areas

• Large Geographic Areas
• U.S. - Metropolitan Areas
• Regions - Urbanized Areas
• Divisions - American Indian
  Reservations
• States - Alaska Native Areas
• Hawaiian Home Land Areas
• Special Geographic Areas
• Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs)
• Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs)

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MAF/TIGER Program
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What is MAF?

• An accurate and up to date inventory of all known
  living quarters in the United States, Puerto
  Rico, and associated Island Areas.

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What is TIGER?

• A street center-line digital map (geographic
  data base) of the entire United States, Puerto
  Rico, and the associated Island Areas

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Our Major Programs
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• What is the Decennial Census?
• The process of obtaining information about every
  member of the population.

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• Taken every 10 years since 1790 for Congressional
  Appointment.
• Provides the most detailed socioeconomic portrait
  of our diverse and changing population.

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Rationale for Questions

• Mandated or required in Federal Statute
• Mandated if Federal Statute specifies Decennial
  Census as the source
• Required if Statute specifies data available only
  from Decennial Census

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• Every question on the Census form addresses an
  item needed by one of 158 Federal agencies. Many
  state and local programs also require data
  provided by the census.
• http//www.census.gov/dmd/www/content.htm

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2002 Economic Census
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The Economic Census is indispensable to
understanding Americas economy
--Alan Greenspan, Former Chairman, Federal
Reserve Board of Governors
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Sectors
Economic Census Coverage
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The Other Nine YearsDemographic and Economic
Surveys
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Demographic Surveys What are they about?

• Income
• Poverty
• Jobs
• Spending
• Alcohol Consumption
• Long Term Care

• Aging
• Crime
• Education
• Employment
• Health
• Housing

And MORE..
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• Rapid demographic changes in recent years
• Expectation that such changes will continue
• Need more frequent data to meet needs

http//www.census.gov/acs/www/
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Current Population Survey

http//www.bls.census.gov/cps/cpsmain.htm
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American Housing Survey
http//www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/ahs/ahs.htm
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Economic Surveys Producing Economic Indicators

• Advance Monthly Retail Sales
• Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales
• Monthly Wholesale Trade
• Manufactures Shipments, Inventories and Orders
• Housing Starts
• Value of New Construction Put in Place
• Housing Completions
• New Homes Sold and for Sale
• US International Trade in Goods and Services
• Quarterly Financial Report (two releases)
• Housing Vacancies

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Surveys vs. Census

• Economic Census
• Every 5 years (years ending in 2 7)
• Industry/product detail
• Detailed Geography

• Economic Surveys
• Annual, quarterly, monthly
• Limited detail
• Mostly national

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Building Permits Survey
http//www.census.gov/econ/overview/co0200.html
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Surveys of Minority- and Women-owned Business
Enterprises
http//www.census.gov/csd/mwb/
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Local Employment Dynamics All About Jobs
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Where to go to get all the Surveys?
http//www.census.gov/main/www/surveys.html
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http//www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php
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Where to Find Information?
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• Electronic system for access and dissemination of
  Census data.
• Offers data from Decennial Census, ACS,
  Population Estimates and Economic Census and
  Surveys.
• Create tables and maps.

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American Fact Finder Website
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Getting Detailed Data
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Getting Detailed Data
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Left Navigator Menu
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How to Get a Fact Sheet?
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How to Get a Fact Sheet?
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How to Get a Fact Sheet?
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Data Sets
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Data Sets
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Data Sets
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Data Sets
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Data Sets
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Data Sets
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Download Center

• Experienced users
• Quick access to large downloads
• Downloads from
• Census 2000
• 2004 American Community Survey
• 2004 Populations Estimates

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Download Center
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How to Get Paper Publications?
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Paper Publications
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Paper Publications
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Paper Publications
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How to Order Publications
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How to Order Publications
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How to Order Publications
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How to Order Publications
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How to Order Publications
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What is Coming with 2010 Census?
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• Census 2000 a Great Success
• But There is Still Room for Improvement

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Goal of the 2010 Census Program

• Improve the relevance and timeliness of census
  long-form data.
• Reduce operational risk.
• Improve the accuracy of census coverage.
• Contain costs.

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2010 Decennial Census Program

• Topics to be Covered
• 2005 National Census Test
• 2006 Census Test
• 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal
• MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project (MTAIP)
• 2010 Census Update

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2010 Decennial Census Program2010 Census
Update-2005 Census Test

• 2005 Census Test - Objectives
• Improve reporting completeness and accuracy
  especially for race and ethnicity
• Improve coverage accuracy
• Enhanced feasibility for targeted mailing of
  replacement questionnaires
• Improved self response through the use of
  bilingual questionnaires

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2010 Decennial Census Program2010 Census
Update-2005 Census Test

• 2005 Census Test - Scope/Methodology
• Mailout/Mailback to approximately 420,000
  households
• Approximately 20 questionnaire panels
• Evaluation followup data collection
• Census Day September 15, 2005
• Evaluations completed during 2006

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2010 Decennial Census Program

• 2006 Census Test
• Site 1
• Selected Census Tracts in
• Travis County, Texas
• Site 2
• Cheyenne River Reservation and
• Off-reservation Trust Land, South Dakota

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2010 Decennial Census Program2010 Census
Update-2005 Census Test

• 2006 Census Test Objectives
• Develop and Test AIAN Enumeration Methods
• Census Coverage Measurement
• Field Automation
• Self Response Options
• Special Place/Group Quarters
• Coverage Improvement

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2010 Decennial Census Program

• 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal
• Site 1
• San Joaquin County, California
• Site 2
• Fayetteville, North Carolina
• (Including the counties of Chatham,
• Cumberland, Harnett,
• Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore,
• Richmond, and Scotland)

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2010 Decennial Census Program 2010 Census Update
MTAIP

• MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project (MTAIP)
• To deliver accurate, improved and current
  information to the MAF/TIGER database suitable
  for use with Global Positioning System (GPS)
  equipped mobile computers and to facilitate the
  gathering of accurate location information for
  all living quarters and workplaces.

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2010 Decennial Census Program Local Update of
Census Addresses

• 2010 Census LUCA Participation Options
• Option 1 Full Address List Review
• Option 2 Local Address List Submission (Title
  13 option)
• Option 3 Local Address List Submission
  (Non-Title 13 option)

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2010 Decennial Census Program Local Update of
Census Addresses
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2010 Decennial Census Program Local Update of
Census Addresses

• How do I find out more about LUCA?
• Visit us at www.census.gov
• Click on Geography then Geographic Programs or
  type in the URL
• ltwww.census.gov/geo/www/programs.htmlgt

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Questions?
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If you want more information

• Maria Olmedo
• Customer Liaison Office
• 301-763-1305
• Maria.Olmedo_at_census.gov