The Census Bureau provides a wealth of information on the population and demographic characteristics of Americans. This information is used by individuals in numerous fields, including business, sociology, education, and public administration. American FactFinder is the online access tool for Census 2000 data, as well as data from the annual American Community Surveys. FactFinder allows users to create tables and maps based on criteria they select. 

Access is free via the World Wide Web at http://factfinder.census.gov. 

 

Fact Sheets

Clicking Fact Sheet from the menu on the left of the screen allows you to view highlights from Census 2000 demographic profiles for a selected geographic location.

The default geography when entering the Fact Sheet section is the entire United States. To change the geography fill in the desired fields in the spaces provided.

• Data can be accessed for States, Counties, Cities, and/or 5-digit Zip Code Areas.
• Click Go.

Results are displayed for the geography you selected and grouped into the following categories:

• General Characteristics - age, sex, race
• Social Characteristics - educational attainment, disability status, marriage status
• Economic Characteristics - employment, income
• Housing Characteristics - home values, mortgage/rental payments

Clicking on Map next to a data item displays a graphical representation of that data for the geography you selected.

Clicking on Brief next to a data item brings up a Census Report which treats that data item in-depth at the national geography level.

Detailed Information

To access detailed Census Bureau data, click Data Sets from the menu on the left of the screen. This allows you to view all the tables published for a selected Census Bureau program, with data presented for the geographic location of the user's choice.

Click one of the tabs under Select a Program to view data tables associated with that program.  Choices include:

• Decennial Census: data from the official census taken every ten years.
• American Community Surveys: supplements long-form census data for those years between decennial censuses.
• Economic Census:  taken every five years, this is a census of business and industry in the United States.
• Population Estimates: estimates prepared annually for the years between decennial censuses.

Each program has a unique group of Data Sets with descriptions provided.  To retrieve a table based on specifics you define:

• Click the radio button of the Data Set you wish to access.
• Click Detailed Tables from the menu which appears on the right.
• You will then be prompted to Select Geography. This will allow you to define the geographic areas for which you want to view the data. The area can be as broad as the United States or as narrow as a Census Block depending on the data set you access. Multiple geographies can be selected. Follow the steps on-screen to select the appropriate geographic division(s) and Add it to your search criteria.  (See Maps and Geography below for help in determining geographic boundaries and codes.)
• When finished click Next.
• The Select Tables screen appears. Following the directions on-screen, select those tables you wish to view for your previously defined geographic area and click Add. If you want more information about a table click What's This to the right of the table list.  You can also search for tables by subject or keyword using the tabs above the list.
• When finished click on Show Table.

Tables can be printed or saved in spreadsheet format using the Print/Download option at the top of the screen.

Use the trail of links labeled You Are Here at the top of the screen to create a new table or change your geography.

Maps and Geography

Click Maps and Geography from the left menu to access American FactFinder's interactive mapping tools.

REFERENCE MAPS

Reference Maps provide a visual context for the geographic divisions and boundaries used in creating the data tables. To locate the Census geography for a particular area click on Reference Maps from the main Maps and Geography section.

You may pinpoint an area by using the interactive map or by entering an address in the dialogue box underneath the map.

Once you have reached the desired zoom level you may select those boundaries and physical features you wish to use by clicking on Legend. This will open a new window which will allow you to choose from a list of possible boundaries, physical features, and titles. You may choose as many or as few as you like.

• Make sure to select the appropriate data set in the drop-down menu.
• Check those boundaries, features, or titles you wish to see, and uncheck those you don't.
• Click Update at the top of the window.
• The original window with the map will refresh.

THEMATIC MAPS

Thematic Maps allow the user to view census data in graphical format. The maps are based on the same data sets referred to above.

Click Thematic Maps from the main Maps and Geography page.

The default map appears. To get the desired map and data use the trail of links labeled You Are Here at the top of the screen:

• To change the Data Set click Data Sets with Thematic Maps.
• Select the Data Set, then click Next.
• To change the Geographic Location click Geography.
• Following the on-screen instructions select the geography, then click Show Result.
• To change the Theme for the map click Theme.
• Select the Theme, then click Show Result.

Maps can be printed or saved using the Print/Download option at the top of the screen.

URL: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/censusaff.htm