Users of demographic information Sources of demographic information

1. Users of demographic information • Sources of demographic information • Examples of demographic information packaging: data sets, web pages, data visualization (infographics) Data creation

2. Censuses and Surveys The Census Bureau conducts many censuses and surveys mandated by law or through other federal agencies contracting their services. Such as Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) The National Science Foundation (NSF) The Social Security Administration (SSA)

3. Census Bureau Surveys The Census Bureau conducts different surveys that use different geographic areas to report data based on the survey's purpose.

5. From Northwest Government Information Network Fall 2011

6. Users of demographic information • Sources of demographic information • Examples of demographic information packaging: data sets, web pages, data visualization (infographics) • Data creation - Censuses & Surveys Data collection – geographic areas

7. Census Bureau Data The Census Bureau conducts different surveys that use different geographic areas to report data based on the survey's purpose. Data is reported for a wide variety of geographic areas that range from the entire United Statesdown to a census block. Some types of geographic areas used for data reporting are widely recognized (e.g., states and counties), others less so (e.g., urbanized areas and census tracts). You will be better able to select data reporting units that suit your needs if you become familiar with the different types of geographic areas and understand the hierarchical relationships between areas. Surveys

8. Data/GeographicTypes/Reporting Units Nation Regions Divisions States Counties Census tract Block group Block Census tractA small, relatively permanent statistical subdivision of a county delineated by a local committee of census data users for the purpose of presenting data. Census tract boundaries normally follow visible features, but may follow governmental unit boundaries and other non-visible features in some instances; they always nest within counties. Designed to be relatively homogeneous units with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions at the time of establishment, census tracts average about 4,000 inhabitants. They may be split by any sub-county geographic entity. (definitions from Census Bureau Glossary) Block group (BG)A subdivision of a census tract (or, prior to 2000, a block numbering area), a block group is the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau tabulates sample data. A block group consists of all the blocks within a census tract with the same beginning number. BlockA subdivision of a census tract (or, prior to 2000, a block numbering area), a block is the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau tabulates 100-percent data. Many blocks correspond to individual city blocks bounded by streets, but blocks - especially in rural areas - may include many square miles and may have some boundaries that are not streets. The Census Bureau established blocks covering the entire nation for the first time in 1990.

9. (from Census Bureau) The connecting lines show the hierarchical relationships between geographic types. For example, a line extends from states to counties because a state is comprised of many counties, and a single county can never cross a state boundary. If no line joins two geographic types, then an absolute and predictable relationship does not exist between them. For example, many places are confined to one county. However, some places extend over more than one county, such as New York City. Therefore, an absolute hierarchical relationship does not exist between counties and places, and any tabulation involving both these geographic types may represent only a part of one county or one place. Notice that many lines radiate from blocks, indicating that most geographic types can be described as a collection of blocks, the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau reports data. Hierarchical Relationships of Geographic types/units for which data are available from the U.S. Census Bureau.

10. Users of demographic information • Sources of demographic information • Examples of demographic information packaging: data sets, web pages, data visualization (infographics) • Data creation - Censuses & Surveys • Data collection – geographic areas Data & Mapping

11. Familiar Map ofMcLennan County

12. 17th Congressional District (113th Congress) Congressional district (CD) An area established by law for the election of representatives to the United States Congress. Each CD is to be as equal in population to all other CDs in the state as practicable, based on the decennial census counts. The number of CDs in each state may change after each decennial census, and the boundaries may be changed more than once during a decade.

13. McLennan County Census Tracts (Census 2000)

14. Note the census terminology of the legend. Same map/Close up of McLennan County Census Tracts (Census 2000)

15. Census Tract 5.98 Mapfrom American FactFinder

16. Users of demographic information • Sources of demographic information • Examples of demographic information packaging: data sets, web pages, data visualization (infographics) • Data creation - Censuses & Surveys • Data collection – geographic areas • Data & Mapping Data Search Engine – American FactFinder

17. U.S. Census Bureau website Census.gov

18. American FactFinderthe search engine for Census data

19. many access points for finding data….

20. If you have questions about this presentation contact the government documents librarian:Sinai_Wood@baylor.eduThe librarian for Social Work is Janet_Sheets@baylor.edu