The American FactFinderFlorida Libraries Association Annual Conference, 2012, Orlando, Florida

Jan Swanbeck, Documents Librarian, Joe Aufmuth, GIS Librarian

Outline

• Background on FactFinder• What data is available in new version and

what is not• Important changes in 2010 Census• Where to find older Census data• Live demo showing how to find and map data• Questions

Objectives

• Know what is available in the current version and what is not

• Understand changes in 2010 Census• Be able to do a search using FactFinder and

map the data

Background on AFF• American FactFinder is an online tool to

search and compile information from U.S. Census Data

• It has been around for 12 years• On January 20,2012 it migrated from legacy to

new version• Any bookmarks you have to the legacy version

take you directly to the new version

Comparison of Old and New AFF NEW American FactFinder

• Decennial Census– 2010 Census (data released to date)– Census 2000

• Annual Population Estimates– 2008 Population Estimates

• American Community Survey– 2010 ACS 1 & 3 -Year Estimates

• Economic Census/Annual Economic Surveys– 2004-2009 Business Patterns– 2004-2009 Nonemployer Statistics

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/newaff_datafiles_list.pdf

Legacy American FactFinder

• Decennial Census– Census 2000– 1990 Census

• Annual Population Estimates– 2006-2009 Population Estimates

• American Community Survey/Puerto Rico Community Survey– 2005-2009 ACS 5-Year Estimates and prior

• Economic Census/Annual Economic Surveys– 2007, 2002, & 1997 Economic Census– 2004-2008 Business Patterns– 2003-2008 Nonemployer Statistics– 2003-2009 Annual Survey of Manufactures

Important Facts to Know Before Using the New American FactFinder

• 1990 Census Data is no longer available via AFF and must be downloaded from the Census Bureau ftp site

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/data_via_ftp/

• 2010 Census asked only 10 questions; there was no long form

• Social and economic data is available for 2010 only via the American Community Survey- the ACS is the new STF 3 for 2010

Questions Asked in 2010

• Number of Residents in House, Apartment or Mobile Home on April 1, 2010

• Owned, Rented, or Occupied Without Rent• Telephone Number• Name, Sex, Age, and Race for Each Resident• Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin for Each

Resident

What is the American Community Survey?• Detailed socioeconomic information once collected

via the long-form questionnaire is now collected by the American Community Survey

• Began collecting data in 2005• Households are randomly sampled every month

and data from the monthly surveys are accumulated and pooled over 12, 36, and 60 months

• Data is released annually for populations over 65K, every 3 years for 20K and every 5 years for all

American Community Survey: Selected Data

• Ancestry• Citizenship Status• Educational Attainment• Fertility• Marital Status• Language• Employment Status• Income and Earnings• Journey to Work

• Poverty • Work Status• Food Stamps• House Heating Fuel• Telephone Service• Value of Home• Plumbing Facilities• Vehicles Available• Year Structure Built

Finding Earlier Census Data for Comparisons

• Census ftp site • PDF’s of Decennial Census Data in zip files on Census

site • University of Virginia Library Site • The National Historical Geographic Information

System (NHGIS) • Your Regional Federal Depository Library (CD’s and

print)

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/data_via_ftp/

FTP Data: http://www2.census.gov/

1980 and 1990 Data

www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial

Decennial Census Data

Historical Census Data and Map Browser

http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu

https://www.nhgis.org/

www.uflib.ufl.edu/docs

Caution in comparing data

• Because of variances in Census boundaries (redrawn each Census) and population estimate bases (changes with each Census), caution is advised in making comparisons.• Census site is helpful for this

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/comparing_2010/

Census Data: Thematic Mapping

American FactFinder: FactFinder 2

HELP!

HELP!: The Best Part of AFF 2.0

Video Tutorial

American Community Survey Guidancehttp://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/guidance_main

Which one to useWhat areas are coveredCensus Geography Review

1yr, 65,000+, Current 3yrs, 20,000+ 5yrs, All Areas, Most Precise

Add Topic or, Race and Ethnic Groups or, Industry Codes, and then Geography

Main Page Search Page

Select a Topic, Choose a Geography

CheckGeographyTypes

Add

“Your Selections”

Select Appropriate Data with a Geography

Hint: Use the “i”for available geography

Selections appear in the upper left corner

1) Topic: Population Total 2) Geography: All States within United States 3) Choose Data: Use “i” to review data, Check and View

Check Box

Click View

No GeographyNo Map!

Compare Multiple Metadata

Create A Thematic Census Map

1) Click Create a Map

2) Click on a Data Value

3) Click Show Map

Title

Source

Download Multiple Formats

LegendMap Tools (Zoom, Pan, Zoom Extent, Identify)

Modify LegendTransparency# of ClassesColor RangeClass Method

Find and ZoomTo a Location

Add Graphic Markers and Text

Thematic Map ElementsBook Mark and Save Queries

Add Census Related Boundaries and Generic Reference Features

Change Year2000 thru 2010

BoundariesAndFeatures

Check Boundary or Feature, and/or Label

Details and Zoom Level8001 International Drive, Orlando, FL

2010 Census Total Population by Census Tract, Orange County, FL

Detailed Features Grey Not Visible

Find LocationZooms to location

Additional Zoom

Details DisplayIn Legend and on Map(default detail colors only)

Bookmark, Download, or PrintDownload Data, PDF,Spreadsheet, Text,or GIS ready ESRI Shapefiles

Save Query File To Recreate Later

Live DemoMapping a Patron’s Question:In which states do Cuban born

Individuals live?