-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: The where's (& whys) of US Census population data?
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2012 11:37:43 -0400
From: Dierdre Bevington-Attardi <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship <[log in to unmask]>


For the 2010 Census, the "Data Products at a Glance" is the best
resource to find the geographies that are available for each product.
On this page the lowest level of geography (i.e., block) is available.
If you select the hyperlink for each product (name of the product)
more detail about the geography is available.  This is very helpful
when trying to compare something like Summary File 1 (with lots of
geographic detail) and the Demographic Profiles (very limited
geographic detail).

The "Data Products at a Glance" page can be found at:
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2010/glance/ . This link only
includes the 2010 Census data products.

To download the population data for all counties and towns in the US,
the American FactFinder is the best and fastest way to get these data.
  If you require large amounts of data for many different types of
geography then download the summary files.

To access 2010 Census data in American FactFinder go to:
- http://factfinder2.census.gov
- Select "Topics" from the left side of the screen
- Select "Program" from the new selection options
- Select "Decennial Census"
- From "Topics" select "Year"
- Select "2010"
- Close the "Topics" window and open "Geographies"
- From the "List" tab select "County"
- Do not select a "state" instead select the "All Counties within
United States" and select "Add to Your Selections."

For the towns/places within counties, the process is more complicated
since place boundaries can cross county boundaries.  For towns in the
Northeast and Midwest use "County Subdivisions;" for cities in the US
and towns in the rest of the country use "Place."

More tips:
- In the "List" tab, select the "places" and "county subdivisions" in
the US but note that "places" cross county boundaries.  "County
subdivisions" always nest within county boundaries.
- For "county subdivisions," search/add states individually (one at a
time) to your list.  All "places" in the US can be added in a single
step.
- For the "Place" parts that fall within a county you will need to
switch the geographic selection type and follow these steps:
--Select the "Name" tab;
--In the middle of the page in the gray box change the "Select from:"
radio button to "all summary levels;"
--From the "geographic type" option on the left select "city or town;"
--From the left side select "Summary Level" and select "070 -
Place/Remainder"
(Note: There are approximately 70,000 of these in the US so you will
not be able to select all in a single transaction).

The advantages of calling vs. e-mailing really depends on the
question.  The phone call (301-763-INFO) goes to a call center where
they will forward you to a subject matter expert.  Depending on the
question, you may need more than one subject matter expert (if there
is more than one topic). The e-mail system (submit the question
through - http://ask.census.gov - submit request) allows for questions
to be easily routed from one area to another. If your query is more
technical, send it through e-mail and include a phone number if you
would like to clarify/explain on the phone.  For questions about
American FactFinder, e-mail is the only way to reach the experts. Use
the "Help" link on the American FactFinder webpage.



On 6/5/12, Angie Cope, American Geographical Society Library,
     UW Milwaukee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: RE: [MAPS-L] The where's (& whys) of US Census population data?
> Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 11:18:42 -0400
> From: Overberg, Paul <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> There's no substitute for the technical documentation, especially on
> geographical entities, relationships and coding:
> http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010
>
> In Census 2010 SF1, you want county subdivisions (summary level 060) or
> places (summary level 140). The former are fully functioning local
> governments in 12 states in New England, the Middle Atlantic and around
> the Great Lakes. In another handful of states, they have limited
> government powers.
>
> In many states in the South and West, they are just administrative
> entities. In those states, you probably want places. Something with a
> full government charter from a state legislature is an "incorporated
> place" to the Census Bureau. Most of us call them "cities." The bureau
> also includes "non-incorporated places" in summary level 140. Those are
> locally well-known and typically requested and delineated by state and
> local officials. Note: Places don't necessarily align to county
> boundaries in most states.
>
> Rather than FTP or AFF, you might find it easier to use census.ire.org,
> a project of Investigative Reporters and Editors.
>
> Paul Overberg
> USA TODAY
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope, American
> Geographical Society Library, UW Milwaukee
> Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 9:02 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MAPS-L] The where's (& whys) of US Census population data?
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: The where's (& whys) of US Census population data?
> Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 04:47:50 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Beth Arthur <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
> To: Air Photo GIS Forum - Map LibrarianshipMaps <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> I'm a beginning GIS student who seeks your help for a map project (You
> may have met me a few summers ago at the ALA MAGERT meetings in Chicago).
>
> Are there libguides that clarify the 2010 Census' geographic location
> types (county, urbanized area, place level etc.) and which 2010 Census
> file contains them (Demographic Profile vs. Summary File 1?)?
>
> I want to download basic population count by county for each U.S. state,
> and, if possible, the population for the towns and cities within those
> counties.
>
> - Is FTPing the way to best download this data or using the filtering
> mechanisms on the American Fact Finder site?
>
> - Should I contact the email addresses on the Census site or simply call
> the contact phone number?
>
> Thanks for all pointers.
>
> ~ Beth Arthur
> NEIU graduate student
> Chicago, IL
>


--
Dierdre Bevington-Attardi
(301) 625-9026 (h)
(301) 943-2051 (c)
[log in to unmask]