AmericanAmericanFactFinderFactFinder

Eric Guthrie

What is it and how do What is it and how do I get there?I get there?

• It is the data retrieval tool available to the public that allows anyone to obtain data from US Census products form 2000 and later.

http://factfinder2.census.gov/

Quick FactsQuick Facts

Convenient, Basic Convenient, Basic Data Data

Advanced Data Advanced Data SearchesSearches

Step One…GeographyStep One…GeographyAn important question to ask yourself is “At what geographic level do I require the data?”NationRegionStateCountyCounty Subdivision TownshipZIP Code Place (City, Town, CDP)Tract Congressional DistrictBlock GroupBlock How do I do th

at?

Really Small Really Small GeographiesGeographies

Few will need this level of detail, but if you do, here is where you can find the maps of the small geographies, i.e. tracts, block groups, and blocks.

2010 South Dakota Tracts2010 South Dakota Blocks

http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/2000 South Dakota Tracts2000 South Dakota Blocks

Tract, Block Groups Tract, Block Groups and Blocksand Blocks

Small units of geography. In places they are literally as small as blocks, as an area gets more rural, they become larger, but are still the smallest units available

http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/

Step Two…Data SetStep Two…Data SetDecennial Census 2010

2000

American Community Survey 1 – Year Estimates (2005-11)

3 – Year Estimates (2007-11)5 – Year Estimates (2009-11)

Variety of Other Data Sets including Business Patterns, Economic Census, and others

Step Three…TopicStep Three…TopicThis is probably the first thing that most people think of when they are planning the data search, but your selections in the first and second steps really make a difference in what topics you can explore.

Lots of TopicsLots of Topics

Data Definitions and Data Definitions and MethodologyMethodology

Terms: http://www.census.gov/main/www/glossary.html

Methods: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/methodology_main/

(ACS)

http://www.census.gov/history/pdf/2010-background-crs.pdf (2010 Decennial)

The InstrumentsThe Instruments2010 Decennial Census Form

American Community Survey

ExerciseExerciseLets get some data!

Let’s find a few things and see how this comes together.

Items to find:1.Median age for Minnehaha county for 2011

2.Number of females over 18 in Box Elder in 2010

3.Persons below the poverty line in McPherson County in 2011

What was that order What was that order again?again?

1.Geography

2.Data Set

3.Topic

AnswersAnswers1. Median age for Minnehaha county for 2011

34.8 (+/- 0.1)

2. Number of females 18 and over in Box Elder in 2010

2,474

3. Per Capita Income in McPherson County in 2011

• $19,879 (+/- $1,457)

Exercise for credit Exercise for credit StudentsStudents

• Pick three pieces of data that would be important to you and/or your work and find them for your community, Sioux Falls, and Rapid City (if your community is Rapid City or Sioux Falls, pick any third community)

• Get these data for from the 2010 Decennial Census and the 2011 Community Survey

• Send your responses to Mike at: Michael.McCurry@sdstate.edu

Thank youThank youRemember, we are here to help.

Let us know if we can be of assistance to you with your data needs.

Eric GuthrieSouth Dakota State UniversityRural Life and Census Data Center