American FactFinder is a Census Bureau website that provides public access to data from several censuses and surveys about the United States population and economy. Anyone can use it to find information by conducting basic searches by location or guided/advanced searches. It contains demographic and economic data including population counts, poverty levels, education levels, and information is updated daily. Users can search by address, zip code, or place name to find statistics about locations.

1. AMERICAN
FACTFINDER
A Ready Reference Instructional
Guide

2. American FactFinder
• American FactFinder provides the public with access to data about
the United States based on information from several censuses and
surveys.
• Anyone of any age can use American FactFinder to find quality data
about the nation’s people and economy.

3. How to Access American FactFinder
• American FactFinder can be accessed through the internet.
• Start by typing in the following website, or simply click on the
provided link. http://factfinder2.census.gov/

4. What is available on American FactFinder
• American Community Survey
• American Housing Survey
• Annual Economic Surveys
• Annual Surveys of Governments
• Census of Governments
• Decennial Census
• Economic Census
• Equal Employment Opportunity
(EEO) Tabulation
• Population Estimates Program
• Puerto Rico Community Survey

5. What is available on American FactFinder
• Examples of questions that can be answered by American
FactFinder:
• How many people lived in Illinois in 2010?
• How many people were below the poverty level in 2013?
• How many people graduate high school, on average, in my zip code?

6. Information
• American Fact Finder contains the Census Bureau’s Statistical
Quality Standards, information quality guidelines, and procedures
to seek correction of information that does not comply with the
information quality guidelines.
• American FactFinder is updated daily

7. How to use American FactFinder
• There are several ways to use American FactFinder:
• Community Facts
• Guided Search
• Advanced Search

8. Community Facts Example
I want to search information on how many people live in Chicago. I
am going to use the Community Facts.

9. Community Facts Example
• My first step is to type in Chicago, Illinois in the search box.

10. Community Facts Example
I am then brought to this screen:
Here I can see that the population of Chicago is 2,695,598 as of
2010. But what if I want to see how many people live in my own
neighborhood?

11. Community Facts Example
First I type in my zip code in the search box:
I have two options. Using the drop box I can see the
population from the 2010 Census, or the 5-year population
estimate.

12. Guided and Advanced search
Both the Guided search and Advanced search gives step by step
instructions that are very easy for users looking for more
particular information. Ex: social characteristics of the United
States.

13. Citation
American FactFinder. (n.d.). American FactFinder. Retrieved October 22, 2014, from
http://factfinder2.census.gov/

14. Conclusion
• If you have questions on this resource, please feel free to contact
me!
Meghan Morgan
10-25-2014