The document provides an overview of a training on using census data. It introduces the goals of explaining what census data includes, how it can be used, where to find needed data, and how to do quick analyses. It outlines exercises to compare Brooklyn to NYS on demographics, poverty, and ESL needs using American FactFinder. Key census surveys are described covering population, economics, governments, and geographic units for analysis. Guidelines on available data levels and working with larger datasets over time are provided.

2.  Introductions
 Goals of the training
 Warm-up exercise
 The census universe
 What to know before you start
 Introduction to the American Fact Finder
 Hands-on Exercises
 Wrap up
Using Census Data

3.  The name of your organization
 Past experience with Census data
 What do you want to use Census data
for?
Using Census Data

4.  At the end of the training you should be
able to:
› Understand what ‘Census’ data includes
› What you can do (what you can’t) with
Census data
› Understand where to find the data you need
› Do some quick and easy analyses using
Census data
Using Census Data

5.  Questions to answer:
› Has Brooklyn seen an influx or outflow of
residents as compared to NYS?
› Is NYS more or less likely than Brooklyn to
need ESL services? Based on what data?
› What is the poverty level of Brooklyn? Is it
higher or lower than of NYS?
› What other interesting patterns do you see?
Using Census Data

6.  The Census: Not just the Census
 Includes many surveys and datasets
 Each survey covers different topics
 The dataset you use is dependent on the
topic you want to study
Using Census Data

7.  The Decennial Census
› The ‘Original’ census
› Administered once every ten years
› Surveys mailed Plus household visits from
Census staff
› 2010 census only included the short form
› The data is used for:
 Apportionment and Redistricting
 Distribution of Federal funds
 Emergency management
Using Census Data

8.  The American Community Survey (ACS)
› Large continuous survey
› Samples 3.54 million residents per year
› Covers social and economic characteristics
› Provides estimates based on statistically
significant samples
› Estimates done for very small geographic
areas
Using Census Data

9.  The Current Population Survey (CPS)
› Monthly survey of 50,000 households
› Done through interviews and supplemental
surveys
› Focus on economic and employment-
related information
› Provides the official statistics on
unemployment
Using Census Data

10.  Survey of Income and Program
Participation
› Longitudinal survey of households lasting 2.5
to 4 years, 3 interviews a year
› Sample of 37,000 households
› Covers work, income, assets, programs and
health insurance
Using Census Data

11.  Statistics about governments
› Provides information about state and local
governments
› Covers finance, employment, retirement
and organization data
› Statistics on federal spending
Using Census Data

12.  Economic Census and surveys
› Economic Census every 5 years
› Supplemented by annual, quarterly and
monthly surveys
› Covers the private sector
› Data available for each localities and
industry codes (NAICS)
Using Census Data

13.  Legal/Administrative
› States
› Counties
› Minor civil divisions
› Congressional districts
› School districts
› Incorporated places
 Statistical
› Census Tracts
› Metropolitan/Micropolitan statistical areas
› Census county subdivisions
› Urban areas
› Census designated places
Using Census Data

14. Using Census Data

15.  Not ‘who’ but ‘how many’
 Not all data is available for every locality
 The smaller your locality the more likely
data will be blank (surpressed)
 The newer your data the more likely
data will be blank (not available yet)
 Try to work across larger data sets (across
more years) as much as you can
Using Census Data

16.  Quick Status (www.census.gov)
 American Fact Finder
(http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav
/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
 Data Reports
 Interactive data tools
 Data downloads through PUMS
Using Census Data

17.  Do a fact sheet for the five NYC counties
Using Census Data

18.  One Stop shopping for all census data
(with few exceptions)
 Interactive tool for generating reports
and downloading data
 Unless you are doing extensive
research, all you will need is here
Using Census Data

19.  Using the American Fact finder to do a
comparative analysis of the foreign born
population in the five NYC counties
Using Census Data

20.  Using the American Fact finder to determine
where in Brooklyn would an ESL program make
the most sense?
› Note: use the Name tab, select Zip and then
search for Kings county, NY
Using Census Data