General - Census 2010 - LibGuides at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Important Links

Census 2010 in general

Census 2010. Census Bureau.
Data releases: 2010 Census Data Products: United States. Census Bureau.
Definitions for subjects and geographical areas are provided in the technical documentation for each dataset.

U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File Technical Documentation. PL/10-1. January 2011.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Summary File 1 Technical Documentation. SF1/10-3 (RV). March 2012.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Summary File 2 Technical Documentation. 2011.

American FactFinder

American FactFinder, the online source for census (and other) data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data have already been migrated from the Legacy American FactFinder to the New American FactFinder.
Instructions on how to use American FactFinder
- How to Use American FactFinder. (HTML). Census Bureau.
- Video tutorials. Census Bureau.
Quick access to the Glossary provided with American FactFinder. Definitions for subjects and geographical areas are also provided in the technical documentation for each dataset.

Census 2010 publications

Decennial Censuses - 2010

Subject characteristics

such as "Race", "Tenure", etc.

Definitions of subject characteristics can be found in the Glossary provided with American FactFinder as well as in the technical documentation for each dataset.

U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File Technical Documentation. PL/10-1. January 2011.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Summary File 1 Technical Documentation. SF1/10-3 (RV). March 2012.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Summary File 2 Technical Documentation. 2011.

For the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau uses the definitions of race issued by the Office of Management and Budget in "Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity", Federal Register 62.210 (October 30, 1997):58782-58790. For further information:
- Statistical Programs and Standards: Data on Race and Ethnicity. Office of Management and Budget.
- Race Data. Census Bureau.

Geography

Definitions of geographical areas can be found in the Glossary provided with American FactFinder as well as in the technical documentation for each dataset.

U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File Technical Documentation. PL/10-1. January 2011.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Summary File 1 Technical Documentation. SF1/10-3 (RV). March 2012.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Summary File 2 Technical Documentation. 2011.

Census 2010 Geographic Products and Information. Census Bureau.
Standard Hierarchy of Census Geographic Entities illustrates the relationships among geographical areas for which one can collect data. Repeated, in part, in this LibGuide under "Geographies".
Core Based Statistical Areas, Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Metropolitan Divisions, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas are described in this LibGuide under "Geographies".
Census Tract Reference Maps, P.L.94-171 County Block Maps, and other maps are available at Census 2010 Geographic Products and Information.
2010 Census TIGER/Line® Shapefiles. Census Bureau.

The form

The Census form (interactive). Census Bureau.
A facsimile of the form (PDF). Census Bureau.

Downloading massive amounts of data

Use the FTP site at: ftp://ftp.census.gov/census_2010/

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Why is the Census Taken?

A census (i.e., a complete count) of the people of the United States every 10 years is required for the purpose of dividing up the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states by the Constitution in Article I, Section 2, Clause 3:

The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

and by Amendment 14, Section 2:

Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State [...].

Access ACS and Decennial Census data

Information is current as of May 2011.

Resource	Data Series/Dates Available	Statistical Data Aggregation Levels	Online Mapping Geographies
American FactFinder (U.S. Census Bureau)	Decennial Census (2000-2010)	Nation, State, County, Census Tract, Block Group, Block, Place, etc.	Down to Block.
American FactFinder (U.S. Census Bureau)	Population Estimates (2000-2008)	Nation, State, County, County Subdivision, Place, etc.	Yes
Legacy American FactFinder (U.S. Census Bureau)	Decennial Census (1990-2000)	Nation, State, County, Census Tract, Block Group, Block (2000), Place, etc. 1990 Blocks only available via download.	1990: down to County, County Subdivision, Place. 2000: down to Census Tract, County Subdivision, Place.
	American Community Survey (2000-2009). 2009 Data Release and 5-Year Release Details include details on how to access data not available in American FactFinder.	Nation, State, County, Census Tract, County Subdivision, Place, etc. (Geographies with smaller populations only available in 3- or 5-year estimates datasets.) Block Groups only available via download. Blocks not available in ACS.	Thematic: Down to County. Reference: Down to Census Tract.
	Annual Population Estimates (2006-2009)	Nation, State, County, County Subdivision, Place, etc.	Down to County.
National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS)	Decennial Census (1790-2000)	Nation, State, County, Census Tract (1910-), Block (1970-), etc.	No online mapping.
Social Explorer (premium edition)	Decennial Census (1790-2010)	Nation, State, County, Census Tract (1940-), Block Group (1990-), Place, etc.	Down to Block Group.
Social Explorer (premium edition)	American Community Survey (2006-2009)	Nation, State, County, Census Tract, Block Group, etc. (Geographies with smaller populations only available in 3- or 5-year estimates datasets.) Blocks not available in ACS.	Down to Block Group.

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Comparison: Census 2000, Census 2010, and American Community Survey

Census 2000, short form	Census 2010, short form
asked of every person and housing unit data available down to block data available on Age Sex Race Hispanic or Latino origin Household relationship Tenure (Owner/Renter)	asked of every person and housing unit data available down to block data (will be) available on Age Sex Race Hispanic or Latino origin Household relationship Tenure (Owner/Renter)
Census 2000, long form	2005-2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
asked of a sample of persons and housing units data available down to block group data available on Population: Demographic Characteristics Age Sex Race Hispanic or Latino origin Household relationship Population: Social Characteristics Marital status Place of birth, citizenship, and year of entry School enrollment and educational attainment Ancestry Residence 5 years ago (migration) Language spoken at home and ability to speak English Veteran status Disability Grandparents as caregivers Population: Economic Characteristics Income Labor force status Occupation, industry, and class of worker Place of work and journey to work Work status Housing: Physical Characteristics Units in structure Year structure built Number of rooms and number of bedrooms Year moved into residence Plumbing and kitchen facilities Telephone service Vehicles available Heating fuel Farm residence Housing: Financial Characteristics Tenure (Owner/Renter) Value of home or monthly rent paid Utilities, mortgage, taxes, insurance, and fuel costs	N.B. There is no Census 2010 long form. asked of a sample of persons and housing units data available down to block group. More info: Geography, Geography and the American Community Survey data available on (more info): Population: Demographic Characteristics Age Sex Race Hispanic Origin Relationship to Householder Population: Social Characteristics Marital Status and Marital History Place of Birth, Citizenship, and Year of Entry Educational Attainment and School Enrollment Ancestry Residence One Year Ago Language Spoken at Home Veteran Status, Period of Military Service, and VA Service-Connected Disability Rating Disability Grandparents as Caregivers Fertility Population: Economic Characteristics Income Labor Force Status Industry, Occupation, and Class of Worker Place of Work and Journey to Work Work Status Last Year Vehicles Available Food Stamps Benefit Health Insurance Coverage Housing: Physical Characteristics Units in Structure Year Structure Built Rooms, Bedrooms Year Moved Into Unit Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities Telephone Service Available House Heating Fuel Farm Residence Housing: Financial Characteristics Tenure (Owner/Renter) Housing Value Rent Selected Monthly Owner Costs Be aware that "the ACS does not provide official counts of the population in between censuses. Instead, the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program will continue to be the official source for annual population totals, by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex." (Compass, p. 4)