American FactFinder is a service of the US Census Bureau, freely available on the web. Through FactFinder, one can collect statistical data and do mapping from the Decennial Census, the American Community Survey, and the Population Estimates Program (for people and housing) and the Economic Census (for establishments).
| Decennial Census through 2000 | American Community Survey | Population Estimates Program | Economic Census | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| years | every 10 years since 1790, years ending in '0' | annual | annual | every 5 years, years ending in '2' and '7' |
| content | basic demographic data and socio-economic data about people and housing. (Beginning 2010, basic demographic data only.) | basic demographic data and socio-economic data about people and housing | basic demographic data about people and housing | economic data about establishments |
| geographies | block, block group, census tract, township, county, state, nation, place (cities, etc.), metropolitan areas, etc. | block group, census tract, township, county, state, nation, place (cities, etc.), metropolitan areas, etc. Data are currently available only for geographic areas with populations of 20,000 or more (as of January 2010). | place, county, state, etc. | places with 2,500 or more inhabitants, county, metropolitan and micropolitan area, state, ZIP Code, depending on the sector |
Terminology. You will need to know that Place is Census terminology for incorporated places, census designated places, and consolidated cities. All of your communities are Places. Use the Glossary, Technical Documentation, Guide, or other documentation for other terms that you do not fully understand.
This guide will answer many questions that you will have as you use American FactFinder to collect data for your communities.
(2007 data for Illinois places are not yet released as of January 2010.) Provides data about businesses: number of establishments; sales, shipments, receipts, or revenue; annual payroll; number of employees. Tips:
“The data on race were derived from answers to the question on race that was asked of all people. The concept of race, as used by the Census Bureau, reflects self-identification by people according to the race or races with which they most closely identify. These categories are sociopolitical constructs and should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature. Furthermore, the race categories include both racial and national-origin groups. […] People may have chosen to provide two or more races either by checking two or more race response check boxes, by providing multiple write-in responses, or by some combination of check boxes and write-in responses. [...]”
“The data on the Hispanic or Latino population were derived from answers to a question that was asked of all people. The terms ‘‘Spanish,’’ ‘‘Hispanic origin,’’ and ‘‘Latino’’ are used interchangeably. Some respondents identify with all three terms while others may identify with only one of these three specific terms. […] People who identify their origin as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race. [...]”
Source: Summary File 1, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Technical Documentation
From the American Community Survey and Census 2000, one can collect data on Per Capita Income, Household Income, Family Income, and/or Nonfamily Income. In order to decide what data to collect and how to interpret the data, it is important to know what the difference is between a Household and a Family and to understand what a Nonfamily Household is.
Given the definitions of Household and Family under the heading "Household Type and Relationship" in American Community Survey, Puerto Rico Community Survey, 2008 Subject Definitions, pp. 51-54, decide for each of the following living situations whether the individual(s) are a Household, whether a Family, and whether a Nonfamily. (Alternatively, make these decisions based on Census 2000 definitions in Summary File 3, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Technical Documentation.)
| Situation | Household? | Family? | Nonfamily? |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. Susan, her husband Eric, and their child live in one half of a duplex. | |||
| b. Max lives alone in an apartment. | |||
| c. Andrew, Mark, Karen, and Sally, all adults, share a 4-bedroom house. None are married or are couples. | |||
| d. Mary and Doug married. Each has 2 children from previous marriages. Neither Mary nor Doug has adopted the other's children. The 6 individuals live in a mobile home. | |||
| e. Seymour and Natasha are married and live together with their 1 child and with Natasha's mother in an apartment. | |||
| f. Alex and Bill are a homosexual couple who are not married. They live together in a cottage behind the main house. | |||
| g. Karen is a single mother, living with her young daughter in a rented apartment. | |||
| h. Louise and Ted's granddaughter Cindy lives with them in their home. | |||
| i. Matilda lives in a nursing home. She is widowed and her children live out-of-state. |
