State
	Metro Area
		County
			Place
				Census Tract
					Block Group
						Block

Census Data for 1990 is available in libraries in paper and CD-ROM format. It is also on the internet through the Census CD-ROM Lookup (http://venus.census.gov/cdrom/lookup/ However, you MAY need to use a library for Census tract maps. Older censuses are only in paper in libraries. A listing of federal depository libraries which maintain paper copies of the Census appears at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/ldirect.html.

11. 1990 Census of Population.

General Population Characteristics provides the most detail on age, race, sex, marital status, and household relationship. There is one report for each state with data for states, counties, cities and townships. Social and Economic Characteristics has state reports with data for the state, counties, and cities of 2500+. It details education, occupation, employment, industry, commuting, disability, income, poverty, foreign born, ability to speak English, ethnicity, and residence five years ago. Example of Table Finding Guide

12. 1990 Census of Housing.

General Housing Characteristics provides owner v. renter occupancy, vacancy rates, housing value, and rent paid. There is one report for each state with data for counties and places of 1000+. Detailed Housing Characteristics covers age of homes, mortgage characteristics, rent as a percent of income, sewage, fuels, telephone availability. There is one report for each state with data for places of 2500+. Example of Table Finding Guide

13. 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Census Tracts.

One report for each Metropolitan Statistical Area with 100% and sample data for the metro area, counties, large cities, and individual census tracts. Includes age, race, marital status, income, poverty, education, language, housing value or rent, age of homes, commuting, and residence five years ago. Separate tables repeat data for race if more than 400 people of that race live in a given census tract. Example of Table. A table finding guide identifies individual pages.

To use the reports effectively, it is necessary to identify a census tract number of interest. This can be done in several ways:

• Through the printed paper maps. Example of Tract Map combined with Street Map.
• The Tiger Street Index CD-ROM (if you know a street address).
• The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (if you know a street address) at http://www.ffiec.gov/geocode/. .
• The ArcView GIS CD-ROM available in many map libraries.
• The Mable/Corr Geographic Search Engine at http://www.oseda.missouri.edu/sedac-2.2/geocorr/index.html will draw a correspondence between census tracts and zip codes.

14. Summary Tape File 3A CD-ROM.

Both population and housing variables for states, counties, cities and townships, census tracts, and block groups. Available at most federal depository libraries but essentially the same as the Census CD-ROM Lookup.

15. Census CD-ROM Lookup. http://venus.census.gov/cdrom/lookup/

250 population and housing variables for states, counties, cities, census tracts and block groups available through Summary Tape File 3A. Summary Tape File 3B has similar data for zip codes.

Steps for Census Tract Data:

• Choose Summary Tape File 3A
• Choose State/County AND Michigan. Submit.
• Choose State/County/Tract AND Wayne County. Submit.
• Choose Area Selected Below AND census tract numbers. Submit twice.
• Choose variables and SUBMIT.
• Choose output (HTML, spreadsheet, etc.)
• Example

16. CIESIN Mapping Service. http://plue.sedac.ciesin.org/plue/ddviewer/

Basic Mapping Steps: (Non-Java)

• Choose state and submit.
• Choose county and submit.
• At minimum, choose geographic level and variable; name the map; submit
• "Attribute List" is the raw data in tabular format; "Gif" is the actual map
• Example

Java 3.0: (Identifies Tract Number and Data)

• Choose State/Get Counties
• Select county/get tract
• Select subject area/select individual variable/close
• Submit job
• Click on tract to identify number and get data

17. Census CD+Maps

CD-ROM has 1990 data for census tracts and block groups in all 50 states. Also provides mapping.

Basic Block Group Mapping

• Click on Area/Geographic Area/Census Tracts
• Choose State/County/Tract Numbers
• Click on SubArea and choose Block Groups
• Click on Counts/Tailored
• Choose subject from top and bottom of screen
• Click on Run/DBF File
• Click on Run/Maps
• See Census CD+Maps Guide or Map of Wyandotte area

18. Historic Census Data.

Data prior to 1990 is primarily available in paper copy at federal depository libraries. See above for lists of libraries. The structure is similar to 1990: a Census of Population, a Census of Housing, and Census Tract reports.

Special notes

• There is no readily-available block group data prior to 1990.
• Census tracts are often redefined or renumbered. You need to look at the maps for each Census. Usually the printed tract volume will provide comparability with previous censuses.
• Household income was a new concept in 1980. Family income was commonly used through 1970.
• Until 1980, races in tables were listed as White, Negro, and other.
• Poverty was a new concept in 1970.
• It is extremely important to compare economic data (a city, a tract) with the county and state to adjust for inflation. You can also adjust for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm but it is much less accurate. The average salary in 1950 was $3400. The inflation rate (442%) suggests a 1990 salary of $15,000 but the average salary was actually $33 ,000.

Most Census data is updated by marketing firms at the zip code or city level. The Census Bureau updates total population counts for cities; age, race and sex for counties and states.

19. CACI Sourcebook of Demographics for Every Zip Code

Annual estimates and projections of households, race, age, sex, and household income for zip codes.

20. Demographics USA

Current population estimates and projections, occupation, employment by industry, and sales. States, cities, and zip codes.

21. Editor and Publisher Market Guide

Current population, number of households, age, per capita income, and household income for cities, metropolitan areas and counties with daily newspapers.

22. Census Bureau Web Site

Total population estimates for places but most other data at national and state level only.

Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/popest.html

Population Projections
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/popest.html

Social and Demographic Characteristics
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/socdemo.html

Housing and Household Economics
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/socdemo.html

23. American Factfinder. (http://www.census.gov/dads/www)

The Year 2000 Population Census and the 1997 Economic Censuses will be distributed primarily on the Internet. Three approaches: pre-tabulated data, data extraction, and microdata manipulation.

24. Vital Statistics of the United States

Annual printed publication with the latest edition 1992. Volume 2B provides death statistics by over 70 causes for counties and cities of 10,000+. It is important to compare your county population size with Census data.

More current county data may be available from state health departments. The National Center for Health Statistics http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/fastats/fastats.htm will provide links.

25. American Hospital Directory. http://www.ahd.com/

Includes Medicare data on disease treated by type for individual hospitals.

26. Local Sources

Interviews with neighborhood residents may be the best way to spot hidden problems, such as a large number of rare childhood cancers. Another alternative would be local newspaper files. Editor and Publisher identifies newspapers and provides web links when available.

27. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/

Describes toxic substances and their health effects. Searchable by substance, geography, and individual site.

28. Environmental Defense Fund. http://www.scorecard.org/health-effects/

Arranged by health effects (e.g. cardiovascular disease) with a list of toxicants causing the problem.

29. Superfund Community Tools. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/tools/index.htm

Describes how communities can become involved in cleaning up Superfund sites.

30. Environmental Defense Fund. http://www.scorecard.org/ranking/

Provides a list of environmental groups, government officials, volunteer, and networking opportunities under each state, county, zip code, or facility where a toxic problem exists.

31. State Environmental Agencies. http://www.caprep.com/stagency.htm

Comprehensive listing of state environmental agencies, arranged by state. State agencies may have maps of waste sites.

32. Contacting the Congress. http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Most updated directory of Congresspersons and committee assignments. Includes district as well as Washington offices, e-mail and fax numbers.

33. Federal Telephone Directories. http://www.info.gov/fed_directory/phone.shtml

Telephone numbers of federal agencies and links to their online directories. This can be supplemented by a list of agency web sites through Louisiana State University, http://www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/fedgov.html

1. Use the Chemical Scorecard, http://www.scorecard.org/ranking/ to obtain the street address of pollution site
   (If using the Superfund National Priorities List, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm, fiddle with Maps on Us, http://www.mapsonus.com/ or MapQuest, http://www.mapquest.com/, to get street names surrounding the site and a nearby street address.

2. Search the street address in the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Geocode List, http://www.ffiec.gov/geocode/, to obtain the census tract number.

3. Use the CIESIN MAPPING SERVICE Java Version 3.0, http://plue.sedac.ciesin.org/plue/ddviewer/ to map the census tracts. Note that this program identifies the tract number and data if you click on a tract.

4. Go back to the Chemical Scorecard, http://www.scorecard.org/ranking/ for toxicity information and local lobbying contacts.

Grace York, Coordinator, Documents Center
The University of Michigan Library
graceyor@umich.edu