NCSU Libraries Census Related Webpages and Resources

Quick Start Census Guide - NCSU Libraries' starting point for finding Census data.
Population Census Guide - In-depth year by year details starting with 1790 Census, and describes PRINT resources.
Selected Census Terminology
Census Geographies Explained - Tracts, Block Groups, Blocks... what are they?
Summary Files Explained - Short Form, Long Form, Decennial Census, American Community Survey... what do these mean?
Compare Decennial vs. ACS data

Need in-depth Census data assistance? Contact Data Services.

Quick Start Census Guide

Resources for Finding Digital Census Data and GIS Boundaries at NCSU

This is intended to be a guide to starting points for finding Census data. There are many sources of Census numeric data in tabular format and of boundary files suitable for GIS. If you have questions, please contact the Data Services Librarians.

Notes and Tips:

NCSU Libraries' Population Census Guide, includes detailed year by year explanatory material and describes Printed resources (as opposed to only digital, as shown in the table below).
The links below take you to aggregated numeric Census data. If you are looking for images and names from the actual Census documents of 1790-1930 (1940 coming soon), go to HeritageQuest.
Sources for Population Projections are noted below. The US Census also has population projections, but they have not been recently updated as of Spring 2012.
Looking for recent Income data? This is possibly the most common data topic that is only available via the American Community Survey (ACS) and not from the short form Decennial Census. Income data is best retrieved from American Factfinder 2, and the smallest geography that it is reported to is the block group level. More ACS Details...

Census Year	Information (roll over )	Electronic Resource	Data Tables / Geographies	Smallest Geography
Most Recent (2010 and ACS) P = Source for Population Projections	US Census Bureau official data site Latest Decennial Census (2010) American Community Survey (ACS)	American Factfinder 2	Data / Online Map	Block
	Shapefiles and other formats of Census geographies	TIGER/Line Geographic Data	Geo	Block
	Easily available Includes some basic 100% (STF1) variables	NC Census boundaries on NC OneMap	Lmtd Data / Geo	Block
	Single file download designed for use with GIS Limited number of SF1 attribute variables Blocks are represented only by points	ArcGIS.com - Esri Data and Maps	Lmtd Data / Geo	Block Group
	Easy to use online source Facilitates mapping of numerous other demographic variables Single source of data and boundaries P	Business Analyst - [Direct Connection]	Data / Geo	Block Group
	Easy to use online source Facilitates mapping of numerous other demographic variables Single source of data and boundaries P	SimplyMap - [Direct Connection]	Data / Geo	Block Group
1970-2030	Data Access via LINC (Log In NC) P	North Carolina Data Center, LINC	Data	Block
1970-2030	Data Tables, accessible only on CD in DH Hill Library Provides entire US extent P	Woods and Poole	Data	Metro and Micro Areas
1790-2010	Only source of comprehensive aggregated data for all Censuses	National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS)	Data / Geo	Block
2000	U.S. Census Bureau database Comphrehensive data and documentation	American Factfinder 2	Data / Online Map	Block
	Easy to use online source Facilitates mapping of numerous other demographic variables Single source of data and boundaries	SimplyMap - [Direct Connection]	Data / Geo	Block Group
	100% data (geographies depend on disc)	Various Geolytics CensusCD 2000 products	Data / Geo	Varies
	Boundaries normalized to 2000 to ease time series comparisons Single source of data and boundaries	CensusCD Neighborhood Change Database	Data / Geo	Tract
	Easily available Includes some basic 100% (STF1) variables	NC Census boundaries on NC OneMap	Lmtd Data / Geo	Block
	Easily available Includes some basic 100% (STF1) variables	TIGER/Line Data at ESRI	Lmtd Data / Geo	Block
1990	Easy to use online source Facilitates mapping of numerous other demographic variables Single source of data and boundaries	SimplyMap - [Direct Connection]	Data / Geo	Block Group
	100% data (geographies depend on disc)	Various Geolytics CensusCD 2000 products	Data / Geo	Varies
	Boundaries normalized to 2000 to ease time series comparisons Single source of data and boundaries	CensusCD Neighborhood Change Database	Data / Geo	Tract
	Easily available Includes some basic 100% (STF1) variables	1990 NC Census boundaries on NC OneMap	Lmtd Data / Geo	Block Group
	Easily available Includes some basic 100% (STF1) variables	Census 2000 TIGER/Line Data at ESRI (includes 1990 data)	Lmtd Data / Geo	Block
1980	Easy to use online source Facilitates mapping of numerous other demographic variables Single source of data and boundaries	SimplyMap - [Direct Connection]	Data / Geo	Block Group
	Easy to use Single source of data and boundaries	CensusCD 1980 - [User Guide]	Data / Geo	Block Group
	Boundaries normalized to 2000 to ease time series comparisons Single source of data and boundaries	CensusCD Neighborhood Change Database	Data / Geo	Tract
	Easily available Includes some basic 100% (STF1) variables	1980 NC Census boundaries on NC OneMap	Lmtd Data / Geo	Mixed: Tracts and Enumeration Districts
1970	Only source of 1970 data Easy to use Single source of data and boundaries	CensusCD 1970 - [User Guide]	Data / Geo	Tract
	Boundaries normalized to 2000 to ease time series comparisons Single source of data and boundaries	CensusCD Neighborhood Change Database	Data / Geo	Tract
	Easily available Includes some basic 100% (STF1) variables	1970 NC Census boundaries on NC OneMap	Lmtd Data / Geo	Mixed: Tracts and Enumeration Districts
1790-1960	Examine historical data online	Historical Census Browser	Data / Online Map	County

For more information or assistance, contact:

Jeff Essic, Data Services Librarian
(919) 515-5698
jeff_essic@ncsu.edu

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