TUTORIAL

American FactFinder is a web-based access tool. Data is available at all levels of geography, and users can select many different geographic areas. However, selecting data for large numbers of geographic areas (especially census block groups or census blocks) can be very tedious. American FactFinder has some pre-formatted thematic maps, but users cannot customize them. All geographic identifiers can be downloaded for use in mapping with GIS software, but users have to select which of the downloaded identifiers are needed since American FactFinder downloads all geographic identifiers.

Note: If you need to choose large numbers of geographic areas, such as a large amount of block level data, it may be more useful to purchase the US Census 2000 Data Engine Software included on the Census CDs and DVDs. This software allows users to choose large numbers of geographic areas more quickly than with FactFinder. In addition, users can select data for an area defined by a radius centered on a user-defined latitude and longitude. Geographic identifiers can be selected so that data can be mapped with GIS software. To purchase this software go to www.census.gov and click on Census 2000. You will see a listing for “Census Store” in the column on the left side of the page.

American FactFinder

http://factfinder.census.gov/

American FactFinder is a very powerful and useful tool and will give users data for specific areas quickly and easily. Data from 1990 and 2000 censuses as well as from the Economic Census, population estimates and American Community Survey are available. American FactFinder works best with Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 4.7. Users will usually get good results with more recent versions of the browsers. The main page of FactFinder includes FAQs, a site tour, tutorials and a glossary. If a user has problems with American FactFinder, a Feedback form is available to contact staff by e-mail.

American FactFinder has many different ways to get data. Beginning on the left side of the screen with keyword search (both topical and geographical), users can find data on topics or locations of interest. Enter the keyword and click on <Go>. A list of tables and maps for that keyword will appear. In the case of geography, if you enter the name of a city which appears in more than one state, you will then be ask to select which one you want before the list of tables and maps appears. Depending on which data source you choose, further specification of the place may be necessary, e.g., MACON, GA MSA, or MACON (place), GA, or MACON, BIBB COUNTY, GA.

Basic Facts in the center of the main screen provides data tables for nation, state, county and city and township geographic levels. Data tables are available from 2000 Census and 1990 Census, and the number of tables available will increase with each release of data from 2000. First select the table by scrolling down until it appears, then click on it. Next in the same manner select the level of geography. At that point, FactFinder will ask for state, then county or city or place (levels available depend on the data table selected). Once the geographic selection is complete, click on <Go> and the table will appear on the screen. For "Quick Tables" data for the selected area appear. With "Geographic Comparison Tables," data for all areas at the selected geographic level appear. Data can be printed or downloaded by clicking on <Print/Download> in the upper right part of the screen. Data is downloaded in either .csv (comma delimited) or .lst (tab delimited) - both formats can be imported into a spreadsheet software package. A special feature also allows you to transpose rows and columns when that would be more useful for data manipulation. The <Print> option gives a formatted table.

Street Address - Another option for searching for data is by street address. Located in the upper left part of the main American FactFinder screen, clicking on "street address" (it looks like a street signpost) brings up a screen where users can enter the street address. The result will be a listing of the geographic levels for that address. Once the address is entered, selection proceeds as for geographic keyword searches, and users can select data tables for the area, map the area or select from thematic maps. This option is an easy way to look up the census tract for a given address.

Data Sets - One of the most powerful tools in American FactFinder is located below the street address search. The "Data Sets" option gives "complete subject and geographic coverage for FactFinder Data Sources." Click on <Go> and begin the selection process similar to that for Quick Tables. First select the data set - SF1, SF2 (and eventually SF3 and SF4), ACS 2000 Supplementary Survey, 2000 Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) and STF-1 and STF-3 from 1990. Then select from the options listed on the right portion of the screen. Many of these options repeat what could be selected with Basic Tables or Keyword search. However, the "Detailed Tables" is an important additional option that is not available through the other American FactFinder entry portal. After selecting "Detailed Tables," select geographic level of interest - in this case many more geographical options are available including Census block and 5-digit Zip Code Tabulation Area for SF1. What follows can be an extended selection process beginning with the state. When the desired geographic level has been reached, users can select all areas (e.g., all blocks in the block group, or all counties in the state) or one area. Highlight the desired area in the box and click on <Add>, then click <Next>. At this point, a box will appear with Clicking on each variable in turn will add it to the data file being generated. A limit of 50 variables can be selected. Clicking on <Show Table> will display the data by table for all geographic selections. If the download option is chosen, users can choose to transpose the data so that geographic areas appear in the first column and data in subsequent columns. Each table appears sequentially in the file.

Under the Data Sets option, it is possible to choose more than one geographic level (the upper limit is a total of 500 geographies). For example, if users want all counties in Georgia and all county subdivisions in several counties, the subdivisions can be added after the counties by returning to the selection menu and adding the county subdivisions to the list. However, if the selection is all county subdivisions, then it is easier to use Geographic Comparison Tables.

Once the data appears, users can change the selections by clicking the "Change Selections" tab at the top of the page. Users can choose a different table or different geographies without changing other choices already made in the session.

SF2 Data Set - Users interested in data by detailed race (the SF2 dataset) will select tables and geographic level in the same way as for SF1. However, once the data table appears, users have the option to change Race or Ethnic Groups under "Change Selections" at the top of the screen. Selecting "Race or Ethnic Group" will bring up a menu of all races and ethnic groups. The table will appear for the previously chosen geography with data for the selected races and ethnic groups. The same option is available for SF2 Quick Tables, SF2 Geographic Comparison Tables and SF2 Detailed Tables.

Mapping is possible using FactFinder, simply click on <Map It> after selecting a geographic area. Both Reference Maps and Thematic Maps are available. Thematic mapping is rather restricted at this time, and users cannot set their own parameters. Reference maps are available for only one geographic area at a time, but users can zoom in and out and select or deselect geographic layers in the maps. The Census Bureau says that FactFinder mapping will be upgraded to allow more flexibility.

Detailed Information for GIS users: To select geographic identifiers to use as geocodes with other mapping software, such as Arc View, click on "Options" after a dataset is selected and click on "Show Geographic Identifiers." This option is only available when "Detailed Tables" have been selected. It is not available for "Quick Tables" or "Geographic Comparison Tables." You can choose geographic identifiers and ALL geographic identifiers will be included in the data you download. You will then have to choose which identifiers you need to map the data, generally the FIPS codes for State, County, to the lowest level in your file. These codes will be added as a separate table. You will need to manipulate your spreadsheet to associate geographic identifiers with the data you download. To get geocodes for Arc View, concatenate identifiers for the levels needed, e.g., State, County, and Census Tract. The identifiers are numeric, and you will have to include a multiplier to generate enough placeholders in the concatenation process. For example, if you are generating county geocodes, the codes should look like this: 27137. Geographic variables selected will be state - 27 and county - 137. If you add the two numeric variables, the result will be 164 not 27137. To get a correct geocode add 27 times 1000 and add the county code to get 27137. Arc View has instructions for concatenating geocodes using Arc View’s calculator.

American FactFinder Exercise 1: Quick table of data by race for Cobb County

1. Open American FactFinder: http://factfinder.census.gov/. Under "Start with Basic Facts" (upper right) click on the arrow across from <Show Me>, and scroll to "Race and Hispanic or Latino (QT), then in the "for" box, select "A County".

2. In the same way, continue selecting in the boxes, first state, and then county.

3. Click <Go> and the table with data by race and Hispanic origin will appear on the screen. You can print or download the data by clicking on <print/download> on the menu in the upper right portion of the screen.

American FactFinder Exercise 2: Data by race for Cobb County using Data Sets option

1. Open American FactFinder: http://factfinder.census.gov/ Click on <Go> under Data Sets.

2. Select "Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF1) 100-Percent Data." Select "Quick Tables" from the list that appears on the right of the screen. Select "County" when prompted for geographic type, then select "Georgia," then highlight "Cobb County" click <Add>.

3. Click <Next> to get a list of the Quick Tables, highlight "QT-P3. Race and Hispanic or Latino 2000" and click <Add>. Clicking <What's this> will display the format of the table in case you're not sure this is what you want. Clicking <Show Table> will display the table on the screen. As in Exercise 1, you can print or download this table. You can also change geographic selections in the menu at the top of the screen.

These two exercises give an example of the redundancy built into American FactFinder. Users need to find the most comfortable way for them to get the data that they want. "Data Sets" is a very powerful option, but also allows users to get the preformatted Quick Tables.

American FactFinder Exercise 3: Data by race for all Georgia counties

a. Using Geographic Comparison Tables

1. Open American FactFinder: http://factfinder.census.gov/ Under "Start with Basic Facts" (upper right) click on the arrow across from <Show Me>, and scroll to "Population, Race and Hispanic or Latino (GCT), then in the "for" box, select "State-County".

2. Select "Georgia" and click on <Go>. The table with data by race and Hispanic origin for all Georgia counties as well as totals for the state will appear on the screen. You can print or download the data by clicking on <print/download> on the menu in the upper right portion of the screen.

b. Using Data Sets option

1. Open American FactFinder: http://factfinder.census.gov/ Click on <Go> under Data Sets. Select "Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF1) 100-Percent Data." Select "Geographic Comparison Tables" from the list that appears on the right of the screen.

2. Select "State" when prompted for geographic type, then select "Georgia," from the "Select a geographic area" listing, then select "State - County" from the table format list.

3. Highlight "GCT-P6. Race and Hispanic or Latino: 2000" and click <Show Table> to display the table on the screen. As in Exercise 1, you can print or download this table. You can also change geographic selections in the menu at the top of the screen.

American FactFinder Exercise 4: Single year of age for Census Tracts in Cobb County and County Subdivisions in Cobb County

1. Open American FactFinder: http://factfinder.census.gov/. Click on <Go> under Data Sets. Select "Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF1) 100-Percent Data." Select "Detailed Tables" from the list that appears on the right of the screen.

2. Select "Census Tract" under "State" and "County" when prompted for geographic type, then select "Georgia," from the "Select a geographic area" listing, then select Cobb County. Highlight "All Census Tracts" from the geographic areas list and click <Add>. Since the request is for census tracts and County Subdivisions in Cobb County, return to the "Select a geographic type" box and select "County Subdivision" under State and County. Since Georgia and Cobb County are already selected, highlight "All County Subdivisions" and click <Add>.

3. Click <Next> (if next does not appear, but <Show Table> appears, see item 4 below) then <Keyword>. Enter "Age" then click on <Search>. A lengthy list of tables will appear. If you are not sure which table has single year of age, use the <What's this? > option to look at the table format. When you find the correct table (PCT12. Sex by Age (Total Population), highlight it and click on <Add>. Click on <Show Table> to display the table on the screen. This table will be very wide since all tracts and all County Subdivisions in the county were selected. As in Exercise 1, you can print or download this table. You can also change geographic selections in the menu at the top of the screen. In many cases you may need to download the data for easier viewing/printing and for data manipulation. As stated above, clicking on the "Transpose Rows/Columns" will give a file with geographic areas in the first column and variable names in the column headings.

4. Note on Retention of Previous Table Selections: If you have been working in American FactFinder and go back to Main at the top of the screen, FactFinder often does NOT clear out previous selections. In this exercise, rather than see <Next> in step 3, <Show Table> may appear. When this happens, click on <Show Table> and check to see what is selected in FactFinder. You will probably find the table from the previous exercise. Click on "Change Selections" and select Tables. At this point you can choose from a list of tables or use the keyword search facility to find the table that has the data you want.

5. To map this data, click on Options at the top of the screen when the data appears and click on "Show Geographic Identifiers." The file will appear with all geographic identifiers in the first part, followed by the data in the lower part of the file.