WebJunction - Demographics

While the modules in the Government Information in the 21st Century site are designed for use in training sessions and workshops, the contents can be used by individuals looking for a specific resource or wanting to learn more about demographic resources. This step-by-step guide provides an initial starting point to using the module by guiding the user through the basic resources available in it. Links to each resource are available in the See Also section of the Demographics Module home page.

1. The Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the largest producer of demographic data. Think of the last decennial census form you filled out and the questions it asked. Now think of that data being available for the nation, each state, each metropolitan area, each county, city, and town, and in some cases down to block and zip codes. That's a lot of information! Because of this, the Census website can be overwelming. Use the following guide to get an overview of the Census home page

Overview of the Census Home Page

2. Census Databases

There are several databases developed by the Census Bureau that allow the user to find general information such as the ethnic populations of Denver, Colorado, or specific information such as the median household income for the top ten metropolitan areas in the United States, broken down by specific cites within each area and by age, race, and sex of the population.

The guides below outline how to get started in the three main Census databases.

American Factfinder Guide
American Factfinder is the Census Bureau's primary data dissemination portal and includes data from its main surveys and programs.
American Community Survey Guide
The American Community Survey is a nationwide survey to provide communities with a more up-to-date snapshot of their demographics. It will eventually replace the decennial census.
Current Population Survey Guide
The Current Population Survey is conducted every month and samples parts of the population.

3. Case Studies

Several case studies and examples are listed below to give some practical experience using the resources listed above. Most can be adapted to a different region or demographic information. For instance, the Vietnamese Restaurant in Denver could be a Mexican restaurant in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

4. Specific Topics

Other agencies provide demographic information based on their own surveys or in conjunction with the Census Bureau. The links below provide sources for specific topics.