The American FactFinder is the central place on the Census Bureau's web site to find Census data.  From here you can get the Decennial Census (collects data every 10 years about households, education, income, home ownership, etc.), the Economic Census (profiles the U.S. Economy every 5 years), and the American Community Survey (a survey  conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides profiles of selected communities every year).  You can even enter your street address and find basic statistics. By using your street address to find statistics, you can also find out in what Census Tract your home is.

A limited number of questions are asked of every person and housing unit in the U.S.  The data from the short forms (100% data) ask about household relationship, sex, age, Hispanic or Latino origin, Race, whether home is owned or rented, and vacancy characteristics.   Additional questions are asked of a sample of persons and housing units (generally 1 in 6 receive the long form).  The long form (sample data) also asks the same questions as the short forms, but has additional questions about marital status, place of birth, citizenship, educational attainment, ancestry, migration, language spoken at home, veteran status, disability, grandparents as care givers (a new question in 2000), labor force status, place of work and journey to work, occupation and income.  The long form also asks questions about housing such as value of home, year the structure was built, number of rooms, plumbing and kitchen facilities, and telephone service.

Apportionment Data

The fundamental reason for conducting the decennial census of the United States is to determine the number of members of the House of Representatives each of the 50 states is entitled to have. The distribution of members in the other chamber of the U.S. Congress, the Senate, is unaffected by the apportionment process, as the Constitution provides two senators for each state.
• Map showing changes in apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 108th Congress

Public Law 94-171 Redistricting Data

In December 1975, Congress passed Public Law 94-171 which specifies that within one year of Census Day, the Census Bureau must send each state the data that could be used by the state to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts.  The law requires the Census Bureau provide redistricting data no later than April 1, 2001, to the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
• Data for California
• Data for all states

Racial Categories

The 2000 Census was the first time the Census form allowed persons to identify themselves as more than a single race.  Sixty three different combinations of race were identified in Census 2000.  Because of this change, it is not possible to make direct comparisons between the 1990 and 2000 Census in race categories.
• Questions and Answers for Census 2000 on Race
• For data tables for race for various geographies, use The American FactFinder keyword "search box" on the lower left of the page. Search for your topic and then choose the appropriate geography.

Spanish/Hispanic/Latino

The federal government considers race and Hispanic origin to be two separate and distinct concepts. For Census 2000, the questions on race and Hispanic origin were asked of every individual living in the United States. The question on Hispanic origin asked respondents if they were Spanish, Hispanic or Latino, and then asked the person to specify Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Spanish/ Hispanic/Latino group.

• Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin
• For data tables for Hispanic or Latino for various geographies, use The American FactFinder keyword "search box" on the lower left of the page. Search for your topic and then choose the appropriate geography.

Summary Files

Release schedule for Summary Files (formerly Summary Tape Files or STF).
• Summary File 1 final national release was October 2002.
• Summary File 2 final national release was January 2003.
• Summary File 3 was released in August - September 2003.
• Summary File 4 will be released April - September 2003.

Mapping Census 2000: The Geography of U.S. Diversity
A special report from the Census Bureau which provides maps depicting White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino Origin; White, Not Hispanic or Latino Origin as well as those people claiming two or more races.

Census Geographies

Census geographies are complex and are best explained by reading the descriptions of geographies.  You may also find the Hierarchical Relationship graphic (which illustrates the relationships of census geographies) useful. Listed below are explanations of some geographical entities used in the Census. You can get the complete description of census geographies (Note: when the pdf file is loaded, click on Appendices to view Geographic Definitions)
• Metropolitan Areas
• ZCTA (Zip Code Tabulation Areas). A statistical geographic entity that approximates the delivery area for a U.S.Postal Service five-digit or three-digit ZIP Code. ZCTAs are aggregations of census blocks that have the same predominant ZIP Code associated with the addresses in the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File.  ZCTAs do not precisely depict ZIP Code delivery areas, and do not include all ZIP Codes used for mail delivery.
• Census Designated Places. Census designated places (CDPs) are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places. CDPs are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located. The boundaries usually are defined in cooperation with local or tribal officials. These boundaries, which usually coincide with visible features or the boundary of an adjacent incorporated place or other legal entity boundary, have no legal status, nor do these places have officials elected to serve traditional municipal functions.
• Census Tracts.  The primary purpose of census tracts is to provide a stable set of geographic units for the presentation of decennial census data. This is the first decennial census for which the entire United States is covered by census tracts. For the 1990 census, some counties had census tracts and others had block numbering areas BNAs). In preparation for Census 2000, all BNAs were replaced by census tracts, which may or may not cover the same areas. Census tracts generally have between 1,500 and 8,000 people, with an optimum size of 4,000 people. Counties with fewer people have a single census tract.
• Block Groups.  A block group (BG) is a cluster of census blocks having the same first digit of their four-digit identifying numbers within a census tract. For example, block group 3 (BG 3) within a census tract includes all blocks numbered from 3000 to 3999. BGs generally contain between 600 and 3,000 people, with an optimum size of 1,500 people. Most BGs were delineated by local participants as part of the U.S. Census Bureau's participant Statistical Areas program.  The U.S. Census Bureau delineated BGs only where a local, state, or tribal government declined to participate or where the U.S. Census Bureau could not identify a potential local or tribal participant. BGs never cross the boundaries of states, counties, or statistically equivalent entities, except for a BG delineated by American Indian tribal authorities, and then only when tabulated within the American Indian hierarchy. BGs never cross the boundaries of census tracts, but may cross the boundary of any other geographic entity required as a census block boundary.
• Urban/Rural. The U.S. Census Bureau classifies as urban all territory, population, and housing units located within an urbanized area (UA) or an urban cluster (UC). It delineates UA and UC boundaries to encompass densely settled territory, which generally consists of:
  --Clusters of census block groups or blocks that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile at the time.
  --Surrounding census block groups and blocks that have an overall density of at least 500 people per square mile at the time.
  --Less densely settled blocks that form enclaves or indentations, or are used to connect discontiguous areas with qualifying densities.
  --Rural consists of all territory, population, and housing units located outside of UAs and UCs. Geographic entities, such as metropolitan areas, counties, minor civil divisions (MCDs), and places, often contain both urban and rural territory, population, and housing units.
• Urban Clusters (UC).  Introduced with Census 2000. An urban cluster (UC) consists of densely settled territory that has at least 2,500 people but fewer than 50,000 people.
• Urbanized Areas (UA). Consists of densely settled territory that contains 50,000 or more people. The U.S. Census Bureau delineates UAs to provide a better separation of urban and rural territory, population, and housing in the vicinity of large places. At least 35,000 people in a UA must live in an area that is not part of a military reservation.
• Extended Places. As a result of the urbanized area (UA) and urban cluster (UC) delineations, an incorporated place or census designated place may be partially within and partially outside of a UA or UC. Any place that is split by a UA or UC is referred to as an extended place. For the 1990 and previous censuses, extended places were called extended cities.
• Hierarchical Relationship of Census Geographies

Where can I get help?

• The subject index to the Census Bureau's web site can be a useful tool when searching for details from the Census and other kinds of data.
• CSULB Faculty and Students also have access to Census data with accounts obtained through the CSU Social Science Research and Instructional Center (SSRIC).