Saint Paul Public Schools
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Using Census Data in the Classroom

   Enumeration forms and instructions

  • Genealogy sites such as www.ancestry.com have electronic images of completed forms (similar to those we looked at in class)

  • Finding street addresses on enumeration forms: I found this tool, but there may be others. This personal website also has other genealogy tools, check out the homepage (the most relevant tools are listed under “US Census and Soundex (1790-1930).

  • The IPUMS-USA project has enumeration instructions, question text, and sample enumeration forms for censuses of 1850 through 2000. Here you will find enumerator instructions, like those we reviewed for the race variables, and transcribed question text from the enumeration forms that is easier to read than on the old forms.

   Printed summary statistics: The Census Bureau has scanned the published census volumes that you can find at many libraries and made them available on their website (http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm).

   Machine-readable data

  • Aggregate or small area data

•     The Historical Census Browser provides access to county and state data, from 1790-1960. You can examine all tables available for each census year, examine topics over time, and generate maps of states and counties. We walked through this website in class.

•     Recent census data is available from the Census Bureau’s American Fact Finder. Start with the “fast access to information” box if you are new to fact finder.

•     Small area data will be available in the next few months from the National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) project at the MPC.

  • Individual-level data (microdata) are available from the IPUMS-USA project (these data require statistical software).

       Mapping

    • Online mapping

    •       Social Explorer allows online mapping of the entire country (or specific localities) for 1990 and 2000. You can also view map series for select cities from earlier periods. Click on maps on the navigation bar.

    •       American Fact Finder also allows online thematic mapping.

    • Mapping using GIS software: The NHGIS project provides county and tract boundary files that can download and use in GIS software. County files are available from 1790 to present and tracts are available for select cities starting in 1910 (and all places in 1990). You can also download accompanying aggregate data from NHGIS.


      Handouts and PowerPoint from Class

         Powerpoint (hits lesson.ppt)

         Census enumeration forms from St. Paul , 1850 and 1930 (1850-st.paul.pdf and 1930-st.paul.pdf)

         Racial Classification in the Census (race instructions.doc)

         St. Paul maps (maps.ppt)

         Immigration in Minnesota (MN immigration.doc)

         Schooling, work and occupation figures (school and work.doc)

      Please contact Cathy Fitch at fitch@umn.edu if you have any questions.