Using the Census Web Site Guide

Home Guide to using the Census web site

Guide to using the Census web site

System Requirements
The Census web site is designed for newer computers. Chances are your computer will work fine, but if you are having problems, follow this link.

You'll also need a printer .

Background article:
Are Census numbers accurate? The Census undercounts low-income people, children and minorities. Should you still use Census data in your grants?

This guide will show you how to use the Census web site to get Census 2000 numbers about local areas and comparative information about the U.S. as a whole.

This guide will help you easily navigate your way through the Census web site to narrow in on the numbers you want about your state, parish or census tracts. You’ll probably want to go through the process a second time to extract the comparable information for the entire U.S.

The overall process

1.	Decide which geography you want data about. (Nation, state, county/parish, census tract or 5-digit zip code level data are easily available.)	Zip codes are not very useful in nonprofit planning. Learn why... Want to use Census tracts? Print our Guide to figuring out Census tracts.
2.	Think about what type of data you want. (Age, gender, race and ethnicity, income, occupation, family structure and housing unit information are now available from the 2000 Census.)
3.	Print the Step-by-step Guide to Using FactFinder page so you can read it while you're using the Census site.	To print, go to the File menu and choose Print. Once you've printed, hit the back button to return to this page.
4.	Go to www.census.gov
5.	Use the printed Step-by-step guide to using FactFinder to work through the web site and get the numbers you need.
6.	When you've got the numbers you want, you'll want to refer to the definitions of the data so you can interpret them accurately. For definitions, go to the Census Glossary.	When you report Census data in any form (grant proposal, planning document, anything!) make sure you source it: Census 2000.

This guide was created by Denice Warren and Allison Plyer, with assistance from Sybil Clark and Charlotte Cunliffe, all affiliated with the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center.

Home Guide to using the Census web site

Last modified: January 8, 2007