Making Cents of All Those Numbers: Using Census Data Effectively

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Making Cents of All Those

Numbers: Using Census Data

Effectively

Gary Krob, State Data Center Program

Iowa Library Services/State Library

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Goals for Today



To have a general discussion about the use of

Census Bureau data in grant writing and

community planning.



Create an understanding on how using data

can help you paint a clearer picture of your

community



While this is not a grant writing workshop, I

hope to make this a useful starting point for

grant writers and libraries to begin their own

exploration of census data.

Iowa Library Services/State Library - State Data Center www.iowadatacenter.org

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

Well Organized



Thoughtfully Planned



Concisely Packaged



Backed With Supportive Data

Successful Grants, Strategic Plans, and

Advocacy goals all have things in common:

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Iowa Library Services/State Library -

State Data Center www.iowadatacenter.org 4

Data gives strength by adding:



Context



Credibility



Measurability



Describes the population that will benefit or the

target population to be served.



Defines the community problem to be

addressed.

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

How many people live here?



How has the number of people changed?



How old or young are the people?



What race and ethnicity are they?



How well educated are the people?



What languages do they speak?



How many single parents?



How many households are low-income?

Data can

help your community answer

questions like …

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Censuses, Surveys and Estimates



Decennial Census—counts people &

housing units



American Community Survey—estimates

demographic, social, economic

characteristics of people & housing stock



Annual Population estimates—estimates

number of people

6 Iowa Library Services/State Library -

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2010 Census and

American Community Survey



2010 Census shows the number of people in

the U. S.



ACS shows how people live



All ACS data are survey estimates--to help

you interpret the reliability of the estimate,

the Census Bureau publishes a margin of

error (MOE).

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2010 Census Content

Demographic Characteristics



Sex



Age



Race



Hispanic Origin



Household Relationship



Tenure

Iowa Library Services/State Library -State Data Center

www.iowadatacenter.org

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American Community Survey Data

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How to effectively use data



Emphasize the geographic area you are

designated to serve



Add perspective to the data



Use accurate, current, and impartial data

sources

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Perceived issue:



The elderly population in Hardin county has

been increasing and the libraries in the

county want to be proactive in services and

outreach to this growing population.

Proposed solution:



The libraries in Hardin county want to start a

county-wide initiative to collaborate with

community agencies and groups serving

older adults.

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How to effectively use data



Emphasize the geographic area you are

designated to serve



Add perspective to the data



Use accurate, current, and impartial data

sources

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Emphasize the geographic area

you are designated to serve

Census Geography



Political Areas:



States, Counties, Cities, American Indian

Reservations, School Districts



Statistical Areas:



Census Tracts, Census Blocks, Census

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How to effectively use data



Emphasize the geographic area you are

designated to serve



Add perspective to the data



Use accurate, current, and impartial data

sources

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Add perspective: Provide raw numbers and

percentages



In 2010, there were 3,675 people age 65 and

over living in Hardin County, according to the

U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census.

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Add perspective: Provide raw numbers and

percentages,

continued



In 2010, there were 3,675 people age 65 and

over living in Hardin County, according to the

U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census

or

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Add perspective: Geographic comparisons -

State and national rates



People age 65 and over comprised 21.0% of

the county’s total population.



This compares to 13.0% for the U.S. and

14.9% for the state of Iowa, according to

the 2010 Census from the U.S. Census

Bureau.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

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Add perspective: Geographic comparisons - Similar

types of areas

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

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Add perspective: Geographic comparisons - Similar

size areas

14.8

16.3

16.6

18.4

19.3

21.0

0

5

10

15

20

25 Jefferson

Crawford

Delaware

Tama

Clayton

Hardin,

Percent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, http://www.census.gov/l

Percent 65 years and over in selected Iowa Counties

with Population 16,000-18,000: 2010

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Add perspective: Geographic comparisons -

Rankings

According to the 2010 Census from the U.S.

Census Bureau, Hardin County ranked:



35 th

among all counties in median age (43.7)



16 th

among all Iowa counties in percentage

of population age 65 and over

Measure

Value

Rank

Median age

43.7 years

35

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Add perspective: Use trends over time – More

than one data point

43.7

40.6

37.9

33.2

32.8

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0 1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Percent

Median Age

in Hardin County: 1970-2010

Year

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Add perspective: Use trends over time – More

than one data point, continued

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

Percentage of Population Age 65 and Over:

Hardin County 1970-2040

Year

Percent

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Add perspective: Use trends over time – More

than one data point and comparison

0

10

20

30

40 1970

1985

2000

2015

2030

Hardin

State of

Iowa

Percentage of Population Age 65 and over:

Hardin County and State of Iowa 1970-2040

Percent

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Add credibility: Use more than one data source

16 16.6 17

19.7 17.9 18.9

19.9 20.6

22.1 22.6 21.9 23.1

0 10 20 30 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Percent of Medicare beneficiaries with benefits aged 65

or older in Hardin County: 2000-2011

Percent

Year

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How to effectively use data



Emphasize the geographic area you are

designated to serve



Add perspective to the data



Use accurate, current, and impartial data

sources

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Use accurate, current, and impartial data

sources



Search out reputable sources

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Search out reputable sources



Government agencies



Nonprofit, non-political associations



Academic or peer-reviewed journals

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Use the most recent data available



Decennial census



American Community Survey (ACS)



Annual estimates and projections

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How to effectively use data



Emphasize the geographic area you are

designated to serve



Add perspective to the data



Use accurate, current, and impartial data

sources

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Document your data sources



Adds credibility to your proposal



Facilitates data verification

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Where to start



Comprehensive Iowa data finder spreadsheet

(

http://www.iowadatacenter.org/Publications/Comprehensive

)



State Data Center Web site

(

http://www.iowadatacenter.org/

)



American FactFinder

(

http://factfinder.census.gov/

)

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Iowa Data Finder

http://www.iowadatacenter.org/Publications/Comprehensive

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State Data Center Web site:

www.iowadatacenter.org

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State Data Center Web site:

www.data.iowadatacenter.org

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American FactFinder

http://factfinder2.census.gov/

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Ask for help

State Data Center services



Quick answers



Custom data tabulations



Radius studies



Thematic maps



Consultations on data use

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Contact information:

www.iowadatacenter.org

Gary Krob

State Data Center Coordinator

(515) 281-6618

Telephone: (800) 248-4483 or (515) 281-4102

Fax: (515) 242-6543

E-mail:

[email protected]

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Questions and Answers...