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Environmental Policy - Burgman - Fall 2024

This guide is for students in Dr. Burgman's Environmental Policy class at Oxford College.

Finding Census Data

The easiest place to get census data is directly from the United States Census Bureau.

The US Census collects a variety of information about the people and economy of the United States at periodic intervals, and is considered a very reliable source of data. There are many ways you can use the information from the US Census, but today we will use the Census Data Explorer to get some preliminary information.

After you open the page, type in the name of your city. The search will default to the population of your city. You can use this window to explore many more details.

Heads Up!

The Tables in the search results can be overwhelming. For now, it may be easiest to click on the Profiles and Pages tabs on the top of the page and see if your city has a Profile or a QuickFacts page.

  1. On the left side of the page, you can filter by data on various topics, surveys, and years. When you select a topic, a new panel will open with check boxes to search for data related to that topic. The tool will then show results for Tables, Maps, Profiles, and Pages.
  2. On the right side of the page, you can see recommendations for Related Searches. This is automatically applying filters that may be of interest to you. They are the same filters you can add on the left side of the page.
  3. If one is available, there is also a link to the city Profile on the right side of the page.

What is Census Data Helpful For?

Some of the data you can find in the US Census:

  • Population
    • How many people live here total? How educated are they? Are more people older, middle aged, or younger? What languages do they speak?
  • Employment
    • How many people have a full-time job? What is the average income of a household?
  • Households and Living Arrangements
    • How many people live together in one household, on average? How many single-family and multi-family homes are there?
  • Healthcare
    • How many people have healthcare coverage? How many people have disabilities?

Video: Getting Started with Your Search

Optional: Watch the video below, from the US Census Bureau, to learn some tips about searching on the Data Explorer Platform.

Try It Out!

Choose a city and check out the information you can find on the US Census Data Explorer.

  • What is the median age in your city?
  • What percentage of people have a bachelor's degree?
  • What is the homeownership rate in your city?
  • What is the average family size in your city?