2012 Data Tools for 

Reporters and Editors

Stacy Vidal, Public Information Office

Jan. 12, 2012

Audio conference — access informa

Toll free number: 1-888-982-4490 

Participant passcode: DATATOOLS
Agenda

• Topics • Data Access Tools • Other Resources • Questions & Answers
• Places – Localize! 

People, Places and Econo

• People 

– Population size– Age– Sex– Race & Hispanic origin – Education – Foreign-born – Families – Language ability 

• Economy 

– Income and p– Employment s– Health insuran

coverage 

– Housing value– Costs of 

owning/renting 

– Business info– Economic ind
Data Tools 

• Economic Indicators Dashboard • QuickFacts • County Business and Demographics • American FactFinder • Other Resources 
New Census.gov Homepage

New Census.gov Homepage 
Top Navigation

Bottom of the Page

• Both prov

choices (othe center the old cehomepage 

Top Navigation 

Bottom of the Page 

• Both prov

choices (othe center the old cehomepage 
Homepage Sl

• Cycles through 

latest news

• Often links to p• Click “See Mor

more informati

Homepage Sl• Cycles through 

latest news 

• Often links to p• Click “See Mor

more informati
Cen

• Fi

nedaupan

Cen• Fi

nedaupan
Economic Indicators 

Dashboard• Most recently released items 

at top

• 13 indicators about U.S. 

economy

• Click on name for more info• Updated quarterly or 

monthly

• Scroll down using arrow at 

bottom

• Can embed on your websiteEconomic Indicators Dashboard • Most recently released items 

at top 

• 13 indicators about U.S. 

economy 

• Click on name for more info • Updated quarterly or 

monthly 

• Scroll down using arrow at 

bottom 

• Can embed on your website 
QuickFacts

• Minimal clicks to a factsheet 

about your state, county or city

• Shows demographics, social 

characteristics and business statistics

• Social characteristics will 

soon be updated from the latest American Community Survey

QuickFacts • Minimal clicks to a factsheet 

about your state, county or city 

• Shows demographics, social 

characteristics and business statistics 

• Social characteristics will 

soon be updated from the latest American Community Survey 
Interactive Map: County 

Business Patterns and Demographics• County-level 2009 info on 

businesses, employees, industries

• 2010 Census info on population, 

race, ethnicity, age/sex, housing

• Options available for comparing 

counties and embedding on your website

Scroll down the homepage...

Interactive Map: County Business Patterns and Demographics • County-level 2009 info on 

businesses, employees, industries 

• 2010 Census info on population, 

race, ethnicity, age/sex, housing 

• Options available for comparing 

counties and embedding on your website 

Scroll down the homepage... 
American FactFinder

• More comprehensive• Variety of datasets, topics 

and geographies available

Back at the top of the homepage...

American FactFinder • More comprehensive • Variety of datasets, topics 

and geographies available 

Back at the top of the homepage... 
Takes you to a transition page, until Jan

Brings you to Search Results page...

Brings you to Search Results page... 
Search Results

• Profiles toward the top provide 

the best overview of the geography

• Check the boxes next to table 

names you’re interested in, then click “View”

• Dataset column tells the sourceSearch Results • Profiles toward the top provide 

the best overview of the geography 

• Check the boxes next to table 

names you’re interested in, then click “View” 

• Dataset column tells the source 
Table Page

• Shows one table yo

at a time

• Navigate to the oth

you selected using in the top right

• The geography you 

displayed above th

• Use the print or dow

options if you’re in

• Click “Back to Sear

you want to return page

Table Page • Shows one table yo

at a time 

• Navigate to the oth

you selected using in the top right 

• The geography you 

displayed above th

• Use the print or dow

options if you’re in

• Click “Back to Sear

you want to return page 
Your Selections

• Notice that it tracks the filters 

you select as you go

• To remove a filter, click on the "

Back on the Search Results page...

Your Selections • Notice that it tracks the filters 

you select as you go 

• To remove a filter, click on the " 

Back on the Search Results page... 
Other Options...

• For info beyond the profiles, use 

the filter options in the light blue boxes to narrow your search

• Search within – type in a word or 

phrase, ex. “poverty”

• Topics – narrow by a data topic, 

the year, or even a dataset

• Geographies – Change your 

geography or add multiple geographies using the box that will pop-up

Other Options... • For info beyond the profiles, use 

the filter options in the light blue boxes to narrow your search 

• Search within – type in a word or 

phrase, ex. “poverty” 

• Topics – narrow by a data topic, 

the year, or even a dataset 

• Geographies – Change your 

geography or add multiple geographies using the box that will pop-up 
People

• Many of these topics are 

available in the other tools we showed

• Others have reports and tables 

not in AFF or QuickFacts (ex. Voting and Registration)

• Section also links to more info 

about the surveys or programs that are the sources of the data

Back on census.gov...

People • Many of these topics are 

available in the other tools we showed 

• Others have reports and tables 

not in AFF or QuickFacts (ex. Voting and Registration) 

• Section also links to more info 

about the surveys or programs that are the sources of the data 

Back on census.gov... 
Business

• More info on the topics found 

in the interactive map and indicator dashboard

• Other topics also available 

such as Governments (shows financial info about state and local governments)

• More info to come on 2012 

Economic Census

Business • More info on the topics found 

in the interactive map and indicator dashboard 

• Other topics also available 

such as Governments (shows financial info about state and local governments) 

• More info to come on 2012 

Economic Census 
Geography

• TIGER Shapefiles are u

creating your own intemaps using GIS softwa

• Helpful reference resouGeography • TIGER Shapefiles are u

creating your own intemaps using GIS softwa

• Helpful reference resou
Newsroom

• Releases – latest news• Tip Sheets – biweekly, 

announce what’s coming up (recap recently released too)

• Facts for Features – fun facts 

about holidays or other milestones

• Embargo subscription is also 

available

Newsroom • Releases – latest news • Tip Sheets – biweekly, 

announce what’s coming up (recap recently released too) 

• Facts for Features – fun facts 

about holidays or other milestones 

• Embargo subscription is also 

available 
Contact Us

Public Information Office

News media

301-763-3030

pio@census.gov

Non-media

1-800-923-8282 

ask.census.gov