The Ohio State University

www.osu.edu

1. Help
2. Campus map
3. Find people
4. Webmail
5. Search Ohio State's website

• OSUL Home
• Find
  • Find Books
  • Find Articles
  • Find Online Journals
  • Ask a Question
  • Dissertations Search Aid
  • eReserves
  • Reserves by Course
  • Reserves by Prof
  • Gateway to Information
  • Site Search
  • WWW Resources
• Borrow
  • OSU Library Catalog
  • My Record
  • Other Catalogs
  • Interlibrary Services
  • Services/Policies
• About OSUL
  • General Info
  • Library Units
  • Staff Directory
  • Disability Services
  • Diversity
  • Services for Faculty
  • Friends
  • Jobs
  • Service Changes
• Libraries
  • Subject Librarian
  • All Libraries
  • Hours
  • Map
  • Contact Info
  • Digital Projects
  • Digital Exhibits
• Learn
  • Instruction Services
  • net.TUTOR
  • Online Courses
• My Record
• Help
  • Ask a Question
  • How Do I?
  • Requests/Forms

Finding Census Tract and Block Group Statistics

Locating Census Tracts (and block groups)

1. Use a City Street Map to determine the area of interest.
2. Locate the same area on the appropriate Census Tract Map. Note your Tract number(s).
   • Census Tracts may cross city lines, they do not cross county lines.
   • Few streets are named on Tract maps. Use Street maps to identify key streets.
   * If you have a street address, use the American FactFinder (see below) to determine the Tract number.

Print:

• 2000 Census Tract Maps are available in the Reference Office, ask at Reference Desk.
• 1990 Census Tract Maps for Franklin County are posted in the Main Library Reference Area. Use the street map posted nearby to assist in identifying tract boundaries. (i.e. Street names)
  Block maps for Central Ohio are kept in the Reference Office, ask at Reference Desk.
• Other Ohio Tract Maps are kept in the Reference Office, ask at Reference Desk.
• Tract maps for other states are on Microfiche. (ASI fiche 1993 No. 2551-10)

Online: American Factfinder

1. Click on Maps and Geography
2. Click on Reference Maps
3. A map of the United States will appear in the center of the screen.* Select Geography from the "you are here" bar at the top of the screen.
   1. Select the type of area - Place.
   2. Select the State.
   3. Selct the desired Place name.
4. Click Show Results.
   1. Use Zoom In/Out and Recentering features to display desired area.
   2. Use your Browser's PRINT feature to print maps.
5. The map defaults to 2000 Census boundaries. To select another set of boundaries, Select Options - Boundaries from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
   1. Select the desired Census or Survey.
   2. Make any other desired changes.
   3. Click on Update.

   * If you have a street address, scroll past the map to "To reposition the map," enter the address, then click "go."

Finding Data: 2000 Census

American Factfinder

1. Click on Data Sets.
2. Click on 2000 Summary File 3 (STF3) - Sample Data.
3. Click on Detailed Tables.
4. Select type of area Census Tract.
   [If you want Block Group data, select Block Group.]
5. Follow prompts to select State and County.
6. Click on desired Tract, Add, then Next.
7. Select a Subject, then Search.
8. Select desired table(s), then Add.
9. Click on Show Table
10. To download Table
    1. Click on Print/Download, then Download.
    2. A window will open. Select the desired format, then click OK.
    3. Insert disk or CD in appropriate drive, then click on Save File.
    4. Name the file (or accept the default name), then click on Save.

Finding Data: 1990 Census

Print:
Population and Housing Characteristics for Census Tracts and BNAs (Main Ref HA 201 1990 .A5673 1993)

1. Find the volume containing your Place.
   [Volumes are arranged alphabetically by Metropolitan Area.]
2. Use the Table of Contents to determine the desired table(s).
3. Flip through the table until you find your Place.
4. Scan the column headings for your Tract number.
   If the Tract number is followed by (pt.), it is a Split Tract. The data presented is for the portion of the tract located in that Place.

You must use CD-ROM or Online versions to access Block Group Data.

CD-ROM:
STF 3A (Main Library, ask at Microforms Desk)

1. Request the CD-ROM containing your State and County.
2. The software (GO) is loaded on the Microforms Room CD-ROM workstation.
   1. Insert the CD-ROM
   2. Select Census from the Menu.
3. GO software is DOS based.
   • Use arrow keys to move highlight bar to desired option. Then press enter.
   • Menu options are at the bottom of the screen
   • Press to back up one level. Press repeatedly to back up several levels.

Online:
1990 Census Lookup

1. Select STF3
2. Current Level - State
   1. Under Choose an Option: Select Go to level State-County (*Tracts and Block Groups)
   2. Select a State.
   3. Click on Submit.
3. Current Level - State-County
   1. Under Choose an Option: Select Go to level State-County-Census Tract(*Block Groups)
   2. Select a County.
   3. Click on Submit.
4. Current Level - State-County-Census Tract.
   1. If you want Tract level data:
      1. Under Choose an Option: Select Show selected data.
      2. Select the Census Tract.
      3. Click on Submit. (Go to step 5.)
   2. If you want Block Group data:
      1. Under Choose an Option: Select Go to level State-County ....-Block Group.
      2. Select the Census Tract.
      3. Click on Submit.
      4. Current Level - State-County....Block Groups.
         1. Under Choose an Option:
            1. If you want data for a particular block group-
               1. Select Retrieve the areas you've selected.
               2. Select the desired block group
            2. If you want data for all block groups -
               Select Select/retrieve all of the areas below.
         2. Click on Submit.
5. Selecting Tables
   1. Under Choose a data retrieval option, Select Choose Tables to Retrieve.
   2. Click on Submit.
   3. Select the desired tables, then click on Submit.
   4. Under Retrieve the # tables you've selected, choose:
      1. HTML to view the table on the screen.
      2. Tab-delimited or CODATA to export data for use with other files.
   5. Click on Submit.

American Factfinder

1. Click on Data Sets.
2. Click on 1990 Summary Tape File 3 (STF3) - Sample Data.
3. Click on Detailed Tables.
4. Select type of area Census Tract.
   [If you want Block Group data, select Block Group.]
5. Follow prompts to select State and County.
6. Click on desired Tract, Add, then Next.
7. Select a Subject, then Search.
8. Select desired table(s), then Add.
9. Click on Show Table
10. To download Table
    1. Click on Print/Download, then Download.
    2. A window will open. Select the desired format, then click OK.
    3. Insert disk or CD in appropriate drive, then click on Save File.
    4. Name the file (or accept the default name), then click on Save.

---

Return to Census of Population and Housing (Decennial Census) Information | United States Federal Documents

---

URL: http://www.lib.ohio-statecentract.htm
If you have trouble accessing this page, contact Sherry Engle Moeller at 614-688-8778 or moeller.63@osu.edu.
Please send any questions or comments to: moeller.63@osu.edu
Created by: Sherry Engle Moeller. Last Modified: 28 October 2003.