Census data can be confusing.  Give yourself plenty of time to become familiar with the tools.  When most people hear the word "census," they think of the Census of Population that is required by the U.S. Constitution. The Census collects current and historic population data collected by the Census, in addition to other censuses, like the Census of Agriculture and the Economic Census. 

2010 Census A website specifically about the 2010 Census, how it was collected, the data that will be available, and what will be done with the data.

U.S. Census Bureau Website of the United States Census Bureau, which is responsible for collecting Census data.

American FactFinder is a tool for searching for Census data collected since 1990. FactFinder is the best source for current Census information. Coverage includes:

• 2010 and 2000 Census data
• Economic Census data
• American Community Survey data

FactFinder enables you to:

• Create detailed maps
• Perform complex queries
• Download and an analyze data

FactFinder is a powerful tool, but it can be challenging to use.

Here are some tTips for using American FactFinder

An easy way to find data in American FactFinder is to enter search terms in the Quick Start section of the Main Page

Example, to find data about grandparents in Indiana:

• Type grandparents in the topic field
• Type Ohio in the geography field
• Click the GO button

The Search Page displays showing the best matches for the search terms you entered.

Notice that the search terms you entered are listed in the Your Selections section of the Left Navigation Bar.

The names of tables and other products (documents, prepackaged data files, etc.) matching the items in Your Selections are displayed in the Results section of the Search Page.

"While the main function of the decennial census is to provide counts of people for the purpose of congressional apportionment and legislative redistricting, the

primary purpose of the ACS is to measure the changing social and economic characteristics of the U.S. population. As a result, the ACS does not provide official

counts of the population in between censuses. Instead, the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program will continue to be the official source for

annual population totals, by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex. For more information about population estimates,

visit the Census Bureau’s Web site."

You can use the American Community Survey (ACS) in different ways and for different reasons. The US Government provides these PDF Compass handbookson a particular group with specific how-to instructions and/or case studies.For an introduction to ACS data, we recommend the compass handbook for General Data Users.

This is the first of a 5 part series of census tutorials created by George Mason UniversityLibrary.  The subsequent videos in the series deal with using census data to create maps.

•   State and County QuickFacts—Easy access to facts about people, business, and geography, based on U.S. Census data:

http://quickfacts.census.gov

•      Epodunk: The Power of Place—Obtain information from the U.S. Census Bureau about a specific city, county, town, or community, and links to other useful websites:

http://www.epodunk.com

•      U.S. Census Bureau:

http://www.census.gov