Readers who want to investigate past Census Data should look no further than the United States Census Bureau, "the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy." On the Explore Census Data portal, users can find relevant data by conducting a basic search on the main search bar or clicking "Advanced Search" (located just under the bar) to search with additional filters. For example, a basic search for "poverty guidelines" reveals that in 2018 about 13.1 percent of individuals in the United States were living below the poverty line (according to 2018 American Community Survey results). Scrolling down the main page, visitors will find a Questions section that may be helpful to troubleshoot any issues. Below that, there are sections for Tables, Data Profiles, Maps and Visualizations, and Industry and NAICS codes. By clicking the "View Tables" button, users can toggle through Tables, Maps, and Pages tabs. On the Tables tab, readers will find a variety of pre-sorted data charts and also have the option of building out a new chart by clicking the "Customize Table" button in the top-right corner. The Maps tab features a State Selection Map, an interactive tool that lets users click on a state to pull up a state-specific data profile. Each state's page includes interesting statistics such as the total population, median household income, and poverty and employment rates. Finally, the Pages tab houses publications such as data "QuickFacts" sheets. Data can also be sorted by clicking the "View Profiles" and "Explore Microdata" buttons found near the bottom of the Census Bureau website's homepage.
Comments