Census Tracts/BNAs, 1970, 1980, 1990

Investigators: National Opinion Research Center & the Urban Institute, Washington, DC

Census Tracts and BNAs are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county. . Census tracts are delineated for all metropolitan areas and other densely populated counties by local census statistical areas committees following Census Bureau guidelines. Census tracts usually have between 2,500 and 8,000 persons and when first delineated, were designed to be homogeneous with respect to population and characteristics, economic status, and living conditions. Census tracts do not cross state or county boundaries. In all but a very small number of cases in New England, census tracts do not cross metropolitan area boundaries. Census tracts are the basic statistical reporting unit in metropolitan areas: block numbering areas (or BNAs) are analogues to census tracts in non-metropolitan area counties and remote rural areas. It is an area that has been "blocked" by the census but is not tracted, and the Census Bureau in most respects treats the tract and BNA data as a single level of aggregation. BNAs are drawn using guidelines similar to those for the delineation of census tracts. As with census tracts, BNAs do not cross county or state boundaries. This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for all census tracts/BNAs in the US. B1 consists of data from the 1970 Census, and has 36,312 cases and 680 variables. B2 covers data from the 1980 Census, and includes 878 variables for 46,520 cases. B3-B4 covers data from the 1990 Census and includes 1,021 variables for 61,258 cases.

Cities, 1990

Investigators: Economics and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census

The term "city" in the CDA refers to incorporated places with a 1990 population of 25,000 or more. Incorporated places in this data set are those reported to the Census Bureau as legally in existence on January 1, 1990, under the laws of their respective states as cities, boroughs, towns, and villages. This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for all cities in the US. I1 has 207 variables for 1,083 cities.

Cities, 2000

Investigators: Economics and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census

The term "city" in the CDA refers to incorporated places with a 2000 population of 25,000 or more. Incorporated places in this data set are those reported to the Census Bureau as legally in existence on January 1, 2000, under the laws of their respective states as cities, boroughs, towns, and villages.Data set I2 draws its data from the County and City Data Book, 2000, and covers the following topics: age, crime, education, families and households, housing, industry, labor force, population, race, state and local government, and transportation.This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for all cities in the US and includes 147 variables for 951 cities.

Counties, 1970-1995

Investigators: U.S. Counties, 1996, Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Alan Guttmacher Institute, & National Center for Education Statistics

The primary political divisions of most States are termed "counties." In Louisiana, these divisions are known as "parishes." In Alaska, the equivalent areas are of two types: 1) the organized "boroughs" and 2) the "census areas" that were developed for general statistical purposes by the State of Alaska and the Census Bureau. Four States—Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia—have one or more incorporated places that are legally independent of any county and thus constitute primary divisions (county equivalents) of their States. Similarly, the portion of Yellowstone National Park in Montana is treated as a county equivalent. The District of Columbia has no primary divisions; the entire area is considered equivalent to a county for census purposes. This data set includes socio-economic and demographic data for all counties in the US and has 4,535 variables for 3,142 cases.

Economic Sub-Regions, 1970, 1980

Investigators: National Opinion Research Center

An economic sub-region is a group of two or more topographically and economically similar counties, often crossing state lines. It is a possible "economic area, "with the advantage of being geographically comprehensive. This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for economic sub-regions in the US. The first dataset consists of data from the 1970 Census, and has 216 variables for 121 cases. The second dataset covers data from the 1980 Census, and includes 225 variables for 121 cases.

Enumeration Districts, 1970, 1980

Investigators: National Opinion Research Center

Enumeration Districts (EDs) are the most basic work units for the Census Bureau. It is the area assigned to a single enumerator. EDs do not cross the boundaries of legal or of statistical areas, but are otherwise drawn so as to be bounded by roads and other natural features. EDs may be redrawn and renumbered for each decennial census. ED-level data are available only in untracted, unblocked areas, i.e., those areas for which tract- and BNA-level data are not available. ED-level data can therefore be used in combination with tract/BNA data to obtain complete national coverage for "neighborhoods" in both urban and rural areas. This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for all Enumeration Districts (ED)s in the US. The first data file consists of data from the 1970 Census, and has 69,743 cases and 178 variables. The second covers data from the 1980 Census, and includes 227 variables for 53,658 cases. There is no data for 1990.

Five-digit Zip Codes, 1970, 1980, 1990

Investigators: National Opinion Research Center

ZIP Codes are administrative units established by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the most efficient distribution of mail, and therefore generally do not respect political or census statistical area boundaries. ZIP Codes usually do not have clearly identifiable boundaries. They often serve a continually changing area; are changed periodically to meet postal requirements, and do not cover all the land area of the United States. ZIP Codes are a possible substitute for "neighborhood" if tract, BNA, and enumeration district are not available. This data set includes socio-economic and demographic data for all ZIP codes in the US. The first data file consists of data from the 1970 Census, and has 11,957 cases and 164 variables. The second covers data from the 1980 Census, and includes 218 variables for 35,610 cases. Thid third data file covers data from the 1990 Census and includes 231 variables for 29,335 cases

Labor Market Areas, 1970, 1980

Investigators: National Opinion Research Center

A labor market area (LMA) is one or more counties with close economic ties defined by patterns of commuting to work. It is a geographically comprehensive "economic area" analogous to those represented by metropolitan statistical areas in urban areas. This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for all labor market areas in the US. The first data file consists of data from the 1970 Census, and has 216 variables for 1,492 cases. The second covers data from the 1980 Census, and includes 229 variables for 1,253 cases.

MSAs

Investigators: National Opinion Research Center, 1991 State and Metropolitan Area Databook, & Urban Institute's Underclass Database

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan areas (MAs) according to published standards that are applied to Census Bureau data. The general concept of an MA is one of a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that nucleus. Some MAs are defined around two or more nuclei. This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the US. The first data file consists of data from the 1970s and has 280 cases and 338 variables. The second covers data from the 1980s, and includes 556 variables for 363 cases. The third data file covers data from the 1990s and includes 330 variables for 335 cases

Minor Civil Division/CCDs, 1970, 1980, 1990

Investigators: National Opinion Research Center

Minor civil divisions (MCD's) are the primary political or administrative divisions of a county and represent many different kinds of legal entities with a wide variety of governmental and/or administrative functions. MCD's are variously designated as American Indian reservations, assessment districts, boroughs, election districts, gores, grants, magisterial districts, parish governing authority districts, plantations, precincts, purchases, supervisors' districts, towns, and townships. A major complication is that MCD boundaries change frequently and substantially. The Census Bureau has devised Census County Divisions (CCDs) which it uses for statistical reporting purposes instead of MCDs in most states where MCDs are small or have frequently changing boundaries. MCDs and CCDs are geographically comprehensive -- all the land in the United States is located in such an area. Both MCDs and CCDs are a possible substitute "neighborhood" if tract, block numbering area and enumeration district are not available. This dataset includes socio-economic and demographic data for all MCDs and CCDs in the US. The first data file consists of data from the 1970 Census, and has 35,072 cases and 217 variables. The second covers data from the 1980 Census, and includes 231 variables for 35,103 cases. The third data file covers data from the 1990 Census and includes 249 variables for 35,136 cases.