Unlocking the Census with GIS

Anyone interested in mapping Census information might want to look at a new book in the Libe’s reference collection entitled Unlocking the Census with GIS. This text is especially helpful to students because it does not assume familiarity with the organization of the Census nor expert GIS abilities. For each of several topics (e.g. using the census to… analyze economic conditions, analyze housing issues, analyze transportation issues), chapters discuss possible research questions, what types of data are collected and where they can be found and downloaded, and practical considerations (e.g. what is the difference between “employment status” and “work status”?). Even if one isn’t involved in mapping, this is an excellent guide to using and presenting census data in a meaningful way.