Census Data

Wake County Homeownership by Race

Problem: This project requires finding and downloading data from the 2000 national census, adding the tabular data to a Tiger geographic table, and displaying results that can be easily interpreted.  The census file that was utilized form this project was titled: ‘Race of Householder’.  The attributes used for the analysis were:

VD01 = Caucasian
VD02 = African American
VD03 = Asian
VD04-VD08 = Other

Analysis: I located a file from the 2000 census in the US Census dataset that contained the number of homeowners in each census tract by race.  Then I opened up the boundary shape file of Wake County from the 2000 census.  This file was obtained from Tiger/line.  The analysis procedures will require both spatial and tabular joins.

The first process was to locate a tabular data file, and I did so from the American Fact Finder website. The file that was ultimately chosen included home ownership by census block by race.  The second process involved finding and downloading Tiger/line geography data from the 2000 census. The third process involved joining Tiger/line geography data with census tabular dta and preparing a thematic map. Finally a thematic map was created to present the proportions of home owners by race in the different census tracts in Wake County.

Results:
Map of Wake County and Household
ownership by race:

Application and Reflection

Problem Description: I plan on using 2010 census data to assess different attributes as they pertain to outdoor recreation participation.  This analysis will provide insight to outdoor recreation participation as it relates to proximity to State Parks.  The goal is to show how levels of health in communities with State Parks vary when compared to communities without State Parks.

Data Needed: This information will include socio-demographic characteristics.  This data will be paired with additional tabular data that has outdoor recreation participation and health attributes.  I will also have a layers that contain county boundaries, and state park locations.

Analysis Procedures: I will use tabular joins to connect the database files that contain zip codes and health indicators to additional layers that contain county boundaries and State Park boundaries.  I will then complete a spatial join to see where visitors to State Parks come from.  I will then look at the health of the local communities and compare that with the zip codes of the visitors.  Results should show how levels of health vary between these communities.