LibGuides: POLS 3310: State and Local Government: Using the Census and Social Explorer

Finding State District Information Using the Census/ACS

data.census.gov This resource replaces the now defunct American FactFinder. This is the U.S. Census Bureau's main vehicle for distributing U.S. census data, including economic censuses and surveys and annual population estimates. Population, housing, economic and geographic data can be found here.

Select the Advanced Search option
Choose the Geography filter
Locate the geography for State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) or State Legislative District (Lower Chamber). You must know this information before proceeding.
Choose your State
You can choose your district on the next list, but I would recommend that you instead select All State Legislative Districts (Upper/Lower within State)
Choose a table from the list of results or search for a table/variable (see below for popular tables)

Popular Tables

DP02: SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS
Households by Type; Relationship; Marital Status; Fertility; Grandparents; School Enrollment; Educational Attainment; Veteran Status; Disability Status; Residence 1 Year Ago (Moved); Place Of Birth; Citizenship Status; Year of Entry; World Region of Birth of Foreign Born; Language Spoken at Home; Ancestry; Computers and Internet Use

DP03: SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
Employment Status; Commuting to Work; Occupation; Industry; Class Of Worker; Income And Benefits; Health Insurance Coverage; Poverty

DP04: SELECTED HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS
Housing Occupancy; Units in Structure; Year Structure Built; Rooms; Bedrooms; Housing Tenure; Year Householder Moved into Unit; Vehicles Available; House Heating Fuel; Selected Characteristics; Occupants per Room; Value; Mortgage Status; Selected Monthly Owner Costs; Gross Rent

DP05: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES
Sex and age; Race; Hispanic/Latino; Citizen/voting age population

Finding Census Information Using Social Explorer

Social Explorer
Social Explorer provides quick and easy access to modern and historical socioeconomic and demographic data, bringing together quantitative data with a visual interface to make demographic research, the analysis of social trends, and comparison of neighborhoods, communities, counties, and other areas accessible and interactive.

Select Tables. Because the 2020 Census information is still preliminary, we will use American Community Surveys (5 year estimates).
ACS 2017-2021 Begin Report
Add 3 total geographies to your report: the United States, Ohio, and your state legislative district
1. Use the geography dropdown to locate either 610 State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) or 620 State Legislative District (Lower Chamber)
2. Select your State
3. Select your specific district and Add
Once you have all 3 geographies added, Proceed to Tables
Switch the tab to Premade Reports
Add reports 1-3 (essentials, comprehensive, market)
Show Results. Adjust to show all tables.
Save your results. Right-click to print to PDF or switch to the Excel Tab and download to Excel 2007

Other Sources for Finding District Information

Legislative District Fact Sheets
The Center for Community Solutions. The Legislative District Fact Sheets highlight demographic, health, and social indicators for each of Ohio’s state Senate districts, state House districts and federal Congressional districts. The fact sheets show that issues related to health and human services touch every district in the state. The fact sheets include basic demographic information about each district, as well as district level data on employment and income, poverty, education, housing and health.