University of Nebraska Kearney

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Census 1990 STF3C:  1990 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Tape File 3C (STF3C), National Sample Data 

1. What is it? 

A statistical CD-ROM set (2 CD's), containing data from the U.S. 1990 Census of Population and Housing. This set contains what is called "sample data," meaning that the information is based on the fifteen percent of households who received the census "long form". There is information about people, families, households and housing units.

One disc (C-1) has data for the whole United States, and smaller geographical areas including regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West), census divisions (West North Central, East, East North Central, etc.), states, counties, places over 10,000 population, and American Indian reservations.

The other disc (C-2) has data only for "urbanized areas" all over the U. S.  Urbanized areas are defined as "central cities and urban fringe" areas with populations of at least 50,000 and a certain density.  For example, Nebraska has three urbanized areas: Omaha, Lincoln, and Sioux City.

There are questions on such subjects as ancestry, language, place of work, means of transportation, educational attainment, income, number of bedrooms, rent, and plumbing facilities. (See also the  Census PL94-171 ,  Block Statistics , STF1C, and STF3A CD-ROMs.)

2. Who produces it? 

U.S. Commerce Department, Census Bureau.

3. Are there guides to using it? 

There is no technical documentation manual.

4. Is it updated? 

In 1994 more specialized data sets was published such as information about racial minorities, the foreign-born population, and the aged.

5. Can the CD-ROM be checked out? 

Yes.

6. Sudoc number (disc's call number in C. T. Ryan Library): 

C 3. 282/2: CD 90-3 C-1/993 and C 3. 282/2: CD 90-3 C-2/993

7. Is there a paper equivalent in C. T. Ryan Library? 

See C 3. 223/23: 1990 CPH-5-1

8. Tricks:

a. GETTING IN:

                   Press appropriate number at menu.

b. USING IT:

        The format is similar to the Census STF3A CD-ROMs.

                  Select a geographical division and press Enter. (Technical documentation manual for STF3C gives definitions of geographical areas.) Once you have arrived at a particular geographical division, you can press Enter with the cursor on "General Profiles", or move the cursor to some specific subject, such as data by race, by age, etc.

                  If you select "General Profiles" you will have a choice of four profiles: Social Characteristics, Labor Force and Commuting, Income and Poverty, and Housing Characteristics.

                  If you choose any category other than "General Profiles", you can press B to "Browse"; that is, to compare information of the same type from places at the same geographical level.  For example, you can compare data for Kearney with other towns and cities in Nebraska, compare Nebraska with other states, compare Buffalo County with other counties, etc.

c. HELP:

        None available on screen.

d. PRINTING:

        Press P.

                  If you want to print the data on the screen, press Enter when the cursor is over "Complete Table for This Area"

                  If you want to print what you saw under "Browse", move the cursor to "Single Item for Several Areas" and press Enter.

                 Move cursor to "Print table to printer." Press Enter.

e. COPYING (DOWNLOADING):

          To copy in screen format:

                    Place a portable storage device in drive.

                   When you arrive at the data you want to copy, press P. If you want to copy the data on the screen, press Enter when the cursor is over "Complete Table..." If you want to print what you saw under Browse, move the cursor to "Single Item..." and press Enter.

                   Press Enter with cursor over "Print table to file."

                  When the screen says "File Name C:\" erase the C:\ and type (drive letter):\smith, where smith is the name you the file. Press Enter.

              To copy as data:

                  Place a portable storage device in drive.

                 When you arrive at the data you want to copy, press C.

                 Follow directions on the screen.

f. GETTING OUT:

       Press End. Type Y.

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Courtesy of Robert Lopresti, Wilson Library, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA. 12/93
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