2000 Census

About the Census

The U. S. Census covers a broad spectrum of demographic, housing, economic and social data. This data is used for a wide range of research, planning and marketing activities. Because it has been consistently provided for decades and covers the entire country, it provides valuable information to monitor long-term trends and allows us to put the Twin Cities metropolitan area in a broader context. It tells us where we have been, it helps us identify the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and it describes one of our key resources in planning for the future--our people.

Since its inception, the Council has used census data for analysis and planning. Equally important to the Council has been providing other researchers with data and analysis, and the census is one of our most important sources of data. The Council believes that sharing a common, accurate base of information leads to better decision-making and planning among the region's many businesses, nonprofit organizations, communities and other government agencies.

In the past, the Council provided census data by developing printed data tabulations and analytic reports. While this format still meets the needs of some data users, the emergence of the Internet is changing the way many people gather and process data. To meet this growing demand, the Council has launched a Census Website to provide information from the census designed specifically for Twin Cities metropolitan area analysis.

All of these are subject to change. Typically, data for Minnesota has been released later than most other states. As additional data becomes available, it will be added to the site along with special tabulations, maps, graphs and analysis done by Council staff.

Census Product	Release Date	Description	Lowest Geographic Level
Public Law Data for Redistricting	3/28/01	Population counties by race and Hispanic or Latino categories	Blocks
Demographic Profiles	5/23/01	Short form data (100% coverage). Summary of population by age and sex, race household relationship, housing occupancy and tenure on a single table for each unit of geography	Places (which also covers city and township)
Summary File 1(SF1)	8/2/01	Short form data described above in greater detail. Selected cross-tabulations.	Blocks
Summary File 2 (SF2)	Sept. to Dec. 2001	Summary File 2 data provides for many detailed race categories, Hispanic or Latino categories and American Indian tribes.	Census tracts
Demographic Profiles		Long-form (sample data) provided in three separate tables covering social, economic and housing characteristics	Places
Summary File 3 (SF3)	Expected October 2002	Long-form data including income, poverty status, ancestry group, residence 5-years ago, employment status, educational status, housing type, and other socioeconomic and housing data. Much information cross-tabulated by age, race and other categories.	Census tracts and block groups
Summary File 4 (SF4)		Selected long-form data cross-tabulated for many detailed race groups, Hispanic or Latino categories and American Indian tribes.	Census tracts
Public Use Micro Sample	2002 2003	1 percent sample of census forms 5 percent sample of census forms All data except name and address for detailed cross-tabular analysis	Predetermined areas

Metropolitan Council

2000 Census

About the Census