Making & Using Custom 115th Congressional District Maps

.. using GIS resources to create custom 115th Congressional District maps .. use the methods, data and tools described in this section to develop custom congressional district maps. View patterns of economic prosperity by neighborhood for one or all congressional districts. Flexibly associate a congressional district boundary with related geography and subject matter.  See related Web section for more details.

Join the Congressional District-State Legislative District (CDSLD) Group .. be a part of the community. .. click here to join .. there is no cost.

Coming up … mapping/analyzing school district finances in context of the 115th Congressional Districts (June 2017).

See the related section on Making/Using 113th Congressional District Maps.
.. view different congressional district vintages in same map.

115th Congressional Districts by Incumbent Party Affiliation
This view and related GIS project/data update when changes are made to the 115th Congressional Districts incumbents (last updated 5/10/17). Party affiliation shown in this view is also available in the related interactive table. Click graphic for larger view. Expand browser window for best quality view.

– View developed using CV XE GIS and related GIS project.
– see below in this section about using this GIS project.

Use the Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and data to view/show congressional district in context with roads, landmarks and other geography. Flexibly add labels. Create pattern views. Add your own data.

Patterns of Economic Prosperity by 115th Congressional District
The following graphic shows patterns of ACS 2015 median household income (MHI) by 115th Congressional District. Click graphic for larger view. Expand browser window for best quality view.

– View developed using CV XE GIS and related GIS project.
– use the GIS project and tools see below to create different views.

Examine Characteristics of any Congressional District
The following graphic shows patterns of ACS 2015 median household income (MHI) by census tract in context of 115th Congressional Districts in a region of North Carolina. CD 3712 (Charlotte area) is shown with bold boundary. It is easy to see which areas/tracts have different levels of economic prosperity.

– View developed using CV XE GIS and related GIS project.
– use the GIS project and tools see below to create different views; add other layers.

Creating congressional district maps is often specific to a particular analysis, zoom-view, labeling, combination of different geographies or other considerations. While there are no estimates of unemployment by congressional district, using GIS tools it is possible to view/geospatially analyze patterns of unemployment within congressional district by county, census tract, block group and other geography.

Join me in a Data Analytics Lab session to discuss more details about accessing and using wide-ranging demographic-economic data and data analytics. Learn more about using these data for areas and applications of interest.

About the Author
— Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Contact Warren. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Integrating Political/Statistical Geography with OpenStreetMaps

OpenStreetMaps (OSM) is a collaborative project to create/maintain a free editable map of the world. The OSM Internet-based map resource is built by a community of people who contribute and maintain data about roads, local geography and much more, all over the world.

Houston, TX; Texas 113th Congressional District 29
The following view illustrates using a congressional district shapefile (blue boundary) in combination with OSM as a base layer.

GIS Applications Linking/Combining Shapefiles with OSM
This section illustrates viewing political/statistical geography in context of streets/roads shapefiles and/or Web-based street/ground coverage graphics. When using GIS tools to view census tracts (as one example) rendered through the use of shapefiles, there is often no convenient way to view the boundaries in context of roads/ground cover. There are two alternatives. One option is to add a layer using the corresponding streets/roads shapefile. This option has important features but is often difficult, time-consuming or not feasible as the roads shapefile coverages are organized in county units. Also roads shapefiles provide only part of the picture with respect to ground coverage. A second option is to use Web-based roads/ground coverage tiling services such as OpenStreetMap. Both options are reviewed here.

Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Areas shapefile overlay
Metropolitan areas are shown as brown boundaries in the following view.

The CV XE GIS software is used to view a census tracts shapefile/layer in context with 1) roads shapefile/layer and 2) Web-based OpenStreetMap (OSM) layer via OSM WMS (OGC Web Map Service). CV XE GIS supports the OGC WMS standard, which means that it can be used to open map layers from any properly functioning WMS server, including OSM WMS servers. Use of the OSM shown here is available at no cost and has global coverage. Tiling graphics are courtesy of MapQuest.

Honolulu, Hawaii with Census Tract Boundaries
The Hawaii census tracts boundaries (red) are shown in the following view.

Get Started Now
No registration or fees are required to use the CV XE GIS software with OSM. Run the CV XE GIS installer on a Windows-based computer and create views/applications such as those shown below. Make custom maps of your neighborhood or a city/country anywhere in the world.

New York City with Census Tract Boundaries
New York census tracts boundaries (red) are shown in the following view.

Atlanta, GA Region Diversity Patterns Neighborhood
Census tracts are colored based on value of the diversity index. See color patterns assigned based on diversity index values as shown in legend at left of the map. Blue tracts are most diverse; red tracts are least diverse. Tracts shown with black cross-hatched pattern are tracts with 50-percent or more Hispanic population. Transparency of the shapefile layer is set to 80% enabling the view of the OSM basemap layer.

About the Author
— Warren Glimpse, developer of the CV XE GIS software, is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for innovative data access and use operations. He is developer of the Columbia, MO GBF/DIME used as the prototype for the Census Bureau TIGER/Line system. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data.

Easy Access to ACS 2013 Demographics

… 4 clicks away from a demographic profile for your selected area …  the American Community Survey (ACS) 2013 1 year estimates provide the most current demographic-economic data for wide-ranging geography having population 65,000 and over.  These geographies include the U.S., regions, divisions, states, counties, county subdivisions, cities/places, native american areas, metros, congressional districts, school districts, public use microdata areas, among others.

These data provide a unique and rich set of data resources for decision-making. They provides analysts and stakeholders with current information they need to plan investments and services. Retailers, homebuilders, police departments, school districts, and town/city planners are among the many private- and public-sector decision makers who count on these annual results.  These data can be made more powerful by integrating them with other data and visually/geospatially analyzing patterns with GIS and modeling tools.

Accessing the Data
The following steps illustrate how you can access data for areas of interest. We use the example of Scottsdale, AZ.
1 – view the table ACS2013.
2 – below the table, replace San Diego with Scottsdale.
3 – click the Find in Name button to the left of Scottsdale.
4 – table refreshes; click get data link in Scottsdale city row.

A new page displays with selected items retrieved:
Area name: Scottsdale city, Arizona
  Total population: 226,909
  One race alone: White: 200,920
  One race alone: Black: 5,017
  One race alone: AI/AN: 2,008
  One race alone: Asian: 9,298
  One race alone: NHOPI: 44
  Hispanic population: 24,961
  Total housing units: 129,434
  Occupied housing units/households: 99,860
  Median household income: $69,690
  Percent high school graduate: 96.7
  Percent college graduate: 54.2
  Median housing value: $382,300
  Median gross rent: $1,134

Optionally import the displayed data into a spreadsheet. Retrieve data for other areas of interest and easily compare attributes for multiple areas.

See details on the main web page — http://proximityone.com/acs2013.htm.

Support Using these Resources
Learn more about accessing and using ACS data integrated with other data; examine characteristics and patterns for your study areas and applications. Join us in a Decision-Making Information Web session. There is no fee for these one-hour Web sessions. Each informal session is focused on a specific topic. The open structure also provides for Q&A and discussion of application issues of interest to participants.

Computer & Internet Usage Patterns

.. new data resources on computer and Internet usage .. mandated by the 2008 Broadband Data Improvement Act, questions on computer and Internet usage are included in the American Community Survey 2013 for the first time. Initially computer and Internet usage data will be available from the ACS 2013 1-year estimates (September 2014). These estimates are available for areas 65,000 population and over — the September 2014 data are tabulated for the U.S. and all states, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs), and 113th Congressional Districts as well as large cities, counties and school districts. See related Web section for more detail.

Questions; Scope of Analytical Potential … scroll section
The ACS data are based on two questions on the ACS questionnaire:

Applications
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will use these data to measure the nationwide development of broadband access, as well as the successful deployment of the next generation of broadband technology. The data will also enable the FCC to develop measures to increase access to broadband technology and decrease barriers. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will use the data to provide grants that help expand public access to broadband service and fund broadband education and support, particularly to groups that have traditionally underutilized broadband technology.

State and local governments can use the data to evaluate access to broadband in their communities, and institute policies and programs that increase access to areas with less connectivity.

Businesses, investors and other organizations can use the data to analyze computer and Internet usage in their markets and communities. Knowing how many people have access to computers and the Internet helps these groups communicate more effectively with their customers and plan outreach, infrastructure development, ecommerce and more. University researchers and other analysts have a wide range of new ways to examine the how, who and where of computer and Internet usage.

Summary Data Available
There are many new summary statistic tables based on the new questions.
B28001 .. Types of Computers in Household
B28002 .. Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household
B28003 .. Presence of a Computer and Type of Internet Subscription in Household
B28004 .. Household Income in the Last 12 Months by Presence and Type of Internet Subscription in Household
B28005 .. Age by Presence of a Computer and Types of Internet Subscription in Household
B28006 .. Educational Attainment by Presence of a Computer and Types of Internet Subscription in Household
B28007 .. Labor Force Status by Presence of a Computer and Types of Internet Subscription in Household
B28008 .. Presence of a Computer and Type of Internet Subscription in Household
B28009A-I .. Presence of a Computer and Type of Internet Subscription in Household (By Race and Hispanic Origin)

Related items are included in the Public Use Microdata Sample files and create many new possibilities to develop custom estimates of computer & Internet usage crossed by other population and housing attributes.

Related Data
The report Computer and Internet Use (May 2013) provides household and individual level analysis of computer usage and Internet use. The report is based on data collected in a July 2011 supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS), which includes questions about computer ownership, Internet use both inside and outside the home, and the additional devices that people use to go online. The U.S. Census Bureau has asked questions in the CPS about computer use since 1984 and Internet use since 1997. The report provides limited scope state-level data and no sub-state data.

Support Using these Resources
Learn more about accessing and using ACS data integrated with other data; examine characteristics and patterns for your study areas and applications. Join us in a Decision-Making Information Web session. There is no fee for these one-hour Web sessions. Each informal session is focused on a specific topic. The open structure also provides for Q&A and discussion of application issues of interest to participants.

2014 Elections: Data Driven Strategies

.. use of geodemographics will have a big impact on the outcomes of many 2014 elections. Many campaigns are gearing up now for the general elections to be held November 4, 2014. Elections will include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 33 seats in the U.S. Senate, 46 state legislatures among many others. How to more effectively examine characteristics and trends of the voting population?  Where are voters with a higher propensity to vote for your candidate located? Which elections might be most effectively impacted by the use of geodemographics?  Join in this no fee one-hour web session where we examine tools and resources to examine geodemographics relating to state legislative districts and congressional districts.

New York 12th Congressional District & vicinity
… using GIS resources to examine a congressional district by neighborhood
… examining neighborhood patterns of economic prosperity
… NY 12th Congressional District (bold black boundary)

click graphic for larger view with details. View developed using CV XE GIS.

Topics
2014 Elections: Data Driven Strategies
Geography of State Legislative Districts & 113th Congressional Districts
– State Legislative Districts
– Congressional Districts
Examining Characteristics & Patterns
– strategies for accessing & using demographic-economic data
– geographies: census blocks, voting districts, block groups, tracts, cities/places
– interactive analytical tables:  congressional districts;  state legislative districts
– examining 2012 elections & vote by candidate
– mapping patterns of economic prosperity by neighborhood across districts
– using ACS 2010 5 year estimates and Site Analytics tools to examine sub-district demographics
– accessing census block demographics via API
– voting-age population demographics
Redistricting: congressional; state legislative; city, special area; school districts
2014 elections & campaign strategic planning & analysis

Next Session: June 10, 2014
– Register here
– Related events

Examining Children’s Demographics by Congressional District

Examining children’s demographics patterns by school district in context of the 113th Congressional Districts … GIS tools enable you to blend different types of geography and subject matter to support planning, analysis and decision-making.

The thematic map below shows patterns of percent grade relevant children ages 5-17 by school district for Ohio and adjacent states. The red pattern shows districts having %Relevant Children Not Enrolled Ages 5-17 value of 10% or more. Click the graphic for larger view and details. The expanded view shows legend and color/interval settings.

113th Congressional Districts are shown with bold black boundaries and yellow labels. It is easy to see groupings of school districts by congressional district with distinctive patterns.

View developed using CV XE GIS software and associated GIS project.

See more about resources to examine children’s demographic-economic characteristics by type of enrollment and school district.

Support Using these Resources
Learn more about accessing, integrating and using data for school districts and congressional districts. Join us in a Decision-Making Information Web session. There is no fee for these one-hour Web sessions. Each informal session is focused on a specific topic. The open structure also provides for Q&A and discussion of application issues of interest to participants.

Community Decision-Making Information

Community decision-making information, as used here, refers to the set of geographic, demographic and economic data that can be used with tools to assess community needs and develop agendas to advance the welfare of community residents and stakeholders. The geographic hub of the community is a city or place — a place of population concentration.

There are approximately 30,000 incorporated cities or census designated places in the U.S. (about cities/places). The focus here is on those incorporated cities, ones with “city limits” and boundaries and government powers designated by the corresponding state.

The concept of the city being a “hub” remains. Geographically, a community is often broader, sometimes narrower, that its defined corporate limits. The graphic shown below shows the combined Jefferson City, MO city, school district and county. The city boundaries differ from those of the school district, a typical scenario with wide ranging variations across the U.S. Typically, residents of the school district have a sense of community centric to the associated city.

Jefferson City, Missouri

Click graphic for larger view. Counties shown with bold gray boundary (white solid label). Cities appear with green fill pattern (white label). The primary school district is shown with bold blue boundary (yellow label); other school districts have lighter blue boundary. Schools appear as red markers.

Community Decision-Making Information
While the leadership, budget, authorizations and related items differ between the school district, city and county, they share the need for a common set of decision-making information. There is a common set of geographic, demographic, and economic data needed by each entity — and neighborhoods throughout the community.

To assess needs, examine change and plan for the future requires data for several types of geography in and around the community. Frequently updated and longitudinal demographic-economic data are needed for geographies including the city, school district(s), schools, county(s), census tracts, ZIP codes, block groups, census blocks, roads and topological structures. Attributes of broader geographic areas including metropolitan areas, Public Use Microdata Areas, state legislative districts and congressional districts are also essential.

These diverse subject matter for diverse geography can often be most effectively assembled and used in a Geographic Information System (GIS).  The view shown below illustrates use of GIS resources to view the location and attributes of low and moderate income neighborhoods.

Affordable Housing; Low & Moderate Income Neighborhoods
See related document for more information.

Organized Access to Key Data
The America’s Communities database and information system assembles selected key data for selected types of geography organized around individual communities. As an example, the Missouri Communities Program provides access to frequently Web-based data with ready-to-use GIS resources. These resources are made available to participating cities and counties at no fee. View the Jefferson City, MO community access Web section to examine the scope and content.

Using Community Decision-Making Information
Participants in the Missouri Community Program are automatically enrolled as members in the ProximityOne User Group — open to anyone at no fee. Join now. The combination of these resources provide a powerful base for community decision-making.

Join us in weekly decision-making information Web sessions where we cover selected data access and use topics as well as Q&A relating to use of the community-focused data profiles and resources.  View sessions  and sign-up here.