How to Parse a Census Tract
To parse something means to break it down into manageable, component parts. Parsing a census tract is dividing up an area of land, such as a county into manageable parts. This allows census takers to focus on a small, distinguishable area of roughly 8,000 to 10,000 residents, in which to take the census. Parsing a tract also makes it easier for family history and governmental researchers to look at the data presented for a tract, county, state and nation as a whole.
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Instructions
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Determine the geographic boundaries for the city or county in which the census will be taken. Geographic boundaries include rivers, highways, canals, railroads and other permanent and visible features of the city or county.
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Draw these boundaries on a map. It is best to try to make the boundaries fit into a square to make it easier to map. Label each section with a block number.
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Split the blocks. This means to define tracts within a block number for the census taker to work. Ideally, each tract should have 8,000 to 10,000 residents, depending on how large the area is. In less populated rural areas tracts may be divided based on area or distance rather than the number of residents. This allows for a smaller, more focused area and reduces the distance a census taker needs to travel.
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Parse and evaluate the data provided, after a census has been taken. The data can be parsed into ethnic groups, sex, race, occupation or other data points.
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Tips & Warnings
"Parsing a census tract" can refer to taking the census or evaluating its data. To compare data from census to census, make sure you are looking at the same tracts or adjust the data you are viewing based on boundary changes.
