Nigel James

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The Census Accessing and mapping British Census
Data
Nigel James Bodleian Library
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The UK Census

• A census is normally taken every ten years

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The UK Census

• A census is normally taken every ten years
• The first census in 1801 enabled the compilation
  of essential statistics such as how many men
  were available to fight in the Napoleonic War
  (Population was ca.10M)

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The UK Census

• A census is normally taken every ten years
• The first census in 1801 enabled the compilation
  of essential statistics such as how many men
  were available to fight in the Napoleonic War
  (Population was ca.10M)
• The first modern census ( name, age, occupation
  and where born ) was in 1841

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The UK Census

• A census is normally taken every ten years
• The first census in 1801 enabled the compilation
  of essential statistics such as how many men
  were available to fight in the Napoleonic War
  (Population was ca.10M)
• The first modern census ( name, age, occupation
  and where born ) was in 1841
• Records from 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 have been
  lost

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Everyone was included

• From writers . . .

Source 1851 Census - National Statistics
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Everyone was included

• . . . to Royalty

Source 1851 Census - National Statistics
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The 1881 census . . .
The 1881 Census is available online at the CHCC
Historical Census Collection http//ahds.ac.uk/his
tory/collections/chccaccess.htm (ATHENS
registration is required)
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The evolving census

• 1911 punch cards enabled mechanical sorting and
  counting

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The evolving census

• 1911 punch cards enabled mechanical sorting and
  counting
• 1920 The Census Act enabled a census to be held
  at any time, but not less than 5 years after the
  previous census (up to 1911 a new act was
  required each time)

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The evolving census

• 1911 punch cards enabled mechanical sorting and
  counting
• 1920 The Census Act enabled a census to be held
  at any time, but not less than 5 years after the
  previous census (up to 1911 a new act was
  required each time)
• 1961 Computers first used. Data recorded on
  magnetic tapes

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Ethnicity and religion

• 1991 Question on ethnicity first included
  (previously based on analysis of country of
  birth)

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Ethnicity and religion

• 1991 Question on ethnicity first included
  (previously based on analysis of country of
  birth)
• 2001 - Question on religion first included

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Ethnicity and religion

• 1991 Question on ethnicity first included
  (previously based on analysis of country of
  birth)
• 2001 - Question on religion first included
• Religion by various categories down to ward level

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Ethnicity and religion

• 1991 Question on ethnicity first included
  (previously based on analysis of country of
  birth)
• 2001 - Question on religion first included
• Religion by various categories down to ward level
• Religion by sex and broad age group only at
  output area level

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Religions in the census

• 6.0 gave their religion as Christian (76 in
  Havering), followed by Muslim at 3.1 (36 in
  Tower Hamlets)

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Religions in the census

• 6.0 gave their religion as Christian (76 in
  Havering), followed by Muslim at 3.1 (36 in
  Tower Hamlets)
• 2.6 of Brighton Hoves population were Jedi
  Knights . . .

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Religions in the census

• 6.0 gave their religion as Christian (76 in
  Havering), followed by Muslim at 3.1 (36 in
  Tower Hamlets)
• 2.6 of Brighton Hoves population were Jedi
  Knights . . .
• . . . and second was Oxford with 2.0

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Religions in the census

• 6.0 gave their religion as Christian (76 in
  Havering), followed by Muslim at 3.1 (36 in
  Tower Hamlets)
• 2.6 of Brighton Hoves population were Jedi
  Knights . . .
• . . . and second was Oxford with 2.0
• but Easington had only 0.16

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Accessing census data

• Individual returns are confidential for 100 years

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Accessing census data

• Individual returns are confidential for 100 years
• Data is aggregated for release

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Accessing census data

• Individual returns are confidential for 100 years
• Data is aggregated for release
• Thresholds for the release of data are 40
  households and 100 persons for Census Area
  Statistics, and 400 hh and 1,000 persons for
  Standard Tables

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Accessing census data

• Individual returns are confidential for 100 years
• Data is aggregated for release
• Thresholds for the release of data are 40
  households and 100 persons for Census Area
  Statistics, and 400 hh and 1,000 persons for
  Standard Tables
• Data which could risk identification of
  individuals is only available in standard tables

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The 2001 Census geography

• A new geography was introduced

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The 2001 Census geography

• A new geography was introduced
• Output areas (based on postcodes) replaced
  enumeration districts. They are smaller and more
  homogenous so statistics are better

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The 2001 Census geography

• A new geography was introduced
• Output areas (based on postcodes) replaced
  enumeration districts. They are smaller and more
  homogenous so statistics are better
• Each census area unit (OA, ward, district, county
  etc.) nests within the higher level unit

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Census geography areas
Ward Output area Postcode
Source National Statistics
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How much data is there ? (2001)
Source National Statistics
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Census data at CASWEB

• 2001 aggregate statistics datasets for England
  Wales. (Boundary data is available in the Map
  Room and from UKBorders)

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Census data at CASWEB

• 2001 aggregate statistics datasets for England
  Wales. (Boundary data is available in the Map
  Room and from UKBorders)
• 1991 GB Local Base Statistics and Small Area
  Statistics supplied with digital boundary data

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Census data at CASWEB

• 2001 aggregate statistics datasets for England
  Wales. (Boundary data is available in the Map
  Room and from UKBorders)
• 1991 GB Local Base Statistics and Small Area
  Statistics supplied with digital boundary data
• 1991 Northern Ireland Small Area Statistics

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Census data at CASWEB

• 2001 aggregate statistics datasets for England
  Wales. (Boundary data is available in the Map
  Room and from UKBorders)
• 1991 GB Local Base Statistics and Small Area
  Statistics supplied with digital boundary data
• 1991 Northern Ireland Small Area Statistics
• 1981 GB Small Area Statistics

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Selecting an area - 1
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Selecting an area - 2
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Selecting an area - 3
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Selecting an area - 4
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Selecting a dataset table
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Selecting data variables
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Download the data
Preview the selection
Data is downloaded in plain text format This can
be used in Excel, Access or other software
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Visualising your data

• Mapping census data reveals spatial patterns

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Visualising your data

• Mapping census data reveals spatial patterns
• Maps are an ideal way to present spatially
  referenced data

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Visualising your data

• Mapping census data reveals spatial patterns
• Maps are an ideal way to present spatially
  referenced data
• A simple mapping tool is available on CASWEB
  (currently 1991 data only)

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Visualising your data

• Mapping census data reveals spatial patterns
• Maps are an ideal way to present spatially
  referenced data
• A simple mapping tool is available on CASWEB
  (currently 1991 data only)
• Census data can be mapped and combined with other
  features (roads, railways etc) in a GIS
  (Geographic Information System)

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Visualising data in a GIS
Table view
Map view
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Choosing an appropriate style
Raw counts can be misleading . . .
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Choosing an appropriate style
Raw counts can be misleading . . .
. . . So use proportional values
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Displaying multiple variables
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Displaying multiple variables
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All data values for a selected area can be viewed
with the Info Tool
The Info Tool can also be used to modify values
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Using inflection
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Using inflection
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Relating data to the area
Digital Ordnance Survey data can be downloaded
from DIGIMAP and combined with census data from
CASWEB
DIGIMAP is FREE to registered users
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Additional data sources

• National Statistics Census pages
  http//www.statistics.gov.uk/census/

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Additional data sources

• National Statistics Census pages
  http//www.statistics.gov.uk/census/
• NOMIS (official labour market statistics at local
  and national level and census data)
  http//www.nomisweb.co.uk/

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Additional data sources

• National Statistics Census pages
  http//www.statistics.gov.uk/census/
• NOMIS (official labour market statistics at local
  and national level and census data)
  http//www.nomisweb.co.uk/
• Scottish Census Results Online (SCROL)
  http//www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/common/home.jsp

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Additional data sources

• National Statistics Census pages.
  http//www.statistics.gov.uk/census/
• NOMIS (official labour market statistics at local
  and national level and census data)
  http//www.nomisweb.co.uk/
• Scottish Census Results Online (SCROL)
  http//www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/common/home.jsp
• Northern Ireland Census of Population
  http//www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/start.htm
  

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