The decennial Census of Population and Housing contains an enormous amount of valuable information, but mining this information can be overwhelming. Michael R. Lavin has developed a practical, easy-to-use guide to this remarkable statistical resource. Designed as a textbook, a handbook, and a ready-reference tool, Understanding the Census is written in a user-friendly narrative style. It features a wealth of research tips, background information, and answers to frequently asked questions. The book's many appendixes also provide valuable support material and answer important questions about the census. This is a must-have resource for anyone seeking or using U.S. Census information.