1. Point your browser to http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapbrowse-tbl
   
   
2. You will be placed into the Mapsurfer page and a map of Washington DC will be the default.

To choose a different location scroll to the bottom of the page. On the left hand side you will see the window for selecting a new city name or zipcode. Enter your city and state and click on SEARCH. 


3. You will be given a list of matching hits. Choose the correct locality from the choices and then click on the words BROWSE TIGER MAP of the area. A new map for your locality will load in the Map window.
   
   
4. To change the "center" of the map, or to zoom in or zoom out you will use the area in the upper right labeled CLICK ON IMAGE. Highlight the button with the command you wish to issue. For instance , highlight Zoom IN, and set the zoom factor to 3. Now click on the MAP to activate the feature and a new map will be drawn at the changed magnification.



Experiment with this feature until you have the map scale you wish to work with.


5. To identify the Census Tracts you will be illustrating, use the LAYERS feature located on the right-hand side of the web site. 
   


Turn on the CENSUS TRACTS layer. You may turn on or off the characteristics you wish to view or hide. You may click on other features to help you identify your area, but too many features clutter the map. For instance you can click OFF the STREETS, but turn ON - the ST HWY LABELS and US HWY LABELS if desired. Click on REDRAW MAPS button and you will see the Census tract boundaries and any other features you have chosen appear on the map. Use the REDRAW MAP BUTTON each time you want the image changed. It is useful to have the map set up the way you want it before you begin working with data.



6. To incorporate statistical information into your map scroll down to the MAP CENSUS STATISTICS area.
   
Select:
• LEVEL - choose Census Tract
• THEME - Choose whatever characteristic you wish to map. For instance, some of the attributes (themes) available that you may wish to map are Density, Income, Race by percentage, Owner and Renter Occupancy by percentage.
• CLASSIFY method - Use quintiles first ( i.e. fifths of total). You can also experiment with "Equal intervals."
• Click on REDRAW MAP to see the new graphic with a representation of the data from the 1990 Census.
  
  
7. When you are satisfied with your image you will want to download it to a floppy disk to save it. To download the map go back to the top of the page and in the CLICK ON IMAGE BOX highlight the button labeled DOWNLOAD GIF IMAGE, then click on the MAP.
   
   
   
   
8. A new screen will appear with just the graphic image of your map. Now use the File menu on the netscape browser. Pull down the menu, select SAVE AS.
   
   
9. Put a disk in the a: drive. Specify the a: drive at the "Save in" window and under the "File Name" window give the file a distinct name,( e.g. renters.gif ). Be sure to retain the .gif extension. Click on "Save" and your map will be copied onto the disk as a gif file.
   
   
10. Use the BACK button on your browser to return to the Tiger map site.
    
    
11. Now save the Legend by simply clicking on it. It will also appear on a new screen. Follow steps 8 through 10 to save it. (Hint - give it a name that will associate it with the correct map file that it describes.)
    
    
12. To obtain color 8x10 prints of your maps you can take your files to the Media Production Center in Linderman Library. Staff there will be able to merge your map and its legend onto one sheet and print it for you. Cost is $1.00 per sheet. The hours of Media Production are: Mon to Fri, 8am to 4:30pm.

revised March 2001