Population and urban geography using the Census data

Shelagh WaddingtonDepartment of Geography

Maynooth University

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Outline

• Using on-line Census data– International– National and local data• Census 2011

• Change over time using– historic maps– Census 1911

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Why use the Census data?Valuable source of information relating to:• syllabi– current Junior Cert– Leaving Cert– new junior cycle

• allows use of local area information– can be up-dated– can be used to look at change over time

• can be used for fieldwork exercises• accessible and FREE!!

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Syllabus topics

• Junior Cert.Unit B 1: Population:

Distribution, diversity and change

Key idea (iii) Characteristics of population groupings

• Leaving Cert. Students should study • recent Census returns for

Ireland;• demographic structure of

the population;Investigation possibilities, e.g. 2013: A local demographic

study

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Skills developed using Census dataCurrent JC Geographyprogramme

LC Geography programme Revised Junior Cycle programme [Key skills]

Use and interpretation of information sources:figures, statistics, electronic

Information gathering: figures, statistics, ICT

Literacy

Presentation and communication of ideas:figures, statistics, written

Presentation and communication of ideas:figures, statistics, written

Numeracy

Collecting, recording, analysing, interpreting information

Investigative skills: using secondary sources of information

Managing information and thinking

Synthesising and evaluating information

Synthesise, analyse, interpret and evaluate information

Working with others

Social skills: working alone, in groups, teamwork, verbal communication

Social skills: working alone, in groups, teamwork, verbal communication

Communicating

Using digital technology

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At an international level

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At the local level: What the text books suggest

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Small Areas in Census 2011

Small areas:• Census returns for areas with 50 to 200 houses;• makes it possible for children to use data relating to

their own home area;• available for the whole country;• same data as for Electoral Divisions and National

area.

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What does this look like?

• http://www.cso.ie/en/census/• You may use these figures to draw a population

pyramid using Excel• It is quite easy, but you do need to learn how to do

it!– Google will provide possibilities– Or you can e-mail me for my version

• Your students will be able to do this for themselves if they have reasonable ICT skills, if not there is an alternative!

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What information do you get?

• Theme 1: Sex, age and marital status• Theme 2: Migration, Ethnicity and Religion• Theme 3: Irish language• Theme 4: Families• Theme 5: Private Households• Theme 6: Housing• Theme 7: Communal Establishments• Theme 8: Principal Status• Theme 9: Social Class and Socio-Economic Group• Theme 10: Education• Theme 11: Commuting• Theme 12: Disability, carers and general health• Theme 13: Occupation• Theme 14: Industries• Theme 15: PC and Internet Access

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How do you get the information Using the SAPMap

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Small Area data

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And when you click on more

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Population table

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0-45-9

10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-84

85+

15 10 5 0 5 10 15

Population of Doctor's Lane, Maynooth, 2011

Female %Male %

% total poupulation

Age

grou

ps(y

ears

)0-45-9

10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-84

85+

60 40 20 0 20 40 60

Population of Maynooth ED, 2011

% total population

Age

grou

ps (y

ears

)

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Using another theme

Pre 1919 1919 to 1945

1946 to 1960

1961 to 1970

1971 to 1980

1981 to 1990

1991 to 2000

2001 to 2005

2006 or later

Not stated

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

Age of housing in 2011

Rockfield %Maynooth ED %State %

Age in years

% to

tal h

ouse

hold

s

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Working with historic data

• Access to historic maps and able to compare these with modern maps and imagery– OSi website

– Scoilnet Maps• Census 1901 and 1911 now available on-line – information for individual households

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Syllabus topics

• Junior Cert.Unit B3: Settlement: changing

patterns in where we live..Key idea v) Settlement may

change in function over timeUnit B4: Urbanisation: Key idea i) The growth of towns

and cities has occurred ....Key idea vi) The rapid pace of

social and economic change within ...cities

• Leaving Cert. Elective 5: Patterns and

processes of human environment

Statement 1: focuses the study on how population characteristics change over time, recommends study of Census material

5.4 relates to development of settlement over time

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Skills potentially developed using historical and present day information

Current JC geography programme

LC Geography programme Revised Junior Cycle programme [Key skills]

Use and interpretation of information sources:figures, statistics, electronic

Information gathering: figures, statistics, ICT

Literacy

Presentation and communication of ideas:figures, statistics, written

Presentation and communication of ideas:figures, statistics, written

Numeracy

Collecting, recording, analysing, interpreting information

Investigative skills: using secondary sources of information

Managing information and thinking

Synthesising and evaluating information

Synthesise, analyse, interpret and evaluate information

Working with others

Social skills: working alone, in groups, teamwork, verbal communication

Social skills: working alone, in groups, teamwork, verbal communication

Communicating

OSi imagery

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http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,591271,743300,0

This may be used to overlay historic and modern maps

You can also see aerial images from a number of different years

Unfortunately these maps are copyright and so you can’t print them out for your students – unlike Scoilnetmaps

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A few suggestions for using old and modern maps

Look carefully at the two maps which cover the same area of Maynooth and then answer the following questions:

• How many grid squares does the town cover in 1911?• How many grid squares does the town cover in 2005?• Shade the new areas of Maynooth on Map 1 [Use

light pencil shading or a highlighter]• What is the same on both maps?• Make a list of the things which have changed

between 1911 and 2005.

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Using the 1911 Census

1901 and 1911 Census data available in the National Archives• http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/Available informationForm A: Household Return Form, filled in and signed by the

head of the householdForm N: Enumerator’s Abstract - number of houses, the

number of occupants of each house, by sex and religious denominations

Form B1: House and Building ReturnForm B2: Out-offices and Farm-Steadings Return

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Form A: Household return form

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Fortunately...

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Former former court house

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Professions of residents of Convent Lane, 1911

Blacksmith Coachbuilder Domestic Servant DressmakerEngine Driver Ex N S Teacher Labourer Landress Night watchman Postman Religious Teacher ScholarSeamstress Shoemaker Tailor Not specified

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Questions or comments?

• If you want the ‘Population Pyramid’ guidelines or any other information

please contact me at:shelagh.waddington@nuim.ie