This past week has been busy - after downloading and installing the FFIEC 2010 Census Data Application (http://www.ffiec.gov/cra/censusproducts.htm#censusdata), a Report showing Tract Median Family Income and MSA-level Median Family Income is run for all the Census Tracts, but only one State at a time. The data is saved as a txt file, and opened in MapInfo. A master table is made by appending all the txt files. After appropriate database-field-manipulations, a unique FIPS code is generated for each record, which corresponds to the unique FIPS code in the previously-created Nationwide Census Tracts file. After calculating "Income as a % of MSA Median" for each Census Tract, each Tract is either
Low-Income (0.01% < 50%)
Moderate-Income (50% < 80%)
Middle-Income (80% < 120%)
Upper-Income ( >= 120%)
NA (zero families in a Tract means no Tract Median Family Income)
For my first project, I am interested in where 4 Census Tracts meet, and each of the 4 is in a different Income Level:
This map of Midland, TX shows 4 Tracts intersecting at N Big Spring St and W/E Scharbauer Dr, and each Tract is in a different Income category. A bank that wants to locate a branch in this area would make a big mistake to locate it in Census Tract 0002.00 (the Upper Income Census Tract); they would get "extra credit" in any Examination if they were to locate their branch in a Low Income Census Tract - in this case, Tract 0016.00.
This intersection is one of 42 that I have identified. Please contact me if you would like information about the other 41 locations. I enjoyed this project - it combines the need for sophisticated (and automated) data-processing with the need for just some raw "grunt work"; but the results are worth the effort.
Dennis C. Dixon
Geo-Information Specialist
Dixon Spatial Consulting
dennis.dixon@dixonspatialconsulting.com
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