Census Grid Series

Neil Freeman, 2019
digital print and animation

Census statistical geographies are broken apart and laid into a new grid according to the relative value of a data point for that geographical unit. This reordering is used to show the distributional differences across tracts. Census tracts are an arbitrary way to subdivide patterns of settlement. This abstraction raises the question: what is this system of categorization? Using the Census geographies as graphic elements themselves centers the Census as an engine of meaning in patterns of income, density, family and race.

In these images from New York City, tracts are colored based on the flags of their boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island.

Selections from this series were part of Who We Are, an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York.

New York City block groups (median income)

new york block groups sorted by median income

New York City block groups (household size)

new york block groups sorted by household size

New York City block groups (median age)

new york block groups sorted by median age

New York City census tracts (median rent)

new york city tracts sorted by median rent

New York City census tracts (fraction foreign born)

new york city tracts sorted by percent foreign born

New York City census tracts (median year structure built)

new york city tracts sorted by median year structure built

New York City census tracts (fraction of housing units with renters)

new york city tracts sorted by percent renter occupied