Tobacco Health Equity Mapping Help

Map Data Sources

EJSCREEN was the source used for population data for this story map. EJSCREEN is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an environmental justice mapping and screening tool that uses select environmental and demographic indicators from the U.S Census Bureau and other sources. It is publicly available and can be downloaded from the EPA website. The data set includes 11 environmental indicators, 11 environmental justice indexes and 6 demographics indicators. For more information about EJSCREEN visit - https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen.

Oregon Tobacco Retail Database is the source of statewide tobacco retail locations in Oregon. This data source is maintained by the Oregon Health Authority, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section.

Oregon School Footprint is the geographic Information System (GIS) layer that includes the campus footprints of all public schools in Oregon listed by the Oregon Department of Education in 2017. Footprints were developed by the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Reporting, Research, Analytics and Implementation.

The Oregon School Footprint was downloaded in August 2019 and has been discontinued for support. 

Indicator Classifications

Census block groups were used for analysis in this project. Census block groups were the smallest level of geography with demographic data available and were used to approximate neighborhoods in urban areas.

 The socioeconomic status for each census block group was based on resident education and income levels.

1. Education: Census block groups were separated into two classifications of lower education and higher education based on the statewide mean percent of residents having less than a high school degree. Census block groups with higher than 10% (state mean percent) of residents having less than a high school degree would be included in the 'low education' classification.
2. Income: Census block groups were separated into two classifications of lower income and higher income based on the statewide mean percent of residence having a household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Census block groups with higher than 36% of residents having a household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (state mean percent) would be included in the low-income classification.

Using education and income, four classifications of socioeconomic status were developed for this project: Neither low income or low education; low income only; low education only; or both low income and low education.

Census block group minority status was developed by grouping census block groups into four quartiles based on the percent of residence in each block group who were non-white or Latino/a. There are more than 2,600 block group in Oregon, meaning there were about 659 block groups in each of the minority status groups: high minority percentage; somewhat high minority percentage; somewhat low minority percentage; or predominately low minority percentage.

Glossary of Terms

Census Block: The smallest geographic unit used by the United States Census Bureau (less than 500 residents).

Census Block groups: A geographic unit used by the United States Census Bureau consisting of a cluster of census blocks within a census tract (between 500 to 2,500 residents).

Census Tract: A geographic unit used by the United States Census Bureau consisting of a cluster of block groups within a county (between 2,500 to 8,000 residents).

Low education:  Residents age 25 or older having less than a high school education.

Low income: Income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level (e.g., in 2020 a median household income of four is equal to or less than $52,400 per year). See link for more information about federal poverty level- https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

Minority: Residents who identify as African American, American Indian, Alaska Natives, Asian, Pacific Islanders or Latino/a.

Neighborhood: For this story map, block groups are used as a proxy for a ‘Neighborhood.’

Tobacco retailer: Any store in Oregon that sells at least one type of tobacco.

Retail density: Total number of tobacco retailers divided by the total population of the geographic unit, reported per 1000 residents.

School: Any public school, excluding universities and colleges.

Percent of retailers within 1000 feet from school: Measure for analysis to examine proximity of retailers near schools.