Social Science Sources with Census Data

Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) Maps were used to rank and identify various neighborhoods and districts, what we refer to as redlining.  Their ranking system is as follows:

A (Best): Always upper- or upper-middle-class White neighborhoods that HOLC defined as posing minimal risk for banks and other mortgage lenders, as they were "ethnically homogeneous" and had room to be further developed.

B (Still Desirable): Generally nearly or completely White, U.S. -born neighborhoods that HOLC defined as "still desirable" and sound investments for mortgage lenders.

C (Declining): Areas where the residents were often working-class and/or first or second generation immigrants from Europe. These areas often lacked utilities and were characterized by older building stock.

D (Hazardous): Areas here often received this grade because they were "infiltrated" with "undesirable populations" such as Jewish, Asian, Mexican, and Black families. These areas were more likely to be close to industrial areas and to have older housing.

Mapping Inequality from the University of Richmond - This mapping tool allows you to locate various metropolitan places across the United States. Included are HOLC ratings and copies of scanned descriptions.

Not Even Past: from the University of Richmond - This mapping tool allows provides a then and now comparison but also helps in identifying current census tracts for more current comparisons.