This chapter serves as a guide for data users to both the file and the technical documentation. Novice users trying to understand how to use the documentation and the file should read this chapter first. Please pay particular attention to the section titled Data Structure and Segmentation. This structure is a new approach for Census 2000.

The Census 2000 Race and Hispanic or Latino Summary File is a nationwide file containing higher-level summaries derived fromthe Census 2000 Redistricting Data.