fusion tables

setting the table

Open each Excel file, note the name and save it in a place you'll remember for the next step

In your Google Account, Click what looks like a field of 9 dots and pick Drive

your fusion table

On Drive page, Create a Fusion Table

Then browse for the Immigration file you just saved and use Next buttons to accept all defaults.  Repeat for the Country file, so you have two Fusion tables.

MAPPING AND FUSING

We'll go through the steps together to make our map and add more information. Remember:

• You can calculate columns much as as you can in Excel
• You need to find or make maps in KML -- some are available right in Fusion Tables via search so try that first
• If you have full addresses Fusion Tables will offer to make them points (geocoding) but make sure there is one field with all the elements -- street, city and state at least --
  
• When finished use "Publish" to generate code you need to publish your map as a web page or an iframe inserted in another web page or blog

Next steps

• At the office, get your Census information from factfinder2.census.gov
• You can't always find KML files within Fusion Tables. Learn to make them yourself from shapefiles with QGIS (qgis.com) 
• Publication can be simplified with the "generate HTML" option that creates an entire web page with the map and any legends
• Once you're comfortable with Fusion Tables, you can use the maps you create in slicker formats like Derek Eder's template which allows you to find your own location on the map and to search maps by keywords: See derekeder.com
• Example: http://www.timhenderson.org/mapexample/