Census At-A-GlanceCensus At-A-Glance

September 14, 2004September 14, 2004

OverviewOverview

Background of CensusBackground of Census HistoryHistory How the Census is organizedHow the Census is organized

Hands On-how to locate and use Hands On-how to locate and use census datacensus data

History of the CensusHistory of the Census

Following Independence there was a need to count every Following Independence there was a need to count every person in order to determine state’s representation in the person in order to determine state’s representation in the US House of Representatives but also to determine each US House of Representatives but also to determine each state’s share of paying for the war-both based on state’s share of paying for the war-both based on populationpopulation

““The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years”and within every subsequent Term of ten Years”

•Source: US Census Bureau, Fact finder for the Nation (2000)

History of CensusHistory of Census

The first census was taken in 1790 with 3.9 The first census was taken in 1790 with 3.9 million counted inhabitantsmillion counted inhabitants

Three Subjects of InterestThree Subjects of Interest Number of free White Males with a distinction of Number of free White Males with a distinction of

over or under 16 to determine military eligibilityover or under 16 to determine military eligibility Number of other free persons-including Indians Number of other free persons-including Indians

that paid taxesthat paid taxes How many slaves there wereHow many slaves there were

18 months to complete the census18 months to complete the census•Source: US Census Bureau, Fact finder for the Nation (2000)

How the Census Is How the Census Is ConductedConducted

1940 & 1950 Conducted by Family 1940 & 1950 Conducted by Family InterviewsInterviews

1960 & 1970 Conducted utilizing both 1960 & 1970 Conducted utilizing both short form & long form and US Mailshort form & long form and US Mail

2000 Census2000 Census First Census Released onlineFirst Census Released online First Census to allow persons to describe First Census to allow persons to describe

themselves as “more than one race”themselves as “more than one race” First Census translated into 5 languagesFirst Census translated into 5 languages First ever paid advertising campaignFirst ever paid advertising campaign

•Data from US Census Bureau

How the Questions How the Questions ExpandedExpanded

1810-First Inquiry About Manufacturers1810-First Inquiry About Manufacturers 1840-Questions on Agriculture, Mining 1840-Questions on Agriculture, Mining

and Fisheries were addedand Fisheries were added 1850-Included inquiries on social 1850-Included inquiries on social

issues-taxation, churches, pauperism, issues-taxation, churches, pauperism, and crime.and crime.

Source: US Census Bureau, Fact Finder for the Nation (2000)Source: US Census Bureau, Fact Finder for the Nation (2000)

Census Benefits & Census Benefits & UndercountsUndercounts

UndercountsUndercounts Official New York Official New York

State undercount State undercount estimate for Census estimate for Census 2000 is 209,123 2000 is 209,123 personspersons

Each person Each person represents an annual represents an annual loss of approximately loss of approximately $3,000 in Federal $3,000 in Federal funding= 6.3 Billion funding= 6.3 Billion lost over 10 Yearslost over 10 Years

• Source: The U.S. Census Monitoring Source: The U.S. Census Monitoring Boar web page / Boar web page / PricewaterhouseCoopers Census PricewaterhouseCoopers Census StudyStudy

Benefits of CensusBenefits of Census

Distribution of tax dollars fairlyDistribution of tax dollars fairly

Comparable information across Comparable information across and within states for program and within states for program evaluation and use in fundingevaluation and use in funding

Current information to track Current information to track health & well-being of familieshealth & well-being of families

Current information for Current information for decision-making and policy decision-making and policy developmentdevelopmentSource: US Census Bureau ACS Congressional Tool KitSource: US Census Bureau ACS Congressional Tool Kit

Short Form-Long FormShort Form-Long Form

Short Form (Summary File 1) or (SF1)Short Form (Summary File 1) or (SF1)About 83% of Households (5 out of 6)About 83% of Households (5 out of 6)

*Name *Sex *Race * Ethnicity * Age*Name *Sex *Race * Ethnicity * Age

*Relationship to Head of Household *Own/Rent Home*Relationship to Head of Household *Own/Rent Home

Long Form (Summary File 3) or (SF3)Long Form (Summary File 3) or (SF3)About 17% of Households (1 in 6)About 17% of Households (1 in 6)

All SF1 data plus…Socio-Economic and Housing DataAll SF1 data plus…Socio-Economic and Housing Data•Data from US Census Bureau

The Short Form- SF1The Short Form- SF1

7 Questions7 Questions 100% Data- A complete count of “All 100% Data- A complete count of “All

persons” living in the U.S. as of April persons” living in the U.S. as of April 1, 20001, 2000

Over 300 tables including race, Over 300 tables including race, ethnicity, gender and age dataethnicity, gender and age data

•Data from US Census Bureau

The Long Form- SF3The Long Form- SF3

7 population questions plus 46 additional 7 population questions plus 46 additional questionsquestions

““Sample Data” –Goes to 1 in 6 householdsSample Data” –Goes to 1 in 6 households Over 825 tables of socio-economic and Over 825 tables of socio-economic and

housing data with over 16,500 variableshousing data with over 16,500 variables The data file most used by demographers The data file most used by demographers

and those performing census analysisand those performing census analysis Not 100% Accurate- Simply a “Sample” of Not 100% Accurate- Simply a “Sample” of

American HouseholdsAmerican Households

•Data from US Census Bureau

The Long Form & Sampling The Long Form & Sampling ErrorError

What is a sampling error?What is a sampling error? Each responding “long form” household Each responding “long form” household

represents, on average, five or six other represents, on average, five or six other households who reported using short forms-not a households who reported using short forms-not a complete countcomplete count

This standard error is larger in areas of smaller This standard error is larger in areas of smaller populationspopulations

The Census Bureau over samples the Long Form The Census Bureau over samples the Long Form in small communities to obtain accurate resultsin small communities to obtain accurate results

Validity & Reliability: Who in your community Validity & Reliability: Who in your community might be missed?might be missed?

•Data from US Census Bureau

The American Community The American Community SurveySurvey

Goal is to streamline and improve Goal is to streamline and improve the Censusthe Census

Beginning with 2010 Census all Beginning with 2010 Census all households will receive short formhouseholds will receive short form

Long form will be collected on a Long form will be collected on a flow basis on an annual basis via flow basis on an annual basis via the American Community Survey the American Community Survey (ACS)(ACS)

Conducted by mail, telephone and Conducted by mail, telephone and visitsvisits

Provides updated information Provides updated information every year instead of every 10 every year instead of every 10 yearsyears

Will be sent to approx 2 ½ Will be sent to approx 2 ½ percent of US Households per percent of US Households per yearyear

Addresses are randomly selected Addresses are randomly selected to represent similar households in to represent similar households in their areatheir area

•Source: US Census Bureau ACS Congressional Tool Kit

Planned Release of ACS Planned Release of ACS DataData

Pending Congressional FundingPending Congressional Funding

PopulationPopulation

YearYear65,000 or 65,000 or greatergreater

(annual (annual data)data)

20,000 to 64,99920,000 to 64,999

(3-year average)(3-year average)Below 20,000Below 20,000

(5-year average)(5-year average)

20062006 2005 Data2005 Data

20072007 2006 Data2006 Data

20082008 2007 Data2007 Data 2005-2007 Data2005-2007 Data

20092009 2008 Data2008 Data 2006-2008 Data2006-2008 Data

20102010 2009 Data2009 Data 2007-2009 Data2007-2009 Data 2005-2009 Data2005-2009 Data

•Source: Calm River Demographics & US Census Bureau, Fact finder for the Nation (2004)

Census Data Types Census Data Types SummarySummary

Short-form Data or 100% Data-SF1Short-form Data or 100% Data-SF1 SF2-Short Form Data you can organize SF2-Short Form Data you can organize

into racial groupsinto racial groups Long-form Data or Sample Data-SF3Long-form Data or Sample Data-SF3

SF4- Long form data you can organize SF4- Long form data you can organize into race, ethnicity and ancestry groupsinto race, ethnicity and ancestry groups

Geography of the US Census Geography of the US Census BureauBureau

Census Tracts= 1000 to 8000 Census Tracts= 1000 to 8000 populationpopulation

Block Groups= 300 to 3000 Block Groups= 300 to 3000 SF3 can be broken down into block groupsSF3 can be broken down into block groups

Blocks = +/- 50 to 1500 Blocks = +/- 50 to 1500 SF1 can be broken down into blocksSF1 can be broken down into blocks

Census TractsCensus TractsPopulation=1000 to 8000Population=1000 to 8000

Block GroupsBlock GroupsPopulation=300 to 3000Population=300 to 3000

BlocksBlocksPopulation= +/-50 to 1500Population= +/-50 to 1500

Race & Ethnicity Race & Ethnicity

Ethnicity-only two Ethnicity-only two choiceschoices

Hispanic or Not HispanicHispanic or Not Hispanic

Race-unlimited Race-unlimited choiceschoices

Race-multiple choicesRace-multiple choices White aloneWhite alone Black or African Black or African

American aloneAmerican alone American Indian and American Indian and

Alaska Native AloneAlaska Native Alone Asian IndianAsian Indian

•JapaneseJapanese•ChineseChinese•FilipinoFilipino•HawaiianHawaiian•KoreanKorean•VietnameseVietnamese•GuamanianGuamanian•ChamorroChamorro•SamoanSamoan•Write inWrite in

•Source: US Census Bureau, Fact finder for the Nation (2000)

United States Census United States Census BureauBureau

www.Census.govwww.Census.gov