Introduction to the U.S. Census

AP Human Geography - Damon

2014

U.S. Census Facts• A decennial (once every 10 years) survey of the population• Mandated by U.S. Constitution• First U.S. Census in 1790 by U.S. Marshals on horseback• Participation required by law• Counts all residents (differs from citizens)• Data kept confidential for 72 years• 2010 budget = $797 million ($200 million for marketing)• Census data used:

– To apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives– To allocate Electoral College votes– To distribute $400 billion+ in federal funds– To draw state legislative districts– To better understand the U.S. population

Which states and regions gained representatives? Lost? Why?

Electoral Vote Apportionment After Census 2010

Census Hierarchy

We can map and analyze the U.S. population at a variety of scales from national all the way down to the census block.

Your house or apartment is on a census block, within a census block group, within a census tract, within a census place, within a census MCD, within a

census county, within a state, within a census division, within a census region within our nation!.

Data Collection

• Census forms mailed

• Citizens respond by mail

• Census takers follow up via phone and personal visit with non-respondents

Which states and counties had the best participation? The worst? Possible reasons why? What difference does it make? (Look back at what census data is used for …)

Changes For 2010

• Short Form Only (10 questions) • Long Form (52 questions) formerly received

by 1 out of 6 households replaced by monthly American Community Survey

• Census takers used GPS-enabled hand-held computers for the first time

Explore The 2010 Census Form

http://www.census.gov/2010census/about/interactive-

form.php

Census Questions Reflect Changing Demographic Realities

Questions have been added, dropped and changed as times have changed.

A Few U.S. Census Controversies …

GIS Helps Us Visualize Census Data

Spend some time exploring the New York Times Mapping the U.S. Census site linked on our Wikispace. Use the View More Maps and

Zoom to a State pull-down menus to change the views.