Lesson 6 - Census and Demographics

Question 1

2010 Decennial Census of Population

Answer 1

The 2010 Decennial Census of Population and Housing includes a variety of changes from the previous years. One of the largest changes is the discontinuation of the long form. With the long form eliminated, households only received the short form with 10 questions.

To avoid undercounting, the Census Bureau enlisted thousands of groups such as churches, charities, and other organizations to promote the importance of participating in the count.

Question 2

2000 Decennial Census of Population

Answer 2

The 2000 Decennial Census of Population and Housing includes a variety of changes from earlier years. The 2000 Census was mailed to each household using the 1990 Census address information, U.S. Postal Service files, and, in metropolitan statistical areas, the local update of Census addresses.

Approximately 17% of households received the long form, which represented the sample population.

Approximately 83% of households received the short form. The 2000 Census short form was the “shortest” since 1820. It addressed only seven subjects: name, age, gender, race, Hispanic ethnicity, relationships between household members, and whether the home was rented or owned by the householder.

Additionally, the 2000 Census for the first time allowed the respondents to select more than one race that they identify as.

Question 3

Rate of Response

Answer 3

In 1990 and 2000, 65% of U.S. households responded to the initial Census by mail. In 2010, 74% of U.S. households responded by mail. This was then followed up with phone calls and in-person Census workers.

Question 4

Urbanized Area

Answer 4

The Census Bureau defines an urbanized area wherever it finds an urban nucleus of 50,000 or more people. These urbanized areas may or may not contain any individual cities of 50,000 or more. In general, they must have a core with a population density of 1,000 persons per square mile and may contain adjoining territory with at least 500 persons per square mile. Urbanized areas have been delineated using the same basic threshold (50,000 population) for each decennial Census since 1950, but procedures for delineating the urban fringe are more liberal today. In 2000, 68% of Americans lived in 452 urbanized areas.

Question 5

Urban Cluster

Answer 5

Urban clusters have at least 2,500 but less than 50,000 persons and a population density of 1,000 persons per square mile. This delineation of built-up territory around small towns and cities is new for the 2000 Census. In 2000, 11% of the U.S. population lived in 3,158 urban clusters.

Question 6

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Answer 6

includes at least one city with 50,000 or more inhabitants, or an urbanized area (of at least 50,000 inhabitants), and a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000.

Question 7

Micropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Answer 7

has a population of more than 10,000 people and less than 50,000 people. This includes a central county and adjacent counties that have a high degree of social and economic integration as measured by commuting.

Question 8

Census Designated Places (CDP)

Answer 8

is the equivalent of an incorporated place for data purposes. This is for settled concentrations of population that are not incorporated.

Question 9

Consolidated MSA (CMSA)

Answer 9

is made up of several PMSA’s. An example is the Dallas-Fort Worth Consolidated Metropolitan Area. Dallas and Fort Worth are each primary metropolitan statistical areas.

Question 10

Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Answer 10

is defined by the US Office and Budget to provide data description for areas where there is a core area with at least 10,000 people that when combined with other adjacent communities is socially and economically integrated.

Question 11

Megalopolis

Answer 11

In 1961, Jean Gottman published Megalopolis, a book about the 300-mile-long urban area between Boston and Washington D.C. The Oxford Dictionary of Geography defines the term as “any many-centered, multi-city, urban area of more than 10 million inhabitants, generally dominated by low-density settlement and complex networks of economic specialization.” The term megacity refers specifically to the megalopolis areas with more than 10 million people.

Question 12

Census Tract

Answer 12

typically has a population between 2,000 and 8,000 people. It is the smallest area where all information is released.

Question 13

Census Block

Answer 13

is the smallest level at which the Census data is collected. There are typically 400 housing units per block.

Question 14

Census Block Group

Answer 14

Census Block Group

Question 15

Minor Civil Division (MCD)

Answer 15

is a unit only used in 29 states and usually corresponds to a municipality. Census County Divisions are used in the 21 states that do not have MCD’s.

Question 16

Tribal Designated Statistical Area

Answer 16

is a unit drawn by tribes that do not have a recognized land area. These are defined independently of the standard county based census delineations.

Question 17

Threshold Population

Answer 17

is a term that is under a number of government programs to determine program eligibility. For example, the Phase II Stormwater requirements automatically apply if a city meets the minimum threshold population. Another example is the Threshold Population to qualify to receive Community Development Block Grant Funds.

Question 18

Public Use Microdata Sample & Public Use Microdata Areas

Answer 18

refer to data available through the American Community Survey.

These files contain records for a sample of housing units with information on the characteristics of each unit and each person in it. While preserving confidentiality (by removing identifiers), these microdata files permit users with special data needs to prepare virtually any tabulation.

Question 19

Trends

Answer 19

There are a number of trends in the demographic makeup of the U.S. The nation has grown from 76 million people in 1900 to 308 million people in 2010. More than 27 million people were added during the 2000s. Of the 50 largest central cities in America, all but five saw their populations grow between the 2000 and 2010 censuses. To learn more about these trends, view the 2010 Census Briefs and Reports from the U.S. Census Bureau. Trends for the Census can be found at the Pew Research Center and at Census Scope.

Question 20

Population Trends

Answer 20

The US continued to urbanize, with 81% of the US population living in urban areas. You are expected to know about differences between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census. You will want to know the fastest growing states - Nevada (35%), Arizona (25%), and Utah (24%). You should know the top ten fastest growing metropolitan areas between 2000 and 2010. The Census Bureau website provide a variety of trend reports, such as the Patterns of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Population Change:2000 to 2010.

Question 21

10 Fastest Growing Metropolitan Areas

Answer 21

Palm Coast, Florida
St. George, Utah
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nevada
Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida
Provo-Orem, Utah
Greeley, Colorado
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, South Carolina
Bend, Oregon

Question 22

Census population and demographic rankings

Answer 22

https: //www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-01.pdf
https: //www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/censr-4.pdf
http: //www.censusscope.org/2010Census/

Question 23

American Community Survey (ACS)

Answer 23

In addition to the decennial Census, the Census has now instituted the American Community Survey. This survey, which replaces the long form in the decennial Census, takes a sample of the population and projects the findings to the population as a whole. The ACS began on a nationwide basis back in 2005. The survey reaches 2.5% of the nation’s population each year (1 in 40 addresses, approximately 3 million households). The survey rotates annually so that no household receives the survey more than once every five years. Starting in 2006, data was available on an annual basis for all areas with a population of 65,000 or more. For smaller areas, data is reported every three to five years.

One significant difference from the long form and the ACS is that the long form asked for income received in 1999. The ACS asks for income received in the last 12 months. The Population Reference Bureau provides more information about the differences between the long form and ACS.

Question 24

Housing Statistics

Answer 24

In addition to studying Census population and demographic information, you should also be familiar with housing statistics. Visit the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website and go over the basic information related to affordability, income, and poverty.

The confidentiality of respondents to the Census and the American Community Survey is protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. However, individual respondent information is released by the National Archives after 72 years.

Question 25

Population Groups

Answer 25

Baby Boomers
People born in the United States between 1946 and 1964 are known as Baby Boomers. The name “baby boomers” came about because there was an exceptionally high birth rate during the period. As this large group ages, issues of long-term care, accessibility, and social security have become more prevalent in public policy. To learn more about Baby Boomers visit the Boomer Initiative.

Generation X
These people were born between 1965 and 1976, which was a period of low birth rates.

Generation Y (aka Echo Boom or Millenials)
These are the children of the baby boomers. These people were born between approximately 1977 and 2000. The exact years of this generation vary depending on the source. These are generally children born in the 1980s and 1990s.

Generation Z
These are the children born after 2000. The exact years of this generation vary depending on the source.