What happened to the What happened to the Census?Census?

Census 2010 and the ACSCensus 2010 and the ACS

Sarah Maximiek, Binghamton UniversitySarah Maximiek, Binghamton University

Decennial Census Decennial Census

Mandated in the ConstitutionMandated in the Constitution 1790 – First Census 1790 – First Census 1900 - Decennial Census tracked 1900 - Decennial Census tracked

employment, social and agricultural employment, social and agricultural countscounts

1902 – Census Bureau established 1902 – Census Bureau established as permanent agencyas permanent agency

Census 2000 and earlierCensus 2000 and earlier

Short Form Short Form – DOB, gender, Hispanic Orgin (universally DOB, gender, Hispanic Orgin (universally

asked in 1980), Race, Identifying asked in 1980), Race, Identifying Information, Housing OwnershipInformation, Housing Ownership

– Based on Based on people people – one answer per – one answer per person. person.

– Data widely available, distributed Data widely available, distributed throughout most datasetsthroughout most datasets

Census 2000 and earlier Census 2000 and earlier

Long form Long form – Varies considerably in length, depending Varies considerably in length, depending

on Census year on Census year – Asks the respondent a variety of social, Asks the respondent a variety of social,

economic and demographic questions economic and demographic questions (education, citizenship, income source, (education, citizenship, income source, language spoken at home, transportation language spoken at home, transportation to and from work, etc.), including short to and from work, etc.), including short form questionsform questions

– Sample – given to a small percentage of Sample – given to a small percentage of the populationthe population

Census 2010 (and beyond)Census 2010 (and beyond)

Will consist of the short form Will consist of the short form questionnaire only questionnaire only

Information collected is what is Information collected is what is required by Constitution (enumeration required by Constitution (enumeration for representation)for representation)

The American Community Survey will The American Community Survey will fill in data left out of the long formfill in data left out of the long form

American Community Survey American Community Survey (ACS)(ACS)

What is it?What is it?– First done in 2005 First done in 2005 – Complied demographic data for areas of Complied demographic data for areas of

at least 65,000 peopleat least 65,000 people– Based on samplingBased on sampling– Based on addresses, not peopleBased on addresses, not people

ACSACS

ACS ACS

Areas of 20,000 or more people will Areas of 20,000 or more people will be updated with 3 year period be updated with 3 year period averages. averages.

For areas less then 20,000 people, For areas less then 20,000 people, data will cover 5 year period data will cover 5 year period averagesaverages. .

ACS data release exampleACS data release example

Place Release Dates Dates Covered Data included

Johnson City

(15,535)

20102011 etc…

1/05-12/091/06-12/10

average

Binghamton City

(47,380)

Dec 2008Dec 2009

Etc…

1/05-12/07

1/06-12/08

average

Broome

County

(200,536)

2006 (1st ACS test)

should be updated annually after Census2010

1/05-12/05

Previous 12 mos.

sample

Why the ACS? Why the ACS?

Congress has failed to consistently Congress has failed to consistently fund mid-Census surveysfund mid-Census surveys

Spreads data gathering over long-Spreads data gathering over long-termterm

Allows Decennial Census to focus on Allows Decennial Census to focus on compiling an accurate headcount compiling an accurate headcount

Removes “content” from Decennial Removes “content” from Decennial Census Census

More frequently updated data More frequently updated data

What the ACS is not…What the ACS is not…

A substitute for Current Population A substitute for Current Population Surveys Surveys

Substitute for Small Area Income and Substitute for Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates Poverty Estimates

Census vs ACSCensus vs ACS

ResidencyResidency– Census: asks residents for “usual place Census: asks residents for “usual place

of residence.” of residence.”

– ACS: asks for “current place of ACS: asks for “current place of residence,” as defined as living there for residence,” as defined as living there for the past two monthsthe past two months

– Group quarters are treated differently, Group quarters are treated differently, depending on questiondepending on question

Census vs ACSCensus vs ACS

Point in Time data vs Estimates Point in Time data vs Estimates – Census: data collected is either Census: data collected is either

headcount or sample as of “Census headcount or sample as of “Census Day” (April 1) of the Census Year. Day” (April 1) of the Census Year.

– ACS: with the introduction of ACS, the ACS: with the introduction of ACS, the data available can be Point-in-time data available can be Point-in-time and/or a summary of data collected over and/or a summary of data collected over a period of timea period of time

Census vs ACSCensus vs ACS

IncomeIncome– Census: Asks for data in early April when Census: Asks for data in early April when

people have tax information in mind. people have tax information in mind. – ACS: people will be asked to estimate ACS: people will be asked to estimate

income over a 12 month period that is income over a 12 month period that is not Jan-Dec not Jan-Dec

– ACS: also must account for changes in ACS: also must account for changes in dollar value over a multi-year period dollar value over a multi-year period

Census vs ACSCensus vs ACS

Margin of Error Margin of Error – Census: Users were not told margin of Census: Users were not told margin of

error on data chartserror on data charts

– ACS: 10% error margin, charts show ACS: 10% error margin, charts show lower and upper margins. lower and upper margins.

Comparison of data setsComparison of data sets

Census 2010 data and earlier Census Census 2010 data and earlier Census short form data can be compared*short form data can be compared*

ACS data across geographic areas ACS data across geographic areas can be compared if the time frames can be compared if the time frames are the same (Annual to annual, 3 yr are the same (Annual to annual, 3 yr to 3 yr)to 3 yr)

*as much as similar data sets from Census to Census could *as much as similar data sets from Census to Census could ever be compared, anywayever be compared, anyway

Comparison of Data SetsComparison of Data Sets

Comparison between ACS and Long Comparison between ACS and Long Form Census dataForm Census data– Varies, must consider:Varies, must consider:

ACS data collected monthly, Census data ACS data collected monthly, Census data reflects information as of April 1. What does reflects information as of April 1. What does this mean for that variable? this mean for that variable?

Changes in rules (residency, group homes) Changes in rules (residency, group homes) can effect areas that have many institutions.can effect areas that have many institutions.

Is the number an average, as opposed to a Is the number an average, as opposed to a sample? What is the error rate? sample? What is the error rate?

–

Questions? Questions?