Answers from the U.S. Census Bureau to frequently asked
questions
When can I receive data from Census 2000 that will show me
what the population is of the block groups in my city and the
racial breakdown of these blocks?
The requested data is contained in the Redistricting Data
File (Public Law 94-171) and is now available on the Census
Bureau’s website,
www.census.gov, or on CD-ROM. The PL94-171 data enable
the states to redraw congressional and legislative boundaries
based on population changes. It is also America’s first look at
Census 2000 results for their communities as well as the local
racial/ethnic demographic makeup of these areas.
The data items included in the Redistricting Data File are:
the total population, Hispanic/Latino Origin, Race, and Voting
Age Population (over 18 years of age). The various levels of
geography for which data are available on the PL94-171 are:
states, counties, county subdivisions, places (incorporated and
Census-designated), census tracts, census block groups, census
blocks, and voting districts.
When will the labor force, income, and educational attainment
data from Census 2000 be available?
When the Census Bureau conducts a census, two questionnaires
are used to gather the information – a short-form questionnaire
and a long-form questionnaire. The Census 2000 short form was
received by five out of six housing units. Only seven questions
were asked on the short form – name, sex, age, relationship,
Hispanic/Latino, race, and whether you own or rent your home.
These are referred to as 100-percent data items.
Overall, the Census 2000 long form was received by one out of
six households. The long form contained all the questions asked
on the short form plus 27 more, for a total of 34 subjects. Both
the Census 2000 short-form and long-form can viewed on the
Census Bureau’s website. Examples of some of the population and
housing items on the long form are – labor force status
(current), place of work and journey to work, work status last
year, industry, occupation and class of worker, income, school
enrollment, and educational attainment. These are referred to as
sample data items.
All Census 2000 products are contained within five data sets:
- PL 94-171, available now.
- SF1 (short form or 100-percent), available by
state on a flow basis in June to September 2001.
- SF2 (short form or 100-percent), available by
state on a flow basis in October to December 2001.
- SF3 (long form or sample data), available in the
summer of 2002.
- SF4 (long form or sample data), available in the
fall or winter of 2002.
What are the major changes in Census 2000 compared to the
1990 Census in the way in which racial and ethnic information is
captured and reported?
The major difference between Census 2000 and the 1990 Census
in the way in which racial and ethnic information is captured
and reported is that people could select more than one race.
Other differences between these censuses include – the
Hispanic/Latino question was asked before the race question, the
American Indian and Alaska Native categories were combined, and
the Asian and Pacific Islander category was split into Asian and
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
What are the implications of these changes? Census 2000 will
give us more and improved information on racial and ethnic
diversity. But this also means that Census 2000 race data are
not directly comparable with data from 1990 and previous
censuses. The new OMB (Office of Management and Budget) race
categories are – American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian; Black
or African American; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander;
White; and Some Other Race. Hispanic Origin is an ethnic
characteristic rather than a race, and people of Hispanic Origin
can be of any race.
How will race and ethnicity be shown in Census 2000 data
tables? In some tabulations, race data will be shown for all 63
categories. In other tabulations, race will be collapsed and
shown as:
! Race alone
categories;
! A two or more
races category;
! Race alone or
in combination with one or more races categories; and
! Counts and
characteristics for specific groups will be included in later
tabulations.
What kind of disability data will be available from Census
2000 and when?
The disability question for Census 2000 was revised and
expanded from the disability question asked in 1990. For Census
2000, the disability question includes:
! Vision or hearing
impairment;
! Mobility
limitation;
! Condition that
limits: Learning or remembering; Getting around the house;
Getting around outside; or Working.
The disability question was asked on the long form or sample
questionnaire so the data will be available when SF3 is released
in the summer of 2002.
Where can I find the age distribution data from Census
2000 for my county (parish)?
Age distribution for counties is available now in the Census
2000 Demographic Profiles. These profiles are one-page summaries
of the data from the short-form or 100-percent questionnaire.
The profiles are available by state and includes profiles for –
the entire state, all counties in the state, all places in the
state, all federal and state Indian reservations, and all
congressional districts in the state. They can be found on the
main page of the Census Bureau website.
A more detailed age distribution will be available when SF1
is released on a state-by-state basis from June to September
2001. This data will be available from the Census Bureau’s
website from American FactFinder. American FactFinder is the
Census Bureau’s online data dissemination tool and can be found
at www.factfinder.census.gov or on the main page under
American FactFinder. SF1 data will also be released on CD-ROM in
2002.
What are the various formats in which Census 2000 data will
be available and is there a charge for the data?
Census products will be available as:
! Printed reports –
Limited numbe of reports issued; three volumes per state;
Limited detail for both subject and geograpy; only to the place
level.
! CD-ROMs/DVDs –
All
of the data will be available in this easy-to-use format;
Windows 95 (or higher) and NT users get software on disk.
! Internet –
All
of the data will be released on the Internet first, via the
Census Bureau website, and American FactFinder is the primary
media for Census Bureau data on the Internet.
There will be no charge for data accessed via the Internet.
There will be a charge for CD-ROMs, DVDs, and printed reports.
The cost for most CDs will be $50, for most DVDs will be $70.
The cost for printed data reports has not been determined.
Details: Paula Wright, Information Specialist,
Partnership and Data Services Program, Dallas Regional Office,
U.S. Census Bureau, (214) 655-3050, Email:
paula.k.wright@census.gov.