Population Resource Center

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The 2010 Census: What State, Local, and Tribal Governments Need to Know

Mar. 22, 2007

By 2010, there will be more than 310 million people living in an estimated 130 million households across the country who must be counted in order to ensure seats are apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives and federal and state funding is distributed fairly. With immigration increasing and a record number of varying languages spoken by respondents, the need for an accurate address list is vital. On March 22, PRC, along with other sponsoring organizations, The Census Project and Metropolitan Policy Program at The Brookings Institution, held a briefing to discuss counting hard-to-reach populations, strengthening accuracy, and keeping costs under control for the 2010 Census.

Carnegie Endowment for Peace
Washington, DC
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
WELCOME: Jane S. De Lung, President, Population Resource Center

INTRODUCTION: Andrew Reamer, Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution

PANELISTS:
“Is it Census Time Again??”
Jacqueline Byers, Director of Research, National Association Counties

“The Road to the 2010 Census: Key Milestones and Issues 2007: Ramp-Up to the Decennial”
Terri Ann Lowenthal, Consultant, The Census Project

“Actions for State, Local, and Tribal Governments”
Joseph Salvo, Director of Population Division, New York City Department of City Planning

CO-SPONSORS: Population Resource Center, the Metropolitan Policy Program of the Brookings Institution, and the Census Project
ATTENDEES: More than 40 people from the public and private sector attended the briefing.
• The Census Bureau
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Hawaiian Affairs Office
• Maryland Department of Planning
• New York State Senate
• State of Kansas
• State of North Carolina
• City of Miami
• City of New York
• City of New York Department of City Planning
• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
• Ball Janik
• Cassidy & Associates
• McCall & Associates
• The Collette Group
• Washington Linkage Group
• Center for American Progress
• Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS)
• Federal Funds Information for States
• NALEO Educational Fund
• National Association of Counties
• Population Resource Center
• The Brookings Institution
• The Census Project

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Jacqueline Byers, Terri Ann Lowenthal, Joseph Salvo reviewed how the census documents the social, economic and demographic characteristics of all American households, defining our nation's growth and change. In 2000, the decennial census miss counted about 10 million people; more than 3 percent of the population. More than 6.4 million people were not counted and 4 million were counted twice. Children and minorities are the individuals that continue to be disproportionately undercounted. Language barriers, nontraditional housing arrangements and neighborhood conditions contribute these undercounts. In 2000, about 3.1 million people were double counted. Duplicate questionnaires were submitted by those who own more than one home, or people who forgot that they had already sent in a questionnaire. Preemptive plans for the 2010 Census incorporate both new and traditional data collection procedures to curb current problems.

To increase response rates, the Census Bureau will use multiple mailings, beginning with an advance notice letter, followed by the questionnaire and then a thank you/reminder postcard. New technology will also be used to count the nation’s expanding population. An estimated 500,000 hand-held computers will be used for data collection in 2010. Census workers will use these devices to update the Census Bureau’s address lists and to conduct follow-up interviews for people who do not complete and return a census questionnaire by mail. The major innovation for the 2010 Census is replacing the long form with the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS will measure the socio-economic characteristics of the population, and physical characteristics of housing, using 27 subjects specifically required by law or required to implement federal programs. The ACS began nationwide in 2005 and samples 250,000 households a month, or 3 million per year.

Conversions of buildings from non-residential to residential use, garages converted to residences, attics or basements used as apartments, result in accuracy confusion. The Census Bureau is developing the Master Address File (MAF), a list of all residential addresses (including group quarters) in the United States. The Bureau relies on address information from the U.S. Postal Service, as well as state and local governments, to maximize the accuracy of the MAF. The accuracy of the MAF should aid the census, because it pinpoints homes that do not respond and follows up with them. Since the first census, in 1790, the statistical form has collected information critical for decision- making at all levels of government. Highlighting new goals and past discrepancies will hopefully provide information State and local governments depend on for the future needs of its citizens.

PRESENTATIONS:

Joseph Salvo, Actions for State, Local, and Tribal Governments

HANDOUTS:

Jacqueline Byers, Is it Census Time Again??

Terri Ann Lowenthal, The Road to the 2010 Census: Key Milestones and Issues 2007: Ramp-Up to the Decennial

PRC, The 2010 Decennial Census: An Overview