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CENSUS 2000

All of the data used on CensusScope is obtained from U.S. censuses. Taken every ten years, the census is the most comprehensive source for these types of statistics because it is charged by the U.S. Constitution to count every resident of the United States. Its immediate purpose is for apportioning congressional representatives every ten years. The first census was conducted in 1790. Census 2000 marks the 22nd census in the nation's history.

Although the official purpose of the Census is to count everyone for the purpose of congressional representation, its broader significance involves more than just "counting people". The Census also serves as an invaluable source of information for businesses, journalists, researchers, students, and citizens alike. Due to the vast variety of social, economic and housing information it collects, it is useful for planning by government at all levels, and provides a ten-year "benchmark" of many aspects of the nation's population.

The wide range of statistics collected by the decennial census is especially useful in social science research. This because this information is collected for a large number of people. This means that detailed social and economic information can be gathered for tiny population subgroups and small geographic areas. Unlike small surveys, the census information is rarely limited by having "too few observations" to be statistically representative.

An endeavor of the Census' magnitude does not come up without expense however. Census 2000 cost approximately $6.5 billion, or $56 per housing unit. Field data collection is by far the most expensive component of the Census' costs, accounting for nearly 60 percent of total costs. Technology, data products, postage, marketing, and communications make up the majority of the additional cost.

Recent censuses have typically sent out two different kinds of census forms for people to fill out. One form called the "short form" questionnaire includes questions that are asked of residents in all households. In 2000, short-form population questions included age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, household relationship, tenure (home ownership versus rental), and vacancy characteristics. One out of every 6 households received a "long-form" questionnaire which not only included the short-form items, but also a larger battery of social characteristics (such as education and English language proficiency), economic characteristics (such as occupation and labor force status), and housing items. Although the "long-form" items were only asked of some residents, the sample is big enough to yield very accurate estimates for the total populations of different population groups and geographic areas.

Another reason that census information is valuable for social scientists is its ability to provide an over-time record of change in the nation's population, household and housing characteristics. The fact that the census is taken every ten years and elicits a wide range of information for all, or a very large sample of the whole population, makes it a very valuable data source to study social and economic change for the country as a whole, and for smaller groups within the US.

The above was adapted from:
 
Frey, William H. and Cheryl L. First. Investigating Change in American Society: Exploring Social Trends with U.S. Census Data and StudentChip . Wadsworth Publishing. 1997.

Other Sources of Information on Census 2000

General Accounting Office. "Significant Increase in Cost Per Housing Unit Compare to 1990 Census." GAO-02-31. December 2001.

U.S. Census Bureau. "Introduction to Census 2000 Data Products". MSO/01-ICDP. June 2001.