U.S. Census Resources



U.S. Census News


A Profile of Older Americans — 2012

A Profile of Older Americans — 2011
A Profile of Older Americans — 2010
A Profile of Older Americans — 2009

American Community Survey and the 2010 Census

Administration on Aging — U.S. Population by Age: July 1, 2010


113th Congressional and New State Legislative District Plans

These files represent the boundaries of the post-2010 census state legislative and 113th Congressional district plans as collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in Phase 4 of the Redistricting Data Program (RDP).   These plans are those understood to be in effect for the November 2012 elections as of their production date.   The plans were submitted to the Census Bureau by non-partisan state liaisons, identified by the governor and legislative leadership of each state during Phase 1 of the RDP.   Once these plans were processed and inserted into the MAF/TIGER database, the Census Bureau generated verification materials for each state to review and certify as accurate.   Any reported changes to the verification materials were incorporated into these final products.

How to Request Free Data Access Webinars

Yesterday, March 5th, 2013, we sent out a release announcing that we are offering free data access webinars.
To request a session please send an e-mail to alexandra.s.barker@census.gov or call 617-519-1099, and provide the following information:
    1. Name of person or organization requesting the webinar
    2. Contact information
    3. Area of service
    4. Starting in April, provide 2-3 dates when you are available to participate in a the session
    5. # of participants
We also offer free in-person hands-on data access workshops.   A Census Representative will conduct the session at a facility arranged by the organization requesting the workshop.   This is a hands-on session and all participants should have internet access.
Our Data Access Webinar/Workshop focus on using the American FactFinder Data Retrieval tool on the Census Bureau's website, www.census.gov.   Attendees learn how to access both decennial census data and data from the American Community Survey, which provides detailed social, economic and housing information annually rather than every 10 years.   Data is currently available through 2011, and only a few mouse-clicks away.
Attendees will learn what demographic and socioeconomic data are available for their communities and how to retrieve it online.
The session is divided in 2 parts:
•   Overview of available Census data & geographies;
•   Data access activities using the American FactFinder Learning Objectives:
    • To learn "by doing" navigation of the census.gov website to access easily available data profiles as well as more complex sources of data in tables and maps;
    • To create an understanding of U.S. Census geography terms, programs, datasets and distinct data sources available;
    • To learn to access data and basic characteristics and social/economic variables for small area populations.
A representative from the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct this 2 hours session.   Participants must have access to a computer with internet.
Accessing the most recent demographic and economic data available will aid your organization in numerous areas:   applying for grant opportunities, planning economic development, analyzing potential barriers in implementing programs, etc.
    Alexandra SV Barker, Data Dissemination Specialist & Media Relations
    U.S. Census Bureau — New York Regional Office, Partnership and Data Services
    Direct: 617-519-1099   |   Fax: 212-478-4801   |   E-mail: Alexandra.s.barker@census.gov   |   census.gov

— 2012 —


Census Bureau to Offer American Community Survey Internet Response

The American Community Survey, the most detailed portrait of America's towns and neighborhoods, is now more convenient for most participants with the added availability of responding online. That will make it the 61st U.S. Census Bureau survey with Internet response, saving money on printing, paper, postage and processing costs, while maintaining security.

Census Bureau Releases 2011 New Supplemental Poverty Measure Research Findings

The Census Bureau, with support from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, today released its second annual report, The Research Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2011, describing research on a new supplemental poverty measure.   This measure extends information provided by the official poverty measure, released Sept. 12, by explicitly including benefits from many of the government programs designed to assist low-income families and individuals.
Census Bureau Releases Estimates of Undercount & Overcount in the 2010 Census
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

U.S. Census — 2012 May 16

Last week the House of Representatives passed a bill that contains the Census Bureau's budget.   We are receiving many questions from the press and stakeholders all across the country.   In an effort to continue to be be responsive to these questions, we are providing an editorial from the Washington Post and an opinion piece from Roll Call.
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-american-community-survey-is-a-count-worth-keeping/2012/05/15/gIQALTRISU_story.html
Roll Call
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_136/Research_Cuts_Are_Akin_to_Eating_Seed_Corn-214527-1.html>http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_136/Research_Cuts_Are_Akin_to_Eating_Seed_Corn-214527-1.html

— 2011 —


Fast-Growing 90-and-Older Population

Census Bureau Releases Comprehensive Analysis of Fast-Growing 90-and-Older Population
The nation's 90-and-older population nearly tripled over the past three decades, reaching 1.9 million in 2010, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and supported by the National Institute on Aging.   Over the next four decades, this population is projected to more than quadruple.

UMass/Boston Gerontology Institute

The population of Massachusetts has become significantly older in the last ten years.
Please see the Gerontology Institute's most recent demographic Fact Sheet:
Courtesy:   Ellen A. Bruce JD, Gerontology Institute Director

U.S. Census Bureau — Info Webinar

The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a media webinar prior to the state-by-state releases of the 2010 Census Demographic Profiles in May.   Reporters will learn about the topics to be released in the profiles, how the release process will work and how to access the data.
The webinar will consist of a simultaneous audio conference and online presentation.   Reporters will be able to ask questions during the audio conference once the presentation is complete.
Wednesday 27 April 2011, 1 p.m. (EDT) — Questions & Answers limited to media.

— 2010 —


From the Desk
of Massachusetts President Pro Tempore Senator Stan Rosenberg

In the coming weeks you will be hearing a lot about the U.S. Census.   As I'm sure you know, our national Constitution requires that every 10 years the Census Bureau count every resident of the United States.
      It is extremely important that everyone participate in this effort because, as C.N. Le, a professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, has stated: " . . . an accurate count of the U.S. population forms the basis for many important but often overlooked political, economic, and social decisions . . . that end up affecting our daily lives."
      For example, information obtained by the Census Bureau will help determine how more than $400 billion of federal funding is invested each year on such things as senior centers, hospitals, education, housing, transportation, emergency services, schools, job training centers and public works projects. All of those things are important for our quality of life.
      Furthermore, it is estimated that for every individual not counted, more than $2,000 per year in direct federal aid to a community is lost.   When that figure is stretched over the 10-year cycle of the census, it's easy to see why it's important for every person to be counted.
      Census information is also important because it will be used by our government to re-draw the state's Congressional districts and districts for seats in the state House of Representatives and the state Senate.
      It is especially important for western Massachusetts residents to participate in the census because the number of Congressional seats we will have is dependent on the accuracy of our count.
      As the chairman of the state Senate's Redistricting Committee, it will be my job to make sure that western Massachusetts is not shortchanged in any way.   But I'll need your help.   And you can help by spreading the word that there's a lot at stake in this year's census.

According to the Census Bureau, here's what will happen over the next few months:

    March 2010:   Census forms will be mailed or delivered to all households in the country.
    April 1st, 2010:   National Census Day. — Use this day as a point of reference for sending your completed forms back in the mail.
    April-July, 2010:   Census takers visit households that did not return a form by mail.
    December, 2010:   By law, the Census Bureau delivers population information to the President for apportionment.
    March, 2011:   By law, the Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states. This is when my Redistricting Committee will start work in earnest.

Further Information


2010 MA Senior Citizen Participation Update — Why You Should Respond

New Information on the Upcoming Census

The first link, below, is a two page summary that provides the basic "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the upcoming census and includes FAQs and information about obtaining assistance materials (in 59 languages!) as well as support for those with visual impairments and the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
      http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/factSheet_Older.pdf
The toolkit -- see link below -- contains more information about the census and promotes partnerships with the census bureau to maximize the completion of the census surveys.(There are large display "awareness posters" noted on page #14.)
      http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/toolkit_Older_Overview.pdf
It is in our (collective) best interest to make sure that all seniors are counted!
      — Thanks to Emmett Schmarsow, Program Manager for Councils on Aging and Senior Centers, Executive Office of Elder Affairs

— 2009 —


A Profile of Older Americans — 2009

Administration on Aging
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services







MCOA Logo   Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging

    116 Pleasant Street, Suite 306, Easthampton MA 01027-2781
    Phone:   413-527-6425       Fax:   413-527-7138

    webmaster — peter@mcoaonline.com