Census Geographic Programs

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Census Geographic Programs

• Cathy Friedenreich
• Geographic Coordinator
• Charlotte Regional Census Center

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Census Geographic Programs

• MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project (MTAIP)
• Local Update of Census Addresses Program (LUCA)
• Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP)
• Redistricting Data Program
• Tribal Programs
• Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)

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Major Sources of Census Data

• 2010 Census A very short form for basic data
• American Community Survey (ACS) - Sample data
• Estimates Program and other data programs
• All of these data are tied to
  geography

Two Objectives of Census Geography Programs

• To support the collection of data that are as
  complete and accurate as possible
• To provide useful, current geographic areas for
  data tabulations.

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MAF/TIGER Database (MTDB)

• MAF Master Address File
• Census address list used to distribute
  
• questionnaires
• TIGER Topologically Integrated Geographic
  Encoding and Referencing
• Geographic data
• Base map features
• Address ranges and ZIP codes
• Geographic areas

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MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project (MTAIP)
Sources

• Accurate road centerline and other layers
• Sources created by contractor

TIGER Updates

• Realign matching features in TIGER
• Add features missing from TIGER
• Rubber sheet features not in a source
• Copy attributes where missing from TIGER
• Harvest attributes for existing TIGER features

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2000 Census TIGER/Line features and MTAIP Source
centerline
Source centerline
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Geographic Areas in TIGER/Line Shapefiles
When linear features are realigned, boundaries
following those features also are realigned Thus
shapefiles for census tracts, census blocks, and
other geographic areas are more accurate and
generally will line up with positionally accurate
local layers
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• Local centerlines and streams overlaid on block
  boundaries from Census 2000 TIGER/Line file

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• Block boundaries
• From realigned TIGER

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2000 Census TIGER/Line features and 2007
TIGER/Line Shapefile features
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Public Products
TIGER/Line 1989 to 2006

• Census-developed format must be converted for
  use in GIS

TIGER/Line Shapefiles
Up to 60 layers, current and 2000 geography
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Road features in TIGER/LINE Shapefiles

• Generally consistent nationwide road centerline
• Free download from www.census.gov
• (Follow the TIGER links or go directly to
• http//www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/index.html)

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2010 CENSUS Local Update of Census Addresses
(LUCA)
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• Whats Next?

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Next Steps

• Census Bureau processes updates Feb-Aug 2008
• Address Canvassing Operation - Spring/Summer
  2009

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2010 Census LUCA Schedule Feedback and Appeals

• Feedback materials sent
• Option 1 2 - Updated Address List, Address
  Count List, Census Maps
• Option 3 - Updated Address Count List and Maps
• Discrepancies appealed
• All Title 13 U.S.C. materials including copies
  returned or destroyed

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Participants review and update

• Census tracts
• Block groups
• Census designated places (CDPs)
• Census county divisions (CCDs) (selected states)
  (not NC)

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Tracts
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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Tract Characteristics

• Relatively permanent
• Small-area divisions of counties defined for the
  tabulation of census data
• The primary goal
• to provide a set of nationally consistent
• small, statistical geographic units
• with stable boundaries
• that facilitate analysis of data across time

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Tract Characteristics

• Compact and contiguous land areas
• Visible and identifiable features
• Optimum population size of 4,000
• Census tract numbers contain 1 to 4 digits and
  possibly a 2-digit suffix (e.g. 301.01)

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Tract Criteria Changes for 2010

• Minimum population threshold for most tracts is
  lowered to 1,200
• Housing unit counts may be used
• (480 housing unit minimum)
• All types of populated tracts must meet the same
  thresholds
• Special tracts may be created
• large special land use areas without housing
  units or population

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Tract Revisions

• Should be limited to
• Splits
• Split census tracts with large populations (e.g.
  census tracts that had a 2000 census population
  above 8,000)
• Mergers
• Merge census tracts with small populations (e. g.
  census tracts that had a 2000 census population
  below 1,200)
• Boundary adjustments
• Adjust boundaries where necessary to follow
  acceptable, visible features

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Block Groups
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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Block Group Characteristics

• Divisions of census tracts defined for the
  tabulation of census data
• Form the framework for block numbering

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Block Group Characteristics

• Smallest geographic areas
• For sample data from Census 2000
• For data from the American Community Survey

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Block Group Characteristics

• Reasonably compact and contiguous land areas
• Boundaries should follow visible and identifiable
  features
• Population range is 600 to 3,000
• Block group numbers are unique within census
  tract and range from 1 to 9

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Block Group Criteria Changes

• Housing units counts may be used to meet block
  group thresholds (240 housing unit minimum)
• All types of populated block groups must meet the
  same threshold
• Special BGs may be created for large special land
  use areas without housing units or population

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Block Group Revisions

• Stability over time is not a requirement
• Block groups should be revised to meet
  population/housing unit thresholds
• Boundary adjustments Adjust boundaries where
  necessary to follow acceptable, visible features

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Designated Places (CDPs)
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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Designated Place Characteristics

• Closely settled, unincorporated communities that
  are locally recognized and identified by name
• Generally contain a mix of residential and
  commercial uses similar to that of an
  incorporated place of similar size
• Consist of contiguous territory

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
Census Designated Place Characteristics

• Boundaries should follow visible features or
  nonvisible state, county, or incorporated place
  boundaries
• CDPs cannot cross state lines but may be in more
  than one county

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
CDP Criteria Changes

• For 2010, boundaries may follow nonvisible
  features in selected circumstances
• Population threshold requirements were eliminated
  for Census 2000, but for 2010, a CDP cannot have
  zero population and zero housing units
• A CDP must represent a single, distinct community

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Participant Statistical Areas Program
PSAP Review and Update
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Participant Statistical Areas Program

• Participants are being identified now
• Local participants will coordinate review for
  whole counties or groups of counties
• Review of areas begins in later this year

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Participant Statistical Areas Program

• Participants will
• Receive the review materials Fall 2008
• Make interested persons aware that the
  opportunity exists to review and update
  participant statistical areas
• Submit proposed revisions and updates to the
  Census Bureau Fall 2008/Spring 2009
• Negotiate revisions to make sure they meet Census
  Bureau standards

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Participant Statistical Areas Program

• Review will use census shapefiles no paper maps
• Participants must use MAF/TIGER Partnership
  Software (MTPS)
• Must provide output in specified format
• Census will post maps showing proposed revisions
  on an internet site for easy viewing and
  discussion

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Redistricting Data Program

• Phase 1 - State Legislative District Project
• Phase 2 - Voting District/Block Boundary
  Suggestion Project (through spring 2009)
• Phase 3 - Delivery of the 2010 Census P.L. 94-171
  Redistricting Data Files and Geographic Products
  (nlt April 1, 2011)
• Phase 4 - Collection of Post-2010 Census
  Redistricting Plans (2012 2013)
• Phase 5 - Evaluation of the 2010 Census
  Redistricting Data Program and Recommendations
  for 2020 (2012-2014)

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American Indian Areas for the 2010 Census

• American Indian reservations (AIRs) and
  Off-reservation trust lands (ORTLs)
• Tribal designated statistical areas (TDSAs)
• Tribal census tracts (tribal tracts) and block
  groups
• Tribal subdivisions
• Census designated places
• State designated tribal statistical areas
  (SDTSAs)

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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)

• Variety of Ways to Respond
• Paper BAS
• MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS)
• Digital BAS
• Web-BAS (future)
• E-BAS (forms)
• Submitting a No Change Response

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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)

• 2008 BAS
• May 31, 2008 Survey packages received by this
  date will be included in the 2009 BAS materials

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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)

• 2009 BAS
• September 2008 Advance letter (by fax / email /
  mail) will ask if there are changes to report and
  the response method the local or tribal
  governments prefers
• February 2009 BAS packages mailed out
• April 1, 2009 Survey packages received by this
  date will be included in the Population Estimates
  Program and the American Community Survey
• May 31, 2009 Survey packages received by this
  date will be included in the 2010 BAS materials
• (dates are approximate)

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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)

• 2010 BAS
• Similar cycle to 2009 BAS
• January 1, 2010 Boundary reference date for the
  2010 Census
• Last BAS for 2010 Census

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Census Day April 1, 2010

• Census geography programs offer opportunities for
  local, regional, state and tribal participants to
  have a positive impact on the census for their
  areas
• We encourage you to take advantage of these
  opportunities, if appropriate, and to encourage
  other regional and local agencies to participate
  as well
• Active participation in census geography programs
  will help to create a better census and better
  data products for your areas

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Questions?

• Cathy Friedenreich
• Geographic Coordinator
• U.S. Census Bureau
• 3701 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 250
• Charlotte, NC 28273
• catherine.j.friedenreich_at_census.gov
• 704-936-4200 (1-866-511-5822)
• Fax [phone]