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U.S. Census BureauPermit No. G-58

Strength in NumbersYour Guide to Census 2000 Redistricting DataFrom the U.S. Census Bureau

IssuedJuly 2000

U.S. Department of CommerceEconomics and Statistics AdministrationU.S. Census Bureau

U S C E N S U S B U R E A UHelping You Make Informed Decisions

Strength in Numbersnce every 10 years, Americans

stand up to be counted. Down-town and out-of-town, in the moun-tains and on the farms, we speak upand let our governments know thatwe intend to be represented in thedecisions that they make.

The census gives us an opportu-nity to be part of the democraticprocess. Census numbers ensurethat our representative districts—forthe U.S. Congress and for state legis-latures, and in our city and towngovernments—reflect our numbers,north or south, east or west.

This brochure explains wherecensus numbers come from and therole they have in the way states andlocalities redraw the boundaries oftheir legislative districts. We look inparticular at the maps and numbersthat state governments and othersget from the Census Bureau and usein redistricting.

Why a Census?The U.S. Census Bureau, part of

the U.S. Department of Commerce,conducts the decennial census andissues population numbers. Butthere was a census long before theCensus Bureau was created in 1902.

The first census was taken in1790. Article 1, Section 2, of theU.S. Constitution established thatthe apportionment of the U.S. Houseof Representatives shall be basedupon a national census.

The census has many otherimportant uses. It affects our livesin ways we don’t often realize. Theroad you take to work each day, thehospital that serves your commu-nity, the schools your childrenattend, the products your grocerystocks—all these have been influ-enced by the census.

Governments use census statis-tics, for example, in planningneeded highways or in locating newservices or schools. Businesses usecensus numbers in marketing newproducts and locating new stores.

The imagination is the onlylimit upon the uses of the statisticsthat come out of the census.

The imagination is theonly limit upon the uses

of the statistics that comeout of the census.

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Strength in NumbersYour Guide to Census 2000 Redistricting DataFrom the U.S. Census Bureau

The Censusat a Glance

In early March 2000, the U.S.Postal Service delivered a letter tohouseholds announcing that Census2000 is coming and alerting every-one to watch for their census form.The Census 2000 questionnairesarrived shortly thereafter and theCensus Bureau asked us all to returnour forms by Saturday, April 1,2000. We used enumerators to takethe census in rural areas and checkon questionnaires that had not beenreturned by mail in more populousareas. The forms are mailed back toa processing center where digitalscanners read the unique bar codeon the questionnaire through theenvelope window to record itsreturn status.

The questionnaires themselveswere sent to one of four processingoffices where they were opticallyscanned and converted to digitalimages. All information will befurther processed and tabulated atthe Census Bureau’s secure com-puter center in Bowie, Maryland.

Finally, the Census Bureaugenerates statistical data for you touse in redistricting and in manyother ways. Media to bring you thedata will include printed reports,but the major media will be CD-ROMand the American FactFinder (theBureau’s new data access and dis-semination system) on the Internetat www.census.gov.

ConfidentialityIs a Must

Title 13 of the United StatesCode contains the laws governingthe Census Bureau. Section 9 ofTitle 13 assures the confidentialityof information gathered by theCensus Bureau. It specifies thatneither the Secretary of Commercenor any other officer or employee ofthe Department of Commerce—infact, no one—may use the informa-tion furnished under the provisionsof this title for any purpose otherthan the statistical purposes forwhich it is supplied.

The law also states that noCensus Bureau tabulation can iden-tify any particular establishment orindividual and that no one otherthan the sworn officers and employ-ees of the Census Bureau can exam-ine information supplied in re-sponse to censuses and surveys.Only after 72 years are the censusschedules opened to public inspec-tion and use.

Redistricting MustAim at Equality

The decennial census hasplayed a crucial role in the appor-tionment of the Congress for morethan two centuries. But it is only inthe last 25 years that the CensusBureau has played a major role inthe redistricting process.

U.S. Supreme Court decisionshanded down during the 1960sclarified the Constitution’s intentionto provide equality of representa-tion for all Americans. In 1964, theWesberry v. Sanders decision heldthat, “as nearly as is practicable oneperson’s vote in a congressionalelection is to be worth as much asanother’s.” That same year, inReynolds v. Sims, the Court ruledthat state legislative districts mustbe “as nearly of equal population asis practicable.”

Both U.S. congressional districtsand state legislative districts mustbe drawn so that their residentshave a fair and equal share in theway they are governed.

These Supreme Court decisionsincreased the states’ need for geo-graphically detailed census informa-tion in the redistricting process.

The urgency of the states’ needfor these data led the Congress topass Public Law (P.L.) 94-171 inDecember 1975.

Later on, we’ll discuss the rami-fications of P.L. 94-171 more fully.First, we’ll look briefly at the censusitself—the important first step inthe redistricting process.

U.S. Census BureauKenneth Prewitt, DirectorWilliam G. Barron, Deputy DirectorPaula J. Schneider, Principal Associate Director for Programs

Census 2000 Redistricting Data OfficeMarshall L. Turner, ChiefCathy C. McCully, Assistant Chief

Taking the CensusBefore we look at the statistics

and maps that states will use inredistricting, let’s look at the censusitself—the undertaking throughwhich we gather the statistics.

We began to prepare for the 22nd

decennial census long before 2000.For the public, however, the processbegan in March 2000 when censusquestionnaires were mailed to mosthouseholds in the United States. Insome rural areas, census takersdelivered questionnaires. Peoplefilled out the questionnaire by April1, 2000—Census Day—and returnedthem, by mail. In some instances,census takers visited the householdto collect the census information.

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In conducting the census, wehire enumerators working out ofmore than 520 local census officesnationwide. In processing the ques-tionnaires, we use four data capturecenters. People living in populousareas, where most of us live, mailtheir forms directly to a data capturecenter. In less populous areas, cen-sus staff will leave a questionnaire ateach household for people to fill outand mail back in a postage paidenvelope. The data capture centersare located in Essex, MD;Jeffersonville, IN; Phoenix, AZ;and Pomona, CA.

As soon as the forms reach thedata capture centers, the clock startsticking for the Census Bureau. Thesecenters use scanners to record thearrival of the questionnaires oncomputers, so we can keep an auto-mated list of forms returned andthose still outstanding.

The data capture centers useoptical scanners to capture a pictureof the questionnaire forms and ex-tract the data. Once we have com-pleted the processing of the censusforms, we begin to compile final datain the Census Bureau’s Washingtonoffices. Census Day, April 1, 2000,may be our most conspicuous dead-line, but it’s not our only one. Nowwe face several deadlines in process-ing the final census counts.

The Department of Commerceand the Census Bureau will provideCensus 2000 counts to the Presidentand the states by the deadlines setforth in Title 13 of the United StatesCode (U.S.C.) Section 141 (b) and (c).By December 31, 2000, the Secretaryof Commerce and the Census Bureau

Director will report the total popula-tion counts by state to the Presi-dent. By April 1, 2001, the Directorwill provide the detailed populationcounts for all areas within eachstate to the governor and legislativeleaders, under the provisions ofPublic Law 94-171.

Off to the PresidentNext, the Census Bureau must

prepare the final, official statepopulation counts required for theapportionment of the U.S. House ofRepresentatives. These officialcounts are reported to the Presidenton or before December 31, 2000, abrief 9 months after Census Day.

According to the U.S. Code, thePresident must then report thesefigures to the Congress. He doesthis in early January 2001, duringthe first week of the 107th Congress.

This report will show:the population of each statethe number of representativesapportioned to each state

The apportionment section ofthe U.S. Code also tells the stepsthat are to be followed after theCongress receives the President’sreport. Within 15 calendar days, theClerk of the House of Representa-tives must send to each state’sgovernor a certificate showing howmany representatives the state maysend to the next Congress.

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Apportionment Is theFundamental Use

ccording to the Constitution, thecensus has one fundamental pur-

pose: to ensure that the representationof each state in the U.S. House of Rep-resentatives reflects the relative size ofits population as compared with otherstates.

There are 435 representativesdivided up among the 50 states. Eachone of these representatives is electedby the voters of a congressionaldistrict.

Populous states have more repre-sentatives than less populous states.In the 106th Congress, California had52 representatives. Wyoming, our leastpopulous state, had just one. The mapon this page shows how many repre-sentatives each state had as a result ofthe 1990 census.

“Apportionment” is the process ofdetermining how many representativeseach state is entitled to. How do we atthe U.S. Census Bureau figure in thisprocess? Our role is twofold—to con-duct the census and, as a part of theExecutive Branch, to calculate theapportionment based upon the censusresults. Once we take the census andcompile the results, we then use themethod of equal proportions (see map,right) to determine the number ofrepresentatives each state receivedafter the 1990 census.

But our job doesn’t end there. “One person/one vote”court decisions and legislation have given the Census Bureau amajor role in redistricting, the process by which state govern-ments redraw U.S. congressional and state legislative districts.

In 1990, the South and West Gained Seats!Changes in Apportionment Resulting From the 1990 Census(Number in Parentheses is each state’s current total of U.S. Representatives.)

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“...as nearly as is practicableone person’s vote in a congressional

election is to be worth as muchas another’s.”

IA(5)

MN(8)

OK(6)

TX(30)

LA(7)

AZ(6) NM

(3)

CA(52)

NV(2) UT

(3) CO(6) KS

(4)

NE(3)

SD(1)

MT(1)

WY(1)

ID(2)

WA(9)

OR(5) WI

(9) MI(16)

IL(20)

IN(10)

OH(19)

PA(21)

NY(31)

MS(5)

AL(7)

GA(11)

SC(6)

NC(12)

VA(11)

ND(1)

FL(23)

WV(3)

KY(6)

NH(2)

ME(2)

VT(1)

TN(9)

AR(4)

RI(2)CT

(6)NJ(13)

DE(1)MD(8)

MO(9)

DC(Delegate at Large)

MA(10)

AK(1)

HI(2) PR

(Resident Commissioner at Large)

State gaining seats in the House

State losing seats in the House

No change

Number in parentheses is each State’scurrent total of U.S. Representatives.

Total U.S. Representatives: 435

Changes in Apportionment Resulting from the 1990 Census

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Method of EqualProportions GuidesApportionment

How does the method ofequal proportions work?

Adopted in 1941 (UnitedStates Code, Title 2, Section 2a),the method of equal proportionsrequires us to compile a prioritylist of states. Priority value isdetermined by dividing a state’spopulation by the geometricmean of its current and nextHouse seats.

For example, following the1990 census, each of the 50states was awarded 1 seat out ofthe current 435 total. Then, the51st seat went to the state thathad the highest priority value forits second seat.

In computing the apportion-ment from the 1990 state totals,seat 51 went to California, whosepriority value under the methodof equal proportions was21,099,536. The next seat, num-ber 52, went to New York, with asecond-seat priority value of12,759,392; California receivedseat number 53, with priorityvalue of 12,181,823; and Texasreceived seat number 54, with apriority value of 12,063,104.

Once the number of seatsassigned to the individual statesis determined, the task of draw-ing the new congressional dis-tricts is generally that of eachstate legislature.

For the first time, desktop andlaptop computers will play a majorrole in the redistricting process.Geographic and population data oncompact disc (CD-ROM) will allowusers with a PC to map out districtboundaries. In the photo above,Census Geography staff membersJohn Byle, Jamie Rosenson, BobLaMacchia, and Donna Zorn study amap drawn using coordinates fromthe Census Bureau’s TIGER/Files.

The RedistrictingProcess Begins

But wait! The clock is stillticking! The Census Bureau still hasanother important deadline to meet.

In December 1975, the Congresspassed Public Law 94-171. This lawrequires the Census Bureau to makespecial preparations to provideredistricting data no later thanApril 1, 2001, to the 50 states.

Public Law 94-171 specifies thatwithin 1 year of Census Day, theCensus Bureau must send each statethe data it will need to redraw dis-tricts for the state legislature.

P.L. 94-171 sets up a voluntaryprogram between the Census Bureauand those states that wish to receivepopulation tabulations for electionprecincts and other state specifiedgeographic areas.

Under this program, thoseresponsible for the legislative ap-portionment or redistricting of eachstate may devise a plan identifyingthe voting areas for which they wantthe specific tabulations and submitit to the Census Bureau.

This Census 2000 RedistrictingData Program has three phases.During Phase 1 (1996-1998), theBlock Boundary Suggestion Project,state representatives reviewed basemaps for the Census 2000 andsuggested visible features to beused as census block boundaries.In early 1999, as part of Phase 2 (theVoting District Project), the Census

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X = State submitted all counties for this phase of the programP = State did not submit all counties for this phase of the programVTD = Voting DistrictSLD = State Legislative District

Alabama X X (VTD and SLD)Alaska X X (VTD and SLD)Arizona P P (VTD and SLD)Arkansas P X (VTD only)California P Did not participateColorado X X (VTD and SLD)Connecticut X X (VTD and SLD)Delaware X X (VTD and SLD)District of Columbia X X (VTD only)Florida Did not participate Did not participateGeorgia X X (VTD and SLD)Hawaii P X (VTD only)Idaho P X (VTD and SLD)Illinois X X (VTD and SLD)Indiana X X (VTD and SLD)Iowa X X (VTD and SLD)Kansas X X (VTD and SLD)Kentucky X Did not participateLouisiana X X (VTD and SLD)Maine P X (VTD only)Maryland X X (VTD only)Massachusetts P X (VTD and SLD)Michigan X X (VTD and SLD)Minnesota X X (VTD only)Mississippi X X (VTD and SLD)Missouri X X (VTD and SLD)Montana P Did not participateNebraska X X (VTD and SLD Unicameral)Nevada X X (VTD and SLD)New Hampshire P X (VTD and SLD Senate only)New Jersey X X (VTD and SLD)New Mexico X X (VTD and SLD)New York P X (VTD and SLD)North Carolina P X (VTD and SLD)North Dakota Did not participate X (SLD only)Ohio X X (SLD only)Oklahoma X X (VTD and SLD)Oregon P X (SLD only)Pennsylvania P X (VTD and SLD)Rhode Island Did not participate X (VTD and SLD)South Carolina X X (VTD and SLD)South Dakota Did not participate X (VTD and SLD)Tennessee P X (VTD and SLD)Texas X X (VTD only)Utah X X (VTD and SLD)Vermont P X (VTD and SLD)Virginia P X (VTD and SLD)Washington P X (VTD and SLD)West Virginia P X (VTD and SLD)Wisconsin P X (SLD only)Wyoming X X (VTD and SLD)Puerto Rico P X (VTD only)

Phase 1, the Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP)States assist in designing census blocks to correspond closely with localvoting districts.

Phase 2, the Voting District Project (VTDP)States submit voting district and state legislative district boundaries andassociated information such as codes and names in order to receive Census2000 data tabulations for these areas.

Participation Rates46 States in Phase 146 States in Phase 2

States with VTDs 44States with SLDs 40States with VTDs only 8States with SLDs only 4States with SLDs and VTDs = 33

Census 2000 Redistricting Data Program

State Phase 1 Phase 2

Bureau sent each participating statea set of maps showing all the basefeatures—roads, streams, legalboundaries, and so forth—thatwould form the framework of thecensus blocks for 2000.

State officials drew boundarieson the base features that coincidedwith or approximated the bound-aries of voting districts. Statesoptionally also provided theirboundaries for their legislativedistricts, both senate and housedistricts. They returned the anno-tated maps with the voting andlegislative district codes and namesto the Census Bureau. As in Phase 1,some states chose to submit thisboundary information using elec-tronic files. (See chart on page 4 formore information on participation.)

During 1998 and 1999, theCensus Bureau, in cooperation withthe National Conference of StateLegislatures (NCSL), conducted aseries of regional workshops atwhich Census Bureau staff andothers briefed state officials on theCensus 2000 Dress Rehearsal (con-ducted in 1998) P.L. 94-171 testdata, redistricting case law, censusgeographic and subject matterterminology, and other reapportion-ment information.

Marshall Turner, shown here with CathyMcCully, assistant chief of the Census 2000Redistricting Data Office, believes legislativestaff in many states have become experts notonly in applying the P.L. 94-171 data todistricting but also in applying census data tothe many other programs legislated by stateofficials.

Marshall Turner, chief of theCensus 2000 Redistricting DataOffice, notes, “The critical impor-tance of the census in redistrictingis clearly reflected in the fact thatstate legislatures have developedincreasing expertise in using thenew technology of CD-ROMs and theInternet to carry out the steps in theredistricting process.” P.L. 94-171data include population counts forsmall areas within each state. Afterwe provide the data, further actionis up to the states. States are re-sponsible for delineating their owncongressional and legislativeboundaries and their legislatures,secretaries of state, governors, andredistricting commissions carry outthe process.

Tools ToDo theJob

When stateofficials beginthe difficult task of redrawing theirdistricts, they’ll have in handseveral important tools:

Census redistricting dataconsisting of –

statistical summaries onCD-ROM

county-based voting district/state legislative districtoutline maps

county-based block maps thatalso show all levels of tabula-tion geography for P.L. 94-171

P.L. 94-171 statistical summarieshave population totals and summa-ries by race, Hispanic or Latino, andvoting age for all appropriate geo-graphic areas delimited on the maps:state, counties or equivalent areas,voting districts, county subdivisions,places, American Indian/Alaska Na-tive/Native Hawaiian areas, censustracts, block groups, and blocks.

New for Census 2000, somestates have delineated their existinglegislative districts, and we willproduce data for them as well.

Public Law 94-171Tabulations

While P.L. 94-171 requires theCensus Bureau to furnish only countsof the total population, additionaldata items also will be included.Since the inception of the CensusRedistricting Data Program for the1980 census, the Census Bureau hasincluded summaries for the majorrace groups specified by the Statisti-cal Policy Office of the U.S. Office ofManagement and Budget (OMB) inDirective 15 (as issued in 1977).Those groups included White, Black,American Indian/Alaska Native, andAsian/Pacific Islander, plus “someother race.” These race data werealso cross-tabulated by Hispanic/Non-Hispanic origin.

At the request of the state legis-latures and the Department of Jus-tice, for the 1990 Census Redistrict-ing Data Program, voting age (18years old and over) was added to thecross-tabulation of race and Hispanicorigin. It is important to take notethat these three tabulation items—age, race, and Hispanic origin—arefrom the limited number of “shortform” items that are asked of allhouseholds.

New Race Datafor Census 2000RedistrictingData Program

In the early 1990s, the OMBbegan a review of the 1977 Direc-tive 15 regarding the collection ofFederal data on race and ethnicity

with attention to the growing num-ber of persons who might wish toexpress their identity in terms ofmore than one of the Federal racecategories. The OMB’s review in-cluded solicitation of commentsthrough notices in the Federal Regis-ter and public hearings, congres-sional input, formation of a inter-agency committee of technical andpolicy specialists from the agenciesthat collect and use Federal data onrace and ethnicity, and research onhow to collect data on multiple raceresponses.

After several years of theseefforts, in October 1997, the OMBissued a revision to Directive 15.The major revisions were:

1. The Asian/Pacific Islandercategory was divided into two:

Asian

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

2. An instruction was addedthat allows respondents to“Mark one or morecategories.”

3. A separate question is toprecede the race questionto allow respondents toindicate whether or not theyidentify as Hispanic or Latino.

Hispanic or Latino is not consid-ered a race category. Race data andHispanic/Latino data are obtainedfrom separate questions on theCensus 2000 questionnaires. Sincethose who identify themselves asHispanic also answer the race ques-tion, we can provide tabulations oftheir race characteristics.

Under this new race concept thebasic response categories for Census2000 will be:

African American or BlackAmerican Indian andAlaska NativeAsianNative Hawaiian and OtherPacific IslanderWhiteSome other race*

*(Note: the OMB grants the CensusBureau permission to include thiscategory).

Census Statistics for2000: The AmericanFactFinder

The American FactFinder is anew data access system that givesusers facts and information aboutcommunities, the economy, andsociety. The interactive electronicsystem allows data users access to

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predefined data products, metadata,and online help, as well as the abil-ity to create custom data productsonline. This new disseminationmethod allows for quicker release ofthe detailed data users want. Usersmay access data and create theirown reports.

The American FactFinder cur-rently offers data from the 1990Decennial Census, the 1997 Eco-nomic Census, data from the 2000Dress Rehearsal Census, and theAmerican Community Survey. Italso will provide data from Census2000. The large volumes of datacollected by the Census Bureaurequire a large and efficient systemof dissemination. The AmericanFactFinder gives Census Bureaucustomers more flexibility to re-quest the data they need for their

geography of interest. The Ameri-can FactFinder provides quickerrelease of detailed data about theNation’s people and the economy tomeet the increasing needs of datausers. To access the AmericanFactFinder go to the Census Bureauhome page at www.census.gov.

You Need to MapThings Out!

The data presented in the P.L.94-171 data set won’t mean muchuntil you look at the accompanyingmaps and learn a little about thegeographic areas. We’ve made theCensus 2000 maps as clear as wecan to convey the greatest detailabout small areas. The maps are onas few map sheets as possible. Thescale varies from county to county

depending on area size and popula-tion density, and in many areas insetsare used to ensure a readable map. Asignificant improvement is the use ofcolor to distinguish the differenttypes of area boundaries.

What about plotted maps? TheCensus Bureau will provide both themajority and minority state house andsenate legislative leaders and thegovernor with a set of Census 2000P.L. 94-171 maps in early 2001. TheCensus Bureau estimates that nation-wide we will produce 75,000 uniquecounty block maps, 15,000 uniquevoting district/state legislative dis-trict outline maps, and 12,000 censustract outline maps in order to supportthe Census 2000 Redistricting DataProgram.

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Visible features—such as roads,rivers, railroad tracks, etc., are shownand labeled only when they coincide witha voting district boundary or some otherlegal boundary.

Voting districts—is the generic term used forareas identified by the states and used by thestates and local governments for conductingelections. They may have other names, such aselection districts, wards, or election precincts.Voting district data are organized by countywithin state.

Voting District/State LegislativeDistrict Outline Map Here we display part of the voting district/state legislative district outline map for Colum-bia, South Carolina. The outline maps identifythe voting districts and optional state legislativedistricts and show their boundaries. They aresupplied, along with more detailed maps (seepage 8) and the P.L. 94-171 tabulations, to stateofficials who will use them in the process ofredrawing state legislative boundaries.

Codes explained—the voting districtoutline map identifies each district using upto a six-character code. This map type alsouniquely identifies senate and houselegislative districts where they wereprovided by the state.

We made the maps using ourTIGER system, an automated geo-graphic database the Census Bureaufirst developed for the 1990 censusand updated and maintained tosupport all Census Bureau censusesand surveys, including Census2000. Although we are supplyingplotted maps to offices involved inredistricting, you also can get themaps and the geographic data touse with your geographic informa-tion system (GIS) or redistrictingsoftware, on CD-ROM. Data userseasily can review maps against datawithout ever unfolding a map sheet!

Voting district/state legisla-tive district outline maps—(seeexample, page 6) cover a county orequivalent area and show the out-line of voting districts and statelegislative districts (if defined).These maps provide a quick pictureof areas that can be used as a refer-ence as you construct new legisla-tive districts. These maps also willshow the boundaries of the currentstate legislative districts (if thestate chose to provide them duringPhase 2).

When greater detail is needed,county block maps (page 8) arethe reference to consult. Thesemaps show the smallest tabulationareas—census blocks—that can beused in the redistricting process.Map sheets are organized by county.For the block map, an index sheetshows the layout of the relationship

between individual map sheetswithin the county.

Inset Maps GiveMore Detail

On the index map, you’ll alsonotice shaded areas. They identifydensely populated areas where themap detail calls for a larger scale.These shaded areas represent insetsthat are produced at a larger scaleto show the base feature and geo-graphic detail on separate mapsheets.

Each inset shown on the indexmap is assigned a letter of the al-phabet; if the inset map is on morethan one map sheet, then eachcomponent inset map sheet addi-tionally is assigned a number. Forexample, sheet A22 is sheet 22 ofinset A.

Many Uses!What else can you do with the

TIGER geographic data? Much morethan districting! It can serve as the

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geographic base in market forecast-ing and site selection, sales andtransportation routing, emergencyservices planning, and school dis-trict planning. The TIGER databasealso contains ZCTAs—ZIP CodeTabulation Areas—new for Census2000, to assist in relating ZIP Codebased local information with Census2000 demographic data at the cen-sus block level.

Whether you work at home orthe office, on your PC or the WorldWide Web, information from theTIGER database is available to you.Not only can the Census Bureau’sAmerican FactFinder display TIGERdata, but most of the Internet map-ping sites also started with TIGER/Line file data. The Census Bureauhas a very simple mapping programavailable, LANDView, available fromthe Internet or on CD-ROM or DVD.For redistricting or more compre-hensive mapping and analyticalapplications, the private sector hasdeveloped a wide variety of soft-ware. Look under “GIS” (GeographicInformation Systems) or “DesktopMapping” on the Internet, or visitthe Census Bureau’s web site for alist of vendors who support theTIGER/Line files.

This TIGER Is Friendly!hink of the TIGER database, as provided in our TIGER/Line products, as a huge map of the UnitedStates. That’s basically what it is—a map inside your desktop computer. It includes geographic coor-

dinates (latitude and longitude) for visible features on the earth’s surface—features such as roads, rail-roads, and streams. For most features, the TIGER/Line files also include attributes such as the names of thefeature and for streets, the potential address range and associated ZIP+4 Code for each side of the street.The TIGER/Line files also include the boundaries and codes for all geographic areas for which the CensusBureau tabulates data including American Indian/Alaska Native areas, states, counties, townships, cities,and similar functioning general purpose governments. It also has the boundaries and codes for statisticalareas (such as census tracts and census blocks) for which the Census Bureau collects and tabulates data.(TIGER stands for Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing. It is a registered trade-mark of the U.S. Census Bureau.)

We developed the TIGER system jointly with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the 1980s. Wecombined detailed USGS digital data (based on map sheets in which 1 inch equals approximately 1.6 miles)with digital data from the geographic base files (GBF/DIME files) used in the 1980 census. We continue toupdate the TIGER database (streets, address ranges, and political boundaries) based on information weobtain from local and tribal governments, the U.S. Postal Service, and our own field staff.

Just before we tabulate the Census 2000 data, we will use the TIGER database to assign the blocknumbers for all census blocks in the entire Nation, using the updated base features and geographicarea boundaries. This will best ensure that Census 2000 blocks are meaningful and represent thelatest possible information.

Because the TIGER database contains legal and statistical geographic areas and codes, and the underly-ing street network, you now have a powerful tool to display demographic data graphically. Using theTIGER/Line files (the public version of the TIGER database) and appropriate software, you can rapidlydetermine the impact on the demographic makeup of a district when you move a boundary. You canquickly perform this analysis at all levels, from city blocks to congressional districts.

TIGER/Line files are county-based and will be available with all of the Census 2000 geographic codes,shortly before the Census 2000 data become available. All of the TIGER/Line files for the Nation fit onseven CD-ROMs (in compressed format). Uncompressed, the Nation is about 30 gigabytes of data.The smallest county is less than 1 megabyte in size, while the largest is over 100 megabytes.The largest state, Texas, is over 2 gigabytes in size.

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2013

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Putting the PuzzleTogether

The county block map sheetsthat we’re illustrating here are large.The standard sheet is 36" x 33.”When using maps like these, it isoften helpful to study the indexsheet.

The maps will show voting dis-tricts and state legislative districts.The map will use the state-assignedcode of up to six-characters (withoutleading zeros) for each voting districtwithin a given county. In addition,the house and senate codes of up tothree characters (without leadingzeros) are shown.

The legend is your guide to thesymbols on the maps.

The areas you’ll probably workwith most are—

Voting districts—areas such aselection districts, wards, or precinctsidentified by the states. They appearon separate voting district/statelegislative district outline maps andon the county block maps. Statesparticipating in the redistricting dataprogram provided the boundary,code, and name information we usedin depicting these areas on the maps.The boundary is shown as a shadedstippled pattern on this map but maybe different on the official Census2000 maps. As they do elsewhere onthis map, voting district boundariesmay coincide with boundaries ofother areas such a incorporatedplaces, minor civil divisions, or cen-sus tracts, and they always follow acensus block boundary.

Census tracts—statistical areasaveraging about 4,000 people.Counties and equivalent areas are

8

subdivided into census tracts.These areas remain fairly constantfrom census to census and thus areuseful for longitudinal studies anda variety of applications.

Legislative districts—aredistricts used to elect a member tothe upper (senate) or lower (house)chambers of state legislatures. Likevoting districts, states could definethese at their option. Consequently,the Census 2000 Redistricting Datawill include state legislative dis-tricts for some states but not forothers. Please see chart on partici-pation (page 4) for further informa-tion on how states participated inthe definition of voting districts andlegislative districts. For more infor-mation, please call the RedistrictingData Office on 301-457-4039 ore-mail [email protected].

Blocks—the smallest of censusgeographic areas, normally boundedby streets or other prominent physi-cal features or by the boundaries ofgeographic areas. They may be assmall as a typical city blockbounded by 4 streets or as large asover 100 square miles in some ruralareas. Blocks are identified by afour-digit number, unique withinCensus 2000 census tracts. Nation-ally, blocks average about 100 per-sons each.

Voting districts—areas such as election districts, wards,or precincts identified by the states. They appear on separatevoting district/state legislative district outline maps and onthe county block maps. States participating in the redistrict-ing data program provided the boundary, code, and nameinformation we used in depicting these areas on the maps.The boundary is shown as a shaded stippled pattern on thismap but may be different on the official Census 2000 maps.As they do elsewhere on this map, voting district boundariesmay coincide with boundaries of other areas such as incorpo-rated places, minor civil divisions, or census tracts, and theyalways follow a census block boundary.

Census tracts—statistical areas averagingabout 4,000 people. Counties and equivalentareas are subdivided into census tracts. Theseareas remain fairly constant from census tocensus and thus are useful for longitudinalstudies and a variety of applications.

9

Block groups—a set of censusblocks identified by the same firstdigit within a census tract. Forexample, all blocks in a census tractin the 1000 range define blockgroup 1. Once you study the mappieces and definitions shown here,you’ll be ready to work with thestatistics for these areas.

Record Layout forP.L. 94-171 Data

Earlier we mentioned that wefurnished each governor and themajority and minority leaders ofeach state legislature with a full setof their state’s Census RedistrictingData. The law requires us to do thisby April 1, 2001.

While P.L. 94-171 requires theCensus Bureau to furnish onlycounts of the total population,additional data also will be in-cluded. Cathy McCully, assistantchief of the Census 2000 Redistrict-ing Data Office, notes, “We’ll providedata on the voting-age populationand cross tabulations of voting ageby race characteristics, as well as byHispanic or Latino.”

For Census 2000, the CensusBureau carried out extensive consul-tations between 1997 and 1999,with its Racial and Ethnic AdvisoryCommittee, the 2000 Census Advi-sory Committee to the Secretary ofCommerce, state legislatures, offi-cials within the Civil Rights Divisionof the U.S. Department of Justice,privacy advocates, and many otherstakeholders in the redistrictingprocess. These consultations fo-cused on how to best tabulate cen-sus questionnaires on which morethan one race category was marked.

During this period, the CensusBureau conducted the Census 2000Dress Rehearsal Census in April1998 in the city of Sacramento, CA;an 11-county area in central SouthCarolina, including the city of Co-lumbia; and Menominee County, WI.

The new race item, preceded by thequestion on Hispanic/Latino origin,was used in this Dress Rehearsal. InApril 1999, the resulting tabulationsshowed the percentage of respon-dents choosing more than one racecategory:

Sacramento, CA..... 5.4 percentColumbia, SC......... 0.8 percentMenominee, WI...... 1.2 percent

In September 1999, based onthese findings and further consulta-tions with stakeholders, the CensusBureau announced that the Census2000 P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Datawould include the full range ofracial detail: Each of the “singlerace” categories (5 plus “some otherrace”), plus the 57 possible catego-ries for those who choose more thanone race. This approach will pro-duce up to 63 racial tallies andprovide users the maximum flexibil-ity for analyzing these new data forany area. This flexible design alsomet the needs of the Department ofJustice for enforcement of civilrights programs. The StatisticalPolicy Office of the U.S. Office ofManagement and Budget issuedguidance for aggregating and allo-cating these data for program appli-cations (see OMB Bulletin 00-02,March 9, 2000). These 63 racialcategories will be cross-tabulated byHispanic/Non-Hispanic origin,separately for the total populationand the voting-age population.

At each step of the process forcollecting and tabulating these P.L.94-171 Redistricting Data, the Cen-sus Bureau will take any necessarysteps to protect the confidentialityof individual responses.

Hispanic/Latino origin is notconsidered a race category. Raceand Hispanic/Latino data are ob-tained from a separate question onthe Census 2000 questionnaire.

The chart on pages 10-11 showsa portion of the computer recordlayout for how these data will bearrayed on CD-ROM, along with thegeography that will link the P.L.Redistricting Data to each block,voting district, census tract, city,county, etc.

Census 2000 PublicLaw 94-171 Dataand Correction forAccuracy andCoverage Evaluation

The Census Bureau will fulfillPublic Law 94-171 and provide eachstate’s governor and legislativeleaders with the Census 2000 Redis-tricting Data by April 1, 2001. Bar-ing any unanticipated major prob-lems in conducting the census,these P.L. 94-171 numbers are ex-pected to reflect corrections forpossible overcounts and under-counts using measurements fromthe Accuracy and Coverage Evalua-tion survey.

These P.L. 94-171 data wouldthen be designated the most accu-rate the Census Bureau could pro-vide for redistricting. To fulfill therequirements of P.L. 105-119 (en-acted in 1997), the Census Bureaumust also make publicly available asecond version of these data thatdoes not include the corrections forundercounts and overcounts mea-sured in the Accuracy and CoverageEvaluation.

You’ll probably make mostuse of Table 2 in redefining

boundaries.

Hispanic/Latino is notconsidered a race category.

Race and Hispanic/Latino dataare obtained from a separatequestion on the Census 2000

questionnaires.

Nation

Census Geographic Hierarchy(Counts represent the number of 1990 entities)

Regions (4)

Divisions (9)

States (57)

Counties (3,248)

Census Tracts(62,276)

Block Groups(229,192)

Blocks(7,017,427)

Metropolitan Areas (362)

Urbanized Areas (405)

Voting Districts(148,874)

Legislative Districts

CongressionalDistricts (435)

American Indian andAlaska Native Areas (576)

Hawaiian Home Lands

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas

Places (23,794)

County Subdivisions(35,967)Minor Civil Division (30,386)Census County Division (5,581)

10

Excerpt from Census 2000 Record LayoutP.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data

American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian 1868 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1877 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race 1886 9

Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1895 9

Asian; Some other race 1904 9

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race 1913 9

Population of three races: 1922 9

White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native 1931 9

White; Black or African American; Asian 1940 9

White; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1949 9

White; Black or African American; Some other race 1958 9

White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian 1967 9

White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1976 9

White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race 1985 9

White; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1994 9

White; Asian; Some other race 2003 9

White; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race 2012 9

Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian 2021 9

Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native;

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2030 9

Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race 2039 9

Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2048 9

Black or African American; Asian; Some other race 2057 9

Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander;

Some other race 2066 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2075 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race 2084 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander;


Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race 2102 9

Population of four races: 2111 9

White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian 2120 9

White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native;




White; Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2147 9

White; Black or African American; Asian; Some other race 2156 9

White; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander;


White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian;


White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race 2183 9

White; American Indian and Alaska Native;


White; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race 2201 9

Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian;




PL3. RACE [70]

Universe: Total population 18 years and over

Total: 1697 9

Population of one race: 1706 9

White alone 1715 9

Black or African American alone 1724 9

American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1733 9

Asian alone 1742 9

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 1751 9

Some other race alone 1760 9

Population of two or more races: 1769 9

Population of two races: 1778 9

White; Black or African American 1787 9

White; American Indian and Alaska Native 1796 9

White; Asian 1805 9

White; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1814 9

White; Some other race 1823 9

Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native 1832 9

Black or African American; Asian 1841 9

Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1850 9

Black or African American; Some other race 1859 9

Field NameStartingPosition Cell Size

11

Where to Go toLearn More!

Responsive government at alllevels begins with legislativeboundaries that reflect an accuratecount of the population. We hopethis brochure will help you betterunderstand the maps and datawhich the Census Bureau providesand how you can use them in redis-tricting.

You can learn more about thedesign and content of other CensusBureau data products from theCensus Bureau’s web site, theAmerican FactFinder. Just pointyour browser to www.census.gov.

More information about the Census2000 Redistricting Data Program,can be obtained by calling301-457-4039 or sending e-mailto [email protected]. You also may write to:Census 2000 Redistricting DataOffice, U.S. Census Bureau,Washington, DC 20233.

For more information onredistricting data, you may wishto access P.L. web page atwww.census.gov/clo/www/redistricting.html or the NCSLweb site http://www.ncsl.org.

Census 2000 RedistrictingData [email protected]

Marshall L. Turner, [email protected]

Cathy McCully, Assistant [email protected]

Reports, tape files, microfiche,CD-ROM, and other productsCustomer Services301-457-4100

Excerpt from Census 2000 Record LayoutP.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data

Census 2000 Record LayoutP.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data63 Race Categories

Description Field NameStartingPosition Cell Size

Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native;


Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander;


American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian;


Population of five races: 2255 9

White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian;






White; Black or African American; Asian;


White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian;




Population of six races: 2318 9



PL4. NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE [72]

Universe: Total population 18 years and over

Total: 2336 9

Hispanic or Latino 2345 9

Not Hispanic or Latino: 2354 9

Population of one race: 2363 9

White alone 2372 9

Black or African American alone 2381 9

American Indian and Alaska Native alone 2390 9

Asian alone 2399 9

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 2408 9

Some other race alone 2417 9

Population of two or more races: 2426 9

Population of two races: 2435 9

White; Black or African American 2444 9

White; American Indian and Alaska Native 2453 9

White; Asian 2462 9

White; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2471 9

White; Some other race 2480 9

Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native 2489 9

Black or African American; Asian 2498 9

Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2507 9

Black or African American; Some other race 2516 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian 2525 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2534 9

American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race 2543 9

Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2552 9

Asian; Some other race 2561 9

strength in numbers - tucson · u.s. department of commerce u.s. census bureau washington, dc 20233...

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