New Census tool expected to replace long form by 2010

LORRINE THOMPSON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published August 6

THURSTON COUNTY -- Some things we know about how Washington compares to the rest of the United States, thanks to a new type of Census survey released today:

Washingtonians are a little more educated than the average U.S. resident, they make an average of $4,000 more per year than other Americans, fewer Washingtonians speak a non-English language at home, and roughly the same percentage of state residents live in poverty as do people nationwide (about 12 percent).

There's more -- much more -- in the American Community Survey, a new Census tool likely to show up in South Sound mailboxes more often than the once-a-decade Census surveys.

In fact, the lengthy American Community Survey is expected to replace the Census long-form questionnaire by 2010, with the new survey sent out to a large percentage of Americans every year.

The survey is still being tested, with Thurston County one of 1,203 U.S. counties where residents were sent survey forms in 2000. The forms will be sent to a percentage of houses across the United States in 2003.

The survey focuses on economic, social, demographic and housing information and, like the Census, Americans are required by law to respond to the survey.

South Sound planners and demographers have mixed feelings about the change.

"They want to replace the Census long form, and they shouldn't do it," said Theresa Lowe, chief demographer with the state Office of Financial Management.

Lowe is concerned that far fewer households will receive the annual American Community Survey than the Census long form, and the results in lesser-populated areas will not be accurate.

"You're never going to know what a small area looks like again," Lowe said.

The Census Bureau plans to release data on sparsely populated areas once every three years, averaging the information over the three years.

Demographers and planners rely heavily on Census information to create population, employment and other kinds of projections.

The annual results of the American Community Survey will likely be used by OFM and could be helpful because results will be annual, but Lowe believes the Census long form should also be retained.

Thurston Regional Planning Council planners are looking forward to getting survey information every year, said Senior Planner Holly Gilbert.

"Overall, we're seeing it from a positive view," Gilbert said.

As time moves farther away from a Census year, Census numbers become less reliable for planning purposes. It will be then that planners turn to the American Community Survey for information, she said.

However, the survey is a "new animal, and we'll have to see what the general consensus is about it," she said.

Fifteen Washington counties were included in the 2000 American Community Survey, including Thurston. Some information released based on results from those counties includes:

- Washington residents are a little more educated than U.S. residents on average, with 29.5 percent of state residents holding a bachelor's degree or more.

- Fewer state residents speak a non-English language at home than the national average -- 13.7 percent of Washington residents versus 17.6 percent of U.S. residents.

- Slightly fewer Washington residents live below poverty than the national average -- 11.9 percent of state residents compared to 12.5 percent of people nationwide.

- Washingtonians make a little more money than the average American. Washingtonians average $45,310 per year while U.S. residents average $41,343 per year.

More Census data available for the 50 states

Information in dozens of categories -- from education and housing to income and population characteristics -- for each state and the District of Columbia is being made available today through the American Community Survey on the Census Web site at www.census.gov.

On the web:

Census 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

back to main Census 2000 index