MCDC News and Updates

Tag: Census 2020

DHC 2020 Profiles Applications

Posted on by glenn

MCDC has added two new web applications for browsing the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) data.

In August 2023, we posted our “standard extracts” (also called profiles) of the DHC data — a set of just over 100 key variables from the ~9,000 table cells in the complete 2020 DHC file. This collection is located in the /data/dhc2020x directory and is also accessible from our data portal page.

The two new web apps facilitate browsing and extracting data from the profiles. The Census 2020 DHC Extract Assistant is a portal for accessing the collection of SAS datasets linked above. Essentially, it’s a easy-to-use, menu-driven front end for the Dexter data extractor, customized for the DHC Profiles collection. Users may use basic presets, or select the “advanced” option to pass through to the standard Dexter form for additional filters. The application can output web tables, CSV files, PDFs, SAS, and DBF data files.

The Census 2020 Profile Report application offers a simple interface for selecting up to four areas and generating a report listing all of the DHC profile values for each selected area. This is the easiest option for quick results.

Geographic coverage for both apps includes:

  • Census regions
  • Census divisions
  • States
  • Counties
  • Minor civil divisions (county subdivisions)
  • Places (cities, towns)
  • Metropolitan/micropolitan statistical areas
  • Census tracts
  • Census block groups
  • Census blocks
  • Urban areas (complete and state portions)
  • Congressional districts (118th Congress)
  • State senate districts
  • State house districts
  • Public use microdata areas (PUMAs)
  • ZIP Codes (ZCTAs) within state
  • Elementary school districts
  • Secondary school districts
  • Unified school districts

CAPS 2020 Is Finally Here!

Posted on by glenn

MCDC is pleased to announce the launch of the newest version of our popular CAPS (Circular Area Profiles) applications.

CAPS 2020 is based on our new standard profiles (/data/dhc2020x), created earlier this month from the Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) data from the 2020 decennial census, released in May 2023.

Much like the versions of CAPS based on previous decennial censuses, the new application reports just over 100 key variables (with corresponding percents) from the 2020 DHC file.

Functionally, CAPS 2020 is very similar to the older CAPS applications, although we did a lot of code updates under the hood.

Keen-eyed users may notice that 2010 populations reported by the CAPS 2020 app differ (sometimes significantly) from those reported for the same circles in CAPS 2010. In addition to normal population growth or decline, this is primarily due to the many changes in census geographies (blocks, block groups, and tracts) between 2010 and 2020. There is really no good way around this issue. The 2010 population, and the 2010-to-2020 change/percent change figures should be taken with a grain of salt.

DHC 2020 Standard Extracts Added to MCDC’s Collection

Posted on by glenn

The Missouri Census Data Center has added our “standard extract” data based on the 2020 Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) data. The collection is located in the /data/dhc2020x directory and is also accessible from our data portal page.

This is the collection of standard extracts, where we create a set of just over 100 key variables (with corresponding percents) from the ~9,000 table cells in the complete 2020 DHC file. For each state in the US (plus DC and PR), we have three data sets: one for census blocks, one for complete block groups (summary level 150), and one for “selected inventory” levels: state, county, county subdivision, place (complete and within-county), census tract, and ZIP code (ZCTA). For most geographies, we have added the 2010 population count and used it to calculate change over the decade.

This collection will be the basis for our forthcoming update to the CAPS (Circular Area Profiles) application using 2020 Census data. Users may expect to see the updated CAPS 2020 application in late August 2023.

Demographic and Housing Characteristics Data Added to MCDC’s Collection

Posted on by glenn

The Missouri Census Data Center is pleased to announce that we’ve added the new Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) data to our census data archives. The collection is located in the /data/dhc2020 directory and is also accessible from our data portal page.

The Demographic and Housing Characteristics data was released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May 2023. This is one of the main data products based on the 2020 decennial census.

As in 2010, there was only a short form questionnaire in 2020, so the DHC tables contain just basic demographics (age, sex, race / ethnicity, household types, etc.). The DHC is more or less equivalent to Summary File 1 from the 2010 and earlier censuses, and contains many of the same tables and variables as SF1, although there are some differences.

This data will become the source for MCDC’s DHC standard extract (or “profiles”) — our custom set of key variables for useful geographic area types — which should be ready within a month or so.

Missouri Surpassed 6 Million Persons in the 2010s

Posted on by glenn

The U.S. Census Bureau has published a collection of state population profiles for 2020 as part of its “America Counts” story series.

Missouri now has a population of 6,154,913 and 2,786,621 housing units.

Between 2010 and 2020, Missouri’s population increased by 165,986, or 2.8%. By comparison, the overall U.S. population increase was 7.4%.

Missouri’s under-18 population decreased over the past 10 years by 3.2%, while the adult population increased by 4.6%.

Some key figures about the population of the entire United States, for comparison:

  • Population was up to 331.4 million.
  • The Diversity Index went up to 61.1%, from 54.9%.
  • The under-18 population decreased by 1.4%, and the adult population increased by 10.1%.
  • The number of housing units went up 6.7%, and vacancies went down to 9.7% of all housing units.

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s Missouri profile page to learn more.

PL94-171 Redistricting Data is In

Posted on by glenn

The PL94-171 (redistricting) data from the 2020 decennial census is now available in the MCDC data collection.

This is the first major data release of the 2020 Census, comprising race / ethnicity / voting age demographics, along with housing tenure, for all U.S. geographic areas down to the census block level.

MCDC’s new collection (/data/pl942020) includes data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The collection contains two datasets per state, one each with totals ([SS]sums) and detail ([SS]detail). The sums datasets will be most useful for our regular users.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau,

Public Law (P.L.) 94-171, enacted by Congress in December 1975, requires the Census Bureau to provide states the opportunity to identify the small area geography for which they need data in order to conduct legislative redistricting. The law also requires the U.S. Census Bureau to furnish tabulations of population to each state, including for those small areas the states have identified, within one year of Census day.

Over the coming days and weeks, we will add more datasets to this collection, including U.S. level and some trends.

For questions or technical assistance, please contact Glenn Rice at MCDC.

St. Louis Named as a Test Site for the 2020 Census

Posted on by glenn

The U.S. Census Bureau announced earlier in April that it plans to conduct a census test, beginning October 3, 2016, in selected areas within St. Louis, Mo., and Buncombe County, N.C.

The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. Towards that goal, the Census Bureau will test new technologies for the address canvassing operation, which is the process of identifying and noting the locations of houses, apartments, shelters and other residences. This test will use new methods and data sources to detect new residential developments and to help the Census Bureau refine its operational plans for the 2020 Census.

The Bureau chose the test areas based on their mix of housing types in urban, suburban, and rural areas that have experienced changes in their population since 2010.

The test will end on December 16, 2016.

Conducting the census test will require hiring approximately 150 temporary census staff for each site. Pay will range from $13.84 to $19.21 per hour. Recruiting is now underway for these local jobs. For more information about job opportunities in St. Louis, please call the toll-free number 1-866-593-6154 or chicago.recruiting@census.gov.