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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Our Community Get Current Population
Counts If We Have an Immediate Need?
What is a Special Census?
A Special Census is a basic enumeration of population,
housing units, and group quarters conducted by the Census Bureau
at the request
of a governmental unit.* They are conducted on a cost-reimbursable
basis.
The Census Bureau's authority to conduct Special Censuses is
specified in Title
13, United States Code, Section 196.
*For Special Census purposes, a governmental unit is defined
as the government of any state, county, city, or other political
subdivision
within a state,
for the government of the District of Columbia or for
the government of any possession or area including
political subdivisions, American Indian Reservations, or Alaskan
Native
villages. TOP
What is a Partial Special Census?
A partial Special Census is conducted
using the same methodologies and procedures as a regular Special Census. With a partial Special,
however,
the area being counted is typically much smaller. This basic
enumeration of population, housing units, and group quarters is conducted
for
an area no larger than the area wholly within the jurisdiction
of the
local governmental unit and defined as one or more census blocks
that may
be combined to encompass several complete block groups or
census tracts). The information needed to process a cost estimate
for conducting a partial
Special Census is the same as that required for the standard
Special Census.
During a partial Special Census, enumerators will still canvass
their assignment areas using census maps and address registers
that contain
addresses and location information. The enumerators update
the address lists and census maps by adding housing units not already
listed,
make corrections to address information, enter map spots on
maps
for added
units in rural areas, update maps with feature changes, and
delete listing that do not exist. Assignment areas for a standard census
are typically
75 housing units. This will vary with a Special Census depending
on the size of the specific area for which the special or partial
Special Census
is requested. TOP
How Long Has the Special Census Program Been
Operating?
The Census Bureau has been authorized to conduct Special Censuses since 1903. The nations first Special Census was conducted
April
15, 1915.
Although the way the Special Census are conducted has changed,
the basic objective
to obtain updated population and housing counts remains
the same. TOP
What is the purpose of a Special Census?
When local officials believe
there has been a significant population change in their community
due to growth or annexation, a Special Census
may be in order. A certified official population increase
resulting from
the Special Census may produce an increase in state revenue
sharing or other benefits. This could also offset the cost
of actually
conducting the Special Census, but much depends on the
individual state's laws
or
regulations. TOP
What is the Geographically Updated Population
Certification Program (GUPCP)?
GUPCP is a Census Bureau sponsored
program that enables local and tribal governments and other customers
to obtain
certified
Census
2000 population
and housing counts for updated or newly established governmental
unit boundaries. A geographically updated population
certificate confirms
that an official population count is an accurate re-tabulation
of Census 2000 population and housing counts based upon
boundary updates
legally
effective after January 1, 2000, the date for boundaries
used in tabulating Census 2000. A GUPCP certified count
is different
from
a Special Census
certified count. TOP
How is a Certified Special Census
Count Different From the Geographically Updated Population Certification?
A
Special Census is an actual enumeration of housing and group quarters
of a specific area, conducted on a specified
date.
Special Census
counts will include new housing and population that came
into the area after
Census 2000. The Special Census also will produce demographic
detail for the population, such as information on age,
sex, relationships within households, race, Hispanic
origin, occupancy
or vacancy
status, type
of vacancy, tenure for housing units and any other information
Special Census customers may choose to collect through
other questions
added
to the questionnaire. GUPCP will provide only total population
and housing unit counts.
Geographically Updated Population Certification is
a re-tabulation of Census 2000 population and housing
counts
within new
boundaries. ("New" boundaries
are boundaries that become effective after January
1, 2000, the date for boundaries used to report Census
2000
data.) The geographically updated
certified count will include only the population and
housing that existed and was counted at the time of
Census 2000. It will not include counts
for new housing or group quarters (i.e. nursing homes,
college dormitories, prisons, etc.) population. In
other words, if a local government wants
to know the population within a housing development
built after Census 2000 was taken, they could not get
that
information from GUPCP. For more
information about this program, please review the GUPCP
Internet site. TOP
How is a Special Census Conducted?
Data collection for a Special Census
is conducted using an update/enumerate methodology. During update/enumerate,
enumerators
canvass their
assignment areas using census maps and address registers
that contain addresses
and location information for housing units. The enumerators
update the address lists and census maps by adding
housing
units not
already listed,
making corrections to address information, entering
map spots on maps for added units in rural areas, updating
maps with
feature changes, and deleting listings that do not
exist. The Special Census
Enumerator
Questionnaire
is similar to the Census 2000 short form.
During
Special Census operations, the Census Bureau will also enumerate
special places/group quarters.
Special
Places are
places that are
different from the usual house, apartment, or mobile
home where people usually
live. Some examples of special places include colleges,
hospitals, correctional facilities, nursing homes,
and military installations.
People, living at special places, generally live
in group situations called group quarters. Special
places
always contain at least
one group quarters
and some may contain regular housing units as well.
For special place enumeration, we complete a Special
Places
Enumerator
Questionnaire for each individual housed in a particular
unit. The questionnaire
used is
also similar to the Census 2000 short form, except
data is collected for only one person. TOP
What Are
the Residence Requirements When Conducting a Special Census?
Each
person in a Special Census coverage area is identified as either
a resident or nonresident of the housing
unit as of Special Census
Day. Since the first U.S. decennial census in 1790
the Census Bureau has used
the concept of usual residence when determining
where people were to be counted. This concept has been
followed in all
subsequent censuses and is also used when conducting
a Special Census.
Usual residence
is the place where the person lives and sleeps
most of the time. This
place
is not necessarily the same as the person's voting
residence or
legal residence. Also, noncitizens who are living
in the United States
are included, regardless of their immigration status.
Determining usual residence is easy for most people.
Given our nation's wide diversity in types of living
arrangements,
however,
the usual
residence for some people is not as apparent. The
Census Bureau has residence rules
that provide guidelines for determining a respondent's
usual residence.
Applying the usual residence concept to real living
situations means that people will not always be counted
at the place
where they happen
to be staying on Special Census Day. For example,
people temporarily away from their usual residence,
such as
on vacation or on
a business trip on Census Day, will be counted at
their usual residence.
People who live at more than one residence during
the week, month, or year will be counted at the place
where
they
live most of
the time. Some
examples of these people in the armed forces, at
college, in a correctional facility, or in a nursing
home or
home for the
chronically
ill. People
without a usual residence, however, will be counted
where they are staying on Special Census Day.
Living
Quarters
Any place where people live or stay OR could live
or stay. There are two types of living quarters:
housing
units and
group quarters.
Housing Unit
A housing unit is a:
- house,
-
apartment,
- mobile home or trailer,
-
group of rooms or single room occupied as separate
living quarters of rooms
-
single room occupied as separate living quarters OR
if vacant, intended for occupancy as separate living quarters.
Separate
living quarters are those in which the occupants live separately from any other
people
in the building
and that
have direct access
from outside the building or through a common
hall. If the only way an occupant
can get to their living area is through someone
else's living area, they do not have direct access.
Hence
they would be
treated as
occupants of
the same living quarters
Group Quarters
People living at special places generally live
in group situations called group quarters.
Special places
always
contain at least
one group quarters
and some may contain regular housing units
as well. For special place enumeration, we complete
a Special
Places
Enumerator
Questionnaire for each individual housed in
a particular unit. The questionnaire
used is
also similar to the Census 2000 short form,
except data is collected for only one person.
Special places always
contain at least one group quarters and some may contain regular
housing
units as well.
When a special
place
contains only a single group quarters, the
terms special place and group quarters
are often used interchangeably. However,
usually there is a parent/child relationship between
special places
and group
quarters. For example,
a college or university (special place) contains
student dormitories
(group quarters).
More specific information on residency rules
may be found at:
www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/resid_rules.html
TOP
Who Pays for a Special Census?
The Census Bureau conducts Special Censuses on a cost-reimbursable basis. This means that the governmental
unit requesting
Special Census assumes
full responsibility for the cost of the Special Census. The updated information provided by a Special Census
is designated
as Official
Census Statistics
and may be used in any manner provided for
by applicable law. TOP
How Can a Governmental Unit
Request an Official Cost Estimate?
Governmental Units can request
an official cost estimate by following the instructions
located
in this Web site.
The fee
for processing
a basic cost estimate is $200.00. This
fee will be adjusted, if certain variables
are involved, such as the customer
adding additional questions to the
questionnaire. The Census Bureau began
accepting requests for official cost estimates in October
2002. Field
work on Special Censuses
began in 2003. TOP
Are There Limits to Where a
Special Census can be Conducted?
A Special Census may be conducted
for the government of any state, county, city, or other political
subdivision within
a state,
for the government
of the District of Columbia, or for the government
of any
possession or area, including political
subdivisions, American Indian Reservations,
and Alaskan Native villages, on subjects
covered by the censuses provided for in Title
13, United States Code.
Each state's legislation
needs to be reviewed to determine the circumstances
under which
a Special Census is applicable.
In
Iowa, a city may have
only one federal Special Census per decade.
Conversely, Illinois has no such restriction,
and towns may
conduct as many Special Censuses as they deem necessary. TOP
How Does
the Special Census Program This Decade Differ From Previous Decades?
The
operation of the Special Census Program this decade has been totally
redesigned. A
different
enumeration methodology is used, the
update/enumerate methodology. The update/enumerate
methodology improves the quality of
the data utilizing the Census Bureau's
Master Address File, which is kept current
through
periodic updates from the United States
Postal Services'
Delivery Sequence File. This element
is particularly important, because it
ensures the quality
and timeliness of the address list.
Changes
found in the geography, as a result of
a Special Census are incorporated into
the Topologically
Integrated
Geographic
Encoding and Referencing
(MAF/TIGER) system, the Census Bureau's
digital database used for our mapping needs during
the Decennial Census
and for other
programs.
The
database consists of geographic features,
such as roads, railroads, rivers, lakes,
political
boundaries,
census
statistical boundaries,
etc. covering
the entire United States. The TIGER files
generated are not graphic images of maps,
but rather
digital data describing
geographic
features. Hence,
Special Census geographic changes will
be reflected in TIGER
and the quality of resulting data products
is improved.
Results of this decade's Special Censuses are used by the Census Bureau's Population
Estimates
Program
when
certain
conditions
are met. The Special Census must comprise an entire jurisdiction
whose legal boundaries are consistent with
the updated
legal boundaries
used by
the Population Estimates
Program each estimates year. The Special Census results also must be completed with
enough
time to process
them into the
estimates program,
usually by August. In addition, any further
legal boundary changes to a jurisdiction
that are used
in the estimates
program may
disallow
use
of the Special Census counts for that jurisdiction
in subsequent years.
Quality assurance procedures
have been expanded to include a review of address listing, housing
unit
assignment areas, single-person
households, unknown households, and those
areas where we are only
able to obtain
the household's status and population
count. Also, Special Census population and housing characteristics
will be compared to Census
2000 data by
assignment
area. TOP
Why did the Special
Census Program Stop in 1998 and Resume in 2002?
The Special Census is
typically on hiatus during decennial census years. We do this
to update
our materials and
systems in preparation
for the
decennial census. Census 2000 was comprised
of a very complex series of operations
that resulted
in
significant
amounts
of work and
demands on staff resources. Since a total
redesign of the Special Census
Program was required to integrate with
other Census Bureau programs, staffing
critical to the success of the Special Census Program was unavailable during Census 2000.
In August 2001,
while decennial census activities were concluding, the Census Bureau's
executive
staff decided
to restart the
Special Census
Program for this decade. Their decision
also included a complete redesign of the program
that included
new procedures,
software,
forms, and other
materials. The new Special Census program
was tested in the fall of 2002 and is
now in full
implementation
throughout
the nation.
Special Censuses
will be offered to local and tribal governments
until approximately early 2008, when
decennial activities will take precedence.
TOP
Is the Special Census Questionnaire
the Same as the Census 2000 Questionnaire?
The Special Census Enumerator
Questionnaire is very similar to the Census 2000 short
form questionnaire.
TOP
Can a Governmental Unit Add Questions
to the Special Census Questionnaire?
Some
questions may be added; however, they must be in accordance with
subjects covered
by the
censuses, as
provided for
in Title
13, United
States Code. Areas may benefit from
collecting and
analyzing information about housing,
transportation, or land use.
The fee to conduct
a Special Census with added questions
would increase, however, to allow
for collection
and processing of those questions.
TOP
How Might a Community Benefit From Conducting
a Special Census?
Some states distribute
funds based on current population statistics. By
conducting
a
Special Census, a community
may be able to
document a population or housing
change from earlier censuses, which could
lead to increased state revenue
sharing or other benefits.
For an additional fee, communities
may add questions to the questionnaire
to
collect data for use
in local planning
for
housing programs,
schools, transportation systems,
and human resource and land-use planning. TOP
How Will Recruiting and Hiring
be Conducted?
The state, local, or tribal government
will be responsible for recruiting
candidates for the
Special Census.
Hiring will be
accomplished similar
to the way the Census Bureau
hires field representatives for surveys.
Special Census Program staff will
provide procedures and support
in publicizing and recruiting
for the Special Census. Testing, hiring, and
training
candidates will be the responsibility
of the Special Census Program
staff. Paychecks
will
be issued
by the sponsoring
government
entity at prevailing
pay rates. Pay rates are currently
proposed to be 65 percent of
local Bureau of Labor Statistics
average
wage
for
the county
where
the Special Census
is located. These rates may,
however, be raised or lowered
depending
on local conditions. TOP
What Data
Products do We Receive and in
What Format?
The governmental unit will receive
a signed letter from the Director
of the
U.S. Census
Bureau stating
that their
jurisdiction's
Special Census population and housing
counts are considered "Official Census Statistics." In
addition to this letter, the
governmental unit also receives electronic files that show population
and housing counts by block, and one-page
demographic profiles for the
governmental unit and associated tracts or part tracts. Standard
information includes age, sex, relationship,
race, Hispanic origin, occupancy
or vacancy status, type of vacancy, and tenure for housing units.
Most governmental units prefer these data
in electronic Excel or PDF
formats, although paper reports can be provided upon request. Additional
data
at the tract level are provided in ASCII
format that allows the governmental
unit to import the data into other software programs that allow the
creation of customized reports. TOP
Is Special Census Data Confidential?
The public is protected by Title
13, U.S. Code. Only authorized
U.S. Census
Bureau
employees
may see personally
identifiable
information. Results that
could be used to identify an individual
are
not released.
Census employees, including
those hired on
a temporary basis, swear
under oath that they will
not disclose
any information
gathered
about
individuals
or businesses. Information
collected by the Census Bureau is used
only for statistical
purposes--no
one can obtain
personal
identifiable
data
from the Census Bureau.
For more information on Title 13, visit
http://uscode.house.gov/search/criteria.shtml.
TOP
Whom May I Contact for
Information on the
Special Census Program?
Call the Special Census
Program Office
at 301-763-1429. You
may also e-mail
us at
Special Censusprogram@census.gov.
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