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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Our Community Get Current Population Counts If We Have an Immediate Need?
The Census Bureau provides Census 2000 counts at http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen 2000.html, and the Census Bureau produces annual population estimates that may be retrieved at http://www.census.gov/main/www/cprs.html.
In addition, beginning in 2003 certified counts will be available through a totally redesigned Special Census Program. TOP
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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
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
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
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
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
The Special Census Enumerator Questionnaire is very similar to the Census 2000 short form questionnaire. TOP
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
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
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
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
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.
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Call the Special Census Program Office at 301-763-1429. You may also e-mail us at Special Censusprogram@census.gov. TOP
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Field Division, Office of Special Censuses
Created: January 30, 2002 Updated:
