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Bridged-Race Resident Population Estimates
United States, State and County
for the years 1990 - 2007

Bridged-Race Population Estimates Data Summary

Summary

The National Center for Health Statistics releases bridged-race population estimates of the July 1st resident population of the United States, based on Census 2000 counts, for use in calculating vital rates. These estimates result from "bridging" the 31 race categories used in Census 2000, as specified in the 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for the collection of data on race and ethnicity, to the four race categories specified under the 1977 standards (Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, White). Many data systems, such as vital statistics, are continuing to use the 1977 OMB standards during the transition to full implementation of the 1997 OMB standards.

Postcensal estimates are available for year 2000 and later; intercensal estimates are available for the years 1990-1999:

  • Postcensal estimates.
    Postcensal population estimates are estimates made for the years following a census, before the next census has been taken. Postcensal estimates are derived by updating the population enumerated in the census using various measures of population change. Each year following the decennial census, the U.S. Census Bureau produces a series of postcensal estimates that includes estimates for the current data year and revised estimates for earlier years. Estimates for earlier years in a given series are revised to reflect changes in the components of change data sets (for example, a preliminary natality file is replaced with a final natality file). The last year in a series is used to name the series. For example, the Vintage 2002 postcensal series has estimates for July 1, 2000, July 1, 2001, and July 1, 2002 (released 8/1/2003). The Vintage 2003 series has estimates for July 1, 2000, July 1, 2001, July 1, 2002, and July 1, 2003. The July 1, 2000, July 1, 2001, and July 1, 2002 estimates from the Vintage 2002 and Vintage 2003 series differ.
  • Intercensal estimates.
    Intercensal population estimates are estimates made for the years between two completed censuses and take into account both censuses. Intercensal estimates replace the postcensal estimates previously made for the time period. The 1990-1999 intercensal estimates are based on both the 1990 and the 2000 decennial census counts, and replace the previous postcensal series of estimates.

The Bridged-Race Population Estimates are available as separate online databases. Each query includes the bridged-race intercensal population estimates for 1990-1999 and population estimates for 2000 and beyond from a particular postcensal vintage of estimates.

  • The Vintage 2007 online database with bridged-race estimates of the July 1 population from the Vintage 2007 postcensal series and the 1990-1999 intercensal series.
  • The Vintage 2006 online database with bridged-race estimates of the July 1 population from the Vintage 2006 postcensal series and the 1990-1999 intercensal series.
  • The Vintage 2005 online database with bridged-race estimates of the July 1 population from the Vintage 2005 postcensal series and the 1990-1999 intercensal series.
  • The Vintage 2004 online database with bridged-race estimates of the July 1 population from the Vintage 2004 postcensal series and the 1990-1999 intercensal series.
  • The Vintage 2003 online database with bridged-race estimates of the July 1 population from the Vintage 2003 postcensal series and the 1990-1999 intercensal series.
  • The Vintage 2002 data request with bridged-race estimates of the July 1 population from the Vintage 2002 postcensal series and the 1990-1999 intercensal series.
Source All of the population estimates in these online databases are bridged-race population estimates produced by the U.S. Census Bureau in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and released by NCHS. See Data Source Information for more details. See also Suggested Citation below.

In WONDER You can produce tables, maps, charts, and data extracts. Request national, state and county bridged-race population estimates for the years 1990-2005. You can limit and index your data by any and all of these variables:
  1. Location - National, Regional, State and County (no territories, regions in vintage 2005 only);
  2. Year - July 1st estimates for 1990 through last year of the series;
  3. Race - Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, White;
  4. Ethnicity - Hispanic or Latino, Non-Hispanic;
  5. Sex (Gender) - Female, Male;
  6. Age - age groups (infants under 1 year, age 1-4 years, 5 year age groups through age 84, age 85 and older);
    - single year of age cohorts through age 84 years (not available in Vintage 2002).
Contents Bridged-race Population Estimates Data Request
Data Source Information
Additional Information
Suggested Citation
National, State and County Differences in 1990-1990 single year age estimates
County-level Geographic Boundary Changes

Bridged-Race Population Data Request

Output You can produce tables, maps, charts, and data extracts.

Variables
  1. Location - National, State and County (no territories); Regions and Divisions in Vintage 2005 only;
  2. Year - July 1st estimates for 1990 through last year of series;
  3. Race - Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, White;
  4. Ethnicity - Hispanic or Latino, Non-Hispanic;
  5. Sex (Gender) - Female, Male;
  6. Age - age groups (infants under 1 year, age 1-4 years, 5 year age groups through age 84, age 85 and older); single year of age cohorts through age 84 years (not available in Vintage 2002).
How? The request screen has 4 sections. Work through these sections sequentially to form your data request in a step-by-step process. First-time users may wish to see what a results table looks like before forming a request, and can obtain the default data table simply by clicking on any of the SEND buttons on the request page. The data table produced by a data request appears on the Table screen. From the Table screen, you can return to the Data Request screen by clicking on the Request tab above the table. After you get your data results, click on tabs to go to the Chart and Map screens. Click on the Export button above the table to download a tab-delimited line listed file to your computer.

For more information, see the following:

Quick Start Guide;
Step 1, Organize and label results;
Step 2, Select location and time;
Step 3, Select demographics;
Step 4, Other Options.

'By-Variables' Select variables that serve as keys (indexes) for organizing your data. See How do I organize my data? for more information.
Note:   To map your data, you must select at least one geographical location as a "By-Variable" for grouping your data, such as Region or State.
Help Click on any button labled "Help", located to the right hand side of the screen at the top of each section. Each Control's label, such as the "Location" label next to the Location entry box, is linked to the on-line help for that item.
Send Sends your data request to be processed on the CDC WONDER databases. The Send buttons are located on the bottom of the Request page, and also in the upper right corner of each section, for easy access.


Step 1. Organize table layout:
Group Results By   Select up to five variables to group (summarize, stratify, index) your data. See Group Results By below for more specifics and hints.
Title   Enter any desired description to display as a title with your results.

Group Results By

Select up to five variables to group (summarize, stratify, index) your data. For example, you could select to group your data by State and by County. The list of variables includes:

  1. Location - National, State and County (no territories);
  2. Year - July 1st estimates for 1990 through last year of series;
  3. Race - Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, White;
  4. Ethnicity - Hispanic or Latino, Non-Hispanic;
  5. Sex (Gender) - Female, Male;
  6. Age - age groups (infants under 1 year, age 1-4 years, 5 year age groups through age 84, age 85 and older); single year of age cohorts through age 84 years (not available in Vintage 2002).
How?    See How do I organize my data? for more information.

Hints:   

  1. To make a map, you must "group results by" a geographic variable, such as Region or State, as the first "By-Variable." After you get the table, then click the Map tab.
  2. You cannot make charts when your data has more than two By-Variables.
  3. You cannot make charts for data grouped by State and also by County, because the number of counties per each state varies.
  4. When grouping by more than one geographic variable, select them in order of size. For example, group by region, and by state, and by county.
Notes:   
    • You can only group data by Age Groups when the Age Groups radio button is selected under Step 2.
    • You can only group data by single-year "Age" values when the Age radio button is selected in Step 2.
    • Note that single-year ages are not available in the 1990-2002 (vintage 2002) online database.
  • The "By-Variable" options selected affect whether national, state or county level data are requested. You can pick State or County data because the single-year-of-age counts vary at the State and County levels for the years 1991-1999 (see the note on inconsistent totals below).
    • If the results are grouped by state (in step 1) or if a specific state is selected (in step 2), then population estimates are from the state data by "default", and there is no need to specify the state table (in step 4).
    • If the results are grouped by county (in step 1) or if a specific county is selected (in step 2), then county-level estimates are from the county data by "default", and there is no need to specify the county table (in step 4).

Step 2. Select location:

Limit your data request to specific locations here. The default settings are national data, the United States.

Location

Use this field to specify the location or locations to be included in the data request. You may select a single county or a group of counties, a single state or a group of states, one or more regions, or the total U.S. Be sure the button for the geographic list you want to use is checked when selecting location values.

How?  
  1. Click the round radio button to choose between Regions (includes Divisions, States and Counties) or States (includes Counties).
  2. See How do I use a Finder? for hints on how to search for and select your desired locations.
    • The default value is all locations (the United States).
    • See Finder Tool help for more hints.

Notes:   


Step 3. Select demographics and years:
Limit your data for any of the following data elements:
  1. Age - Age Groups - (infants under 1 year, age 1-4 years, 5 year age groups through age 84, age 85 and older)
    - Age - single year of age cohorts through age 84 years (not available in the Vintage 2002 data)
  2. Sex (Gender) - Female, Male
  3. Race - Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, White
  4. Ethnicity - Hispanic or Latino, Not Hispanic or Latino
  5. July 1st Estimates - Year of July 1st Estimates

Age: Single Year of Age or Five Year Age Groups

Population estimates are available both by single-year of age (not available for the Vintage 2002 estimates) and by 5-year age groups. Click the appropriate radio button to select either 5-year Age Groups or single-year-of-age cohorts through 84 years of age.
How?  
  1. See How do I change a "CheckBox?" A "Radio Button?" to pick your preferred list of age values.
  2. See How do I select items from the list box? to select values.

Age Groups

The Age Groups field contains values for infants under 1 year, young children ages 1-4 years, age in 5-year groupings from 5 years through 84 years, and age 85 years and older. Select any combination of values.

How?  
  1. Be sure the Age Groups radio button is selected. See How do I change a "CheckBox?" A "Radio Button?" to pick your preferred list of age values.
  2. See How do I select items from the list box?.

Notes:

  • For the years 2000 - 2005, the Age Groups field is derived by summarizing the individual year age data into 5-year groupings.
  • When the data results are exported to a file, the Age Group Code is shown, as well as the sort sequence value.
  • The Age Group Code is PHIN compatible through age 84 years.

Code Description
01 LESS THAN 1 YEAR
01-04 1 TO 4 YEARS
05-09 5 TO 9 YEARS
10-14 10 TO 14 YEARS
15-19 15 TO 19 YEARS
20-24 20 TO 24 YEARS
25-29 25 TO 29 YEARS
30-34 30 TO 34 YEARS
35-39 35 TO 39 YEARS
40-44 40 TO 44 YEARS
45-49 45 TO 49 YEARS
50-54 50 TO 54 YEARS
55-59 54 TO 59 YEARS
60-64 60 TO 64 YEARS
65-69 65 TO 69 YEARS
70-74 70 TO 74 YEARS
75-79 75 TO 79 YEARS
80-84 80 TO 84 YEARS
85+ 85 YEARS or OVER

"Age" or Single-Year-of-Age Cohorts

This field contains age groups in single-year increments from under 1 year of age through 84 years of age, and a group of 85 years old and over. This field is not available in Vintage 2002 data. Select any combination of values.
How?  
  1. Be sure the Age button is selected. See How do I change a... "Radio Button?" to pick your preferred list of age values.
  2. See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:
  • About 1990-1999 State and County single-year-of-age estimates:
  • The code values displayed in data export files correspond to the ages. For example, the code value "0" (zero) is the age < 1 year, the code value "1" is 1 year of age, through the code value "84" for 84 years of age, and the code value "85+" for 85 years of age and over.

Gender

Select Male, Female or All values.

How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:   
  • WONDER codes for gender are PHIN standards compliant.
  • When you export the results of your data request, the labels and the codes are in separate columns:
    F      Female
    M      Male

Race

Select All Races or any combination of the values: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, White.

How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:   
  • The labels and codes are shown in separate columns when data results are exported.
  • WONDER race category codes are PHIN compliant.
Code Description
2106-3 WHITE
2054-5 BLACK or AFRICAN AMERICAN
1002-5 AMERICAN INDIAN or ALASKA NATIVE
A-PI ASIAN or PACIFIC ISLANDER

Ethnicity

Select All Ethnicities or any combination of values: Hispanic or Latino, Not Hispanic nor Latino.

How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:   
  • The labels and codes are shown in separate columns when data results are exported.
  • WONDER ethnicity category codes are PHIN compliant.
Code Description
2186-5 NOT HISPANIC or LATINO
2135-2 HISPANIC or LATINO

Year of July 1st Estimates

Pick any combination of years desired.
How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.

Step 4. Other options:
Export Results   If checked, then query results are exported to a local file. More information on how to import this file into other applications can be found here.
How?   See CheckBox.
Show Totals   If checked, then totals and sub-totals display in the results table.
How?   See CheckBox.
Show Zero Values   If checked, then rows containing zero counts display in the results table. If unchecked, then zero count rows are suppressed.
How?   See CheckBox.
Precision   Precision is not available for this dataset because population counts are whole numbers.
Data Access Timeout   This value specifies the maximum time to wait for the data access for a query to complete. If the data access takes too long to complete, a message will be displayed and you can increase the timeout or simplify your request. If you can't complete a request using the maximum timeout, contact user support and we will try to run a custom data request for you.
Data Table   You can specify State or County data tables for single-year-of-age estimates for the years 1990-1999. This special option applies only to the Vintage 2003 and Vintage 2004 data requests. It is recommended that you obtain population denominators from the County single-year-of-age table when calculating rates with county-level data for the years before the year 2000, and from the State single-year-of-age table when calculating rates with state-level data for the years before the year 2000. Please see the notes below.
How?   See Radio Button.
Notes:
  • You can only obtain data from State or County tables when you pick single-year-of-age ("Age") data values, and when you select years between 1990-1999 (or "All Years").
  • For more information, see the section about inconsistent totals below.
  • The Default selection obtains national level estimates, with the following exceptions:
    • If the results are grouped by state or if a specific state is selected, then state-level estimates are shown as the "default."
    • If the results are grouped by county or if a specific county is selected, then county-level estimates are shown as the "default."
  • County:  
    • Select the County table to get county, state and national estimates from the County series of single-year-of-age estimates for years 1990-1999.
    • You can only select this option when you request single-year-of-age data for the years 1990-1999.
    • You should select the County table when you want estimates for the years 1990-1999 that are not grouped by (or limited to) County and/or single-year-of-age to be consistent with those estimates that are grouped by (or limited to) County and/or single-year-of-age.
    • When specific counties are requested, or when the data are grouped by County, then county-level estimates are reported. When the specific single-year-of-age selections are requested, or when the data are grouped by single-year-of-age, then single-year-of-age estimates are reported. In these cases, you need not specify the table.
  • State:  
    • Select the State table to get state and national estimates from the State series of single-year-of-age estimates for years 1990-1999.
    • You can only select this option when you request single-year-of-age data for the years 1990-1999.
    • You should select the State table when you want estimates for the years 1990-1999 that are not grouped by (or limited to) State and/or single-year-of-age to be consistent with those estimates that are grouped by (or limited to) State and/or single-year-of-age.
    • When specific states are requested (and no counties), or when the data are grouped by State (and not also by County), then state-level estimates are reported. When the specific single-year-of-age selections are requested, or when the data are grouped by single-year-of-age, then single-year-of-age estimates are reported. In these cases, you need not specify the table.

Data Source Information

All of the population estimates in these online databases are bridged-race population estimates produced by the U.S. Census Bureau in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and released by NCHS.

To learn more about the methods used to derive bridged-race population estimates please refer to:

Methodology: Census 2000 Populations with Bridged Race Categories, published September 2003.

The data files used in each online data base are listed below. All data files can be downloaded from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/popbridge/popbridge.htm.

  • Vintage 2007 database:
  • Vintage 2006 database:
  • Vintage 2005 database:
  • Vintage 2004 database:
  • Vintage 2003 database:
  • Vintage 2002 database:
  • National, State and County 1990-1999 Single Year Age Estimates
    • Methodological explanation:
      Most of the state and national population estimates in the bridged-race population data base are obtained by summing county population estimates. However, this is not the case for the single-year of age population estimates for 1990-1999. For the single-year of age estimates for these years, there is a set of county estimates, a set of state estimates, and a set of national estimates. State and national totals obtained by summing the single-year of age county population estimates differ slightly from the population estimates on the state and national single-year of age files. National population estimates obtained by summing the state single-year of age estimates differ slightly from the population estimates on the single-year of age national file. When single-year of age population estimates are requested, the By-variables selected determines whether the population estimates will be drawn from the county, state, or national single-year of age file. Note: single-year of age estimates are not available for the Vintage 2002 online database.

      For the single-year of age intercensal estimates there are separate national, state, and county files. Separate county, state, and national files are maintained because the original county-level single-year of age intercensal file had some population counts of -1 (due to rounding). It was not feasible to rake the file to remove the -1s, the solution was to convert the -1s to zeros. To minimize the impact of the conversion on subtotals and totals (conversion of the -1s to zero increases them), state-level and national-level files were created as follows: 1) the state-level file was created by aggregating the original county-level file (with the -1s) to the state-level and any -1s remaining after aggregation were converted to zero (n=0 to 13 in a given year), 2) the national-level file was created by aggregating the original county-level file (with the -1s) to the national level (no -1s remained after aggregation).

      Thus, national and state totals obtained from the single year of age intercensal county file differ slightly from those obtained from the state and national single year of age files and national totals obtained from the single year of age intercensal state file differ slightly from those obtained from the national file. In addition, totals obtained from the single-year of age county and state intercensal files differ slightly from those obtained from the 5-year age group intercensal file. Totals obtained from the single-year of age national intercensal file agree with totals from the 5-year age group file.

      For the postcensal population estimates and for the 5-year age group intercensal population estimates, state and national estimates are derived by summing county population estimates. As a result, all totals and subtotals obtained for the postcensal population estimates and for the 5-year age group intercensal estimates are consistent with each other.
    • See National, State and County Differences below for a summary of how these differences are handled in WONDER.

    Additional Information

    Suggested Citation United States Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS),
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
    National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS),
    Bridged-Race Population Estimates, United States
    July 1st resident population by state, county, age, sex, bridged-race, and Hispanic origin,
    on CDC WONDER On-line Database.
    • Vintage 2007: years 2000-2007, October 2008 online database, based on the September 5, 2008 data release.
    • Vintage 2006: years 2000-2006, September 2007 online database, based on the August 16, 2007 data release.
    • Vintage 2005: years 2000-2005, November 2006 online database, based on the August 16, 2006 data release.
    • Vintage 2004: years 2000-2004, April 2006 online database, based on the September 8, 2005 data release.
    • Vintage 2003: years 2000-2003, August 2005 online database, based on the September 14, 2004 data release.
    • Vintage 2002: years 2000-2002, April 2005 online database, based on the August 1, 2003 data release.
    • Vintage 1999: years 1990-1999, April 2005 online database, based on the April 15, 2003 data release with age groups.
    • Vintage 1999: years 1990-1999, April 2005 online database, based on the July 26, 2004 data release with single-year ages.

    Each original series of population estimates has a unique suggested citation. Please refer to Data Source Information to reference the original technical reference notes and citation for a specific series. See also Bridged-Race Population Estimates at the National Center for Health Statistics web site.

    Contact NCHS welcomes comments and questions about the Population Estimates at PopEst@cdc.gov.
    Notes:
    • The potential for error is greatest for the smallest population groups, particularly the smaller race groups and county level estimates. Although efforts were made to use the best available data and methods to produce the bridged estimates, the modeling process introduces error into the estimates.
    • Changes in methodology for the 2000-2007 series of population estimates:
      Due to changes in the methodology, the July 1st population totals are lower for years 2000-2007 in the Vintage 2007 series of estimates than the totals produced for population estimates in preceding series. See NCHS documentation for post-censal estimates series Vintage 2007 and Census methodology for post-censal estimates series Vintage 2007 for more information.
    • Postcensal population estimates are estimates made for the years following a census, before the next census has been taken. Postcensal estimates are derived by updating the population enumerated in the decennial census using various measures of population change.
    • Intercensal population estimates are made for the period of time between decennial census years after the second census is completed, and such estimates replace the previous population projections for the time period. The 1990-1999 bridged-race intercensal estimates, which represent a revision of the annual time series of July 1 county postcensal population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, were produced by the Population Estimates Program of the U.S. Bureau of the Census with support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). These intercensal population estimates are based on the bridged single-race estimates of the April 1, 2000 resident population developed by the Bureau of the Census in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
    • National, State and County Differences for 1990-1999 single year age estimates:
      Inconsistent totals result when county, state and national level data are compared for the 1991-1999 single year-of-age populations. More information is available at:
      National, State and County 1990-1999 Single Year Age Estimates
      July 26, 2004 release documentation
      The following notes summarize the effect of the differences on the online databases:
      • The Vintage 2007, Vintage 2006, Vintage 2005, Vintage 2004, Vintage 2003 and data requests include the July 26, 2004 release of population estimates for 1990-1999 with single year ages. The county, state and national level population totals and sub-totals differ for the single year ages in 1991-1999.
      • The national level estimates are consistent with the estimates in the April 15, 2003 release of the Bridged-Race 1990-1999 Intercensal Population Estimates with age groups.
      • It is recommended that you obtain population denominators from the County single-year-of-age table when calculating vital rates with county-level data, and from the State single-year-of-age table when calculating rates with state-level data.
      • You can explicitly select to obtain data from the County or the State tables when you are requesting single-year-of-age data for the years 1990-1999, in the Other Options section on the Request screen, see Data Table for more details.
      • The inconsistencies are summarized in the following table:
        Series Age Groups,
        All Years        		Single Year Ages,
        1990-1999        		Single Year Ages,
        2000-2003
        National (A)  Totals A Totals A Totals A
        State (B)  Totals A Totals B Totals A
        County (C)  Totals A Totals C Totals A
    • County-level Geographic Boundary Changes
      Location changes at the county level include:
      • Clifton Forge city, Virginia (FIPS code 51560), formerly an independent city, merged with Alleghany county (FIPS code 51005) on July 1, 2001. Population data are available for Clifton Forge city, Virginia only for the years 1990 through 1999.
      • Alleghany county (FIPS code 51005) includes the population of the former independent city of Clifton Forge city, Virginia (FIPS code 51560) beginning in data year 2000.
      • Halifax county, Virginia (FIPS code 51083) includes the population of the former independent city South Boston city, Virginia (FIPS code 51780), beginning in 1990. The independent city merged with Halifax county on June 30, 1995.
      • Broomfield county, Colorado (FIPS code 08014), formed on November 15, 2001, from parts of Adams county, (FIPS code 08001), Boulder county (FIPS code 08013), Jefferson county (FIPS code 08059), and Weld county (FIPS code 08123).



This page last reviewed: Tuesday, November 04, 2008
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