Census Updates For Cities: Don't Believe The Hype

The Census Bureau produces population estimates for some 40,000 places across the U.S. every year, but local experts often have access to more detailed information.

1 minute read

July 26, 2005, 1:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Writing in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bruce Katz and Alan Berube argue that recent Census Bureau estimates showing broad population declines in cities across the country should be greeted with healthy skepticism, not jeremiads. During the 1990s, they note, immigration fueled population increases in many cities, contradicting often-bleak intercensal numbers. At any rate, household change and income growth, the authors maintain, may be better indicators of metropolitan health than population fluctuations. In the future, the American Community Survey, designed by the Census Bureau to replace decennial counts, should provide a better gauge of city population dynamics, provided the bureau has the necessary resources to implement it correctly, including up-to-date master address lists for the entire nation to ensure sample accuracy.

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Don't Read Too Much into Census Numbers

Tuesday, July 26, 2005 in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Social / Demographics Wisconsin

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.