FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2001 Public Information Office CB01-CN.25 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-1037 (TDD) Redistricting Data Office Marshall Turner and Cathy McCully 301-763-0253 or 0254 Census Bureau Delivers Maine's Census 2000 Population Totals for Legislative Redistricting; First Race and Hispanic Data The U.S. Census Bureau today delivered to Gov. Angus S. King Jr. and the majority and minority leaders of the state legislature the official Census 2000 Redistricting Data Summary File for Maine that, under Public Law 94-171, could be used to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts. The census data allow state officials to realign congressional and state legislative districts in their states, taking into account population shifts since the last census (in 1990) and assuring equal representation for their constituents in compliance with the "one-person, one-vote" principle of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. These data also are the first population counts for small areas and the first race and Hispanic-origin data from Census 2000. The redistricting file consists of four detailed tables: the first shows the population for each of 63 single and multiple race categories; the second shows the total Hispanic or Latino population and the population not of Hispanic or Latino origin cross-tabulated by the 63 race categories. These tabulations are repeated in the third and fourth tables for the population 18 years and over. The data are for the resident population of the United States. (To access the detailed data, go to http://factfinder.census.gov). The redistricting data were not adjusted to reflect estimates of census coverage error measured in a nationwide, post-census survey of about 314,000 housing units called the Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation (A.C.E.) Survey. By April 1, all 50 states and the District of Columbia will receive these data for the following areas: state, current congressional districts (for 106th Congress), counties, minor civil divisions, places, census tracts, block groups and blocks, and, if applicable, American Indian and Alaska Native areas and Hawaiian home lands. States that participated in the Census Bureau's voluntary Voting District Project also will receive these data for the voting districts and any state legislative districts whose boundaries they provided. Race and Hispanic Data As the result of revised standards for collecting data on race and ethnicity issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 1997 (see http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/ombdir15.html), Census 2000 was the first national census in which the instructions for respondents said, "Mark one or more races." Respondents who reported only one race are shown in six groups: the five groups identified in the OMB standard (White; Black or African American; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) and a "Some other race" category. (In 1990, Asian and Pacific Islander was a single OMB race group.) Respondents who selected more than one of the six race groups are included in the "Two or more races" population. There are more than 50 possible combinations of the six race groups. The Census Bureau included the "Some other race" category for responses that could not be classified in any of the race categories on the questionnaire. The vast majority of people who reported as "Some other race" were Hispanic or Latino. Data on Hispanics or Latinos, who may be of any race, were obtained from a separate question on ethnicity. How to Find Assistance Additional information about the redistricting program, including news releases for other states, may be found on the Internet at http://www.census.gov/clo/www/redistricting.html. Besides being able to access the detailed tables on the Internet, users may also purchase them from the Census Bureau on CD-ROM and later on DVD. (The six custom tables attached to this news release are available only as part of the state news releases.) For further information about Maine's Census 2000 redistricting data, contact: Customer Services Center, U.S. Census Bureau, 301-763-INFO(4636); e-mail: webmaster@census.gov; Redistricting Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, 301-763-0253 or 0254; e-mail: rdo@census.gov; Census Bureau Regional Office, Boston, 617-424-0510; e-mail: Boston.Regional.Office@census.gov; Maine State Data Center, 207-287-2989; e-mail: eric.vonmagnus@state.me.us. Description of Six Custom Tables As shown in the first of six custom tables attached to this news release (Table 1), the population who reported one race added to the population who reported two or more races equals the total population. All combinations of two races are shown separately in Table 2. Three examples of combinations are: White and Black or African American, White and Asian, and Black or African American and Asian. Table 3 shows the total number of people who selected a particular race group whether or not they reported any other race. For example, the Asian "alone or in combination" population consists of respondents who reported as Asian alone or as Asian in combination with any of the other five race groups. The same approach applies to each of the other five race groups. People who reported more than one race are included in more than one of the groups. For example, respondents who indicated White and Black or African American are included both in the White alone or in combination population and in the Black or African American alone or in combination population. Therefore, the total of these six groups adds to more than the total population because some individuals reported more than one race. Comparisons with 1990 While allowing respondents to report more than one race adds to our knowledge about the racial diversity of the United States, it also means that data on race from Census 2000 are not directly comparable with data from 1990 and previous censuses (Table 4). Other factors also affect comparability of 1990 and 2000 data on race. For example, in Census 2000, the question on Hispanic or Latino origin was placed before the question on race, but in 1990 the order of these questions was reversed. This may have affected reporting on both questions. Factors such as changes in question wording or format, improvements in the way the Census Bureau counted people and better methods to process information also could affect comparability. More information about concepts underlying Census 2000 data on race and Hispanic or Latino origin will be made available in a Census 2000 brief scheduled for release in mid-March. In addition to the four custom tables showing data by race and Hispanic or Latino origin for the state, this news release includes two tables showing data for selected counties and places in Maine. Table 5 shows data by race and Hispanic or Latino origin for 2000. Table 6 shows the total population for 1990 and 2000, as well as the change in population from 1990 to 2000.
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