October 29, 2001 NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS From: Jennifer Marks Acting Chief, Public Information Office Subject: Policy on Disseminating Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS) Data Files to the Media Following is the broad outline of the Census Bureau's plan for disseminating Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS) data through the end of the year. The 700,000-household survey was conducted in 1,203 counties simultaneously with last year's census and was designed to test the operational feasibility of collecting long form-type data independently of a decennial census. The survey, which used the American Community Survey's questionnaire and methodology, was an operational success. Release of these data precedes next year's scheduled release of Census 2000 long form data products. Regional Press Briefings/Embargoed Data Release General Guidance: Regional C2SS press briefings for the media will tentatively take place in each one of the Census Bureau's 12 regions on Nov. 14 and 15. The briefings for credentialed media will be held at the following locations: Canton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Hartford, Conn.; Houston, Texas; New York (Bronx), N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Phoenix, Ariz.; San Diego, Calif.; Spokane, Wash.; and Wichita, Kan. Each one of the briefings provides area reporters the opportunity to ask regional directors and Census Bureau subject matter experts questions about C2SS and the local data being released. To allow sufficient time to fully understand the data set and comparability issues, the Census Bureau will release on an embargoed basis the C2SS data for substate areas most cities (64) and counties (216) of 250,000 population or more. The embargo period would begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, with public release of the data on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 12:01 a.m. As was the case with the dissemination of previous census data, a product announcement will be distributed once the data are placed on the Public Information Office's Internet embargo page <http://www.census.gov/dcmd/ www/embargo/embargo.html>. To link to the FTP server where the data and related materials will reside, bona fide media should enter the Internet embargo page and click on "Census 2000 Supplementary Survey." User ID/password remains the same as prior data releases and is posted on the embargoed news release page. Technical Documentation: The formats for the 107 core tables and other documentation for the C2SS release are currently available on the Census Bureau's FTP server <http://www2.census.gov/census_2000/datasets/Census_2000_Supplementary_Survey>, and the C2SS Web site <http://www.census.gov/c2ss/www>. The data will be released in Microsoft Excel (.xls) format and in both narrative and tabular profiles. All C2SS data can be accessed on Tuesday, Nov. 20, via the Census Bureau's Web site and the following URLs: - The Census Bureau FTP server <http://www2.census.gov/census_2000/datasets/Census_2000_Supplementary_Survey>. - Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Internet homepage <http://www.census.gov/c2ss/www>. - American FactFinder <http://factfinder.census.gov>. Comparability The C2SS data provide a way to understand how some characteristics and aspects of the country changed during the 1990s at the national and state levels. However, we recommend comparisons not be made at substate levels between C2SS estimates and the 1990 census because the local data magnify the survey's methodological differences and omission of group quarters populations more so than higher geographies. Rather, cities or counties of 250,000 people or more should be compared within the C2SS data set either with their state estimates, or with other substate geographies being released. These data are an example of what the American Community Survey will be able to produce for the nation, states and small geographic areas. By 2004, the American Community Survey and its larger 3 million annual household sample size will produce estimates for geographic areas and population groups of 65,000 or more, and by 2008, for even the smallest areas and population groups in the country. Additional Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Data Releases: The third and final release of C2SS data is scheduled for this winter. The release will include the balance of about 700 additional tables, including iterations by race for the country, each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and most cities and counties with populations of 250,000 or more. For more information, contact Stephen Buckner or Mark Tolbert at the Census Bureau's Public Information Office on 301-457-3691.
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