United States yearbook - 1982 (1)

Section 1
Population
This section presents statistics on the growth, distribution, and characteristics of the U.S. population.
The principal source of these data is the Bureau of the Census, which conducts a decennial
census of population, a monthly population survey, a program of population estimates and projections,
and a number of other periodic surveys relating to population characteristics. For a list of
relevant publications, see the Guide to Sources in Appendix IV.
Decennial censuses.—The U.S. Constitution provides for a census of the population every 10
years, primarily to establish a basis for apportionment of members of the House of Representatives
among the States. For over a century after the first census in 1790, the census organization was a
temporary one, created only for each decennial census. In 1902, the Bureau of the Census was
established as a permanent Federal agency, responsible for enumerating the population and also
for compiling statistics on other subjects.
The census of population is a complete count. That is, an attempt is made to account for every
person, for each person’s residence, and for other characteristics (sex, age, family relationships,
etc.). Since the 1940 census, in addition to the complete count information, some data have been
obtained from representative samples of the population. In the 1980 census, two sampling rates
were employed. For most of the country, one in every six households (about 17 percent) received
the long form or sample questionnaire; in areas estimated to have fewer than 2,500 inhabitants,
every other household (50 percent) received the sample questionnaire to enhance the reliability of
sample data in small areas. Exact agreement is not to be expected between sample data and the
complete census count. Sample data may be used with confidence where large numbers are involved
and assumed to Indicate trends and relationships where small numbers are involved.
Three different census counts for the resident population in 1970 are shown in the tables:
203,211,926; 203,235,298; and 203,302,031. The first is the initial tabulated count, the second Is
the official count, and the third contains the latest revisions. Breakdowns of the revised count of
203,302,031 are not available for demographic characteristics and may not be available for some
levels of geography.
The complete count data from the 1980 census shown in this edition are, where possible, consistent
with figures published in the 1980 census final reports, series PC80-1-A (U.S. population:
226,545,805). Where final data have not been prepared, the data are consistent with figures published
in the 1980 census advance reports, series PHC80-V, and the 1980 census supplementary
reports, series PC80-S1 (U.S. population: 226,504,825).
Sample data from the 1980 census shown in this edition and identified as the Early National
Sample have been issued in 1980 Census o f Population and Housing, Supplementary Report,
PHC80-S1-1. This report presents provisional data on social, economic, and housing characteristics
for the United States as a whole, each State and the District of Columbia, and standard metropolitan
statistical areas of one million or more inhabitants. The data in this report are based on a
special subsample of the full census sample, representing 8 percent of the sample census questionnaires
or approximately 1 percent of the total national population. Later publications will include
estimates for these same characteristics and geographic areas based on the full census
sample. Hence, the figures from the Early National Sample are provisional and may differ somewhat
from those based on the full sample. When they become available, the data in the final reports
should be used in lieu of data from the Early National Sample.
Reassessment of the evaluation studies of the 1970 census indicates a total net underenumeratlon
of about 4.7 million persons, compared with 5.1 million in 1960. Among the persons who were
not counted in 1970, about 2.9 million were White and about 1.9 million were Black. The overall
rate of net underenumeration in 1970 was about 2.2 percent, compared with 2.7 percent in 1960
and 3.3 percent in 1950. Comparable estimates of net underenumeration for 1980 have not been
completely developed. However, preliminary results indicate that overall coverage probably improved
in the 1980 census and that the number of Blacks not counted dropped to between 1.3 and
1.5 million. Census data presented here have not been adjusted for underenumeration. See Estimates
o f Coverage o f Population b y Sex, Race, and Age: Demographic Analysis, PHC(E)-4, February
1974 for a discussion of the 1950, 1960, and original 1970 estimates and Coverage o f the Na-
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