United States yearbook - 1982 (1)

2 Population
tional Population by Age, Sex, and Race In the 1980 Census: Preliminary Estimates by Demographic
Analysis (Current Population Reports, series P-23, No. 115) for the revised 1970 and preliminary
1980 coverage estimates.
Current Population Survey (CPS).—This Is a monthly nationwide survey of a scientifically selected
sample representing the noninstitutional civilian population. The sample Is drawn from about
600 areas comprising approximately 1,100 counties and Independent cities with coverage in every
State and the District of Columbia and is subject to sampling error. At the present time (1982),
about 71,000 housing units or other living quarters are assigned for interview at any time, of which
about 60,000 are occupied by households eligible for Interview; of these, in turn, about 4 percent
are, for various reasons, unavailable for interview.
While the primary purpose of CPS is to obtain monthly statistics on the labor force, it also serves
as a vehicle for inquiries on other subjects. Using CPS data, the Bureau issues a series of publications
under the general title of Current Population Reports, which cover population characteristics
(series P-20), consumer income (series P-60), special studies (series P-S3), and other topics.
Estimates of population characteristics based on the 1980 CPS will not agree with the counts
from the 1980 census because the CPS and the 1980 census used different procedures for collecting
and processing the data for racial groups and the Spanish origin population. Data shown for
1971 to 1979 (and, for education, to 1980) are based on independent estimates derived by updating
the 1970 decennial census counts of the civilian noninstitutional population. Starting with data
from the March 1981 CPS, the independent estimates are based on population controls for age,
race, and sex established by the 1980 decennial census. Two sets of 1980 data on households,
families, and income and of 1981 data on education are shown in this edition. One set is based on
population estimates derived by updating the 1970 census counts and the other is based on 1980
census population controls. These two sets of data along with data for other years provide a measure
of the impact of different population controls on the estimates of population characteristics.
Population estimates and projections.—National population estimates are derived by using decennial
census data as benchmarks and data available from various agencies as follows: Births and
deaths (National Center for Health Statistics); Immigrants (Immigration and Naturalization Service);
Armed Forces (Department of Defense); net movement between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland
(Puerto Rico Planning Board); and Federal employees abroad (Office of Personnel Management
and Department of Defense). Estimates for States and smaller areas are based on data
series such as births and deaths, school statistics from State departments of education and parochial
school systems, labor force data, and Federal income tax returns. Current population estimates
and projections for the 1970's and later are consistent with counts shown in 1980 census
Advance Reports, series PHC80-V.
The estimate of the net migration component shown for intercensal periods for States is a residual
value which includes the “ error of closure,” the unexplained difference between the estimated
population at the end of the decade and the census count for that date. The error of closure at the
national level was quite small during the 1950’s (3,000) and 1960’s (379,000). However, for the
1970's it amounts to almost 5 million of the 9 million “ net migration.” Consequently, the migration
estimates for the 1970’s should be used with considerable caution.
National population projections indicate the approximate future level and characteristics of the
population under given assumptions as to future fertility, mortality, and net immigration. The method
used to develop the projections involves preparation of projections of each of the components of
population change— births, deaths, and net Immigration—and the combination ot these with July 1
estimates of the current population. Projections for States incorporate further assumptions about
the redistribution of population as a consequence of internal migration.
Population estimates and projections are published in the P-25 and P-26 series of Current Population
Reports. These estimates and projections are generally consistent with official decennial
census figures and do not reflect the amount of estimated census underenumeration. For details on
methodology, see the sources cited below the individual tables.
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA) and Standard Consolidated Statistical
Areas (SCSA).— The general concept of an SMSA is one of a large population nucleus together
with adjacent communities which have a high degree of social and economic integration with that
nucleus. SCSA's are large metropolitan complexes consisting of groups of closely related adjacent
SMSA's. SMSA’s and SCSA's are defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). According
to the rules for defining SMSA’s, the entire territory of the United States Is classified as
metropolitan (inside SMSA's), or nonmetropolitan (outside SMSA's). SMSA’s and SCSA's are defined
in terms of entire counties except in New England, where the definitions are in terms of cities
and towns. To summarize data for New England that are available only by counties, New England
County Metropolitan Areas (NECMA’s) have been defined as a convenience for data users. From