United States yearbook - 1982 (1)

Population 3
time to time, new SMSA’s are created and the boundaries of others change. As a result, data for
SMSA's over time may not be comparable and the analysis of historical trends must be made cautiously.
For descriptive details, tables showing changes in SMSA definitions, and a listing of area
titles and components of each SMSA, SCSA, and NECMA, see Appendix II.
Urban and rural.—According to the 1980 census definition, the urban population comprises all
persons living In (a) places of 2,500 or more inhabitants incorporated as cities, villages, boroughs
(except in Alaska and New York), and towns (except in the New England States, New York, and
Wisconsin), but excluding those persons living in the rural portions of extended cities (places with
low population density in one or more large parts of their area); (b) census designated places (previously
termed unincorporated) of 2,500 or more inhabitants; and (c) other territory, incorporated or
unincorporated, included in urbanized areas. An urbanized area consists of a centra) city or a central
core, together with contiguous closely settled territory, that combined have a total population of
at least 50,000.
In censuses prior to 1950, the urban population comprised all persons living in incorporated
places of 2,500 or more inhabitants and areas (usually minor civil divisions) classified as urban
under special rules relating to population size and density. To improve its measure of the urban
population, the Bureau of the Census in 1950 adopted the concept of the urbanized area and delineated
boundaries for unincorporated places. The 1950 definition has continued substantially unchanged,
except for minor modifications in 1960, the introduction of the extended city concept in
1970, and changes in the criteria for defining urbanized areas for 1980 so as to permit such areas
to be defined around smaller centers. In all definitions, the population not classified as urban constitutes
the rural population.
Residence.—In determining residence, the Bureau of the Census counts each person as an inhabitant
of a usual place of residence (i.e., the place where one usually eats and sleeps). While this
place is not necessarily a person’s legal residence or voting residence, the use of these different
bases of classification would produce the same results in the vast majority of cases.
Race.—In the 1980 census, 15 groups were listed in the race item on the 1980 census questionnaire:
White, Black, American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Asian Indian,
Korean, Vietnamese, Hawaiian, Samoan, Guamanian, and Other. The concept o f race as used by
the Census Bureau does not denote any clear-cut scientific definition of biological stock. Since the
1980 census obtained information on race through self-identification by respondents, the data represent
self-classification by'people according to the race with which they identify.
In 1980, If persons of mixed racial parentage could not provide a single response to the race
question, the race of the person’s mother was used; however, If a single response could not be
provided for the mother, then the first race reported by the person was used. This is a modification
of the 1970 census procedure in which the race of the person's father was used.
The 1980 population totals for "White” and "Other" are not comparable with corresponding figures
from the 1970 census and previous censuses. The lack of comparability Is due to changes in
the way some respondents reported their race as well as changes in 1980 census procedures related
to the racial classification. (For a fuller explanation, see 1980 Census o f Population, volume I,
General Population Characteristics (PC80-1-B).)
Estimates of the population by race for April 1,1980 shown in tables 26, 27, and 29 are modified
counts and are not comparable to the 1980 census race categories. These estimates were computed
using 1980 census data by race which had been modified to be consistent with the race categories
used in the reporting of vital statistics by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. A detailed
explanation of the race modification procedure appears in Current Population Reports, series
P-25, No. 917.
In the Current Population Survey (CPS) and other household sample surveys in which data are
obtained through personal interview, respondents are asked to classify their race as 1) White, 2)
Black, 3) American Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo, or 4) Aslan or Pacific Islander. The procedures for
classifying persons of mixed races who could not provide a single response to the race question
are generally similar to those used in the 1980 census. For comments on comparability of 1980
CPS and census data, see section above on Current Population Survey.
Spanish origin.—In the 1980 census, the Bureau of the Census collected data on the Spanish
origin population in the United States by using a self-identification question. Persons of Spanish/
Hispanic origin or descent are those who classified themselves in one of the specific Spanish origin
categories listed on the questionnaire—Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Other Spanish/Hispanlc
origin. The 1980 figures on Spanish origin are not directly comparable with 1970 census data on
Spanish origin because of factors such as overall improvements In the 1980 census and Improved
question design. Also, it should be noted that persons of Spanish origin may be of any race.