Coming Soon! 2010 Census Apportionment and Redistricting Data Releases

For those curious about just when we get to see some results from this year's
Census, here are some answers.

But first, some information about the difference between the Apportionment data and the Redistricting data from the Bureau website:

Population data from the decennial census provide the basis for both apportioning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states and for Congressional and Legislative redistricting.


Apportionment is the process of determining the number of representatives to which each state is entitled in the U. S. House of Representatives based on the decennial census. Article 1, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution established that the apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives shall be based upon a national census. The Census Bureau must submit the apportionment results to the President by December 31 of the census year.

Redistricting is the redrawing of boundaries for areas from which people elect representatives to the U. S. House of Representatives, a state legislature, a county or city council, a school board, and so forth. Public Law 94-171 requires that the redistricting data must be delivered to state officials responsible for legislative redistricting within one year of Census day or no later than April 1, 2011.


Now, just when can you see that data? As seen in the text above, the Apportionment Data must be delivered by December 31 and the Bureau is expected to release the data in late December.

For all other Census data, the Census Bureau has a web page showing the release schedule for all 2010 Census data products through the year 2013.  From this we can see that the redistricting data will be released in February and March on a state-by-state basis.  Data for Kentucky is expected to be released in the middle of this period. So we'll be neither the first nor last state to get to work with redistricting data.

As a reminder, because there was no long-form questionnaire this year, there will be no 2010 social and economic characteristics from the Census as were available in the past. Instead, data from the American Community Survey are intended to be used in lieu of long-form data.

While it may take more effort to understand and use the ACS data effectively, the good news is that it will be available with annual updates. And the first 5-year sample release is scheduled in December 2010.  This means updated social and economic characteristics will be availble for small population areas for the first time since the 2000 Census data releases. You can view the ACS release schedule and learn more about the data here.