2020 Census Integration Update

As we await the full release of the 2020 Census data, we plan to periodically keep you updated on our plans to integrate the data into our databases. While the Census Bureau is changing dates for releases, this is a tentative schedule.

Earlier this year, we updated the 2021A release to include what the Census Bureau has already released, the state population apportionment counts. As our goal is to always present the data as accurately and up to date as is possible, we felt that it was important to get those counts in our datasets as soon as it is possible.

Moving forward, our plan for integrating the rest of the Census data is as follows:

• A key release of data from the Census Bureau, the Public Law 94-171 (PL 94-171) redistricting data, will be released in August. It will include counts of population by race, ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino origin), voting age, housing occupancy status, and group quarters population, all at the census block level. We will integrate this data into our 21B release. Our current plan is to release the PL 94-171 data for the 2020 Census Cartography (the new BGs, Tracts and Counties), and to keep around the older BGs and Tracts.
• A release date has not been announced for the Demographics and Housing Characteristics (DHC) dataset, which will replace the Summary File 1 (SF1) dataset from the 2010 Census. The DHC will include more detailed information on sex, age, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, household relationship, household type, household size, family type, family size, group quarters, housing occupancy status, vacancy status, and tenure (whether a housing unit is owner-occupied or renter-occupied). When the 2010 Census data was rolled out, SF1 was released within six months of PL 94-171. If that pattern held, we would have DHC prior to 22A In April 2022, but the lack of any announcements about DHC indicate we may not have that until 22B.

We hope that this has been helpful for those of you eager to get the new Census data. Hopefully, the Census Bureau can process the data and keep releases on schedule, though we understand that with the challenges that 2020 (and 2021) presented, it may not be possible. We will continue to update you all as we know more.