E-8 Historical Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2000-2010

November 2012

Contents

This report provides population and housing data for California cities and counties from the 2000 census to the 2010 census and for each year in between. The intercensal estimate data have been adjusted to provide consistent growth patterns derived from actual changes that occurred between the 2000 and 2010 censuses using the Error of Closure (EOC) adjustment procedure.

Error of Closure Methodology

These revised intercensal estimates for 2000-2010 for the state, county, and city population and housing are produced by modifying previous estimates to account for differences between the Demographic Research Unit (DRU) test estimate on 4/1/2010 and enumerated census counts of the same day. The procedure to close these differences is called the “Error of Closure,” or EOC. The concept is to preserve the original growth patterns that transpire in the annual DRU estimates for population and housing but to realign the ten year growth patterns with the bookend census data.

 

The EOC adjustment is applied after two consecutive censuses have been conducted; for this report, the two censuses are for 2000 and 2010. The EOC adjustment revises previously calculated intercensal estimates to mitigate the effects of estimation errors in a data series over the decade coupled with differential accuracy of two decennial censuses. For this report, the final adjustment was made after the 2010 census data became available. This procedure statistically distributes the difference, called the error, between the 2010 census counts and the DRU test estimate calculated as of the census date, April 1, 2010, to the previously calculated annual 2000 to 2010 estimates.

American Community Survey (ACS) data were used to distribute total 2010 census housing units into our standard housing types (single detached units, single attached units, two to four units, five plus or apartment units, and mobile homes). For the EOC report, to maintain historical consistency, housing unit types consist of single units (single detached and single attached units), multiple units (two to four and five plus units), and mobile home units. Changes to 2010 Summary File 1 data in the classification of student housing on or near campus was necessary to remain consistent with the census group quarters definition. In only a few instances, some student housing (residence hall and apartment units) counted as household population in the census was redefined as group quarter student housing population. College dorm group quarter population is defined as student population living in residence halls and apartment units located on or near college campuses. In addition, this report contains 2010 Census Count Question Resolution (CQR) corrections through September 20, 2012.  The E-8 report will be updated with CQR corrections when they are reported and approved by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The E-8 report is the historical version of the annually produced E-5 population and housing reports with reduced detail for housing units by type.

Further discussion of the EOC technique and estimation procedures may be found in Appendix A.

Data Description

Population:

Total population: sum of household population and group quarters.

Household population: number of persons living in occupied housing units.

Group quarters: non-household population such as nursing homes, school dormitories, state and federal prisons, and military barracks.

Housing:

Total housing units: stock of all housing units, including year-round, vacant, seasonal or migratory units, and other vacant units.

Single units: family dwelling units include single family detached units (units which are detached from any other structure and have open space on all four sides) and single family attached dwellings (units which are attached to other units with adjoining walls extending from ground to roof that separate them from other adjoining structures and forms a property line). Each single family unit has its own heating system.

Multiple units: multiple family dwelling units include structures with two or more housing units.

Mobile homes: mobile homes used for residential housing.

(Note: Condominiums are considered an ownership classification, not a structural description, so they may be included in single or multiple types of units.)

Total occupied housing units: all housing units that are occupied. Equivalent to the number of households.

Vacant units: all housing units that are vacant.

Vacancy rate: the percent of vacant housing units for the area. The difference between total and occupied housing units divided by total housing units displayed as a percentage.

Persons per household: the average number of persons residing in occupied housing (household population divided by occupied housing units).

Acknowledgments

Doug Kuczynski prepared this report with subject matter expertise and technical contribution of Daniel Sheya. Alex Alvarado assisted with review and data preparation.

Suggested Citation

State of California, Department of Finance, E-8 Historical Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2000-2010. Sacramento, California, November 2012.

Questions

Comments, suggestions, or questions? Please email ficalpop@dof.ca.gov.