The Public Information Office in Washington, D.C., held a press conference Monday afternoon to explain the methods that will be used in releasing the state by state Census data during the upcoming months.
The United States, as of April 1, 2010, had a population of 308,745,538. This overall growth for the nation includes large population explosion in some areas, and decline in others. These new numbers will be used for the purpose of redistricting, which is the redistribution of government representatives, and the redrawing of district lines in some areas. Redistricting helps the government to maintain equal representation and funding for all parts of the country, based on population density.
Arkansas will not lose or gain any seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as a result of this year's numbers, but Missouri and Louisiana will both lose one seat, while Texas will gain four; as a result of those respective states' population decline and growth.
Over the next few months, Census officials will begin to release the numbers and data for each individual state. State numbers will include data broken down to the county and city level, and will include detailed information such as percentages by age, sex, and race.
Each week, the Census Bureau intends to announce the states which will receive their data that week, but does not plan to announce a master schedule for all 50 states.
This week, tables will be released to Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia which detail the state's total population, total population by race, ethnicity, voting age, and housing unit status, followed by more detailed information broken down by county and city.
All states will receive their information in this way, but it is not yet known when numbers for Arkansas will be released, although a date in February is expected. For more information on the Census data release process, citizens may visit www.census.gov.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com