We're Number 4 ! We're Number 4 ! We're Number 4 !

Apparently we've already gotten coal in our stocking...


By adding an average of 803 new residents each day between July 1, 2013 and July 1, 2014, Florida passed New York to become the nation’s third most populous state, according to U.S. Census Bureau state population estimates released yesterday. Florida’s population grew by 293,000 over this period, reaching 19.9 million. The population of New York increased by 51,000 to 19.7 million.


California remained the nation’s most populous state in 2014, with 38.8 million residents, followed by Texas, at 27.0 million. Although the list of the 10 most populous states overall was unchanged, two other states did change positions, as North Carolina moved past Michigan to take the ninth spot.

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Herkimer County Households Without a Vehicle Available and Elderly Heads of Households

The map below comes from the 2013 ACS Five Year Estimates for Herkimer County and shows the block groups in which at least 10% or more of the households have no vehicle available. In addition, the hatched areas identify those same areas where 40% of more of these households lacking a vehicle are headed by someone age 65 or older.

So not only are the hatched areas block groups where a substantial part of the population lacks a vehicle, those that DO lack transportation are often elderly.


Just an example of what is out there in the five year estimates if you look hard enough ! For a closer look click the map below !

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Village of Bridgewater To Dissolve on Jan 1, 2015 But It Could Still Remain a Census Geography

While the Village of Bridgewater voted to dissolve itself on Jan 1, 2015, that doesn't mean it has to disappear completely. While the nearly 200 year old village will no longer be an incorporated village, it could still become a Census Designated Place.

Census Designated Places (CDPs) are the statistical counterparts of incorporated villages, and are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located. The boundaries of CDPs usually are defined in cooperation with local officials and generally updated prior to each decennial census. These boundaries, which usually coincide with visible features, have no legal status and may change from one decennial census to the next. There are no population size requirements for CDPs.

So possibly by the next census (2020) a CDP covering the area formerly known as the Village of Bridgewater could be in place, in order to still provide statistical data about that "settled concentration of population".

The village may dissolve but data on that area can continue to be collected and reported if it were to be designated as a CDP!

Matrix of ACS Tables for Herkimer and Oneida County Profiles

There is a link under the main banner that will take you anytime to the matrix of ACS profile tables for Herkimer and Oneida Counties. These matrices provide you with access to the five and three year demographic, social, economic and housing profile for both counties, as well as the same single year profiles for Oneida County. Simply click the link above to take you to this permanent set of tables.

Please remember that if your intent is to compare different years of ACS data, that you should:

• only compare like versions to like versions (one year estimates to one year estimates)
• only compare discrete sets to one another (sets that do not have over lapping years, such as the 2012-2010 three year estimate to the three year estimate covering 2009-2007 since none of the years between the two overlap).

These matrices will continue to be updated as new ACS data profiles emerge each year !

Herkimer County Poverty Measures By Municipality (2013)

The 2013 ACS Five Year Estimates also provide poverty data, which many agencies use for grant writing and program preparation. The table below contains several age based poverty measures for every level of municipality in Herkimer County, including cities, towns, villages and census designated places. In addition, each of the towns where villages are incorporated are also shown without the village populations - note the towns where the name is followed by "(minus villages)". The ability to pull the village populations out of the towns allows for a closer look at our rural areas and their needs when it comes to poverty.

The age groups include: those under age 5; those under age 18, and those age 65 or older. Click on the table to enlarge it.

Herkimer County Poverty Measures (2013)

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2013 Income Measures for Herkimer County Municipalities

With the release of the 2013 American Community Survey Five Year Estimates by the Census Bureau, data on commonly sought fields like income measures become more readily available. The data, which is collected over a five year period from 2009 to 2013, is available for small geographies, including municipalities and census designated places.

The table below shows three income measures for Herkimer County and its municipalities. They include: median household income (MHI); median family income (MFI); and the per capita income (PCI). Note that some of the data is shaded on the table. Because the data comes with margins of error, it is possible to assess whether the MHI, MFI and PCI figures are significantly different for each municipality compared to the County as a whole.

Green shaded cells mean that the figure is significantly higher than the county number. Pink shaded figures show that the data is significantly below the county medians, etc. Remember, the determination as to whether the value is significantly different is based on the margins of error, NOT on whether the median income measure is simply above or below the corresponding county figure.

One last note: town data is shown minus any villages contained within their boundaries. This provides more insight into the incomes of those choosing to live in more rural settings without the amenities that typically might come with village life. It also makes it easier to compare the incomes of those that live somewhere like the town of Stark, which contains no villages, with those that live in the town of Newport, which has three villages within its borders.

Herkimer County Income Measures (2013)

Herkimer County Areas With Significantly Higher or Lower Median Household Incomes

With the release of the 2013 ACS Five Year Estimates, a variety of data can now be looked at in terms of smaller geographies. This includes villages and towns. But even smaller census areas, like block groups, also have data available for review through the American Fact Finder on Census.gov. This is the first time that data on census block groups has been made available through the AFF.

Below is an example of what data is now out there for small geographies. It is a map showing the block groups for Herkimer County, highlighting those that have significantly higher or lower median household incomes when compared to the county as a whole. Note that some of the areas are hatched - this is done in order to let the viewer know that the margin of error for that particular small area is quite high (generally higher than 30% of the estimate). When margins of error are high for an estimate, it is important to view that data with some caution. It doesn't mean you should discount the information, but you need to view it as being statistically, well, fuzzy at best !

Click on the map to enlarge it.

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National Data on Workplace Injuries and Illnesses (2013)

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a report on workplace injuries and illnesses. As they stated: "Slightly more than 3.0 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2013, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.3 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, according to estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate reported for 2013 continues the pattern of statistically significant declines that, with the exception of 2012, occurred annually for the last 11 years.

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 To read the entire report, visit this link at BLS.

New FIVE YEAR ESTIMATES Available !

New five year estimates have been released from the Census Bureau as part of the American Communities Survey. These now cover a sample drawn from the 2009 to 2013 span and provide data for EVERY LEVEL OF GEOGRAPHY in both Herkimer and Oneida Counties !

To see the county level data, visit this link to a post on the blog or else click on the link under the banner at the top of the page to see the most recent five year estimates !

If you'd like to see a full matrix of the ACS One, Three and Five Year Estimates, visit this table, which is also listed under the banner at the top of the page.

School District Populations, Housing Units and Land Areas Exisiting in Herkimer County

Recently the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics got a request concerning the percent of a school district's population that resided in one county versus another - the district straddled two counties. Rather than just provide data for the single school district, they broke out the data for all school districts in New York.

Below are the district breakouts for Herkimer County. These include information on the district's population, housing units, and land area, as it relates to those people within the boundary of the district living in Herkimer County.

One thing to note - this is based on 2010 Census data, so districts that have merged since then are still listed by their old names !

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Herkimer County Prenatal Needs Assessment

Herkimer County HealthNet, Inc. recently released a comprehensive needs assessment for prenatal care services provided to women living in Herkimer County. This report represents the summary and findings of 20 key informant interviews, pertinent Herkimer population data, and recommendations to form a comprehensive needs assessment for prenatal services.

Herkimer County women currently receive obstetrics and gynecology services mainly at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. the figure below shows the distribution of services by site of the provider. Please note that this distribution is not specific to obstetrical care, but also includes gynecology services.

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Among the main findings of the report were:

• Access to prenatal services provided in Herkimer County has eroded to the point of almost being eliminated over the past decade. Little Falls Hospital closed its obstetrics service; Mohawk Hudson Planned Parenthood closed its office; the County Health Department closed the Prenatal Clinic; prenatalsupport services were decreased; and other providers decreased hours or limited service delivery in Herkimer County.
• The birth rates in Herkimer County have been gradually decreasing between 2003 and 2012 with a difference of about 50 live births per year over the 10-year span.
• One in every ten pregnancies in Herkimer County is a teenage pregnancy.Teen behaviors with regards to sexual behavior and condom/birth control use are conducive to increasing this trend.
•  Infant mortality rates are higher in Herkimer County than in New York State and New York State excluding New York City. There appears to be an increase in infant mortality beginning in 2008.
• Maternal mortality rates in New York State are among the highest in the country. Although the numbers are small for Herkimer County, and therefore unstable, the maternal mortality rates are concerning.
• Pregnant women in Herkimer County receive late or no prenatal care at higher percentages than both the New York State average and that of the State excluding New York City.
• There are race/ethnicity disparities in New York State and in Herkimer County regarding early prenatal care.

To get more information about the assessment, contact them through their home page at: http://www.herkimerhealthnet.com/home.html .