Regional Comparison Within Races of the Percentage Identifying by a Single Race Versus Those Identifying with that Race Plus Others

When asked about a person's race, respondents are now allowed to select more than one racial category when answering most surveys. As a result, while some select a single race, such as Asian, others may select multiple races, such as Asian and White. Hence, when looking at the "Asian" population, you might want to include those that also coupled Asian with any other race.

The graphs below were made to give you an idea about what proportion of each racial category includes those selecting THAT race plus others.

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Differences in Median Age Based on Race in Herkimer County

Median ages for men and women by racial identity...

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Single and Multiple Race African Americans In Herkimer County

As we enter February, Black History Month, here's a breakdown of single and multiple race African Americans in Herkimer County.

Regional Income Variations By Race, Sex and Education Levels

Recently there have been several news articles locally and nationally drawing attention to the variations in income and employment between minorities and non-minorities. Taking a quick look at the regional data for Herkimer and Oneida Counties in the PUMS files, some interesting numbers can be found. Below is a chart showing the mean income over the last 12 months when respondents were surveyed through the American Communities Survey. These data are part of the ACS Five Year estimates for 2012.

As seen below, white males make the most when compared to their male counterparts among blacks, Asians and Hispanics. While white females generally make more annually than do their black cohorts, Asian and Hispanic females appear to generally average more income than do white females.

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The one thing that clearly stands out when looking at that graphic, as well as the table below, is how poorly black males and females perform financially compared to their cohorts, regardless of their educational levels. Black men and women are consistently paid less than almost every other similarly educated group. The table below shows the overall ranking of each of the 32 groups examined, and provides some break out of women, blacks, Asians and Hispanics for comparison purposes.

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Back to the Future2: The Release of the 2010 County Retrospectives

Often times data lays dormant for years, or in some cases decades, with little or no comprehensive review being undertaken to place current information in any historical context. One of the most sought after but often underutilized resources of such time series data is the decennial census. In December of 2004, the Herkimer Oneida Counties Comprehensive Planning Program released a report on the last 50 years of census related data for both Herkimer and Oneida Counties.

The time has come for the re-release of this series, updated with data from 2010. Given changes to the decennial census, the data source for much of this comparison now comes from the American Communities Survey, or the ACS. The ACS is NOT the equivalent of the decennial census. It is a very different vehicle for data collection. However, to the degree possible, comparative data will be offered.

Such a review of data is, by the very nature of such time constrained data collection, and the introduction of a new source of data (the ACS), of fraught with pitfalls. Changing definitions, as well as the nature of the data collection process itself, often conspire to make many comparisons the equivalent of mixing apples with oranges. As the social constructs of race, poverty, aging, etc., all evolve to better, or perhaps at least different, levels of understanding over the years, the ability to make comparisons with past data becomes tricky, perhaps difficult, and even impossible at times.

These report will attempt to recognize those potential issues and bring them to light. They will involve data collected since the 1950 census through the 2012 ACS Five Year Estimates. In many cases, in terms of the historical sections of each chapter, the data may only extend back to 1960 or 1970 until the 2012 ACS. Much of that is due to the introduction of new concepts (such as poverty) or a change in the basic definitions and collection of data on an issue, such as race. Sometimes, issues are only able to be examined in a broad context, such as white versus non-white populations. But there are many topics in which the data does allow for direct comparison over several decades with little change in how the data was collected or coded.

Still, it is important to strongly urge that each of the data sets be examined in terms of the subtleties of the definitions for each topical issue. Efforts have been made to be sure to compare like items when possible, and to note potential problem areas. All of the included analysis provides at least a loose sketch of the immediate historical past, and, at best, a more thorough review of some of the changes being experienced within Oneida County over the last fifty to sixty years. 

These reports are not intended as an assessment of demographic trends in the last half of the 20^th century in either county. Rather they are more of a simple review of what has occurred. While a plethora of other topics could have been included, few have enough historical context (i.e. data available) to make them readily reviewable. As a result, this report focuses on five topics: aging, families, income/poverty, nativity/race, and employment.

Expect to see these chapters released here in the next several weeks (one will be later today!). Oneida County's chapters will be released first and then Herkimer County's will follow. 

The New Us: Portrait of a Changing America

The Atlantic Magazine recently reviewed a new report by PEW Research which provides a portrait of some very significant demographic and cultural shifts in the United States. The report is filled with fascinating details about who we are as Americans, what we believe, and how both of those things have changed over the last several decades.

As they point out, "Demographic transformations are dramas in slow motion. America is in the midst of two right now. Our population is becoming majority non-white at the same time a record share is going gray. Each of these shifts would by itself be the defining demographic story of its era. The fact that both are unfolding simultaneously has generated big generation gaps that will put stress on our politics, families, pocketbooks, entitlement programs and social cohesion."

Here's is one of their graphics about minority population changes in the past 50 years, as well as its projected growth for the next fifty.

 To see how Utica and Rome minority populations have changed since 1980, visit this blog's MAPS page ! The minority population maps are near the bottom.

Census 2010: Racial and Hispanic Breakdowns Within Regional Municipalities

One of the pieces of data generated by the decennial census done in 2010 was information on the racial and ethnic composition of our population. Below is a table showing the breakdowns for some of the race categories, as well as the Hispanic population counts, for each town or city in the region. Please note that race does NOT include the category of "Hispanic". Being Hispanic is considered an ethnicity within the census data, and thus is measured and reported independently of race.

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Race and Ethnicity for Herkimer and Oneida County Towns and Cities

Attached is the racial breakdowns and ethnicity data released in the SF1 data of the 2010 Census for the towns and cities of both Herkimer and Oneida Counties. the data provides insight into the number of people with a single racial identity, as well as though selecting multiple racial identities. Also, there is data on the Hispanic or Latino self-identification of the populations of these various municipalities.

Minority Distribution Maps

Minority population distributions have changed over time, partly because we have seen a growth in minority inflow to the region, and partly because of changes in race category definitions within the Census.

These 3 maps show the changes between the 1990, 2000, and 2010 censuses for the City of Utica and the surrounding area.

1990 Minority Distribution

2000 Minority Distribution

2010 Minority Distribution

Several things should be noted:

1. Between 1990 and 2000 the Census changed how it recorded race data. No longer were people restricted to a single race category, but could select multiple races.
2. Note how concentrated the areas with at least 25% of the population being of minority background was in the center of Utica. By 2000 the area had grown substantially to a large area surrounding that same core; by 2010 the minority population had expanded considerably into the West Utica neighborhoods.
3. North Utica sees considerable minority growth in 2000; South Utica sees it's minority populations expand particularly in the last decade.