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 .