Pacific Progressive

Can the Census Handle a Changing America?

By Erica Williams 

This article was published by the Center for American Progress.

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The census is more than a constitutional mandate to snapshot the population and ensure proper allocation of federal funds. It is also a telling—and at times controversial—window into how the United States deals with the most deeply personal of all issues: identity. How people within the American "melting pot" identify themselves is often an insightful narrative on society's relationship with race, ethnicity, assimilation, and culture.

The United States will become a nation of minorities by 2050. The Census Bureau predictsthat the nation's Hispanic and Asian populations will triple, and the black population is projected to rise from 35.8 million to 61.4 million. As our country undergoes this striking change, identity is of particular importance to communities of color and nonwhite ethnic groups who have traditionally participated in the census at lower rates than whites.

The opportunity to define oneself can be an important acknowledgment of one's homeland and history for many racial and ethnic minorities. It is a chance to affirm unique cultures and experiences while still recognizing one's American identity.

How Orange County is Doing - 2010 Community Indicators Report Available

Orange County is the fifth largest county in the United States.  The county has more residents than there are in 22 states including Nevada, Utah, Iowa and Idaho.  So, how is this big state sized county doing?  The 2010 Community Indicators Report shows a changing population and a mixed bag for if we are better off now than a few years ago.  The report is a compendium of county information which is handy to have if you are making decisions, advocating for decisions, or trying to learn more about your community.

Orange County is becoming less white - 46% of residents identify themselves as non-Hispanic white, 34% are Hispanic and 16% are Asian/Pacific Islander.  The white non-Hispanic population is declining while the other groups are trending upward.

 Along with this shift in ethnic make up, there is a shift in jobs.  In 2009, Forbes magazine ranked Orange County at 107 out of 200 metro areas ranked for business climate.  This is a 15 point decline from 2008 (ranked 92) and an 80 point decline from 20045 when the county was ranked at 27.  The cost of living is relatively high, even in the recession, making it hard for employers to attract and keep workers.  Wages in the higher paid occupations (computers and engineering) are showing declines in recent years.  The major growth industry for Orange County is the low wage, no benefits tourism industry. Add to this a decline in the number of technology related undergraduate degrees granted by local universities and you start to see a picture of a changing Orange County.

Other subjects in the report are:

• State and local finances
• Housing and commuting

Advancing the Economic Security of Unmarried Women: Overview of the Laws and Legislation of the 111th Congress

By Liz Weiss, Page Gardner 

This article was published by the Center for American Progress.

Download the full report (pdf)

Download the executive summary (pdf)

Event: The Economic Security of Unmarried Women

Today nearly half of women are unmarried—a transformational societal change from 1960 when only one-third of women were unmarried. And today virtually every woman will spend at least part of her adult life as the sole supporter of herself or her family. With so many women living on their own, it is crucial that lawmakers take seriously unmarried women’s economic security needs.

Unfortunately, the economic circumstances of unmarried women are troubling. They face greater economic insecurity compared to the general population or their married counterparts by almost any measure. They must confront disproportionate unemployment, poverty, and lack of health insurance, as well as other hardships. Despite being just under half of the female population, they represent 63 percent of unemployed women, 60 percent of women without health insurance, and three-quarters of women in poverty.

Who are the Millenials?

"Millenials" is the name given to the up and coming generation - the oldest members are in their thirties and the youngest are still in high school.  They are very different from the Xers and Boomers.

• Millenials are the most diverse generation in American history - 18.5% Hispanic, 14.2% black, 4.3% Asian, 3.2% mixed race or other, 59.8% white (a record low)
• 66% voted for Barack Obama, 32% voted for John McCain, which shows a progressive streak
• Other significant differences:  use of social media and the internet and support for interracial dating

The Pew Research Center is writing about the impact of Millenials on society as they grow in Millenials:  A Portrait of Generation Next. This site has a great deal of useful demographic and other data to help you understand the very important role this generation plays in our society.