2010 Census

Although OFM was ready to provide assistance to local governments seeking to challenge their jurisdiction’s 2010 Census count through the Count Question Resolution (CQR) Program, no formal challenges were submitted by local governments.

Delineated 2010 Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) within Washington according to Census Bureau 2010 criteria and guidelines. OFM worked with local stakeholders to ensure that the PUMA definitions will meet the needs of a variety of data users for the rest of the decade.

Reviewed the 2010 Census group quarters list for accuracy in relation to missed/misallocated facilities. OFM staff spent one week at Census headquarters participating in the Census Count Review Program, Part 2 Group Quarters Review.

Prepared a statewide address list of housing units to compare to the Census Bureau’s Master Address File (MAF) for the Census Count Review Program, Part 1 the Housing Unit Review. OFM staff spent one week at Census headquarters comparing the state housing list to the MAF with the goal of identifying clusters of housing units that may have been missed during the census address canvass procedure.

Initiated a request to include Washington’s Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundaries as 2010 census geography. In conjunction with the state Departments of Commerce, Ecology, and Transportation, regional planning organizations, and county governments planning under Washington’s Growth Management Act, representatives were able to submit the required documentation to the Census Bureau in February 2010. As a result, population and housing information are now available by UGAs for state and local government planning purposes.

Validated the quality and accuracy of municipal boundary changes submitted for use in the 2010 Census. The Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) is an annual program the Census Bureau uses to track municipal boundary changes. Many state and federal programs use census data and boundaries as a basis for per capita fund distribution. It is especially important to have accurate municipal boundaries at the 2010 census point. OFM also helps facilitate the exchange of information, between local governments and the Census Bureau, necessary to support the program. OFM cannot submit boundary changes on behalf of cities and towns. The Census Bureau can only accept these changes directly from local governments.

Contributed to a more complete and accurate census for Washington state by reviewing and commenting on the list of residential housing unit and group quarters addresses the Census Bureau uses to deliver questionnaires. The Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program allows the Census Bureau to benefit from local knowledge in developing its MAF/TIGER Database for the 2010 Census.

Held the Complete Count Committee kick-off meeting in November 2009 (in coordination with the Governor’s office, OFM, and the Department of Commerce) with Governor Chris Gregoire and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as keynote speakers. Since then, 32 state agencies joined the partnership and engaged in a variety of census activities (i.e., creating Census 2010 websites, distributing census posters, sending emails to employees, and participating in the Census Bureau’s 2010 promotional programs).