An official website of the United States government                

----

end of header

# History

###### You are here: Census.gov ›  History ›  Reference › Publications › Working Papers

Skip top of page navigation

                - History Main
                - Agency History                    - Director Biographies
                  - Census Facilities
                  - Suitland, MD
                  - Notable Alumni
                - Innovations                    - Data Collection
                  - Technology
                - Programs                    - Agriculture
                  - Demographic
                  - Housing
                  - Economic
                  - Geography
                  - Governments
                - Through the Decades                    - Fast Facts
                  - Overview
                  - Index of Questions
                  - Questionnaires
                  - Census Instructions
                - Genealogy                    - Decennial Census Records
                  - Other Resources
                - Reference                    - Data@Museums
                  - Artifacts
                  - Lesson Plans
                  - Legislation
                  - Maps
                  - Oral Histories
                  - Privacy & Confidentiality
                  - Apportionment
                  - Publications 
                - Home Page Archive                    - 2024
                  - 2023
                  - 2022
                  - 2021
                  - 2020
                  - 2019
                  - 2018
                  - 2017
                  - 2016
                  - 2015
                  - 2014 
                - FAQs                    - Genealogy
                  - Agency History
                  - Demographic
                  - Economic
                  - Governments
                  - Agriculture
                  - Geography
                  - Innovations
                  - Miscellaneous

### Publications

### Also in this Section:

                          - Publications - Genealogy
                          - Statistical Abstracts
                          - Statistical Atlases
                          - Publications - Demographic
                          - Publications - Economic
                          - Historical Housing Data
                          - Publications - Governments
                          - Publications - Agriculture
                          - Working Papers
                          - Publications - Other
                          - Executive Reports

## Working Papers

A census taker in Alaska, 1940.
U.S. Census Bureau "Working Papers" have not undergone a review and editorial process generally accorded official Census Bureau publications.  These working papers are intended to make results of Census Bureau research available to others and to encourage discussion on a variety of topics.

Delivering What Users Want: the Evolution of Census Bureau Small Area Data [1.1MB PDF] - Michael S. Snow, U.S. Census Bureau, August 1, 2011.

This presentation charts how user demand for data on small areas pushed the Census Bureau to create new geographic units and greatly expand the geographic extent for which it published small area data.  It traces small area data back to 19th century public health officials' need for data for subdivisions of cities and the invention of census tracts to meet religious leaders’ requests. Also covered are the first publication of data on census blocks and the American Community Survey’s invention to provide new data every year.

Statistical Déjà Vu: The National Data Center Proposal of 1965 and Its Descendants [251KB PDF]  - Rebecca S. Kraus, Ph.D., U.S. Census Bureau, August 2011.

Issues concerning sharing of statistical information, linking data sets, and storing and preserving data collected by the federal statistical agencies have long sparked debate. This paper focuses on the National Data Center proposal of 1965, ensuing public concern over its privacy implications, and the response of the Bureau of the Budget and the Census Bureau. The purpose of this study is to identify the issues leading to the development of the proposal, as well as the consequences of the proposal, in order to inform current policy decisions, particularly in regard to the Census Bureau. Examples of subsequent efforts at statistical consolidation and data sharing highlight the persistent theme of statistical déjà vu.

Management Challenges of the 2010 U.S. Census [453KB PDF] - Daniel H. Weinberg, U.S. Census Bureau, July 28, 2011.

This paper gives an insider's perspective on the management approaches used to manage the 2010 Census during its operational phase. The approaches used, the challenges faced (in particular, difficulties faced in automating data collection), and the solutions applied to meet those challenges are described. Finally, six management lessons learned are presented.

Lessons for Targeted Program Evaluation: A Personal and Professional History of the Survey of Program Dynamics [84KB PDF] - Daniel H. Weinberg, U.S. Census Bureau, August 2007.

The Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD) was created by the 1996 welfare reform legislation to facilitate its evaluation. This paper describes the evolution of that survey, discusses its implementation, and draws lessons for future evaluation.

Delivering What Users Want: the Evolution of Census Bureau Small Area Data [1 MB PDF] - Michael S. Snow, U.S. Census Bureau, September 2011.

Increasing demand for small area data has driven the expansion of the decennial census since the late nineteenth century. Responding to public health officials’ need for data on relatively homogeneous units, the Census Bureau began tabulating data on subdivisions of a few cities in the 1890s. When social workers and business organizations joined public health officers in asking the Census Bureau for such data, the agency agreed to publish data based on their delineation of census tracts. To meet growing demand from marketers and government planners, the Census Bureau added data on census blocks in 1940 and later on other geographic entities aggregated from blocks. Since the 1970s, the need for small area data for legislative redistricting pushed the agency to extend nationwide the areas for which it provided small area data. The most recent evolution has arisen out of calls for more timely data. The American Community Survey in 2010 replaced the decennial long-form and began delivering small area data more than once a decade.

  This symbol  indicates a link to a non-government web site.  Our linking to these sites does not constitute an endorsement of any products, services or the information found on them. Once you link to another site you are subject to the policies of the new site.

CONNECT WITH US**********

                            - Information Quality
                            - Data Linkage Infrastructure
                            - Data Protection and Privacy Policy
                            - Accessibility
                            - FOIA
                            - Inspector General
                            - No FEAR Act
                            - U.S. Department of Commerce
                            - USA.gov

----

Measuring America's People, Places, and Economy

Is this page helpful?
YesNo

NO THANKS

255 characters maximum255 characters maximum reached

Thank you for your feedback.Comments or suggestions?