1970 United States Census

1970 United States Census. The nineteenth decennial United States census was conducted on April 1, 1970, by the United States Census Bureau. It determined the resident population of the United States to be 203,392,031, an increase of 13.4 percent over the 1960 United States Census. This count was crucial for reapportioning seats in the United States House of Representatives and played a key role in implementing federal programs during the Great Society era.

Background and purpose

The census was mandated by Article One of the United States Constitution and was conducted under the authority of the United States Department of Commerce. A primary constitutional purpose was the reapportionment of the House of Representatives following the landmark Wesberry v. Sanders decision. The data was also essential for distributing billions of dollars in federal funds under initiatives like the Model Cities Program and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Furthermore, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 increased demand for detailed demographic statistics to monitor enforcement and social change.

Data collection and methodology

For the first time, the Census Bureau mailed questionnaires to most households, a major shift from the traditional door-to-door enumerator method. A dual-form system was used: a short form with basic questions for all households and a long form distributed to a sample for more detailed socioeconomic data. Processing utilized new FOSDIC (Film Optical Sensing Device for Input to Computer) technology and advanced IBM mainframe computers, significantly speeding up data tabulation. The count faced challenges, including an undercount estimated at 2.5%, which disproportionately affected urban areas and minority groups like African Americans.

Population findings

The national population reached 203,392,031, confirming California's position as the most populous state, surpassing New York. The Sun Belt states, including Florida, Texas, and Arizona, experienced explosive growth, while the growth rates in the Northeast and Midwest slowed considerably. For the first time, the majority of Americans lived in suburban areas rather than central cities or rural counties, a landmark demographic shift. The census also recorded the populations of Puerto Rico and Guam, and was the first to separately identify the Japanese and Chinese populations within the broader Asian American category.

Demographic and social characteristics

The census revealed a continuing decline in the average household size and a rising divorce rate. It documented the ongoing Great Migration, showing increased African American populations in cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Educational attainment showed significant gains, with a notable increase in the number of high school and college graduates. The data provided critical statistics on poverty, revealing the impact of President Johnson's War on poverty, and included new questions on ancestry, yielding data on groups like Italian Americans and Polish Americans.

Impact and legacy

The reapportionment based on the census results shifted several congressional seats from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt, altering the national political landscape. Its data was extensively used to shape and justify federal policy, including General Revenue Sharing and the Community Development Block Grant program. The methodological innovations, particularly the mail-out/mail-back system and advanced computer processing, set the standard for future censuses like the 1980 United States Census. The identified undercount led to significant legal challenges and advocacy, most notably the case of City of New York v. United States Department of Commerce, and spurred methodological improvements in subsequent decades.

Category:1970 in the United States Category:United States censuses