The first Census 2000 results were made available to the public for the City of St. Louis in March of 2000. The first release, as required by Public Law 94 - 171, included four variables: total population, race, population over 18, and Hispanic origin. This information is known as redistricting data because it will be used by state and local governments to re-draw legislative districts, thereby preserving the principle of one person - one vote. While limited in scope, this information is available at a very low level of geography, all the way down to the census block, which, like a city block, is generally an area bounded by four streets. Because there are so many census blocks, most people find it easier to examine block groups (which usually have 8 to 12 census blocks) or census tracts (which usually have 3 or 4 block groups. In the City of St. Louis there are 5,698 census blocks, 450 census block groups and 113 census tracts used to tabulate 2000 Census information. The decennial census is important because it is used to determine that there is fair representation at the local, state and federal level of government, and because the figures are often used in the allocation of federal funds.

Recently Summary File 1 (SF1) data have been released (the so called "short form questions that everyone had to answer). The lowest level of geography which these data are released are at the block level. The data include a more detailed breakdown of population by age and race, family, household relationships. As well as some basic information about housing units--housing occupancy/vacancy and owner/renter information. With this information, we have allocated the census figures to the existing ward and neighborhood boundaries in the city. Additional census data will be forthcoming during the summer of 2002 when the sample data (the "long form, that was completed by approximately one in six) will be released. The release of the "long form" data Summary File 3 includes a variety of data i.e.; unemployment, poverty, education and many other variables that a sample of the population completed. Due to the nature of the data collection the lowest level of release for these data are at the blockgroup level.

For more information, visit the U.S. Census Bureau, the Missouri Census Data Center or the About St. Louis Page on this site. Click to see a sample of the short form or long form questionnaire distributed during Census 2000.