Census Bureau releases new survey data

While results of the 2010 Census won’t start coming until February, the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday released updated community demographic profiles extracted from surveys conducted throughout the country between from 2005 to 2009.

La Cañada Flintridge previously benefited from three-year survey results — figures not all that much different than the ones released this week — but this is the first time in 10 years that the unincorporated areas of La Crescenta and Montrose have enjoyed fresh demographic data.

With 18,532 people in 2000, the “Census-designated place” La Crescenta-Montrose was not eligible for three-year estimates, explained Census Bureau spokeswoman Stacy Vidal. But it is eligible for this year’s five-year survey results.

La Cañada was eligible for prior Census Bureau estimates because the city’s population exceeds 20,000 — though just barely, with 20,559 residents — according to the latest estimate.

Since the 2000 Census, La Crescenta-Montrose has grown to include 19,407 people, according to the recent survey results. Also, the number of Asian-American residents has climbed from 3,462, or 18.7%, to 5,177, or 26.7%. The area’s Hispanic/Latino population has increased from 1,837 to 2,672 — from 9.9% to 13.8% over 10 years. Also in the area, 47.9% of residents speak a language other than English at home, up significantly from 35.7% in 2000.

In La Cañada Flintridge, Asian Americans number 5,196, or 25.3% of the population, a very slight increase from the previous three-year tally. In 2000 there were 4,180 Asian-American residents, accounting for 20.6% of the city’s then-20,318 population (just 241 fewer than the current survey estimate of 20,559). Hispanic/Latino residents numbered 976, or 4.8%, in 2000, while current estimates count only 810, or 3.9%. The number of people speaking a language other than English at home rose only slightly, from 5,407 to 5,668, or 28% to 29%.

Vidal said pooling survey data from five years rather than three years tends to increase precision.

On Tuesday, the Census Bureau plans to release national and state totals, which are relevant to determining federal districts for the House of Representatives, said Vidal.

In January, new three-year estimates are expected for communities as large as 20,000 or above.

In February, the bureau expects to begin rolling out community tallies relevant to state redistricting processes, she said. To search census data, point your browser to factfinder.census.gov.

Joe Piasecki