Blacks
in the United States

For Presentation at the District of Columbia

Public Library

Black History Month Program

February 28, 2008

Washington, DC

Claudette Bennett, Ph.D

U.S. Census Bureau

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Goals

• Discuss the population size and growth of the Black population

• Review the geographic distribution of the Black population

• Discuss current socioeconomic characteristics of the Black population in the District of Columbia

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Black Alone Versus Black Alone or in Combination With Another Race

• Respondents who reported their race as Black and no other races are included in the Black alone population.

• Respondents who reported their race as Black and one or more other races are referred to as the Black alone or in combination with one or more other races population.

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Projections

Census

Numbers in Millions

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Projections

Census

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GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE BLACK POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES: 1990 TO 2005

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Percent of Population 1990

Black Population

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POPULATION TRENDS IN THE BLACK POPULATON SINCE 2000

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Black Population Since 2000

Population in millions

*Population Estimates as of July 1

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Current Trends in the Black Population
As of July 1, 2006:

• • 299 million total population

  • 38.3 million Blacks alone, 12.8 % of total population

  • 40.2 million Blacks alone or in combination with one or more other races, 13.4% of the total population

  • Blacks alone accounted for about 14.7 % of the change in the total population since 2000

  • Black alone or in combination with one or more other races accounted for 17.5 % of the change in the total population since 2000

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Percent Black and Their Contribution to Annual Components of Change: 2000-2006

Percent

Percent of total population

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Top Five States by Black Alone Population Size: 2006

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Top Five States by Percent Black Alone: 2006

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Black Alone Population by Region: 2006

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Percent Black Alone Population by Region: 2006

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Results From the
2006 American Community Survey

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American Community Survey

The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey designed to provide reliable, timely information for local communities on how they are changing. It will replace the decennial census long form in future censuses and is a critical element in the Census Bureau’s 2010 Decennial Census Program.

The ACS is the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample size of about 3 million housing unit addresses throughout the country. The following are survey estimates and are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

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Percent

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Educational Attainment by Sex: 2006

Percent

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21.2

Occupation of the Civilian Employed Male Population 16 Years and Older: 2006

Service

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Production, transportation, and material moving

(Percent Distribution)

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30.6

Occupation of the Civilian Employed Female Population 16 Years and Older: 2006

Service

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Production, transportation, and material moving

(Percent Distribution)

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Median Earnings by Sex in the
Past 12 Months: 2006
(For employed, full-time, year-round workers 16 and older.
In 2006 Inflation-Adjusted dollars)

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Poverty Rate in the Past
12 Months: 2006
(Poverty status was determined for all individuals except for unrelated individuals under 15 years old.)

Percent

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Results From the
2006 American Community Survey
District of Columbia

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Percent

Household Type: 2006

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Educational Attainment by Sex: 2006

Percent

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Occupation of the Civilian Employed Male Population 16 Years and Older: 2006

Service

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Production, transportation, and material moving

19.9

(Percent Distribution)

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Occupation of the Civilian Employed Female Population 16 Years and Older: 2006

Service

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Production, transportation, and material moving

44.0

(Percent Distribution)

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Median Earnings by Sex in the
Past 12 Months: 2006
(For employed, full-time, year-round workers 16 and older.
In 2006 Inflation-Adjusted dollars)

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Additional Information

Northeast Region: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

South Region: Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, the District of Columbia

Midwest Region: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio

West Region: Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii

For information on methodology for the nation, see

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For information on methodology for the region and state, see

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This presentation was created by
Claudette E. Bennett, Ph.D
U.S. Census Bureau

For information on content please contact:

Claudette E. Bennett, PhD

Phone: 301-763-2404

e-mail: Claudette.E.Bennett@census.gov

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For More Information

For more information about the Black population of the United States visit the Census Bureau’s website at:

www.census.gov