Age Structure




BIO326 : Population : Population Characteristics : Age Structure

Age Structure

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The US Bureau of the Census assembles a vast amount of information about the population of the United States. These data can be used to describe the status of the human population, but also to predict future trends in population characteristics. Examine the on-line data from the US Bureau of the Census and compare population characteristics for the county and state where you are a legal resident.

1. What is the state and county of your residency?

2. Go to the Census Bureau's page for Population, area, and density. Pick Table 1. Land Area, Population, and Density for States and Counties: 1990. The states are arranged in alphabetical order with their counties following until the next state is reached. For your state and county, enter the population size, the area in square miles, and the population density (sq mi basis) in Table 1.

Table 1. Population Size
(1990; persons) Area
(sq mi) Density
(pers/sq mi)

United States __________ 3,787,319 __________

State:________________ __________ __________ __________

County:______________ __________ __________ __________

Table 1.	Population Size (1990; persons)	Area (sq mi)	Density (pers/sq mi)
United States	__________	3,787,319	__________
State:________________	__________	__________	__________
County:______________	__________	__________	__________

Go to Map Stats and click on the state of your residency. A picture of your state and its counties will appear. Just under the map, click on State profile. Click on 1998 Population estimates. Fill in the data for your state and county for 1998 in Table 2.

Table 2. Population Size
(1998; persons) 1990
% <18 1990
% 18 - 64 1990
% 65 & over

United States __________ ________ ________ ________

State:________________ __________ ________ ________ ________

County:______________ __________ ________ ________ ________

Table 2.	Population Size (1998; persons)	1990 % <18	1990 % 18 - 64	1990 % 65 & over
United States	__________	________	________	________
State:________________	__________	________	________	________
County:______________	__________	________	________	________

Click the back button and then click on General Profile (second from the bottom). Fill in the population sizes of the United States for 1990 and 1998 (note that these data are in 1,000's of persons) in Table 1 and Table 2. Enter the 1990 population percentages of persons 65 and over and under 18 for your state and for the United States in Table 2.

Click the Back button to return to the state profile page. Click the Back button again to go to the state map. Click on your county. Click on USA Counties General Profile: 1994 (at the bottom of the list). Enter in Table 2 the 1990 population percentages of persons 65 and over and under 18 for your county.

Calculate the density of the United States and enter that in Table 1. Calculate the 1990 percentages of persons between 18 and 64 and enter them in Table 2.

Enter the data from Table 1 and Table 2 in the text box below.

3. Based on the population sizes of your state and of the United States, what percentage of the United States population resides in your state in 1990 and in 1998? What percentage of the population of your state resides in your county in 1990 and in 1998?

4. Based on the population sizes of your state, your county, and the United States in 1990 and in 1998, what is the percentage change in population size for each over this 7-year period?

5. In light of the data for the percentages of the population 65 and over, between 18 and 65, and under 18, what predictions can you make about population trends in your county relative to your state and in your state relative to the United States based on these age structures?

6. Given all the information you have found and calculated, do you think that your county is a "source" or "sink" population? Explain.

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E-mail Professor Gaud at William.Gaud@nau.edu
or call (520) 523-7516