Mapping the Hard-to-Count Populations in the 2020 Census

The mapping team at the Center for Urban Research of the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center (cunymapping@gc.cuny.edu, 212-817-2033) developed an interactive map of hard-to-count districts for the 2020 Census. Here are some suggestions for using the map:

• Search by Congressional district or state legislative district: You can zoom to any district in the country and the map will highlight the hard-to-count tracts within the district and show how much of the district’s population lives in hard-to-count neighborhoods.
• Identify areas in your state or region where households are particularly at risk of being missed in the 2020 Census: The map shades by color the hardest-to-count tracts in the country, and you can click on any tract (or search by address) to find out important population info, such as:
  • How many households mailed back their census questionnaire in 2010 (therefore how much of the tract may require more costly in-person follow up by the Census Bureau in 2020); and
  • How much of the tract is populated by groups that are at risk of being undercounted, such as children under 5, households with poor Internet access, recent immigrants, and more.
• Groups can enhance their educational campaigns around the Census Bureau’s budget: When you search for a district (or click on the map), the website provides contact info for each congressional and state representative.  If groups reach out to these elected leaders, they can highlight the need to fairly and accurately count the district’s hard-to-count population in their message about budget needs for the 2020 Census.
• Share the map on social media: You can create a permalink for any spot on the map that you can share on social media, in email campaigns, etc.  Here’s an example: this link displays New York’s 2nd Congressional district, where more than 40% of the district’s residents live in hard-to-count tracts.

The map was created with the help of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Humans Rights and with support from the democracy and civil engagement funding community.