Summerville Journal Scene
An in-house effort by Dorchester County to determine the total number of residential addresses countywide resulted in population estimates far exceeding those made in recent years by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Spearheaded by its Geographic Information System (GIS) division, the county performed a Local Update of Census Addresses, or LUCA, by comparing its own database of addresses against federal files. By doing so, 6,321 addresses that were not on Census data lists were identified.
At a rate of two and a half people per household, that amounts to more than 15,000 county residents who were unaccounted for — at least Census-wise, says David Garber, the county’s GIS coordinator.
“Every person we found is $2,000 in county coffers that would have leaked out without a good count,” Garber says, referring to the battery of federal programs that base allocations on Census figures.
Garber estimates that by 2010, the year of the next scheduled Census, there will be about
140,000 people living in the county. That’s a far cry from a 2007 Census Bureau estimate pegging the population at 123,505.
The last Census, in 2000, showed county population of about 96,000 people. That number was later adjusted to 108,000 but Garber says it was likely closer to 112,000.
Historically, Dorchester County’s population has been underreported, Garber says. In the past, Census maps didn’t include The Bridges of Summerville at all and accounted for only 17 residents in Westcott, he says.
A team made up of employees from several county departments “cleaned up” address data by incorporating outside information like the location of utility company meters.
In some instances, a residential complex is owned by one person but it houses multiple people, Garber says.
The new totals were submitted to the federal government, which has until August to give its assessment of the numbers, Garber says. Then the Census bureau can adjust accordingly the number of enumerators it sends to Dorchester County for the 2010 Census.
The more enumerators there are on the ground, the more accurate the numbers will be, Garber says.
Contact David Berman at 873-9424 ext. 214 or dberman@journalscene.com
Journalscene.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not journalscene.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
- Most Viewed
- Most Commented
- Untimely death: Infant died from hot car
- Danger: Your car can be a death trap
- Red, White & Blue on the Green a family-friendly affair
- Sheriff honors woman who scared off intruder
- Plane with 153 crashes off Comoros, child rescued
- China scraps filtering software mandate _ for now
- Jackson's parents waste no time seeking control
- Flag retirement ceremonies honor the dignity of Old Glory
- SC gov 'crossed lines' with women
- At least 6 SC newspapers say Sanford should resign
- Police pay (32)
- Rep. Young Leader in Reform Efforts (25)
- Impact fee resolution draws support, criticism (15)
- Planned Parenthood protest (15)
- Rep. Young a powerful voice for Dorchester County (13)
- Forgive (11)
- Plan growth as a team (11)
- Wandering SC gov will find tough trail at home (9)
- Wandering SC gov will find tough trail at home (9)
- Wandering SC gov will find tough trail at home (9)
- Americans not explicit when defining what sex is
- 10 Republican SC senators call for gov's ouster
- SC gov gambles to 'lay it all out' about affair
- At least 6 SC newspapers say Sanford should resign
- SC gov 'crossed lines' with women
- Source: NKorean ship now going the other way.
- Plane with 153 crashes off Comoros, child rescued
- 4 US soldiers killed during Iraq cities pullout