In the twelve-month period ending last July, according to the US Census Bureau, there were fewer white babies born in America than those of non white minorities.
Demographers had long expected this to occur, but weren't certain when.
I looked outside this morning. The sky has not yet fallen.
Showing posts with label census. Show all posts
Showing posts with label census. Show all posts
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Local Bill Shenanigans
Thirty-five years ago, the North Carolina state legislature passed a local bill taking away the right of municipalities in Pamlico County to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) subject to the same conditions that apply in all of the other 99 counties in North Carolina. In essence, this deprives citizens of Pamlico County of equal protection of the laws.
The original local bill also added preconditions to annexation that did not apply in other counties. The annexation provisions were repealed in 1983 by another session law, Chapter 636, Senate Bill 107, Section 37.1.
I believe Chapter 478, House Bill 1045 of the North Carolina General Assembly 1977 Session is an example of abuse of the local bill system and should be repealed.
The original local bill also added preconditions to annexation that did not apply in other counties. The annexation provisions were repealed in 1983 by another session law, Chapter 636, Senate Bill 107, Section 37.1.
I believe Chapter 478, House Bill 1045 of the North Carolina General Assembly 1977 Session is an example of abuse of the local bill system and should be repealed.
1977 SESSION
CHAPTER 478
HOUSE BILL 1045
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 160A OF THE GENERAL STATUTES
RELATING TO ANNEXATION BY MUNICIPALITIES IN PAMLICO COUNTY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 160A-44 is hereby amended by
adding a new sentence at the end of the first paragraph to read:
"No territory in Pamlico County may be annexed under the
provisions of this Part by any town or city with a population of 1,000 or less
according to the most recent federal decennial census."
Sec. 2. G.S. 160A-25 is amended by adding at the
end thereof the following new paragraph.
"No territory in Pamlico County may be annexed under the
provisions of G.S. 160A-24 through G.S. 160A-30 by any town or city with a population
of 1,000 or less, according to the most recent federal decennial census, unless
the persons living in the area to be annexed vote in favor of annexation and
the governing body shall not adopt an annexation ordinance until after a
favorable vote has been obtained in the area to be annexed."
Sec. 3. G.S. 160A-360 is amended by adding a new
subsection (k) at the end thereof to read:
"(k) No town or city in Pamlico County having a
population of 1,000 or less, according to the most recent federal decennial
census, shall exercise any extraterritorial jurisdiction or powers outside its
corporate limits pursuant to the provisions of this Article."
Sec. 4. This act shall become effective upon
ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this
the 7th day of June, 1977.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Census and Elections
The Census Bureau has just released additional data for local jurisdictions in North Carolina. The data for municipalities is posted on the North Carolina League of Municipalities web site. Below are population figures for municipalities in Pamlico County, along with voter registration numbers for each municipality (from Pamlico County Board of Elections):
| 2010 census | Voter Reg | |
| Alliance | 776 | 469 |
| Arapahoe | 556 | 330 |
| Bayboro | 1,263 | 519 |
| Grantsboro | 688 | 459 |
| Mesic | 220 | 154 |
| Minesott Beach | 440 | 408 |
| Oriental | 900 | 870 |
| Stonewall | 281 | 187 |
| Vandemere | 254 | 200 |
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
It's March 23: Have You Been Counted Yet?
Yesterday the USPS brought me a post card addressed to "Resident."
The purpose was to remind me to complete and return the 2010 Census questionnaire. Thanking me if I have already responded, the notice says "if you have not responded, please provide your information as soon as possible."
Some of you may be uncertain where to claim you live. To help you address this question, here is a quote from a briefing on election law prepared by the North Carolina State Board of Elections:
"A person may have an actual abode (residence) in one place and his permanent established home (domicile) in another, domicile being the place to which the person intends to return."
I hope my readers intend to return to Oriental.
The purpose was to remind me to complete and return the 2010 Census questionnaire. Thanking me if I have already responded, the notice says "if you have not responded, please provide your information as soon as possible."
Some of you may be uncertain where to claim you live. To help you address this question, here is a quote from a briefing on election law prepared by the North Carolina State Board of Elections:
"A person may have an actual abode (residence) in one place and his permanent established home (domicile) in another, domicile being the place to which the person intends to return."
I hope my readers intend to return to Oriental.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
2010 Census Here at Last
This morning's mail delivered the 2010 census questionnaire to the Cox household. It contained ten questions for each member of the household. It took me about fifteen minutes to fill it out. I have put it back in the hands of the US Postal Service.
That was easy.
That was easy.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Census is Upon Us
I received notice today that the 2010 census form will arrive in the mail in about a week.
The task: "please fill it out and mail it in promptly."
The task: "please fill it out and mail it in promptly."
Monday, March 1, 2010
Be Enumerated
This month, the United States Postal Service will deliver to every postal customer a questionnaire for the 2010 census. The Constitution calls it an "enumeration."
Why would the founders use a four syllable word when a single syllable word (count) might have done just as well? Because it was never just a count.
Here is the relevant passage from Article I Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution:
Section 2 - The House
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
(Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.) (The previous sentence in parentheses was modified by the 14th Amendment, section 2.) The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five and Georgia three.
So the census was never a simple count. It involved arithmetic, too.
The first census of 1790 and each subsequent census through 1840 listed only the head of household, but divided the count of household members into different categories.
From 1850 on, individuals were listed, and the census began asking some pretty personal questions. In 1870, the census wanted to know if the individual was "deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic." From the 1880 census (27 questions), I learned that my great grandfather was illiterate. From the 1910 census, I learned that two of my great grandmothers had children I had never heard about. The 1910 census and the 1930 census seem to hold the record to date for number of questions (32).
This year's census asks 10 questions. It should take about ten minutes to complete.
Please complete it and mail it back.
Census data not only determines how Congressional Representatives are apportioned, it determines state and local apportionment as well. Not only that, population from the census is one of the factors the state uses to determine how to distribute tax revenue to counties and municipalities, as well as to determine eligibility for certain grants.
So filling this form out is important for your town, your county, and your friends and neighbors.
One last thought: many homeowners in Oriental and elsewhere in Pamlico County also have homes elsewhere. If you have an option about where you report that you live for census purposes, count yourself here. It would help this community, and it has no effect on tax domicile. That's a separate issue.
Most of all, make sure you are enumerated!
Why would the founders use a four syllable word when a single syllable word (count) might have done just as well? Because it was never just a count.
Here is the relevant passage from Article I Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution:
Section 2 - The House
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
(Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.) (The previous sentence in parentheses was modified by the 14th Amendment, section 2.) The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five and Georgia three.
So the census was never a simple count. It involved arithmetic, too.
The first census of 1790 and each subsequent census through 1840 listed only the head of household, but divided the count of household members into different categories.
From 1850 on, individuals were listed, and the census began asking some pretty personal questions. In 1870, the census wanted to know if the individual was "deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic." From the 1880 census (27 questions), I learned that my great grandfather was illiterate. From the 1910 census, I learned that two of my great grandmothers had children I had never heard about. The 1910 census and the 1930 census seem to hold the record to date for number of questions (32).
This year's census asks 10 questions. It should take about ten minutes to complete.
Please complete it and mail it back.
Census data not only determines how Congressional Representatives are apportioned, it determines state and local apportionment as well. Not only that, population from the census is one of the factors the state uses to determine how to distribute tax revenue to counties and municipalities, as well as to determine eligibility for certain grants.
So filling this form out is important for your town, your county, and your friends and neighbors.
One last thought: many homeowners in Oriental and elsewhere in Pamlico County also have homes elsewhere. If you have an option about where you report that you live for census purposes, count yourself here. It would help this community, and it has no effect on tax domicile. That's a separate issue.
Most of all, make sure you are enumerated!
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