For these estimates, the county boundaries are those in effect for the 2010 federal census. The 2010 Census data is the complete count of the population on April 1, 2010. Because this year's certified estimates for July 1, 2010 are only 3 months later than the federal Census a simplifed model was used for this year only.
This year's certified estimates were produced using the methodology for preparing county projections. The state and county estimates were prepared using times series trends (exponential smoothing and ARIMA models) for the non-group quarters population. Group quarters populations (e.g., dorms, military barracks, prisons) were then added back into the estimate to produce the certified population estimate for July 1, 2010.
The model considers the growth patterns of each county from 1990 through April 2010 and is derived from the 2000 Census, 2010 Census and the 2000-2009 intercensal estimates for each county. The county totals were summed to produce the estimate for the state. The 2010 Census is the fundamental base of both the July 1, 2010 Certified estimate and of the July 1, 2011-2031 projection series.
This office traditionally produces county estimates with age, race and sex detail. In order to produce estimates that are consistent with the April 2010 Census, we have unfortunately had to delay our annual release of this detail until all of the necessary components have been released by the US Census Bureau. The full series will return in 2012 when all of the relevant files become available. We appreciate your patience and realize the importance of this data to our many users.
Last Update: October 4, 2011