Small Area Population Estimates

[jimrtex]

I noticed that the Census Bureau now has five-year ACS data (2005-2009).  This goes down to the block group level.  Census tract data is available on American Factfinder, and block group data is available by download.

So couldn't this be used directly in drawing district boundaries, if we are willing to accept a roughly 2007 vintage.   This would give us much better data than assuming uniform growth in a county.

Or if we wanted to project to 2010:

(1) Take county estimates and project forward to 2010, and then tie into the 2010 statewide census data.

(2) Take 2005-2009 ACS block group estimates, and project to 2010, treating ACS data as 2007.  And then tie that into the county data from step 1?

[bgwah]

In Washington, we actually have 2010 estimates for block groups... I sent an e-mail to Dave (the redistricting app Dave, not our Dave) about using that info instead but I never heard back.