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Data Dictionary: Census 1980 on 2010 Geographies
you are here: choose a survey survey data set table variable details
Data Source: Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau
Universe: Total Population
Variable Details
T6. Sex By Age (Short Version)
Universe: Total Population
T006_003 Under 18 Years
Percent base:
Total Population (SE:T006_001)
Aggregation method:
Addition
Variables used in the formula:
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010001
Total: Under 1 Year
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010027
Female: Under 1 Year
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010002
Total: 1 and 2 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010028
Female: 1 and 2 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010003
Total: 3 and 4 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010029
Female: 3 and 4 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010004
Total: 5 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010030
Female: 5 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010005
Total: 6 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010031
Female: 6 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010006
Total: 7 to 9 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010032
Female: 7 to 9 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010007
Total: 10 to 13 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010033
Female: 10 to 13 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010008
Total: 14 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010034
Female: 14 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010009
Total: 15 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010035
Female: 15 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010010
Total: 16 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010036
Female: 16 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010011
Total: 17 Years
RC1980SF1:RC1980SF1_001_T010037
Female: 17 Years
Relevant Documentation:
Excerpt from: Social Explorer, U.S. Census Bureau; Census of Population and Housing, 1980 [United States]: Summary Tape File 1a [Computer file]. ICPSR version. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census [producer], 1982. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2002.
  Summary Tape File 1 -> Summary Tape File 1 -- Part II -> Glossary -> Sex
Sex
Ascertained on a complete-count basis.

Historical comparability
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A question on the sex of individuals has been asked of the total population in every census.

Excerpt from: Social Explorer, U.S. Census Bureau; Census of Population and Housing, 1980 [United States]: Summary Tape File 1a [Computer file]. ICPSR version. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census [producer], 1982. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2002.
  Summary Tape File 1 -> Summary Tape File 1 -- Part II -> Glossary -> Age
Age
Age at last birthday, i.e., number of completed years from birth to April 1, 1980, based on replies to a question on month and year of birth. This item was asked on a complete-count basis.

Because of the central importance of the data on age, the question contains redundancies. The age entry on the basic tape record is derived from the FOSDIC entries of quarter and year of birth. For those persons who do not provide this information but who do provide "age at last birthday," the census enumerator or clerk uses an equivalency table to mark the appropriate FOSDIC circles. The item "age at last birthday" is used only secondarily because of the tendency of some people, in reporting their ages, to round off to "0" or "5" (and to report even rather than odd numbers). The write-in entries of month and year of birth are requested because some people have difficulty with (and therefore skip) the FOSDIC marking system in this question.

Age is tabulated by single years of age and by many different groupings such as 5-year age groups. Basic records identify single years (and quarter years on sample basic records) to 112.

Median age
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Calculated as the value which divides the age distribution into two equal parts, one-half the cases falling below this value, one-half above. Median age is computed from the age intervals or groupings shown in the particular tabulation, and thus a median based on a less detailed distribution may differ slightly from a corresponding median for the same population based on a more detailed distribution. If the median falls in the terminal category, e.g., 75 years and over, the median is shown as the initial age of the category with a plus sign, e.g., 75+.

Limitations
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In previous censuses, undercoverage of the population has been associated with age. Young adults, especially Black males, were missed at a higher rate than other segments of the population.

Historical comparability
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Age data have been collected in each census since 1790. Counts in 1970 and 1980 for persons 100 years old and over were substantially overstated.

See also: "Age of Householder."