Midterm 1 Flashcards
(124 cards)
Glen Trewartha’s Model of Geography
- people are the creators and originators of the cultural landscape
- the natural earth provides the environment and the resources

Population Geography
- The spatial analysis of population growth and change as the processes occur over different parts of the world. Focuses on the variations in the distribution, composition, and growth of populations.
How much of the population lives in the northern hemisphere?
90%
Why a Census?
- Representatives…shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers… The Actual enumeration shall be made within 3 years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of 10 years in such manner as they by law direct.
Enumeration
- population count for the sake of determining how many representatives the state has
- each state by default has 1 representative
What gives the Census Bureau the legal role of providing counts for redistricting within one year?
- Public Law 94-171 (PL 94-171)
Apportionment
- the process of dividing the 435 membership, or seats, in the House of Representatives among the 50 states states based on the population figures collected during the decennial census
What are the methods of apportionment?
- jefferson method
- webster method
- vinton or hamilton method
- method major fractions
- method of equal proportions
Jefferson Method
- fixed ratio with rejected fractional remainders
Webster Method
- fixed ratio with retained major fractional remainders
Vinton or Hamilton
- predetermined number of the House and divided the population of each state by a ratio determined by dividing the apportionment population by the total number of representatives; subject to the Alabama Paradox where a state could lose representatives if the size of the House were increased
Method of Major Fractions
- used between 1910-1930, ratio that was selected would result in a predetermined size
Method of Equal Proportions
- calculation that ranks state by population
Gerrymandering
- The practice of drawing districts that establishes an advantage for a particular party by manipulating geographic boundaries
- Used to help secure electoral votes for a particular political party or to hinder particular demographic groups
Types of Gerrymandering

Summary Files (SF) for 2000
- SF1 – 100% count, less detail “short forms”
- SF2 – estimates of the sample (gave a range)
- SF3 – 20% sample, much more detail “long form”
- SF4 – 20% sample, control for more variables
Changes in Summary Files in 2010
- Only the short form (SF1) given out
- American Community Survey (SF3) now collects detailed data (no long form)
- Started as a pilot project with selected counties – went national in 2005
- Released in 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year files
- Small areas only in 5-year files
Mean Center of Population
- The point at which an imaginary, flat, weightless, and rigid map of the United States would balance if weights of identical value were placed on it so that each weight represented the location of one person on Census Day (April 1).

What is the largest local level geography?
- the state
- The country is the administrative arm of the state
- All state functions are done at the county level
how are counties subdivided into census tracts?
- the census tract includes about 4,000 to 7,000 people
- it is subdivded into sections of 7 to 9 blocks
- they are the smallest geography census data

what is Fertility
measure of actual numbers of children born
what does PUMs stand for?
Public Use Microdata Samples
fecundity
physiological capacity to produce children
What is PUMs
Sample of individual household records
Use unique census geographies to protect identities
Highly detailed data files and very useful for social research














