Who'll stop the Boom?

U.S. Census Use

1. For your zip code, write down your prediction for the total number of people that reside there. How many males? How many females?

Now Click on the link below to get to the U.S. Census page. Follow the instructions and answer the questions below the link.
Click here to find age and sex data:

U.S. Census Factfinder Lab

A. Click on "I'm looking for information about a specific dataset." then click "next".

Use the drop down menu to select "Decennial Census". From that menu, select "2010 SF1 100% data", then click "Add to your selections", then click "Next".

Choose "People", then "Age and Sex"; click on "Age" and "Sex" to choose those data sets, then click "Next".

Under "Select a geographic type" Choose "5-digit Code Tabulation Area", then "Indiana", Then choose the zip code in which YOU live, and click "Next". Skip the step for "Race or Ethnic Group data".

Click on "Sex by Age". Click the printer symbol in the upper right corner to print the page.

B. You need another data set for comparison. Start over by clicking on Start, using the same choices for Census year "2000 SF1 100%". Print the data set for 2000 too.

Examine the raw data for 2010 for your zip code to answer the following questions.
2. Which age group is largest?

3. Which age group is smallest?

4. What is the median age in your zip code?

5. Compare the number of male to the number of females in your zip code.

Now look at the raw data for 2000 for your zip code.

6. Which age group is largest?

7. Which age group is smallest?

8. What is the median age in your zip code?

9. Compare the number of male to the number of females in your zip code.

10. Compare the two data sets; what differences may be seen between the two data sets?

11. Using Excel, graph an Age Structure Diagram for both data sets (2000, 2010). Include the appropriate title for your diagrams.

Here is a link to a tutorial on how to use Excel to create an Age Structure Diagram:

Excel Tutorial on how to create an Age Structure Diagram

Analysis and Conclusions

12. Describe the general shape of your zip codes Age Structure Diagram.
Hint:

Age Structure Diagram Shapes (link to IUPUI)

13. Which of the following does the shape of the Age Structure Diagram for 2010 for your zip code imply? Rapid growth, slow growth, little or no change, or negative growth? Explain your answer.

14. Which of the following does the shape of the Age Structure Diagram for 2000 for your zip code imply? Rapid growth, slow growth, little or no change, or negative growth? Explain your answer.

15. Are the Age Structure Diagrams for 2000 and 2010 similar, or did they change? Describe one insight that this comparison suggests.

16. Are you concerned about the population patterns you observed in your zip code? List one specific concern you may have about the change (or lack of change) that you see by comparing the two data sets. Explain your answer.

17. What new information have you learned about the zip code in which you live?

18. How do the results compare to the prediction you made at the beginning of this exercise?

19. Some experts predict that the world's population may be more than 8 billion people by the year 2030. How have population increases at the local, national, and global scale affected air pollution? How can people in your zip code help lessen the effects and impacts of air pollution?

ESA-U.N. population data tables

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This activity is based on the activity found at: http://www.shenet.org/high/hsacaddept/science/jstdenis/human_population_growth_web_quest.htm.