January 31, 2011:

We are starting to get a lot of questions about the release of the 2010 Census, and when it will be added to the Scan/US product line, so we thought it would be useful to inform everyone about our data release schedules for this year.

The new 2010 Census data comes out in trickles over a period of about three years.  The first Census 2010 data release - called PL 94-171 - otherwise known as the "2010 Redistricting data" is a very basic data set: count of population by race, and number of households.  That's it.  The Census Bureau is scheduled to finish releasing the PL data set by March 31, 2011.  Their schedules often slip, however.  Late last year, they had promised to deliver that data by end of February/2011.

Moreover, the 2010 Census data must be used with new map files that have been updated for the 2010 Census.  So this is the bigger "Gotcha" for using any 2010 Census data - all of the base map files in any mapping system must be updated to the 2010 Census versions.

So, what we are planning for 2011 is this:

1.  We will use the 2010 "PL 94-171" Census data to do our 2011 Demographic Estimates.  Since we are only two months away from the "real" 2010 Census numbers, this is the only thing that makes sense. 

This means, however, that we have to wait for the Census Bureau to finish releasing the PL data.  In the meantime, we will begin processing the new 2010 TIGER map files so that we have access to the new Census map base files.  Because we cannot start processing our demographic updates until April, we will most likely delay the release of our first 2011 Demographic Update data set until probably June or July, 2011. 

This first 2011 release will have the data linked to the existing 2000 Census map base - in other words, the same set of base maps you are using right now.  This will allow for some continuity in your analysis.  The bonus part of this strategy is that we will be able to release the new update data for both version 7.7 and version 8 - to help those users who are lagging behind in transitioning to the new version of the Scan/US software.  However, this will be the last release of Scan/US that makes use of the old pre-2010 Census geography base maps. 

2.  Later in the summer, we will make available a new "2010 Census Edition" which will contain the PL 94-171 data set.  Like we indicated above, however, the PL data set only contains very basic counts.  This will not be a mandatory update for all users.  Moreover, this release will only be available in Scan/US Version 8 format. 

3.  Late in 2011, we will do another release which will incorporate the fuller "2010 Census Summary File 1" data set.  Again, this release will only be available in Scan/US version 8 format.

That will do it for us for 2011.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm!