Started in 1988, the Census Information Center (CIC) Program is a partnership between the U.S. Census Bureau and local organizations. KAC is one of 52 nonprofit organizations that serve as CICs across 22 states. Census data is used in areas such as program planning, advocacy, needs assessment, defining service areas, public policy development, enterprise development, and race/ ethnic-related research. KAC processes and disseminates Census Bureau data to underserved populations in easily understandable formats. We also use Census data to identify income and educational disparities, advocate for our needs, and showcase the contributions of Koreans and Korean Americans.
About Census Information Center (CIC)
KACLA Census In-language Video
CENSUS DATA
Language and Education
The following contains graphs and tables from the U.S. Census Bureau regarding language proficiency levels and educational attainment among the Korean and Asian populations in the United States. Data from the years 2010-2014 were used to analyze the two populations on the national, state, county, and city levels. Language proficiency was measured by the estimated percentage of people ages five and up in each population who self-evaluated their English abilities as “English only”, and for those who speak another language besides English as speaking English “very well” or “not very well”. Education was measured by the highest level of education received and reported for people ages twenty-five and up.
Demographics and Citizenship
Los Angeles County has the highest Korean population in the country by a wide margin: its population is greater than that of the next three counties combined. Orange County in California and Queens County in New York contains the second and third-largest Korean populations, respectively. Koreans make up about 16% of the total API population in LA County. The combined populations of LA County and Orange County make up over a fifth of the country’s entire Korean population.
Housing and Health
This section will cover the housing and health data gathered from the American Census Bureau, from the years 2010 to 2014. The two populations covered are ethnic Koreans and Asians in the city of Los Angeles, the county of Los Angeles, California, and the United States. The housing category encompasses the data regarding the trends of ownership, such as the difference between homeowners and renters, as well as the different family household types of the two populations. The health category encompasses the data regarding the trends of health insurance coverage, the percentages of Koreans and Asians that are covered by health insurance, and the comparisons of public and private health insurance coverage.
Industry, Employment, and Income
This section will cover industry, employment, and income data gathered from the American Census Bureau from the years 2010 to 2014. The two population groups covered are ethnic Koreans and Asians in the city of Los Angeles, the county of Los Angeles, California, and the United States overall. The industry category encompasses data regarding the trends of population groups in the different industry sectors including but not limited to finance, manufacturing, and retail. The employment category encompasses data regarding the trends of female and male populations in the labor force along with labor force proportions. The income category covers the trends from annual household incomes to social security and cash public assistance income growth.
Economic Contribution and Civic Engagement
This section reveals the trends and analysis revealed by the data collected through surveys from the Census website. We looked at numbers collected from 2007 and 2010 and compared the two data in order to reach conclusions about the economic contribution and civic engagement of the Korean and Asian populations in the United States.
CENSUS FAQ’S
Every 10 years, the United States conducts the Census to count every single person living in the country. It is important that everyone living in your home on April 1, 2020, is counted – including children, relatives, and visitors.
The results of the 2020 Census will inform how $675 billion in federal funding is allocated to states and local communities for the next decade.
Every person counted in the Census brings about $2,000 to Los Angeles County each year.
By filling out the Census, you are directly earning resources and benefits you and your community receive for the next decade.
Funding allocated using Census data supports services and institutions our community relies on, including:
- Healthcare resources including Medi-Cal
- Schools
- Libraries
- Roads
- Housing
- Jobs
- etc
You have three options to respond to the 2020 Census: online, by phone, or by mail. By now, all households should have received mail from the U.S. Census Bureau. You can use the unique Census ID* on this mail to fill out the 2020 Census online at my2020census.gov.
- If you need help filling out the 2020 Census Census Online, please refer to this step-by-step instructional video.
- If you cannot participate online, you can call 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-392-2020 (Korean) to get counted by phone.
- If you cannot participate online or by phone, a paper questionnaire will be delivered to you between April 8th and 16th. Fill out this paper questionnaire and mail it back. Refer to this step-by-step paper questionnaire guide.
*If you have lost or not received your Census mail, you can still get counted by answering a few additional questions.
You can check out the full list of questions on the 2020 Census on the sample questionnaire from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The 2020 Census will never ask for your Social Security number, money or donations, anything on behalf of a political party, your bank or credit card account numbers, or your immigration status.
By law, the Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about you, your home, or your business — even to law enforcement agencies. Your data is used only for statistical purposes, and your personal information is kept confidential.
To learn more about how the U.S. Census Bureau protects your information, click here.
*NOTICE* In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted 2020 Census operations in order to protect the health and safety of the public and Census Bureau employees. KAC was part of a successful campaign of community advocates who advocated to the U.S. Census Bureau to extend the 2020 Census deadlines.
The following is the updated timeline for the 2020 Census:
- mid-April. The Census Bureau mailed paper questionnaires to homes that had not yet responded online or by phone.
- March 12 – September 30. Self-Response Period: You can fill out the Census online, by phone, or by mail.
- August 11 – September 30. Census takers will visit homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted. You can still self-respond to the Census during this time.
You can see the most up-to-date Census timeline here: https://2020census.gov/en/important-dates.html