Evaluating Public Policy

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2012 County Data File [Variable definitions, descriptions, and data sources for the “County Data File” to accompany the sixth edition of Research Methods for Public Administrators.] The data for this dataset were drawn from two main sources: the U.S. Census Bureau and the LINC database system (Log Into North Carolina) administered by the state of North Carolina. Some data were obtained directly from units of North Carolina state government records. The official definitions and sources for each variable are listed below. Definitions may include references to other Census Bureau or LINC tables or data series. ACS refers to the American Community Survey of the Census Bureau. State agency refers to a North Carolina state government agency.

Population: 2012, 2011, 2010. ACS 5-Year Data for each year. Data are based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder. Accessed at http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. Population: 2004. Source: North Carolina LINC. Accessed at http://data.osbm.state.nc.us/pls/linc/dyn_linc_main.show. Pop. Pct. Increase 2011 to 2012: Percent increase in county population for one year, 2011 to 2012. Authors’ calculations. Pop. Pct. Increase 2004 to 2012: Total percent increase in county population from 2004 to 2012. Authors’ calculations.

Pct. Net Migration: These figures are estimates of the annual rate of net migration for the period July 1 of the preceding year to July 1 of the reference year, provided both are noncensus years. Net migration represents the difference between two consecutive population totals after accounting for the change due to births and deaths (i.e., natural increase). In calculating annual rates of net migration, the numerator is LINC variable 301 (net migration) and the denominator is the beginning population total. This ratio is expressed as a percentage. For years ending in 0 and 1, adjustments are made to convert the rate to an annual estimate (multiplying by 1.3333 for years ending in 0 and by 0.8 in years ending in 1). Population estimates for the two years involved are manifested in the calculation. Thus, migration estimates are highly volatile in nature and are not recommended for tracking year-to-year trends. Source: State Agency Data: Office of the Governor

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Population Density (Persons per Square Mile): Density represents persons per square mile for the reference area. The numerator (population) is LINC variable 5001. The denominator (land area) is variable 6242 from the most recent census with respect to the referenced year. Density for years projected more than 10 years past the last census are calculated using the last census land area. There are minor differences in land area reported in different censuses. The difference in population density between 1989 and 1990, for example, might be partly due to the difference in land area (variable 6242) between the 1980 and 1990 censuses. For counties, density is available for years 1970 through 2030. For municipalities, it is available only for years in which there is a census population count or a population estimate. Because land area from a past census is used for each year, annual changes in municipal land area by annexation are not reflected in the density calculations. Density calculations do not reflect census corrections to state, county, or municipality land area, although they do reflect corrections to population. Source: State Agency Data: Office of the Governor Active Primary Care Physicians (2011): Primary care physicians are defined as active physicians in the specialties of general practice, family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics/gynecology. Included in this count are nonfederal, nonresident-in-training, practicing physicians, and doctors of osteopathy as licensed by the NC Board of Medical Examiners, effective October of the listed calendar year. The data are assigned to counties by the physician’s business address, if known, or to the home county if the business address is not known. Source: State Agency Data: The University of North Carolina Number of Persons Served in NC Alcohol and Drug Treatment Facilities: Sometimes referred to as episodes of care, these counts reflect the total number of persons who were active (or the resident population) at the start of the state fiscal year plus the total of first admissions, readmissions, and transfers-in that occurred during that fiscal year at the three state alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers. Excluded are visiting patients and outpatients. Multiple admissions of the same client are counted multiple times. County of residence is reported at the time of admission. North Carolina data include clients reported to reside out of state. From 1984 forward the resident population is counted on July 1. During prior years the resident population was counted on June 30. Prior to 1988, data published in the Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Division’s annual report came from reports submitted by the facilities (DS24 Report) and differ from the data in LINC, which is extracted from the archival unload tapes. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services Social Security Beneficiaries: The total number of Social Security beneficiaries and dependents of Old- Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, including beneficiaries and dependents of retirement benefits (retired workers, wives and husbands, children), survivor benefits (widows and widowers, children), and disability benefits (disabled workers, wives and husbands, and children) in current-payment status as of December. The program’s objectives are to replace part of the earnings lost due to retirement, disability, or death. Those whose benefits were withheld (primarily because of earnings in excess of the exempt amounts) are excluded. Special age-72 beneficiaries are included. See also SOCSECRETIRE and SOCSECDISAB. Source: Federal Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services

Substantiated Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect: The number of substantiated reports of the combined category of child abuse and neglect, unduplicated within county for the state fiscal year. Data for the state represent the sum of data for the counties. Other published data that are unduplicated with respect to the state may differ due to reports in more than one county. (See Duncan, D. F., Kum, H. C.,

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Flair, K. A., and Stewart, C. J. [2010]. Management Assistance for Child Welfare, Work First, and Food & Nutrition Services in North Carolina. Retrieved January 12, 2011, from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Jordan Institute for Families website, http://ssw.unc.edu/ma/). See also ABUSE and NEGLECT.

Source: State Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services Licensed Child Day Care Facilities: The number of licensed child day care facilities as of December. Included are licensed day care centers and licensed large day care homes serving 6 to 15 children. Large day care homes came into existence in July 1988. Data before that time include day care centers licensed to care for 6 or more children. Registered small day care homes (renamed family child care homes in 1999) were excluded from this count prior to 1999.

In 1997, the Child Care Law (G.S. 110) changed the definition of child care facility from being a center- based program to include both child care centers and family child care homes. In 1999, the definition of licensed child care facilities and homes included child care centers, family child care homes, and any other child care arrangement not excluded by G.S. 110-86(2) that provides child care, regardless of the time of day, wherever operated, and whether or not operated for profit.

A child care center is defined as an arrangement in which, at any one time, there are three or more preschool-age children or nine or more school-age children receiving child care. A family child care home is a child care arrangement located in a residence where, at any one time, more than two children, but fewer than nine children, receive child care. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services Unduplicated Count of Medicaid Eligibles: An eligible is defined as a person who receives a Medicaid ID card authorizing Medicaid coverage for any portion of the state fiscal year. Eligibles are unduplicated with respect to the state for the fiscal year. An eligible is counted only in the last county of residence. See Medicaid in North Carolina: Annual Report State Fiscal Year. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services Public School Final Enrollment (2011): Enrollment represents the number of pupils registered in the state’s public schools. Once a pupil is initially counted in the enrollment figure, he or she remains in that count throughout the school year. Students transferring to the North Carolina public school system from another state or from nonpublic schools are added to enrollment. Enrollment is not reduced by transfers, withdrawals, deaths, or midyear graduations. The end-of-the-year enrollment thus shows a higher count than the actual number of students in school. Final enrollment, therefore, should not be compared to first- month enrollment. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 2003 represents the 2002–2003 school year.

The kindergarten program was phased in from school year 1973–1974 to school year 1976–1977. Also, beginning with the 1997–1998 school year, this variable includes charter school data. A charter school in North Carolina is a public school that is operated by a group of parents, teachers, and/or community members as an autonomous school of choice within a school district, operating under a charter with the North Carolina Board of Education.

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Source: State Agency Data: Department of Public Instruction Public School Instructional Personnel (Public School Faculty): Total number of certified instructional personnel employed (full or part time) at the school and central office levels. Instructional personnel are all professional educators with direct instructional responsibility, such as principals, assistant principals, classroom teachers, librarians/media coordinators, and guidance counselors. The information is from the teacher certification files. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 2004 represents the 2003– 2004 school year. As of 2008, the data represent the educational level of all certified classroom teachers employed this year (full time or part time) at the school and central office levels. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Public Instruction Public School Expenditures (in $1,000s): Total expenditures for a fiscal year include current expenditures connected with the daily operation of all public schools in the state except charter schools. (Excluded are capital expenditures for new buildings and grounds, existing building renovations, and miscellaneous equipment purchases, as well as community service programs and inter-/intrafund transfers.) Includes child nutrition expenditures. These figures are referenced under the ending year; for example, 2003 represents the 2002–2003 school year.

The current expenditures are obtained from the annual financial report submitted by local superintendents at the close of each fiscal year. Although the contents of the report are not audited, they are an accurate accounting of revenues and expenditures by each school administrative unit.

By legislative mandate, long-term debts of school systems (debt service) are part of the county budget and controlled by the commissioners of the 100 counties and, therefore, are not reported in the financial report. The report contains all current expenditures for public kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools, and special schools for exceptional children. However, expenditures for the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, the North Carolina School for the Deaf, the Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune military base schools, and the Cherokee Indian reservation schools are not included.

The amount of public school expenditures is closely tied to the number of students, is nearly stable from year to year, and can be meaningfully compared over several years. One derived statistic, per pupil expenditure, is of special interest since it is often quoted and compared. The Department of Public Instruction computes per-pupil expenditure by using final average daily membership as the denominator. Other publications, especially those from national sources, use average daily attendance in computing this statistic. Since average daily membership is greater than average daily attendance, the latter method yields a higher figure for per-pupil expenditures.

PLEASE NOTE: Funding sources include state and federal government budgets as well as local governments and other local sources. The sum of counties and the total for North Carolina may differ due to rounding. Users need to be aware that the totals are not county expenditures as such. The amount will exceed the amount appropriated by county budget. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Public Instruction Per-Pupil Expenditures (2011): Education finance data include revenues, expenditures, debt, and assets (cash and security holdings) of elementary and secondary public school systems. Statistics cover school systems in all states, and include the District of Columbia. Data are available in viewable tables and downloadable files. Data from U.S. Census Bureau: Public School Finance Data. http://www.census.gov/govs/school/

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Public School System Finances. Accessed at downloadable files. U. S. Census Bureau: Public School Finance Data. http://www.census.gov/govs/school/. SAT Subtotal Average Score (LINC Variable 934): Sum of all SAT scores for both the math and critical reading sections divided by the number of scores. Prior to 2006, the critical reading section was referred to as the “'verbal”' section of the exam. (See also LINC variables 932, 933, 935, and 936. LINC: Log Into North Carolina.) (To compute an average score for LINC for a county with multiple types of public schools, the following calculations were used: The number tested in county schools was multiplied by the average score in the county schools. The number tested in city schools, if any, was multiplied by the average score in the city schools. The number tested in charter schools, if any, was multiplied by the average score in the charter schools. The resulting figures were summed and divided by the total number tested in each type of school in the county.)

Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 2001 represents the 2000–2001 school year. Scores of students attending the NC School of Science and Mathematics and the UNC School of the Arts were excluded from SAT averages for the counties in which these schools are located, as were scores of students in federal schools. From 1999 forward, county figures include scores of charter school students. The state figures include not only public school students but also students who took the SAT and attend a private school. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Public Instruction SAT Grand Total Average Score (LINC Variable 936): Sum of all SAT scores for the math, critical reading, and writing sections divided by the number of scores. (See also LINC variables 932, 933, 934, and 935. LINC: Log Into North Carolina.) (To compute an average score for LINC for a county with multiple types of public schools, the following calculations were used: The number tested in county schools was multiplied by the average score in the county schools. The number tested in city schools, if any, was multiplied by the average score in the city schools. The number tested in charter schools, if any, was multiplied by the average score in the charter schools. The resulting figures were summed and divided by the total number tested in each type of school in the county.).

Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 2006 represents the 2005–2006 school year. SAT scores of students attending the NC School of Science and Mathematics and the UNC School of the Arts were excluded from SAT averages for the counties in which these schools are located, as were scores of students in federal schools. The state figures include not only public school students but also students who took the SAT and attend a private school. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Public Instruction Violent Crimes Reported: Violent crime is the sum of murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults reported to law enforcement according to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The UCR is a voluntary monthly reporting system covering approximately 400 jurisdictions. In addition to county sheriffs’ departments and police departments, state law enforcement agencies such as the Highway Patrol and the Wildlife Protection Division also participate in reporting crime. Approximately 97 percent of the state’s estimated population is represented with statistical data. For murders, rapes, and aggravated assaults, one offense is counted for each victim, regardless of the number of offenders involved. For robberies, one offense is counted for each distinct operation that is separate in time and place. The

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number of victims in any one robbery operation does not determine the number of offenses. For multiple offenses that occur in one crime incident, only the most serious offense is counted. The previous year’s data are revised annually. To calculate crime rate per 100,000 population, divide the number of crimes by the corresponding year’s estimated population and multiply by 100,000. The state total may include crimes reported by a state agency that are not assigned to a county. Not every local agency reports data each year. Since Rocky Mount is located in both Edgecombe and Nash Counties, the offenses are listed in the county where the offense occurred. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Justice

Criminal Cases Filed in Superior Court (LINC Variable 1107): The number of criminal cases filed in superior court during the fiscal year. See DISTCR (variable 1105). Source: State Agency Data: Judicial Branch Crime Index (LINC Variable 1115): The total of seven major offenses used to measure the extent, fluctuation, and distribution of crime. Crime classifications presently used in the index are (1) murder, (2) forcible rape, (3) robbery, (4) aggravated assault, (5) burglary, (6) larceny, and (7) motor vehicle theft. Since arson is excluded from property crime, it is also excluded from the crime index. The state total may include crimes reported by a state agency that are not assigned to a county. CRIMEINDEX is the sum of CRIMEVIOLENT (variable 1101) and CRIMEPROPERT (variable 1102). The previous year’s data are revised annually. Not every local agency reports data each year. Since Rocky Mount is located in both Edgecombe and Nash Counties, the offenses are listed in the county where the offense occurred. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Justice Registered Voters: These figures reflect the total number of voter registrations as reported by county boards of election to the State Board of Elections as of October in the reference year. (For current data, see the board’s website at http://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/.) Source: State Agency Data: State Board of Elections Voting Age Population: Number of persons age 18 and older. The figure given for decennial census years is the corrected census count as of April 1. The figure given for other years is an estimate as of July 1. Source: State Agency Data: Office of the Governor Percent of Voting Age Pop. Voting in General Election: Computed using the number of votes for president (LINC variable 1722) as the numerator and the estimated voting age population (variable 1714) as the denominator. Source: State Agency Data: State Board of Elections Hispanic Registered Voters (LINC Variable 1727): The number of registered voters of Hispanic ethnicity, as reported by county election boards to the North Carolina Board of Elections, normally released in October. (For the number of registered voters by race, see LINC variables 1718, 1719, and 1720. LINC: Log Into North Carolina.)

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Source: State Agency Data: State Board of Elections Debt: Includes only debt approved by the Local Government Commission (LGC). Certain types of installment purchase debt, leases, and so forth are excluded from LGC approval per statute and therefore are not included. Source: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer. Accessed at https://www.nctreasurer.com/slg/Debt%20Management/DebtAnalysisReport.pdf. Debt in $1,000s: Sources: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer; authors’ calculations Total Revenue in $1,000s (2011): Source: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer Public Safety Expenditures (2011): Expenditures by the county or municipal government for the following categories: police and communications, emergency communications, emergency management, fire, inspectors, rescue units, animal control, and other public safety agencies; for counties, also includes jail and medical examiner/coroner. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 1984 represents the 1983–1984 fiscal year. Source: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer Human Services Expenditures (2011): Expenditures by the county or municipal government for health, mental health, legal aid, subsidies paid to hospitals, and other human services. For counties, also includes social service administration and assistance programs (not including county payments to the state for Medicaid, AFDC, etc.; see variable 5123, SOCSERVEXP), and veterans service officer. For municipalities, also includes social services. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 1984 represents the 1983–1984 fiscal year. Source: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer Culture and Recreation Expenditures (2011): Expenditures by the county or municipal government for recreation and parks, coliseums, museums, libraries, and any other culture and recreation projects. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 1984 represents the 1983–1984 fiscal year. Source: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer Debt Service Expenditures (2011): Debt service expenditures by the county or municipal government— including interest, fees, and principal retired—for water and sewer, schools, community and technical colleges, hospitals, and other categories. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 1984 represents the 1983–1984 fiscal year. Source: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer Total Expenditures in $1,000s (2011): Total of all county or municipal government expenditures in thousands of dollars. In most cases, this item has been reconciled with the sum of the component expenditure categories. However, since 1986, corrections to the figures in the Annual Financial

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Information Report have been left to the individual local governments. In calculating percentage expenditures in various categories, it may be advisable to compute as a denominator the sum of LINC variables 5113 through 5127. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 1984 represents the 1983–1984 fiscal year. Source: State Agency Data: Department of State Treasurer

Region of State: Region was assigned by the authors based on each county’s geographic location.

Experimental Welfare Reform Status: Status of welfare reform was based on the county’s participation in a 1990s statewide welfare reform effort. (Two columns are shown: for 2004 and 2011–2013. The later dated one is based on the state Work First program for 2011–2013.)

Sources: NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, accessed from http://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dss/workfirst/; authors.

Mean Household Income: Median Household Income: Number of Persons in Poverty (2010): Percent of Persons in Poverty: Sources: See descriptions for Number of Persons in Poverty. Percent calculations based on total population estimates. Number of Families in Poverty (2010): Percent of Families in Poverty: Sources: See descriptions for Number of Families in Poverty. Percent calculations based on household estimates. ACS 2012 5 Year DPO3: Selected Economic Characteristics Data are based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the American Community Survey (ACS) estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables. There were changes in the edit between 2009 and 2010 regarding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security. These changes loosened restrictions on disability requirements for receipt of SSI, resulting in an increase in the total number of SSI recipients in the ACS. They also loosened restrictions on possible reported monthly amounts in Social Security income, resulting in higher Social Security aggregate amounts. These results now more closely match administrative counts compiled by the Social Security Administration. Workers include members of the armed forces and civilians who were at work last week. Four-digit industry codes are based on the North American Industry Classification System 2007. The industry categories adhere to the guidelines issued in Clarification Memorandum No. 2, “NAICS

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Alternate Aggregation Structure for Use by U.S. Statistical Agencies,” issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The 2008–2012 ACS data generally reflect the December 2009 OMB definitions of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. However, in certain instances the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB definitions due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities. Estimates of urban and rural population, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on Census 2000 data. Boundaries for urban areas have not been updated since Census 2000. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization. Number of Persons in Poverty: Total number of persons with income below the poverty threshold in the calendar year prior to the census. See TOTPOVSTATUS. The 1990 data are the sum of cells 13 through 24, table P117, STF3A. The 2000 data come from DP3090 in sample Demographic Profiles, except for multicounty municipal parts, which come from table-cell P087002, SF3 (sample data). Source: Federal Agency Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing Families in Poverty: Number of poor families. Poverty statistics were first included in a decennial census in 1970. Poverty status is determined for all families. Families are classified as above or below the poverty level by comparing their total income in the year prior to census date to a poverty threshold. The income thresholds for poverty vary by family size, number of children, and age of the family householder. Poverty thresholds are computed on a national basis only. Source: Federal Agency Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing Public High School Graduates: Persons receiving diplomas from a public high school. Data are listed under the ending year; for example, 2005 represents the 2004–2005 school year. Beginning with the 1998–1999 school year, this variable includes graduates from charter schools. A charter school in North Carolina is a public school that is operated by a group of parents, teachers, and/or community members as an autonomous school of choice within a school district, operating under a charter with the State Board of Education. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Public Instruction Total Occupied Housing Units (2010): A housing unit is classified as occupied if it is the usual place of residence of the person or group of persons living in it at the time of enumeration or if the occupants are only temporarily absent; that is, away on vacation or business. In sample tabulations, the counts of households and occupied housing units may vary slightly because of different sample weighting methods. In 100-percent count tabulations, occupied housing units equal household counts. The 1970 data are from cell 1, table H4, First Count (100% count data). The 1980 data are from cell 1, table 98, STF3A (sample data). The 1990 data are from cell 1, table H4, STF3A (sample data). The 2000 data are from table-cell H004001, SF1 (100% count data). Source: Federal Agency Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing

Unemployment Rate (Percent): The average annual number of unemployed (variable 106) as a percentage of the average annual civilian labor force (variable 104). County level data are revised both one and two years after the reference year ends. State level may be revised at other times as well.

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Prior to 1986, the rate is based on unemployment and labor force figures rounded to the nearest 10 (nearest 100 for the state), as is the case in publications from the Labor and Economic Analysis Division. The purpose of this rounding is to emphasize the fact that the numbers are estimates. Beginning with 1986, the numbers are unrounded, to permit aggregation to the MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) or regional level; the unemployment rate is based on these unrounded numbers and hence may differ slightly in some cases from the published rates. See also variable 204, MONTHLYURATE, the monthly equivalent.

This variable is derived from variables 104 and 106 by the formula 100 × V106/V104. NOTE: New methodology for labor force estimates is being implemented. Currently, 1995 data reflect this change. Revised data back to 1990 will be added to LINC as such data become available. For more information, call the Employment Security Commission, 919-733-2936. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Commerce Number Employed: All persons who worked for pay or profit or worked without pay for 15 hours or more per week in a family farm or business. Includes agricultural employment, nonagricultural wage and salary employment, unpaid family workers, and domestic workers in private households. These “'place of residence”' estimates were developed with data secured from establishments (i.e., place of work employment) and adjusted to remove the effects of commuting and multiple jobholding. This variable is an annual average of monthly data for the calendar year. County level data are revised both one and two years after the reference year ends. State level data are rounded to the nearest 100, both on LINC and in publications, and are periodically revised independent of the county revisions so that they differ significantly from the sum of counties. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Commerce Number in Manufacturing Employment by Place of Work: Estimate of the average annual number of nonagricultural wage and salary jobs held by place of work (i.e., the county or region in which the job is held) for all manufacturing as defined by the standard industrial classification system. Nonagricultural wage and salary employment figures exclude agriculture employment, nonfarm self-employed, domestic workers in private households, and unpaid family workers. Statewide totals are estimated independently and may not equal the county sum. While data within each group of years should be strictly comparable, data among the groups of years may not be directly comparable. See variable 108, NONAGWSEMP. The data appear in Civilian Labor Force Estimates for North Carolina published by the Employment Security Commission. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Commerce Retail Trade Employment (2000): All nonfarm, private industry full-time and part-time employment is estimated by major industry types. This total represents employment estimates for the retail trade industry. The 1969–1974 data are based on 1967 SIC. The 1975–1987 data are based on 1972 SIC. The 1988 data are based on 1987 SIC. Source: Federal Agency Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis

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Service Industry Employment (2000): All nonfarm, private industry full-time and part-time employment is estimated by major industry types. This total represents employment estimates for the service industry. The 1969–1974 data are based on 1967 SIC. The 1975–1987 data are based on 1972 SIC. The 1988 data are based on 1987 SIC. Source: Federal Agency Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis Agricultural and Farm Industry Employment and Occupation Estimates Farm Industry Employment (2000) Farm Industry Employment (NAICS) (2011) Estimated Agricultural Employment (2011) Percent Agricultural Employment (2011) Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis; North Carolina LINC, accessed at http://linc.state.nc.us/ Live Births: Number of live births. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services, NC State Center for Health Statistics, Statistics and Reports: Vital Statistics. Infant Deaths: An infant death is defined as death of a live-born infant less than 1 year of age. The state total equals the sum of deaths from counties. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services, NC State Center for Health Statistics. Infant Death Rate: The infant death or mortality rate is defined as resident infant deaths per 1,000 resident live births for the calendar year, which can be computed as the number of infant deaths divided by the number of births, multiplied by 1,000. Sources: State Agency Data: Department of Health and Human Services, NC State Center for Health Statistics; authors’ calculations. Total Deaths: Deaths from all causes. Death Rate: Number of deaths per 100,000 of resident population. Source: State Agency Data, Department of Health and Human Services, NC State Center for Health Statistics, Statistics and Reports: Vital Statistics. Accessed at <URL>http://www.schs.state.nc.us</URL>. Homicides: Number of homicides. The willful killing of one person by another. Does not include cases of negligent manslaughter or justifiable homicide. Source: State Agency Data: Department of Justice. Accessed at http://crimereporting.ncdoj.gov/Reports.aspx.

Suicides: Data for suicide by county, 2007 to 2011. Suicide Rate: Number of suicides per 100,000 of population. Deaths were coded under the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Age- adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the projected United States 2000

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population as the standard. Rates are displayed only for counties that have a minimum of 20 deaths. Sources: State Agency Data: Death Certificate Database, NC State Center for Health Statistics, NCHS Bridged-Race Population Estimates Suicide Rate Calculation: Numerator: Number of suicide deaths (ICD-10: X60-X84 and Y87.0) Denominator: Total resident population Base number: Multiply by 100,000

Motor Vehicle Fatalities: Number of motor vehicle crash deaths

Motor Vehicle Fatality Rate:

Motor vehicle crash deaths are measured as the crude mortality rate per 100,000 resident population due to off- and on-road accidents involving a motor vehicle. Motor vehicle deaths include traffic and nontraffic accidents involving motorcycles and three-wheel motor vehicles; cars; vans; trucks; buses; streetcars; ATVs; industrial, agricultural, and construction vehicles; and bikes and pedestrians when colliding with any of these vehicles. Deaths due to boating accidents and airline crashes are not included in this measure.

Source: NC Department of Transportation, “County Crash Data,” North Carolina 2012 Traffic Crash Facts. Accessed at http://connect.ncdot.gov/business/DMV/DMV%20Documents/2012%20Crash%Facts.pdf. Population Demographic and Housing Variables: Source: Federal Agency Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing Number over 65 Percent over 65 Number under 5 Percent under 5 Number Hispanic Percent Hispanic Number Black or African American Percent Black or African American ACS 5 Year 2012 Population Estimates Supporting documentation on code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing can be found on the American Community Survey (ACS) website in the Data and Documentation section. Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the ACS website in the Methodology section. Data are based on a sample and subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate

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plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables. The ACS questions on Hispanic origin and race were revised in 2008 to make them consistent with the Census 2010 question wording. Any changes in estimates for 2008 and beyond may be due to demographic changes, as well as factors including questionnaire changes, differences in ACS population controls, and methodological differences in the population estimates; therefore, these estimates should be used with caution. For a summary of questionnaire changes, see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/questionnaire_changes/. For more information about changes in the estimates, see http://www.census.gov/population/hispanic/files/acs08researchnote.pdf. For more information on understanding race and Hispanic origin data, please see the Census 2010 Brief entitled, Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010, http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf. The 2008–2012 ACS data generally reflect the December 2009 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definitions of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. However, in certain instances the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB definitions due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities. Estimates of urban and rural population, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on Census 2000 data. Boundaries for urban areas have not been updated since Census 2000. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization.

Percent of Adults with College Degree

Percent of adults ages 25 years of age and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher degree.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder. Accessed at http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml.

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