Beaverton Demographic Profiles: 1960-2000

Introduction

This study attempts a graphic portrayal of the City of Beaverton and the surrounding area from 1960 to 2000. Most of the data are from the Decennial Census of Population for statistical units such as the census tracts and for political jurisdictions including the City of Beaverton, Washington County and the Portland Metropolitan Area. The data presented are a small part of the voluminous tabulations in the Census but reflect most of the major changes in the characteristics of population and ho using in the area. Tables at the end of this document list the census tract level data used in this study.

Beaverton vs. Study Area

The data and maps within this document include an area larger than the City of Beaverton. This area, called the Study Area, roughly approximates the boundaries of the Beaverton School District. Specifically the Study Area encompasses Beaverton and extends from the Multnomah Co. boundary on the East and North to the City of Tigard on the South and to the City of Hillsboro on the West. The Study Area was included because it follows census tract boundaries, unlike the City of Beaverton.

Methodology

The data utilized in this study are mainly from the 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 decennial census of population and housing. There have been many changes in the content and methodology of the U.S. Census over these five decades some of which affected how the data in this study are analyzed and presented.

Census geography:  Census data is collected from individual households but is only reported after it is aggregated by geographic areas. For the purposes of this study the geographic units used are census tracts, census block groups, incorporated cities and counties, the Portland Metropolitan area, and a Study Area larger than the present incorporated area of Beaverton. Census tracts are geographic areas defined by the Census for reporting of census data that contain from about 2,000 to 10,000 persons. Census block groups are the next smaller subdivision and are approximately four times as numerous as tracts. As the population of a census tract grows over time the Census Bureau splits the tract into parts. In the case of Beaverton some of the tracts that existed in 1960 have been split into as many as eight new tracts. For some of the maps and diagrams, data for decades past 1960 have been converted back into the 1960 geography for purposes of comparability. In order to evaluate change between 1990 and 2000, block group data from the 2000 Census has been allocated back to 1990 block group geography. At the metropolitan level the Portland Metropolitan Area from 1960 to 1980 consisted of Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, and Clark Counties. In 1990 Yamhill County was added. For purposes of consistency tables and graphs for the Metro area are based on the earlier 1960 four county definition. Data for the incorporated area of Beaverton reflect the boundary at the time of each Census. Hence the data for the City reflect an area that has expanded over time due to annexations. However, the maps all show the current City boundaries.

Characteristics:  The amount of detail about persons, households, and housing units varies from the 1960 to the 2000 census. In general, the later censuses present much more detail, restricting the types of comparisons that can be made over the three-decade period. Also the way in which some characteristics were measured varies. For example, in 1960 no assessment of Hispanic origin was made. In 1980 an assessment was made based on "Hispanic surnames" and race became a separate item from ethnicity. In other words, a Hispanic person could be from any race from 1980 onward. In 1990 and 2000 Hispanic origin was determined by self-reporting by the person in each household responding to the census questionnaire. Where comparisons were made over time care was taken to ensure that the same characteristics were examined for each time period.