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Thursday, August 12, 2021  05:10 PM  (50)

First Look at the 2020 Decennial Census: Pittsburgh Region

On August 12^th, the U.S. Census Bureau released the first detailed data from the 2020 Decennial Census of Population and Housing. Before this, the only data that has been released from the 2020 Census has been total population counts by state needed for the reapportionment of congressional seats. The data just released is known as PL 94-171 data and includes the final census enumeration of the population by race and ethnicity for counties, municipalities, and smaller levels of geography.

PL 94-171 data is used in the redrawing of the boundaries for federal, state, and local legislative districts, a process known as redistricting. This data includes housing unit counts, occupancy status for housing units, population totals, and population by race Hispanic/Latino origin, voting-age population (age 18+), and group quarters counts. The Census Bureau will be releasing additional data, including more detailed population and household statistics from the 2020 Census in the future.  

Below are the final 2020 population counts for all counties in the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and the population change each has experienced since the 2010 Decennial Census. Butler County experienced the fastest population growth within the region, increasing by 9.901 or +5.4% over the decade.  Fayette County experienced the largest percentage decline in population (-5.7%), while Westmoreland County experienced the largest overall population decline, contracting by 10,506 over the decade.

Allegheny County’s population gain was the largest overall gain within the region and is the first population increase over any decade since the 1950s, when population growth was mostly the result of natural population gains and the expanding baby boom generation. 

Population Change for Pittsburgh MSA Counties, 2010 to 2020

Within Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh experiences a slight decline of 2,733 or -0.9% between 2010 and 2020.  The city experienced declines in White-alone and Black-alone populations but increases in Asian-alone, multi-race and the Hispanic population.  While the city of Pittsburgh experienced a decline in it's Black-alone population of 10,660, the Black-alone population resident within Allegheny County, but outside of the city of Pittsburgh, increased by 12,477.  

Both the city of Pittsburgh, and other parts of Allegheny County experienced significant increases in the Hispanic or Latino population.  The City of Pittsburgh saw an increase of 4,656, or a gain of just under 67% over the decade, while other parts of Allegheny County saw the Hispanic population increase by 10,599 or a gain of over 87%.  Overall the Hispanic or Latino population in Allegheny County increased by 15,255 or a gain of 80% since 2010.   

Population Change by Race and Hispanic or Latino Origins - City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County - 2010 to 2020

* Note Hispanic population counts here include all races. 

More information on the Census 2020 and PL 94-171 data is available here.  The original schedule of data to be released from the 2020 Census has shifted several times over the last year as Census Bureau operations have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and litigation.  Currently, the PL 94-171 data has only been made available in large datasets and at this time, the Census Bureau has not updated this data on their other data portals. The Census Bureau has announced that it expects to make the final redistricting data toolkit available to states and the public by the end of September. This will include digital tools which provides access to an integrated software browsing tool for official recipients, as well access to the online Data Explorer tool for both official recipients and the public. Future releases of 2020 Decennial Census data will include more detailed population and household statistics

Additional Resources:

Extracts of PL 94-171 data for Pittsburgh region areas are being uploaded to Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center (WPRDC): Link

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