Demographic Categories Used in Environmental Justice Analyses

POLLUTION LOCATOR|Demographic Categories Used in Environmental Justice Analyses

For every geographic area in the U.S., Scorecard shows the impact of specific environmental burdens on particular subgroups within the population, as compared to the rest of the population in that area. Scorecard shows comparative impacts on the following demographic groups:

Race / Ethnicity
Compares pollution distributions between Whites and People of Color.

People of Color are all non-white racial/ethnic groups in a particular area, including African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, Latinos (Hispanics) and Others.
Asian/Pacific Islanders Includes all categories of Asian/Pacific Islanders.
African Americans All African Americans (Non-Hispanic).
Latinos All Latinos (Hispanics). Hispanics can belong to a variety of racial groups and are defined as an ethnic, not a racial, category by the US Census Bureau. Hispanics were disaggregated from the other racial categories to avoid double counting.
Native American All Native Americans.

Income
Compares pollution distributions among families earning more than $15,000 annually (high income) versus families earning less than $15,000 (low income).

Poverty
Compares pollution distributions between families living below the federal poverty line versus those living above the poverty line. For the 1990 Census, the federally defined poverty line was $12,575 per year for a family of four.

Families below poverty: Percentage of families living below the federally defined poverty line. This indicator of poverty takes into account a family's size and age structure, and assesses the ability to purchase a specified market basket of goods. For the 1990 Census, the poverty level for a family of two adults and two children was set at $12,575 per year.

Childhood poverty: Compares pollution distributions between children under 18 living below the federal poverty line versus those living above the poverty line. For the 1990 Census, the federally defined poverty line was $12,575 per year for a family of four.

Education
Compares pollution distributions between residents over 25 years old who finished high school (highschool graduates) versus those who did not complete high school (non-highschool graduates).

Percent non-high school graduates: Percentage of residents 25 years and older in a census tract, county, or state who did not complete high school.

Job Classification
Compares pollution distributions between working class residents versus non-working class residents. Working class residents include people working in occupations such as clerical and administrative support, sales, private household and other service occupations, craft and transportation workers, and laborers.

Percent working class: Percentage of residents in a census tract, county, or state who are employed in working class occupations. Working class occupations include: clerical and administrative support, sales, private household and other service occupations, craft and transportation workers, and laborers.

Home Ownership
Compares pollution distributions between homeowners and renters. Homeownership is an indicator of community wealth and assets. While income tends to reflect disposable cash, wealth is a better measure of a family's economic safety net. Homeownership may also be an indicator of community political strength, particularly since homeowners tend to be more active politically.

Percent homeowners: Percentage of housing units in a census tract, county, or state owned by the occupants who are living in them.

Percent Non-English Speakers
Percentage of people 18 years and older in a census tract, county, or state who do not speak English proficiently.

Percent Non-Citizens
Percentage of residents in a census tract, county, or state who are not US citizens.