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TL non . 2 y ‘ - Te an ° * DAwa + Wile rest A Famid r OF L« L« YG as; ree ercy “ a < oa a Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. - ¢ wr AL IIDC ’ ik +a. KS « a4 TF rrO LAiwei ve ° Matharec- mad MOLios, 4 d Christiansted (61 percent), St. Croix. The child poverty t in West Enda, St rhe 14 percent —— 2000 te aile-~nheadea children, as share of all familié« with children, were most Croix ? percent), followed by St. Thoma: 44 percent and ae it). In Christiansted, St. Croix, one-fourth of teens were high in 2000 SM) en | ED 47] 039 6 LO (ao) 5 tate A: KIDS COUNT/PRB Report on e. ) UD 0° A First Look at Children in the U.S. Virgin Islands By the Population Reference Bureau The Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Population Reference Bureau September 2002 PRO BEST COPY AVAILABLE DUCATION and improvemean US DEPARTMENT OF § Office of Equcations! Researc? EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC x This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organizatio onginating t O Minor changes have been made improve reproduction quality @ Points of Mew o OPIVONS stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OER! position or policy ' PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED By W. J. PaASt Pine E.CaSey Aundation TO THE ENUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC 1 KIDS COUNT KIDS COUNT, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a national and state-by state effort to track the status of children in the United States. By providing policymak ers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children At the national level, the principal activity of the initiative is the publication of the annu al KIDS COUNT Data Book, which uses the best available data to measure the educa tional, social, economic, and physical well-being of children. The Foundation also funds a nationwide network of state-level KIDS COUNT projects that provide a more detailed community-by-community picture of the condition of children The Popuiation Reference Bureau (PRB) Founded in 1929, the Population Reference Bureau is the leader in providing timely and objective information on U.S. and international population trends and their implications PRB informs policymakers, educators, the media, and concerned citizens working in the public interest around the world through a broad range of activities, including publica tions, information services, seminars and workshops, and technical support. Our efforts are supported by government contracts, foundation grants, individual and corporate con tributions, and the sale of publications. PRB is governed by a Board of Trustees repre senting diverse community and professional interests KIDS COUNT/PRB Reports on Census 2000 This paper is part of a series of reports on the 2000 Census prepared for the nationwide network of KIDS COUNT projects. These reports have been guided by the recommenda tions of an expert advisory group of data users and child advocates, brought together in a series of meetings by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Population Reference Bureau. Members of the advisory group have provided valuable assistance about how to interpret and use data from the 2000 Census A list of the advisory group members can be found at the back of this report For more information or for a pdf version of this report, visit the Annie E Foundation’s KIDS COUNT website at www.kidscount.org or PRB’s Ame www.ameristat.org Casey Stat website at © 2002 Annie E. Casey Foundation Matenal may be reproduced free of charge for classroom or noncommercial use, provided that credit is given to the Annie FE. Casey Foundation 4 First Look at Children in the U.S. Virgin Islands The Population Reference Bureau Che Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Population Reference Bureau September 2002 Executive Summary ; This report provides a first look at children in the United States Virgin Islands, based on data from the 2000 U.S. Census. The trends shown in this paper will help readers better understand how the situation of children in the Virgin Islands has changed over time, and how it compares with conditions of children in the nation as a whole. The following key points summarize a few of the findings in this report: Children in the U.S. Virgin Islands e Between 1990 and 2000, the number of children in the U.S. Virgin Islands decreased 3 percent—from 35,427 to 34,289. The decrease in the child population in the U.S. Virgin Islands is linked to declining birth rates in the territory over the past decade. e While the U.S. economy grew at a record pace in the 1990s, contributing to the lowest child poverty rate in over 20 years, the economic conditions for children and families in the U.S. Virgin Islands deteriorated. Between 1989 and 1999, the percentage of children in families with incomes below the poverty line increased from 37 percent to 42 percent. e In 2000, almost half of all families with children in the U.S. Virgin Islands (46 percent) were headed by a female householder. This represents a substantial increase over the share of female-headed families with children in 1990 (37 percent). Nationally, the share .4 of families with children headed by a female householder increased from 20 percent to 22 percent. Children in St Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John e Between 1990 and 2000, the number of children living on the most populated island, St Croix, decreased from 18,706 to 18,169. In St. Thomas, the number of children decreased from 15,754 to 15,077. In St. John, the least populated of the three major islands, the number of children increased slightly, from 967 to 1,043. e The highest child poverty levels were in the towns of Frederiksted (68 percent) and Christiansted (61 percent) in St. Croix. The child poverty rate was lowest in West End, St. Thomas (14 percent). e In 2000, female-headed families with children, as a share of all families with children, were most common in St Croix (47 percent), followed by St. Thomas (44 percent) and St. John (40 percent). e In Christiansted, St. Croix, one-fourth of teens were high school dropouts in 2000. Background on the U.S. Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States located east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. With 108.612 residents, the U.S. Virgin Islands has a smaller population than any U.S. state. The territory has about one-fifth the population—and twice the land area—of Washington, D.C. The Virgin Islands includes 68 separate islands and cays, but everyone is categorized as living on one of three islands—St. Thomas, St. Croix, or St. John. The U.S. Census Bureau treats the three main islands as the statistical equivalents of counties. he people of the Virgin Islands elect a governor and lieutenant governor every four years and elect 15 senators to the Virgin Islands legislature and one non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives every two vears. About 76 percent of Virgin Islanders identified themselves as black in the 2000 Census. Thirteen percent said they were white, 7 percent reported some other single racial group, and 4 percent identified with two or more races.' In a separate question on Hispanic origin, about 14 percent of the population in the Virgin Islands identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino lhere is also a relatively large foreign-born population in the Virgin Islands (36,087 people), accounting for roughly one-third of the total population. Virgin Islanders claim a number of ethnic backgrounds and nationalities, including African, Puerto Rican, American mainland, French, Danish, and Portuguese.” Despite a strong tourism industry, which attracts more than 2 million visitors to the Virgin Islands each year,’ about 9 percent of the civilian labor force was unemployed in 2000.* Nationally, about 6 percent of the civilian labor force was unemployed in 2000.” In 1999, the median household income in the Virgin Islands was $24,704, compared with a median household income of $41,994 nationwide. And while the national median household income increased by 7 percent between 1989 and 1999 (adjusting for inflation), median household income in the Virgin Islands decreased by 14 percent over the decade.° Over one-fourth of households in the Virgin Islands (26 percent) had incomes less than $10,000 in 1999. About 6 percent of households in the Virgin Islands received cash public assistance in 1999, twice the national rate (3 percent). Children in the U.S. Virgin Islands Compared with the Nation's Children This section provides an overview of demographic. social, and economic trends for children in the U.S. Virgin Islands, based primarily on data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in February 2002. Estimates for the Virgin Islands are compared with national averages that combine data for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Virgin Islands data for 1990 are based on published census reports, available on the U.S. Census Bureau’s website (www.census.gov/population/www/ proas/pr_ia_pr.html). The U.S. Census Bureau plans to release more detailed tables for the Virgin Islands in October 2002. For information about how the census was conducted in the Virgin Islands, see Appendix A. General trends The number of children under age 18 in the U.S. Virgin Islands decreased 3 percent between 1990 and 2000—from 35,427 to 34,289 (See Table 1). This decrease contrasts sharply with the 7 percent increase in the total population of the Virgin Islands between 1990 and 2000, from 101,809 to 108,612. The decrease in the number of children under age 5—from 9,230 in 1990 to 8,553 in 2000—accounts for over half of the overall decline in the population under age 18 during the decade. Table 1: Total Population and the Population Under Age 18 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 1990 and 2000 1990 2000 Percent are rau change in cies naseenee case ae Total population 101,809 100% 108,612 100% 7% Population under age 18 35,427 35% 34,289 32% -3% Population under age 5 230 9% 8,553 8% -7% Source S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census Genenl Population Characteristics for the S. Virgin Islands and 2000 Census Population and Housing Profile for the US. Virgin Islands While the number of children in the U.S. Virgin Islands fell between 1990 and 2000, children still make up a very high proportion of the Virgin Islands population. In 2000, 32 percent of the population in the Virgin Islands was under age 18. This represents a decrease since 1990 (from 35 percent), but the proportion of the population under age 18 is still considerably higher than the national average (26 percent) The fact that the U.S. Virgin Islands has a relatively large number of children has important social implications for Virgin Islands society. The “child dependency ratio” (the number of people under age 18 for every 100 people ages 18 to 64) is relatively high in the Virgin Islands (53), compared with the national average (42). The relatively large number of children in the Virgin Islands population means that providing education and social services for this vulnerable age group is likely to consume a larger share of resources. The large number of children, especially younger children, also increases the demand for child care (see the section on child care later in this report) The decrease in the child population in the U.S. Virgin Islands between 1990 and 2000 is closely linked to declining birth rates in the territory over the past decade. In 1990, about 17 percent of women ages 35 to 44 reported giving birth to five or more children during their » lifetimes. By 2000, this share had declined to 12 percent.’ Although there is a trend toward smaller families in the Virgin Islands, |arge families are still more common in the Virgin Islands than they are stateside. In 2000, only about 3 percent of U.S. women ages 35 to 44 had given birth to 5 or more children during their lifetimes.* Falling birth rates are often associated with increases in female educational attainment and rising ages at marriage. However, the limited data currently available from the 2000 Census do not provide enough information to determine the specific causes of the declining birth rates in the Virgin Islands. Poverty While the national economy grew at a record pace in the 1990s, contributing to the lowest child poverty rate in over 20 years, the economic conditions for children and families in the U.S. Virgin Islands deteriorated. While the total number of children declined between 1990 and 2000, the number of children living in families with incomes below the poverty line grew from 12,722 to 14,103, an 11 percent increase (see Table 2). The percentage of children in poor families increased from 37 percent in 1989 to 42 percent in 1999. The 1999 child poverty rate in the Virgin Islands was lower than the child poverty rate in neighboring Puerto Rico (58 percent), but far exceeded the child poverty rate in any U.S. state or the District of Columbia.’ The percentage of families living in poverty also increased, from 23 percent in 1989 to 29 percent in 1999. For families with young children (under age 5), poverty rates were even higher. The overall poverty rate for families increased, in part, because of the increase in the number of female-headed families from 1990 to 2000. Table 2: Children and Families Below Poverty in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 1989 and 1999 1989 1999 Percent Number Percent Number Percent change in below below below below number poverty poverty poverty poverty below aes: os poverty Related children under age 18 12,722 37% 14,103 42% 11% Under age 5 3.458 38% 3.209 450, 1% Ages Sto 17 9.264 36% 10,294 41% 11% Families 5.349 P3% 7625 29 42% With related children under age |8 4.438 29% S.862 3S 2% With related children under ave $ 2,258 34% 2.637 41% 17% Female-headed families 3,129 41% 4.521 45% 414% With related children under age |8 2.817 46% 3.863 49% 37% With related children under age 5 1.458 54% $7% 2 r Note Poverty thresholds vary by family size and composition In }999_ the poverty thresh y of nwo adults and tw hildren w $16,895 Poverty status is not determined fo people mn military barracks or mnstitutional quan rrelated mndividu ithe Related children mclude people under age | 8 related to the householder (excluding spouse Source US Census Surea 9st ensus Social and Economic Charactenstics for the S \ nc and S000 ¢ ropula nm ar House Profile for the LS) Viregm ands Female-headed families in poverty became a more important issue in the Virgin Islands between 1990 and 2000 for two reasons: |) the number of poor, female-headed families with children rose significantly (37 percent), and 2) the rate of poverty among female-headed families increased (from 41 percent to 48 percent). Slightly less than half (49 percent) of female-headed tamilies with children were living in poverty in 1999, compared with 46 percent in 1989 Female-headed families with children under age 5 were the most likely to be poor in 1999, at $7 percent Female-headed families Family structure has important implications for children. Children growing up in single parent families typically do not have access to the economic or human resources available to children growing up in two-parent families. Nationwide, the number of single-parent families has risen dramatically over the past three decades, causing considerable concern among policymakers and the public. Female-headed families have histoncally been common in the US Virgin Islands While local social and cultural norms may influence the situation for children living in single parent families, children in the Virgin Islands growing up in single-parent families are still at an economic disadvantage relative to children growing up in married-couple families (as shown in Table 2) In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the number of female-headed families with children increased from 4.870 in 1990 to 6.450 in 2000 (a 32 percent increase).’’ while the number of married couple families with children decreased by |7 percent. In 2000, nearly half of all families with children in the U.S. Virgin !slands (46 percent) were headed by a female householder (see Table 3). This represents a substantial increase over the share of female-headed families with children in 1990 (37 percent). Nationa ly, the share of families headed by a female householder increased from 20 percent to 22 percent. Of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. only DC had a higher percentage of female-headed families with children in 2000 (50 percent). In Puerto Rico about 27 percent of families with children were headed by a female householder in 2000, up trom 99 percent mn 0001) Table 3: Female-Headed Families with Own Children in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 1990 and 2000 1990 2000 Percent change in Number Percent Number Percent number of —— a a families Total families with own children 3,052 100% 4.107 00% 8% Marmied-couple households 7,101 54% 5,905 42% 7% Female-headed households 4.870 37% 6,450 16% 32% Not kwn children include never-marned children under age k who are sons or daught: vt the be hold by forth Narr) ape adopron Source S Census Bureau. 199 nsus Socal and onomic (haract stecs for the . irerr land anc , ( ensue opu lator and Housing Protile for the S Vergo Island High school drovouts In the United States, graduating from high school is critical for both going to college and finding a good job, and increasing educational achievement has been one of the key goals of the administration of President George W. Bush. The governor of the Virgin Islands, Charles W Turnbull, has also made education reform a “top priority” of his administration, and he has outlined a five-year plan to improve student achievement.'” In the Virgin Islands, one of the challenges for the administration is the persistently high number of teenagers who drop out of high school. Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of |16-to-!9-year-olds who were high schoo! dropouts (not enre’ied in school and not high school graduates) remained constant at about 17 percent. In 1997-1998. the majority of high schoo! dropouts (63 percent) were male. and most students dropped out during their first vear of high school we Nationwide, about |] percent of 16-to-19-year-olds were high school dropouts in 2000, but the dropout rate varied considerably by state. Only Arizona at 19 percent had a higher high school dropout rate in 2000, while two states (New Mexico and North Carolina) had the same rate as the Virgin Islands. '* Demand for child care The need for child care can be estimated based on the percentage of young children living in families where all of the parents ir the household are in the labor force. For children living in single-parent families, this means that the resident parent was in the labor force during the week prior to the survey. For childre:: living in married-couple families, this means that both parents were in the labor force during the week prior to the survey Census 2000 data indicate a high demand for child care in the Virgin Islands. Among children under 6 years of age, 69 percent lived in families where al] of the parents were in the i2 This represents a 5-percentage-poit increase over the share in 1990 (64 labor force in 2000 percent). Nationally. the share of children living in families with all parents in the labor force increased from $7 percent in 1990 to $9 percent in 2000 In the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is common for grandparents to provide child care while parents are working, and in many households, grandparents are the primary caregivers for young children. The U.S. Virgin Islands KIDS COUNT Data Book 200] reports that over one-fourth of children in the Virgin Islands lived in households headed by grandparents or other relatives in 1998." For the 2000 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau added a new question to measure the In the Virgin Islands, there i extent to which grandparents provided care to their grandchildren ived with their grandchildren in 2000, and over half ($1 percent) were 4.802 grandparents who |: reported that they were responsible for child care. Nationally, 42 percent of grandparents who lived with their grandchildren reported being responsible for child care Children in St Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John Data from the decennial census provide detailed information for local communities in the U.S. Virgin Islands that are not available from any other source. This report takes an in-depth look at the characteristics of children and families living on the three major islands and in the 20 subdistricts that make up the territory ‘© The data show wide variations in child outcomes across these jurisdictions (see Appendix B and Appendix C for tables that summarize the data for the different subdistncts). General trends Between 1990 and 2000, the number of children living on the most populated island, St. Croix. decreased from 18.706 to 18.169. In St. Thomas, the number of children decreased from 1$.754 to 15,077. In St. John, the least populated of the three major islands, the number of children increaséd slightly, from 967 to 1,043 In 2000, about 34 percent of the St. Croix population was under age 18, compared with 29 percent in St. Thomas and 25 percent in St John (see Table 4). The share of the population under age 18 was particularly high in Frederiksted, St. Croix (43 percent) Table 4: Total Population and the Population Under Age 18 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, by Subdistrict, 2000 Island or subdistrict Total population nh aomqeceng en SORE EEL under age 18 age 18 U.S. Virgin Islands 108,612 34,289 32% St. Croix Island §3,234 18,169 34% Anna's Hope Village 4.192 1,276 30% Christiansted 2,865 877 31% East End 2.341 S08 229 Frederiksted 3,767 1.634 43% Northcentral 5,760 1,905 33% Northwest 4919 1,852 38% Sion Farm 13,565 4.496 33% Southcentral 8,125 2,892 36% Southwest 7.700 2,729 35% St. John Island 4.197 1,043 25% Central 746 172 23% Coral Bay 649 147 23% Cruz Bay 2,743 718 26% East End 59 6 10% St. Thomas Island 51,181 15,077 29% Charlotte Amalie 18.914 5,689 30% East End 7,672 2,254 29% Northside 8,712 2,049 24% Southside 5,467 1,766 32% Tutu 8.197 2,696 33% Water Island 161 25 16% West End 2.058 598 29% Source U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census Population and Housing Profile for the US. Virgin Islands 10 i4 Poverty Poverty levels vary considerably on the three major islands (see map). In 1999, the poverty rate for children in St. Croix (49 percent) was more than twice the rate for children tiving in St. John (22 percent). About one-third (34 percent) of children in St. Thomas were living in poverty. Child poverty rates increased on all three islands since 1989, when 43 percent of children in St. Croix were below poverty, compared with 30 percent in St. Thomas, and 2! percent in St. John. Child poverty rates in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 1999 St. Cisne ee Percent of children below poverty me SO% or more West End 40% - 49% \ eas FR 30% - 39% ae OF . 2 _e. __} less than 30% Chartotte = ‘ial Wate Southside Aman’ Island St.John St. Crokx Northcentral Sion Farm = Northwest _ atte ™~ ~ \ Frederiksted \o~ Anna's Hape Village Southwest Southcentra Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000. While child poverty rates vary among the three main islands, there is even more variation within the islands. In St. Croix, the highest child poverty levels in 1999 were in the towns of Frederiksted (68 percent) and Christiansted (61 percent). and child poverty rates were lowest in East End (21 percent) and the neighboring Anna’s Hope Village (27 percent) (see Table 5). In id Frederiksted, 17 percent of households received public assistance income in 1999, almost three times the rate in the Virgin Islands as a whole. In St. Thomas, child poverty levels were highest in Southside (42 percent) and the capital, Charlotte Amalie (40 percent), and lowest in West End (14 percent). In St. John, child poverty was highest in Coral Bay (35 percent) and lowest in Central (18 percent) Table S: Related Children Below Poverty in the U.S. Virgin Islands, by Subdistrict, 1999 Number of related children Percent of related children Island or subdistrict below poverty __ U.S. Virgin Islands 14,103 42% St. Croix Island 8,838 49% Anna's Hope Village 331 27% Christiansted $31 61% East End 105 21% Frederiksted 1,082 68% Northcentral 937 50% Northwest 1,082 S$9% Sion Farm 2,036 46% Southcentral 1,384 48% Southwest 1,350 S0% St. John Island 222 22% Central 30 18% Coral Bay 51 35% Cruz Bay 140 20% East End 1 --- St. Thomas Island 5,043 34% Charlotte Amalie 2,263 40% East End 715 32% Northside 365 18% Southside 723 42% Tutu 890 34% Water Island 4 --- West End 83 14% Note Note. Poverty thresholds varv by family size and composition. In 1999. the poverty threshold for a family of nwo adults and two children was $16,895. Poverty status 1s not determined for people in military barracks or institutional quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15. Related children include people under age |8 related to the houscholder (excluding spouses) Percentage is not shown because there are fewer than 50 cases in the denominator Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census Population and Housing Profile for the US. Virgin Islands | 2) ~ 16 Female-headed families In 2000, female-headed families with children, as a share of all families with children, were most common in St Crotx (47 percent), followed by St. Thomas (44 percent) and St. John (40 percent) (see Table 6). Table 6: Female-Headed Families with Own Children in the U.S. Virgin Islands, by Subdistrict, 2000 Families with Female-headed Island or subdistrict oun die families with Percent own children U.S. Virgin Islands ~ 14,107 6.450 cer ise St. Croix Island 7,355 3,476 47% Anna's Hope Village 549 204 37% Chnistiansted 381 218 S7% East End 268 73 27% Frederiksted $96 424 71% Northcentral 726 314 43% Northwest 769 433 56% Sion Farm 1,853 900 49% Southcentral 1,148 446 39% Southwest 1,068 464 43% St. John Island 478 189 40% Central 89 i 39% Coral Bay 7\ 28 39% Cruz Bay 316 125 40% East End 2 l --- St. Thomas Island 6,274 2,785 44% Charlotte Amalie 2,335 1,255 $4% East End 9$7 379 40% Northside 1,086 306 28% Southside 705 314 45% Tutu 901 445 49% Water Island 17 3 --- West End 273 83 30% Note: Own children include never-marned children under age 18 who are sons or daughters of the householder by birth, mamiage, or adoption. --- Percentage ts not shown because there are fewer than SO cases in the denominator Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census Population and Housing Profile for the U.S. Virgin Islands In St. Croix, the share of female-headed families was particularly high in Frederiksted (71 percent), Christiansted (57 percent), and Northwest (56 percent). The share of female- headed families also exceeded 50 percent in the capital city, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Female-headed families were least common in the East End subdistrict in St. Croix (27 percent), and the Northside subdistrict in St. Thomas (28 percent). High school dropouts Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of high school dropouts in the U.S. Virgin Islands remained constant at about 17 percent. However, trends varied on the three major islands. In St. Croix, the dropout rate decreased from 19 percent in 1990 to 18 percent in 2000. There was also a decrease in St. John, from 23 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2000. But in St. Thomas, the percentage of teens who dropped out of school increased during the decade, from 14 percent to 16 percent. Dropout rates in 2000 also varied in the different subdistricts (see Table 7). In Christiansted, St. Croix, one-fourth of teens were high school dropouts in 2000. Dropout rates were also particularly high in Frederiksted (23 percent), Northcentral (22 percent), and Southcentral (20 percent) in St. Croix, and in Southside, St. Thomas (20 percent). Teens were least likely to drop out of high school in East End, St. Croix (10 percent), Cruz Bay, St. John (12 percent), and West End, St. Thomas (6 percent) Demand for child care The demand for child care was highest in more affluent communities in the Virgin Islands, especially in St. John, where 82 percent of children lived in families with all parents in the labor force (see Table 8). The demand for child care was also high in the West End and East End areas of S'. Thomas. Frederiksted, St. Croix had the smallest share of children living in families with all parents in the labor force (SS percent). Frederiksted also had a relatively high percentage of households receiving public assistance in 1999 (17 percent). Table 7: Teens Ages 16 to 19 who are High School Dropouts in the U.S. Virgin Islands, by Subdistrict, 2000 Teens ages 16 to Island or subdistrict . ond 5g 19 who are high Percent school dropouts Las U.S. Virgin Islands 6.746 1,143 17% St. Croix Island 3,503 633 18% Anna's Hope Village 270 46 17% Christiansted 190 48 25% East End 98 10 10% Frederiksted 246 $7 23% Northcentral 378 85 22% Northwest 347 53 15% Sion Farm 852 140 16% Southcentral $87 118 20% Southwest 535 76 14% St. John Island 183 27 15% Central 43 8 --- Coral Bay 17 4 -- Cruz Bay 123 1S 12% East End 0 0 --- St. Thomas Island 3.060 483 16% Charlotte Amalie 1,289 209 16% East End 420 64 15% Northside 375 S| 14% Southside 315 63 20% Tutu $63 90 16% Water Island 0 --- West End 93 6 6% Note: --- Percentage is not shown because there are fewer than SO cases in the denominator Source: U S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census Population and Housing Profile for the US. Virgin Islands Table 8: Children Under Age 6 with All Parents in the Labor Force in the U.S. Virgin Islands, by Subdistrict, 2000 Children under Island or subdistrict Reirennsce rote bo Percent labor force U.S. Virgin Islands 9311 — «si St. Croix Island 4,946 3,124 63% Anna's Hope Village 289 211 73% Christiansted 273 162 $9% East End 117 75 64% Frederiksted 458 250 55% Northcentral 479 294 61% Northwest - 564 365 65% Sion Farm 1,270 855 67% Southcentral 793 475 60% Southwest 703 437 62% St. John Island 318 261 82% Central 4] 28 --- Coral Bay 44 31 --- Cruz Bay 230 200 87% East End 3 2 --- St. Thomas Island 4,047 3,028 75% Charlotte Amalie 1.468 1,082 74% East End 64) S14 80% Northside 63 496 78% Southside 490 332 68% Tutu 647 466 72% Water Island 4 2 --- West End iss 136 Re, ee Note: --- Percentage 1s not shown because there are fewer than 50 cases in the denominator Source: U.S Census Bureau, 2000 Census Population and Housing Profile for the US. Virgin Islands Appendix A In the United States, the census long form is sent to a sample of approximately | in 6 residents, but in the Virgin Islands, every household with a mailbox receives a long form questionnaire. Since the long form data for the Virgin Islands are based on a complete enumeration of the population, there is no sampling error associated with these data. However, it is important to remember that there may be other sources of error associated with these numbers. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, as in U.S. states, people are enumerated based on usual residence. Therefore, foreign travelers and others who do not have their usual residence in the Virgin Islands are excluded from this analysis. People in the U.S. Armed Forces are counted as residents of the area in which their military base is located. In 2000, there were only 109 people ages 16 and older in the Virgin Islands who reported being in the Armed Forces. The questionnaire on population characteristics in the U.S. Virgin Islands closely matches the census form used in the United States, with a few minor modifications. First, state residents were only required to report level of education, while residents of the Virgin Islands were also asked whether they had completed any vocational training programs. Second, the modified questionnaire in the Virgin Islands excluded the question on ancestry that was asked of state residents. Third, Virgin Islanders were asked about children ever born, a question that was dropped from the 2000 Census conducted in the United States. Finally, the census form in the Virgin Islands included questions to determine parental place of birth. This information was not collected from residents of U.S. states or the District of Columbia. There were also several questions on housing in the Virgin Islands that were not included on questionnaires in U.S. states, including questions about cooking fuel, source of water, sewage disposal, and condominium status. The data shown in this report are based on 2000 Census long form data released in February 2002. More detailed long form tables are scheduled to be released in October 2002, and a 10-percent Public Use Microdata Sample (PLUMS) fi'> is scheduled to be released in May 2003. 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Data for the Virgin Islands from the 1990 Census (in PDF format) are available from the U.S Census Bureau at http://www.census.gov/population/www/proas/pr_ia_pr.htm! For more information about efforts to improve the welfare of children in the U.S. Virgin Islands, visit The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands website at http://fdneenter.org/grantmaker/cfvi/index.htm! For definitions of some of the census terms used in this report. see “A Glossary of Census Terms,” available on the KIDS COUNT website at http://www.aecf.org/kidscounv glossary pdf For more information about this report, contact Mark Mather at the Population Reference Bureau: Phone (202) 939-5433 or E-mail (mmather@prb org) Endnotes Race data for 1990 are not shown because they are not strictly comparable with data for 2000 he 2000 Censu was the first census that allowed respondents to mark more than one race Goverment of the US. Virgin Islands. The US. Department of Intenor Office of Insular Affair accessed al www gov. vifastfact html (lulv 24. 200) The ti & “entr In loer > Mine» i. i, Wi . . ine Central Inteiliwence Agency i x OOK M rcCeSSCU Al www oder. gov/cia/ publications factbook geos/ vg htm! (July 22, 2002 Some researchers at the US. Virgin Islands Department of Labor believe that the unemplovment rate ts over 10 perceni according to the Community I oundation ol the \ rem Isl ands 2002 Si reir viamds A Wi , \ ata Book 200] (page 17) The U.S. unemplovment rate for 2000 is based on data from the 2000 Decennial Census. and may differ from ctal estimates based on the Current Population Survey > } ) " The 2000 Census, like the 1990 Census, asked questions about income in the previous calendar vear. Therefore ncome and poverty are reported for 1989 and 1999 S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census Social and Economic Characteristics for the US. Virgin Islands. accessed at www census. 2ov/population/ www /proas’pr ia prhtmi (July 31, 2002). and 2000 Census Population and Housin } p ‘ Profile for the US. \ irgin Islands U.S. Census Bureau, 2001. Fertility of American Women. 200 Table Distribution of Women by Average Number of Cheidren Ever Born, bv Race, Age, and Marital Status: June 2000.” accessed at www census. 20v/population socdemo fertility p20-543/tabOL xis Cluly 18, 2002 In 1999. the US. poverty threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $16,895. Poverty guidelines nclude higher income thresholds for Hawai and Alaska, but are not adjusted for U.S. terntones. “It is probable that poverty in the U.S. Virgin Islands is underestimated based on a higher cost of living for non-contiguous territories xccording to the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, 2002, US. Virgin Islands KIDS COUNT Data Book 200] (page 6) Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, 2002 S. birgin Islands K'DS COUNT Data Book 200) (page This 10-year trend does not necessarily reflect trends in the late 1990s. In the United States, for example. the vare of single-parent familes increased during the carly 1990s but declined slightly late in the decade State of the terntory address by Charles W. Turnbull, governor of the United States Virgin Islands, January 10 2000, accessed at www usvi.ore/governor’sot2000_ htm! (luly '7. 2002) Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands KIDS COUNT Data Book 200) (pages 50-5) ‘ . Estimates of high school dropout rates are based on the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey. a national survey of about 700,000 households, and may differ from Census 2000 estimates Community Foundation of the Viren Islands S Virgin Isiands AJDS COUNT Data Rook 200 (page 36) Subdistncts were defined by the US. Virgin Islands legislature for the 1980 Census, and are roughly equivalent to minor crvil divisions in the United States Se a, 20 Members of the KIDS COUNT Advisory Group on Census 2000 Suzanne Bianchi University of Maryland at College Pork Brett Brown Chilo Trends. Inc Roderick Harrison loint Center for Political and Economic Studies Donaid J. Hernandez State University of New York at Albany Ken Hodges Clorites inc Laura Lippman Notional Center for Education Statistics Louisa Miller U.S. Census Bureat Martin O'Connell U.S. Census Burear Matt Snipp Stanford University KIDS COUNT Members: Laura Beavers Rhode Islond KIDS COUNT Joan Benso Pennsyivanio Partnerships for Children Mike Crawford Shild and Family Policy Cente Rich Huddleston Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families Thomas McDonaid University of Kansas Debbie Morgan KIOS COUNT Network Kelly O'Donnell New Mexico Advocates for Children & Families Terry Schooley University of Delawore Annie E. Casey Foundation Stoff: William O'Hare Mega n Reynolds PRB Stoff: John Haaga Mark Mather Kelvin Pollard Kern Rivers Cheryl Stauffer Nicole Bramstedt Opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily represent the views of the odvisory group members The Annie £. Casey Foundation 701 Saint Paui Street Baltimore. MD 21202 www cect org Population Reference Bureau 1875S Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite $20 Washington, DC 20009 www ord org U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) National Library of Education (NLE) Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) NOTICE Reproduction Basis | X | This document is covered by a signed “Reproduction Release (Blanket)" | form (on file within the ERIC system), encompassing all or classes of documents from its source organization and, therefore, does not require a "Specific Document" Release form. This document is Federally-funded, or carries its own permission to | reproduce, or is otherwise in the public domain and, therefore, may be reproduced by ERIC without a signed Reproduction Release form (either "Specific Document" or "Blanket"). EFF-089 (1/2003)