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Excerpt from The 1990 United States Census [2nd], by United States. Bureau of the Census

1990 Census of Population and Housing Page 2
*** New York
Total housing units......................................... 7,226,891
OCCUPANCY AND TENURE
Occupied housing units................................... 6,639,322
Owner occupied........................................ 3,464,436
Percent owner occupied............................. 52.2
Renter occupied....................................... 3,174,886
Vacant housing units..................................... 587,569
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use......... 212,625
Homeowner vacancy rate (percent).......................... 1.9
Rental vacancy rate (percent)............................. 4.9
Persons per owner-occupied unit.......................... 2.86
Persons per renter-occupied unit......................... 2.38
Units with over 1 person per room........................ 431,733
UNITS IN STRUCTURE
1-unit, detached......................................... 2,929,333
1-unit, attached......................................... 301,794
2 to 4 units............................................. 1,320,073
5 to 9 units............................................. 374,858
10 or more units......................................... 1,998,074
Mobile home, trailer, other.............................. 302,759
VALUE
Specified owner-occupied units........................... 2,387,606
Less than $50,000..................................... 243,817
$50,000 to $99,000.................................... 674,377
$100,000 to $149,000.................................. 431,629
$150,000 to $199,999.................................. 438,992
$200,000 to $299,999.................................. 380,997
$300,000 or more...................................... 217,794
Median (dollars)...................................... 131,600
CONTRACT RENT
Specified renter-occupied units paying cash rent......... 3,059,911
Less than $250........................................ 529,128
$250 to $499.......................................... 1,387,210
$500 to $749.......................................... 764,656
$750 to $999.......................................... 223,110
$1,000 or more........................................ 155,807
Median (dollars)...................................... 428
RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN OF HOUSEHOLDER
Occupied housing units................................... 6,639,322
White................................................. 5,184,827
Black................................................. 947,597
Percent of occupied units.......................... 14.3
American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut..................... 20,375
Percent of occupied units.......................... 0.3
Asian or Pacific Islander............................. 201,644
Percent of occupied units.......................... 3.0
Other race............................................ 284,879
Hispanic origin (of any race)......................... 665,079
Percent of occupied units.......................... 10.0

1990 Census of Population and Housing Page 1
*** North Carolina
Total population............................................ 6,628,637
SEX
Male..................................................... 3,214,290
Female................................................... 3,414,347
AGE
Under 5 years............................................ 458,955
5 to 17 years............................................ 1,147,194
18 to 20 years........................................... 348,346
21 to 24 years........................................... 432,707
25 to 44 years........................................... 2,151,486
45 to 54 years........................................... 698,705
55 to 59 years........................................... 295,739
60 to 64 years........................................... 291,164
65 to 74 years........................................... 483,105
75 to 84 years........................................... 251,267
85 years and over........................................ 69,969
Median age............................................... 33.1
Under 18 years.............................................. 1,606,149
Percent of total population.............................. 24.2
65 years and over........................................... 804,341
Percent of total population.............................. 12.1
HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE
Total households............................................ 2,517,026
Family households (families)............................. 1,812,053
Married-couple families............................... 1,424,206
Percent of total households........................ 56.6
Other family, male householder........................ 77,971
Other family, female householder...................... 309,876
Nonfamily households..................................... 704,973
Percent of total households........................ 28.0
Householder living alone.............................. 596,959
Householder 65 years and over...................... 226,384
Persons living in households............................. 6,404,167
Persons per household.................................... 2.54
GROUP QUARTERS
Persons living in group quarters......................... 224,470
Institutionalized persons............................. 83,400
Other persons in group quarters....................... 141,070
RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
White.................................................... 5,008,491
Black.................................................... 1,456,323
Percent of total population........................... 22.0
American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut........................ 80,155
Percent of total population........................... 1.2
Asian or Pacific Islander................................ 52,166
Percent of total population........................... 0.8
Other race............................................... 31,502
Hispanic origin (of any race)............................ 76,726
Percent of total population........................... 1.2

1990 Census of Population and Housing Page 2
*** North Carolina
Total housing units......................................... 2,818,193
OCCUPANCY AND TENURE
Occupied housing units................................... 2,517,026
Owner occupied........................................ 1,711,817
Percent owner occupied............................. 68.0
Renter occupied....................................... 805,209
Vacant housing units..................................... 301,167
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use......... 98,714
Homeowner vacancy rate (percent).......................... 1.8
Rental vacancy rate (percent)............................. 9.2
Persons per owner-occupied unit.......................... 2.62
Persons per renter-occupied unit......................... 2.39
Units with over 1 person per room........................ 72,635
UNITS IN STRUCTURE
1-unit, detached......................................... 1,830,229
1-unit, attached......................................... 74,318
2 to 4 units............................................. 177,700
5 to 9 units............................................. 130,801
10 or more units......................................... 150,986
Mobile home, trailer, other.............................. 454,159
VALUE
Specified owner-occupied units........................... 1,217,975
Less than $50,000..................................... 382,781
$50,000 to $99,000.................................... 575,677
$100,000 to $149,000.................................. 155,158
$150,000 to $199,999.................................. 56,252
$200,000 to $299,999.................................. 33,088
$300,000 or more...................................... 15,019
Median (dollars)...................................... 65,800
CONTRACT RENT
Specified renter-occupied units paying cash rent......... 709,716
Less than $250........................................ 288,186
$250 to $499.......................................... 360,735
$500 to $749.......................................... 52,038
$750 to $999.......................................... 4,888
$1,000 or more........................................ 3,869
Median (dollars)...................................... 284
RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN OF HOUSEHOLDER
Occupied housing units................................... 2,517,026
White................................................. 1,977,594
Black................................................. 492,214
Percent of occupied units.......................... 19.6
American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut..................... 25,528
Percent of occupied units.......................... 1.0
Asian or Pacific Islander............................. 13,706
Percent of occupied units.......................... 0.5
Other race............................................ 7,984
Hispanic origin (of any race)......................... 21,533
Percent of occupied units.......................... 0.9

Explanation ​

This excerpt from the 1990 U.S. Census presents statistical data on New York and North Carolina, offering a snapshot of demographic, economic, and housing patterns in these two states at the turn of the 1990s. While not a traditional literary text, census data functions as a social text—a document that reveals historical, economic, and cultural realities through quantitative metrics. Below is a detailed breakdown of the excerpt, focusing on its themes, comparative insights, literary/rhetorical devices (where applicable), and broader significance.

1. Context of the Source ​

The 1990 U.S. Census was conducted by the Bureau of the Census to collect demographic data for political representation, resource allocation, and policy planning. This excerpt contrasts New York (a densely urban, economically diverse state) with North Carolina (a Southern state with rural-urban divides and a historically agricultural economy). The data reflects post-industrial America, the early impacts of globalization, and regional disparities in wealth, housing, and racial composition.

2. Themes in the Excerpt ​

A. Urban vs. Rural Divides ​

  • New York is dominated by high-density housing (nearly 2 million units in structures with 10+ units, reflecting apartment living in NYC) and high rental rates (48% of housing units are renter-occupied). The median home value ($131,600) and rent ($428/month) are significantly higher than North Carolina’s, indicating an urban economy with higher costs of living.
  • North Carolina has a higher homeownership rate (68%) and a lower median home value ($65,800), suggesting a more suburban/rural housing market. The prevalence of mobile homes (454,159 units) further underscores a less urbanized population.

B. Economic Disparities ​

  • Income and Housing Costs:
    • In New York, 217,794 homes are valued at $300,000+, while in North Carolina, only 15,019 reach that threshold. The rental market is also starkly different: 155,807 NY renters pay $1,000+/month, compared to just 3,869 in NC.
    • Overcrowding: 431,733 NY units have >1 person per room (likely due to high urban density and immigrant communities), vs. 72,635 in NC.
  • Vacancy Rates:
    • NY’s rental vacancy rate (4.9%) is lower than NC’s (9.2%), suggesting tighter housing markets in cities.
    • Seasonal/vacation homes are more common in NY (212,625) than NC (98,714), reflecting tourism in places like the Hamptons or Adirondacks.

C. Racial and Ethnic Composition ​

  • New York is far more racially diverse:
    • 14.3% Black, 10% Hispanic, 3% Asian/Pacific Islander.
    • The "Other race" category (284,879) may include mixed-race or immigrant groups not fully captured by census classifications.
  • North Carolina is 80% White, with a 22% Black population (reflecting the state’s history of slavery and the Black Belt), but only 1.2% Hispanic and 0.8% Asian. The low Hispanic population (1.2%) is notable given later 21st-century growth in Latino communities.

D. Age and Household Structures ​

  • North Carolina has a younger population (median age 33.1) with 24.2% under 18, suggesting higher birth rates or family formation.
  • New York’s data (not fully shown here) would likely reflect an older urban population with more single-person households, but the excerpt focuses on housing rather than age.
  • Household Types:
    • NC has more married-couple families (56.6%) and fewer nonfamily households (28%), aligning with traditional Southern family structures.
    • NY’s data (implied by high rental rates) would show more single-person or non-family households, typical of urban areas.

E. Group Quarters and Institutionalization ​

  • North Carolina has 224,470 people in group quarters, including 83,400 institutionalized (prisons, nursing homes, military bases). This may reflect:
    • The state’s prison population (NC had a growing incarceration rate in the 1990s).
    • Military presence (e.g., Fort Bragg).
    • Aging population (226,384 households with a 65+ householder).

3. Literary/Rhetorical Devices (in a Non-Literary Text) ​

While census data is not creative writing, it employs rhetorical strategies to convey information:

  • Juxtaposition: The side-by-side presentation of NY and NC highlights urban vs. rural, wealthy vs. working-class, diverse vs. homogeneous.
  • Quantitative Storytelling: Numbers imply narratives—e.g., 431,733 overcrowded NY units suggest immigrant enclaves or poverty; NC’s 454,159 mobile homes evoke rural poverty or transient labor.
  • Classification and Hierarchy: The census categorizes people (by race, age, tenure), reinforcing social structures (e.g., homeownership as a marker of stability).
  • Omissions as Rhetoric: The census does not explain why certain patterns exist (e.g., Why is NC’s Hispanic population so low? Why are NY rents so high?). This invites critical reading of the data’s silences.

4. Significance of the Data ​

A. Historical Context (Early 1990s America) ​

  • Post-Industrial Decline: NY’s data reflects deindustrialization (high urban density, service economy), while NC’s economy was still transitioning from textiles/agriculture to tech (Research Triangle).
  • Immigration: NY’s diversity hints at 1965 Immigration Act impacts, while NC’s low Hispanic population precedes later Latino migration (e.g., poultry industry labor).
  • Housing Crisis: The vacancy rates and rent burdens foreshadow gentrification (NY) and suburban sprawl (NC).

B. Policy Implications ​

  • Affordable Housing: NY’s high rents and overcrowding suggest a need for public housing (though the census doesn’t show this directly).
  • Racial Segregation: The Black percentages (14.3% in NY, 19.6% in NC) could reflect redlining or white flight patterns.
  • Aging Population: NC’s 65+ population (12.1%) indicates future healthcare and pension demands.

C. Comparative Sociology ​

  • The data allows regional comparisons:
    • NY = Cosmopolitan, expensive, rental-heavy.
    • NC = Traditional, affordable, ownership-driven.
  • Myth vs. Reality: Challenges stereotypes (e.g., NC isn’t all White; NY isn’t all wealthy—note the 243,817 homes under $50K).

5. Critical Questions Raised by the Text ​

  1. What’s missing?

    • Income data (only housing values/rents are given).
    • Education levels, employment sectors, or crime rates—key to understanding economic mobility.
    • Qualitative experiences (e.g., Why do so many NY units have overcrowding?).

  2. How does the census shape identity?

    • The racial categories (e.g., "Other race") reflect government classifications, not self-identification.
    • Homeownership is framed as an ideal (higher % in NC), but does this mask economic precarity?

  3. What biases exist?

    • Undercounting: Marginalized groups (homeless, undocumented) may be missed.
    • Assumptions: "Vacant" units could be abandoned (rust belt) or investment properties (NYC).

6. Conclusion: The Census as a Social Mirror ​

This excerpt is not just numbers—it’s a reflection of power, opportunity, and inequality in 1990s America. By comparing NY and NC, we see:

  • How geography shapes destiny (urban vs. rural economies).
  • How race and class intersect (homeownership gaps, rental burdens).
  • How data can obscure as much as it reveals (missing narratives of struggle or resilience).

For a literary scholar, this text is a foundational document—raw material for social novels (e.g., The Bonfire of the Vanities for NY, Cold Mountain for NC) or policy critiques. For a historian, it’s a time capsule of an America on the cusp of globalization, tech booms, and widening inequality.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect (e.g., racial demographics, housing economics)?