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

            THE 1990 UNITED STATES CENSUS

1990 Census of Population and Housing Page 1
*** Alabama
Total population............................................ 4,040,587
SEX
Male..................................................... 1,936,162
Female................................................... 2,104,425
AGE
Under 5 years............................................ 283,295
5 to 17 years............................................ 775,493
18 to 20 years........................................... 205,557
21 to 24 years........................................... 237,778
25 to 44 years........................................... 1,232,067
45 to 54 years........................................... 419,421
55 to 59 years........................................... 183,677
60 to 64 years........................................... 180,310
65 to 74 years........................................... 301,218
75 to 84 years........................................... 173,264
85 years and over........................................ 48,507
Median age............................................... 33.0
Under 18 years.............................................. 1,058,788
Percent of total population.............................. 26.2
65 years and over........................................... 522,989
Percent of total population.............................. 12.9
HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE
Total households............................................ 1,506,790
Family households (families)............................. 1,103,835
Married-couple families............................... 858,327
Percent of total households........................ 57.0
Other family, male householder........................ 44,288
Other family, female householder...................... 201,220
Nonfamily households..................................... 402,955
Percent of total households........................ 26.7
Householder living alone.............................. 358,078
Householder 65 years and over...................... 154,191
Persons living in households............................. 3,948,185
Persons per household.................................... 2.62
GROUP QUARTERS
Persons living in group quarters......................... 92,402
Institutionalized persons............................. 51,583
Other persons in group quarters....................... 40,819
RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
White.................................................... 2,975,797
Black.................................................... 1,020,705
Percent of total population........................... 25.3
American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut........................ 16,506
Percent of total population........................... 0.4
Asian or Pacific Islander................................ 21,797
Percent of total population........................... 0.5
Other race............................................... 5,782
Hispanic origin (of any race)............................ 24,629
Percent of total population........................... 0.6

1990 Census of Population and Housing Page 2
*** Alabama
Total housing units......................................... 1,670,379
OCCUPANCY AND TENURE
Occupied housing units................................... 1,506,790
Owner occupied........................................ 1,061,897
Percent owner occupied............................. 70.5
Renter occupied....................................... 444,893
Vacant housing units..................................... 163,589
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use......... 35,609
Homeowner vacancy rate (percent).......................... 1.8
Rental vacancy rate (percent)............................. 9.4
Persons per owner-occupied unit.......................... 2.70
Persons per renter-occupied unit......................... 2.44
Units with over 1 person per room........................ 52,927
UNITS IN STRUCTURE
1-unit, detached......................................... 1,133,927
1-unit, attached......................................... 31,943
2 to 4 units............................................. 96,104
5 to 9 units............................................. 66,413
10 or more units......................................... 102,462
Mobile home, trailer, other.............................. 239,530
VALUE
Specified owner-occupied units........................... 753,827
Less than $50,000..................................... 343,854
$50,000 to $99,000.................................... 310,737
$100,000 to $149,000.................................. 62,459
$150,000 to $199,999.................................. 20,129
$200,000 to $299,999.................................. 11,264
$300,000 or more...................................... 5,384
Median (dollars)...................................... 53,700
CONTRACT RENT
Specified renter-occupied units paying cash rent......... 386,179
Less than $250........................................ 214,363
$250 to $499.......................................... 155,027
$500 to $749.......................................... 14,380
$750 to $999.......................................... 1,594
$1,000 or more........................................ 815
Median (dollars)...................................... 229
RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN OF HOUSEHOLDER
Occupied housing units................................... 1,506,790
White................................................. 1,159,263
Black................................................. 334,513
Percent of occupied units.......................... 22.2
American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut..................... 5,288
Percent of occupied units.......................... 0.4
Asian or Pacific Islander............................. 6,077
Percent of occupied units.......................... 0.4
Other race............................................ 1,649
Hispanic origin (of any race)......................... 7,373
Percent of occupied units.......................... 0.5

Explanation ​

This excerpt from the 1990 United States Census for Alabama is a statistical, bureaucratic document rather than a traditional literary text. However, it can be analyzed through a socio-historical, rhetorical, and data-driven lens, revealing insights about demographics, economic conditions, racial dynamics, and housing trends in Alabama at the turn of the 1990s. Below is a detailed breakdown of the text’s content, themes, literary/rhetorical devices (where applicable), and significance, with a focus on the data itself.

1. Context of the Source ​

The U.S. Census, conducted every ten years since 1790, is a constitutionally mandated count of the population that shapes political representation, federal funding, and policy decisions. The 1990 Census was particularly significant because:

  • It was the first to use mail-out/mail-back questionnaires nationwide.
  • It occurred during a period of economic restructuring (post-Reagan era, early globalization).
  • It reflected post-Civil Rights Era demographics, including shifts in racial composition and urbanization.
  • Alabama, a Deep South state, had (and still has) a complex racial history, making its census data a microcosm of broader American social dynamics.

This excerpt is raw data, but it can be read as a "text" that tells a story about who lived in Alabama, how they lived, and the inequalities embedded in its society.

2. Themes in the Excerpt ​

A. Demographic Composition: Age, Sex, and Family Structure ​

  • Sex Ratio: Women (2,104,425) outnumber men (1,936,162), a trend seen in many states due to longer female life expectancy and, historically, male labor migration.
  • Age Distribution:
    • 26.2% under 18 → A relatively young population, suggesting high birth rates (common in Southern states at the time).
    • 12.9% over 65 → A significant elderly population, which has implications for healthcare and social services.
    • Median age: 33.0 → Younger than the national median (32.9 in 1990), but close, indicating a balanced age distribution.
  • Household Types:
    • 57% married-couple families → Dominant family structure, but 22.7% female-headed households (a high rate, reflecting economic disparities, single motherhood, and possibly the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow).
    • 26.7% nonfamily households → Includes single adults, elderly living alone (154,191), suggesting urbanization and changing social norms.

B. Race and Ethnic Composition: A Legacy of Segregation ​

  • White (73.7%) vs. Black (25.3%) → Alabama’s racial binary is stark, a remnant of slavery and Jim Crow.
    • The Black population (1,020,705) is over a quarter of the state, one of the highest percentages in the U.S., reflecting the Black Belt’s historical concentration of African Americans.
  • Minority Groups:
    • American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut (0.4%) → Likely includes descendants of the Creek (Muscogee) Nation, who were forcibly removed in the 19th century.
    • Asian or Pacific Islander (0.5%) → A very small population, reflecting limited immigration to the South at the time.
    • Hispanic (0.6%) → Extremely low compared to national trends (9% in 1990), indicating minimal Latino migration to Alabama at this point (this would change dramatically by 2010).

C. Housing and Economic Inequality ​

  • Homeownership (70.5%) vs. Renting (29.5%) → High homeownership rate, but rental vacancy rate (9.4%) suggests economic instability for renters.
  • Housing Values:
    • Median home value: $53,700 → Very low compared to the national median (~$79,100 in 1990), indicating lower wealth accumulation.
    • 45.6% of homes valued under $50,000 → Suggests poverty and lack of housing investment.
  • Rent Burden:
    • Median rent: $229/month → Extremely low, but 55.5% of renters pay under $250, indicating low wages.
    • Overcrowding: 52,927 units with >1 person per room → A sign of poverty and inadequate housing.
  • Mobile Homes (239,530, ~14.4% of housing units) → A Southern phenomenon, often associated with rural poverty and lack of affordable housing options.

D. Institutionalization and Group Quarters ​

  • 92,402 in group quarters:
    • 51,583 institutionalized (prisons, nursing homes, mental hospitals) → High institutionalization rate, possibly reflecting mass incarceration (early stages of the prison boom) and elderly care needs.
    • 40,819 in non-institutional group quarters (college dorms, military barracks, shelters) → Includes students, military personnel, and homeless populations.

3. Literary/Rhetorical Devices (Despite Being a Statistical Text) ​

While not a "literary" work, the census uses rhetorical strategies to present data in a neutral, authoritative, and structured way:

  • Classification and Categorization:
    • The hierarchical breakdown (total population → sex → age → race → housing) creates a logical flow, making complex data digestible.
    • Percentages (e.g., "25.3% Black") quantify social realities, making inequalities visible but depersonalized.
  • Repetition and Parallelism:
    • The consistent formatting (e.g., "Under 5 years... 283,295") creates rhythm and predictability, reinforcing the bureaucratic tone.
  • Implied Narratives:
    • The absence of narrative is itself a rhetorical choice—it presents data as objective, but the numbers tell stories (e.g., high female-headed households suggest economic struggles).
  • Juxtaposition:
    • Placing median home value ($53,700) next to median rent ($229) highlights economic disparities.
    • Comparing White (73.7%) and Black (25.3%) populations silently underscores racial demographics without explicit commentary.

4. Significance of the Data ​

A. Historical and Social Implications ​

  • Racial Dynamics:
    • The Black population (25.3%) is a legacy of slavery and the Great Migration’s reverse (many Black Alabamians stayed or returned).
    • The low Hispanic population (0.6%) foreshadows future demographic shifts (by 2020, Hispanics would make up 5.3% of Alabama’s population).
  • Economic Struggles:
    • Low home values and rents suggest stagnant wages and limited economic mobility.
    • High mobile home usage reflects rural poverty and lack of urban infrastructure.
  • Family Structure:
    • 22.7% female-headed households aligns with national trends of single motherhood, often linked to welfare debates of the 1990s.

B. Political and Policy Relevance ​

  • Redistricting: Census data determines congressional seats—Alabama’s racial composition influences gerrymandering and voting rights (e.g., Voting Rights Act of 1965 protections).
  • Federal Funding: Programs like Medicaid, food stamps, and housing assistance rely on census data—Alabama’s high poverty rates would qualify it for more aid.
  • Public Health: The elderly population (12.9%) and institutionalized persons (51,583) inform healthcare policy.

C. Cultural and Literary Reflections ​

  • Southern Gothic Tropes:
    • The data quantifies themes found in Southern literature (e.g., Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury—family decline, racial tension).
    • Poverty, racial division, and institutionalization are central to Southern identity.
  • Invisibility of Marginalized Groups:
    • The 0.4% American Indian population is nearly erased statistically, mirroring historical erasure (e.g., Trail of Tears).
    • The low Hispanic count contrasts with later waves of immigration, showing how demographics change over time.

5. Critical Analysis: What the Data Doesn’t Say ​

While the census is comprehensive, it also obscures certain realities:

  • No Income Data: We see housing costs but not wages, making it hard to assess economic hardship fully.
  • No Education Levels: Correlates with poverty and job opportunities but is missing.
  • No Migration Patterns: Doesn’t show who is leaving/arriving (e.g., White flight to suburbs, Black outmigration).
  • No Qualitative Stories: The human experiences behind the numbers (e.g., why are 154,191 elderly living alone?) are absent.

6. Conclusion: The Census as a "Text" of American Life ​

This excerpt is more than just numbers—it is a snapshot of Alabama in 1990, revealing: ✅ A racially divided state with a large Black population and minimal ethnic diversity. ✅ Economic struggles, seen in low home values, high mobile home usage, and overcrowding. ✅ Changing family structures, with many single-parent households. ✅ Aging population and institutionalization trends that reflect healthcare and criminal justice systems.

While not a literary masterpiece, the census is a powerful rhetorical document—it shapes policy, reinforces narratives, and silently documents inequality. Reading it critically allows us to see the stories behind the statistics and understand how data constructs reality.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect (e.g., racial demographics, housing trends, or comparisons to other states)?