Solano County Demographic Report
Demographic Report
Solano County
First Draft
Judith Bodolla Tata
SOCI 370 - Population and Migration
Professor Marianne Paiva
12/2/13
Introduction
Solano County was formed in 1850 but had been in existence for at least 2000 years and was once home to the Patwin Indians (About Solano). It is also one of the original 27 counties in California. Today, Solano is culturally diverse county, well situated between San Francisco and Sacramento and provides easy access between the two largest cities in Northern California. There is agricultural production as well as many parks and open spaces for recreation. There are seven cities, all of them incorporated between 1850-1903. This paper is a review of the population and demographic trends of
Solano …show more content…
County. The information in the tables is based on government data from the U.S.
Census Bureau. The topics discussed are age, education, income, occupations and industries as well as the general demographic characteristics as illustrated by a population pyramid. There is an attempt to understand any links between the historical and present demographic data and observations of living in Solano. The population projections are basis for any attempt to make predictions about the future demographics of Solano County.
Demographics, Race and Ethnicity
With a population density of 503.0 persons per square mile, Solano County is considerably more densely populated than California overall, which in comparison, has
23.1 persons per square mile. One reason for this could be Solano County’s location halfway between the metropolitan areas of San Francisco and Sacramento. The relative proximity to these two cities makes it ideal for commuters in either direction.
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Table 1 Population and Age Demographics*
Data
Population, 2012 estimate
Solano County
420,757
California
38,041,430
Population Density, persons per square mile, 2010
503.0
239.1
Persons under 5 years, percent, 2012
6.3%
6.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent, 2012
23.5%
24.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2012
12.4%
12.1%
*
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
As Table 2 indicates below, the fertility rates are lower and mortality rates higher than for California over all.
Table 2 Fertility and Mortality rates
Data
General FertilityRate (2008)1
Age Adjusted All Cause Mortality Rate (2006-2008)4
Solano County
66.12
7255
California
69.03
675.16
Live births per 1,000 females age15 to 44
Source: http://www.co.solano.ca.us/about/county_facts_n_figures.asp
3 Source: http://cdph.ca.gov/data/statistics/Documents/VSC-2008-0202.pdf
4 Deaths per 100,000 population
5 Source: http://www.co.solano.ca.us/about/county_facts_n_figures.asp
6 Source: http://www.cdhp.ca.gov/data/statistics/Documents/VSC-2008-0501.pdf
1
2
Solano County has fewer individuals who identify as ‘White alone’ in comparison to
California as a whole (Table 3). The Black or African American population is twice as large percentage wise as in California as a whole, and so is the population that identifies itself as bi-or multiracial. Individuals who claim Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are fewer than California as a whole.
2
Table 3 Race and Ethnicity (2012)*
Race/Ethnicity
Solano County
California
White alone
60.6%
73.7%
Black or African American alone
15%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone
6.6%
1.2%
1.7%
15.5%
13.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
1.0%
0.5%
Two or More Races
6.6%
3.6%
Hispanic or Latino**
24.8%
38.2%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino
40.3%
39.4%
Asian alone
Note: percent
* Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
**Ethnicity, can be any of the above races
Education and Income
Although the high school graduation rate is higher in Solano County than in
California as a whole (Table 4), the percentage of individuals with a Bachelor’s degree or higher lags behind California in general. I found it interesting that the number of foreign language speakers is lower than the California average, which could mean that less resources are needed for ESL (English as a Second Language) courses in the community and schools.
Table 4 Education (2007-2011)*
Education Level
Solano County
California
High school graduate or higher age 25+
86.2%
80.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher age 25+
24.2%
30.2%
3
Language other than English spoken at home age 5+
29.4%
43.2%
Note: percent of persons
*
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
Even though the median household income in Solano County is only slightly higher than
California as a whole, as Table 5 shows, the homeownership rate is 8% higher. This can be due to the fact that the median house values are almost 25% lower than in California in general making housing in Solano County more affordable to a larger number of people. Table 5 Income and Housing (2007-2011)*
Index
Solano County
California
Per capita money income in the past 12 months (2011 dollars) $29,367
$29,634
Median household income
$69,914
$61,632
Persons below poverty level, percent
10.8%
14.4%
Homeownership rate, percent
64.9%
56.7%
$340,000
$421,600
2.82
2.91
Median value of owner-occupied housing units
Persons per household
*
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
There are fewer households with incomes up to $49,999 in Solano County than
California as a whole pointing toward a lower poverty rate in the county. There are also fewer households with an income over $200,000 in Solano County versus California.
However, as Table 6 shows, in the income ranges $50,000 to $199,999, the rates are higher than for California in general, indicating there is a substantial middle and uppermiddle class population.
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Table 6 Income per Household
Income
Solano County
California
Total households
139.312
12,433,172
Less than $14,999
8.2%
10.4%
$15,000 to $34,999
14.9%
18.5%
$35,000 to $74,999
31%
29.7%
$75,000 to $149,999
33%
27.9%
$150,000 or more
13%
13.6%
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau.
Table 7 confirms the information derived from Table 6 that poverty rates in Solano
County are lower than California in general. All numbers are well below the California average, but in particular, poverty rate in households led by single females is much lower than in California in general. It could be due to better family services, better employment possibilities for single women with children, or an overall better support system in place, which serves to keep as many as possible out of poverty.
Table 7 Poverty Level
Family/Persons
Solano
County
California
All families
8.1%
10.8%
Married couple families
4.1%
6.4%
Families with female head of household, no husband
21.7%
25.5%
With related children under 18 years
27.5%
34.1%
With related children under 5 years of age
27.8%
38.4%
All people
10.8%
14.4%
Under 18 years
14.8%
19.9%
5
Percentage of families and people whose income in the past 12 months is below the property level
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
Industries, Business and Employment
Like California in general, the largest industries in Solano County are education, health care and social services (Table 8). The percent employed are slightly higher than the California average, but not by a large margin. The biggest difference is in the percentage of people employed within public administration. Solano County employs proportionately almost twice as many within this sector compared to California as a whole. If most of the work is within the government sector, then this would point to a bloated county/local government. However, it is not clear where these employments are so it is difficult to evaluate the reason, or reasons, for this substantial difference.
Solano County has only 6.1% self- employed workers while California has 8.6%.
The most obvious difference though is the percentage of government workers. Solano
County boasts a full 20.3% compared to 14.7% for California as a whole. This would validate some of the difference in the percentage of public administrators. Again, this could point toward a bloated county/local government. However, it could also just be that more people who work with the government live in Solano County, as the cost of housing is lower than those of the metropolitan areas of Sacramento and San Francisco.
A number of these government workers might work in other areas outside Solano
County.
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Table 8 Industries
Field of industry
Solano County
California
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 22.3%
20.5%
Retail trade
11.5%
11%
Manufacturing
9.2%
10.2%
Professional, scientific, and management and administrative and waste management services
8.9%
12.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services
8.7%
9.4%
Note: Percent of persons based on Civilian Employed Population 16 years and over, Table 8
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
Solano County has a lower proportion of people employed within management, business, science and art occupations than California in general. This could be related to
Table 4 above, which shows that only 24,2% of the population in Solano County has a
Bachelor’s degree or higher for those over 25 years of age compared to 30.2% for
California in genera (Table 9)l. For many occupations in management, business and science, a Bachelor’s Degree would be required.
Table 9 Occupations
Field of occupation
Solano County
California
Civilian Employed Population 16 years and over
181,725
16,603,417
Management, business, science, and art
33.6%
36.5%
Service
19.2%
17.9%
Sales and office
25.8%
25%
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
10.4%
9.6%
Productions, transportation, and material moving
11.1%
10.9%
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
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The general trend in the employment and unemployment figures (Table 10) are quite similar when Solano County is compared to California. However, there is a notable difference in the percentage of the population over 16 years of age that is employed within the armed forces. This difference can possibly be attributed to the presence of
Travis Air Force Base, which is located in the city of Fairfield in Solano County.
Table 10 Employment Status
Subject
Solano County
California
Population, 16 years and over
322,292
28,796,402
In labor force
210,457
18,618,649
Employed
56.4%
57.7%
Unemployed
6.3%
6.5%
Armed Forces
2.7%
0.5%
Not in labor force
34.7%
35.3%
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
The last table in this section, Table 11, is attached because of the percentage of blackowned firms in Solano County, which is noteworthy as it is double to that of the
California numbers.
This is possibly due to the fact that there are, as shown in Table 3, twice as many Blacks and African Americans among the total population in Solano
County.
Table 11 Business owners by race (2007)*
Index
Solano County
California
Black-owned firms
8.9%
4.0%
American-Indian and Alaska Native owned firms
1.4%
1.3%
15.5%
14.9%
Asian-owned firms
8
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander owned firms
Hispanic-owned firms
*
S
0.3%
11.3%
16.5%
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
Population Pyramid
Data Source: US Census Bureau …show more content…
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk
In 2010, the total population of Solano County was 413,344. The male population was
206,195 (49.9%) and the female population was 207,149 (50.1%). This is a mature “box” pyramid, typical of slow growing, mature, industrialized areas. The largest population is ages 45 to 55 and this can explain the relatively high-income levels in Solano County
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(Table 6).
These are productive ages where most people are at the peak of their careers, earning good salaries. The gender distribution is fairly even, with more females surviving into their 70s and beyond, which is a normal trend. In comparison with the data from
2000, the 10 years have seen some changes as illustrated in Table 13 below.
Demographical Changes over Time
Solano County’s population grew from 24,143 people in 1900 to a population of
340,421 in 1990. The first large increase took place during the WWI years between
1910-1920 and the second large increase happened after the U.S. entered WWII. I believe both of these growths can be attributed to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, which at the height of the war employed over 46,000 people who worked and lived in the area together with their families (Mare Island History). One of the smallest increases in population was between 1990-2000 (see Table 13) and this was very likely due to the closure of the shipyard, which took place in 1996. There are seven cities in Solano ranging in population size from about 7,500 (Rio Vista) to 116,000 (Vallejo) but the majority of the land area, 62% (Richter and Sokolov), is agricultural. Most of
the population lives in the cities, which have grown together with the population growth.
However, the many orchards and farms have probably provided plenty of work, which also contributed to the influx of agricultural workers and their families. As the cities grew, many people alos saw the advantage of being so close to both the capital city of
Sacramento as well as San Francisco. The growth trend changed dramatically between
2000-2010. According to the website usa.com, Solano County was one of the slowest
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growing counties in California during these years, and it was ranked #40 out of 58 counties. As indicated in Table 13, the growth was only 18,802 people, which translated to a 4.77% and was far below the almost 10% population growth of both California and the United States respectively. A couple of possible explanations could be a shortage of available housing, which was the case in 2000. With the financial crisis and the burst housing bubble, later years resulted in people staying put as house prices fell as well as a lack of new job opportunities because of the economic downturn.
Table 12 Historical Population Counts 1900 to 1990
1900
24,143
1910
27,559
1920
40,602
1930
40,834
1940
49,118
1950
104,833
1960
134,597
1970
169,941
1980
235,203
1990
340,421
Source: http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt
The most significant negative change over the ten-year period between 2000-2010 occurred in the 25 to 44 years population, where 14,157 people in this age group moved out of Solano County (Table 13). However, more than twice as many (35,461) 45 to 74 year olds moved into Solano during the same period. The age group that would have young families seemed to have left, while those who would have older children or are retirees moved in. There has been a significant change in the racial/ethnic composition.
The white population declined slightly, the black population remained virtually unchanged, but the Hispanic population grew considerably, from 17.6% to 24%. The largest increase was in the Mexican population, which increased by 5.8% during this tenyear period. All these numbers are consistent with the information that is available on the Census Bureau’s site for California as a whole. Between 2000 and 2010, California’s white population declined slightly from 59.5% to 57.6% while its black population was
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fairly constant at 6.7 and 6.2 percent respectively. The Asian overall Asian population increased slightly, from 10.9% to 13%, however, the Hispanic population increased from
32.4% to 37.6%. The largest increase for California was also in the Mexican population, which went from 25% to 30.7%. This would indicate that the change in Solano is consistent with the general increase of Mexican immigrants in California.
Table 13 General Demographic Characteristics Solano County 2000/2010
Population
Number
2000
Percent
2000
Number
2010
Percent
2010
Difference
Total population
394,542
100
413,344
100
+18,802
Male
198,694
50.4
206,195
49.9
+7,501
Female
195,848
49.6
207,149
50.1
+11,301
Up to 14 years
93,287
23.6
82,738
20
-10,549
15 to 24 years
54,868
13.9
59,245
14.4
+4,377
25 to 44 years
123,494
31.3
109,337
26.5
-14,157
45 to 59 years
72,661
18.4
91,959
22.2
+19,298
60 to 74 years
33,052
8.3
49,215
11.9
+16,163
75 and over
17,180
4.4
20,850
5.1
+3,670
Median age (years)
33.9
36.9
+3
Race/Ethnicity
White
56.4
51
-5.4%
Black or African
American
14.9
14.7
-0.2%
Asian
12.7
14.6
+1.9%
Hispanic or Latino
17.6
24
+6.4%
12.4
18.2
+5.8%
Mexican
Data Source: US Census Bureau http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk 12
The total projected population growth between 2010 -2060 is about 54% with the annual rates ranging between about 7-11%, and the largest increase being projected for
2030-2040. The white population is expected to experience a modest increase of around
15% or 25,421 people while the black population will decrease by 14%, or 8,184 people.
The 131%, or 26,712 population increase in the multi-race population and the decline in black population could be the result of interracial marriages, whereby future generations would eventually identify themselves as multi-racial instead of a single race.
While the 60% population increase of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders look significant percentage wise, the numbers are still very small by comparison. The Asian population will see a significant growth of 74%, or 43,691 people but the most notable expected increase will be among the Hispanics. This group is projected to grow by 132% or 132,150 individuals. This increase can be either due to immigration or higher birth rate among the Hispanic population. It can also be due to the agricultural employment opportunities that are available in Solano County.
Table 14 Population Projections 2010 to 2060 by Race and Hispanic origin
Race/Ethnicity
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
20102060*
Total (all race groups) 413,117
447,217
493,422
551,491
592,850
634,852
54%
White**
170,275
176,385
187,997
199,344
200,109
195,696
15%
Black**
58,396
57,744
57,579
55,823
52,805
50,212
-14%
American
Indian**
1,853
1,894
1,892
1,914
1,863
1,823
-2%
Asian**
59,126
65,532
72,038
83,764
91,704
102,817
74%
Native Hawaiian
3,304
3,579
4,032
4,350
4,696
5,278
60%
13
and Other Pacific
Islander
Hispanic or
Latino
99,759
115,635
137,048
167,609
198,481
231,909
132%
Multi Race **
20,405
26,448
32,837
38,687
43,191
47,117
131%
Source: http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/projections/p-1/
* Change in percent from 2010 to 2060
** Not Hispanic or Latino
Conclusion
The population of Solano County is presently an aging population. With the baby boom generation aging, more people over the age of 45 moving in. There will be a shift in services needed within the next 10-30 years, as there will be more need for elder care, retirement homes or communities and increased availability of health care. Much of the data ratios are quite similar between Solano County and California, which would make Solano County fairly representative of the state as a whole. A notable difference is the size of the Hispanic population, which is smaller in Solano. However, according to the projected growth, this population will be the fastest growing over the next 50 years and will probably become more in line with the rest of the state. The demographic changes will be significant, since the projected growth of the Hispanic population is estimated to be 132%. By 2060 it will be the dominant population in Solano County, putting all others, including whites, African Americans and Asians in the minority despite the fact that also the Asian population will have doubled. Depending on whether these ethnic population growths are through immigration or not, there will be different resources needed. It is possible that we will need more money allocated toward
14
language education as well as other services that are needed to integrate immigrants.
On the other hand, it is also possible that the Hispanic and Asian population growth will come from internal migration. If these group are of working age, Solano will need to create not only more jobs but build more housing. Much of the land is agricultural as well as protected land so the growth will have to happen in the cities. This might prove difficult, as some cities currently have building restrictions that prevent them from further growth. Land allocation and land use will be a challenge in the future. The population density is already double to that of the California average so existing cities will become more crowded. This will require increased funding for services such as infrastructure, education and law enforcement. There will be increased pressure on integration and possibly a period of urban tension.
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Works Cited
"California." State. World Media Group, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.
"Mare Island History." Visit Vallejo California. N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://www.visitvallejo.com/about-vallejo/mare-island-history.php>.
Richter, Kurt R., and Alvin D. Sokolov. Agricultural Issue Center UC Davis. Rep. University of
California Davis and Solano County, 14 Sept. 2007. Web.
<http://aic.ucdavis.edu/solano/econroots.pdf>.
"Solano County - Solano County History." Solano County California. Solano County, n.d. Web. 1
Dec. 2013.
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Solano County
First Draft
Judith Bodolla Tata
SOCI 370 - Population and Migration
Professor Marianne Paiva
12/2/13
Introduction
Solano County was formed in 1850 but had been in existence for at least 2000 years and was once home to the Patwin Indians (About Solano). It is also one of the original 27 counties in California. Today, Solano is culturally diverse county, well situated between San Francisco and Sacramento and provides easy access between the two largest cities in Northern California. There is agricultural production as well as many parks and open spaces for recreation. There are seven cities, all of them incorporated between 1850-1903. This paper is a review of the population and demographic trends of
Solano …show more content…
County. The information in the tables is based on government data from the U.S.
Census Bureau. The topics discussed are age, education, income, occupations and industries as well as the general demographic characteristics as illustrated by a population pyramid. There is an attempt to understand any links between the historical and present demographic data and observations of living in Solano. The population projections are basis for any attempt to make predictions about the future demographics of Solano County.
Demographics, Race and Ethnicity
With a population density of 503.0 persons per square mile, Solano County is considerably more densely populated than California overall, which in comparison, has
23.1 persons per square mile. One reason for this could be Solano County’s location halfway between the metropolitan areas of San Francisco and Sacramento. The relative proximity to these two cities makes it ideal for commuters in either direction.
1
Table 1 Population and Age Demographics*
Data
Population, 2012 estimate
Solano County
420,757
California
38,041,430
Population Density, persons per square mile, 2010
503.0
239.1
Persons under 5 years, percent, 2012
6.3%
6.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent, 2012
23.5%
24.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2012
12.4%
12.1%
*
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
As Table 2 indicates below, the fertility rates are lower and mortality rates higher than for California over all.
Table 2 Fertility and Mortality rates
Data
General FertilityRate (2008)1
Age Adjusted All Cause Mortality Rate (2006-2008)4
Solano County
66.12
7255
California
69.03
675.16
Live births per 1,000 females age15 to 44
Source: http://www.co.solano.ca.us/about/county_facts_n_figures.asp
3 Source: http://cdph.ca.gov/data/statistics/Documents/VSC-2008-0202.pdf
4 Deaths per 100,000 population
5 Source: http://www.co.solano.ca.us/about/county_facts_n_figures.asp
6 Source: http://www.cdhp.ca.gov/data/statistics/Documents/VSC-2008-0501.pdf
1
2
Solano County has fewer individuals who identify as ‘White alone’ in comparison to
California as a whole (Table 3). The Black or African American population is twice as large percentage wise as in California as a whole, and so is the population that identifies itself as bi-or multiracial. Individuals who claim Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are fewer than California as a whole.
2
Table 3 Race and Ethnicity (2012)*
Race/Ethnicity
Solano County
California
White alone
60.6%
73.7%
Black or African American alone
15%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone
6.6%
1.2%
1.7%
15.5%
13.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
1.0%
0.5%
Two or More Races
6.6%
3.6%
Hispanic or Latino**
24.8%
38.2%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino
40.3%
39.4%
Asian alone
Note: percent
* Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
**Ethnicity, can be any of the above races
Education and Income
Although the high school graduation rate is higher in Solano County than in
California as a whole (Table 4), the percentage of individuals with a Bachelor’s degree or higher lags behind California in general. I found it interesting that the number of foreign language speakers is lower than the California average, which could mean that less resources are needed for ESL (English as a Second Language) courses in the community and schools.
Table 4 Education (2007-2011)*
Education Level
Solano County
California
High school graduate or higher age 25+
86.2%
80.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher age 25+
24.2%
30.2%
3
Language other than English spoken at home age 5+
29.4%
43.2%
Note: percent of persons
*
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
Even though the median household income in Solano County is only slightly higher than
California as a whole, as Table 5 shows, the homeownership rate is 8% higher. This can be due to the fact that the median house values are almost 25% lower than in California in general making housing in Solano County more affordable to a larger number of people. Table 5 Income and Housing (2007-2011)*
Index
Solano County
California
Per capita money income in the past 12 months (2011 dollars) $29,367
$29,634
Median household income
$69,914
$61,632
Persons below poverty level, percent
10.8%
14.4%
Homeownership rate, percent
64.9%
56.7%
$340,000
$421,600
2.82
2.91
Median value of owner-occupied housing units
Persons per household
*
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
There are fewer households with incomes up to $49,999 in Solano County than
California as a whole pointing toward a lower poverty rate in the county. There are also fewer households with an income over $200,000 in Solano County versus California.
However, as Table 6 shows, in the income ranges $50,000 to $199,999, the rates are higher than for California in general, indicating there is a substantial middle and uppermiddle class population.
4
Table 6 Income per Household
Income
Solano County
California
Total households
139.312
12,433,172
Less than $14,999
8.2%
10.4%
$15,000 to $34,999
14.9%
18.5%
$35,000 to $74,999
31%
29.7%
$75,000 to $149,999
33%
27.9%
$150,000 or more
13%
13.6%
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau.
Table 7 confirms the information derived from Table 6 that poverty rates in Solano
County are lower than California in general. All numbers are well below the California average, but in particular, poverty rate in households led by single females is much lower than in California in general. It could be due to better family services, better employment possibilities for single women with children, or an overall better support system in place, which serves to keep as many as possible out of poverty.
Table 7 Poverty Level
Family/Persons
Solano
County
California
All families
8.1%
10.8%
Married couple families
4.1%
6.4%
Families with female head of household, no husband
21.7%
25.5%
With related children under 18 years
27.5%
34.1%
With related children under 5 years of age
27.8%
38.4%
All people
10.8%
14.4%
Under 18 years
14.8%
19.9%
5
Percentage of families and people whose income in the past 12 months is below the property level
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
Industries, Business and Employment
Like California in general, the largest industries in Solano County are education, health care and social services (Table 8). The percent employed are slightly higher than the California average, but not by a large margin. The biggest difference is in the percentage of people employed within public administration. Solano County employs proportionately almost twice as many within this sector compared to California as a whole. If most of the work is within the government sector, then this would point to a bloated county/local government. However, it is not clear where these employments are so it is difficult to evaluate the reason, or reasons, for this substantial difference.
Solano County has only 6.1% self- employed workers while California has 8.6%.
The most obvious difference though is the percentage of government workers. Solano
County boasts a full 20.3% compared to 14.7% for California as a whole. This would validate some of the difference in the percentage of public administrators. Again, this could point toward a bloated county/local government. However, it could also just be that more people who work with the government live in Solano County, as the cost of housing is lower than those of the metropolitan areas of Sacramento and San Francisco.
A number of these government workers might work in other areas outside Solano
County.
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Table 8 Industries
Field of industry
Solano County
California
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 22.3%
20.5%
Retail trade
11.5%
11%
Manufacturing
9.2%
10.2%
Professional, scientific, and management and administrative and waste management services
8.9%
12.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services
8.7%
9.4%
Note: Percent of persons based on Civilian Employed Population 16 years and over, Table 8
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
Solano County has a lower proportion of people employed within management, business, science and art occupations than California in general. This could be related to
Table 4 above, which shows that only 24,2% of the population in Solano County has a
Bachelor’s degree or higher for those over 25 years of age compared to 30.2% for
California in genera (Table 9)l. For many occupations in management, business and science, a Bachelor’s Degree would be required.
Table 9 Occupations
Field of occupation
Solano County
California
Civilian Employed Population 16 years and over
181,725
16,603,417
Management, business, science, and art
33.6%
36.5%
Service
19.2%
17.9%
Sales and office
25.8%
25%
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
10.4%
9.6%
Productions, transportation, and material moving
11.1%
10.9%
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
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The general trend in the employment and unemployment figures (Table 10) are quite similar when Solano County is compared to California. However, there is a notable difference in the percentage of the population over 16 years of age that is employed within the armed forces. This difference can possibly be attributed to the presence of
Travis Air Force Base, which is located in the city of Fairfield in Solano County.
Table 10 Employment Status
Subject
Solano County
California
Population, 16 years and over
322,292
28,796,402
In labor force
210,457
18,618,649
Employed
56.4%
57.7%
Unemployed
6.3%
6.5%
Armed Forces
2.7%
0.5%
Not in labor force
34.7%
35.3%
Source: “Selected Economic Characteristics 2007-2011 American Community Survey Estimates”, US
Census Bureau
The last table in this section, Table 11, is attached because of the percentage of blackowned firms in Solano County, which is noteworthy as it is double to that of the
California numbers.
This is possibly due to the fact that there are, as shown in Table 3, twice as many Blacks and African Americans among the total population in Solano
County.
Table 11 Business owners by race (2007)*
Index
Solano County
California
Black-owned firms
8.9%
4.0%
American-Indian and Alaska Native owned firms
1.4%
1.3%
15.5%
14.9%
Asian-owned firms
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Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander owned firms
Hispanic-owned firms
*
S
0.3%
11.3%
16.5%
Source: US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06095.html
Population Pyramid
Data Source: US Census Bureau …show more content…
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk
In 2010, the total population of Solano County was 413,344. The male population was
206,195 (49.9%) and the female population was 207,149 (50.1%). This is a mature “box” pyramid, typical of slow growing, mature, industrialized areas. The largest population is ages 45 to 55 and this can explain the relatively high-income levels in Solano County
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(Table 6).
These are productive ages where most people are at the peak of their careers, earning good salaries. The gender distribution is fairly even, with more females surviving into their 70s and beyond, which is a normal trend. In comparison with the data from
2000, the 10 years have seen some changes as illustrated in Table 13 below.
Demographical Changes over Time
Solano County’s population grew from 24,143 people in 1900 to a population of
340,421 in 1990. The first large increase took place during the WWI years between
1910-1920 and the second large increase happened after the U.S. entered WWII. I believe both of these growths can be attributed to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, which at the height of the war employed over 46,000 people who worked and lived in the area together with their families (Mare Island History). One of the smallest increases in population was between 1990-2000 (see Table 13) and this was very likely due to the closure of the shipyard, which took place in 1996. There are seven cities in Solano ranging in population size from about 7,500 (Rio Vista) to 116,000 (Vallejo) but the majority of the land area, 62% (Richter and Sokolov), is agricultural. Most of
the population lives in the cities, which have grown together with the population growth.
However, the many orchards and farms have probably provided plenty of work, which also contributed to the influx of agricultural workers and their families. As the cities grew, many people alos saw the advantage of being so close to both the capital city of
Sacramento as well as San Francisco. The growth trend changed dramatically between
2000-2010. According to the website usa.com, Solano County was one of the slowest
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growing counties in California during these years, and it was ranked #40 out of 58 counties. As indicated in Table 13, the growth was only 18,802 people, which translated to a 4.77% and was far below the almost 10% population growth of both California and the United States respectively. A couple of possible explanations could be a shortage of available housing, which was the case in 2000. With the financial crisis and the burst housing bubble, later years resulted in people staying put as house prices fell as well as a lack of new job opportunities because of the economic downturn.
Table 12 Historical Population Counts 1900 to 1990
1900
24,143
1910
27,559
1920
40,602
1930
40,834
1940
49,118
1950
104,833
1960
134,597
1970
169,941
1980
235,203
1990
340,421
Source: http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt
The most significant negative change over the ten-year period between 2000-2010 occurred in the 25 to 44 years population, where 14,157 people in this age group moved out of Solano County (Table 13). However, more than twice as many (35,461) 45 to 74 year olds moved into Solano during the same period. The age group that would have young families seemed to have left, while those who would have older children or are retirees moved in. There has been a significant change in the racial/ethnic composition.
The white population declined slightly, the black population remained virtually unchanged, but the Hispanic population grew considerably, from 17.6% to 24%. The largest increase was in the Mexican population, which increased by 5.8% during this tenyear period. All these numbers are consistent with the information that is available on the Census Bureau’s site for California as a whole. Between 2000 and 2010, California’s white population declined slightly from 59.5% to 57.6% while its black population was
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fairly constant at 6.7 and 6.2 percent respectively. The Asian overall Asian population increased slightly, from 10.9% to 13%, however, the Hispanic population increased from
32.4% to 37.6%. The largest increase for California was also in the Mexican population, which went from 25% to 30.7%. This would indicate that the change in Solano is consistent with the general increase of Mexican immigrants in California.
Table 13 General Demographic Characteristics Solano County 2000/2010
Population
Number
2000
Percent
2000
Number
2010
Percent
2010
Difference
Total population
394,542
100
413,344
100
+18,802
Male
198,694
50.4
206,195
49.9
+7,501
Female
195,848
49.6
207,149
50.1
+11,301
Up to 14 years
93,287
23.6
82,738
20
-10,549
15 to 24 years
54,868
13.9
59,245
14.4
+4,377
25 to 44 years
123,494
31.3
109,337
26.5
-14,157
45 to 59 years
72,661
18.4
91,959
22.2
+19,298
60 to 74 years
33,052
8.3
49,215
11.9
+16,163
75 and over
17,180
4.4
20,850
5.1
+3,670
Median age (years)
33.9
36.9
+3
Race/Ethnicity
White
56.4
51
-5.4%
Black or African
American
14.9
14.7
-0.2%
Asian
12.7
14.6
+1.9%
Hispanic or Latino
17.6
24
+6.4%
12.4
18.2
+5.8%
Mexican
Data Source: US Census Bureau http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk 12
The total projected population growth between 2010 -2060 is about 54% with the annual rates ranging between about 7-11%, and the largest increase being projected for
2030-2040. The white population is expected to experience a modest increase of around
15% or 25,421 people while the black population will decrease by 14%, or 8,184 people.
The 131%, or 26,712 population increase in the multi-race population and the decline in black population could be the result of interracial marriages, whereby future generations would eventually identify themselves as multi-racial instead of a single race.
While the 60% population increase of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders look significant percentage wise, the numbers are still very small by comparison. The Asian population will see a significant growth of 74%, or 43,691 people but the most notable expected increase will be among the Hispanics. This group is projected to grow by 132% or 132,150 individuals. This increase can be either due to immigration or higher birth rate among the Hispanic population. It can also be due to the agricultural employment opportunities that are available in Solano County.
Table 14 Population Projections 2010 to 2060 by Race and Hispanic origin
Race/Ethnicity
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
20102060*
Total (all race groups) 413,117
447,217
493,422
551,491
592,850
634,852
54%
White**
170,275
176,385
187,997
199,344
200,109
195,696
15%
Black**
58,396
57,744
57,579
55,823
52,805
50,212
-14%
American
Indian**
1,853
1,894
1,892
1,914
1,863
1,823
-2%
Asian**
59,126
65,532
72,038
83,764
91,704
102,817
74%
Native Hawaiian
3,304
3,579
4,032
4,350
4,696
5,278
60%
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and Other Pacific
Islander
Hispanic or
Latino
99,759
115,635
137,048
167,609
198,481
231,909
132%
Multi Race **
20,405
26,448
32,837
38,687
43,191
47,117
131%
Source: http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/projections/p-1/
* Change in percent from 2010 to 2060
** Not Hispanic or Latino
Conclusion
The population of Solano County is presently an aging population. With the baby boom generation aging, more people over the age of 45 moving in. There will be a shift in services needed within the next 10-30 years, as there will be more need for elder care, retirement homes or communities and increased availability of health care. Much of the data ratios are quite similar between Solano County and California, which would make Solano County fairly representative of the state as a whole. A notable difference is the size of the Hispanic population, which is smaller in Solano. However, according to the projected growth, this population will be the fastest growing over the next 50 years and will probably become more in line with the rest of the state. The demographic changes will be significant, since the projected growth of the Hispanic population is estimated to be 132%. By 2060 it will be the dominant population in Solano County, putting all others, including whites, African Americans and Asians in the minority despite the fact that also the Asian population will have doubled. Depending on whether these ethnic population growths are through immigration or not, there will be different resources needed. It is possible that we will need more money allocated toward
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language education as well as other services that are needed to integrate immigrants.
On the other hand, it is also possible that the Hispanic and Asian population growth will come from internal migration. If these group are of working age, Solano will need to create not only more jobs but build more housing. Much of the land is agricultural as well as protected land so the growth will have to happen in the cities. This might prove difficult, as some cities currently have building restrictions that prevent them from further growth. Land allocation and land use will be a challenge in the future. The population density is already double to that of the California average so existing cities will become more crowded. This will require increased funding for services such as infrastructure, education and law enforcement. There will be increased pressure on integration and possibly a period of urban tension.
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Works Cited
"California." State. World Media Group, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.
"Mare Island History." Visit Vallejo California. N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://www.visitvallejo.com/about-vallejo/mare-island-history.php>.
Richter, Kurt R., and Alvin D. Sokolov. Agricultural Issue Center UC Davis. Rep. University of
California Davis and Solano County, 14 Sept. 2007. Web.
<http://aic.ucdavis.edu/solano/econroots.pdf>.
"Solano County - Solano County History." Solano County California. Solano County, n.d. Web. 1
Dec. 2013.
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