Introduction

The US Census Bureau defines the Mountain Division as a sub-region of the West United States consisting of eigth states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming. Across these states there is a total population of 24,534,951 (12,282,456 males and 12,252,495 females).

Throughout the Mountain Division section of this evaluation report we will examine indicators of social vulnerability utilizing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and following methodologies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Social Vulnerability Index and measures of economic inequalities related to Median Income, Median Home Values, and House Price Index utilizing data from the US Census Bureau and Federal Housing Finance Agency.

While there is not a uniform method for measuring social vulnerability, the CDC’s SVI has four main categories to determine vulnerability levels:

  • Socioeconomic Status (living below 150% poverty line, unemployment, housing cost burden, no high school diploma, no health Insurance)
  • Household Characteristics (aged 65 & older, aged 17 & younger, civilian with a disability, single-parent households, English language proficiency)
  • Racial & Ethnic Minority Status
  • Housing Type & Transportation (multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle, group quarters)

All of these measures are useful to identify communities that are particular vulnerable to disasters and in need of additional support. After identifying these specific areas within the division, we will examine patterns of participation in the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) and Low Income Housing Tax Credit (NMTC) programs. Both of these programs are national policies that utilize tax credits to encourage investors to initiate building projects for community facilities and housing within at-risk census tracts.

Thus, we will evaluate whether these federal polices have had a measurable impact on reducing social vulnerability and improving economic outcomes from 2010 to 2020. It is our hypothesis that census tracts that receive investment from the NMTC and LIHTC programs will experience a decrease in social vulnerability and increase in median incomes and home values that is greater than the general trends in the division.

Data

Census Divisions

  • 1 New England Division
  • 2 Middle Atlantic Division
  • 3 East North Central Division
  • 4 West North Central Division
  • 5 South Atlantic Division
  • 6 East South Central Division
  • 7 West South Central Division
  • 8 Mountain Division
  • 9 Pacific Division

Census Variables

name label concept
S0101_C01_001Estimate Total populationAGE AND SEX
S0101_C01_002Estimate Total population AGE Under 5 yearsAGE AND SEX
S0101_C01_003Estimate Total population AGE 5 to 9 yearsAGE AND SEX
S0101_C01_004Estimate Total population AGE 10 to 14 yearsAGE AND SEX
S0101_C01_005Estimate Total population AGE 15 to 19 yearsAGE AND SEX
S0101_C01_006Estimate Total population AGE 20 to 24 yearsAGE AND SEX

Division Population

GEOID NAME variable estimate moe label concept year
8Mountain DivisionS0101_C01_00124,534,951NAEstimate Total populationAGE AND SEX2020
8Mountain DivisionS0101_C03_00112,282,4561,948Estimate Male Total populationAGE AND SEX2020
8Mountain DivisionS0101_C05_00112,252,4951,947Estimate Female Total populationAGE AND SEX2020