The countdown to the 2020 Census hits the one-year mark April 1. Communities across Tennessee are working to ensure a complete and accurate count of their residents.

The State Data Center has published a new data set showing the location of group quarters in the state; locations and characteristics of college residence halls, nursing homes and correctional facilities are included. When complete, the U.S. Census Bureau will use the data to help ensure a full accounting of residents in these facilities across the state next year.

If you work with demographic or economic statistical data, you’re likely familiar with the acronym MSA. This stands for Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area. In either case, MSA’s are an important regional geography built using population density, jobs and commuting patterns.

New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Tennessee remained the nation’s 16th most populous state for the third year in a row in 2018. Although the state grew by 61,216 people last year, the rate of population growth slowed for the first time in 5 years.

Some communities in Tennessee will be invited to participate in the 2020 Census New Construction Program. This program captures new construction activity from May 2018 to April 1, 2020.

From opposite ends of the state come two interesting looks at opioid use.