May 16, 2011 — Last week, the US Census found that the New York population is aging much faster than the rest of New York state. The average resident in St. Lawrence County is forty years old. The number of young children in the county, below age five, dropped ten percent over the last decade.

In Hamilton County, the median age is even higher - more than 51 years old. That's thirteen years older, on average, than New York state as a whole. Brian Mann was in Hamilton County last week talking to people about the Census findings and what these numbers mean for their communities. He talks with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Apr 26, 2011 — The latest U.S. Census delivered good and bad news about population shifts across the rural North Country.

Inside the Adirondack Park Blue Line, the numbers showed an overall gain in population. But the details sparked a debate about how to interpret the data, about what it really means for communities that struggle with the dynamics of decline in rural America overlaid with the Park's additional rules and regulations.

Brian Mann joined Martha Foley this morning to sort through the Census and how it's being parsed.  Go to full article

New York, NY, Feb 25, 2010 — Where should prisoners be counted? Right now, inmates in New York prisons are counted IN prison - rather than in their hometowns. Critics call the practice "prison-based gerrymandering," and New York lawmakers are considering whether to end it this year. At an event in New York City Hall last month, Reverend Al Sharpton helped launch a campaign to change the inmate count. "I think that this is the voters rights and civil rights issue of this year in the state of New York," said Sharpton. But others think the mostly Upstate communities that host prisons deserve the boost in political power that comes with the count of inmates. Lawmakers need to settle the issue before political redistricting efforts get underway next year. In a collaboration between WNYC in New York City and North Country Public Radio, we bring you both sides of the issue. Here's the view from Downstate, from reporter Beth Fertig from WNYC.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Feb 25, 2010 — This March, the 2010 Census count begins, a process required by the Constitution every 10 years, which helps, primarily, in determining the number of seats each state gets in Congress. But what happens if someone is in a prison far from home? How should he be counted by the state? The controversial prisoner census issue splits largely along an urban and rural divide. New York City politicians are pushing to end the practice of counting prisoners where they're jailed. But upstate, where the majority of prisons are located, politicians think they deserve the boost in political power that comes with counting prisoners. Lawmakers need to settle the issue before political redistricting efforts get underway next year. In a collaboration between North Country Public Radio and WNYC, David Sommerstein reports on the view from the North Country.  Go to full article

Jun 05, 2008 — The deadline for the North Country's 4,500 farmers to be counted in the census of agriculture is next Friday. The census will help shape farm policy for the next five years. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Jun 04, 2002 — The New York State Assembly and Senate have decided to put off the start of campaign petitioning for another two weeks, until June 18th, while they continue to squabble over how to draw new congressional district lines. The latest redistricting plan sacrifices Republican Ben Gilman of the lower Hudson Valley and Democrat Louise Slaughter of Rochester. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

May 29, 2002 — Jefferson County residents like where they live, would like it better if there were more jobs, volunteer 10 hours a week, and go to Canada less than they used to. That's part of the profile painted by an attitudinal study released yesterday. David Sommerstein has more.  Go to full article

May 17, 2002 — Ad agency executives are always talking about demographics. But commentator Elle Garrell Berger suspects that many of them may be too young to notice who is really out there buying all those things they want to sell.  Go to full article

Aug 22, 2001 — The 2000 census shows that there are more gay and lesbian couples than ever before living in rural areas. In New York, the number of same-sex couples living in small towns has jumped nearly five-fold. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article