Changes in the way questions were asked on the Census questionnaires between 1990 and 2000 make it difficult to compare some Census 2000 data with data from 1990 and earlier. The changes in 2000 include:

• Ethnicity asked before race (and identified as "Hispanic or Latino")
• Respondents could select one or more races
• Asian and Pacific Islander category split ("Asian" or "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander")

The allowance of multiple race responses makes it difficult to obtain direct comparability to 1990 and earlier censuses. We will be working in conjunction with other government agencies to address this issue in the coming months. In the meantime, the Census Bureau's FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on Race is a very helpful resource on this issue.

There are also a few changes in the way data are reported for small areas in Seattle. The following table identifies the major geographic changes at the census tract level. Additionally, there are minor changes to various tract boundaries. Also, census block identifiers have been renumbered and are now four digits, with the leading digit representing the block group.