There is a new gayest place in the United States—at least when it comes to number of same-sex couples: Provincetown, Massachusetts. Also, there's a new "gayest" state: the District of Columbia. (Editor's note: Designating the district as a state will be explained later.)
The costal resort town in Massachusetts has long been a gay favorite, both for summer vacations and year-round living. Provincetown has now usurped Palm Springs, Calif., as the jurisdiction with the most same-sex couples per 1,000 households.
Analysis by the Williams Institute of Census data from the 2010 survey, released Aug. 18 for Massachusetts and four other states, reveals that Provincetown reported 163 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.
The Williams Institute is a think tank affiliated with UCLA that specializes in policy research related to sexual orientation. It has analyzed data being released from the Census Bureau on a state-by-state basis. As of Aug. 18, the Census Bureau has released data on 46 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico.
Wilton Manors, Fla., with 140 same-sex couples per 1,000 households, places second among cities and towns reported thus far, in terms of same-sex couple density. Wilton Manors is a city within Broward County, just west of the Lauderdale beach, between Miami and Boca Raton.
Prior to the most recent release of data, Palm Springs had the highest reported at 115.
Counting the District of Columbia as a state, instead of a city, the home of the nation's capital has the most dense population of same-sex couple households: 19.3 per 1,000. Counting only bona fide states, Vermont is on top with 10.9, followed by Massachusetts with 10.2 and California with 9.98.
Among the states reported most recently:
—Massachusetts had 20,415 same-sex couple households identify on the 2010 Census, a 19 percent increase over the number reported in the 2000 Census. The 2010 count makes for 10.2 same-sex couple households per 1,000 households overall. Sixty-two percent of the same-sex couple households in Massachusetts were female couples, and 19 percent of all same-sex couples in the state were raising children. After Provincetown, Northhampton had the second highest density of same-sex couples in the state, with 45.29 per 1,000 households. Nearby Easthampton ranked third with 27.99 per 1,000, followed by Greenfield Town, 20 miles to the north, with 21.0, and Arlington, northwest of Boston, with 17.52.
—Florida had 65,601 same-sex couple households in 2010, a 60-percent leap since the 2000 Census and 8.8 per 1,000 households. Fifty-three percent of the same-sex couples were female and 18 percent were raising children. After Wilton Manors, Oakland Park had the highest density, at 56.04 per 1,000 households. Third was Miami Shores at 48.86, followed by Fort Lauderdale with 35.8 and Key West with 34.34.
—Washington, D.C., recorded 5,146 same-sex couple households in 2010, a 40-percent increase over the number in 2000 and 19.3 per 1,000 households overall. The Congressionally controlled district, which longs to become a state, has—by far—the lowest ratio of female couples to male couples; only 28 percent of D.C.'s same-sex couple households were female. (No other state has under 52 percent, which is what New York recorded; the average is 63 percent.) D.C. also has the smallest percentage raising children: 10 percent. The average percentage of same-sex couples raising children is about 22 percent. The Logan Circle neighborhood between P and S streets and 11th to 14th streets has the highest density in the city: 81.64 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. That is followed by the better known gay neighborhood of Dupont Circle, with 75.89.
—Michigan had 16,785 same-sex couples reported in 2010, a 9-percent increase over 2000 and 5.6 per 1,000 households overall. Sixty-nine percent of the same-sex couples were female and 21 percent were raising children. The city of Pleasant Ridge, outside Detroit, had the highest density, with 59.55 per 1,000. Michigan's same-sex couple density ranks 41st among the 46 states and territories reported thus far.
—South Carolina reported 8,815 same-sex couples, a 16-percent increase over 2000 and 6.4 per 1,000 households overall. Sixty-six percent were female and 25 percent were raising children. The resort town of Myrtle Beach had the highest density in the state, with 11.67 per 1,000 households.
—Texas recorded 67,413 same-sex couples or 7.56 per 1,000 households overall and a 57-percent jump over 2000. That ranked Texas 19th among the 46 states and territories reported thus far. Sixty-one percent of the same-sex couple households were female and 19 percent were raising children. Dallas had the highest density within the state, with 15.01 same-sex couple households per 1,000. Second was Galveston, with 14.66; Austin with 14.42; and Pflugerville with 13.44.
—New Jersey counted 24,112 same-sex couple households, or 7.5 per 1,000 households overall. That was a 45-percent jump over 2000's count and ranked New Jersey 32nd among the 46 states and territories reported thus far. Sixty-one percent of the same-sex couples were female and 24 percent were raising children. The coastal town of Ocean Grove had the highest density of same-sex couples in the state, at 45.1 per 1,000.
—Maryland recorded 16,987 same-sex couples, or 7.88 per 1,000. That was a 51-percent increase over 2000. Sixty-five percent were female, 24 percent were raising children. Cheverly, outside Washington, D.C., had the highest density in the state with 27.95 per 1,000.
—Louisiana counted 12,153 same-sex couples, a 38-percent increase over 2000, and about 7 per 1,000 households. Sixty-four percent of the same-sex couples were female and 26 percent were raising children. New Orleans had the greatest density in the state, with 13.58 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.
—Iowa recorded 6,540 same-sex couples, a 77-percent jump over 2000, or about 5.35 per 1,000. Seventy-one percent were female and 21 percent were raising children. Iowa City had the greatest density, 13.18 per 1,000.
—Arkansas reported 7,004 same-sex couple households, a 58-percent increase over 2000. Sixty-five percent were female and 27 percent were raising children. Little Rock had the highest density in the state with 9.92 per 1,000.
The Census Bureau has state specific data to report on only five states now: Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Tennessee. That data should be released Aug. 25, but is unlikely to change the profiles of the top tier of states in terms of same-sex couple households.
©2011 by Keen News Service. All rights reserved.
