This book tells the story of how a group of far-sighted academic researchers came to the aid
of an overwhelmed local government. It details the history of the Washington State Census Board
which began in 1943 as part of an emergency measure during a massive wartime in-migration. The
narrative also shows the demographic legacy of the Board and ultimately provides an
unforgettable look into the creation and evolution of applied demography. Inside readers will
discover how Washington State struggled to keep up with the unexpected needs for housing
transportation schools and public utilities for the hundreds of thousands of migrants who
came to work in industries that practically developed overnight with the mobilization for World
War II. The author recounts how Professor Calvin F. Schmid who led the Washington State Census
Board and his team developed methods of population estimation that are still in use today. In
the process the narrative reveals how population figures were gathered compared and
projected at a time when the hand calculator was considered cutting-edge technology. The book
also details how methods were refined and improved over time as well as how those involved
developed new ways to obtain and more importantly utilize the information. With the aid of
archived materials personal interviews and rich personal accounts this book will inform and
inspire practicing and academic demographers as well as planners policy-makers historians
and interested readers.
