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           III. CITY OF MADISON POPULATION DATA AND TRENDS 
Introduction 
      In this section we begin to narrow the focus of the study to the 
special characteristics of the Madison housing market. Throughout the 
analysis substantial use is made of 1970 and 1975 Bureau of the Census 
reports for the City of Madison. Dane County tracts are utilized only to
the extent that they are adjacent to the city tracts. Consequently estimates
of housing allowance costs apply only to the Madison area. The census 
tracts included in the analysis which follows are presented in Appendix 
Table C-8b. 
The 1970 Madison Population Base 
     Total population figures by tract for 1970 are presented in Appendix
Table C-I. For our purposes we are concerned with a specific subset of 
the population, namely, households defined as husband-wife family, other
family, and those individuals over 65 years of age. Appendix Tables C-2 
and C-3 display the 1970 population base in these categories by income 
range. This base can be further refined by tenure classification and 
income as displayed in Appendix Tables C-4 and C-5. Other tables of 
interest display Gross Rent as a Percent of Income (c-6) and Household 
Size and Income (C-7a and b). With this base we begin a description of 
population trends and the determination of the specific groups to which 
a demand allowance would be directed. 
Madison Population Trends 
     It is generally well known that the City of Madison's population has
declined in the period 1970-75 after enjoying a decade or more of growth.
There is, however, substantial variation in this decline by tract, by age
group and by area within the city. Choosing only those tracts for which 
data is available for most of the period 1960-1975 (see Appendix Table C-3),
it is possible to observe marked differences in patterns of change in this
period. Figure 3-1 displays trend variables in four categories: 
     1) Total population 
     2) Less than 18 years of age 
     3) 18-24 years of age 
     4) 65 years of age and over