The snapshot of Idaho in 2010 is coming into greater focus. The U.S. Census Bureau released more statistics today, detailing last year's count of men, women and children across the Gem State. Among the findings:

- While men (785,324) barely outnumber women (782,258) in Idaho, as they get older women outnumber men. From the age of 45 and older, women continually outnumber men.

- Additionally, 27 percent of Idaho's population is under the age of 18, and 12 percent of the population is 65 years and over.

- There are 579,408 occupied housing units in Idaho. Of those, 148,445 are in Ada County and 69,409 are in Canyon County.

- Idaho's Hispanic, or Latino, community makes up 11.2 percent of Idaho's population. And 7.1 percent of Ada County is classified as Hispanic or Latino, with 23.9 percent of Canyon County is Hispanic or Latino.

The U.S. Census Bureau released its latest Idaho data today. There are more Idahoans, fewer homeowners, more renters and a significant bump in vacant homes.

Idaho's 2010 population of 1,567,582 was 21 percent higher than a decade ago. More than 89 percent of the population was reported to be white. Eleven percent were reported to be Hispanic or Latino (though their origin could be of any race). The average family size was approximately three individuals (almost exactly the same as a decade ago).

While 69.9 percent of houses were owner-occupied, that's a 3 percent drop from 2000. Renter-occupied housing units, more than 30 percent, climbed by 9 percent. The number of vacant homes, 88,388, jumped by 20 percent.

The median Idaho age was 34.6. Thirty percent of the population was age 19 or younger, while 12.4 percent were 65 or older.

It's a numbers cruncher's holiday in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Census Bureau has started releasing its apportionment counts showing the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2010 was 308,745,538, an increase of 9.7 percent over 2000.

Idaho's population now stands at 1,567,582, a 21.1 percent jump over 2000, and nearly double of what it was 30 years ago. The number wasn't big enough for Idaho to gain an extra seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but nearby Nevada, Utah and Washington will each gain an extra member of Congress.

Idaho remains one of the least dense states in the nation, ranked 46 out of 51 (including Washington, D.C.). In 2010, 19 Idahoans were measured for each square mile of the state. The national average is 87 people per square mile.

More detailed results for counties and cities is scheduled for release next year.

The next time someone asks you the population of Idaho, give them this number: 1,545,801.

The U.S. Census Bureau released its latest statistics today, indicating the Gem State grew 1.2 percent from 2008 to 2009. Boise eked up a bit (0.45 percent) to 205,707. Nampa grew (1.09 percent) to 81,241. Meridian bumped up (3.22 percent) to 68,516 (largest growth in the state) and Eagle grew (1.4 percent) to 19,668. Losers included Mountain Home (-.68 percent) down to 12,266, McCall (-1.92 percent) to 2,554, and Cascade (-3.19 percent) to 972.

Overall, 52 of Idaho's 200 cities lost population between mid-2008 and mid-2009.

Here's a Top Five list Boise has not made, yet.

Top Five goody two shoes Census form sender backers.

According to 2010census.gov, Boise is not even in the top 50 (nor is any Idaho town). Still, as can be seen in the dynamically updated info-graphic below, 30 percent of Boiseans have "Mailed it Back."

It looks like Montana and the Dakotas are leading the nation in response rates. Anybody want a cookie?

Here's a news flash for all the 2010 Census procrastinators out there: Everyone gets the short form.

We've been waiting two decades to be counted, actually. In 2000, citydesk was somewhere in East Africa when you all were filling out your Census forms. And since we are kind of Census data nerds over here, can you imagine the anticipation of participating in the actual data collection, what Idaho Census Bureau spokeswoman Stacy McBain calls the largest domestic mobilization, ever.

Well, our Census form arrived yesterday and it was a mighty thin envelope. We were expecting to provide all kinds of info about how cool we are, how we are hoping to boost the national character with our huge salary, our multiple degrees, the dozen languages we speak, the various beach and mountain homes we frequent, the six religions we dabble in, the types of technology and agriculture we practice, etc. But no such luck.

Somehow we missed the fact that this decennial count of the populace is just that: a numeration of the populace for the purpose of setting congressional districts and determining funding allocations to the states. Everyone gets the short form. Actually, there is no long form or short form. Just the Census form, and all it wants to know is who lives in your place, how old they are, their race, sex and any Hispanic origin. At least they ask about sex.

That's how it was until the 1940 Census, when they started sending the long form to a sample of American households. In 2000, about one in six households got the long form.

But all of that other juicy data has been rolled into the American Community Survey, which is a random sampling of households the Census Bureau collects from year to year.

Here's the twist: Everyone gets the regular 10-question Census form. But some people may get an American Community Survey as well, which you are expected to fill out so that journalists can plow through the data next year and come up with new ways of pigeon-holing your neighborhood—especially you folks out in Meridian.

So we did our part in the last decade, procreating twice and, like we said, advancing the national character. And while we're not sure anyone will ever notice, at least, for once, we count.

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Census Bureau Regional Director Ralph Lee, Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, Mexican Consul to Idaho-Montana Ricardo Pineda and Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs chairman Juan Álvarez, from left to right.