Photo credit: U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office (PIO)

With only 35 states and Puerto Rico counted, the 2010 Census has already topped the 2000 Census count of same-sex couples in all 50 states.

The latest data, released August 4, show 608,822 same-sex couples counted thus far, a total 14,431 above the total of 594,391 in all 50 states and Puerto Rico in 2000.

The 608,822 count thus far suggests the total count nationwide for 2010 will be about 50 percent higher than the total in 2000.

The latest data released by the U.S. Census Bureau includes Illinois, the fifth most populous state, which recorded 32,469 same-sex couple households, or 6.7 per 1,000 households. That rate is slightly below the current average of 7.3 same-sex households per 1,000 households overall. But it is still a 42 percent increase over the 22,887 same-sex couples identified in the 2000 Census.

Fifty-eight percent of Illinois same-sex couples are female, and 21 percent of Illinois same-sex couples are raising children, according to an analysis of the Census data by the Williams Institute, a nationally respected public policy research organization focused on issues related to sexual orientation. The jurisdiction with the highest density of same-sex couples in Illinois is the Village of Oak Park, a suburb of about 50,000 people just west of Chicago, with 18.06 same-sex couple households per 1,000 households overall.

Nationwide, thus far, about 64 percent of all same-sex couple households are female and about 22.5 percent of same-sex couple households are raising children.

Nevada appears to be one of the fastest growing states in terms of the number of same-sex couples to identify themselves on the Census surveys. It saw an 87 percent jump in the number between 2000, when 4,973 couples identified themselves, and 2010, when 9,321 did. Nevada recorded 9.3 same-sex couple households per 1,000 households overall in 2010. Of those, 54 percent are female and 22 percent are raising children. Enterprise, a Census-designated area of Clark County (which includes Las Vegas), has the highest density of same-sex households in the state –12.03 per 1,000 households overall, according to Williams Institute data.

Oregon, thus far, has posted one of the highest densities of same-sex couple households –9.9 per 1,000 households. That puts it just behind California (with 9.98 per 1,000 households) and the highest density state of Vermont (with 10.9 per 1,000 households).

Oregon also boasts the highest percentage, thus far, of same-sex couples raising children (29 percent), ahead of Wyoming and Alaska, with 28 percent. Sixty-five percent of Oregon’s same-sex couple households are female, and the highest density of same-sex couples was recorded in Portland, with 21.91 same-sex couple households per 1,000 households overall.

The Census Bureau has been rolling out data from the 2010 decennial survey on a state-by-state basis since mid-June. In the first week of the rollout, data from Alabama and Hawaii hinted at a dramatic increase in the number of same-sex couples identifying themselves on the 2010 Census compared to 2000. Hawaii showed a 78 percent uptick; Alabama a 39 percent increase. That surge has continued with the last 12 states. In addition to Nevada’s 87 percent increase, West Virginia showed an 80 percent increase, Idaho and Utah each showed a 73 percent increase, and Oregon and South Dakota each showed a 68 percent increase.

The lowest increase among the last 12 state reports was recorded in Ohio, where the number of same-sex couple households identified in 2010 was 51 percent higher than the number found in 2000.

Ohio recorded 28,602 same-sex couple households in 2010, compared to 18,937 in 2000. Sixty-four percent of those households are female and 22 percent are raising children—numbers that mirror the current national averages. Ohio’s numbers represent 6.2 same-sex couple households per 1,000 households overall, slightly below the national average, thus far, of 7.3.

Data from other states released during the past two weeks included:

• Idaho, where the 2010 Census counted 3,245 same-sex couples—a 73 percent increase over the 1,873 reported in 2000. Twenty-four percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 5.6 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. Boise City has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 8.8 per 1,000 households.
• Missouri, where the 2010 Census counted 15,242 same-sex couples—a 62 percent increase over the 9,428 reported in 2000. Twenty-one percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 6.4 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. St. Louis has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 15.95 per 1,000 households.
• Utah, where the 2010 Census counted 5,814 same-sex couples—a 73 percent increase over the 3,370 reported in 2000. Twenty-four percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 6.6 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. Salt Lake City has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 17.31 per 1,000 households.
• West Virginia, where the 2010 Census counted 5,240 same-sex couples—an 80 percent increase over the 2,916 reported in 2000. Twenty-four percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 6.9 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. The capital of Charleston has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 11.09 per 1,000 households.
• Wisconsin, where the 2010 Census counted 13,630 same-sex couples—a 66 percent increase over the 8,232 reported in 2000. Eighteen percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 6 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. The capital city of Madison has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 15.84 per 1,000 households.
• Indiana, where the 2010 Census counted 16,428 same-sex couples—a 61 percent increase over the 10,219 reported in 2000. Twenty-three percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 6.6 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. The capital city of Indianapolis has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 11.55 per 1,000 households.
• South Dakota, where the 2010 Census counted 1,390 same-sex couples—a 68 percent increase over the 826 reported in 2000. Twenty-six percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 4.3 same-sex couples per 1,000 households, the lowest density state, thus far. Sioux Falls, the most populous city in the state, has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 5.83 per 1,000 households.
• Washington State, where the 2010 Census counted 24,278 same-sex couples—a 53 percent increase over the 15,900 reported in 2000. Eighteen percent are raising children. Statewide, there are 9.3 same-sex couples per 1,000 households. Vashon, a Census-designated area of King’s County on an urban island just south of Seattle, has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 36.53 per 1,000 households.

Finally, the territory of Puerto Rico distinguished itself in the 2010 Census by being the only state or territory to show a decrease in the number of same-sex couples identifying themselves on the Census. A total of 6,614 same-sex couples identified on the 2010 Census, representing a three percent drop from the 6,818 who identified on the 2000 Census. Territory-wide, there are 4.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in Puerto Rico. The capital city of San Juan has the highest density of same-sex couples, with 8.17 per 1,000 households. Twenty-eight percent of the 2010 couples raising children.

The Census data reports all same-sex couple households who identified themselves as such on the Census, regardless of whether they identified their relationship as “husband or wife” or “unmarried partner.” The Census Bureau is expected to release a national count of same-sex couples for 2010 later this year. In 1990, when the Census Bureau first began separating out the data on same-sex couples from that on heterosexual couples who identified as unmarried partners, only 145,130 same-sex unmarried partners were identified in all 50 states. In 2000, 594,391 same-sex couples nationwide identified as unmarried partners. If the current average of a 50 percent increase over 2000 numbers continues, the number of same-sex couple households in the U.S. for 2010 could close in on 900,000 (Data from two of the most populous states—Texas and Florida—are yet to be released. Texas data is expected August 11.)