What defines a census tract?
Census Tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county or statistically equivalent entity that can be updated by local participants prior to each decennial census as part of the Census Bureau’s Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP).
What is tract data?
The “Census Tract” is an area roughly equivalent to a neighborhood established by the Bureau of Census for analyzing populations. They generally encompass a population between 2,500 to 8,000 people. Bureau of Census describes them as “relatively permanent”, but they do change over time.
What is a census tract vs zip code?
Census tracts are polygons and cover a well-defined geographic area. ZIP codes are clusters of lines; the U.S. Postal Service does not define ZIP Code boundaries. A very large number of 5-digit ZIP Codes are P.O. boxes or specific street addresses and thus represent points not even one line.
What is a census tract map?
These county-based reference maps show and label the census tracts as delineated to support 2010 Census data dissemination. These maps also show the boundaries and names of American Indian areas, Alaska Native areas, Hawaiian home lands, states, counties, county subdivisions, and places.
How do you read census tract data?
Census tracts within a county are identified by a 4-digit basic code between 0001 and 9999, and may have a 2-digit suffix ranging from . 01 to . 98; for example, 6059.02. The decimal point separating the 4-digit basic tract code from the 2-digit suffix is shown in U.S. Census Bureau printed reports and maps.
What is the difference between census blocks and tracts?
A block group is a subdivision of a census tract and contains a cluster of blocks. Block groups usually have between 250 and 550 housing units. A census block is the smallest geographic census unit. Blocks can be bounded by visible features—such as streets—or by invisible boundaries, such as city limits.
Why are census tracts used?
The nature of the census tract concept, along with the availability of a wide range of census data, makes census tracts useful in many applications. These include: municipal and regional planning and research, such as the development, evaluation and revision of official plans.
How many census tracts are there in the US?
National Geographic Tallies
Geographic Entities | United States |
---|---|
Census Blocks | 8,132,968 |
Census Tracts | 84,414 |
Counties & Equivalents | 3,143 |
County Subdivisions | 35,629 |
How are census tracts made?
New census tracts are created by merging only portions of established Census tracts into new shapes. These might be the result of a shift in population that is disproportionate across the original geography.
How are census tracts labeled?
How are census tracts set up?
The Census Bureau’s Numbering System For efficient data processing and publication, the Census Bureau identifies census tracts by numbers rather than names. Each census tract is assigned with a 4-digit basic number, sometimes with an additional 2-digit suffix, as its unique identifier.
How many blocks are in a census tract?
Each census tract/BNA could contain as many as nine BGs (Block Groups 1 to 9; there was no Block Group 0).
What are census tracts?
•Census tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county. –Uniquely numbered in each county with a numeric code •Census tracts average about 4,000 inhabitants –Minimum Population – 1,200 –Maximum Population – 8,000 3 Map of census tracts 4 History of the Census Tract 1790 First census
Where can I find the 2000 census data?
The Internet became the principal dissemination medium for 2000 census data. All four of the detailed data files, now called Summary Files, were available to be downloaded as soon as they were released. Individual tables could be viewed through the Census Bureau’s online database, known as the American FactFinder.
How many questions are on the 2000 census?
The long form asked 52 questions of approximately 1 in 6 households (approximately a 17 percent sample of the population). In previous censuses, responses to the race question were limited to a single category; in 2000, for the first time, respondents could check as many boxes as necessary to identify their race.
How did the census campaign reach 99 percent of the population?
This campaign consisted of more than 250 television, print, radio, outdoor, and other advertisements in 17 languages; it reached 99 percent of all U.S. residents. By the end of the campaign, the census message – “This is your future.