Selected Census Terminology

A complete enumeration of a population. In the U.S., a census is mandated by the Constitution every ten years for the purposes of redistricting. The census is taken in years ending in zero.

Census Designated Place - A geography equivalent to an incorporated place; local input is solicited prior to a census to designate CDPs. See Census Geographies for more detail.

see also, place

Core Based Statistical Area - The new definition of metropolitan areas that replaced MSAs after the 2000 census; definition relies more on commuting patterns and not just population density around a metropolitan core; smallest component geographies are still counties. Because these geographies were formulated after Census 2000, more information about them is not in the regular glossary.

see also, metropolitan, MeSA, MiSA, MSA

To the Census Bureau, a sociological construct indicating the type of culture in which one grew up. For example, a person of Asian or Pacific Islander race might consider him- or herself to be of Hispanic ethnicity if he/she grew up in Puerto Rico.

see also, Race

A subset of households in which the persons are related; therefore requires at least two persons in the household (excludes one-person households)

see also household

Any residence: includes apartments, stand-alone houses, trailers, boats, RVs, vans, etc.

see also, household

An occupied housing unit with any number of people

see also, family, housing unit

Not equivalent to "urban"; determined bypopulation density but also commuting patterns in relation to a city - consequently an area may be part of a CMSA but be quite rural in character

see also, CBSA, MeSA, MiSA, MSA

Metropolitan Statistical Area - Geography created by the Bureau to analyze heavily populated areas around cities; county-based except in New England where MSAs were formed around minor civil divisions; definition relied heavily on continuous population density around a city; definition revised after the 2000 Census to account for bedroom communities, placing greater emphasis on commuting patterns.

see also, CBSA, metropolitan, MeSA, MiSA

Metropolitan Statistical Area - NOT the same as MSA, sometimes referred to as metro areas; has a core urban area of 50,000 or more population; with MiSAs, make up CBSAs

see also, CBSA, metropolitan, MiSA, MSA

Micropolitan Statistical Area - Contains an urban core of at least 10,000 (but less than 50,000) population; with MeSAs, make up CBSAs

see also, CBSA, metropolitan, MeSA, MSA

Bureau's term for any municipality regardless of size (town, city, village, etc.). Includes CDPs.

see also, CDP

The universe for poverty tables; poverty status is not determined for anyone living in group quarters

see also, group quarters, universe

To the Census Bureau, a physical construct quite independent of ethnicity. The Bureau accepted six race categories: white, black or African American; American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander; and a fill-in category, some other race. A significant change in Census 2000 was permitting respondents to choose as many race categories as they wished. Consequently race data in Census 2000 is presented in ranges from the smallest number, those respondents who only chose one race category, up to the largest number of anyone who chose a given race in combination with any other race.

see also, ethnicity

For each data table, the population considered; will be noted at the top of the table by the title. Poverty tables only look at the "population for which poverty status is determined." Educational attainment is judged only for the population 25 years and older, figuring that the majority of the population will not have finished their education before the age of 25. Employment tables consider only the working population, people who are 16 or older.

see also, population for whom poverty status is determined

Classification assigned at the Census block level primarily on the basis of population density. It is entirely possible for rural blocks to be included within metropolitan areas. Although the urban/rural designation is usually published with the first census data release, the data were not yet available at the time of the Summary File 1 release in April 2001. Consequently, it is not possible to find the urban/rural designation at the block level through American Factfinder, the Census Bureau's online database.

see also, metropolitan

Zip Code Tabulation Area - Census Bureau's geography very roughly equivalent to a (residential) postal zip code. See Census Geographies for more detail.