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There are many ways to define any community's boundaries. Even among residents there may be different ideas about what constitutes the community geographically. For the purposes of this website, the Census Bureau-defined areas called White Center Census Designated Place (CDP) and Riverton-Boulevard Park Census Designated Place (CDP) are used to present data. These CDP boundaries do not necessarily correspond with residents' perceptions of their own communities. However, they are the closest geographic units for which Census data are available.
In maps and detailed tables on this website, data are also given for the census tracts or block groups that overlap or are contained within the CDP's. Whenever possible, data are presented on the block group level but for some indicators census tracts are the smallest geographic unit available. Data for census tracts and block groups that overlap the CDP boundary may include residents of other communities besides White Center and Boulevard Park.
What are census tracts and block groups?
Census tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county delineated by the U.S. Census Bureau. The primary purpose of census tracts is to provide a stable set of geographic units for the presentation of decennial census data. Census tracts generally have between 1,500 and 8,000 people living in them, with an optimum size of 4,000 people. Each census tract is identified by a number that ranges from 1 to 9999 and may have a two-digit numeric suffix (ex. 268.01). Census tract numbers are unique within a county.
A block group is a cluster of census blocks within a census tract. Block groups generally contain between 600 and 3,000 people, with an optimum size of 1,500 people. Each census block group is identified by the number of the census tract that contains it with an added third digit on the numeric suffix (ex. 268.014). Census block group numbers are unique within a county. |
