Our population statistics cover age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, migration, ancestry, language use, veterans, as well as population estimates and projections.
The U.S. Census Bureau is the official source of statistical data tracking the national economy.
Business is a large part of America's diverse economy. This section provides key information about businesses in your community.
This section provides information on a range of educational topics, from educational attainment and school enrollment to school districts, costs and financing.
Prepare for Emergencies, Natural and Man-made Disasters using U.S. Census Bureau's data and statistics
We measure the state of the nation's workforce, including employment and unemployment levels, weeks and hours worked, occupations, and commuting.
Our statistics highlight trends in household and family composition, describe characteristics of the residents of housing units, and show how they are related.
Health statistics on insurance coverage, disability, fertility and other health issues are increasingly important in measuring the nation’s overall well-being.
We measure the housing and construction industry, track homeownership rates, and produce statistics on the physical and financial characteristics of our homes.
Income is the gauge many use to determine the well-being of the U.S. population. Survey and census questions cover poverty, income, and wealth.
The U.S. Census Bureau is the official source for U.S. export and import statistics and regulations governing the reporting of exports from the U.S.
The U.S. Census Bureau provides data for the Federal, state and local governments as well as voting, redistricting, apportionment and congressional affairs.
Geography is central to the work of the Bureau, providing the framework for survey design, sample selection, data collection, tabulation, and dissemination.
Find resources on how to use geographic data and products with statistical data, educational blog postings, and presentations.
The Geographic Support System Initiative will integrate improved address coverage, spatial feature updates, and enhanced quality assessment and measurement.
Work with interactive mapping tools from across the Census Bureau.
Find geographic data and products such as Shapefiles, KMLs, TIGERweb, boundary files, geographic relationship files, and reference and thematic maps.
Metropolitan and micropolitan areas are geographic entities used by Federal statistical agencies in collecting, tabulating, and publishing Federal statistics.
Find information about specific partnership programs and learn more about our partnerships with other organizations.
Definitions of geographic terms, why geographic areas are defined, and how the Census Bureau defines geographic areas.
We conduct research on geographic topics such as how to define geographic areas and how geography changes over time.
Official audio files from the Census Bureau, including "Profile America," a daily series of bite-sized statistics, placing current data in a historical context.
Stock photos that illustrate official Census Bureau operations and activities.
Read briefs and reports from Census Bureau experts.
Watch Census Bureau vignettes, testimonials, and video files.
Explore Census data with infographics and visualizations covering a broad range of topics.
Read research analyses from Census Bureau experts.
Find information using interactive applications to get statistics from multiple surveys.
Developer portal to access services and documentation for the Census Bureau's APIs.
Explore Census Bureau data on your mobile device with interactive tools.
Find a multitude of DVDs, CDs and publications in print by topic.
These external sites provide more data.
The Census Bureau reuses data from other agencies to cut the cost of data collection and to reduce the burden on people who respond to our censuses and surveys.
Download extraction tools to help you get the in-depth data you need.
Learn more about our data from this collection of e-tutorials, presentations, webinars and other training materials. Sign up for training sessions.
Explore Census data with infographics and visualizations covering a broad range of topics.
If you have received a survey, this site will help you verify that the survey came from us, understand and complete the form, and know how we protect your data.
The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and cost-efficient methods for the population to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the 2020 Census.
Tests in 2017 will continue research on modern and cost-efficient methods to conduct the 2020 Census.
The 2018 End-to-End Census Test will take place in Pierce County, Wash.; Providence County, R.I.; and the Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill, W.Va., area.
National and state population totals from the 2010 Census were released on December 21, 2010
The American Community Survey is the premier source for information about America's changing population, housing and workforce.
The AHS is sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Economic Census is the U.S. government's official five-year measure of American business and the economy.
Basic enumerations of population, housing units, group quarters and transitory locations conducted by the Census Bureau at the request of a governmental unit.
Collects data and measures change for many topics including: economic well-being, family dynamics, education, assets, health insurance, and childcare.
Connect with the U.S. Census Bureau using social media.
Find interesting and quirky statistics regarding national celebrations and major events.
See what's coming up in releases and reports.
Press Kits package information about Census Bureau topics, including media contacts, press releases and fact sheets, story ideas and multimedia resources.
Information about the U.S. Census Bureau.
Information about what we do at the U.S. Census Bureau.
Our researchers explore innovative ways to conduct surveys, increase respondent participation, reduce costs, and improve accuracy.
Learn about other opportunities to collaborate with us.
Explore the rich historical background of an organization with roots almost as old as the nation.
Explore prospective positions available at the U.S. Census Bureau.
Information about the current field vacancies available at the U.S. Census Bureau Regional Offices.
The Census Bureau reuses data from other agencies to cut the cost of data collection and to reduce the burden on people who respond to our censuses and surveys.
Geography plays an important role in Census Bureau activities, including supporting the American Community Survey. It is the framework by which the Census Bureau collects and publishes demographic, social, housing, and economic data. Geography contributes to, and is involved in, ACS sampling, data collection, weighting, and data tabulation activities.
Key concepts to aid in your understanding include:
The nation is subdivided into two main types of geographic areas, legal and statistical.
Legal areas are defined specifically by law, and include state, local and tribal government units, as well as some specially defined administrative areas like congressional districts. Many, but not all, are represented by elected officials.
Example: New York State
Statistical areas are defined directly by the Census Bureau and state, regional or local authorities, and include census tracts and urban areas. The primary purpose of statistical areas is to tabulate and present census data.
Example: Metropolitan Statistical area - "Boston-Cambridge-Quincy-MA-NH Metro area"
For more information on Geographic Areas, see Geographic Terms and Concepts.
Geographic areas are organized in a geographic hierarchy. Larger units, like states, include smaller units, like counties and census tracts. This structure is derived from the legal, administrative, or areal relationships of the entities.
Notes:
* 5-year estimates only
** 5-year estimates only, first release in 2012 for the 2007-2011 5-year estimates
This graphic does not represent the full set of entities for which the ACS publishes data.
This geographic hierarchy influences how the Census Bureau identifies geographic areas. A system of geocodes - numeric or alphanumeric codes - are used to represent specific geographic areas.
The Census Bureau uses several different code sets to identify geographic areas depending on area type and purpose. The most frequently used code systems are FIPS and ANSI. The Census Bureau is moving towards implementing the ANSI code standard for most legal geographic areas.
FIPS = Federal Information Processing Standard
ANSI = American National Standards Institute
The Census Bureau's Geography Division provides additional information on the transition from FIPS to ANSI. ANSI codes are not currently used as geographic identifiers for ACS estimates.
To identify a geographic area in larger contexts like the nation, one or more higher level geocodes may be required. Census tracts are unique within counties and counties are unique within states. You need the full set of state, county, and tract geocodes to uniquely identify a census tract.
Example:
The unique geocode for the census tract 201 in Autauga County, Alabama is 01001020100.
Name of Geography | State Code | County Code | Tract Code |
---|---|---|---|
Census Tract 201, Autauga County, Alabama | 01 | 001 | 020100 |
Census Tract 201, La Paz County, Arizona | 04 | 012 | 020100 |
Changes to geographic area definitions include boundary changes to legal and statistical areas, name changes, and geographic coding changes.
The Census Bureau annually conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) to collect information about selected legally defined geographic areas. Information provided through the BAS is used to update legal boundaries and names of governmental units in the United States. The boundary information collected through the BAS is used by the Census Bureau to tabulate data for censuses and various surveys, including the American Community Survey. The ACS uses boundaries as of January 1 of the last year of the estimate period. For example, the 2006-2008 ACS 3-year uses boundaries as of January 1, 2008, as reported to the Census Bureau.
Example: Homerville City Annexations
Homerville City, a fictitious example, has annexed territory between 2005 and 2008 resulting in a boundary change. For the 2005-2009 ACS 5-year estimates, any survey responses collected from housing units in the annexed areas will be included in the Homerville City boundary because it is in the legal boundaries, as reported to the Census Bureau, on January 1, 2009.
Statistical areas also experience boundary changes, most often in association with each decennial census and much less frequently than legal areas as a whole. Statistical areas are designed to have stable boundaries. There are several different statistical area definition programs associated with specific statistical area types. Two programs, the Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) and the Tribal Statistical Areas Program (TSAP), address more familiar statistical areas like census tracts, block groups, Census Designated Places (CDPs) and tribal statistical areas.
Occasionally a legal area will change its legal name, which also results in a change to the corresponding FIPS geographic code for the legal area. ANSI geographic codes are permanent and do not change with changes to the names of legal areas. For example, in 2006, Dover Township in Ocean County, NJ changed its name to Toms River Township. Its FIPS code changed from 18130 to 73125 in association with this name change, but its ANSI code remained 882074.
The American Community Survey does not update previously released estimates to reflect subsequent boundary changes.
Learn more about tools to help identify geographic and boundary changes for geographic areas.
Learn more about the definitions of geographic terms and concepts, such as Minor Civil Division, Place, Metropolitan Statistical Area, and more, by visiting the 2010 Geographic Terms and Concepts page.
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