Geographic Products BranchUS Census BureauOverviewDefinition of a census tractHistory of census tractsHow census tracts are updated each decadeHow to compare census tract boundaries decade to decade2D ID: 885272
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1 Census Tracts Geographic Products Br
Census Tracts Geographic Products Branch U.S. Census Bureau Overview • Definition of a census tract • History of census tracts
2 • How census tracts are updated eac
• How census tracts are updated each decade • How to compare census tract boundaries decade to decade 2 Definition • Census tract
3 s are small, relatively permanent stati
s are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county. – Uniquely numbered in each county with a numeric code • Census t
4 racts average about 4,000 inhabitants
racts average about 4,000 inhabitants – Minimum Population – 1,200 – Maximum Population – 8,000 3 Map of census tracts 4
5 History of the Census Tract 1790 Fir
History of the Census Tract 1790 First census 1890 First delineation of small geographic areas called sanitary districts 1906 1910 Dr.
6 Walter Laidlaw suggested the delineatio
Walter Laidlaw suggested the delineation of permanent, small geographic areas that would retain their boundary census to census Dr. Laidlaw divi
7 ded NYC into “districts” and asked C
ded NYC into “districts” and asked Census to do the same for seven other cities 1920 Dr. Laidlaw published data by district for NYC 1930
8 Howard Wipple became chairman of the C
Howard Wipple became chairman of the Committee on Census Enumeration Areas and promoted the use of census tracts 5 History of the Census Trac
9 t 1940 The census tract became an of
t 1940 The census tract became an official geographic entity for which the Census Bureau would publish data for. Census tracts covered major c
10 ities and block number areas (BNAs) cov
ities and block number areas (BNAs) covered many other cities 1970 1980 The number of BNAs increased and the criteria of the BNA matched the
11 census tract Census tracts and BNAs c
census tract Census tracts and BNAs covered the entire nation 1990 2000 The BNA concept was retired and census tracts were defined nationwi
12 de. 100 th anniversary of the cens
de. 100 th anniversary of the census tract 2010 6 Updating Census Tracts • Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) – Progr
13 am offered once every 10 years – Loc
am offered once every 10 years – Local involvement in delineating statistical areas – Census tracts are split or merged, depending on popu
14 lation change – The new 2010 census
lation change – The new 2010 census tracts were released as part of the 2010 TIGER/Line Shapefiles beginning in December 2010. 7 Updatin
15 g Census Tracts • Census tracts are
g Census Tracts • Census tracts are designed to be relatively permanent over time. – Any changes are documented so data can be compared fr
16 om decade to decade. • Census tracts
om decade to decade. • Census tracts with more than 8,000 people are split into 2 or more tracts and are given an extension to their existing
17 numeric code • Census tracts with le
numeric code • Census tracts with less than 1,200 people are merged with a neighboring tract and are given a new numeric code • Small boun
18 dary corrections are sometimes allowed
dary corrections are sometimes allowed as well. 8 Census Tract Relationship Files • Files that show how 2000 census tracts relate to 2010
19 census tracts • One record per each
census tracts • One record per each 2000 census tract/2010 census tract spatial set – The area that is uniquely shared between a 2000 censu
20 s tract and a 2010 census tract • T
s tract and a 2010 census tract • Three sets of files 1. Census Tract Relationship File with population and housing unit information and are
21 a measurement (both national and state -
a measurement (both national and state - based files) 2. Substantially Changed 2000 Census Tract Files (both national and state - based files 3.
22 Substantially Changed Census 2010 Censu
Substantially Changed Census 2010 Census Tract Files (both national and state - based files) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 • To visualize
23 the tract relationship files, you can u
the tract relationship files, you can use our TIGER/Line shapefiles or the tract outline PDF maps. • The TIGER/Line shapefiles can be f
24 ound at http://www.census.gov/geo/maps
ound at http://www.census.gov/geo/maps - data/data/tiger.html • The census tract reference maps can be found at http://www.census.gov/geo/maps
25 - data/ 20 No Change 21 Revis
- data/ 20 No Change 21 Revision 22 Merged 23 Split 24 Questions? Call us at 301 - 763 - 1128 Email us at geo.geograp