2010 Census Demographic 

Profile Summary File Issued August 2011 

2010 Census of Population and Housing 

DPSF/10-4 (RV) 

Technical Documentation 

U.S. Department of Commerce
 

Economics and Statistics Administration
 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 
For additional information concerning the files, contact the Customer Liaison and Marketing 

Services Office, Customer Services Center, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233, or phone 

301-763-INFO (4636). 

For additional information concerning the technical documentation, contact the Administrative 

and Customer Services Division, Electronic Products Development Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, 

Washington, DC 20233, or phone 301-763-8004. 
Rebecca M. Blank, 

Acting Secretary 

Vacant,

 Deputy Secretary 

Rebecca M. Blank, 

Under Secretary 

for Economic Affairs 

Robert M. Groves, 

Director 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

DPSF/10-4 (RV) 

2010 Census Demographic 

Profile Summary File 

2010 Census of Population and Housing 

Issued August 2011 

Technical Documentation 
SUGGESTED CITATION 

FILES: 


2010 Census Demographic Profile
 

Summary File—
 

[machine-readable data files]/
 

prepared by the
 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2011. 

TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION:
 

2010 Census Demographic Profile
 

Summary File—
 

Technical Documentation/
 

prepared by the
 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2011. 

ECONOMICS
 

AND STATISTICS
 

ADMINISTRATION
 

Economics 

and Statistics 

Administration 

Rebecca M. Blank, 

Under Secretary for 

Economic Affairs 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

Robert M. Groves, 

Director 

Thomas L. Mesenbourg, 

Deputy Director and 

Chief Operating Officer 

Arnold A. Jackson, 

Associate Director 

for Decennial Census 

Howard R. Hogan, 

Associate Director 

for Demographic Programs 

Marilia A. Matos, 

Associate Director 

for Field Operations 

Daniel H. Weinberg, 

Assistant Director 

for ACS and Decennial Census 
 

CONTENTS 

CHAPTERS 

1. Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
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2. How to Use This Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
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3. Summary Level Sequence Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
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4. Data Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
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5. 2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data . . . . . . 5-1
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6. Subject Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
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7. User Updates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
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APPENDIX 

A. Geographic Terms and Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

 v 
 

Chapter 1. 

Abstract 

CITATION 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census of Population and Housing, Demographic Profile Summary File: 

Technical Documentation, 2011. 

TYPE OF FILE 

Summary statistics. 

SUBJECT CONTENT 

The Demographic Profile Summary File contains 100 percent data asked of all people and about every 

housing unit on topics such as sex, age, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, household relationship, household 

type, group quarters population, housing occupancy, and housing tenure. 

GEOGRAPHIC CONTENT 

The Demographic Profile Summary File is released as individual files for the United States, each of the 

50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The data items are identical for all files, but the 

geographic coverage differs. 

The summary level sequence chart outlines the hierarchical and geographic summaries in their entirety. 

USER UPDATES 

User updates inform data users about corrections, errata, and related explanatory information. These 

updates provide information about unique characteristics, changes, and corrections. However, sometimes 

this information becomes available too late to be reflected in the product or related documentation. User 

updates are available on the Census Bureau’s Internet site at <www.census.gov>. 

Abstract 1-1 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2.
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How to Use This Product
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CONTENTS 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Data Format and Access Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Geographic Hierarchy Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Geographic Header Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New ANSI Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Summary Level Sequence Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Data Structure and Segmentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Note to Users of Microsoft Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Figures: 

2-1. File Set Structure Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2-2. Standard Hierarchy of Census Geographic Entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2-3. Hierarchy of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2-4. Geographic Header Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2-1 

2-1 

2-1 

2-2 

2-2 

2-3 

2-3 

2-3 

2-4 

2-5 

2-6 

2-7 

INTRODUCTION 

This chapter serves as a guide for data users to both the file and the technical documentation. Novice 

users trying to understand how to use the documentation and the file should read this chapter first. 

DATA FORMAT AND ACCESS TOOLS 

Users can access the file information through the American FactFinder on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Web 

site <www.census.gov>. 

Users can utilize their standard software packages to manipulate the data. The data are presented in both 

fixed-length ASCII and comma-separated ASCII formats, which can be easily imported into other software 

packages. 

Flat ASCII files by state are available for download via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) from American 

FactFinder. 

GEOGRAPHIC HIERARCHY PRIMER 

The smallest component for all census geography is the block. Figure 2-2 at the end of this chapter 

provides an example of the various geographic hierarchies used, building from the block. Take some 

time to review this chart to become familiar with the different hierarchies. Begin reading the schematic 

from the bottom at the blocks entry. By following the lines, you can see the hierarchy very quickly. For 

example, follow blocks to block groups to census tracts to counties. This path indicates that census 

tracts and their sublevels in the hierarchy are uniquely identified within a county and do not cross county 

boundaries. Follow blocks to the school district hierarchy. This path tells you that school districts can cross 

jurisdictional boundaries but do not cross state lines. Figure 2-3 at the end of this chapter presents similar 

information for the American Indian area/Alaska Native area/Hawaiian home land hierarchy. Again, read 

the schematic from the bottom, beginning with the lowest level of geography, i.e., census blocks. 

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GEOGRAPHIC HEADER RECORD 

The geographic header record, Figure 2-4 at the end of this chapter, defines each field and provides its 

data dictionary reference name, field size, starting position, and data type. In addition, the presence or 

absence of an “X” in each summary level column is a guide to the presence or absence of geographic 

information for that particular summary level. For example, on the column for summary level 040, we 

see “X” for the first 10 fields, indicating that there will be information for those fields. In the county field, 

there is no “X,” indicating that there is no information for county in summary level 040. Since 040 is the 

summary level for state, this is perfectly logical. 

New ANSI Codes 

The geographic header record includes, for the first time, space reserved to accommodate the transition 

from the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 55 Code Series to the American National 

Standards Institute (ANSI) Code Series for the identification of selected geographic entities. Each of nine 

fields has eight character spaces reserved for an eight-digit Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) 

identifier code that has been adopted as part of a new national standard. The GNIS is the nation’s official 

geographic names repository database and has been designated by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names 

as the official source of geographic names for use by the federal government and its contractors. Federal 

agencies are expected to adopt the GNIS ID as a standard code for public and federal data exchange. The 

fields identified in the geographic header record are: 

Field length Field name 

8 State (ANSI) 

8 County (ANSI) 

8 County Subdivision (ANSI) 

8 Place (ANSI) 

8 Consolidated City (ANSI) 

8 American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/Hawaiian Home
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Land (ANSI)
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8 American Indian Tribal Subdivision (ANSI) 

8 Alaska Native Regional Corporation (ANSI) 

8 Subminor Civil Division (ANSI) 

The GNIS identifier for states, counties, and equivalent areas are supplemental codes that do not replace 

the federal standard two-digit state and three-digit county codes also appearing in the header. The Census 

Bureau will continue to maintain and use in its unique geographic identifiers the existing five-digit codes 

for place, county subdivision, consolidated city, Alaska Native Regional Corporation, and subminor civil 

division and will assign and issue codes for new entities to meet customer needs, although these codes 

are not “official” or part of the new ANSI standards. The Census Bureau also will continue to maintain the 

existing four-digit codes for American Indian area/Alaska Native area/Hawaiian home land and three-digit 

codes for American Indian tribal subdivision. 
 

SUMMARY LEVEL SEQUENCE CHART 

The summary level sequence chart (Chapter 3) identifies each geographic level and provides the code 

that is in the SUMLEV field. The last geographic area type listed in the sequence identifies the geography 

of the summary level. The prior codes simply identify the geographic hierarchy; for example, 

060 State-County-County Subdivision. In summary level 060, the record contains data for a county 

subdivision within a county within a state. County subdivisions are uniquely named within a county and 

do not cross county boundaries. Since counties do not cross state boundaries, this is a simple application. 

Thus, summary level 060 provides data for a complete county subdivision. 

When reading the summary level sequence chart, it is important to recognize that hyphens (-) separate 

the individual hierarchies, while slashes separate different types of geography (such as place/remainder) 

within the same hierarchy. 

DATA STRUCTURE AND SEGMENTATION 

The data in the Demographic Profile Summary File and other 2010 Census summary files are segmented. 

This is done so that individual files will not have more than 255 fields, facilitating exporting into 

spreadsheet or database software. The demographic profile data and the corresponding geographic 

information for an individual state is known as the file set. This file set will be broken into two files as 

identified below: 

• Geographic Header Record file 

• File01 (DPSF1–DPSF23) 

To get the complete data set for the Demographic Profile Summary Files, users must download both files. 

It is easiest to think of the file set as a logical file. However, this logical file consists of two physical files: 

the geographic header record file and file01. This file design is comparable to that used in Census 2000. 

A unique logical record number (LOGRECNO in the geographic header) is assigned to all files for a specific 

geographic entity. This is done so all records for that specific entity can be linked together across files. 

Besides the logical record number, other identifying fields also are carried over from the geographic header 

file to the table files. These are file identification (FILEID), state/U.S. abbreviation (STUSAB), characteristic 

iteration (CHARITER), and characteristic iteration file sequence number (CIFSN). See Figure 2-1 on the next 

page for an example. 

The geographic header record is standard across all electronic data products from the 2010 Census. Since 

the Demographic Profile Summary Files are quite simple, many of the fields, including some header fields 

that appear in both files (geographic header and file01), are not used. For example, the CHARITER field will 

be used in the 2010 Census Summary File 2. In the 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File, it is 

always coded as 000. 

Note to Users of Microsoft Access 

Due to the FieldSize property limitations within Microsoft Access, modifications to field types are required 

when importing the Geographic Header Record file and File01: 

• All fields classified as numeric (N) should be imported as long integers. 

• AREALAND and AREAWATR should be imported as text. 

Failure to make these changes may result in missing data upon import. 

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Figure 2-1. 

File Set Structure Schematic 

Geographic header file 

Record 1 

FILEID 

STUSAB 

CHARITER 

CIFSN 

LOGRECNO (Record 1) 

Remainder of geographic header 

record for geographic area x 

Record 2 

FILEID 

STUSAB 

CHARITER 

CIFSN 

LOGRECNO (Record 2) 

Remainder of geographic header 

record for geographic area y 

Record 3 

FILEID 

STUSAB 

CHARITER 

CIFSN 

LOGRECNO (Record 3) 

Remainder of geographic header 

record for geographic area z 

File01 

FILEID 

STUSAB 

CHARITER 

CIFSN 

LOGRECNO (Record 1) 

Tables DPSF1–DPSF23 

(186 cells) 

FILEID 

STUSAB 

CHARITER 

CIFSN 

LOGRECNO (Record 2) 

Tables DPSF1–DPSF23 

(186 cells) 

FILEID 

STUSAB 

CHARITER 

CIFSN 

LOGRECNO (Record 3) 

Tables DPSF1–DPSF23 

(186 cells) 
 

Figure 2-2. 

Standard Hierarchy of Census Geographic Entities 

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Hierarchy of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas

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U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

Figure 2-3. 

Hierarchy of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas 

American Indian Areas (Federal)/ 

Off-Reservation Trust Lands 

States Tribal Designated Statistical Areas 

Tribal Census Tracts Oklahoma Tribal 

Statistical Areas 

Alaska Native Regional Corporations / 

Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas / 

Hawaiian Home Lands 

American Indian Reservations (state) / 

State Designated Tribal Statistical Areas 

Tribal Block Groups Tribal Subdivisions 

C E N S U S B L O C K S 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile State File

Summary Levels 067, 140, 281, 321, 345, 360, 361, 364, 871, 950, 960, and 970 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position 

Data 

type 

 Summary levels 

040 050 060 067 140 160 170 230 280 281 320 321 323 

RECORD CODES 

File Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FILEID 6 1 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

State/U.S. Abbreviation (USPS). . . . . . . STUSAB 2 7 A X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Summary Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMLEV 3 9 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Geographic Component . . . . . . . . . . . . GEOCOMP 2 12 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Characteristic Iteration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Characteristic Iteration File Sequence 

CHARITER 3 14 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CIFSN 2 17 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Logical Record Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GEOGRAPHIC AREA CODES 

LOGRECNO 7 19 N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REGION 1 26 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIVISION 1 27 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

State (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATE 2 28 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTY 3 30 A/N X X X X 

FIPS County Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYCC 2 33 A/N X X X X 

County Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYSC 2 35 A/N X X X X 

County Subdivision (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . COUSUB 5 37 A/N X X 

FIPS County Subdivision Class Code . . COUSUBCC 2 42 A/N X X 

County Subdivision Size Code . . . . . . . COUSUBSC 2 44 A/N X X 

Place (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACE 5 46 A/N X X 

FIPS Place Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACECC 2 51 A/N X X 

Place Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACESC 2 53 A/N X X 

Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRACT 6 55 A/N X 

Block Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLKGRP 1 61 A/N 

Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLOCK 4 62 A/N 

Internal Use Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IUC 2 66 A/N 

Consolidated City (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . CONCIT 5 68 A/N X 

FIPS Consolidated City Class Code . . . CONCITCC 2 73 A/N X 

Consolidated City Size Code. . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land 

CONCITSC 2 75 A/N X 

(Census). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

AIANHH 4 77 A/N X X 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land (FIPS) . . . 

FIPS American Indian Area/Alaska 

Native Area/Hawaiian Home Land 

AIANHHFP 5 81 A/N X X 

Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Trust Land/Hawaiian 

AIANHHCC 2 86 A/N X X 

Home Land Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIHHTLI 1 88 A/N X X 

(Census). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AITSCE 3 89 A/N X 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS American Indian Tribal 

AITS 5 92 A/N X 

Subdivision Class Code . . . . . . . . . . . AITSCC 2 97 A/N X 

Tribal Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TTRACT 6 99 A/N 

Tribal Block Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

TBLKGRP 1 105 A/N 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS Alaska Native Regional 

ANRC 5 106 A/N X 

Corporation Class Code . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/ 

ANRCCC 2 111 A/N X 

Micropolitan Statistical Area . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/ 

Micropolitan Statistical Area Size 

CBSA 5 113 A/N X X X X X X X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CBSASC 2 118 A/N X X X X X X X 

Metropolitan Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . METDIV 5 120 A/N X X X X X 

Combined Statistical Area . . . . . . . . . . . CSA 3 125 A/N X X X X X X X 

New England City and Town Area . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area Size 

NECTA 5 128 A/N X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area 

NECTASC 2 133 A/N X 

Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Combined New England City and Town 

NECTADIV 5 135 A/N X 

Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/ 

Micropolitan Statistical Area Principal 

CNECTA 3 140 A/N X 

City Indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area 

CBSAPCI 1 143 A/N X X 

Principal City Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . NECTAPCI 1 144 A/N X 

Urban Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UA 5 145 A/N 

Urban Area Size Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . UASC 2 150 A/N 

Urban Area Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UATYPE 1 152 A/N 

Urban/Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UR 1 153 A/N 

Congressional District (111th) . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

CD 2 154 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDU 3 156 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SLDL 3 159 A/N 

Voting District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTD 6 162 A/N 

Voting District Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTDI 1 168 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE2 3 169 A/N 

ZIP Code Tabulation Area (5-Digit) . . . . ZCTA5 5 172 A/N 

Subminor Civil Division (FIPS) . . . . . . . 

FIPS Subminor Civil Division Class 

SUBMCD 5 177 A/N X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUBMCDCC 2 182 A/N X 

School District (Elementary) . . . . . . . . . SDELM 5 184 A/N 

School District (Secondary). . . . . . . . . . SDSEC 5 189 A/N 

School District (Unified). . . . . . . . . . . . . SDUNI 5 194 A/N 

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Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile State File—Con. 

Summary Levels 067, 140, 281, 321, 345, 360, 361, 364, 871, 950, 960, and 970 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position 

Data 

type 

 Summary levels 

040 050 060 067 140 160 170 230 280 281 320 321 323 

AREA CHARACTERISTICS 

Area (Land) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AREALAND 14 199 N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Area (Water) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Area Name-Legal/Statistical Area 

Description (LSAD) Term-Part 

AREAWATR 14 213 N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAME 90 227 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Functional Status Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Geographic Change User Note 

FUNCSTAT 1 317 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GCUNI 1 318 A/N X X X X X X X X X X 

Population Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . . . POP100 9 319 N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Housing Unit Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . HU100 9 328 N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Latitude) . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTPTLAT 11 337 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Longitude) . . . . . . . . . . . 

Legal/Statistical Area Description 

INTPTLON 12 348 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LSADC 2 360 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Part Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SPECIAL AREA CODES 

PARTFLAG 1 362 A/N X X X X X 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE3 6 363 A/N 

Urban Growth Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UGA 5 369 A/N 

State (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATENS 8 374 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

County (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYNS 8 382 A/N X X X X 

County Subdivision (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . COUSUBNS 8 390 A/N X X 

Place (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACENS 8 398 A/N X X 

Consolidated City (ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

CONCITNS 8 406 A/N X 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land (ANSI). . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIANHHNS 8 414 A/N X X 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

AITSNS 8 422 A/N X 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANRCNS 8 430 A/N X 

Subminor Civil Division (ANSI) . . . . . . . SUBMCDNS 8 438 A/N X 

Congressional District (113th) . . . . . . . . CD113 2 446 A/N 

Congressional District (114th) . . . . . . . . CD114 2 448 A/N 

Congressional District (115th) . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

CD115 2 450 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

SLDU2 3 452 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

SLDU3 3 455 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDU4 3 458 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDL2 3 461 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDL3 3 464 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land Size 

SLDL4 3 467 A/N 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AIANHHSC 2 470 A/N X X 

Combined Statistical Area Size Code . . CSASC 2 472 A/N X X X X X X X 

Combined NECTA Size Code . . . . . . . . CNECTASC 2 474 A/N X 

Metropolitan/Micropolitan Indicator . . . . 

NECTA Metropolitan/Micropolitan 

MEMI 1 476 A/N X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NMEMI 1 477 A/N X 

Public Use Microdata Area . . . . . . . . . . PUMA 5 478 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED 18 483 A/N 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile State File—Con. 

Summary Levels 067, 140, 281, 321, 345, 360, 361, 364, 871, 950, 960, and 970 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position 

Data 

type 

Summary levels 

340 345 360 361 364 500 610 620 871 950 960 970 

RECORD CODES 

File Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FILEID 6 1 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

State/U.S. Abbreviation (USPS). . . . . . . STUSAB 2 7 A X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Summary Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMLEV 3 9 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Geographic Component . . . . . . . . . . . . GEOCOMP 2 12 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Characteristic Iteration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Characteristic Iteration File Sequence 

CHARITER 3 14 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CIFSN 2 17 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Logical Record Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GEOGRAPHIC AREA CODES 

LOGRECNO 7 19 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REGION 1 26 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIVISION 1 27 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

State (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATE 2 28 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTY 3 30 A/N 

FIPS County Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYCC 2 33 A/N 

County Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYSC 2 35 A/N 

County Subdivision (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . COUSUB 5 37 A/N 

FIPS County Subdivision Class Code . . COUSUBCC 2 42 A/N 

County Subdivision Size Code . . . . . . . COUSUBSC 2 44 A/N 

Place (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACE 5 46 A/N X 

FIPS Place Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACECC 2 51 A/N X 

Place Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACESC 2 53 A/N X 

Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRACT 6 55 A/N 

Block Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLKGRP 1 61 A/N 

Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLOCK 4 62 A/N 

Internal Use Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IUC 2 66 A/N 

Consolidated City (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . CONCIT 5 68 A/N 

FIPS Consolidated City Class Code . . . CONCITCC 2 73 A/N 

Consolidated City Size Code. . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land 

CONCITSC 2 75 A/N 

(Census). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

AIANHH 4 77 A/N 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land (FIPS) . . . 

FIPS American Indian Area/Alaska 

Native Area/Hawaiian Home Land 

AIANHHFP 5 81 A/N 

Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Trust Land/Hawaiian 

AIANHHCC 2 86 A/N 

Home Land Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIHHTLI 1 88 A/N 

(Census). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AITSCE 3 89 A/N 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS American Indian Tribal 

AITS 5 92 A/N 

Subdivision Class Code . . . . . . . . . . . AITSCC 2 97 A/N 

Tribal Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TTRACT 6 99 A/N 

Tribal Block Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

TBLKGRP 1 105 A/N 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS Alaska Native Regional 

ANRC 5 106 A/N 

Corporation Class Code . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/ 

ANRCCC 2 111 A/N 

Micropolitan Statistical Area . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/ 

Micropolitan Statistical Area Size 

CBSA 5 113 A/N 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CBSASC 2 118 A/N 

Metropolitan Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . METDIV 5 120 A/N 

Combined Statistical Area . . . . . . . . . . . CSA 3 125 A/N X 

New England City and Town Area . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area Size 

NECTA 5 128 A/N X X X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area 

NECTASC 2 133 A/N X X X 

Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Combined New England City and Town 

NECTADIV 5 135 A/N X 

Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/ 

Micropolitan Statistical Area Principal 

CNECTA 3 140 A/N X X X X 

City Indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area 

CBSAPCI 1 143 A/N 

Principal City Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . NECTAPCI 1 144 A/N X 

Urban Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UA 5 145 A/N 

Urban Area Size Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . UASC 2 150 A/N 

Urban Area Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UATYPE 1 152 A/N 

Urban/Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UR 1 153 A/N 

Congressional District (111th) . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

CD 2 154 A/N X 

Chamber) (Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDU 3 156 A/N X 

Chamber) (Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SLDL 3 159 A/N X 

Voting District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTD 6 162 A/N 

Voting District Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTDI 1 168 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE2 3 169 A/N 

ZIP Code Tabulation Area (5-Digit) . . . . ZCTA5 5 172 A/N X 

Subminor Civil Division (FIPS) . . . . . . . 

FIPS Subminor Civil Division Class 

SUBMCD 5 177 A/N 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUBMCDCC 2 182 A/N 

School District (Elementary) . . . . . . . . . SDELM 5 184 A/N X 

School District (Secondary). . . . . . . . . . SDSEC 5 189 A/N X 

School District (Unified). . . . . . . . . . . . . SDUNI 5 194 A/N X 

How to Use This Product 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

2-9 
2-10 How to Use This Product 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile State File—Con. 

Summary Levels 067, 140, 281, 321, 345, 360, 361, 364, 871, 950, 960, and 970 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position 

Data 

type 

Summary levels 

340 345 360 361 364 500 610 620 871 950 960 970 

AREA CHARACTERISTICS 

Area (Land) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AREALAND 14 199 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Area (Water) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Area Name-Legal/Statistical Area 

Description (LSAD) Term-Part 

AREAWATR 14 213 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAME 90 227 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Functional Status Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Geographic Change User Note 

FUNCSTAT 1 317 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GCUNI 1 318 A/N X X X 

Population Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . . . POP100 9 319 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Housing Unit Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . HU100 9 328 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Latitude) . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTPTLAT 11 337 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Longitude) . . . . . . . . . . . 

Legal/Statistical Area Description 

INTPTLON 12 348 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LSADC 2 360 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Part Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SPECIAL AREA CODES 

PARTFLAG 1 362 A/N X X X X X X 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE3 6 363 A/N 

Urban Growth Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UGA 5 369 A/N 

State (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATENS 8 374 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

County (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYNS 8 382 A/N 

County Subdivision (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . COUSUBNS 8 390 A/N 

Place (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACENS 8 398 A/N X 

Consolidated City (ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

CONCITNS 8 406 A/N 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land (ANSI). . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIANHHNS 8 414 A/N 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

AITSNS 8 422 A/N 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANRCNS 8 430 A/N 

Subminor Civil Division (ANSI) . . . . . . . SUBMCDNS 8 438 A/N 

Congressional District (113th) . . . . . . . . CD113 2 446 A/N 

Congressional District (114th) . . . . . . . . CD114 2 448 A/N 

Congressional District (115th) . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

CD115 2 450 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

SLDU2 3 452 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper 

SLDU3 3 455 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDU4 3 458 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDL2 3 461 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower 

SLDL3 3 464 A/N 

Chamber) (Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land Size 

SLDL4 3 467 A/N 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AIANHHSC 2 470 A/N 

Combined Statistical Area Size Code . . CSASC 2 472 A/N X 

Combined NECTA Size Code . . . . . . . . CNECTASC 2 474 A/N X X X X 

Metropolitan/Micropolitan Indicator . . . . 

NECTA Metropolitan/Micropolitan 

MEMI 1 476 A/N 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NMEMI 1 477 A/N X X X 

Public Use Microdata Area . . . . . . . . . . PUMA 5 478 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED 18 483 A/N 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile National File

Summary Levels 050, 060, 160, 170, 230, 256, 312, 335, 350, 352, 355, 610, 620, 860, and 870 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position Data type 

 Summary levels 

010 020 030 040 050 060 160 170 230 250 256 310 

RECORD CODES 

File Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FILEID 6 1 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

State/U.S. Abbreviation (USPS). . . . . . . . . STUSAB 2 7 A X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Summary Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMLEV 3 9 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Geographic Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GEOCOMP 2 12 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Characteristic Iteration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Characteristic Iteration File Sequence 

CHARITER 3 14 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CIFSN 2 17 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Logical Record Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GEOGRAPHIC AREA CODES 

LOGRECNO 7 19 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REGION 1 26 A/N X X X X X X X X 

Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIVISION 1 27 A/N X X X X X X X 

State (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATE 2 28 A/N X X X X X X 

County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTY 3 30 A/N X X 

FIPS County Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYCC 2 33 A/N X X 

County Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYSC 2 35 A/N X X 

County Subdivision (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . COUSUB 5 37 A/N X 

FIPS County Subdivision Class Code . . . . COUSUBCC 2 42 A/N X 

County Subdivision Size Code . . . . . . . . . COUSUBSC 2 44 A/N X 

Place (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACE 5 46 A/N X 

FIPS Place Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACECC 2 51 A/N X 

Place Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACESC 2 53 A/N X 

Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRACT 6 55 A/N 

Block Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLKGRP 1 61 A/N 

Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLOCK 4 62 A/N 

Internal Use Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IUC 2 66 A/N 

Consolidated City (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONCIT 5 68 A/N X 

FIPS Consolidated City Class Code . . . . . CONCITCC 2 73 A/N X 

Consolidated City Size Code. . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

CONCITSC 2 75 A/N X 

Hawaiian Home Land (Census) . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

AIANHH 4 77 A/N X X 

Hawaiian Home Land (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land Class 

AIANHHFP 5 81 A/N X X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Trust Land/Hawaiian 

AIANHHCC 2 86 A/N X X 

Home Land Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIHHTLI 1 88 A/N X X 

(Census). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AITSCE 3 89 A/N 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AITS 5 92 A/N 

Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AITSCC 2 97 A/N 

Tribal Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TTRACT 6 99 A/N X 

Tribal Block Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

TBLKGRP 1 105 A/N 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

ANRC 5 106 A/N X 

Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

ANRCCC 2 111 A/N X 

Statistical Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

CBSA 5 113 A/N X X X 

Statistical Area Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . CBSASC 2 118 A/N X X X 

Metropolitan Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . METDIV 5 120 A/N X X 

Combined Statistical Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . CSA 3 125 A/N X X X 

New England City and Town Area . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area Size 

NECTA 5 128 A/N X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area 

NECTASC 2 133 A/N X 

Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Combined New England City and Town 

NECTADIV 5 135 A/N X 

Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

Statistical Area Principal City 

CNECTA 3 140 A/N X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area Principal 

CBSAPCI 1 143 A/N X 

City Indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NECTAPCI 1 144 A/N X 

Urban Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UA 5 145 A/N 

Urban Area Size Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UASC 2 150 A/N 

Urban Area Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UATYPE 1 152 A/N 

Urban/Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UR 1 153 A/N 

Congressional District (111th) . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

CD 2 154 A/N 

(Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDU 3 156 A/N 

(Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SLDL 3 159 A/N 

Voting District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTD 6 162 A/N 

Voting District Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTDI 1 168 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE2 3 169 A/N 

ZIP Code Tabulation Area (5-Digit) . . . . . . ZCTA5 5 172 A/N 

Subminor Civil Division (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . SUBMCD 5 177 A/N 

FIPS Subminor Civil Division Class Code . SUBMCDCC 2 182 A/N 

School District (Elementary) . . . . . . . . . . . SDELM 5 184 A/N 

School District (Secondary). . . . . . . . . . . . SDSEC 5 189 A/N 

School District (Unified). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SDUNI 5 194 A/N 

How to Use This Product 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

2-11 
2-12 How to Use This Product 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile National File—Con. 

Summary Levels 050, 060, 160, 170, 230, 256, 312, 335, 350, 352, 355, 610, 620, 860, and 870 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position Data type 

 Summary levels 

010 020 030 040 050 060 160 170 230 250 256 310 

AREA CHARACTERISTICS 

Area (Land) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AREALAND 14 199 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Area (Water) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Area Name-Legal/Statistical Area 

Description (LSAD) Term-Part 

AREAWATR 14 213 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAME 90 227 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Functional Status Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Geographic Change User Note 

FUNCSTAT 1 317 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GCUNI 1 318 A/N X X X X X X X X X X 

Population Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . . . . . POP100 9 319 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Housing Unit Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . . . HU100 9 328 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Latitude) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTPTLAT 11 337 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Longitude) . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTPTLON 12 348 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code . . LSADC 2 360 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Part Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SPECIAL AREA CODES 

PARTFLAG 1 362 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE3 6 363 A/N 

Urban Growth Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UGA 5 369 A/N 

State (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATENS 8 374 A/N X X X X X X 

County (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYNS 8 382 A/N X X 

County Subdivision (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . COUSUBNS 8 390 A/N X 

Place (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACENS 8 398 A/N X 

Consolidated City (ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

CONCITNS 8 406 A/N X 

Hawaiian Home Land (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIANHHNS 8 414 A/N X X 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

AITSNS 8 422 A/N 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANRCNS 8 430 A/N X 

Subminor Civil Division (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . SUBMCDNS 8 438 A/N 

Congressional District (113th) . . . . . . . . . . CD113 2 446 A/N 

Congressional District (114th) . . . . . . . . . . CD114 2 448 A/N 

Congressional District (115th) . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

CD115 2 450 A/N 

(Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

SLDU2 3 452 A/N 

(Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

SLDU3 3 455 A/N 

(Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDU4 3 458 A/N 

(Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDL2 3 461 A/N 

(Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDL3 3 464 A/N 

(Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

SLDL4 3 467 A/N 

Hawaiian Home Land Size Code . . . . . . AIANHHSC 2 470 A/N X X 

Combined Statistical Area Size Code . . . . CSASC 2 472 A/N X X X 

Combined NECTA Size Code . . . . . . . . . . CNECTASC 2 474 A/N X 

Metropolitan/Micropolitan Indicator . . . . . . 

NECTA Metropolitan/Micropolitan 

MEMI 1 476 A/N X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NMEMI 1 477 A/N X 

Public Use Microdata Area . . . . . . . . . . . . PUMA 5 478 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED 18 483 A/N 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile National File—Con. 

Summary Levels 050, 060, 160, 170, 230, 256, 312, 335, 350, 352, 355, 610, 620, 860, and 870 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position 

Data 

type 

Summary levels 

312 314 330 335 350 352 355 500 610 620 860 870 

RECORD CODES 

File Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FILEID 6 1 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

State/U.S. Abbreviation (USPS). . . . . . . . . STUSAB 2 7 A X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Summary Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMLEV 3 9 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Geographic Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GEOCOMP 2 12 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Characteristic Iteration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Characteristic Iteration File Sequence 

CHARITER 3 14 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CIFSN 2 17 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Logical Record Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GEOGRAPHIC AREA CODES 

LOGRECNO 7 19 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REGION 1 26 A/N X X X X X X 

Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIVISION 1 27 A/N X X X X X X 

State (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATE 2 28 A/N X X X X X X 

County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTY 3 30 A/N 

FIPS County Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYCC 2 33 A/N 

County Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYSC 2 35 A/N 

County Subdivision (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . COUSUB 5 37 A/N 

FIPS County Subdivision Class Code . . . . COUSUBCC 2 42 A/N 

County Subdivision Size Code . . . . . . . . . COUSUBSC 2 44 A/N 

Place (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACE 5 46 A/N X X 

FIPS Place Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACECC 2 51 A/N X X 

Place Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACESC 2 53 A/N X X 

Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRACT 6 55 A/N 

Block Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLKGRP 1 61 A/N 

Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLOCK 4 62 A/N 

Internal Use Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IUC 2 66 A/N 

Consolidated City (FIPS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONCIT 5 68 A/N 

FIPS Consolidated City Class Code . . . . . CONCITCC 2 73 A/N 

Consolidated City Size Code. . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

CONCITSC 2 75 A/N 

Hawaiian Home Land (Census) . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

AIANHH 4 77 A/N 

Hawaiian Home Land (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS American Indian Area/Alaska Native 

Area/Hawaiian Home Land Class 

AIANHHFP 5 81 A/N 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Trust Land/Hawaiian 

AIANHHCC 2 86 A/N 

Home Land Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIHHTLI 1 88 A/N 

(Census). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AITSCE 3 89 A/N 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AITS 5 92 A/N 

Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AITSCC 2 97 A/N 

Tribal Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TTRACT 6 99 A/N 

Tribal Block Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

TBLKGRP 1 105 A/N 

(FIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIPS Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

ANRC 5 106 A/N 

Class Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

ANRCCC 2 111 A/N 

Statistical Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

CBSA 5 113 A/N X X 

Statistical Area Size Code . . . . . . . . . . . CBSASC 2 118 A/N X X 

Metropolitan Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . METDIV 5 120 A/N X 

Combined Statistical Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . CSA 3 125 A/N X X X 

New England City and Town Area . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area Size 

NECTA 5 128 A/N X X X 

Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area 

NECTASC 2 133 A/N X X X 

Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Combined New England City and Town 

NECTADIV 5 135 A/N X 

Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

Statistical Area Principal City 

CNECTA 3 140 A/N X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England City and Town Area Principal 

CBSAPCI 1 143 A/N X 

City Indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NECTAPCI 1 144 A/N X 

Urban Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UA 5 145 A/N 

Urban Area Size Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UASC 2 150 A/N 

Urban Area Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UATYPE 1 152 A/N 

Urban/Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UR 1 153 A/N 

Congressional District (111th) . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

CD 2 154 A/N X 

(Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDU 3 156 A/N X 

(Year 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SLDL 3 159 A/N X 

Voting District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTD 6 162 A/N 

Voting District Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VTDI 1 168 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE2 3 169 A/N 

ZIP Code Tabulation Area (5-Digit) . . . . . . ZCTA5 5 172 A/N X X 

Subminor Civil Division (FIPS) . . . . . . . . . SUBMCD 5 177 A/N 

FIPS Subminor Civil Division Class Code . SUBMCDCC 2 182 A/N 

School District (Elementary) . . . . . . . . . . . SDELM 5 184 A/N 

School District (Secondary). . . . . . . . . . . . SDSEC 5 189 A/N 

How to Use This Product 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

2-13 
2-14 How to Use This Product 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2-4. 

Geographic header Record Demographic profile National File—Con. 

Summary Levels 050, 060, 160, 170, 230, 256, 312, 335, 350, 352, 355, 610, 620, 860, and 870 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Field 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

Field 

size 

Starting 

position 

Data 

type 

Summary levels 

312 314 330 335 350 352 355 500 610 620 860 870 

School District (Unified). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AREA CHARACTERISTICS 

SDUNI 5 194 A/N 

Area (Land) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AREALAND 14 199 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Area (Water) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Area Name-Legal/Statistical Area 

Description (LSAD) Term-Part 

AREAWATR 14 213 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAME 90 227 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Functional Status Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Geographic Change User Note 

FUNCSTAT 1 317 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GCUNI 1 318 A/N 

Population Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . . . . . POP100 9 319 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Housing Unit Count (100%). . . . . . . . . . . . HU100 9 328 N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Latitude) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTPTLAT 11 337 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Internal Point (Longitude) . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTPTLON 12 348 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code . . LSADC 2 360 A/N X X X X X X X X X X X X 

Part Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SPECIAL AREA CODES 

PARTFLAG 1 362 A/N X X X 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVE3 6 363 A/N 

Urban Growth Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UGA 5 369 A/N 

State (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATENS 8 374 A/N X X X X X X 

County (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTYNS 8 382 A/N 

County Subdivision (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . COUSUBNS 8 390 A/N 

Place (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLACENS 8 398 A/N X X 

Consolidated City (ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

CONCITNS 8 406 A/N 

Hawaiian Home Land (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

AIANHHNS 8 414 A/N 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

AITSNS 8 422 A/N 

(ANSI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANRCNS 8 430 A/N 

Subminor Civil Division (ANSI) . . . . . . . . . SUBMCDNS 8 438 A/N 

Congressional District (113th) . . . . . . . . . . CD113 2 446 A/N 

Congressional District (114th) . . . . . . . . . . CD114 2 448 A/N 

Congressional District (115th) . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

CD115 2 450 A/N 

(Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

SLDU2 3 452 A/N 

(Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

SLDU3 3 455 A/N 

(Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDU4 3 458 A/N 

(Year 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDL2 3 461 A/N 

(Year 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

SLDL3 3 464 A/N 

(Year 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

SLDL4 3 467 A/N 

Hawaiian Home Land Size Code . . . . . . AIANHHSC 2 470 A/N 

Combined Statistical Area Size Code . . . . CSASC 2 472 A/N X X X 

Combined NECTA Size Code . . . . . . . . . . CNECTASC 2 474 A/N X X X X 

Metropolitan/Micropolitan Indicator . . . . . . 

NECTA Metropolitan/Micropolitan 

MEMI 1 476 A/N X X 

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NMEMI 1 477 A/N X X X 

Public Use Microdata Area . . . . . . . . . . . . PUMA 5 478 A/N 

Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED 18 483 A/N 
 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3.
 

Summary Level Sequence Chart
 

Summary levels specify the content and hierarchical relationships of the geographic elements that are 

required to tabulate and summarize data. In the Summary Level Sequence Chart that follows, the summary 

level code precedes the summary level area, and symbols are used with special meaning for summary 

levels: 

Hyphen “-” separates the elements of a hierarchy.
 

Slash “/” denotes equivalent elements that have different names.
 

Parentheses “( )” are not used in the specification for summary levels, but are used occasionally
 

in the usual and customary manner in statements of clarification.
 

National File 

Summary Levels 050, 060, 160, 170, 610, 620, 256, 230, 312, 350, 352, 355, 335, 860, and 870 and 

Geographic Components 89-95, A1-A2, CE-CT, EB-EJ, H0, M1 and M2 were added in the geographic update 

August 2011. 

Geographic component 

00, 89-95, A0, A1-A2, C0-C2, C7-CD, CE-CT, 

E0-E2, E7-EA, EB-EJ, G0, H0 

00, 89-95, A0, A1-A2, C0-C2, E0-E2, G0, H0 

00, 89-95, A0, A1-A2, C0-C2, E0-E2, G0, H0 

00, 89-95, A0, A1-A2, C0-C2, E0-E2, G0, H0 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00, A1-A2 

00 

00 

00, C0-C2, E0-E2 

00, M1, M2 

00 

00 

00, M1, M2 

00 

00 

Summary level 

010 United States 

020 Region 

030 Division 

040 State1 

050 State-County2 

060 State-County-County Subdivision 

160 State-Place 

170 State-Consolidated City 

500 State-Congressional District3 

610 State-State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

620 State-State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

250 American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/Hawaiian Home Land 

256 American Indian Area-Tribal Census Tract4 

230 State-Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

310 Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan Statistical Area 

312 Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan Statistical 

Area-State-Principal City 

314 Metropolitan Statistical Area-Metropolitan Division 

330 Combined Statistical Area 

350 New England City and Town Area 

352 New England City and Town Area-State-Principal City 

355 New England City and Town Area (NECTA)-NECTA Division 

335 Combined New England City and Town Area 

860 5-Digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area 

870 5-Digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area-State 

1 State, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. 

2 Parish in Louisiana; borough, census area, city and borough, or municipality in Alaska; and municipio in Puerto Rico. In Maryland, Missouri, 

Nevada, and Virginia, one or more cities are independent of counties and are treated as statistical equivalents of counties. The entire District of 

Columbia, which has no counties, is treated as a county equivalent. 3 111th Congress. 

4 Tribal Census Tracts exist only in federally recognized American Indian reservations and/or off-reservation trust lands. 

Summary Level Sequence Chart 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

3-1 
3-2 Summary Level Sequence Chart 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State File 

Summary Levels 067, 140, 281, 321, 360, 361, 364, 345, 871, 950, 960, and 970 and Geographic 

Components 89-95, A1-A2, and H0 were added in the geographic update August 2011. 

Geographic component 

00, 89-95, A0, A1-A2 C0-C2, E0-E2, G0, H0 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

Summary level 

040 State1 

050 State-County2 

060 State-County-County Subdivision 

067 State-County-County Subdivision-Subminor Civil 

Division3 

140 State-County-Census Tract
 

160 State-Place
 

170 State-Consolidated City
 

280 State-American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/Hawaiian 

Home Land 

281 State-American Indian Area-Tribal Subdivision/ 

Remainder4 

230 State-Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

320 State-Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan Statistical Area 

321 State-Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

Statistical Area-Principal City 

323 State-Metropolitan Statistical Area-Metropolitan Division 

340 State-Combined Statistical Area 

360 	 State-New England City and Town Area 

361 State-New England City and Town Area-Principal City 

364 State-New England City and Town Area (NECTA)-NECTA 

Division 

345 State-Combined New England City and Town Area 

500 State-Congressional District5 

610 State-State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

620 State-State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

871 State-5-Digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area 

950 State-School District (Elementrary)/Remainder 

960 State-School District (Secondary)/Remainder 

970 State-School District (Unified)/Remainder 

1

 State, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. 

2

 Parish in Louisiana; borough, census area, city and borough, or municipality in Alaska; and municipio in Puerto Rico. In Maryland, Missouri, 

Nevada, and Virginia, one or more cities are independent of counties and are treated as statistical equivalents of counties. The entire District of 

Columbia, which has no counties, is treated as a county equivalent. 3 Subbarrio in Puerto Rico only. 

4 Tribal Subdivisions exist only within those federally recognized American Indian reservations and/or off-reservation trust lands and Oklahoma 

tribal statistical areas (OTSAs) where tribal officials provided boundaries to the Census Bureau. 5

 111th Congress. 
 

 

Chapter 4. 

Data Dictionary 

CONTENTS 

Identification Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Record Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Geographic Area Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Area Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Special Area Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Table (Matrix) Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4-1 

4-1 

4-2 

4-8 

4-13 

4-15 

4-21 

IDENTIFICATION SECTION 

Field name Data dictionary 

reference name Field size 

Starting 

position

 Data 

type 

NOTE: The filling of codes and data attributes in the files is specific to summary level; not all fields are 

filled for every summary level. Where a code or attribute is specified, the actual value is assigned to the 

field except for the use of three special codes: 

Assignment of codes of nine (9) indicates a balance record or that the entity or attribute does not exist 

for this record. 

Assignment of pound signs (#) indicates that more than one value exists for this field and, thus, no 

specific value can be assigned. 

Assignment of exclamation marks (!) indicates that the data are not yet available for this product. 

Record Codes 

File Identification1 FILEID 6 1 A/N 

DPST 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

State/U.S. Abbreviation (USPS) STUSAB 2 7 A 

AK Alaska IL Illinois NC North Carolina RI Rhode Island 

AL Alabama IN Indiana ND North Dakota SC South Carolina 

AR Arkansas KS Kansas NE Nebraska SD South Dakota 

AZ Arizona KY Kentucky NH New Hampshire TN Tennessee 

CA California LA Louisiana NJ New Jersey TX Texas 

CO Colorado MA Massachusetts NM New Mexico US United States 

CT Connecticut MD Maryland NV Nevada UT Utah 

DC District of Columbia ME Maine NY New York VA Virginia 

DE Delaware MI Michigan OH Ohio VT Vermont 

FL Florida MN Minnesota OK Oklahoma WA Washington 

GA Georgia MO Missouri OR Oregon WI Wisconsin 

HI Hawaii MS Mississippi PA Pennsylvania WV West Virginia 

IA Iowa MT Montana PR Puerto Rico WY Wyoming 

ID Idaho 

Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

4-1 
4-2 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Record Codes—Con. 

Summary Level2 

Geographic Component3 

00 Not a geographic component 

Characteristic Iteration4 

000 Not a characteristic iteration 

Characteristic Iteration File Sequence Number5 

Logical Record Number6 

Geographic Area Codes 

Region7 

1 Northeast 

2 Midwest 

3 South 

4 West 

9 Not in a region (Puerto Rico) 

Division7 

0 Not in a division (Puerto Rico) 

1 New England 

2 Middle Atlantic 

3 East North Central 

4 West North Central 

5 South Atlantic 

6 East South Central 

7 West South Central 

8 Mountain 

9 Pacific 

State (FIPS)7, 8 

01 Alabama 17 Illinois 

02 Alaska 18 Indiana 

04 Arizona 19 Iowa 

05 Arkansas 20 Kansas 

06 California 21 Kentucky 

08 Colorado 22 Louisiana 

09 Connecticut 23 Maine 

10 Delaware 24 Maryland 

11 District of Columbia 25 Massachusetts 

12 Florida 26 Michigan 

13 Georgia 27 Minnesota 

15 Hawaii 28 Mississippi 

16 Idaho 29 Missouri 

County7, 8 

001–507 County or equivalent area code 

510–840 Independent city code 

SUMLEV 

GEOCOMP 

CHARITER 

CIFSN 

LOGRECNO 

REGION 

DIVISION 

STATE 

30 Montana 

31 Nebraska 

32 Nevada 

33 New Hampshire 

34 New Jersey 

35 New Mexico 

36 New York 

37 North Carolina 

38 North Dakota 

39 Ohio 

40 Oklahoma 

41 Oregon 

42 Pennsylvania 

COUNTY 

3 9 A/N 

2 12 A/N 

3 14 A/N 

2 17 A/N 

7 19 N 

1 26 A/N 

1 27 A/N 

2 28 A/N 

44 Rhode Island 

45 South Carolina 

46 South Dakota 

47 Tennessee 

48 Texas 

49 Utah 

50 Vermont 

51 Virginia 

53 Washington 

54 West Virginia 

55 Wisconsin 

56 Wyoming 

72 Puerto Rico 

3 30 A/N 
 

Geographic Area Codes—Con. 

FIPS County Class Code8 COUNTYCC 2 33 A/N 

C7 An incorporated place that is independent of any county 

H1 An active county or equivalent area 

H4 An inactive county or equivalent area 

H5 A statistical county equivalent area 

H6 A county or equivalent feature that has consolidated its government with an incorporated place 

County Size Code9	� COUNTYSC 2 35 A/N 

County Subdivision (FIPS)7, 8	� COUSUB 5 37 A/N 

00000	� Water area not assigned to a county subdivision 

00001–89999	� County subdivision in a state-level entity with governmental entities and in Alaska 

and Puerto Rico 

90000–98999	� County subdivision in a state with administrative or statistical entities (excluding 

Alaska and Puerto Rico) 

FIPS County Subdivision Class Code8 COUSUBCC 2 42 A/N 

C2 An active incorporated place that is legally coextensive with a county subdivision but treated as 

independent of any county subdivision (an independent place) 

C5 An active incorporated place that is independent of any county subdivision and serves as a 

county subdivision equivalent (an independent place) 

C7 An incorporated place that is independent of any county (an independent city) 

T1 An active county subdivision that is not coextensive with an incorporated place 

T2 An active county subdivision that is coextensive with a census designated place 

T5 An active county subdivision that is coextensive with an incorporated place 

T9 An inactive county subdivision 

Z1 A nonfunctioning county subdivision 

Z2 A county subdivision that is coextensive with or wholly contained within a legal American Indian, 

Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian area and is independent of any other county subdivision 

Z3 A county subdivision defined as a statistical unorganized territory 

Z5 A statistical census county division (CCD) or census subarea (Alaska only) 

Z7 An active incorporated place that is legally coextensive with or independent of any county 

subdivision in a state with only nonfunctioning county subdivisions (an independent place) 

Z9 Water area not assigned to a county subdivision 

County Subdivision Size Code9 COUSUBSC 2 44 A/N 

Place (FIPS)7, 8 PLACE 5 46 A/N 

00001–89999 Incorporated place or census designated place (CDP) 

FIPS Place Class Code8 PLACECC 2 51 A/N 

C1	� An active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent 

C2	� An active incorporated place that is legally coextensive with a county subdivision but treated as 

independent of any county subdivision (an independent place) 

Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

4-3 
4-4 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Geographic Area Codes—Con. 

FIPS Place Class Code8—Con. 

C5 An active incorporated place that is independent of any county subdivision and serves as a 

county subdivision equivalent (an independent place) 

C6 An active incorporated place that is partially independent of any county subdivision and partially 

dependent within a legal county subdivision (exists in Iowa and Ohio only)
�

C7 An incorporated place that is independent of any county (an independent city)
�

C8 The balance of a consolidated city excluding the separately incorporated place(s) within that 

consolidated government 

C9 An inactive or nonfunctioning incorporated place 

M2 A census designated place (CDP) defined within a military or Coast Guard installation 

U1 A census designated place (CDP) with a name officially recognized by the U.S. Board on 

Geographic Names for a populated place 

U2 A census designated place (CDP) with a name not officially recognized by the U.S. Board on 

Geographic Names for a populated place 

Place Size Code9 PLACESC 2 53 A/N 

Census Tract7 TRACT 6 55 A/N 

000100–998999 Census tract 

Block Group7 BLKGRP 1 61 A/N 

0 Block group (water area only)
�

1–9 Block group (land or land and water area)
�

Block7 BLOCK 4 62 A/N 

0001–0999 Block in a water area only block group
�

1000–9999 Block (can be all land, all water, or mixed) 

Internal Use Code10 IUC 2 66 A/N 

Consolidated City (FIPS)7, 8 CONCIT 5 68 A/N 

03436 Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
�

04200 Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia
�

11390 Butte-Silver Bow, Montana
�

36000 Indianapolis, Indiana
�

47500 Milford, Connecticut
�

48003 Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky
�

52004 Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee 

FIPS Consolidated City Class Code8 CONCITCC 2 73 A/N 

C3 Consolidated city 

Consolidated City Size Code9 CONCITSC 2 75 A/N 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

Hawaiian Home Land (Census)7 AIANHH 4 77 A/N 

0001–4999 Federally recognized American Indian reservation and/or off-reservation trust land 
 

Geographic Area Codes—Con. 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/Hawaiian Home Land (Census)7—Con. 

5000–5499 Hawaiian home land 

5500–5999 Oklahoma tribal statistical area 

6000–7999 Alaska Native village statistical area 

8000–8999 Tribal designated statistical area 

9000–9499 State-recognized American Indian reservation 

9500–9998 State designated tribal statistical area 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

Hawaiian Home Land (FIPS)7, 8, 11 AIANHHFP 5 81 A/N 

00001–89999 American Indian area, Alaska Native area, or Hawaiian home land 

FIPS American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

Hawaiian Home Land Class Code8 AIANHHCC 2 86 A/N 

D0 Statistical or legal area administered and/or claimed by two or more American Indian tribes 

D1 Legal federally recognized American Indian area consisting of reservation and associated 

off-reservation trust land 

D2 Legal federally recognized American Indian area consisting of reservation only 

D3 Legal federally recognized American Indian area consisting of off-reservation trust land only 

D4 Legal state-recognized American Indian reservation 

D5 The off-reservation trust land portion of an American Indian area with both a reservation and 

off-reservation trust land 

D6	� Statistical American Indian area defined for a federally recognized tribe that does not have a 

reservation or off-reservation trust land, specifically a tribal designated statistical area (TDSA) or 

Oklahoma tribal statistical area (OTSA) 

D8 The reservation portion of an American Indian area with both a reservation and off-reservation 

trust land 

D9 Statistical American Indian area defined for a state-recognized tribe that does not have a 

reservation or off-reservation trust land, specifically a state designated tribal statistical area 

E1 Alaska Native village statistical area 

F1 Hawaiian home land 

American Indian Trust Land/Hawaiian Home 

Land Indicator AIHHTLI 1 88 A/N 

R American Indian reservation or statistical entity only 

T American Indian off-reservation trust land only or Hawaiian home land 

M American Indian reservation and off-reservation trust land 

9 Not in an American Indian area or Hawaiian home land 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision (Census)7	� AITSCE 3 89 A/N 

001–998 American Indian tribal subdivision 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision (FIPS)7, 8, 11	� AITS 5 92 A/N 

00001–89999 American Indian tribal subdivision 

FIPS American Indian Tribal Subdivision 

Class Code8 AITSCC 2 97 A/N 

D7	� American Indian tribal subdivision 

Tribal Census Tract	� TTRACT 6 99 A/N 

T00100–T98999 Tribal census tract 

Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

4-5 
4-6 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Geographic Area Codes—Con. 

Tribal Block Group 

A–H, J, K Tribal block group 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation (FIPS)7, 8 

00590 Ahtna 

01570 Aleut 

03950 Arctic Slope 

06370 Bering Straits 

09040 Bristol Bay 

09800 Calista 

14410 Chugach 

17140 Cook Inlet 

20010 Doyon 

41640 Koniag 

52120 NANA 

67940 Sealaska 

FIPS Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

Class Code8 

E7 Alaska Native Regional Corporation 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

Statistical Area7, 8 

TBLKGRP 1 105 A/N 

ANRC 5 106 A/N 

ANRCCC 2 111 A/N 

CBSA 5 113 A/N 

10000–49999 Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area (cannot end in “4”) 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

Statistical Area Size Code9 CBSASC 2 118 A/N 

Metropolitan Division7, 8 METDIV 5 120 A/N 

10004–49994 Metropolitan Division (always ends in “4”) 

Combined Statistical Area7, 8 CSA 3 125 A/N 

100–599 Combined Statistical Area 

New England City and Town Area7, 8 NECTA 5 128 A/N 

70000–79999 New England City and Town Area (cannot end in “4”) 

New England City and Town Area Size Code9 NECTASC 2 133 A/N 

New England City and Town Area Division7, 8 NECTADIV 5 135 A/N 

70004–79994 New England City and Town Area Division (always ends in “4”) 

Combined New England City and Town Area7, 8 CNECTA 3 140 A/N 

700–799 Combined New England City and Town Area 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan 

Statistical Area Principal City Indicator7 CBSAPCI 1 143 A/N 
 

Geographic Area Codes—Con. 

Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan Statistical Area Principal City Indicator7—Con. 

Y Place is a principal city of a metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area
�

N Place is not a principal city of a metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area 

9 Not in a place 

New England City and Town Area Principal City 

Indicator7 NECTAPCI 1 144 A/N 

Y Place is a principal city of a New England city and town area 

N Place is not a principal city of a New England city and town area 

9 Not in a place 

Urban Area7, 12 UA 5 145 A/N 

00001–98999 Urbanized area or urban cluster 

Urban Area Size Code9, 12 UASC 2 150 A/N 

Urban Area Type7, 12 UATYPE 1 152 A/N 

U Urbanized area 

C Urban cluster
�

9 Not in an urban area
�

Urban/Rural7, 12 UR 1 153 A/N 

U Area is classified as urban 

R Area is classified as rural 

M Mixed–part is classified as urban and part is classified as rural 

Congressional District (111th)7, 8, 13 CD 2 154 A/N 

01–53 The actual Congressional District number 

00 Applies to states whose representative is elected “at large”; the state has only one 

Representative in the United States House of Representatives 

98 Applies to areas that have an “at large” nonvoting delegate or resident commissioner in 

the United States House of Representatives 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

(Year 1)7, 14 SLDU 3 156 A/N 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

(Year 1)7, 14 SLDL 3 159 A/N 

Voting District7, 15 VTD 6 162 A/N 

Voting District Indicator7 VTDI 1 168 A/N 

A Actual
�

P Pseudo (adjusted) 

Blank Voting districts not defined (entire state or county)
�

Reserved RESERVE2 3 169 A/N 

ZIP Code Tabulation Area (5-digit)7, 12 ZCTA5 5 172 A/N 

Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

4-7 
4-8 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Geographic Area Codes—Con. 

Subminor Civil Division (FIPS)7, 8 

00001–89999 Subbarrio (Puerto Rico only) 

FIPS Subminor Civil Division Class Code8 

Z6 Subbarrio (Puerto Rico only) 

School District (Elementary)7 

00001–99996 School district 

School District (Secondary)7 

00001–99996 School district 

School District (Unified)7

00001–99996 School district 

SUBMCD 5 177 A/N 

SUBMCDCC 2 182 A/N 

SDELM 5 184 A/N 

SDSEC 5 189 A/N 

SDUNI 5 194 A/N 

99997 School district not defined (land area) 

99998 School district not defined (water area only) 

Area Characteristics 

Area (Land)16 AREALAND 14 199 N 

Area (Water)17 AREAWATR 14 213 N 

Area Name-Legal/Statistical Area Description 

(LSAD) Term-Part Indicator18 NAME 90 227 A/N 

Functional Status Code FUNCSTAT 1 317 A/N 

A Active governmental unit providing primary general-purpose functions 

B Active governmental unit that is partially consolidated with another government but with separate 

officials, providing primary general-purpose functions 

C Active governmental unit consolidated with another government with a single set of officials, 

providing general-purpose functions 

E Active governmental unit providing special-purpose functions 

F Fictitious entity created to fill the Census Bureau’s geographic hierarchy 

G Active governmental unit that is subordinate to another unit of government; not classified as a 

government by the Census Bureau’s Governments Division 

I Inactive governmental unit that has the ability to activate and provide primary special-purpose 

functions 

N Nonfunctioning legal entity (not a governmental unit) 

S Statistical entity 

Geographic Change User Note Indicator GCUNI 

Y Geographic change user note exists for this entity 

N No geographic change user note exists for this entity
�

Population Count (100%)19 

Housing Unit Count (100%)20 

Internal Point (Latitude)21 

Internal Point (Longitude)22 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code 

POP100 

HU100 

INTPTLAT 

INTPTLON 

LSADC 

1 318 A/N 

9 319 N 

9 328 N 

11 337 A/N 

12 348 A/N 

2 360 A/N 
 

Area Characteristics—Con. 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code—Con. 

00	� None—no legal/statistical area description exists; no text is appended to the name of the entity 

03	� City and borough—legal county equivalent in Alaska (Juneau, Sitka, Wrangell, and Yakutat); “City 

and Borough” is appended to the name of the entity 

04	� Borough—county equivalent in Alaska; “Borough” is appended to the name of the entity 

05	� Census area—statistical county equivalent in Alaska; “Census Area” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

06	� County—legal division of 48 states; “County” is appended to the name of the entity 

07	� District—1) legal tribal subdivision in Arizona, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, 

and South Dakota; 2) state legislative district (upper chamber) in Massachusetts; and 3) state 

legislative district (lower chamber) in Massachusetts; “District” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

12	� Municipality—legal county equivalent in Alaska (Anchorage and Skagway); “Municipality” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

13	� Municipio—legal county equivalent in Puerto Rico; “Municipio” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

15	� Parish—legal county equivalent in Louisiana; “Parish” is appended to the name of the entity 

20	� Barrio—minor civil division (MCD) in Puerto Rico; “barrio” is appended to the name of the entity 

21	� Borough—1) minor civil division (MCD) in New York; 2) MCD equivalent (independent place) 

in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; 3) incorporated place in Connecticut, New Jersey, and 

Pennsylvania; “borough” is appended to the name of the entity 

22	� Census county division (CCD)—statistical county subdivision in 20 states; “CCD” is appended to 

the name of the entity 

23	� Census subarea—statistical county subdivision in Alaska; “census subarea” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

25	� City—1) legal county equivalent in Maryland, Missouri, and Virginia (independent city); 2) minor 

civil division (MCD) equivalent in 23 states and the District of Columbia (independent place); 3) 

incorporated place in 49 states and the District of Columbia; 4) consolidated city in Connecticut 

(Milford) and Indiana (Indianapolis); “city” is appended to the name of the entity 

27	� District (election, magisterial)—minor civil division (MCD) in Virginia and West Virginia; “district” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

28	� District (commissioner, election, magisterial, supervisors’, or parish governing authority)—1) 

minor civil division (MCD) in Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia, and 

West Virginia; 2) tribal subdivision in Arizona and South Dakota; “District” is added before the 

name of the entity 

29	� Election precinct—minor civil division (MCD) in Illinois and Nebraska; “precinct” is appended to 

the name of the entity 

30	� Election precinct—minor civil division (MCD) in Illinois and Nebraska; “Precinct” is added before 

the name of the entity 

31	� Gore—minor civil division (MCD) in Maine and Vermont; “gore” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

32	� Grant—minor civil division (MCD) in New Hampshire and Vermont; “grant” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

36	� Location—minor civil division (MCD) in New Hampshire; “location” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

37	� Municipality—1) minor civil division (MCD) equivalent in Pennsylvania (independent place); 2) 

incorporated place in Alaska (Anchorage) and Pennsylvania; “municipality” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

39	� Plantation—minor civil division (MCD) in Maine; “plantation” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

41	� Barrio-pueblo—minor civil division (MCD) in Puerto Rico; “barrio-pueblo” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

4-9 
4-10 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Area Characteristics—Con. 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code—Con. 

42	� Purchase—minor civil division (MCD) in New Hampshire; “purchase” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

43	� Town—1) minor civil division (MCD) in eight states; 2) MCD equivalent in New Jersey, 

Pennsylvania, and South Dakota (independent place); 3) incorporated place in 30 states; “town” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

44	� Township—minor civil division (MCD) in 16 states; “township” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

45	� Township—minor civil division (MCD) in Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North 

Carolina; “Township” is added before the name of the entity 

46	� Unorganized territory—minor civil division (MCD) in nine states; “UT” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

47	� Village—1) minor civil division (MCD) equivalent in New Jersey, Ohio, South Dakota, and 

Wisconsin (independent place); 2) incorporated place in 19 states; “village” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

49	� Charter township—minor civil division (MCD) in Michigan; “charter township” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

51	� Subbarrio—subminor civil division (sub-MCD) in Puerto Rico; “subbarrio” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

53	� City and borough—incorporated place in Alaska (Juneau, Sitka, and Wrangell); “city and borough” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

55	� Comunidad—statistical place (census designated place) in Puerto Rico; “comunidad” is appended 

to the name of the entity 

57	� Census designated place—statistical place in all 50 states; “CDP” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

62	� Zona urbana—statistical place (census designated place) in Puerto Rico; “zona urbana” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

68	� Census region—statistical division of the United States; “Region” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

69	� Census division—statistical division of the United States; “Division” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

70	� Urban growth area (UGA)—legal area in Oregon and Washington; “UGA” is appended to the name 

of the entity 

75	� Urbanized area (UA)—statistical urban area in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto 

Rico; “Urbanized Area” is appended to the name of the entity 

76	� Urban cluster (UC)—statistical urban area in all 50 states and Puerto Rico; “Urban Cluster” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

77	� Alaska Native Regional Corporation—legal Alaska Native area in Alaska; “Alaska Native Regional 

Corporation” is appended to the name of the entity 

78	� Hawaiian home land—legal Native Hawaiian area in Hawaii; “Hawaiian Home Land” is appended 

to the name of the entity 

79	� Alaska Native village statistical area—statistical Alaska Native area in Alaska; “ANVSA” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

80	� Tribal designated statistical area—statistical American Indian reservation equivalent in California, 

New York, and Washington for federally recognized tribes without a legal land base outside of 

Oklahoma; “TDSA” is appended to the name of the entity 

81	� Colony—American Indian reservation in Nevada; “Colony” is appended to the name of the entity 

82	� Community—1) American Indian reservation in California, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and 

Wisconsin; “Community” is appended to the name of the entity; 2) American Indian tribal 

subdivision in North Carolina and Oklahoma 

83	� Joint-use area—American Indian reservation equivalent in Kansas and New Mexico; “joint-use 

area” is appended to the name of the entity 
 

Area Characteristics—Con. 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code—Con. 

84	� Pueblo—American Indian reservation in New Mexico and Texas; “Pueblo” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

85	� Rancheria—American Indian reservation in California; “Rancheria” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

86	� Reservation—1) American Indian reservation in 34 states; 2) minor civil division (MCD) 

equivalent in Maine and New York; “Reservation” is appended to the name of the entity 

87	� Reserve—American Indian reservation in Alaska; “Reserve” is appended to the name of the entity 

88	� Oklahoma tribal statistical area—statistical American Indian reservation equivalent in Oklahoma; 

“OTSA” is appended to the name of the entity 

89	� Trust land—legal American Indian reservation equivalent in nine states; “Trust Land” is appended 

to the name of the entity 

90	� Joint-use Oklahoma tribal statistical area—statistical American Indian reservation equivalent in 

Oklahoma; “joint-use OTSA” is appended to the name of the entity 

91	� Ranch—American Indian reservation in Nevada; “Ranch” is appended to the name of the entity 

92	� State designated tribal statistical area—statistical American Indian reservation equivalent in 

Alabama, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia; “SDTSA” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

93	� Indian village—American Indian reservation in California; “Indian Village” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

94	� Village—American Indian reservation in California and Oregon; “Village” is appended to the name 

of the entity 

95	� Indian community—American Indian reservation in Michigan and Minnesota; “Indian Community” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

96	� Indian reservation—American Indian reservation in Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, 

Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington; “Indian Reservation” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

97	� Indian rancheria—American Indian reservation in California; “Indian Rancheria” is appended to 

the name of the entity 

98	� Indian colony—American Indian reservation in Nevada and Oregon; “Indian Colony” is appended 

to the name of the entity 

99	� Pueblo de—American Indian reservation in New Mexico; “Pueblo de” is added before the name of 

the entity 

9C	� Pueblo of—American Indian reservation in New Mexico; “Pueblo of” is added before the name of 

the entity 

9D	� Settlement—American Indian reservation in Iowa; “Settlement” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

BG	� Block group—statistical area in the United States and Puerto Rico; “Block Group” is added before 

the name (code) of the entity 

BK	� Block—statistical area in the United States and Puerto Rico; “Block” is added before the name 

(code) of the entity 

C1	� Congressional district (at large)—congressional district in a single-district state (Alaska, 

Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming); “Congressional 

District (at Large)” appears as the name of the entity 

C2	� Congressional district—congressional district in a state with more than one district (43 states); 

“Congressional District” is added before the name (code) of the entity 

C3	� Resident commissioner district (at large)—congressional district equivalent in Puerto Rico; 

“Resident Commissioner District (at Large)” appears as the name of the entity 

C4	� Delegate district (at large)—congressional district equivalent in the District of Columbia; 

“Delegate District (at Large)” appears as the name of the entity 

Data Dictionary 4-11 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
4-12 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Area Characteristics—Con. 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code—Con. 

CG	� Consolidated government—consolidated city in Georgia (Augusta-Richmond County); 

“consolidated government” is appended to the name of the entity 

CN	� Corporation—incorporated place in West Virginia (Ranson); “corporation” is appended to the 

name of the entity 

CT	� Census tract—statistical area in the United States and Puerto Rico; “Census Tract” is added before 

the name (modified code) of the entity 

IB	� Tribal block group—statistical area within specified legal American Indian areas; “Tribal Block 

Group” is added before the name (code) of the entity 

IT	� Tribal census tract—statistical area within specified legal American Indian areas; “Tribal Census 

Tract” is added before the name (modified code) of the entity 

L1	� Ward—state legislative district (upper chamber) equivalent in the District of Columbia; “Ward” is 

added before the name of the entity 

L2	� Senatorial district—state legislative district (upper chamber) in Nevada; “Senatorial District” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

L3	� Assembly district—state legislative district (lower chamber) in California, Nevada, New York, and 

Wisconsin; “Assembly District” is added before the name of the entity 

L4	� General assembly district—state legislative district (lower chamber) in New Jersey; “General 

Assembly District” is added before the name of the entity 

L5	� State legislative district—state legislative district (lower chamber) in Maryland; “State Legislative 

District” is added before the name of the entity 

L6	� State legislative subdistrict—state legislative district (lower chamber) in Maryland; “State 

Legislative Subdistrict” is added before the name of the entity 

L8	� State senate district—state legislative district (upper chamber) in Vermont; “State Senate District” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

L9	� State house district—state legislative district (lower chamber) in Vermont; “State House District” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

LL	� State house district—state legislative district (lower chamber) in 41 states and Puerto Rico; “State 

House District” is added before the name of the entity 

LU	� State senate district—state legislative district (upper chamber) in 47 states and Puerto Rico; 

“State Senate District” is added before the name of the entity 

M0	� Combined statistical area—statistical area in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; 

“CSA” is appended to the name of the entity 

M1	� Metropolitan statistical area—statistical area in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto 

Rico; “Metro Area” is appended to the name of the entity 

M2	� Micropolitan statistical area—statistical area in 47 states and Puerto Rico; “Micro Area” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

M3	� Metropolitan division—statistical area in 17 states and the District of Columbia; “Metro Division” 

is appended to the name of the entity 

M4	� Combined New England city and town area—statistical area in Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; “Combined NECTA” is appended to 

the name of the entity 

M5	� Metropolitan New England city and town area—statistical area in Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; “Metropolitan NECTA” is appended 

to the name of the entity 

M6	� Micropolitan New England city and town area—statistical area in Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont; “Micropolitan NECTA” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

M7	� New England city and town area division—statistical area in Massachusetts and New Hampshire; 

“NECTA Division” is appended to the name of the entity 
 

Area Characteristics—Con. 

Legal/Statistical Area Description Code—Con. 

MG	� Metropolitan government—1) incorporated place in Tennessee (Lynchburg, Moore County); 2) 

consolidated city in Tennessee (Nashville-Davidson); “metropolitan government” is appended to 

the name of the entity 

MT	� Metro government—consolidated city in Kentucky (Louisville/Jefferson County); “metro 

government” is appended to the name of the entity 

OT	� Off-reservation trust land—trust land component of an American Indian reservation with 

associated trust land in 23 states; “Off-Reservation Trust Land” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

P5	� Public use microdata area (PUMA)—statistical area in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 

Puerto Rico; “PUMA” is added before the name (code) of the entity 

T1	� Area—American Indian tribal subdivision in Arizona and Utah; “Area” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

T2	� Chapter—American Indian tribal subdivision in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah; “Chapter” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

T3	� Segment—American Indian tribal subdivision in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota; 

“Segment” is appended to the name of the entity 

TA	� Administrative area—American Indian tribal subdivision in Arizona; “Administrative Area” is 

appended to the name of the entity 

TB	� Addition—American Indian tribal subdivision in Wisconsin; “Addition” is appended to the name of 

the entity 

TC	� County district—statistical American Indian tribal subdivision in Oklahoma; “County District” is 

added before the name of the entity 

UC	� Urban county—incorporated place in Kentucky (Lexington-Fayette); “urban county” is appended 

to the name of the entity 

UG	� Unified government—1) incorporated place in Georgia (Cusseta-Chattahoochee County, 

Georgetown-Quitman County, and Webster County); 2) consolidated city in Georgia (AthensClarke County); “unified government” is appended to the name of the entity 

V1	� Voting district (VTD)—legal voting district in 32 states and Puerto Rico; “VTD” is added before the 

name of the entity 

V2	� Voting district (VTD)—legal voting district in 32 states; “VTD” is appended to the name of the 

entity 

Z5	� ZIP code tabulation area (5-digit)—statistical area in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 

Puerto Rico; “ZCTA5” is added before the name of the entity 

Part Flag	� PARTFLAG 1 362 A/N 

W	� Not a part 

P	� Part 

Special Area Codes 

Reserved	� RESERVE3 6 363 A/N 

Urban Growth Area7	� UGA 5 369 A/N 

State (ANSI)8	� STATENS 8 374 A/N 

County (ANSI)8	� COUNTYNS 8 382 A/N 

County Subdivision (ANSI)8	� COUSUBNS 8 390 A/N 

Place (ANSI)8	� PLACENS 8 398 A/N 

Consolidated City (ANSI)8	� CONCITNS 8 406 A/N 

Data Dictionary 4-13 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
4-14 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Special Area Codes—Con. 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

Hawaiian Home Land (ANSI)8 AIANHHNS 8 414 A/N 

American Indian Tribal Subdivision (ANSI)8	� AITSNS 8 422 A/N 

Alaska Native Regional Corporation (ANSI)8 ANRCNS 8 430 A/N 

Subminor Civil Division (ANSI)8	� SUBMCDNS 8 438 A/N 

Congressional District (113th)7, 8, 23	� CD113 2 446 A/N 

01–53	� The actual congressional district number 

00	� Applies to states whose representative is elected “at large”; the state has only one 

representative in the U.S. House of Representatives
�

98	� Applies to areas that have an “at large” nonvoting delegate or resident commissioner in the 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Congressional District (114th)7, 8, 23	� CD114 2 448 A/N 

01–53	� The actual congressional district number 

00	� Applies to states whose representative is elected “at large”; the state has only one 

representative in the U.S. House of Representatives
�

98	� Applies to areas that have an “at large” nonvoting delegate or resident commissioner in the 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Congressional District (115th)7, 8, 23	� CD115 2 450 A/N 

01–53	� The actual congressional district number 

00	� Applies to states whose representative is elected “at large”; the state has only one 

representative in the U.S. House of Representatives
�

98	� Applies to areas that have an “at large” nonvoting delegate or resident commissioner in the 

U.S. House of Representatives 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

(Year 2)7, 24 SLDU2 3 452 A/N 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

(Year 3)7, 24 SLDU3 3 455 A/N 

State Legislative District (Upper Chamber) 

(Year 4)7, 24 SLDU4 3 458 A/N 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

(Year 2)7, 24 SLDL2 3 461 A/N 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

(Year 3)7, 24 SLDL3 3 464 A/N 

State Legislative District (Lower Chamber) 

(Year 4)7, 24 SLDL4 3 467 A/N 

American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/ 

Hawaiian Home Land Size Code9 AIANHHSC 2 470 A/N 

Combined Statistical Area Size Code9	� CSASC 2 472 A/N 

Combined NECTA Size Code9	� CNECTASC 2 474 A/N 
 

Special Area Codes—Con. 

Metropolitan/Micropolitan Indicator	� MEMI 1 476 A/N 

1 Metropolitan Statistical Area 

2 Micropolitan Statistical Area 

9 Not in a Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area 

NECTA Metropolitan/Micropolitan Indicator	� NMEMI 1 477 A/N 

1 Metropolitan New England City and Town Area 

2 Micropolitan New England City and Town Area 

9 Not in a New England City and Town Area 

Public Use Microdata Area12 PUMA 5 478 A/N 

00001–99998 Census PUMA Code 

Reserved	� RESERVED 18 483 A/N 

ENDNOTES 

1. A unique, six-character identifier for each file series. See “How to Use This Product” for further 

information. 

2. Identifies the geographic level for which the data matrices on the summary file have been summarized. 

The summary level sequence chart describes the hierarchical arrangement of the specified geographic 

areas with other geographic areas, if any. The summary level must be used in combination with the 

geographic area codes to identify a specific geographic area (for example, summary level 050 and a 

specific state and county code must be used together to locate the data for a particular county). See 

“How to Use This Product” for further information. 

3.	� Indicates an iteration (repetition), for the specified summary level, of the data matrices on the 

summary file for the geographic components listed in the Geographic Component field. See “How to

Use This Product” for further information. 

Geographic Component Description 

00 Not a geographic component 

01 Urban 

04 Urban—in urbanized area 

05 Urban—in urbanized area of 5,000,000 or more population 

06 Urban—in urbanized area of 2,500,000 to 4,999,999 population 

07 Urban—in urbanized area of 1,000,000 to 2,499,999 population 

08 Urban—in urbanized area of 500,000 to 999,999 population 

09 Urban—in urbanized area of 250,000 to 499,999 population 

10 Urban—in urbanized area of 100,000 to 249,999 population 

11 Urban—in urbanized area of 50,000 to 99,999 population 

28 Urban—in urban cluster 

29 Urban—in urban cluster of 25,000 to 49,999 population 

30 Urban—in urban cluster of 10,000 to 24,999 population 

31 Urban—in urban cluster of 5,000 to 9,999 population 

32 Urban—in urban cluster of 2,500 to 4,999 population 

43 Rural 

44 Rural—place 

Data Dictionary 4-15 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
4-16 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

ENDNOTES—Con. 

Geographic Component Description—Con. 

45 Rural—place of 2,500 or more population 

46 Rural—place of 1,000 to 2,499 population 

47 Rural—place of less than 1,000 population 

48 Rural—not in place 

49 Rural—farm 

50 Urban portion of extended place 

51 Rural portion of extended place 

89 American Indian Reservation and Trust Land—Federal 

90 American Indian Reservation and Trust Land—State 

91 Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area 

92 Tribal Designated Statistical Area 

93 Alaska Native Village Statistical Area 

94 State Designated Tribal Statistical Area 

95 Hawaiian Home Land 

A0 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area 

A1 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—in principal city 

A2 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—not in principal city 

A3 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—urban 

A4 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—urban—in urbanized area 

A5 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—urban—in urban cluster 

A6 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—rural 

A7 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 5,000,000 or more population 

A8 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 2,500,000 to 4,999,999 population 

A9 In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 1,000,000 to 2,499,999 population 

AA In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 500,000 to 999,999 population 

AB In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 250,000 to 499,999 population 

AC In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 100,000 to 249,999 population 

AD In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 50,000 to 99,999 population 

AE In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of 25,000 to 49,999 population 

AF In metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area of less than 25,000 population 

C0 In metropolitan statistical area 

C1 In metropolitan statistical area—in principal city 

C2 In metropolitan statistical area—not in principal city 

C3 In metropolitan statistical area—urban 

C4 In metropolitan statistical area—urban—in urbanized area 

C5 In metropolitan statistical area—urban—in urban cluster 

C6 In metropolitan statistical area—rural 

C7 In metropolitan statistical area of 5,000,000 or more population 

C8 In metropolitan statistical area of 2,500,000 to 4,999,999 population 

C9 In metropolitan statistical area of 1,000,000 to 2,499,999 population 

CA In metropolitan statistical area of 500,000 to 999,999 population 
 

ENDNOTES—Con. 

Geographic Component Description—Con. 

CB In metropolitan statistical area of 250,000 to 499,999 population 

CC In metropolitan statistical area of 100,000 to 249,999 population 

CD In metropolitan statistical area of less than 100,000 population 

CE In metropolitan statistical area of 5,000,000 or more population—in principal city 

CF In metropolitan statistical area of 5,000,000 or more population—not in principal city 

CG In metropolitan statistical area of 2,500,000 to 4,999,999 population—in principal city 

CH In metropolitan statistical area of 2,500,000 to 4,999,999 population—not in principal city 

CJ In metropolitan statistical area of 1,000,000 to 2,499,999 population—in principal city 

CK In metropolitan statistical area of 1,000,000 to 2,499,999 population—not in principal city 

CL In metropolitan statistical area of 500,000 to 999,999 population—in principal city 

CM In metropolitan statistical area of 500,000 to 999,999 population—not in principal city 

CN In metropolitan statistical area of 250,000 to 499,999 population—in principal city 

CP In metropolitan statistical area of 250,000 to 499,999 population—not in principal city 

CQ In metropolitan statistical area of 100,000 to 249,999 population—in principal city 

CR In metropolitan statistical area of 100,000 to 249,999 population—not in principal city 

CS In metropolitan statistical area of less than 100,000 population—in principal city 

CT In metropolitan statistical area of less than 100,000 population—not in principal city 

E0 In micropolitan statistical area 

E1 In micropolitan statistical area—in principal city 

E2 In micropolitan statistical area—not in principal city 

E3 In micropolitan statistical area—urban 

E4 In micropolitan statistical area—urban—in urbanized area 

E5 In micropolitan statistical area—urban—in urban cluster 

E6 In micropolitan statistical area—rural 

E7 In micropolitan statistical area of 100,000 or more population 

E8 In micropolitan statistical area of 50,000 to 99,999 population 

E9 In micropolitan statistical area of 25,000 to 49,999 population 

EA In micropolitan statistical area of less than 25,000 population 

EB In micropolitan statistical area of 100,000 or more population—in principal city 

EC In micropolitan statistical area of 100,000 or more population—not in principal city 

ED In micropolitan statistical area of 50,000 to 99,999 population—in principal city 

EE In micropolitan statistical area of 50,000 to 99,999 population—not in principal city 

EF In micropolitan statistical area of 25,000 to 49,999 population—in principal city 

EG In micropolitan statistical area of 25,000 to 49,999 population—not in principal city 

EH In micropolitan statistical area of less than 25,000 population—in principal city 

EJ In micropolitan statistical area of less than 25,000 population—not in principal city 

G0 Not in metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area 

G1 Not in metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—urban 

G2 Not in metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—urban—in urbanized area 

G3 Not in metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—urban—in urban cluster 

G4 Not in metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area—rural 

Data Dictionary 4-17 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
4-18 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES—Con. 

Geographic Component Description—Con.
�

H0 Not in metropolitan statistical area
�

H1 Not in metropolitan statistical area—urban
�

H2 Not in metropolitan statistical area—urban—in urbanized area
�

H3 Not in metropolitan statistical area—urban—in urban cluster
�

H4 Not in metropolitan statistical area—rural
�

J0 In combined statistical area
�

L0 Not in combined statistical area
�

M0 In New England city and town area
�

M1 In New England city and town area—in principal city
�

M2 In New England city and town area—not in principal city
�

M3 In New England city and town area—urban
�

M4 In New England city and town area—urban—in urbanized area
�

M5 In New England city and town area—urban—in urban cluster
�

M6 In New England city and town area—rural
�

P0 In combined New England city and town area
�

4.	� Indicates an iteration (repetition), for the specified summary level, of the data matrices on the 

summary file for a population or housing characteristic. These iteration fields apply to Summary File 2 

(SF 2) and the American Indian and Alaska Native Summary File only. 

5.	� The sequence number of the table file within the set of physical files for the state (i.e., the geographic 

header record file and one or more table files). See “How to Use This Product” for more information. 

6.	� The logical record is the complete record for a geographic entity defined by the summary level, but 

exclusive of the characteristic iteration. A logical record may have one or more parts (or segments). 

Each logical record has an assigned sequential integer number within the file. See “How to Use This 

Product” for further information. 

7.	� See Appendix A, “Geographic Terms and Concepts,” for definition of this field. 

8.	� The Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes were withdrawn as a standard in 2005. The 

Census Bureau, however, has renamed these codes as Federal Information Processing Series codes and 

retained the acronym. The two-digit state and congressional district and three-digit county FIPS codes 

(former FIPS 5, 9, and 6, respectively) are unchanged, but with oversight transferred to the American 

National Standards Institute (ANSI). The five-digit FIPS 55 codes are no longer a federal code standard; 

however they are retained in Census Bureau files as administrative codes and used as primary key 

codes for many geographic entity types. The U.S. Geological Survey has received ANSI oversight for a 

code standard that uses the Geographic Names Information System identifier (GNIS ID). 

The new ANSI standard using the GNIS ID as the official codes for Named Physical and Cultural 

Geographic Features of the United States and Puerto Rico also is included in Census Bureau files for 

state, county, county subdivision, place, consolidated city, American Indian area, Alaska Native area, 

Hawaiian home land, American Indian tribal subdivision, and subminor civil division or equivalent 

features. The Census Bureau references these fields in the geoheader as ANSI codes and using the term 

National Standard code. The codes represent the official numeric GNIS ID as an eight-digit character 

field with leading zeroes. The Census Bureau treats the state and county or equivalent area ANSI codes 

as supplemental standard codes. 

The following lists the published code standards used for the 2010 Census (with its associated Census 

2000 standard): 

•	� INCITS.38-200x (R2004), Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 

Rico, and the Insular Areas of the United States (Formerly FIPS 5-2) 

•	� INCITS.31-200x (R2007), Codes for the Identification of Counties and Equivalent Areas of the 

United States, Puerto Rico, and the Insular Areas of the United States (Formerly FIPS 6-4) 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES—Con. 

•	� INCITS.454-200x, Codes for the Identification of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas 

and Related Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico (Formerly FIPS 8-6) 

•	� INCITS 455-200x, Codes for the Identification of Congressional Districts and Equivalent Areas of 

the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Insular Areas (Formerly FIPS 9-1) 

•	� INCITS 446-2008, (GNIS) Identifying Attributes for Named Physical and Cultural Geographic 

Features (Except Roads and Highways) of the United States, Its Territories, Outlying Areas, and 

Freely Associated Areas, and the Waters of the Same to the Limit of the Twelve-Mile Statutory Zone 

(Formerly FIPS 55-4). 

Note: INCITS refers to InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards. 

9.	� Identifies areas within predetermined population ranges. The actual codes and ranges are common to 

all entities with a size code field. The complete list of size codes follows: 

00 Not in universe 

01 0 

02 1–24 

03 25–99 

04 100–199 

05 200–249 

06 250–299 

07 300–499 

08 500–999 

09 1,000–1,499 

10 1,500–1,999 

11 2,000–2,499 

12 2,500–4,999 

13 5,000–9,999 

14 10,000–19,999 

15 20,000–24,999 

16 25,000–49,999 

17 50,000–99,999 

18 100,000–249,999 

19 250,000–499,999 

20 500,000–999,999 

21 1,000,000–2,499,999 

22 2,500,000–4,999,999 

23 5,000,000 or more 

The size code fields are not filled for the Demographic Profile Summary File or Redistricting Data 

Summary File products. 

10. Codes in unspecified arrangement for U.S. Census Bureau use. 

11. Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) 55 codes are assigned by state. Because American Indian 

areas and tribal subdivisions can exist in more than one state, multiple FIPS 55 codes can exist for the 

entity. 

12. Urban Areas, Urban/Rural classification, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, and Public Use Microdata Areas are 

not available in the Demographic Profile Summary File or Redistricting Data Summary File products. 

13. Blank values in the Congressional District (111th) field indicate areas where no congressional district 

was assigned by state redistricting officials. 

14. State legislative district codes have three characters and can include a hyphen (-). The code ZZZ 

indicates state legislative districts not defined. In the District of Columbia and Nebraska, both of which 

have a single legislative body, the state legislative districts are reported as upper chamber districts, 

and the lower chamber districts are coded as 999. 

Data Dictionary 4-19 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
4-20 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES—Con. 

15. Voting district codes can have one to six characters including special characters of a hyphen (-), dot 

(.), and forward slash (/). If the code contains less than six characters, the field is right-justified with 

leading blanks. The code ZZZZZZ indicates voting district not defined in a county or equivalent area 

containing one or more defined voting districts. A code of six blanks is used in Kentucky, Rhode Island, 

Oregon (except Multnomah County), and 14 of the 50 counties in Montana, where participants did not 

define voting districts for entire states or counties. 

16. Land area measurement in square meters. The accuracy of the area measurement is limited by the 

inaccuracy inherent in the mapping of the various boundary features in the Census Bureau’s geographic 

database. Land area includes areas classified as intermittent water, swamps, and glaciers, which 

appear on census maps and in the Census Bureau’s geographic database as hydrographic features. 

Square miles can be derived by dividing square meters by 2,589,988. See Appendix A, “Geographic 

Terms and Concepts,” for definition of this field. 

17. Water area measurement in square meters. The accuracy of the area measurement is limited by the 

inaccuracy inherent in the mapping of the various boundary features in the Census Bureau’s geographic 

database. Water area excludes areas classified as intermittent water, swamps, and glaciers, which 

are treated as land even though they appear on census maps and in the Census Bureau’s geographic 

database as hydrographic features. Square miles can be derived by dividing square meters by 

2,589,988. See Appendix A, “Geographic Terms and Concepts,” for definition of this field. 

18. Name of the lowest-level entity represented by the summary level. In addition to the name of the 

entity, the name field contains the legal/statistical area description (LSAD), when appropriate, and 

sometimes contains the state abbreviation. For legal entities, the name is the one reported to the U.S. 

Census Bureau in the Boundary and Annexation Survey or by other appropriate sources, such as state 

education officials for school districts. For statistical entities, the name is determined by the Office of 

Management and Budget for metropolitan and micropolitan areas. The remaining statistical area names 

usually are supplied by tribal, state, or local sources according to published criteria. For redistricting 

data entities, names are reported by the state redistricting data liaison. For other areas, the name 

is determined by the local officials, usually in cooperation with the U.S. Census Bureau. When the 

summary level data represent only part of the area specified in the name, the name usually will have 

“(part)” appended to the name/code terminology to designate that this entry for the entity represents 

only a part of the total entity. 

19. The total number of persons enumerated in the specified geographic entity as determined in the 

100 percent processing. 

20. The total number of housing units enumerated in the specified geographic entity as determined in the 

100 percent processing. 

21. Latitude in degrees, to seven decimal places, of a point within the geographic area represented by 

the summary level. The character immediately preceding the first digit of the latitude of an internal 

point identifies the direction (hemisphere): a plus sign (+) indicates the Northern Hemisphere; a minus 

sign (–) indicates the Southern Hemisphere. See Appendix A, “Geographic Terms and Concepts,” for 

definition of this field. 

22. Longitude in degrees, to seven decimal places, of a point within the geographic area represented by 

the summary level. The character immediately preceding the first digit of the longitude of an internal 

point identifies the direction (hemisphere): a plus sign (+) indicates the Eastern hemisphere; a minus 

sign (–) indicates the Western Hemisphere. A point on the 180th meridian is assigned to the Western 

Hemisphere (–180.0000000). See Appendix A, “Geographic Terms and Concepts,” for definition of this 

field. 

23. Congressional District (113th), Congressional District (114th), and Congressional District (115th) are 

reserved for areas established after reapportionment and redistricting. 

24. State Legislative District—Upper and Lower Chamber—for Year 2, 3, and 4 are reserved for areas 

established after redistricting. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE (MATRIX) SECTION 

The 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File is provided as a set, including one geographic header 

file and one data file. The data file is presented in the table (matrix) section and is in ASCII format with 

variable length fields delimited by commas. The data fields are numeric with the maximum size shown 

in MAX SIZE. Each data file begins with a subset of fields from the geographic header file. They are file 

identification (FILEID), state/U.S. abbreviation (STUSAB), characteristic iteration (CHARITER), two-character 

file sequence number (CIFSN), and a logical record number (LOGRECNO). 

Table 

number Table contents 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

name 

Segment Max 

size 

File 01—File Linking Fields (comma delimited). These fields link File 01 with the geographic header. 

Data 

dictionary Field name reference Max Data 

name size type 

File Identification FILEID 6 A/N 

State/U.S. Abbreviation (USPS) STUSAB 2 A 

Characteristic Iteration CHARITER 3 A/N 

Characteristic Iteration File Sequence Number CIFSN 2 A/N 

Logical Record Number LOGRECNO 7 N 

DPSF1. SEX AND AGE [57] 

Universe: Total population 

Total: dpsf0010001 1 9 

Under 5 years dpsf0010002 1 9 

5 to 9 years dpsf0010003 1 9 

10 to 14 years dpsf0010004 1 9 

15 to 19 years dpsf0010005 1 9 

20 to 24 years dpsf0010006 1 9 

25 to 29 years dpsf0010007 1 9 

30 to 34 years dpsf0010008 1 9 

35 to 39 years dpsf0010009 1 9 

40 to 44 years dpsf0010010 1 9 

45 to 49 years dpsf0010011 1 9 

50 to 54 years dpsf0010012 1 9 

55 to 59 years dpsf0010013 1 9 

60 to 64 years dpsf0010014 1 9 

65 to 69 years dpsf0010015 1 9 

70 to 74 years dpsf0010016 1 9 

75 to 79 years dpsf0010017 1 9 

80 to 84 years dpsf0010018 1 9 

85 years and over dpsf0010019 1 9 

Male: dpsf0010020 1 9 

Under 5 years dpsf0010021 1 9 

5 to 9 years dpsf0010022 1 9 

10 to 14 years dpsf0010023 1 9 

15 to 19 years dpsf0010024 1 9 

20 to 24 years dpsf0010025 1 9 

25 to 29 years dpsf0010026 1 9 

30 to 34 years dpsf0010027 1 9 

35 to 39 years dpsf0010028 1 9 

40 to 44 years dpsf0010029 1 9 

Data Dictionary 4-21 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
4-22 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE (MATRIX) SECTION—Con. 

Table 

number Table contents 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

name 

Segment Max 

size 

DPSF1. SEX AND AGE [57]—Con. 

Total—Con. 

Male—Con. 

45 to 49 years dpsf0010030 1 9 

50 to 54 years dpsf0010031 1 9 

55 to 59 years dpsf0010032 1 9 

60 to 64 years dpsf0010033 1 9 

65 to 69 years dpsf0010034 1 9 

70 to 74 years dpsf0010035 1 9 

75 to 79 years dpsf0010036 1 9 

80 to 84 years dpsf0010037 1 9 

85 years and over dpsf0010038 1 9 

Female: dpsf0010039 1 9 

Under 5 years dpsf0010040 1 9 

5 to 9 years dpsf0010041 1 9 

10 to 14 years dpsf0010042 1 9 

15 to 19 years dpsf0010043 1 9 

20 to 24 years dpsf0010044 1 9 

25 to 29 years dpsf0010045 1 9 

30 to 34 years dpsf0010046 1 9 

35 to 39 years dpsf0010047 1 9 

40 to 44 years dpsf0010048 1 9 

45 to 49 years dpsf0010049 1 9 

50 to 54 years dpsf0010050 1 9 

55 to 59 years dpsf0010051 1 9 

60 to 64 years dpsf0010052 1 9 

65 to 69 years dpsf0010053 1 9 

70 to 74 years dpsf0010054 1 9 

75 to 79 years dpsf0010055 1 9 

80 to 84 years dpsf0010056 1 9 

85 years and over dpsf0010057 1 9 

DPSF2. MEDIAN AGE BY SEX [3] (1 expressed decimal) 

Universe: Total population 

Median age— 

Both sexes dpsf0020001 1 9 

Male dpsf0020002 1 9 

Female dpsf0020003 1 9 

DPSF3. SEX FOR THE POPULATION 16 YEARS AND OVER [3] 

Universe: Population 16 years and over 

Total: dpsf0030001 1 9 

Male dpsf0030002 1 9 

Female dpsf0030003 1 9 

DPSF4. SEX FOR THE POPULATION 18 YEARS AND OVER [3] 

Universe: Population 18 years and over 

Total: dpsf0040001 1 9 

Male dpsf0040002 1 9 

Female dpsf0040003 1 9 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE (MATRIX) SECTION—Con. 

Table 

number Table contents 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

name 

Segment Max 

size 

DPSF5. SEX FOR THE POPULATION 21 YEARS AND OVER [3] 

Universe: Population 21 years and over 

Total: dpsf0050001 1 9 

Male dpsf0050002 1 9 

Female dpsf0050003 1 9 

DPSF6. SEX FOR THE POPULATION 62 YEARS AND OVER [3] 

Universe: Population 62 years and over 

Total: dpsf0060001 1 9 

Male dpsf0060002 1 9 

Female dpsf0060003 1 9 

DPSF7. SEX FOR THE POPULATION 65 YEARS AND OVER [3] 

Universe: Population 65 years and over 

Total: dpsf0070001 1 9 

Male dpsf0070002 1 9 

Female dpsf0070003 1 9 

DPSF8. RACE [24] 

Universe: Total population 

Total: dpsf0080001 1 9 

Population of one race: dpsf0080002 1 9 

White dpsf0080003 1 9 

Black or African American dpsf0080004 1 9 

American Indian and Alaska Native dpsf0080005 1 9 

Asian: dpsf0080006 1 9 

Asian Indian dpsf0080007 1 9 

Chinese dpsf0080008 1 9 

Filipino dpsf0080009 1 9 

Japanese dpsf0080010 1 9 

Korean dpsf0080011 1 9 

Vietnamese dpsf0080012 1 9 

Other Asian dpsf0080013 1 9 

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: dpsf0080014 1 9 

Native Hawaiian dpsf0080015 1 9 

Guamanian or Chamorro dpsf0080016 1 9 

Samoan dpsf0080017 1 9 

Other Pacific Islander dpsf0080018 1 9 

Some Other Race dpsf0080019 1 9 

Population of Two or More Races dpsf0080020 1 9 

White; American Indian and Alaska Native dpsf0080021 1 9 

White; Asian dpsf0080022 1 9 

White; Black or African American dpsf0080023 1 9 

White; Some Other Race dpsf0080024 1 9 

DPSF9. RACE (TOTAL RACES TALLIED) [6] 

Universe: Total races tallied 

White alone or in combination with one or more 

other races dpsf0090001 1 9 

Black or African American alone or in combination 

with one or more other races dpsf0090002 1 9 

Data Dictionary 4-23 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE (MATRIX) SECTION—Con. 

Table 

number Table contents 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

name 

Segment Max 

size 

DPSF9. RACE (TOTAL RACES TALLIED) [6]—Con. 

American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in 

combination with one or more other races dpsf0090003 1 9 

Asian alone or in combination with one or more 

other races dpsf0090004 1 9 

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 

or in combination with one or more other races dpsf0090005 1 9 

Some Other Race alone or in combination with 

one or more other races dpsf0090006 1 9 

DPSF10. HISPANIC OR LATINO BY SPECIFIC ORIGIN [7] 

Universe: Total population 

Total: dpsf0100001 1 9 

Hispanic or Latino (of any race): dpsf0100002 1 9 

Mexican dpsf0100003 1 9 

Puerto Rican dpsf0100004 1 9 

Cuban dpsf0100005 1 9 

Other Hispanic or Latino dpsf0100006 1 9 

Not Hispanic or Latino dpsf0100007 1 9 

DPSF11. HISPANIC OR LATINO AND RACE [17] 

Universe: Total population 

Total: dpsf0110001 1 9 

Hispanic or Latino: dpsf0110002 1 9 

White alone dpsf0110003 1 9 

Black or African American alone dpsf0110004 1 9 

American Indian and Alaska Native alone dpsf0110005 1 9 

Asian alone dpsf0110006 1 9 

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone dpsf0110007 1 9 

Some Other Race alone dpsf0110008 1 9 

Two or More Races dpsf0110009 1 9 

Not Hispanic or Latino: dpsf0110010 1 9 

White alone dpsf0110011 1 9 

Black or African American alone dpsf0110012 1 9 

American Indian and Alaska Native alone dpsf0110013 1 9 

Asian alone dpsf0110014 1 9 

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone dpsf0110015 1 9 

Some Other Race alone dpsf0110016 1 9 

Two or More Races dpsf0110017 1 9 

DPSF12. RELATIONSHIP [20] 

Universe: Total population 

Total: dpsf0120001 1 9 

In households: dpsf0120002 1 9 

Householder dpsf0120003 1 9 

Spouse dpsf0120004 1 9 

Child dpsf0120005 1 9 

Own child under 18 years dpsf0120006 1 9 

Other relatives dpsf0120007 1 9 

Under 18 years dpsf0120008 1 9 

65 years and over dpsf0120009 1 9 

4-24 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
Data Dictionary 4-25

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File

Table 

number Table contents

Data

dictionary

reference 

name

SegmentMax

size

DPSF12. RELATIONSHIP [20]—Con.

Total—Con.

 In households—Con.

 Nonrelatives dpsf0120010 1 9

 Under 18 years dpsf0120011 1 9

 65 years and over dpsf0120012 1 9

 Unmarried partner dpsf0120013 1 9

 In group quarters: dpsf0120014 1 9

 Institutionalized population: dpsf0120015 1 9

 Male dpsf0120016 1 9

 Female dpsf0120017 1 9

 Noninstitutionalized population: dpsf0120018 1 9

 Male dpsf0120019 1 9

 Female dpsf0120020 1 9

DPSF13. HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE [15]

Universe: Households

Total: dpsf0130001 1 9

 Family households (families) dpsf0130002 1 9

 With own children under 18 years dpsf0130003 1 9

 Husband-wife family dpsf0130004 1 9

 With own children under 18 years dpsf0130005 1 9

 Male householder, no wife present dpsf0130006 1 9

 With own children under 18 years dpsf0130007 1 9

 Female householder, no husband present dpsf0130008 1 9

 With own children under 18 years dpsf0130009 1 9

 Nonfamily households dpsf0130010 1 9

 Householder living alone: dpsf0130011 1 9

 Male dpsf0130012 1 9

 65 years and over dpsf0130013 1 9

 Female dpsf0130014 1 9

 65 years and over dpsf0130015 1 9

DPSF14. HOUSEHOLDS WITH INDIVIDUALS UNDER 18 YEARS [1]

Universe: Households with individuals under 18 years

Total dpsf0140001 1 9

DPSF15. HOUSEHOLDS WITH INDIVIDUALS 65 YEARS AND OVER 

 [1]

Universe: Households with individuals 65 years and over

Total dpsf0150001 1 9

DPSF16. AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE [1] (2 expressed decimals)

Universe: Households

Average household size dpsf0160001 1 9

DPSF17. AVERAGE FAMILY SIZE [1] (2 expressed decimals)

Universe: Families

Average family size dpsf0170001 1 9

TABLE (MATRIX) SECTION—Con.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE (MATRIX) SECTION—Con. 

Table 

number Table contents 

Data 

dictionary 

reference 

name 

Segment Max 

size 

DPSF18. HOUSING OCCUPANCY [9] 

Universe: Total housing units 

Total: 

Occupied housing units 

Vacant housing units: 

For rent 

Rented, not occupied 

For sale only 

Sold, not occupied 

For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 

All other vacants 

dpsf0180001 

dpsf0180002 

dpsf0180003 

dpsf0180004 

dpsf0180005 

dpsf0180006 

dpsf0180007 

dpsf0180008 

dpsf0180009 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

DPSF19. HOMEOWNER VACANCY RATE [1] (1 expressed decimal) 

Universe: Owner-occupied, vacant for sale, and vacant sold 

but not occupied housing units 

Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) dpsf0190001 1 9 

DPSF20. RENTAL VACANCY RATE [1] (1 expressed decimal) 

Universe: Renter-occupied, vacant for rent, and vacant 

rented but not occupied housing units 

Rental vacancy rate (percent) dpsf0200001 1 9 

DPSF21. HOUSING TENURE [3] 

Universe: Occupied housing units 

Total: 

Owner-occupied housing units 

Renter-occupied housing units 

dpsf0210001 

dpsf0210002 

dpsf0210003 

1 

1 

1 

9 

9 

9 

DPSF22. POPULATION IN OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS BY 

TENURE [2] 

Universe: Population in occupied housing units 

Owner-occupied housing units 

Renter-occupied housing units 

dpsf0220001 

dpsf0220002 

1 

1 

9 

9 

DPSF23. AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE OF OCCUPIED HOUSING 

UNITS BY TENURE [2] (2 expressed decimals) 

Universe: Occupied housing units 

Average household size— 

Owner-occupied 

Renter-occupied 

dpsf0230001 

dpsf0230002 

1 

1 

9 

9 

4-26 Data Dictionary 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 
Chapter 5. 

2010 Census: Operational Overview and 

Accuracy of the Data 

CONTENTS 

Master Address File Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
�

Local Update of Census Addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
�

Address Canvassing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
�

Group Quarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
�

Update/Leave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
�

Nonresponse Followup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
�

Other Address and Geocoding Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
�

Vacant/Delete Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
�

Field Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
�

Remote Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
�

Group Quarters Enumeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
�

Service-Based Enumeration and Enumeration at Transitory Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
�

Confidentiality of the Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
�

Title 13 U.S. Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
�

Disclosure Avoidance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
�

Data Swapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
�

Nonsampling Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
�

Types of Nonsampling Error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
�

Reduction of Nonsampling Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
�

Resolving Multiple Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
�

Data Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
�

Count Imputation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
�

General Imputation Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
�

MASTER ADDRESS FILE DEVELOPMENT 

As in Census 2000, the base for the address list for the 2010 Census was the address list from the 

previous census. Various updates were made to the address list during the intervening decade. The 

primary source of new addresses after Census 2000 was the Delivery Sequence File (DSF) from the U.S. 

Postal Service (USPS). The U.S. Census Bureau acquired this file of all mailing addresses in the United 

States and updated the Master Address File (MAF) twice a year (March and October) until February 2010. 

Addresses must be associated with a block to be included in the census. The process of associating these 

addresses with a block is called geocoding. For the Census Bureau, the file where geographic information 

is contained is the Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing System (TIGER®). During 

this decade, the MAF and TIGER have been integrated into the MAF/TIGER® database (MTdb). 

For the processing of the DSF records, city-style addresses (containing a house number and street name) 

of residential units were applied to the MAF in those blocks that, in general terms, had been found to 

have a majority of city-style addresses in order that duplication would not result from the addition of 

these addresses. Another file from the USPS, the Locatable Address Conversion System (LACS), contained 

linkages for addresses that had been changed. Use of this file by the Census Bureau allowed for old 

and new addresses to be linked in the MTdb. This was especially desirable for linking the non-city-style 

addresses that had been converted to city-style addresses. 

2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data 

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5-1 
5-2 2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

Various field operations, such as census tests and the update of rural area addresses for the American 

Community Survey, led to localized updates or updates in specific types of areas. In particular, updating 

addresses with post office box type addresses in the rural area was meant to balance the updating of the 

MTdb with city-style addresses from the DSF. 

Local Update of Census Addresses 

The first large-scale update of addresses for the decennial census was the Local Update of Census 

Addresses (LUCA) program. In this program, governmental units (GUs) were allowed to participate in 

updating the address list in three different ways. One option allowed for review of the Census Bureau’s 

address list, while the other options allowed only for the GUs to submit a list of addresses to the Census 

Bureau. Under any of these options, new addresses submitted by the GUs were included on the subsequent 

address list. These addresses could be for housing units (HUs) or for group quarters (GQs). The submitted 

addresses were then included in the universe for validation in the next major address list development 

operation, Address Canvassing, which occurred between April and July 2009. 

Address Canvassing 

Address Canvassing was conducted in all areas of the United States and Puerto Rico except in the areas 

that were designated for Remote Alaska or Remote Update Enumerate in the census. Address Canvassing 

was a dependent check of the list of addresses, as well as of the maps. The Address Canvassing operation 

was performed using automation, which allowed for the integration of address and map updates, as 

well as the imposition of rules on what constitutes a minimum allowable address and the collection of 

particular geographic fields. The allowable actions on the addresses in Address Canvassing were validate, 

nonresidential, delete, duplicate, address correction, and an action for designating possible GQs. Adds 

to the list were also allowed. All deletes and duplicates were validated during the next phase of the 

operation, called delete verification. The results from Address Canvassing were incorporated into the 

MTdb. One of the first uses of these results was for creating feedback to the GUs participating in LUCA. 

The results from processing the Address Canvassing updates were also used for the creation of the initial 

census address list starting in July 2009, the initial Universe Control and Management (UC&M) file. Printing 

of the questionnaires used this address list. 

Group Quarters 

The results of Address Canvassing also contributed to the universe for the next operation, which was 

Group Quarters Validation (GQV). The procedures for creating the address list of GQs were significantly 

different for the 2010 Census as opposed to previous censuses. In order to reduce duplication and 

geographic data errors, the address lists of HUs and GQs were integrated in the MTdb. The list of potential 

GQs going into GQV was the accumulation of GQ addresses from Census 2000, GQ addresses acquired 

from various sources, and addresses listed as Other Living Quarters (potential GQs) in Address Canvassing. 

Cases designated as GQs through other sources were intended to be sent to GQV regardless of the Address 

Canvassing status. However, it was discovered during processing of the LUCA updates that GUs often 

listed apartment buildings or commercial units as GQs. The schedule for completing GQV, in October 2009, 

was one of the riskiest in the census. For these units to remain on the list of units to be checked in GQV 

put timely completion of the operation at risk, and thus, the entire census schedule. Therefore, from the 

LUCA updates making their way to GQV, only the units with facility names that included special key names 

known to be associated with group quarters were designated for follow-up in GQV unless they were also 

designated as possible GQs in Address Canvassing. The addresses in GQV could receive an action of GQ— 

along with the type of GQ, HU, nonresidential, vacant, transient (meaning the location was connected to a 

geographic area that should be enumerated in the Enumeration at Transitory Locations operation), delete, 

or duplicate. 

The results from GQV were processed in November 2009. Updates were made to the initial UC&M, 

resulting in the enumeration UC&M, or the full census universe. Units that were marked as housing units 
in GQV were designated as adds to the initial UC&M universe. Other adds to this universe resulted from 

DSF updates that had occurred between the creation of the Address List for Address Canvassing and the 

creation of the enumeration UC&M. There were three DSFs contributing new adds to this UC&M file. A 

supplemental printing of addressed questionnaires resulted from this updated file. These questionnaires 

were either added to the mail stream at the point that questionnaires were delivered by the USPS or sent to 

the Local Census Offices in those areas where the added addresses occurred in Update/Leave areas. 

Update/Leave 

Update/Leave (U/L) is an operation in which questionnaires are hand-delivered due to potential 

problems with postal delivery of addresses. The presence of staff in the field for this delivery allows the 

simultaneous updating of the address lists and maps. Addresses on the address list in U/L areas received 

the actions of verify, correction, nonresidential, delete, or duplicate. Maps could also receive updates. The 

operation occurred between March 1 and April 2, 2010. There were approximately 12 million housing 

units in stateside U/L areas, and Puerto Rico (about 1.6 million addresses) was entirely U/L. There was no 

check on the deletes and duplicates designated in this operation because the operation was performed on 

paper and there was a timing issue with processing. The status of nonresponding units that were in the 

enumeration universe was checked in the later Nonresponse Followup operation. 

Nonresponse Followup 

Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) is the operation in which nonresponding households from both mailout/ 

mailback and U/L areas are followed up and enumerated, if possible. Other options within NRFU are to 

mark the unit vacant (either a regular vacant or seasonal), delete, or duplicate. It is also possible to add 

units and perform the enumeration on them. The maps also may be updated. The status of regular vacants 

and deletes is checked in the subsequent operation, the Vacant/Delete Check. 

Other Address and Geocoding Operations 

No additional updates were made to the enumeration universe in the UC&M before the start of NRFU. 

However, there were still operations and processes adding addresses to the MTdb, or in some cases, 

adding geographic data that allowed the addresses to be included in the census. These were: 1) LUCA 

Appeals; 2) New Construction; 3) HU Address Review; 4) Count Review; 5) Spring 2010 DSF; 6) newly 

geocoded addresses; 7) addresses resulting from a follow-up of INFO-COMMs (standardized forms used to 

document problems, issues, and unusual situations or to ask questions about procedures and other workrelated matters by field staff) submitted during Address Canvassing; and 8) U/L added addresses. 

LUCA Appeals was a process where a GU that participated in LUCA submitted challenges to the outputs 

from Address Canvassing. The challenged addresses were reviewed, and those that were approved were 

accepted back onto the census list. 

New Construction was an effort similar to LUCA in which the participating GU submitted addresses that 

represented newly constructed and livable housing. 

The HU Address Review was a headquarters review of addresses coming from a variety of sources. In 

general, these were people who reported situations, such as large apartment buildings missing from the 

census universe, where the report made it to headquarters personnel. Staff in the Geography Division 

researched these address submissions to determine if they were truly missing from the census address list 

and, if so, why. When it was found that addresses should be included on the census address list and did 

not duplicate other addresses already on the census address list, they were submitted for processing in 

the same format as files from the New Construction and Count Review programs. 

Count Review was another effort undertaken with governmental representatives with an eye toward 

identifying housing that was missing from the list. 

2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

5-3 
5-4 2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

The Spring 2010 DSF contained mailable addresses as of February 2010. Residential addresses appearing 

on this list that were not already included in the MTdb were assumed to represent mostly newly 

constructed units. For the next source of addresses on this update, there were a few million addresses 

residing on the MTdb that had not yet been geocoded. It was assumed that these addresses would be 

added in Address Canvassing if they truly existed. 

However, when Address Canvassing was completed and only about half of the addresses had been added 

in the operation, and at the same time there were some concerns about the coverage of the list, the 

Census Bureau undertook an independent effort in early 2010 to find geocodes for these units after first 

checking that the addresses were not represented on the list in another form. 

The next addition of addresses resulted from Address Canvassing INFO-COMMs. The design of the 

automated instrument did not allow for units to be added during the Quality Control (QC) phase of the 

operation if the assignment had passed QC. Nevertheless, in some areas QC staff found large numbers 

of missing addresses that were not picked up within the QC sample. They filled out an INFO-COMM to 

apprise the local office staff of the situation. In early 2010, there was an effort to identify which of these 

cases were really missing units and where they should be added to the list. An input file that mimicked the 

inputs of the other operations adding addresses was created for these units to be added to the census list 

in this process, as well. 

The final source of new addresses listed here was U/L adds. These are units that did not appear on the list 

used for U/L but that were identified as valid in the field. Questionnaires were delivered to these units, and 

updates were made to the MTdb based on the results of this operation. However, the processing of U/L 

actions could not be completed in time to update the NRFU universe without automation. Thus, in order 

to perform enumeration on U/L adds for households that did not return the form, the units needed to be 

included in the subsequent updated universe. 

Vacant/Delete Check 

These addresses just described made it into the enumeration universe for the first time for the Vacant/ 

Delete Check (VDC). Not all of these addresses required a visit for enumeration during the VDC. In 

particular, if a householder at an address added during U/L mailed in the form in time, no additional visit 

was required. In addition, an operation dubbed the Late Add Mailing resulted in many of these addresses 

being mailed forms earlier than enumeration would have occurred. In particular, the LUCA Appeals 

addresses, the addresses from the most recent DSF that were geocoded to a block, and the addresses that 

were newly geocoded during the geocoding research were placed on a file for which questionnaires were 

printed and mailed. A unique processing ID was printed on each of these questionnaires, which enabled 

the questionnaires to be linked up to the census ID that was used when the units were added to the VDC 

universe. This also allowed for the information about receipt of a questionnaire to be passed back to the 

universe file and removed from the universe of follow-up cases. Therefore, the final list of units requiring 

follow-up and potential enumeration in VDC were the regular vacants and deletes as designated in NRFU 

and the new units added from the seven sources listed above for which no questionnaire was received 

by the time of universe creation. The universe of addresses printed within the address registers were all 

units that appeared in the enumeration universe plus the units added from the seven sources listed. One 

category of new address that did not appear on the VDC listing pages, due to timing, were the units that 

were added during NRFU. 

Field Verification 

There was one final check of particular addresses in the field. This operation is called Field Verification, 

and it was performed in the 2010 Census much as it was in Census 2000. Only specific addresses within 

the entire universe of addresses were acted on during this status check. Units designated for follow-up in 

this operation received a status of valid (or verify), delete, or duplicate. The addresses in the universe for 

this check in the 2010 Census included two categories of cases. The first was a check of new addresses 

that resulted from Be Counted forms or calls to the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance line that did not 
have a related census ID. These addresses needed to be verified in the field before they were added to 

the census. They must be associated with a particular block before they could be sent for field work. The 

second category of cases was units that potentially needed to be removed from the universe based on 

the identification of duplicated persons in those units. Person duplication occurs for many reasons, one of 

which is duplication of housing units on the address list. Units linked by person matching that are within 

a close geographic area have been found in testing to be highly associated with housing-level problems. 

However, there are other situations that can lead to such person duplication that are not housing unit 

duplication, so these units identified as potential duplicates needed to be field checked before they could 

be safely removed from the census address list. For those units that were designated as duplicates, an 

indicator of which unit on the list that unit duplicated was collected. 

Remote Areas 

The descriptions above cover the vast majority of housing units in the United States and in all of Puerto 

Rico. However, there are some particularly remote or problematic areas that were designated for other 

types of enumeration. The first of these to start was Remote Alaska. In this operation, enumeration was 

scheduled to occur in fishing and hunting villages before the ice broke and the villagers scattered from 

their winter homes. Other areas in Alaska that were remote but where the population is stationary were 

designated for Remote Update/Enumerate. The methodology is the same for these two operations. The 

incoming address list was based on what was there during Census 2000. Updates were made to the 

address list and maps, and the households were enumerated at the same time. An area of Maine was also 

designated for Remote Update/Enumerate. 

Some areas of the country (covering about 1.5 million addresses) were designated for Update/Enumerate. 

In these areas, Address Canvassing was completed, but it was felt that enumeration by Mailout/Mailback 

or U/L would have been problematic. These areas could be seasonal housing, federally designated tribal 

areas, or areas with particularly low predicted response rates based on various demographic factors. 

In Update/Enumerate, as in Remote Update/Enumerate and Remote Alaska, updates were made to the 

address list and maps at the same time that enumeration was completed. In general, this is the last 

operation that occurs in these areas, although it is possible for units in the Field Verification universe to be 

in these areas. 

GROUP QUARTERS ENUMERATION 

A list of nonstandard housing, such as college dormitories and group homes, was tracked in the MTdb in 

conjunction with the housing unit list. The list of these GQs was compiled from various sources, including 

the Census 2000 list of GQs, LUCA participants, the Federal-State Cooperative for Population Estimates, 

and Address Canvassing. The GQV of these addresses occurred in October 2009, as described above. 

The units that remained GQs after this check were included in Group Quarters Advance Visit (GQAV), and 

then Group Quarters Enumeration (GQE). In GQE, individual census questionnaires—meaning individual 

questionnaires for each person—were distributed at the GQs and collected by the field staff. A count of 

persons associated with a particular GQ resulted from this operation. 

SERVICE-BASED ENUMERATION AND ENUMERATION AT TRANSITORY LOCATIONS 

Service-Based Enumeration (SBE) was designed to account for the enumeration of persons without a usual 

residence that use service facilities (i.e., shelters, soup kitchens, and mobile food vans). In the 2010 

Census, 3 days (March 29–31) were designated for these enumeration activities. Different types of facilities 

were designated for different days. Only persons using the service facility on the interview day were 

enumerated at that location. It was possible for people to be counted in more than one location due to 

use of different facilities on subsequent days. There is an unduplication of SBE persons for the purpose of 

minimizing this duplication. 

2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

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5-6 2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People experiencing homelessness could also complete a Be Counted form and check the box indicating 

this status. To the extent that such persons could be associated with a state and county based on the 

information provided on the form, they will be counted at a Group Quarters within that state and county. 

Certain areas were designated for Enumeration at Transitory Locations (ETL). These included RV parks 

and marinas where people were living as of Census Day if people living in these locations had no other 

permanent place to stay. The locations where ETL took place were designated in GQAV. When people were 

enumerated in ETL, the particular location was considered a housing unit. 

CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE DATA 

The Census Bureau has modified some data in this data release to protect confidentiality. Title 13 U.S. 

Code, Section 9, prohibits the Census Bureau from publishing results in which an individual’s data can be 

identified. 

The Census Bureau’s internal Disclosure Review Board monitors the disclosure review process and sets the 

confidentiality rules for all data releases. A checklist approach is used to ensure that all potential risks are 

considered and addressed. A list of possible concerns is created and the Disclosure Review Board makes 

sure that the appropriate steps are taken to assure the confidentiality of the data. 

Title 13 U.S. Code 

Title 13 of the U.S. Code authorizes the Census Bureau to conduct surveys and censuses and mandates 

that any information obtained from private individuals and establishments remains confidential. Section 

9 of Title 13 prohibits the Census Bureau from releasing “any publication whereby the data furnished 

by any particular establishment or individual under this title can be identified.” Section 214 of Title 13, 

as modified by the Federal Sentencing Reform Act, imposes a fine of not more than $250,000 and/or 

imprisonment of not more than 5 years for publication or communication in violation of Section 9. 

Disclosure Avoidance 

Disclosure avoidance is the process of disguising data to protect confidentiality. A disclosure of data 

occurs when someone can use published statistical information to identify an individual who provided 

information under a pledge of confidentiality. Using disclosure avoidance, the Census Bureau modifies or 

removes all of the characteristics that put confidential information at risk for disclosure. Although it may 

appear that a table shows information about a specific individual, the Census Bureau has taken steps (such 

as data swapping) to disguise the original data while making sure the results are useful. 

Data Swapping 

Data swapping is a method of disclosure avoidance designed to protect confidentiality in tables of frequency 

data (the number or percentage of the population with certain characteristics). Data swapping is done by 

editing the source data or exchanging records for a sample of cases. A sample of households is selected and 

matched on a set of selected key variables with households in neighboring geographic areas (geographic 

areas with a small population) that have similar characteristics (same number of adults, same number of 

children, etc.). Because the swap often occurs within a geographic area with a small population, there is no 

effect on the marginal totals for the geographic area with a small population or for totals that include data 

from multiple geographic areas with small populations. Because of data swapping, users should not assume 

that tables with cells having a value of one or two reveal information about specific individuals. 

NONSAMPLING ERROR 

In any large-scale statistical operation, such as the 2010 Census, human- and computer-related errors 

occur. These errors are commonly referred to as nonsampling errors. Such errors include not enumerating 

every household or every person in the population, not obtaining all required information from the 

respondents, obtaining incorrect or inconsistent information, and recording information incorrectly. In 
addition, errors can occur during the field review of the enumerators’ work, during clerical handling of the 

census questionnaires, or during the electronic processing of the questionnaires. 

While it is impossible to completely eliminate nonsampling error from an operation as large and complex 

as the decennial census, the Census Bureau attempts to control the sources of such error during the 

collection and processing operations. Described below are the primary sources of nonsampling error and 

the programs instituted to control this error in the 2010 Census. The success of these programs, however, 

was contingent upon how well the instructions actually were carried out during the census. 

Types of Nonsampling Error 

Nonresponse 

Nonresponse to particular questions on the census questionnaire or the failure to obtain any information 

for a housing unit allows for the introduction of bias into the data because the characteristics of the 

nonrespondents have not been observed and may differ from those reported by respondents. As a result, 

any imputation procedure using respondent data may not completely reflect these differences either at 

the elemental level (individual person or housing unit) or on the average. Some protection against the 

introduction of large biases is afforded by minimizing nonresponse. Characteristics for the nonresponses 

were imputed by using reported data for a person or housing unit with similar characteristics. 

Respondent and Enumerator Error 

The person answering the mail questionnaire for a household or responding to the questions posed by 

an enumerator could serve as a source of error, although the question wording was extensively tested in 

several experimental studies prior to the census. The mail respondent may overlook or misunderstand a 

question or answer a question in a way that cannot be interpreted correctly by the data capture system. 

The enumerator may also misinterpret or otherwise incorrectly record information given by a respondent 

or may fail to collect some of the information for a person or household. To control problems such as 

these with the field enumeration, the work of enumerators was monitored carefully. Field staff were 

prepared for their tasks by using standardized training packages that included hands-on experience in 

using census materials. A sample of the households interviewed by each enumerator were reinterviewed 

to control for the possibility of fabricated data being submitted by enumerators. 

Processing Error 

The many phases involved in processing the census data represent potential sources for the introduction 

of nonsampling error. The processing of the census questionnaires completed by enumerators included 

field review by the crew leader, check-in, and transmittal of completed questionnaires. No field reviews 

were done on the mail return questionnaires for this census. 

Error may also be introduced by the misinterpretation of data by the data capture system or the failure to 

capture all the information that the respondents or enumerators provided on the forms. Write-in entries 

go through coding operations, which may also be a source of processing error in the data. Many of the 

various field, coding, and computer operations undergo a number of quality control checks to help ensure 

their accurate application. 

Reduction of Nonsampling Error 

To reduce various types of nonsampling errors, a number of techniques were implemented during the 

planning, development of the mailing address list, data collection, and data processing activities. Quality 

assurance methods were used throughout the data collection and processing phases of the census to 

improve the quality of the data. A reinterview program was implemented to minimize the errors in the data 

collection phase for enumerator-filled questionnaires. 

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5-8 2010 Census: Operational Overview and Accuracy of the Data 

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Several coverage improvement programs were implemented during the development of the census address 

list and census enumeration and processing to minimize undercoverage of the population and housing 

units. These programs were developed based on experience from previous decennial censuses and results 

from the 2010 Census testing cycle. 

•	� Be Counted questionnaires, unaddressed forms requesting all questionnaire items plus a few additional 

items, were available in public locations for people who believed they were not otherwise counted. 

• An introductory letter was sent to all mailout/mailback addresses and many addresses in update/leave 

areas prior to the mailing of the census form. A reminder postcard was also sent to these addresses. 

• A replacement questionnaire was sent to nonresponding addresses in selected areas. 

• Bilingual English/Spanish questionnaires were sent to all addresses in selected areas. 

•	� Forms in Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese were mailed to those who 

requested them and Language Assistance Guides were available in 59 languages. 

•	� A well-publicized toll-free phone number was available to answer questions about the forms, and 

responses could be taken over the phone. 

•	� Under the LUCA program, local officials had the opportunity to address specific concerns about the 

accuracy and completeness of the address list. 

•	� A Coverage Followup (CFU) telephone interview operation was implemented with the express purpose 

of improving within household coverage. Cases were telephoned when there was a discrepancy 

between the number in the count of persons box and the number of persons with data. A householdlevel undercoverage question was added to the questionnaire, and person-level overcoverage questions 

were also added. Certain categories of households checking these boxes were also selected for CFU 

for roster clarification. In addition, large households, or those with more than six household members, 

were selected for inclusion in CFU for the purpose of collecting full demographic data for persons 

beyond the first six. 

Resolving Multiple Responses 

With multiple ways for people to initiate or complete their enumeration, as well as the field follow-up 

operations, it was very likely that some households would be enumerated more than once. A special 

computer process was implemented to control the extent of this type of nonsampling error by resolving 

situations where more than one form was received from an address. The process consisted of several 

steps. Addresses that had more than one viable return were analyzed. Household data from one form 

were chosen as the household data to use in subsequent census processing. There are situations in which 

persons can then be added to the household roster if they are not already represented there. These are the 

cases in which a Be Counted form for a partial household was submitted for the same address, and when 

an enumeration operation discovers a person who should be counted at a different address (a Usual Home 

Elsewhere) from the address being enumerated. 

DATA EDITING 

The objective of the processing operation was to produce a set of data that describes the population as 

accurately and clearly as possible. As with Census 2000, information on 2010 Census questionnaires 

generally was not edited for consistency, completeness, and acceptability during field data collection 

nor during data capture operations. Enumerator-filled questionnaires were reviewed by census crew 

leaders and local office clerks for adherence to specified procedures. No clerical review of mail return 

questionnaires was done to ensure that the information on the form could be data captured, nor were 

households contacted to collect data that were missing from census returns as in previous censuses. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most census questionnaires received by mail from respondents as well as those filled by enumerators were 

processed through a new contractor-built image scanning system that used optical mark and character 

recognition to convert the responses into computer files. The optical character recognition, or OCR, process 

used several pattern and context checks to estimate accuracy thresholds for each write-in field. The system 

also used edits on interpreted write-in responses to decide whether the field values read by the machine 

interpretation were acceptable. If the value read had a lower than acceptable accuracy threshold or was 

outside of the edit range, the image of the item was displayed to a keyer, who then entered the response. 

To control the creation of possibly erroneous persons from questionnaires completed incorrectly or 

containing stray marks, an edit on the number of persons indicated on each mail return and enumeratorfilled questionnaire was implemented as part of the data capture system. In addition, a new edit identified 

questionnaires with information written outside of the response boxes. Detection of either of these 

conditions by the edits subsystem resulted in the review of the questionnaire image at a workstation by an 

operator who ensured that the person data were captured fully and correctly. 

At Census Bureau headquarters, the data records were subjected to a computer edit that identified 

households exhibiting a possible coverage problem and those with more than six household members. 

Attempts were made to contact these households on the telephone to correct the count inconsistency and 

to collect the census data for those people for whom there was no room on the questionnaire. 

Count Imputation 

Once census processing is completed, each address included in the census data collection has to be 

classified as a nonexistent unit, a vacant unit, or an occupied housing unit. Records that are classified 

as an occupied unit also need a reported number of residents. This information is necessary to have a 

complete count of the population and housing units in the United States as of Census Day. Because of the 

complexity of census operations, there are records that do not have such information by the end of the 

follow-up activities and data processing. To fill in this missing information, the Census Bureau conducted 

count imputation, which assigns a unit status and household size to records without such information. 

This process also included assigning household size to occupied units without household size information. 

Count imputation processing did not include group quarters. 

In count imputation, all the records in the enumeration universe were partitioned within a designated 

geographical area into small groups based on certain characteristics. For each small group, a probability 

distribution of unit status and size from the records that had this information was created. Then, the 

distribution was used to impute for the missing data status and/or household size. 

General Imputation Rules 

The final automated edit and imputation processes determined the final values of questionnaire data items 

for records with missing or invalid values in collected data. Imputations, which were needed most often 

when an entry for a given item was missing, included three general procedures known as assignments, 

allocations, and substitution. Assignments and allocations were imputations of characteristic items on an 

item-by-item basis, whereas the substitution process imputed data for up to six persons in a household 

at one time. Each of these procedures ensured the completeness and consistency of the data by providing 

acceptable codes for missing or unacceptable entries. 

The first step in the edit process was to assign acceptable codes in place of unacceptable entries or blanks 

when acceptable data were found for that same person. When one characteristic item reported for a person 

was inconsistent with other information provided for that same person, acceptable codes or values that 

were consistent with one item of reported information were assigned. The edit procedures also assigned 

race or Hispanic origin from a matched person record in Census 2000 or in the American Community 

Survey (2000–2009) when these fields were missing. These assignment steps strove to ensure consistency 

across characteristic data. 

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The next step in the edit process, known as allocation, was to impute responses for missing person 

or housing-unit characteristic data. The general procedure for changing unacceptable entries through 

allocation was to derive an entry for a person (or housing unit) that was consistent with entries for another 

person (or housing unit) with similar characteristics. Allocation rates for census items were made available 

with the published census data. 

Another way corrections are made during the edit and imputation process was through substitution; that 

is, the replication of a full set of characteristics for people in a household. When there was an indication 

that a household was occupied by a specified number of people but the questionnaire record contained no 

information for the people within the household or the occupants were not listed on the questionnaire, a 

previously accepted household of the same size was selected as a substitute. The full set of characteristics 

of the substitute was duplicated. Counts of substituted persons and the occupied housing units containing 

substituted persons were made available with the published census data. 
 

Chapter 6.
�

Subject Definitions
�

Age—For the purpose of census data collection and tabulation, age is the length of time a person has 

lived in completed years as of April 1, 2010, the census reference date (or Census Day). Therefore, census 

tabulations of the population by age group represent the age composition as of April 1, 2010. 

Average Family Size—A measure obtained by dividing the total number of people in families by the total 

number of families (or family householders). This measure is rounded to the nearest hundredth. 

Average Household Size—A measure obtained by dividing the total number of people in households by 

the total number of households (or householders). This measure is rounded to the nearest hundredth. 

Average Household Size of Owner-Occupied Units—A measure obtained by dividing the total number 

of people living in owner-occupied housing units by the total number of owner-occupied housing units. 

This measure is rounded to the nearest hundredth. 

Average Household Size of Renter-Occupied Units—A measure obtained by dividing the total number 

of people living in renter-occupied housing units by the total number of renter-occupied housing units. 

This measure is rounded to the nearest hundredth. 

Child—A child includes a son or daughter by birth (biological child), a stepchild, or an adopted child of the 

householder, regardless of the child’s age or marital status. The category excludes sons-in-law, daughtersin-law, and foster children. 

Family Household (Family)—A family includes a householder and one or more people living in the same 

household who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. All people in a household 

who are related to the householder are regarded as members of his or her family. A family household 

may contain people not related to the householder, but those people are not included as part of the 

householder’s family in census tabulations. Thus, the number of family households is equal to the number 

of families, but family households may include more members than do families. A household can contain 

only one family for purposes of census tabulations. Not all households contain families since a household 

may be comprised of a group of unrelated people or one person living alone—these are called nonfamily 

households. Same-sex unmarried partner households are included in the family households category only 

if there is at least one additional person related to the householder by birth or adoption. 

Female Householder, No Husband Present—A female maintaining a household with no husband of the 

householder present. 

Group Quarters—A group quarters is a place where people live or stay, in a group living arrangement, 

that is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the 

residents. This is not a typical household-type living arrangement. These services may include custodial or 

medical care as well as other types of assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those receiving 

these services. People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other. 

Group quarters include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled-nursing 

facilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, and workers’ dormitories. 

Hispanic or Latino origin—People who identify with the terms “Hispanic” or “Latino” are those who 

classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic or Latino categories listed on the questionnaire— 

“Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano,” “Puerto Rican,” or “Cuban”—as well as those who indicate that they 

are “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.” Origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, 

Subject Definitions 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

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6-2 Subject Definitions 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person’s ancestors before their arrival in the United States. 

People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race. 

Homeowner Vacancy Rate—The homeowner vacancy rate is the proportion of the homeowner inventory 

that is vacant “for sale.” It is computed by dividing the total number of vacant units “for sale only” by the 

sum of owner-occupied units, vacant units that are “for sale only,” and vacant units that have been sold but 

not yet occupied, and then multiplying by 100. This measure is rounded to the nearest tenth. 

Household—A household includes all of the people who occupy a housing unit. People not living in 

households are classified as living in group quarters. 

Householder—In most cases, the householder is the person, or one of the people, in whose name the 

home is owned, being bought, or rented and who is listed as Person 1 on the census questionnaire. If 

there is no such person in the household, any adult household member 15 years old and over could be 

designated as the householder (i.e., Person 1). 

Housing Unit—A housing unit may be a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single 

room that is occupied (or if vacant, is intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters. Separate living 

quarters are those in which the occupants live separately from any other individuals in the building and 

which have direct access from outside the building or through a common hall. 

Husband-Wife Family—A family in which the householder and his or her spouse of the opposite 

sex are enumerated as members of the same household. (Note: Family households and husband-wifecouple families do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state 

issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples. Same-sex-couple households are included in the 

family households category if there is at least one additional person related to the householder by birth 

or adoption. Same-sex-couple households with no relatives of the householder present are tabulated in 

nonfamily households.) 

Institutional Group Quarters—Facilities that house those who are primarily ineligible, unable, or 

unlikely to participate in the labor force while residents. 

Male Householder, No Wife Present—A male maintaining a household with no wife of the householder 

present. 

Median Age—The median divides the age distribution into two equal parts, one-half of the cases falling 

below the median age and one-half above the median. This measure is rounded to the nearest tenth. 

Nonfamily Household—A householder living alone or with nonrelatives only. (Note: Family households 

and husband-wife-couple families do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was 

performed in a state issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples. Same-sex-couple households 

are included in the family households category if there is at least one additional person related to the 

householder by birth or adoption. Same-sex-couple households with no relatives of the householder 

present are tabulated in nonfamily households.) 

Noninstitutional Group Quarters—Facilities that house those who are primarily eligible, able, or likely 

to participate in the labor force while residents. 

Nonrelative—Any household member, including foster children, who is not related to the householder by 

birth, marriage, or adoption. 

Occupied Housing Unit—A housing unit is classified as occupied if it is the usual place of residence 

of the person or group of people living in it at the time of enumeration, or if the occupants are only 

temporarily absent; that is, away on vacation or business. 

Other Relative—Any household member related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption but 

not included specifically in another relationship category listed on the questionnaire. 
 

Own Child—A child under 18 years old who is a son or daughter by birth, stepchild, or adopted child of 

the householder. 

Owner-Occupied Housing Unit—A housing unit is owner-occupied if the owner or co-owner lives in the 

unit even if it is mortgaged or not paid in full. 

Race—The data on race were derived from answers to the question on race that was asked of all people. 

The Census Bureau collects racial data in accordance with guidelines provided by the U.S. Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB), and these data are based on self-identification. The racial categories 

included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country 

and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically, or genetically. In addition, it is recognized 

that the categories of the race item include racial and national origin or sociocultural groups. People may 

choose to report more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, such as “American Indian” and “White.” 

People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race. 

The racial classifications used by the Census Bureau adhere to the October 30, 1997, Federal Register 

notice entitled, “Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity,” 

issued by OMB. These standards govern the categories used to collect and present federal data on race 

and ethnicity. OMB requires five minimum categories (White, Black or African American, American Indian 

or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) for race. The racial categories are 

described below with a sixth category, “Some Other Race,” added with OMB approval. In addition to the 

five race groups, OMB also states that respondents should be offered the option of selecting one or more 

races. 

Definitions from OMB guide the Census Bureau in classifying written responses to the race question: 

White—A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North 

Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as “White” or report entries such as Irish, German, 

Italian, Lebanese, Arab, Moroccan, or Caucasian.
�

Black or African American—A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It 

includes people who indicate their race as “Black, African Am., or Negro” or report entries such as 

African American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian. 

American Indian or Alaska Native—A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North 

and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community 

attachment. This category includes people who indicate their race as “American Indian or Alaska Native” 

or report entries such as Navajo, Blackfeet, Inupiat, Yup’ik, Central American Indian groups, or South 

American Indian groups. 

Asian—A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the 

Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, 

the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. It includes people who indicate their race as “Asian 

Indian,” “Chinese,” “Filipino,” “Korean,” “Japanese,” “Vietnamese,” and “Other Asian,” or report entries 

such as those detailed below. 

Asian Indian—Includes people who indicate their race as “Asian Indian” or report entries such as India 

or East Indian. 

Chinese—Includes people who indicate their race as “Chinese” or report entries such as China or 

Chinese American. In some census tabulations, written entries of Taiwanese are included with 

Chinese while in others they are shown separately. 

Filipino—Includes people who indicate their race as “Filipino” or report entries such as Philippines or 

Filipino American. 

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6-4 Subject Definitions 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Japanese—Includes people who indicate their race as “Japanese” or report entries such as Japan or 

Japanese American. 

Korean—Includes people who indicate their race as “Korean” or report entries such as Korea or 

Korean American. 

Vietnamese—Includes people who indicate their race as “Vietnamese” or report entries such as 

Vietnam or Vietnamese American. 

Other Asian—Includes people who provide a write-in response of another Asian group, such as 

Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Malaysian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, or Thai.
�

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander—A person having origins in any of the original peoples 

of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. It includes people who indicate their race as “Native 

Hawaiian,” “Guamanian or Chamorro,” “Samoan,” and “Other Pacific Islander” or report entries such as 

those detailed below. 

Native Hawaiian—Includes people who indicate their race as “Native Hawaiian” or report entries such 

as Part Hawaiian or Hawaiian. 

Guamanian or Chamorro—Includes people who indicate their race as ”Guamanian or Chamorro” or 

report entries such as Chamorro or Guam. 

Samoan—Includes people who indicate their race as “Samoan” or report entries such as American 

Samoan or Western Samoan. 

Other Pacific Islander—Includes people who provide a response of another Pacific Islander group, 

such as Carolinian, Chuukese (Trukese), Fijian, Kosraean, Northern Mariana Islander, Palauan, Papua 

New Guinean, Pohnpeian, Solomon Islander, Tahitian, Tokelauan, Tongan, or Yapese. 

Some Other Race—Includes all other responses not included in the “White,” “Black or African 

American,” “American Indian or Alaska Native,” “Asian,” and “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander” 

racial categories described above. Respondents reporting entries such as multiracial, mixed, interracial, 

or a Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish group (for example, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Spanish) in 

response to the race question are included in this category. 

Alone or in Combination—In other presentations on race, data are shown for the total number 

of people who reported 1 of the 6 categories alone or in combination with one or more other racial 

categories. For example, the category “Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races” 

includes people who reported Asian alone and those who reported Asian in combination with one or 

more of the other racial groups (i.e., White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, 

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Some Other Race). This number, therefore, represents 

the maximum number of people who reported being Asian in the question on race. When this data 

presentation is used, the individual racial categories will add to more than the total population because 

people may be included in more than one category. 

Two or More Races—People may choose to provide two or more races either by checking two or more 

race response check boxes, providing multiple responses, or some combination of check boxes and 

other responses. The racial response categories shown on the questionnaire are collapsed into the five 

minimum racial groups identified by OMB and the Census Bureau’s “Some Other Race” category. For data 

product purposes, “Two or More Races” refers to combinations of two or more of the following racial 

categories: 

1. White 

2. Black or African American 

3. American Indian or Alaska Native 
 

4. Asian 

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 

6. Some Other Race 

Rental Vacancy Rate—The rental vacancy rate is the proportion of the rental inventory that is vacant 

“for rent.” It is computed by dividing the total number of vacant units “for rent” by the sum of the renteroccupied units, vacant units that are “for rent,” and vacant units that have been rented but not yet 

occupied, and then multiplying by 100. This measure is rounded to the nearest tenth. 

Renter-Occupied Housing Unit—All occupied housing units that are not owner-occupied, whether 

they are rented or occupied without payment of rent, are classified as renter-occupied. Housing units in 

“continuing care” or life care facilities are included in the “rented” category. 

Sex—For the purpose of census data collection and tabulation, sex refers to a person’s biological sex. 

Spouse—The “spouse” category includes a person identified as the husband or wife of the householder 

and who is of the opposite sex. It does not include same-sex spouses even if a marriage was performed in 

a state issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples. 

Tenure—All occupied housing units are classified as either owner-occupied or renter-occupied. A housing 

unit is owner-occupied if the owner or co-owner lives in the unit even if it is mortgaged or not fully paid 

for. All occupied housing units that are not owner-occupied, whether they are rented or occupied without 

payment of rent, are classified as renter-occupied. 

Unmarried Partner—An unmarried partner is a person aged 15 years and over who is not related 

to the householder, who shares living quarters, and who has a close personal relationship with the 

householder. Responses of “same-sex spouse” are edited into this category. 

Vacant Housing Unit—A housing unit is vacant if no one is living in it at the time of enumeration, unless 

its occupants are only temporarily absent. Units temporarily occupied at the time of enumeration entirely 

by people who have a usual residence elsewhere are also classified as vacant. (For more information, see 

“Housing Unit.”) 

For Rent—These are vacant units offered “for rent,” and vacant units offered either “for rent or
�

for sale.” 

Rented, Not Occupied—These are vacant units rented but not yet occupied, including units where 

money has been paid or agreed upon but the renter has not yet moved in. 

For Sale Only—These are vacant units being offered “for sale only,” including units in cooperatives and 

condominium projects, if the individual units are offered “for sale only.” If units are offered either “for 

rent or for sale,” they are included in the “for rent” classification. 

Sold, Not Occupied—These are vacant units sold but not yet occupied, including units that have been 

sold recently but the new owner has not yet moved in. 

For Seasonal, Recreational, or Occasional Use—These are vacant units used or intended for use 

only in certain seasons or for weekends or other occasional use throughout the year. Seasonal units 

include those used for summer or winter sports or recreation, such as beach cottages and hunting 

cabins. Seasonal units also may include quarters for such workers as herders and loggers. Interval 

ownership units, sometimes called shared-ownership or time-sharing condominiums, also are 

included here. 

Other Vacant—If a vacant unit does not fall into any of the categories specified above, it is classified as 

“Other vacant.” For example, this category includes units held for occupancy by a caretaker or janitor, 

for migrant workers, and for personal reasons of the owner. 

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DERIVED MEASURES 

Average. See “Mean.” 

Interpolation. Interpolation frequently is used in calculating medians or quartiles based on interval data. 

Linear interpolation is used to estimate values of a function between two known values. This is the form of 

interpolation used to calculate median age. 

Mean. This measure represents an arithmetic average of a set of values. It is derived by dividing the sum 

(or aggregate) of a group of numerical items by the total number of items in that group. For example, 

average family size is obtained by dividing the total number of people in families by the total number of 

families. (Additional information on means is included in the separate explanations of many population 

and housing subjects.) 

Median. This measure represents the middle value (if n is odd) or the average of the two middle values 

(if n is even) in an ordered list of n data values. The median divides the total frequency distribution into 

two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median and one-half above the median. (See also 

“Interpolation.”) 

Percentage. This measure is calculated by taking the total number of items in a group possessing a 

characteristic of interest and dividing by the total number of items in that group and then multiplying by 

100. 

Rate. This is a measure of occurrences in a given period of time divided by the possible number of 

occurrences during that period. Rates are sometimes presented as percentages. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

The Demographic Profile data are available through American FactFinder, which can be accessed from 

the Census Bureau’s Internet site at <www.census.gov>. The Demographic Profile Summary File data are 

available in .CSV format for File Transfer Protocol (FTP) download only. 
 

Chapter 7. 

User Updates 

. 

User updates supply data users with additional or corrected information that becomes available after the 

technical documentation or files are prepared. They are issued in a numbered series and are available in 

portable document format (PDF) on our Web site at <www.census.gov>. Please file the user updates cover 

sheet behind this notice. If there are technical documentation replacement pages, they should be filed in 

their proper location and the original pages should be destroyed. 

User Updates 

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U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

2010 Census

Demographic Profile Summary File

Data Note 1

 .

Geocoding errors can occur when a living quarter such as a house, apartment, or military vessel, is placed 

in an incorrect location. We discovered a systematic error in the manner in which a few military vessels 

were geocoded, including an error involving Coronado city and San Diego city, California. As a result, the 

Census Bureau provided in March 2011 revised population counts for two 2010 Census tabulation blocks. 

The corrected and original population counts are:

Population in corrected 

block 1029,

census tract 113,

San Diego city, CA

Population in corrected 

block 1000,

census tract 113,

Coronado city, CA

Population in original 

block 1029,

census tract 113,

San Diego city, CA

Population in original 

block 1000,

census tract 113,

Coronado city, CA

0 5,785 5,785 0

For additional information, see <www.census.gov/rdo/pdf/CA_errata.pdf>.

This note is applicable to 2010 Census data products containing data at the place, census tract, or block 

levels, including:

•	 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File 

•	 Advance Group Quarters Summary File

•	 Demographic Profile

•	 Summary File 1 

•	 Summary File 2

•	 Congressional District Summary File (113th Congress) and subsequent releases

•	 State Legislative District Summary File and subsequent releases

June 2011
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

2010 Census

Demographic Profile Summary File

Data Note 2

 .

Geocoding errors can occur when a living quarter such as a house, apartment, or military vessel, is 

placed in an incorrect location. We discovered a systematic error in the manner in which a few military 

vessels were geocoded, including an error involving Groton city and Conning Towers Nautilus Park census 

designated place (CDP), both of which are located in Groton town, New London County, Connecticut. 

As a result, the Census Bureau provided in March 2011 revised population counts for two 2010 Census 

tabulation blocks. 

The corrected and original population counts are:

Population in corrected 

block 1001,

census tract 7026,

Groton city, CT

Population in corrected 

block 1020,

census tract 9800,

Conning Towers

Nautilus Park CDP, CT

Population in original 

block 1001,

census tract 7026,

Groton city, CT

Population in original 

block 1020,

census tract 9800,

Conning Towers

Nautilus Park CDP, CT

32 994 1,026 0

For additional information, see <www.census.gov/rdo/pdf/CT_errata.pdf>.

This note is applicable to 2010 Census data products containing data at the place, census tract, or block 

levels, including:

•	 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File 

•	 Advance Group Quarters Summary File

•	 Demographic Profile

•	 Summary File 1 

•	 Summary File 2

•	 Congressional District Summary File (113th Congress) and subsequent releases

•	 State Legislative District Summary File and subsequent releases

June 2011
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

2010 Census

Demographic Profile Summary File

Data Note 3

 .

Geocoding errors can occur when a living quarter such as a house, apartment, or military vessel, is placed 

in an incorrect location. We discovered a systematic error in the manner in which a few military vessels 

were geocoded, including an error involving Pascagoula city, Mississippi. As a result, the Census Bureau 

provided in March 2011 revised population counts for two 2010 Census tabulation blocks. 

The corrected and original population counts are:

Population in corrected 

block 1305,

census tract 429,

Pascagoula city, MS

Population in corrected 

block 1278,

census tract 429,

Pascagoula city, MS

Population in original 

block 1305,

census tract 429,

Pascagoula city, MS

Population in original 

block 1278,

census tract 429,

Pascagoula city, MS

0 32 32 0

For additional information, see <www.census.gov/rdo/pdf/MS_errata.pdf>.

This note is applicable to 2010 Census data products containing data at the census tract or block levels, 

including:

•	 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File 

•	 Advance Group Quarters Summary File

•	 Demographic Profile

•	 Summary File 1 

•	 Summary File 2

•	 Congressional District Summary File (113th Congress) and subsequent releases

•	 State Legislative District Summary File and subsequent releases

June 2011
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

2010 Census

Demographic Profile Summary File

Data Note 4

 .

Geocoding errors can occur when a living quarter such as a house, apartment, or military vessel, is placed 

in an incorrect location. We discovered a systematic error in the manner in which a few military vessels 

were geocoded, including an error involving Portsmouth city and Hampton town, in Rockingham County, 

New Hampshire. As a result, the Census Bureau provided in March 2011 revised population counts for two 

2010 Census tabulation blocks. 

The corrected and original population counts are:

Population in corrected 

block 1013,

census tract 650.07,

Hampton town, NH

Population in corrected 

block 1001,

census tract 691,

Portsmouth city, NH

Population in original 

block 1013,

census tract 650.07,

Hampton town, NH

Population in original 

block 1001,

census tract 691,

Portsmouth city, NH

22 514 476 60

For additional information, see <www.census.gov/rdo/pdf/NH_errata.pdf>.

This note is applicable to 2010 Census data products containing data at the place, minor civil division, 

census tract, or block levels, including:

•	 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File 

•	 Advance Group Quarters Summary File

•	 Demographic Profile

•	 Summary File 1 

•	 Summary File 2

•	 Congressional District Summary File (113th Congress) and subsequent releases

•	 State Legislative District Summary File and subsequent releases

June 2011
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

2010 Census

Demographic Profile Summary File

Data Note 5

 .

Geocoding errors can occur when a living quarter such as a house, apartment, or military vessel, is placed 

in an incorrect location. We discovered a systematic error in the manner in which a few military vessels 

were geocoded, including an error involving Everett city, Washington. As a result, the Census Bureau 

provided in March 2011 revised population counts for two 2010 Census tabulation blocks. 

The corrected and original population counts are:

Population in corrected 

block 4014,

census tract 401,

Everett city, WA

Population in corrected 

block 3026,

census tract 404,

Everett city, WA

Population in original 

block 4014,

census tract 401,

Everett city, WA

Population in original 

block 3026,

census tract 404,

Everett city, WA

0 683 683 0

For additional information, see <.census.gov/rdo/pdf/WA_errata.pdf>.

This note is applicable to 2010 Census data products containing data at the census tract or block levels, 

including:

•	 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File 

•	 Advance Group Quarters Summary File

•	 Demographic Profile

•	 Summary File 1 

•	 Summary File 2

•	 Congressional District Summary File (113th Congress) and subsequent releases

•	 State Legislative District Summary File and subsequent releases

June 2011
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

2010 Census

Demographic Profile Summary File

Data Note 6

 .

Geocoding errors can occur when a living quarter such as a house, apartment, or military vessel, is placed 

in an incorrect location. As a result of a geocoding error, the Census Bureau provided in March 2011 

revised population counts for two 2010 Census tabulation blocks in Norfolk, Virginia. The geocoding error 

placed ships ported at the Norfolk Naval Station incorrectly in block 1000, census tract 38, Norfolk city. 

These ships correctly belong in block 1044, census tract 9.02, Norfolk city.

The corrected and original population counts are:

Population in corrected 

block 1000,

census tract 38

Population in corrected 

block 1044,

census tract 9.02

Population in original 

block 1000,

census tract 38

Population in original 

block 1044,

census tract 9.02

73 19,279 19,352 0

For additional information, see <www.census.gov/rdo/pdf/VA_errata.pdf>.

This note is applicable to 2010 Census data products containing data at the census tract or block levels, 

including:

•	 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File 

•	 Advance Group Quarters Summary File

•	 Summary File 1 

•	 Summary File 2

•	 Congressional District Summary File (113th Congress) and subsequent releases

•	 State Legislative District Summary File and subsequent releases

June 2011
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

Technical Documentation Note 1

 .

Chapter 2. How to Use This Product

The Geographic Header Record was replaced in Chapter 2, “How to Use This Product,” because the state 

portion was inadvertently omitted.

May 2011
 .

2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

Technical Documentation Note 2 

The Demographic Profile Summary File has been re-released with more geography following the release 

of the Summary File 1 product. Consequently, the Summary Level Sequence Chart and Geographic Header 

Record have been updated. 

August 2011 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census 
 

Appendix A.
�

Geographic Terms and Concepts
�

Alaska Native Regional Corporation (ANRC) (see American Indian, Alaska Native, 

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
�

Alaska Native Village (ANV) (see American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . A-5
�

Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA) (see American Indian, Alaska Native,
�

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
�

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
�

American Indian Off-Reservation Trust Land (see American Indian, Alaska Native,
�

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
�

American Indian Reservation (see American Indian, Alaska Native,
�

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
�

American Indian Tribal Subdivision (see American Indian, Alaska Native,
�

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
�

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Codes (see Codes for Geographic Entities). . . . . . . . . A-13
�

American Samoa (see Island Areas of the United States) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Area Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
�

Barrio (see Puerto Rico) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Barrio-Pueblo (see Puerto Rico) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10
�

Block Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10
�

Borough (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity; see County Subdivision; see Place) . . . . . . . A-16
�

Boundary Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11
�

Census Area (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Census Block (see Block). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10
�

Census Bureau Codes (see Codes for Geographic Entities). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14
�

Census County Division (CCD) (see County Subdivision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18
�

Census Designated Place (CDP) (see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
�

Census Division (see also Census Region) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
�

Census Region (see also Census Division) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
�

Census Subarea (see County Subdivision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18
�

Census Tract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
�

Central Place (see Urban and Rural) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

City (see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
�

City and Borough (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity; see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Codes for Geographic Entities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
�

Combined New England City and Town Area (see Core Based Statistical Area). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15
�

Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (see Core Based Statistical Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15
�

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (see Island Areas of the United States) . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Comparability (see Boundary Changes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11
�

Comunidad (see Puerto Rico) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Congressional District (CD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14
�

Consolidated City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14
�

Core Based Statistical Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15
�

County or Statistically Equivalent Entity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

County Subdivision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
�

Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

A-1 
A-2 Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

 

Density (see Population and Housing Unit Density) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

District (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Division (see Census Division) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
�

Extended Place (see Urban and Rural) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

FIPS Class Codes (see Geographic Area Attributes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19
�

FIPS Codes (see Codes for Geographic Entities) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
�

Functional Status (see Geographic Area Attributes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19
�

Geographic Area Attributes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18
�

Geographic Hierarchy (see Introduction—Geographic Presentation of Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
�

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Geographic Names Information System Identifier (GNIS ID) (see Codes for
�

Geographic Entities) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Geographic Presentation (see Introduction—Geographic Presentation of Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
�

Guam (see Island Areas of the United States) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Hawaiian Home Land (HHL) (see American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . A-7
�

Hierarchical Presentation (see Introduction—Geographic Presentation of Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
�

Incorporated Place (see Place; see County Subdivision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
�

Independent City (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity; see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Independent Place (see County Subdivision; see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
�

Internal Point (see Geographic Area Attributes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19
�

Introduction—Geographic Presentation of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
�

Inventory Presentation (see Introduction—Geographic Presentation of Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
�

Island (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Island Areas of the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Joint-Use Areas (see American Indian Area, Alaska Native Area, and Hawaiian Home Land) . . . . . . . A-7
�

Land Area (see Area Measurement) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
�

Legal/Statistical Area Description (see Geographic Area Attributes). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19
�

MAF/TIGER (Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and 

Referencing) Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Metropolitan Division (see Core Based Statistical Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15
�

Metropolitan Statistical Area (see Core Based Statistical Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15
�

Micropolitan Statistical Area (see Core Based Statistical Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15
�

Minor Civil Division (MCD) (see County Subdivision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
�

Municipality (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity; see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Municipio (see Puerto Rico; see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Names of Geographic Entities (see Geographic Area Attributes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19
�

National Standard Feature Identifier (see Codes for Geographic Entities; see Geographic
�

Names Information System [GNIS ID]) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
�

New England City and Town Area (NECTA) (see Core Based Statistical Area). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

New England City and Town Area Division (see Core Based Statistical Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Northern Mariana Islands (see Island Areas of the United States). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Off-Reservation Trust Land (see American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . A-7
�

Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area (OTSA) (see American Indian, Alaska Native, and 

Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
�

Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area (OTSA) Joint-Use Area (see American Indian, Alaska Native, 

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
�

Outlying Areas (see Island Areas of the United States). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Parish (see County or Statistically Equivalent Entity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�
Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
�

Place Within Consolidated City (see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
�

Population and Housing Unit Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Principal City (see Core Based Statistical Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
�

Public Use Microdata Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Region (see Census Region) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
�

Rural (see Urban and Rural) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

School District (Elementary, Secondary, and Unified) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-23
�

State or Statistically Equivalent Entity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-23
�

State Designated American Indian Statistical Area (SDAISA) (see American Indian,
�

Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
�

State Designated Tribal Statistical Area (SDTSA) (see American Indian, Alaska Native,
�

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8 

State Legislative District (Upper and Lower Chambers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-23
�

Subbarrio (see Puerto Rico) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

Subminor Civil Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
�

Town (see County Subdivision; see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
�

Township (see County Subdivision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
�

Tract (see Census Tract) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
�

Tribal Block Group (see Block Group). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-24
�

Tribal Census Tract (see Census Tract). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-24
�

Tribal Designated Statistical Area (TDSA) (see American Indian, Alaska Native, 

and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
�

Trust Land (see American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
�

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (see Island Areas of the United States) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

U.S. States Virgin Islands (see Island Areas of the United States) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
�

Unorganized Territory (see County Subdivision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18
�

Urban (see Urban and Rural) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

Urban and Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

Urban Cluster (UC) (see Urban and Rural) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

Urban Growth Area (UGA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-26
�

Urbanized Area (UA) (see Urban and Rural) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25
�

Village (see Place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
�

Voting District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-26
�

Water Area (see Area Measurement) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
�

ZIP Code (see ZIP Code Tabulation Area) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-26
�

ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-26
�

Zona Urbana (see Puerto Rico) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
�

INTRODUCTION 

This document provides definitions of geographic terms and concepts as well as a description of the 

different methods used to present information for geographic entities in U.S. Census Bureau data products. 

This document contains definitions for all geographic area terms and concepts recognized by the Census 

Bureau and that may appear in any Census Bureau product presenting demographic and housing data 

(geographic terms and concepts unique to the economic census and other specialized surveys and 

censuses are not included in this document). The inclusion of a particular term or concept in this 

Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

A-3 
A-4 Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

document does not imply that data for that geographic entity or attribute appear in each data 

product. For instance, data for tribal census tracts and tribal block groups will appear only in products 

providing data according to the American Indian Nation-based geographic hierarchy (see Figure A-2). As 

another example, because urban areas are defined on the basis of decennial census population counts, 

data for urban areas do not appear in initial decennial census data products. In addition, the description of 

both the hierarchical and inventory approaches to presenting data for geographic entities does not imply 

that both formats are used in each data product. 

GEOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF DATA 

In Census Bureau data products, geographic entities usually are presented in a hierarchical arrangement or 

as an inventory listing. 

Hierarchical Presentation 

A hierarchical geographic presentation shows the geographic entities in a superior/subordinate 

structure. This structure is derived from the legal, administrative, or areal relationships of the entities. 

The hierarchical structure is depicted in report tables by means of indentation. For computer-readable 

media, the hierarchy is shown in the descriptive name applied to a summary level, with the hierarchy 

in order separated by hyphens. An example of hierarchical presentation is the census geographic 

hierarchy consisting of census block, within block group, within census tract, within place, within county 

subdivision, within county, within state. Graphically, this is shown as: 

State

 County

 County subdivision

 Place (or part)

 Census tract (or part)

 Block group (or part)

 Block 

Figure A-1, which is a diagram of the geographic hierarchy, presents this information as a series of nesting 

relationships. For example, a line joining the lower-level entity place and the higher-level entity state 

means that a place cannot cross a state boundary; a line linking census tract and county means that a 

census tract cannot cross a county line; and so forth. There is no implied hierarchy between different line 

tracks; for example, census tract nests within county, but it may cross a county subdivision boundary even 

though county subdivision also nests within county. 

Inventory Presentation 

An inventory presentation of geographic entities is one in which all entities of the same type are shown in 

alphabetical, code, or geographic sequence, without reference to their hierarchical relationships. Generally, 

an inventory presentation shows totals for entities that may be split in a hierarchical presentation, such as 

place, census tract, or block group. An example of a series of inventory presentations is state, followed by 

all the counties in that state, followed by all the places in that state. Graphically, this is shown as: 

State 

County A 

County B 

County C 

Place X 

Place Y 

Place Z 
Nation-Based Hierarchies 

Exceptions to the standard hierarchical presentation occur for entities that do not necessarily nest within 

states, most notably American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas and core based statistical 

areas. 

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area (AIANNHA) Hierarchy 

Because federally recognized American Indian areas can cross state lines, a separate American Indian, 

Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian area (AIANNHA) hierarchy exists for these areas. For instance, the 

following American Indian entities can cross state lines: federally recognized American Indian reservations 

and/or off-reservation trust lands, tribal subdivisions, tribal designated statistical areas, tribal census 

tracts, and tribal block groups. National summary data for American Indian reservations or statistical areas 

may be presented as an alphabetical listing of names followed by the state portions of each area. Also, a 

tribal census tract or tribal block group may be located in more than one state or county. Data for tribal 

census tracts and tribal block groups are presented only in Census Bureau products utilizing the AIANNHA 

hierarchy and are not present in products utilizing the standard census geographic hierarchy. 

The diagram in Figure A-2 shows geographic relationships among geographic entities in the AIANNHA 

hierarchy. It does not show the geographic levels county, county subdivision, and place, among others, 

because AIANNHAs do not necessarily nest within them. 

DEFINITIONS OF GEOGRAPHIC ENTITIES, TERMS, AND CONCEPTS 

The definitions below are for geographic entities and concepts that the Census Bureau includes in its 

standard data products. Not all entities, terms, and concepts are shown in any one data product. 

AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKA NATIVE, AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN AREA 

There are both legal and statistical American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas (AIANNHAs) 

for which the Census Bureau provides data. The legal entities consist of federally recognized American 

Indian reservations and off-reservation trust land areas, the tribal subdivisions that can divide these 

entities, state-recognized American Indian reservations, Alaska Native regional corporations, and Hawaiian 

home lands. The statistical entities are Alaska Native village statistical areas, Oklahoma tribal statistical 

areas, tribal designated statistical areas, and state designated tribal statistical areas. Statistical tribal 

subdivisions can exist within Oklahoma tribal statistical areas. In all cases, these areas are mutually 

exclusive in that no AIANNHA can overlap another tribal entity, except for tribal subdivisions, which by 

definition subdivide some American Indian entities, and Alaska Native village statistical areas, which exist 

within Alaska Native regional corporations. In cases where more than one tribe claims jurisdiction over an 

area, the Census Bureau creates a joint-use area as a separate entity to define this area of dual claims. The 

following provides more detail about each of the various AIANNHAs. 

Legal Entities 

Alaska Native regional corporations (ANRCs) were created pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

Act (ANCSA) (Pub. L. 92–203, 85 Stat. 688 [1971]; 43 U.S.C. 1602 et seq. [2000]), enacted in 1971 as a 

‘‘Regional Corporation’’ and organized under the laws of the state of Alaska to conduct both the for-profit 

and non-profit affairs of Alaska Natives within a defined region of Alaska. For the Census Bureau, ANRCs 

are considered legal geographic entities. Twelve ANRCs cover the entire state of Alaska except for the 

area within the Annette Island Reserve (a federally recognized American Indian reservation under the 

governmental authority of the Metlakatla Indian Community). A thirteenth ANRC represents Alaska Natives 

who do not live in Alaska and do not identify with any of the twelve corporations. The Census Bureau does 

not provide data for this thirteenth ANRC because it has no defined geographic extent and thus, it does 

not appear in the TIGER/Line® shapefiles. The Census Bureau offers representatives of the 12 nonprofit 

ANRCs in Alaska the opportunity to review and update the ANRC boundaries before each decennial census. 

Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

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A-6 Geographic Terms and Concepts 

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Each ANRC is assigned a five-digit numeric Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code and an eightdigit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

American Indian reservations—Federal (federal AIRs) are areas that have been set aside by the United 

States for the use of tribes, the exterior boundaries of which are more particularly defined in the final 

tribal treaties, agreements, executive orders, federal statutes, secretarial orders, or judicial determinations. 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs maintains a list of all federally recognized tribal governments and makes 

final determination of the inventory of federal AIRs. The Census Bureau recognizes federal reservations 

(and associated off-reservation trust lands) as territory over which American Indian tribes have primary 

governmental authority. American Indian reservations can be legally described as colonies, communities, 

Indian colonies, Indian communities, Indian rancherias, Indian reservations, Indian villages, pueblos, 

rancherias, ranches, reservations, reserves, settlements, or villages. The Census Bureau contacts 

representatives of American Indian tribal governments to identify the boundaries for federal reservations 

through its annual Boundary and Annexation Survey. Federal reservations may cross state and all other 

area boundaries. 

Each federal AIR is assigned a four-digit census code ranging from 0001 through 4799 in alphabetical order 

of AIR names nationwide. This nation-based census code is the primary unique identifier for the AIR. Each 

federal AIR also is assigned a five-digit Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code and an eight-digit 

National Standard (ANSI) code. Because FIPS codes are assigned in alphabetical sequence within each state, 

the FIPS code will be different in each state for reservations that include territory in more than one state. 

American Indian reservations—State (state AIRs) are reservations established by some state governments 

for tribes recognized by the state. A governor-appointed state liaison provides the names and boundaries 

for state-recognized American Indian reservations to the Census Bureau. State reservations must be 

defined within a single state but may cross county and other types of boundaries. Each state AIR is 

assigned a four-digit census code ranging from 9000 through 9499. Each state AIR also is assigned a fivedigit Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code and an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

To further identify and differentiate state-recognized American Indian areas from those that are federally 

recognized, the text “(state)” is appended to the AIR name. 

American Indian tribal subdivisions, described as additions, administrative areas, areas, chapters, county 

districts, communities, districts, or segments, are legal administrative subdivisions of federally recognized 

American Indian reservations and off-reservation trust lands or are statistical subdivisions of Oklahoma 

tribal statistical areas (OTSAs). These entities are internal units of self-government or administration 

that serve social, cultural, and/or economic purposes for the American Indians on the reservations, offreservation trust lands, or OTSAs. The Census Bureau obtains the boundary and name information for 

tribal subdivisions from tribal governments. Each American Indian tribal subdivision is assigned a threedigit census code that is alphabetically in order and unique within each American Indian area, a five-digit 

Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code assigned alphabetically within state, and an eight-digit 

National Standard (ANSI) code. Because FIPS codes are assigned in alphabetical sequence within each state, 

the FIPS code will be different in each state for tribal subdivisions that include territory in more than one 

state. All the summary levels that include tribal subdivisions in the presentation hierarchy will only have 

records for the 24 American Indian areas and two OTSAs that actually have tribal subdivisions. The list of 

areas and four-digit census codes is: 
Code American Indian area 

0335 Bois Forte Reservation, MN 

0605 Cheyenne River Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, SD 

0855 Crow Creek Reservation, SD 

0990 Eastern Cherokee Reservation, NC 

1110 Flathead Reservation, MT 

1150 Fort Belknap Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MT 

1160 Fort Berthold Reservation, ND 

1250 Fort Peck Indian Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MT 

1310 Gila River Indian Reservation, AZ 

1505 Hopi Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, AZ 

1830 Lac Vieux Desert Reservation, MI 

1860 Lake Traverse Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, ND-SD 

2175 Menominee Reservation, WI 

2430 Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, AZ-NM-UT 

2490 Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MT 

2810 Pine Ridge Reservation, SD-NE 

3100 Red Lake Reservation, MN 

3235 Rosebud Indian Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, SD 

3340 Salt River Reservation, AZ 

3680 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, MN 

3935 Spirit Lake Reservation, ND 

3970 Standing Rock Reservation, SD-ND 

4200 Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, AZ 

4290 Tulalip Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, WA 

5550 Cherokee OTSA, OK 

5590 Choctaw OTSA, OK 

Hawaiian home lands (HHLs) are areas held in trust for Native Hawaiians by the state of Hawaii, pursuant 

to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended. The Census Bureau obtains the names 

and boundaries for HHLs from state officials. The names of the home lands are based on the traditional 

ahupua‘a names of the Crown and government lands of the Kingdom of Hawaii from which the lands were 

designated or from the local name for an area. Being lands held in trust, HHLs are treated as equivalent to 

off-reservation trust land areas with the American Indian Trust Land/Hawaiian Home Land Indicator coded 

as “T.” Each HHL is assigned a national four-digit census code ranging from 5000 through 5499 based on 

the alphabetical sequence of each HHL name, a five-digit Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code 

in alphabetical order within the state of Hawaii, and an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

Joint-use areas, as applied to any American Indian area by the Census Bureau, means an area that is 

administered jointly and/or claimed by two or more American Indian tribes. The Census Bureau designates 

legal joint-use areas as unique geographic entities equivalent to a reservation for the purpose of 

presenting statistical data. Each is assigned a national four-digit census code ranging from 4800 through 

4999 based on the alphabetical sequence of each joint-use area name, a five-digit Federal Information 

Processing Series (FIPS) code in alphabetical order within state, and an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) 

code. No joint-use areas exist in multiple states. 

Off-reservation trust lands are areas for which the United States holds title in trust for the benefit of a 

tribe (tribal trust land) or for an individual American Indian (individual trust land). Trust lands can be 

alienated or encumbered only by the owner with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or his/her 

authorized representative. Trust lands may be located on or off a reservation; however, the Census Bureau 

tabulates data only for off-reservation trust lands with the off-reservation trust lands always associated 

with a specific federally recognized reservation and/or tribal government. As for federally recognized 

reservations, the Census Bureau obtains the boundaries of off-reservation trust lands from American Indian 

Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

A-7 
A-8 Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

tribal governments through its annual Boundary and Annexation Survey. The Census Bureau recognizes 

and tabulates data for reservations and off-reservation trust lands because American Indian tribes have 

primary governmental authority over these lands. The Census Bureau does not identify fee land (or land in 

fee simple status) or restricted fee lands as specific geographic areas. 

Off-reservation trust lands are assigned a four-digit census code, a five-digit Federal Information 

Processing Series (FIPS) code, and an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code that is the same as that 

for the reservation with which they are associated. Trust lands associated with tribes that do not have a 

reservation are assigned unique codes. The census code is assigned by tribal name within the range 0001 

through 4799, interspersed alphabetically among the reservation names. Because FIPS codes are assigned 

in alphabetical sequence within each state, the FIPS code will be different in each state for off-reservation 

trust lands that include territory in more than one state. In decennial census data tabulations, the 

American Indian Trust Land/Hawaiian Home Land Indicator uniquely identifies off-reservation trust lands, 

as well as reservation or statistical area only portions, Hawaiian home lands, and records that consist of 

the combination of reservation and off-reservation trust land territory. 

Statistical Entities 

Alaska Native village statistical areas (ANVSAs) represent the more densely settled portion of Alaska 

Native villages (ANVs). The ANVs constitute associations, bands, clans, communities, groups, tribes, or 

villages recognized pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-203). 

Because ANVs do not have boundaries that are easy to locate, the Census Bureau does not delimit ANVs. 

Instead, the Census Bureau presents statistical data for ANVSAs that represent the settled portion of 

ANVs. In addition, each ANVSA should include only an area where Alaska Natives, especially members of 

the defining ANV, represent a substantial proportion of the population during at least one season of the 

year. ANVSAs are delineated or reviewed by officials of the ANV or, if no ANV official chose to participate 

in the delineation process, officials of the Alaska Native Regional Corporation (ANRC) in which the ANV is 

located. An ANVSA may not overlap the boundary of another ANVSA or an American Indian reservation. 

Each ANVSA is alphabetically assigned a national four-digit census code ranging from 6000 through 7999, 

an alphabetically assigned state-based five-digit Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code, and an 

eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

Oklahoma tribal statistical areas (OTSAs) are statistical entities identified and delineated by the Census 

Bureau in consultation with federally recognized American Indian tribes that had a former reservation 

in Oklahoma. The boundary of an OTSA will be that of the former reservation in Oklahoma, except 

where modified by agreements with neighboring tribes for statistical data presentation purposes. Each 

OTSA is alphabetically assigned a national four-digit census code ranging from 5500 through 5899, an 

alphabetically assigned state-based five-digit Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code, and an 

eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. Tribal subdivisions are allowed within OTSAs and exist for the 

2010 Census in the Cherokee and Choctaw OTSAs. 

Oklahoma tribal statistical area (OTSA) Joint-Use Areas, as applied to OTSAs by the Census Bureau, means 

an area that is administered jointly and/or claimed by two or more American Indian tribes that have a 

delineated OTSA. The Census Bureau designates statistical joint-use areas as unique geographic entities 

for the purpose of presenting statistical data. Only Oklahoma tribal statistical areas have statistical jointuse areas. Each Oklahoma tribal joint-use area is alphabetically assigned a national four-digit census code 

ranging from 5900 through 5999, an alphabetically assigned state-based five-digit Federal Information 

Processing Series (FIPS) code, and an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

State designated tribal statistical areas (SDTSAs—referred to as State Designated American Indian 

Statistical Areas for Census 2000) are statistical entities for state-recognized American Indian tribes 

that do not have a state-recognized land base (reservation). SDTSAs are identified and delineated for 

the Census Bureau by a state liaison identified by the governor’s office in each state. SDTSAs generally 

encompass a compact and contiguous area that contains a concentration of people who identify with a 
state-recognized American Indian tribe and in which there is structured or organized tribal activity. An 

SDTSA may not be located in more than one state and it may not include area within any other American 

Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian area. Each SDTSA is alphabetically assigned a four-digit 

census code ranging from 9500 through 9998, an alphabetically assigned state-based five-digit Federal 

Information Processing Series (FIPS) code, and an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

Tribal designated statistical areas (TDSAs) are statistical entities identified and delineated for the Census 

Bureau by federally recognized American Indian tribes that do not currently have a federally recognized 

land base (reservation or off-reservation trust land). A TDSA generally encompasses a compact and 

contiguous area that contains a concentration of individuals who identify with a federally recognized 

American Indian tribe and in which there is structured or organized tribal activity. A TDSA may be 

located in more than one state (although none do for 2010), but it may not include area within any other 

American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian area. Each TDSA is alphabetically assigned a four-digit 

census code ranging from 8000 through 8999, an alphabetically assigned state-based five-digit Federal 

Information Processing Series (FIPS) code, and an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Area (AIANNHA) Codes—AIANNHAs are 

represented in Census Bureau products using a national four-character numeric census code field and a 

single alphabetic character American Indian trust land/Hawaiian home land indicator field. The census 

codes are assigned in alphabetical order in assigned ranges by AIANNHA type nationwide, except that 

joint-use areas appear at the end of the code range. Off-reservation trust lands are assigned the same code 

as the reservation with which they are associated. Trust lands associated with tribes that do not have a 

reservation are assigned codes based on tribal name. Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) codes for 

all AIANNHAs range from 00001 through 89999, without differentiation among the many types of areas. 

The type of AIANNHA can be identified either by the census code or by the FIPS class code. The range 

of census codes allocated to each AIANNHA and the valid FIPS class code(s) associated with each are as 

follows: 

AIANNHA type Census 

code range 

Valid FIPS 

class code(s)* 

Federal American Indian reservation (AIR)/off-reservation 

trust land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0001 to 4799 D1, D2, D3, D5, D8 

Joint-use federal AIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4800 to 4999 D0 

Hawaiian home land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5000 to 5499 F1 

Oklahoma tribal statistical area (OTSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5500 to 5899 D6 

Joint-use OTSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5900 to 5999 D0 

Alaska Native village statistical area (ANVSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6000 to 7999 E1 

Tribal designated statistical area (TDSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8000 to 8999 D6 

State AIR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9000 to 9499 D4 

State designated tribal statistical area (SDTSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9500 to 9998 D9 

AIANNHA type American Indian, Alaska Native, Native 

Hawaiian area indicator 

Hawaiian home land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T 

American Indian reservation including associated M 

 off-reservation trust land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

American Indian reservation or statistical entity only . . . . . . . . . . R 

Off-reservation trust land only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T 

* Refer to the Data Dictionary for specific value descriptions. 

AREA MEASUREMENT 

Area measurement data provide the size, in square units (metric and nonmetric) of geographic entities for 

which the Census Bureau tabulates and disseminates data. Area is calculated from the specific boundary 

Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

A-9 
A-10 Geographic Terms and Concepts 

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Demographic Profile Summary File 

recorded for each entity in the Census Bureau’s geographic database (see “MAF/TIGER Database”). The 

Census Bureau provides area measurement data for both land area and water area. The water area 

figures include inland, coastal, Great Lakes, and territorial sea water. Inland water consists of any lake, 

reservoir, pond, or similar body of water that is recorded in the Census Bureau’s geographic database. It 

also includes any river, creek, canal, stream, or similar feature that is recorded in that database as a twodimensional feature (rather than as a single line). The portions of the oceans and related large embayments 

(such as Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound), the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea that belong to the 

United States and its territories are classified as coastal and territorial waters; the Great Lakes are treated 

as a separate water entity. Rivers and bays that empty into these bodies of water are treated as inland 

water from the point beyond which they are narrower than 1 nautical mile across. Identification of land 

and inland, coastal, territorial, and Great Lakes waters is for data presentation purposes only and does not 

necessarily reflect their legal definitions. 

Land and water area measurements may disagree with the information displayed on Census Bureau 

maps and in the MAF/TIGER database because, for area measurement purposes, hydrologic features 

identified as intermittent water, glacier, or swamp are reported as land area. The water area measurement 

reported for some geographic entities includes water that is not included in any lower-level geographic 

entity. Therefore, because water is contained only in a higher-level geographic entity, summing the water 

measurements for all the component lower-level geographic entities will not yield the water area of that 

higher-level entity. This occurs, for example, where water is associated with a county but is not within 

the legal boundary of any county subdivision. The accuracy of any area measurement data is limited by 

the accuracy inherent in 1) the location and shape of the various boundary information in the MAF/TIGER 

database, 2) the identification, and classification of water bodies coupled with the location and shapes of 

the shorelines of water bodies in that database, and 3) rounding affecting the last digit in all operations 

that compute and/or sum the area measurements. 

BLOCK 

Blocks (Census Blocks) are statistical areas bounded by visible features, such as streets, roads, streams, 

and railroad tracks, and by nonvisible boundaries, such as selected property lines and city, township, 

school district, and county limits and short line-of-sight extensions of streets and roads. Generally, census 

blocks are small in area; for example, a block in a city bounded on all sides by streets. Census blocks in 

suburban and rural areas may be large, irregular, and bounded by a variety of features, such as roads, 

streams, and transmission lines. In remote areas, census blocks may encompass hundreds of square miles. 

Census blocks cover the entire territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. Census 

blocks nest within all other tabulated census geographic entities and are the basis for all tabulated data. 

Census Block Numbers—Census blocks are numbered uniquely with a four-digit census block number 

from 0000 to 9999 within census tract, which nest within state and county. The first digit of the census 

block number identifies the block group. Block numbers beginning with a zero (in Block Group 0) are only 

associated with water-only areas. 

BLOCK GROUP 

Block Groups (BGs) are statistical divisions of census tracts, are generally defined to contain between 

600 and 3,000 people, and are used to present data and control block numbering. A block group consists 

of clusters of blocks within the same census tract that have the same first digit of their four-digit census 

block number. For example, blocks 3001, 3002, 3003, . . ., 3999 in census tract 1210.02 belong to BG 

3 in that census tract. Most BGs were delineated by local participants in the Census Bureau’s Participant 

Statistical Areas Program. The Census Bureau delineated BGs only where a local or tribal government 

declined to participate, and a regional organization or State Data Center was not available to participate. 

A BG usually covers a contiguous area. Each census tract contains at least one BG, and BGs are uniquely 

numbered within the census tract. Within the standard census geographic hierarchy, BGs never cross state, 

county, or census tract boundaries but may cross the boundaries of any other geographic entity. Tribal 
census tracts and tribal BGs are separate and unique geographic areas defined within federally recognized 

American Indian reservations and can cross state and county boundaries (see “Tribal Census Tract” and 

“Tribal Block Group”). The tribal census tracts and tribal block groups may be completely different from the 

census tracts and block groups defined by state and county. 

Block Group Codes—BGs have a valid code range of 0 through 9. BGs beginning with a zero only contain 

water area and are generally in coastal and Great Lakes water and territorial seas, but also in larger inland 

water bodies. For the 2010 Census, a block group 0 for the water portion can be delineated in any census 

tract and not just those census tracts also defined to only include water area. This is a change from Census 

2000, when block groups coded 0 only existed in census tracts with a code of 0. To differentiate between 

county-based block groups and tribal block groups, the codes for tribal block groups use an alphabetic 

character (see “Tribal Block Group”). 

BOUNDARY CHANGES 

Many of the legal and statistical entities for which the Census Bureau tabulates decennial census data have 

had boundary changes between Census 2000 and the 2010 Census; that is, between January 1, 2000, and 

January 1, 2010. Boundary changes to legal entities result from: 

1.	� Annexations to or detachments from legally established governmental units. 

2.	� Mergers or consolidations of two or more governmental units. 

3.	� Establishment of new governmental units. 

4.	� Disincorporations or disorganizations of existing governmental units. 

5.	� Changes in treaties or executive orders and governmental action placing additional lands in trust. 

6.	� Decisions by federal, state, and local courts. 

7.	� Redistricting for congressional districts and state legislative districts. 

8.	� Ancillary changes to legal or statistical areas as a result of annexations and detachments; for example, 

reduction of territory for a census designated place as the result of an annexation by an adjacent 

incorporated place. 

9.	� Changes to correct errors or more accurately place boundaries relative to visible features. 

10. Changes to statistical areas as the result of concept or criteria changes. 

All legal boundaries used for the 2010 Census are those reported to the Census Bureau to be in effect as 

of January 1, 2010. The statistical area boundaries also reflect a January 1, 2010, date for delineation. 

The legal boundaries are collected through various surveys and programs: the Boundary and Annexation 

Survey, Redistricting Data Program, and the School District Review Program. There is a Geographic Change 

User Note Indicator in data files that identifies entities for which there have been changes to boundaries or 

data attributes (for example, legal/statistical area description or code) between the two censuses. 

Statistical entity boundaries generally are reviewed by local, state, or tribal governments and can have 

changes to adjust boundaries to visible features to better define the geographic area each encompasses or 

to account for shifts and changes in the population distribution within an area. Where statistical areas have 

a relationship to legal area boundaries, complementary updates occur; for example, removing territory 

from a census designated place if annexed to an incorporated place or contracting a tribal designated 

statistical area if the area is added to an American Indian reservation. 

The historical counts shown for states, counties, county subdivisions, places, American Indian, Alaska 

Native, and Native Hawaiian areas, and other areas are not updated for boundary changes and thus, reflect 

the population and housing units in each entity as delineated at the time of each decennial census. 

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CENSUS DIVISION 

Census Divisions are groupings of states and the District of Columbia that are subdivisions of the four 

census regions (see “Census Region”). There are nine census divisions, and each is identified by a singledigit census code. Puerto Rico and the Island Areas are not part of any census region or census division. 

For a list of all census regions, census divisions, and their constituent states, see Figure A-3. 

CENSUS REGION 

Census Regions are groupings of states and the District of Columbia that subdivide the United States 

for the presentation of census data. There are four census regions—Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. 

Each of the four census regions is divided into two or more census divisions (see “Census Division”). 

Each census region is identified by a single-digit census code. Puerto Rico and the Island Areas are not 

part of any census region or census division. For a list of all census regions, census divisions, and their 

constituent states, see Figure A-3. 

CENSUS TRACT 

Census Tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county or equivalent entity that 

are updated by local participants prior to each decennial census as part of the Census Bureau’s Participant 

Statistical Areas Program. The Census Bureau delineates census tracts in situations where no local 

participant existed or where state, local, or tribal governments declined to participate. The primary purpose 

of census tracts is to provide a stable set of geographic units for the presentation of statistical data. 

Census tracts generally have a population size between 1,200 and 8,000 people, with an optimum size of 

4,000 people. A census tract usually covers a contiguous area; however, the spatial size of census tracts 

varies widely depending on the density of settlement. Census tract boundaries are delineated with the 

intention of being maintained over a long time so that statistical comparisons can be made from census to 

census. Census tracts occasionally are split due to population growth or merged as a result of substantial 

population decline. 

Census tract boundaries generally follow visible and identifiable features. They may follow nonvisible 

legal boundaries, such as minor civil division (MCD) or incorporated place boundaries in some states 

and situations, to allow for census-tract-to-governmental-unit relationships where the governmental 

boundaries tend to remain unchanged between censuses. State and county boundaries always are census 

tract boundaries in the standard census geographic hierarchy. Tribal census tracts are a unique geographic 

entity defined within federally recognized American Indian reservations and off-reservation trust lands and 

can cross state and county boundaries. Tribal census tracts may be completely different from the census 

tracts and block groups defined by state and county (see “Tribal Census Tract”). 

Census Tract Codes and Numbers—Census tracts are identified by an up to four-digit integer number 

and may have an optional two-digit suffix; for example 1457.02 or 23. The census tract codes consist of 

six digits with an implied decimal between the fourth and fifth digit corresponding to the basic census 

tract number but with leading zeroes and trailing zeroes for census tracts without a suffix. The tract 

number examples above would have codes of 145702 and 002300, respectively. 

Some ranges of census tract numbers in the 2010 Census are used to identify distinctive types of census 

tracts. The code range in the 9400s is used for those census tracts with a majority of population, housing, 

or land area associated with an American Indian area and matches the numbering used in Census 2000. 

The code range in the 9800s is new for 2010 and is used to specifically identify special land-use census 

tracts; that is, census tracts defined to encompass a large area with little or no residential population 

with special characteristics, such as large parks or employment areas. The range of census tracts in the 

9900s represents census tracts delineated specifically to cover large bodies of water. This is different from 

Census 2000 when water-only census tracts were assigned codes of all zeroes (000000); 000000 is no 

longer used as a census tract code for the 2010 Census. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Census Bureau uses suffixes to help identify census tract changes for comparison purposes. Census 

tract suffixes may range from .01 to .98. As part of local review of existing census tracts before each 

census, some census tracts may have grown enough in population size to qualify as more than one census 

tract. When a census tract is split, the split parts usually retain the basic number but receive different 

suffixes. For example, if census tract 14 is split, the new tract numbers would be 14.01 and 14.02. In a 

few counties, local participants request major changes to, and renumbering of, the census tracts; however, 

this is generally discouraged. Changes to individual census tract boundaries usually do not result in 

census tract numbering changes. 

Tribal Census Tracts in American Indian Areas—The Census Bureau introduced the concept of tribal 

census tracts for the first time for Census 2000. Tribal census tracts for that census consisted of the 

standard county-based census tracts tabulated within American Indian areas, thus allowing for the tracts 

to ignore state and county boundaries for tabulation. The Census Bureau assigned the 9400 range of 

numbers to identify specific tribal census tracts; however, not all tribal census tracts used this numbering 

scheme. For the 2010 Census, tribal census tracts no longer are tied to or numbered in the same way as 

the county-based census tracts (see “Tribal Census Tract”). 

CODES FOR GEOGRAPHIC ENTITIES 

The Census Bureau and other federal agencies assign codes to geographic entities to facilitate the 

organization, presentation, and exchange of statistical data and other information. Geographic entity codes 

allow for the unambiguous identification of individual entities, generally within a specific, higher-level 

geographic entity (for example, county codes are assigned uniquely within each state). For geographic 

entities that have names (such as states, counties, places, county subdivisions, urban areas, and 

metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas), codes generally are assigned alphabetically based on name. 

Census Bureau data products contain several types of geographic entity codes: Federal Information 

Processing Series (FIPS), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and Census Bureau codes. 

Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS)—These are codes formerly known as Federal Information 

Processing Standards codes, until the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced 

its decision in 2005 to remove geographic entity codes from its oversight. The Census Bureau continues 

to maintain and issue codes for geographic entities covered under FIPS oversight, albeit with a revised 

meaning for the FIPS acronym. Geographic entities covered under FIPS include states, counties, 

congressional districts, core based statistical areas, places, county subdivisions, subminor civil divisions, 

consolidated cities, and all types of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas. FIPS codes 

are assigned alphabetically according to the name of the geographic entity and may change to maintain 

alphabetic sort when new entities are created or names change. FIPS codes for specific geographic 

entity types are usually unique within the next highest level of geographic entity with which a nesting 

relationship exists. For example, FIPS state, congressional district, and core based statistical area codes are 

unique within nation; FIPS county, place, county subdivision, and subminor civil division codes are unique 

within state. The codes for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas also are unique 

within state; those areas in multiple states will have different codes for each state. 

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)—With the removal of geographic entities from Federal 

Information Processing Standards oversight, the Census Bureau and other federal agencies have sought 

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) oversight authority for geographic entity codes. These codes 

are referred to as “National Standard” codes in some Census Bureau products. Geographic entities covered 

under ANSI include states, counties, congressional districts, core based statistical areas and related 

statistical areas, places, county subdivisions, consolidated cities, subminor civil divisions, and all types of 

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas—Alaska Native regional corporations, Alaska 

Native village statistical areas, American Indian reservation and off-reservation trust lands, American 

Indian tribal subdivisions, Hawaiian home lands, Oklahoma tribal statistical areas, state designated tribal 

statistical areas, and tribal designated statistical areas. 

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Relationship between FIPS and ANSI codes—Geographic entities for which NIST formerly provided Federal 

Information Processing Standards oversight will continue to be referred to as FIPS (Federal Information 

Processing Series) codes in some Census Bureau data products, despite the Census Bureau having sought 

ANSI oversight authority. These geographic entities include states, counties, congressional districts, and 

core based statistical areas and related statistical areas. The Census Bureau continues to maintain and 

issue codes for these entities following the same structure and without change to existing codes, except 

when necessary to maintain alphabetic sorting based on names of entities. The Census Bureau also 

continues to maintain and issue five-digit FIPS codes (formerly FIPS 55) for places, county subdivisions, 

consolidated cities, subminor civil divisions, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, and all types of 

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas but is not seeking ANSI oversight authority 

for these entity codes. The U.S. Geological Survey has ANSI oversight authority for its Geographic Names 

Information System identifier (GNIS ID), which has been adopted as a National Standard (NS) code for 

states, counties, places, county subdivisions, subminor civil divisions, consolidated cities, Alaska Native 

Regional Corporations, and all types of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas. The 

Census Bureau will include the GNIS ID for these entities in its data products, portrayed as an eight-digit 

character numeric code and identified as “ANSI.” NS codes (GNIS IDs) will not sort geographic entities in 

alphabetical order based on name or title, as is the case with FIPS codes. 

Census Bureau codes—The Census Bureau assigns and issues codes for a number of geographic entities for 

which FIPS or ANSI codes are not available, and sometimes in addition to FIPS and ANSI codes. Geographic 

entities for which census codes are assigned and issued in Census Bureau data products include regions, 

divisions, census tracts, block groups, census blocks, urban areas, and all types of American Indian, 

Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas. Some codes—voting district, state legislative district, and school 

district—use standards established by the states—or for school districts, the U.S. Department of Education. 

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 

Congressional Districts are the 435 areas from which people are elected to the U.S. House of 

Representatives. After the apportionment of congressional seats among the states based on decennial 

census population counts, each state with multiple seats is responsible for establishing congressional 

districts for the purpose of electing representatives. Each congressional district is to be as equal in 

population to all other congressional districts in a state as practicable. For the District of Columbia, Puerto 

Rico, and each Island Area, a separate code is used to identify the entire areas of these state-equivalent 

entities as having a single nonvoting delegate. 

Congressional District Codes—Congressional districts are identified by a two-character numeric Federal 

Information Processing Series (FIPS) code numbered uniquely within state. The District of Columbia, Puerto 

Rico, and the Island Areas have code 98 assigned identifying their nonvoting delegate status with respect 

to representation in Congress: 

01 to 53—Congressional district codes 

00—At large (single district for state) 

98—Nonvoting delegate 

CONSOLIDATED CITY 

Consolidated City—A consolidated government is a unit of local government for which the functions of 

an incorporated place and its county or minor civil division (MCD) have merged. This action results in both 

the primary incorporated place and the county or MCD continuing to exist as legal entities, even though 

the county or MCD performs few or no governmental functions and has few or no elected officials. Where 

this occurs—and where one or more other incorporated places in the county or MCD continue to function 

as separate governments, even though they have been included in the consolidated government— 

the primary incorporated place is referred to as a consolidated city. The Census Bureau classifies the 
separately incorporated places within the consolidated city as place entities and creates a separate place 

(balance) record for the portion of the consolidated city not within any other place. 

Consolidated City (Balance) Portions refer to the areas of a consolidated city not included in another 

separately incorporated place. For example, Butte-Silver Bow, MT, is a consolidated city (former Butte city 

and Silver Bow County) that includes the separately incorporated municipality of Walkerville city. The area 

of the consolidated city that is not in Walkerville city is assigned to Butte-Silver Bow (balance). The name 

always includes the “(balance)” identifier (see “Place”). 

CORE BASED STATISTICAL AREAS AND RELATED STATISTICAL AREAS 

Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) consist of the county or counties or equivalent entities associated 

with at least one core (urbanized area or urban cluster) of at least 10,000 population, plus adjacent 

counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through 

commuting ties with the counties associated with the core. The general concept of a CBSA is that of a 

core area containing a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high 

degree of economic and social integration with that core. The term “core based statistical area” became 

effective in 2003 and refers collectively to metropolitan statistical areas and micropolitan statistical areas. 

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines CBSAs to provide a nationally consistent set of 

geographic entities for the United States and Puerto Rico for use in tabulating and presenting statistical 

data. Current CBSAs are based on application of the 2000 standards (published in the Federal Register of 

December 27, 2000) with Census 2000 data. The first set of areas defined based on the 2000 standards 

were announced on June 6, 2003; subsequent updates have been made to the universe of CBSAs and 

related statistical areas. No CBSAs are defined in the Island Areas. Statistical areas related to CBSAs include 

metropolitan divisions, combined statistical areas (CSAs), New England city and town areas (NECTAs), 

NECTA divisions, and combined NECTAs. 

Combined New England City and Town Areas (Combined NECTAs) consist of two or more adjacent 

New England city and town areas (NECTAs) that have substantial employment interchange. The NECTAs 

that combine to create a combined NECTA retain separate identities within the larger combined NECTA. 

Because combined NECTAs represent groupings of NECTAs, they should not be ranked or compared with 

individual NECTAs. 

Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) consist of two or more adjacent CBSAs that have substantial 

employment interchange. The CBSAs that combine to create a CSA retain separate identities within the 

larger CSA. Because CSAs represent groupings of metropolitan and/or micropolitan statistical areas, they 

should not be ranked or compared with individual metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. 

Metropolitan Divisions are smaller groupings of counties or equivalent entities defined within a 

metropolitan statistical area containing a single core with a population of at least 2.5 million. Not all 

metropolitan statistical areas with urbanized areas of this size will contain metropolitan divisions. A 

metropolitan division consists of one or more main/secondary counties that represent an employment 

center or centers, plus adjacent counties associated with the main/secondary county or counties through 

commuting ties. Because metropolitan divisions represent subdivisions of larger metropolitan statistical 

areas, it is not appropriate to rank or compare metropolitan divisions with metropolitan and micropolitan 

statistical areas. It would be appropriate to rank and compare metropolitan divisions. 

Metropolitan Statistical Areas are CBSAs associated with at least one urbanized area that has a 

population of at least 50,000. The metropolitan statistical area comprises the central county or counties or 

equivalent entities containing the core, plus adjacent outlying counties having a high degree of social and 

economic integration with the central county or counties as measured through commuting. 

Micropolitan Statistical Areas are CBSAs associated with at least one urban cluster that has a 

population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000. The micropolitan statistical area comprises the central 

county or counties or equivalent entities containing the core, plus adjacent outlying counties having a 

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high degree of social and economic integration with the central county or counties as measured through 

commuting. 

New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) are an alternative set of geographic entities, similar in 

concept to the county-based CBSAs defined nationwide, that OMB defines in New England based on county 

subdivisions—usually cities and towns. NECTAs are defined using the same criteria as county-based CBSAs, 

and, similar to CBSAs, NECTAs are categorized as metropolitan or micropolitan. 

New England City and Town Area (NECTA) Divisions are smaller groupings of cities and towns 

defined within a NECTA containing a single core with a population of at least 2.5 million. A NECTA division 

consists of a main city or town that represents an employment center, plus adjacent cities and towns 

associated with the main city or town through commuting ties. Each NECTA division must contain a total 

population of 100,000 or more. Because NECTA divisions represent subdivisions of larger NECTAs, it is 

not appropriate to rank or compare NECTA divisions with NECTAs. It would be appropriate to rank and 

compare NECTA divisions. 

Principal Cities of a CBSA (or NECTA) include the largest incorporated place with a population of at 

least 10,000 in the CBSA, or if no incorporated place of at least 10,000 population is present in the CBSA, 

the largest incorporated place or census designated place (CDP) in the CBSA. Principal cities also include 

any additional incorporated place or CDP with a population of at least 250,000 or in which 100,000 or 

more persons work; any additional incorporated place or CDP with a population of at least 50,000 and 

in which the number of jobs meets or exceeds the number of employed residents; and any additional 

incorporated place or CDP with a population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 and at least one-third 

the population size of the largest place and in which the number of jobs meets or exceeds the number of 

employed residents. Note that there are some places designated as principal cities of NECTAs that are not 

principal cities of a CBSA. 

Core Based Statistical Area Codes—Metropolitan statistical areas, micropolitan statistical areas, 

NECTAs, metropolitan divisions, and NECTA divisions are identified using a five-digit numeric code that is 

assigned alphabetically based on title and is unique within the nation. The combined statistical area and 

combined NECTAs are identified using a three-digit numeric code, also assigned alphabetically based on 

title and unique within the nation. Codes, length, and ranges are: 

CBSA entity Length Range* 

Metropolitan statistical area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Micropolitan statistical area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Metropolitan division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

New England city and town area (NECTA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

NECTA division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Combined statistical area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Combined NECTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Five digits 

Five digits 

Five digits 

Five digits 

Five digits 

Three digits 

Three digits 

10000–49999 

10000–49999 

10004–49994 

70000–79999 

70004–79994 

100–599 

700–799 

* Metropolitan divisions and NECTA divisions are distinguished from metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas and NECTAs by 

codes that end in “4.” Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas and NECTAs cannot end in “4.” 

COUNTY OR STATISTICALLY EQUIVALENT ENTITY 

The primary legal divisions of most states are termed counties. In Louisiana, these divisions are known as 

parishes. In Alaska, which has no counties, the equivalent entities are the organized boroughs, city and 

boroughs, municipalities, and census areas; the latter of which are delineated cooperatively for statistical 

purposes by the state of Alaska and the Census Bureau. In four states (Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, and 

Virginia), there are one or more incorporated places that are independent of any county organization and 

thus constitute primary divisions of their states. These incorporated places are known as independent 

cities and are treated as equivalent entities for purposes of data presentation. The District of Columbia 

and Guam have no primary divisions, and each area is considered an equivalent entity for purposes of 
data presentation. All of the counties in Connecticut and Rhode Island and nine counties in Massachusetts 

were dissolved as functioning governmental entities; however, the Census Bureau continues to present 

data for these historical entities in order to provide comparable geographic units at the county level of 

the geographic hierarchy for these states and represents them as nonfunctioning legal entities in data 

products. The Census Bureau treats the following entities as equivalents of counties for purposes of data 

presentation: municipios in Puerto Rico, districts and islands in American Samoa, municipalities in the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each county or 

statistically equivalent entity is assigned a three-character numeric Federal Information Processing Series 

(FIPS) code based on alphabetical sequence that is unique within state and an eight-digit National Standard 

feature identifier. 

COUNTY SUBDIVISION 

County Subdivisions are the primary divisions of counties and equivalent entities. They include 

census county divisions, census subareas, minor civil divisions, and unorganized territories and can be 

classified as either legal or statistical. Each county subdivision is assigned a five-character numeric Federal 

Information Processing Series (FIPS) code based on alphabetical sequence within state and an eight-digit 

National Standard feature identifier. 

Legal Entities 

Minor civil divisions (MCDs) are the primary governmental or administrative divisions of a county in many 

states (parishes in Louisiana) and the county equivalents in Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. MCDs in 

the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas represent many different kinds of legal entities with a 

wide variety of governmental and/or administrative functions. MCDs include areas variously designated 

as barrios, barrios-pueblo, boroughs, charter townships, commissioner districts, election districts, election 

precincts, gores, grants, locations, magisterial districts, parish governing authority districts, plantations, 

purchases, reservations, supervisor’s districts, towns, and townships. The Census Bureau recognizes MCDs 

in 29 states, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. The District of Columbia has no primary divisions and is 

considered equivalent to an MCD for statistical purposes. (It is also considered a state equivalent and a 

county equivalent.) The 29* states in which MCDs are recognized are: 

Arkansas Michigan Ohio 

Connecticut Minnesota Pennsylvania 

Illinois Mississippi Rhode Island 

Indiana Missouri South Dakota 

Iowa Nebraska Tennessee 

Kansas New Hampshire Vermont 

Louisiana New Jersey Virginia 

Maine New York West Virginia 

Maryland North Carolina Wisconsin 

Massachusetts North Dakota 

* Tennessee, a state with statistical census county divisions (CCDs) in 2000, reverted to MCDs in 2008. 

In some states, all or some incorporated places are not part of any MCD; these places are termed 

independent places. Independent places also serve as primary legal subdivisions and have a Federal 

Information Processing Series (FIPS) county subdivision code and National Standard (ANSI) code that is 

the same as the FIPS and ANSI place code. In nine states—Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New 

Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Wisconsin—all incorporated places 

are independent places. In other states, incorporated places are part of, or dependent within, the MCDs in 

which they are located, or the pattern is mixed—some incorporated places are independent of MCDs and 

others are included within one or more MCDs. 

The MCDs in 12 states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New 

Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin) also serve as general-purpose 

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local governments that can perform the same governmental functions as incorporated places. The Census 

Bureau presents data for these MCDs in all data products for which place data are provided. 

In New York and Maine, American Indian reservations (AIRs) generally exist outside the jurisdiction of any 

town (MCD) and thus also serve as the equivalent of MCDs for purposes of data presentation. 

In states with MCDs, the Census Bureau assigns a default FIPS county subdivision code of 00000 and ANSI 

code of eight zeroes in some coastal, territorial sea, and Great Lakes water where county subdivisions do 

not legally extend into the Great Lakes or out to the 3-mile limit. 

Statistical Entities 

Census county divisions (CCDs) are areas delineated by the Census Bureau in cooperation with state, tribal, 

and local officials for statistical purposes. CCDs have no legal function and are not governmental units. 

CCD boundaries usually follow visible features and usually coincide with census tract boundaries. The 

name of each CCD is based on a place, county, or well-known local name that identifies its location. CCDs 

exist where: 

1. There are no legally established MCDs. 

2. The legally established MCDs do not have governmental or administrative purposes. 

3. The boundaries of the MCDs change frequently. 

4. The MCDs are not generally known to the public. 

CCDs exist within the following 20* states: 

Alabama Hawaii Oregon 

Arizona Idaho South Carolina 

California Kentucky Texas 

Colorado Montana Utah 

Delaware Nevada Washington 

Florida New Mexico Wyoming 

Georgia Oklahoma 

* Tennessee, a CCD state in 2000, reverted to a MCD state in 2008. 

Census subareas are statistical subdivisions of boroughs, city and boroughs, municipalities, and census 

areas, all of which are statistical equivalent entities for counties in Alaska. The state of Alaska and the 

Census Bureau cooperatively delineate the census subareas to serve as the statistical equivalents of MCDs. 

Unorganized territories (UTs) are defined by the Census Bureau in nine MCD states where portions of 

counties or equivalent entities are not included in any legally established MCD or incorporated place. The 

Census Bureau recognizes such separate pieces of territory as one or more separate county subdivisions 

for census purposes. It assigns each unorganized territory a descriptive name, followed by the designation 

“UT” and a county subdivision FIPS and ANSI code. The following states have unorganized territories: 

Arkansas Maine North Carolina 

Indiana Minnesota North Dakota 

Iowa New York South Dakota 

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ATTRIBUTES 

The Census Bureau collects and maintains information describing selected attributes and characteristics of 

geographic areas. These attributes are Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) class code, functional 

status, legal/statistical area description, internal point, and name of geographic entities. 

FIPS class codes describe the general characteristics of a geographic area related to its legal or statistical 

status, governmental status, and in some cases relationship to other geographic entities. Class codes 
exist for counties; county subdivisions; subminor civil divisions; places; consolidated cities; Alaska Native 

Regional Corporations; American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas; and American Indian 

tribal subdivisions. 

Functional status describes whether a geographic entity is a functioning governmental unit, has an inactive 

government, is an administrative area without a functioning government, or is a statistical area identified 

and defined solely for tabulation and presentation of statistical data. Functional status codes are: 

A	� Active government providing primary general-purpose functions. 

B	� Active government that is partially consolidated with another government but with separate officials 

providing primary general-purpose functions. 

C	� Active government consolidated with another government with a single set of officials. 

E	� Active government providing special-purpose functions. 

F	� Fictitious entity created to fill the Census Bureau’s geographic hierarchy. 

G	� Active government that is subordinate to another unit of government and thus, not considered a 

functioning government. 

I	� Inactive governmental unit that has the power to provide primary special-purpose functions. 

N	� Nonfunctioning legal entity. 

S Statistical entity. 

Internal point—The Census Bureau calculates an internal point (latitude and longitude coordinates) for 

each geographic entity. For many geographic entities, the internal point is at or near the geographic center 

of the entity. For some irregularly shaped entities (such as those shaped like a crescent), the calculated 

geographic center may be located outside the boundaries of the entity. In such instances, the internal 

point is identified as a point inside the entity boundaries nearest to the calculated geographic center and, 

if possible, within a land polygon. 

Legal/statistical area description (LSAD)—The LSAD describes the particular typology for each geographic 

entity; that is, whether the entity is a borough, city, county, town, or township, among others. For legal 

entities, the LSAD reflects the term that appears in legal documentation pertaining to the entity, such as a 

treaty, charter, legislation, resolution, or ordinance. For statistical entities, the LSAD is the term assigned 

by the Census Bureau or other agency defining the entity. The LSAD code is a two-character field that 

corresponds to a description of the legal or statistical type of entity and identifies whether the LSAD term 

should be capitalized and should precede or follow the name of the geographic entity. Note that the same 

LSAD code is assigned to entities at different levels of the geographic hierarchy when they share the same 

LSAD. For example, the Census Bureau assigns the same LSAD code (“21”) to boroughs in New York and 

Connecticut, although they are county subdivisions in the former and incorporated places in the latter. 

Name—Each geographic entity included in Census Bureau products has a name. For most geographic 

entities, the name is derived from the official legally recognized name, is assigned by local officials 

participating in Census Bureau statistical area programs, or is based on component entities and 

determined according to specified criteria. For legal entities, the name appearing in Census Bureau 

products may be the more commonly used name rather than the name as it appears in legal documents. 

For example, “Virginia” instead of “the Commonwealth of Virginia”; “Baltimore” instead of “City of 

Baltimore.” In some instances, the name for an entity in Census Bureau products will reflect the official 

name as well as a more commonly used name listed parenthetically; i.e., San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA, 

or Bath (Berkeley Springs), WV. For some types of geographic entities, the name reflected in Census Bureau 

products may be the geographic entity code assigned by local officials. For example, a census tract’s name 

is the actual number assigned by local officials, such as 1.01, whereas the census tract code would reflect 

a full four-digit base code and two-digit suffix (for example, for the preceding tract named 1.01, 000101). 

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GEOGRAPHIC NAMES INFORMATION SYSTEM 

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the federal standard for geographic nomenclature. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed the GNIS for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names as the 

official repository of domestic geographic names data; the official vehicle for geographic names use by 

all departments of the federal government; and the source for applying geographic names to federal 

electronic and printed products. The GNIS contains information about physical and cultural geographic 

features of all types in the United States and its territories, current and historical, but not including roads 

and highways. The database holds the federally recognized name of each feature and defines the feature 

location by state, county, USGS topographic map, and geographic coordinates. Other attributes include 

names or spellings other than the official name, feature designations, feature classification, historical and 

descriptive information, and, for some categories, the geometric boundaries. 

GEOGRAPHIC NAMES INFORMATION SYSTEM IDENTIFIER 

The Geographic Names Information System Identifier (GNIS ID) is a variable length, permanent, numeric 

identifier of up to ten digits in length that identifies each entity uniquely within the nation. The GNIS is the 

new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) national standard code for several entity types. Because 

each entity’s GNIS ID is permanent, it will not change if the entity changes its name or if creation of a new 

entity changes the alphabetic sort. (Federal Information Processing Series codes are assigned based on 

the alphabetic sorting of entity names within a state and occasionally require changing codes to maintain 

the alphabetic sort.) The GNIS IDs are assigned sequentially and stored in a right-justified, variable-length, 

numeric field without leading zeroes. The GNIS now contains more than 2.6 million sequential records, 

thus no GNIS ID currently exceeds seven digits. The Census Bureau portrays the GNIS ID in its data 

products as a fixed-width eight-character field with leading zeroes. 

ISLAND AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES 

The Island Areas of the United States are American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands (Northern Mariana Islands), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

The Census Bureau treats the Island Areas as entities that are statistically equivalent to states for data 

presentation purposes; data for the Island Areas, however, are presented separately from data for the 

United States and Puerto Rico. Geographic definitions specific to the Island Areas are shown in the 

appropriate publications and documentation that accompany the data products for the Island Areas. 

Sometimes the Island Areas are referred to as “Island Territories” or “Insular Areas.” For the 1990 and 

previous censuses, the U.S. Census Bureau referred to the entities as “Outlying Areas.” 

Separate from the Island Areas is the term “U.S. Minor Outlying Islands.” The U.S. Minor Outlying Islands 

refers to certain small islands under U.S. jurisdiction in the Caribbean and Pacific: Baker Island, Howland 

Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Palmyra Atoll, and 

Wake Island. These areas usually are not part of standard data products. 

MAF/TIGER DATABASE 

MAF/TIGER is an acronym for the Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and 

Referencing system or database. It is a digital (computer-readable) geographic database that automates 

the mapping and related geographic activities required to support the Census Bureau’s census and 

survey programs. The Census Bureau developed the TIGER® system to automate the geographic support 

processes needed to meet the major geographic needs of the 1990 census: producing cartographic 

products to support data collection and map presentations, providing geographic structure for tabulation 

and dissemination of the collected statistical data, assigning residential and employer addresses to the 

correct geographic location and relating those locations to the geographic entities used for data tabulation, 

and so forth. During the 1990s, the Census Bureau developed an independent Master Address File (MAF) 

to support field operations and allocation of housing units for tabulations. After Census 2000, both the 
address-based MAF and geographic TIGER® databases merged to form MAF/TIGER. The content of the 

MAF/TIGER database is undergoing continuous updates and is made available to the public through a 

variety of TIGER/Line® shapefiles. 

PLACE 

Incorporated Places are those reported to the Census Bureau as legally in existence as of January 1, 

2010, as reported in the latest Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS), under the laws of their respective 

states. An incorporated place is established to provide governmental functions for a concentration of 

people as opposed to a minor civil division, which generally is created to provide services or administer an 

area without regard, necessarily, to population. Places always are within a single state or equivalent entity, 

but may extend across county and county subdivision boundaries. An incorporated place usually is a city, 

town, village, or borough, but can have other legal descriptions. For Census Bureau data tabulation and 

presentation purposes, incorporated places exclude: 

• Boroughs in Alaska (treated as statistical equivalents of counties). 

• Towns in the New England states, New York, and Wisconsin (treated as MCDs). 

• Boroughs in New York (treated as MCDs). 

Census Designated Places (CDPs) are the statistical counterparts of incorporated places, and are 

delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name but are 

not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located. The boundaries usually 

are defined in cooperation with local or tribal officials and generally updated prior to each decennial 

census. These boundaries, which usually coincide with visible features or the boundary of an adjacent 

incorporated place or another legal entity boundary, have no legal status, nor do these places have officials 

elected to serve traditional municipal functions. CDP boundaries may change from one decennial census 

to the next with changes in the settlement pattern; a CDP with the same name as in an earlier census does 

not necessarily have the same boundary. CDPs must be contained within a single state and may not extend 

into an incorporated place. There are no population size requirements for CDPs. 

Hawaii is the only state that has no incorporated places recognized by the Census Bureau. All places 

shown in decennial census data products for Hawaii are CDPs. By agreement with the state of Hawaii, the 

Census Bureau does not show data separately for the city of Honolulu, which is coextensive with Honolulu 

County. In Puerto Rico, which also does not have incorporated places, the Census Bureau recognizes only 

CDPs and refers to them as comunidades or zonas urbanas. Guam also has only CDPs. 

Place Codes are of two types. The five-digit Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) place code is 

assigned based on alphabetical sequence within a state. If place names are duplicated within a state and 

they represent distinctly different areas, a separate code is assigned to each place name alphabetically 

by the primary county in which each place is located, or if both places are in the same county, they are 

assigned alphabetically by their legal descriptions (for example, “city” before “village”). Places also are 

assigned an eight-digit National Standard (ANSI) code. 

Dependent and Independent Places refers to the relationship of places to the county subdivisions. 

Depending on the state, incorporated places are either dependent within, or independent of, county 

subdivisions, or there is a mixture of dependent and independent places in the state and in a county. 

Dependent places are part of the county subdivision; the county subdivision code of the place is the same 

as that of the underlying county subdivision(s) but is different from the place code. Independent places 

are not part of any minor civil division (MCD) and serve as primary county subdivisions. The independent 

place FIPS code usually is the same as that used for the MCD for the place. The only exception is if the 

place is independent of the MCDs in a state (Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, and 

Virginia) in which the FIPS MCD codes are in the 90000 range. Then, the FIPS MCD and FIPS place codes 

will differ. CDPs always are dependent within county subdivisions and all places are dependent within 

statistical county subdivisions. 

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Consolidated City (Balance) Portions refer to the areas of a consolidated city not included in another 

separately incorporated place. For example, Butte-Silver Bow, MT, is a consolidated city (former Butte city 

and Silver Bow County) that includes the separately incorporated municipality of Walkerville city. The area 

of the consolidated city that is not in Walkerville city is assigned to Butte-Silver Bow (balance). The name 

of the area of a consolidated city not specifically within a separately incorporated place always includes 

the “(balance)” identifier. Balance portions of consolidated cities are included with other places in Census 

Bureau products. 

POPULATION AND HOUSING UNIT DENSITY 

Population and housing unit density are computed by dividing the total population or number of housing 

units within a geographic entity by the land area of that entity measured in square miles or in square 

kilometers. Density is expressed as “population per square mile (kilometer)” or “housing units per square 

mile (kilometer).” 

PUBLIC USE MICRODATA AREAS 

Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are geographic areas for which the Census Bureau provides 

selected extracts of raw data from a small sample of census records that are screened to protect 

confidentiality. These extracts are referred to as public use microdata sample (PUMS) files. 

For the 2010 Census, each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and some Island Area participants 

delineated PUMAs for use in presenting PUMS data based on a 5 percent sample of decennial census or 

American Community Survey data. These areas are required to contain at least 100,000 people. This is 

different from Census 2000 when two types of PUMAs were defined: a 5 percent PUMA as for 2010 and an 

additional super-PUMA designed to provide a 1 percent sample. The PUMAs are identified by a five-digit 

census code unique within state. 

PUERTO RICO 

The Census Bureau treats the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as the statistical equivalent of a state for data 

presentation purposes. 

Municipio 

The primary legal divisions of Puerto Rico are termed “municipios.” For data presentation purposes, the 

Census Bureau treats a municipio as the equivalent of a county in the United States. 

Barrio, Barrio-Pueblo, and Subbarrio 

The Census Bureau recognizes barrios and barrios-pueblo as the primary legal divisions of municipios. 

These entities are similar to the minor civil divisions (MCDs) used for reporting data in 29 states of the 

United States. Subbarrios in 23 municipios are the primary legal subdivisions of the barrios-pueblo and 

some barrios. The Census Bureau presents the same types of statistical data for these subminor civil 

divisions (sub-MCDs) as it does for the barrios and barrios-pueblo. (There is no geographic entity in the 

United States equivalent to the subbarrio.) 

Zona Urbana and Comunidad 

There are no incorporated places in Puerto Rico; instead, the Census Bureau provides data for two types of 

census designated places (CDPs): zonas urbanas, representing the governmental center of each municipio, 

and comunidades, representing other settlements. There are no minimum population size requirements for 

zonas urbanas and comunidades. 

Some types of geographic entities do not apply in Puerto Rico. For instance, Puerto Rico is not in any 

census region or census division (see also “Congressional District”). 
SCHOOL DISTRICTS (ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY, AND UNIFIED) 

School Districts are geographic entities within which state, county, local officials, the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, or the U.S. Department of Defense provide public educational services for the area’s residents. The 

Census Bureau obtains the boundaries, names, local education agency codes, and school district levels 

for school districts from state and local school officials for the primary purpose of providing the U.S. 

Department of Education with estimates of the number of children “at risk” within each school district, 

county, and state. This information serves as the basis for the Department of Education to determine the 

annual allocation of Title I funding to states and school districts. 

The Census Bureau tabulates data for three types of school districts: elementary, secondary, and unified. 

Each school district is assigned a five-digit code that is unique within state. School district codes are 

the local education agency number assigned by the Department of Education and are not necessarily in 

alphabetical order by school district name. 

The elementary school districts provide education to the lower grade/age levels and the secondary school 

districts provide education to the upper grade/age levels. Unified school districts provide education to 

children of all school ages in their service areas. In general, where there is a unified school district, no 

elementary or secondary school district exists; and where there is an elementary school district, the 

secondary school district may or may not exist. 

The Census Bureau’s representation of school districts in various data products is based both on the grade 

range that a school district operates and also the grade range for which the school district is financially 

responsible. For example, a school district is defined as an elementary school district if its operational 

grade range is less than the full kindergarten through 12 or prekindergarten through 12 grade range (for 

example, K–6 or pre-K–8). These elementary school districts do not provide direct educational services 

for grades 7–12, 9–12, or similar ranges. Some elementary school districts are financially responsible 

for the education of all school-aged children within their service areas and rely on other school districts 

to provide service for those grade ranges that are not operated by these elementary school districts. 

In these situations, in order to allocate all school-aged children to these school districts, the secondary 

school district code field is blank. For elementary school districts where the operational grade range and 

financially responsible grade range are the same, the secondary school district code field will contain a 

secondary school district code. There are no situations where an elementary school district does not exist 

and a secondary school district exists in Census Bureau records. 

STATE OR STATISTICALLY EQUIVALENT ENTITY 

States and Equivalent Entities are the primary governmental divisions of the United States. In addition 

to the 50 states, the Census Bureau treats the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as the statistical 

equivalents of states for the purpose of data presentation. 

STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS (UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS) 

State Legislative Districts (SLDs) are the areas from which members are elected to state legislatures. 

The Census Bureau first reported data for SLDs as part of the 2000 Public Law (P.L.) 94-171 Redistricting 

Data File. 

Current SLDs (2010 Election Cycle)—States participating in Phase 1 of the 2010 Census Redistricting 

Data Program voluntarily provided the Census Bureau with the 2006 election cycle boundaries, codes, 

and, in some cases, names for their SLDs. All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, 

participated in Phase 1, State Legislative District Project (SLDP) of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data 

Program. States subsequently provided legal changes to those plans through the Redistricting Data Office 

and/or corrections as part of Phase 2 of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program, as needed. 

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The SLDs embody the upper (senate—SLDU) and lower (house—SLDL) chambers of the state legislature. 

Nebraska has a unicameral legislature and the District of Columbia has a single council, both of which the 

Census Bureau treats as upper-chamber legislative areas for the purpose of data presentation. A unique 

three-character census code, identified by state participants, is assigned to each SLD within a state. In 

Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, and Puerto Rico, state 

officials did not define the SLDs to cover all of the state or state equivalent area (usually bodies of water). 

In these areas with no SLDs defined, the code “ZZZ” has been assigned, which is treated within state as a 

single SLD for purposes of data presentation. Maryland also has areas with no SLDs defined; in Maryland, 

these areas are coded with an initial “Z” by county or equivalent and treated as a unique SLD by county 

or equivalent. In Nebraska and the District of Columbia, the Census Bureau assigned the code 999 to 

represent a single SLDL where legally none exist. 

SLD Names—The Census Bureau first reported names for SLDs as part of Phase 1 of the 2010 Census 

Redistricting Data Program. The SLD names with their translated legal/statistical area description are 

associated only with the current SLDs. Not all states provided names for their SLDs, therefore the code (or 

number) also serves as the name. 

TRIBAL BLOCK GROUP 

The 2010 tribal block group concept and criteria are completely different from those used in 2000. For 

the Census 2000, tribal block groups were the standard state-county-census tract-block group areas 

retabulated under an American Indian area hierarchy; that is, American Indian area-tribal census tracttribal block group. Tribal block groups only were applicable to legal federally recognized American Indian 

reservation and off-reservation trust land areas. Tribal block groups were defined to provide statistically 

significant sample data for small areas within American Indian areas, particularly those American Indian 

areas that crossed state or county boundaries where these boundaries were not meaningful for statistical 

purposes. The 2000 tribal block groups used the block group numbers and comprised all blocks beginning 

with a single number. 

The 2010 tribal block groups are defined independently of the standard county-based block group 

delineation. For federally recognized American Indian tribes with reservations or off-reservation trust land 

and a population less than 1,200, a single tribal block group is defined. Tribal participants in qualifying 

areas with a population greater than 1,200 could define additional block groups within their reservation 

and/or off-reservation trust land without regard to the standard block group configuration. 

Tribal block groups will contain blocks beginning with the same number as the standard county-based 

block group and could contain seemingly duplicate block numbers. To better identify and differentiate 

tribal block groups from county-based block groups, tribal block groups use the letter range A through K 

(except “I,” which could be confused with a number “1”) to identify and code the tribal block group. Tribal 

block groups nest within tribal census tract. 

TRIBAL CENSUS TRACT 

The 2010 tribal census tract concept and criteria are completely different from those used in 2000. Tribal 

census tracts (also known as tribal tracts) in 2000 were the standard state-county-census tract areas 

retabulated under an American Indian area hierarchy; that is, American Indian area-tribal census tract. 

Federally recognized tribes with a reservation or off-reservation trust land delineated tribal census tracts 

working with local census tract participants to produce a single census tract plan. Tribal census tracts were 

designed to be permanent statistical divisions of American Indian areas for the presentation of comparable 

data between censuses, particularly for those American Indian areas that crossed state or county 

boundaries where these boundaries were not meaningful for statistical purposes. 

For 2010, tribal census tracts are defined independently of the standard county-based tract delineation. 

For federally recognized American Indian tribes with reservations or off-reservation trust land and a 
population less than 2,400, a single tribal census tract is defined. Qualifying areas with a population 

greater than 2,400 could define additional tribal census tracts within their area. 

In 2000, the tract number range of 9400 through 9499 was reserved for tribal census tracts and was 

required for those tribal census tracts that crossed state or county boundaries. Not all tribal census tracts 

in 2000, however, used this range. For 2010, tribal census tract codes will be six characters long with a 

leading “T” alphabetic character followed by five numeric codes having an implied decimal between the 

fourth and fifth character; for example, T01000, which translates as tribal census tract 10. Tribal block 

groups will nest within tribal census tract. Since individual blocks are defined within the standard statecounty-census tract hierarchy, a tribal census tract can contain seemingly duplicate block numbers, thus 

tribal census tracts cannot be used to uniquely identify census blocks. 

UNITED STATES 

The United States consists of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

URBAN AND RURAL 

For the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau classified as urban all territory, population, and housing units 

located within urbanized areas (UAs) and urban clusters (UCs), both defined using the same criteria. The 

Census Bureau delineates UA and UC boundaries that represent densely developed territory, encompassing 

residential, commercial, and other nonresidential urban land uses. In general, this territory consists of 

areas of high population density and urban land use resulting in a representation of the “urban footprint.” 

Rural consists of all territory, population, and housing units located outside UAs and UCs. 

For the 2010 Census, the urban and rural classification was applied to the 50 states, the District of 

Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 

the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Urbanized Areas (UAs)—An urbanized area consists of densely developed territory that contains 50,000 

or more people. The Census Bureau delineates UAs to provide a better separation of urban and rural 

territory, population, and housing in the vicinity of large places. 

Urban Clusters (UCs)—An urban cluster consists of densely developed territory that has at least 2,500 

people but fewer than 50,000 people. The Census Bureau first introduced the UC concept for Census 2000 

to provide a more consistent and accurate measure of urban population, housing, and territory throughout 

the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. 

Urban Area Titles and Codes—The title of each UA and UC may contain up to three incorporated place 

or census designated place (CDP) names and will include the two-letter U.S. Postal Service abbreviation 

for each state or statistically equivalent entity into which the UA or UC extends. However, if the UA or UC 

does not contain an incorporated place or CDP, the urban area title will include the single name of a minor 

civil division or populated place recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information 

System. 

Each UC and UA is assigned a five-digit numeric census code based on a national alphabetical sequence of 

all urban area names. A separate flag is included in data tabulation files to differentiate between UAs and 

UCs. In printed reports, this differentiation is included in the name. 

Central Place—The 2010 Census urban areas will no longer include one or more designated central 

places. In preceding censuses, the central place included all incorporated or census designated places 

included in the urban area title, plus additional incorporated areas that met a population size criterion. The 

concept of central place for urban areas no longer is being applied. 

Relationship to Other Geographic Entities—Geographic entities, such as metropolitan areas, counties, 

minor civil divisions, places, and census tracts, often contain both urban and rural territory, population, 

and housing units. 

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URBAN GROWTH AREAS 

Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) are legally defined entities in Oregon and Washington that the Census 

Bureau includes in the MAF/TIGER database in agreement with the states. UGAs, which are defined around 

incorporated places, are used to regulate urban growth. UGA boundaries, which need not follow visible 

features, are delineated cooperatively by state and local officials and then confirmed in state law. UGAs are 

a pilot project first defined only in Oregon for Census 2000. Each UGA is identified by a five-digit numeric 

census code, usually the same as the five-digit Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code associated 

with the incorporated place for which the UGA is named. 

VOTING DISTRICTS 

Voting Districts (VTDs) refer to the generic name for geographic entities, such as precincts, wards, 

and election districts, established by state governments for the purpose of conducting elections. States 

voluntarily participating in Phase 2 of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program provided the Census 

Bureau with boundaries, codes, and names for their VTDs. Each VTD is identified by a one-to-six-character 

alphanumeric census code that is unique within county. The code “ZZZZZZ” identifies a portion of counties 

(usually bodies of water) for which no VTDs were identified. For the 2010 Census, only Rhode Island did 

not participate in Phase 2 (the Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project) of the 2010 Census 

Redistricting Data Program. Kentucky chose not to provide VTDs as part of their participation in Phase 2, 

and the states of Montana and Oregon provided VTDs for some counties. Therefore, for 2010 Census data 

products, no VTDs exist in select counties in Montana and Oregon or for the states of Rhode Island and 

Kentucky in their entirety. Participating states often submitted VTDs conforming to the feature network 

in the MAF/TIGER database rather than the complete legal boundary of the VTD. If requested by the 

participating state, the Census Bureau identified the VTDs that represent an actual voting district with an “A” 

in the voting district indicator field. Where a participating state indicated that the VTD has been modified to 

follow existing features, the VTD is a pseudo-VTD, and the voting district indicator contains “P.” 

ZIP CODE TABULATION AREAS 

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are approximate area representations of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) 

five-digit ZIP Code service areas that the Census Bureau creates using whole blocks to present statistical 

data from censuses and surveys. The Census Bureau defines ZCTAs by allocating each block that contains 

addresses to a single ZCTA, usually to the ZCTA that reflects the most frequently occurring ZIP Code 

for the addresses within that tabulation block. Blocks that do not contain addresses but are completely 

surrounded by a single ZCTA (enclaves) are assigned to the surrounding ZCTA; those surrounded by 

multiple ZCTAs will be added to a single ZCTA based on limited buffering performed between multiple 

ZCTAs. The Census Bureau identifies five-digit ZCTAs using a five-character numeric code that represents 

the most frequently occurring USPS ZIP Code within that ZCTA, and this code may contain leading zeros. 

There are significant changes to the 2010 ZCTA delineation from that used in 2000. Coverage was 

extended to include the Island Areas for 2010 so that the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas 

have ZCTAs. Unlike 2000, when areas that could not be assigned to a ZCTA were given a generic code 

ending in “XX” (land area) or “HH” (water area), for 2010 there is no universal coverage by ZCTAs, and 

only legitimate five-digit areas are defined. The 2010 ZCTAs will better represent the actual Zip Code 

service areas because the Census Bureau initiated a process before creation of 2010 blocks to add block 

boundaries that split polygons with large numbers of addresses using different Zip Codes. 

Data users should not use ZCTAs to identify the official USPS ZIP Code for mail delivery. The USPS makes 

periodic changes to ZIP Codes to support more efficient mail delivery. The ZCTAs process used primarily 

residential addresses and was biased towards Zip Codes used for city-style mail delivery, thus there may 

be Zip Codes that are primarily nonresidential or boxes only that may not have a corresponding ZCTA. 
Figure A-1. 

Standard Hierarchy of Census Geographic Entities 

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Hierarchy of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas

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Figure A-2. 

Hierarchy of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas 

American Indian Areas (Federal)/ 

Off-Reservation Trust Lands 

States Tribal Designated Statistical Areas 

Tribal Census Tracts Oklahoma Tribal 

Statistical Areas 

Alaska Native Regional Corporations / 

Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas / 

Hawaiian Home Lands 

American Indian Reservations (state) / 

State Designated Tribal Statistical Areas 

Tribal Block Groups Tribal Subdivisions 

C E N S U S B L O C K S 
Figure A-3. 

Census Regions, Census Divisions, and Their Constituent States 

Northeast Region 

New England Division: 

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut 

Middle Atlantic Division: 

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania 

Midwest Region 

East North Central Division: 

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin 

West North Central Division: 

Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas 

South Region 

South Atlantic Division: 

Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 

Georgia, Florida 

East South Central Division: 

Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi 

West South Central Division: 

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas 

West Region 

Mountain Division: 

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada 

Pacific Division: 

Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii 

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