Census Tracts
Contents
A census tract is a small, relatively permanent statistical subdivision of a county or an equivalent entity, established by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purpose of collecting and presenting decennial census data and other statistical information.
Here are the key characteristics of census tracts:
| • | Population Size: A census tract is designed to have a population between 1,200 and 8,000 people, with an optimal size of about 4,000 people. |
| • | Boundaries: Census tract boundaries are generally drawn to follow visible features like roads, rivers, and railroad tracks. They are also designed to be relatively stable over time to facilitate historical comparisons of data. However, if a tract's population grows significantly, it may be split into two or more new tracts. |
| • | Homogeneity: When they are first delineated, census tracts are designed to be relatively homogeneous with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions. This allows for more meaningful analysis of data at a "neighborhood" level. |
| • | Hierarchical Structure: Census tracts are part of the hierarchical structure of census geography. They are subdivisions of counties, and in turn, are made up of smaller units called census block groups and census blocks. |
| • | Data Availability: Census tracts are a crucial unit for data dissemination. While some basic data is available at the census block level, the Census Bureau's detailed data from the American Community Survey (ACS) is often released at the census tract level. This makes them a vital tool for researchers, urban planners, public health officials, and policymakers. |
| • | Identification: Each census tract has a unique 11-digit code that is a combination of the state, county, and tract codes. |