County
Contents
A census county is the primary legal division of most states for which the U.S. Census Bureau collects and presents data. While the term "county" is used for most of the country, there are some legally equivalent entities that are also counted as counties by the Census Bureau.
Key characteristics of a census county:
| • | Legal Division: In most states, a county is a significant administrative division with its own government. It's established by state law and has specific powers, such as providing services, managing courts, and collecting taxes for both incorporated (cities, towns) and unincorporated areas within its boundaries. |
| • | County Equivalents: The Census Bureau also recognizes other legal or statistical entities as "county equivalents" in states where the standard county structure doesn't exist. Examples include: |
| o | Parishes in Louisiana. |
| o | Boroughs and census areas in Alaska. |
| o | Municipios in Puerto Rico. |
| o | Independent cities that are not part of any county, such as Baltimore, Maryland, and the 38 independent cities in Virginia. |
| • | Statistical Units: In a few states, like Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, some or all counties have no government of their own. They continue to exist as legal entities but are used primarily by the state for administrative purposes and by the Census Bureau for statistical analysis. |
In summary, a census county is a fundamental geographic unit used by the U.S. Census Bureau to organize and report data, encompassing both traditional counties with their own governments and other legally or statistically equivalent entities across the country.