Geography
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Reference
The what, why, and how of Census geography. What are the definitions of geographic terms, why are geographic areas defined, and how we define geographic areas. Find reference information such as FIPS and ANSI codes, geographic boundary change notes, significant county boundary changes, and county adjacency information.
Definitions
Terms & Concepts
Definitions of geographic terms & concepts used in demographic and housing data products
Hierarchy Diagrams
Graphical representations of how geographic areas relate to each other
Geographic Areas Reference Manual
Detailed explanations of the basic geographic entities from the 1990 Census
Geographic Concepts
Detailed current and historical definitions, delineation information, lists and data files, and links to other products related to selected types of geography
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
Public Use Microdata Areas
Urban and Rural Classification
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
Reference
Centers of Population
Coordinates for the centers of population from the decennial census, including historical censuses.
Change Notes
Information about selected geographic changes to incorporated places, census designated places, county subdivisions, counties and equivalent areas, and American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian areas
County Adjacency File
List of counties that share borders
Federal Register Notices
List of current and previous Federal Register notices related to census geography
Gazetteer Files
Lists of geographic entities, such as county, place, and census tracts, with information on name, geographic code, population, housing unit counts, and latitude/longitude of the internal point
Geographic Codes
Geographic code look-ups and explanations of the various types of geographic codes and identifiers - ANSI/FIPS, class, functional status, GNIS, LSAD and MTFCC
Guide to State and Local Census Geography
Information about the census geography of each state including a brief history of the state's inclusion in the decennial census
Incorporations, Mergers, Consolidations, and Disincorporations
Lists of incorporations, mergers, consolidations, and disincorporations submitted to the Census Bureau through the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
Resources for Mapping Census Data
List of interactive mapping applications, other federal government resources, and external national resources.
State Area Measurements
Land, water and total area measurements for the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as of the 2010 Census
Substantial County Changes
Listing of county boundary changes by decade that affect at least 200 people or involve a large swap of territory
