|
 |
Glossary
Note:
Many of the following definitions are
taken from the glossary at the U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder website
(external link). |
A B C D E F
G H I J
K L M
N O P Q
R S T
U V W X Y Z |
 B
|
block
see
census block |
|
block
group
see
census block group
|
C |
census
block
A subdivision
of a census tract (or,
prior to 2000, a block numbering
area), a block
is the smallest geographic unit for
which
the Census Bureau tabulates 100-percent
data. Many blocks correspond to individual
city blocks bounded by streets, but
blocks -- especially in rural areas
-- may include many square miles
and may have some boundaries that
are
not streets. The Census Bureau established
blocks covering the entire nation
for
the first time in 1990. Previous
censuses back to 1940 had blocks established
only for part of the nation. Over
8
million blocks are identified for
Census 2000.
See also: census
block group
Source:
U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder (external
link): Glossary |
|
census
block group
A subdivision of a census
tract (or, prior to 2000, a
block numbering area), a block
group is the smallest geographic
unit for which the Census Bureau
tabulates sample data. A block
group consists of all the blocks within
a census tract with the same beginning
number. Example: block group 3
consists of all blocks within a
2000 census tract numbering from
3000 to 3999. In 1990, block group
3 consisted of all blocks numbered
from 301 to 399Z.
Source:
U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder (external
link): Glossary
|
|
CDP
see census
designated place
|
|
census
designated place (CDP)
A statistical entity defined for
each decennial census according to
Census Bureau guidelines, comprising
a densely
settled concentration of population
that is not within an incorporated
place,
but is locally identified by a name.
CDPs are delineated cooperatively by
state and local officials and the Census
Bureau, following Census Bureau guidelines.
Beginning with Census 2000 there are
no size limits.
Source:
U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder (external
link): Glossary |
|
census
place
An informal term that
refers to one of the census-defined
or locally defined
geographic areas mapped in Census Viewer.
|
|
census
tract
A small, relatively permanent
statistical subdivision of a county
delineated by a local committee of
census data users for the purpose of
presenting data. Census tract boundaries
normally follow visible features, but
may follow governmental unit boundaries
and other non-visible features in some
instances; they always nest within
counties. Designed to be relatively
homogeneous units with respect to population
characteristics, economic status, and
living conditions at the time of establishment,
census tracts average about 4,000 inhabitants.
They may be split by any sub-county
geographic entity.
See also: census
block group, census
block
Source:
U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder (external
link): Glossary |
|
city
A type of incorporated
place in 49 states and the District
of Columbia.
In 23 states and the District of Columbia,
some or all cities are not part of
any minor civil division
(MCD), and
the Census Bureau also treats these
as county subdivisions, statistically
equivalent to MCDs.
Source:
U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder (external
link): Glossary |
H |
household
A household includes all of
the people who occupy a house, an apartment,
a mobile home, a group of rooms, or
a single room occupied as separate
living
quarters. The occupants may be a single
family, one person living alone, two
or more families living together, or
any other group of related or unrelated
people who share living quarters. |
I |
income
Income statistics cover calendar
year 1999. "Total income" is the sum of the amounts reported separately for wage or salary income; net self-employment income; interest, dividends, or net rental or royalty income or income from estates and trusts; social security or railroad retirement income; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); public assistance or welfare payments; retirement, survivor, or disability pensions; and all other income. Receipts from the following sources are not included as income: capital gains, money received from the sale of property (unless the recipient was engaged in the business of selling such property); the value of income "in kind" from food stamps, public housing subsidies, medical care, employer contributions for individuals, etc.; withdrawal of bank deposits; money borrowed; tax refunds; exchange of money between relatives living in the same household; and gifts and lump-sum inheritances, insurance payments, and other types of lump-sum receipts. "Household income" includes
the income of the householder and all
other individuals 15 years old and
over in the household, whether they
are related to the householder or not.
Income for individuals is obtained
by summing all types of income for
each person 15 years old and over. |
M |
median
The middle value
in a set of observations ordered
by size. For example, the median
age is
calculated by ranking the ages of
all persons in the population and
taking
the age of the person in the middle.
The median is not skewed by outlying—or
extreme—values as the average age
would be. |
|
minor
civil division (MCD)
A primary governmental and/or administrative
subdivision of a county, such as
a township, precinct, or magisterial
district. MCDs exist in 28 states
and the District of Columbia. In
20 states, all or many MCD's are
general-purpose governmental units:
Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,
Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, North Dakota,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Most of these MCD's are legally designated
as towns or townships.
See also: city
Source:
U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder (external
link): Glossary |
P |
population
sub-area (SA)
SA in Census Viewer
indicates one of twelve groupings
of census
tracts that the city of Seattle has defined
to facilitate comparisons of census data
between different parts of the city.
See
also:
population
sub-areas: Census 2000 Data for Locally
Defined Areas (external link at www.seattle.gov) |
R |
race
and Hispanic ethnicity data
The 2000 U.S. Census asked respondents
to identify the race of all members
of the household by choosing one
or more race from a list of six categories:
1) White, 2) Black or African American,
3) American Indian and Alaska Native,
4) Asian, 5) Native Hawaiian and
Other
Pacific Islander, and 6) Other. For
this website, Asian has been combined
with Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.
Figures are not reported for Other
race. All people that chose more
than one of these races are grouped
together
in the Multi-Racial category. |
S |
SA
see population
sub-area
|
T |
town
A type of
minor civil division in the New
England states, New York, and Wisconsin
and
a type of incorporated place in
30 states and the Virgin Islands
of
the United States.
Source:
U.S.
Census Bureau American FactFinder (external
link): Glossary |
|
tract
see census
tract |
|
Start Census Viewer | Census
Viewer
Main Page |
|
About Census
Viewer
| Data Definitions
| Glossary | Contact
Us |
| Revised
June 15, 2005 |
|
