About Census Summary Levels

The U.S. Census Bureau keeps track of geographic boundaries for tabulation purposes. In addition to political boundaries such as states, counties, and cities, the Census Bureau also creates census geography so that census data can be tabulated to smaller units. Summary levels (from smallest to largest) include:

Census Blocks: Blocks are the smallest entity for which the Census Bureau collects and tabulates census information (SF 1 only). There are about 8.5 million blocks nationwide. (Available separately from Caliper)
Block Groups: Block Groups are a combination of census blocks and are also a subdivision of census tracts. Block groups generally contain between 600 and 3000 people and are made up of on average 40 census blocks. There are about 211,000 block groups nationwide. (Available separately from Caliper)
Census Tracts: Tracts are a small, relatively permanent statistical subdivision of a county delineated by a local committee of census data users for the purpose of presenting census data. Census tract boundaries normally follow visible features, but may follow governmental unit boundaries and other non-visible features, and they always nest within counties. Census tracts are designed to be relatively homogenous units with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions at the time the users established them. They usually contain 1,500 to 8,000 people and are made up of on average about four block groups. There are about 66,000 tracts nationwide. (Included with Maptitude and TransCAD)
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas: ZCTAs are statistical geographic entities that approximate the delivery area for a U.S. Postal Service 5-digit or 3-digit ZIP Code. ZCTAs are made up of census blocks that have the same predominant ZIP Code associated with the addresses in the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File. ZCTAs do not precisely depict ZIP Code delivery areas, and do not include all ZIP Codes used for mail delivery such as those for post office boxes or individual businesses. (Included with Maptitude and TransCAD)
Census Places: Places include census designated places, consolidated cities, and incorporated places. A Census designated place is a settled concentration of population that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located. Consolidated cities are where an incorporated place and its county or minor civil division (MCD) have merged. Incorporated places are those reported to the U.S. Census Bureau as legally in existence on January 1, 2000, under the laws of their respective states, as cities, boroughs, towns, and villages, with the following exceptions: the towns in the New England states, New York, and Wisconsin, and the boroughs in New York are recognized as minor civil divisions for statistical purposes; the boroughs in Alaska are county equivalents for decennial census statistical presentation purposes. In four states (Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia), there are one or more incorporated places known as "independent cities" that are primary divisions of a state and legally not part of any county. For statistical purposes, the U.S. Census Bureau may treat an independent city as a county equivalent, county subdivision, and place. (Included with Maptitude and TransCAD)
County Subdivisions: County subdivisions are the primary divisions of counties for the reporting of decennial census data. They include minor civil divisions (MCDs are the primary governmental or administrative divisions of a county such as boroughs, towns, and townships), census county divisions (CCDs were established by the Census Bureau in 21 states where there are no legally established MCDs), census subareas, and unorganized territories. (Available separately from Caliper)
Counties: Counties are the primary legal divisions of most states. In Louisiana, these divisions are known as "parishes." In Alaska, which has no counties, the statistically equivalent entities are census areas, city and boroughs (Juneau City and Borough) a municipality (Anchorage), and organized boroughs. The entire District of Columbia is considered equivalent to a county for statistical purposes. The primary legal divisions of Puerto Rico are termed "municipios" and are treated by the U.S. Census Bureau, for statistical purposes, as the equivalent of a county in the United States. (Included with Maptitude and TransCAD)
Metropolitan Statistical Areas: MSAs consist of one or more central counties, together with adjacent counties that have a high degree of economic and social integration. Metropolitan areas must contain either a place with a minimum population of 50,000 or a U.S. Census Bureau-defined urbanized area and a total population of at least 100,000 (75,000 in New England). Outlying counties included in a metropolitan area must have a specified level of commuting to the central counties and also must meet certain standards regarding metropolitan character, such as population density, urban population, and population growth. In New England, metropolitan areas consist of groupings of cities and towns rather than whole counties. (Included with Maptitude and TransCAD)
States: States are the primary governmental divisions of the United States. The District of Columbia is treated as a statistical equivalent of a state for decennial census purposes, as are Puerto Rico and the Island Areas: American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth if the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. (Included with Maptitude and TransCAD)

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Other summary levels available from Caliper are:

Congressional Districts: Congressional districts are the 435 areas from which members are elected to the U.S. House of Represetatives.   (Available separately from Caliper)

State Legislative Districts: State legislative districts are the areas from which members are elected to upper (senate) or lower (house) chambers of the state legislatures.   (Available separately from Caliper)

Voting Districts: Voting districts are areas, such as precincts, wards, and election districts, established by state, local, and tribal governments for the purpose of conducting elections. (Available separately from Caliper)

Urbanized Areas and Urban Clusters: An urbanized area consists of densely settled territory that contains 50,000 or more people. An urbanized area may contain both place and non-place territory. The U.S. Census Bureau delineates urbanized areas to provide a better separation of urban and rural territory, population, and housing in the vicinity of large places. (Included with TransCAD)

School Districts School districts are geographic entities within which state, county, or local government officials provide public educational services for the area's residents. (Available separately from Caliper)

Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs) A traffic analysis zone is a special area delineated by state and/or local transportation officials for tabulating traffic-related data and usually consists of one or more census blocks, block groups, or census tracts. (Included with TransCAD)