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 and counties, the Census Bureau also creates smaller levels of geography so that data can be tabulated to smaller units. The smallest units are census blocks, followed by block groups and census tracts. The diagram illustrates the hierarchical relationship of these smaller census summary levels.

are more detailed descriptions for all of the summary levels for which the Census Bureau tabulates data. All of these census summary levels are available for Caliper mapping software products and include 2020 Census data and most include the latest American Community Survey (ACS) data. Caliper also offers 1990 Census data, 2000 Census data, and 2010 Census data.

Census Summary Levels Diagram

The following summary levels have a hierarchical relationship (reflected in their summary level codes) and are listed from smallest to largest:

What Are Blocks?

Blocks are the smallest entity for which the Census Bureau collects and tabulates census information. There are about 8 million census blocks nationwide as of the 2020 Census. In cities, a census block is typically equivalent to a city block bounded by streets on all sides. In rural areas, however, a census block may be larger and bounded by streets, streams, railroad tracks, city limits, or county boundaries.
Available separately from Caliper
 

Census Block Summary Level Sample Map

What Are Block Groups?

The Block Groups layer contains a nationwide area database with 242,180 Census Block Groups with Census and American Community Survey (ACS) demographic data. 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.
Available separately from Caliper
 

Census Block Group Summary Level Sample Map

What Are 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 1,200 to 8,000 people and are made up of on average about four block groups. There are about 85,193 tracts nationwide as of the 2020 Census. The census tract layer included with Maptitude is ideal for demographic mapping and for estimating the demographics of territories or around sites.
Included with Maptitude and TransCAD
 

Census Tract Summary Level Sample Map

What Are 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.
Included with Maptitude and TransCAD
 

County Subdivision Summary Level Sample Map

What Are 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. In Connecticut, which has had no county governments since 1959, the statistically equivalent entities are Council of Government (COGs)/planning regions. 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. The County layer included with Maptitude is ideal for demographic mapping of county data.
Included with Maptitude and TransCAD
 

County Summary Level Sample Map

What Are 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
 

State Summary Level Sample Map

In addition to the hierarchical summary levels listed above, there are a number of additional summary levels for which the Census Bureau tabulates data. These include:

What Are 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, 2020, 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
 

Census Place Sample Map

What Are Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and Micropolitan Statistical Areas?

Caliper's Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA) layer contains Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are a geographic entity based on a county or a group of counties* with at least one urbanized area with a population of at least 50,000 and adjacent counties with economic ties to the central area. CBSAs are defined by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), with irregular updates every few years.

Micropolitan Statistical Areas are another type of CBSA defined by OMB in a similar fashion to MSAs, but for smaller populations of between 10,000 to 49,999. Caliper provides a separate layer for Micropolitan Statistical Areas. Often OMB and the US Census Bureau treat MSAs and Micropolitan SAs together as a single summary level.

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas are not legally incorporated nor are they legal administrative divisions.

Nesting and Relationships:

  • Metropolitan Statistical Areas:
    • Only larger MSAs may be split into two or more CBSA Divisions (CBSADivs)
    • CBSAs do not overlap
  • Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs):
    • Groupings of CBSAs
    • Do not nest within CBSAs or CBSADivs
  • Census codes:
    • CBSA, CSA, and CBSADiv codes are unique and do not relate to each other
    • County codes are separate and do not build upon each other

Included with Maptitude and TransCAD
 

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Sample Map

What Are Congressional Districts?

Congressional districts are the 435 areas from which members are elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Congressional District Sample Map

What Are State Legislative Districts?

State legislative districts are the areas from which members are elected to upper (senate) or lower (house/assembly) chambers of the state legislatures.  
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State Legislative District Sample Map

What Are 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
 

Voting District Sample Map

What Are School Districts?

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
 

School District Sample Map

What Are 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

What Are Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs)?

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

What Are ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs)?

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are geographic areas that the Census Bureau creates from Census Blocks. Each Census Block is part of one distinct ZCTA based on the ZIP Code associated with the most addresses within that block. The Census Bureau creates these once every 10 years as USPS ZIP Code area approximations. They are used for publishing decennial and ACS census data because ZIP Codes do not nest within Census geography. Maptitude ships with the most accurate postal ZIP Code boundaries available. Maptitude does not use ZCTAs (ZIP Code Tabulation Areas) because these are a poor and inaccurate approximation of postal boundaries that are unsuitable for use in business mapping analysis.

* The St. Louis MO-IL MSA also includes the portion of Sullivan MO in Crawford County, since the city spans two counties. The MSAs in Connecticut are now based on the Planning Regions that replaced Counties for statistical purposes.