Why Are My Census Tracts Not Mapping Correctly?

You can ensure that your Census Tracts are configured properly using Census mapping software.

You may have data based on 2010 Census Tracts and so what you are seeing is a standard discrepancy between the 2010 Tract boundaries and the Maptitude 2020 data. Each decade the Census Bureau conducts its decennial 100% count of population for legislative apportionment. In order to do this work, they develop census tracts (hence the word Census in the name) as a tabulation layer. While census tracts are the most stable census geography from decade to decade, the tract codes and boundaries can and do change. You will find a detailed and informative discussion on this in the following article.

The tracts in your data are using 2010 delineations rather than the now current 2020 delineations. Those tracts that are showings as “voids” do not exist in the 2020 geography. However, the 2010 geography is still present so you can use that to map your 2010 records instead.

Use my earlier version of the USA Tracts

If you have an earlier version of Maptitude, the easiest way to map your tract records is simply by using an earlier version of the country package data:

  1. Choose File>New Workspace…
  2. Click the Change Country button.
  3. Choose the USA country package for 2020 or older.

Add 2010 Tracts to a map

You can contact us at sales@caliper.com if you need access to the 2010 Census Tract boundaries.

If you would like to use the FFIEC Census Tracts, please see the article on FFIEC Census Tracts.

If you would like to create territories of Census Tracts, please see the video tutorial on creating territories.

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