[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29524-29526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14696]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census
[Docket No. 960521143-6143-01]


Census Designated Place (CDP) Program for Census 2000--Proposed 
Criteria

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Program Revisions and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: Census designated places (CDPs) are statistical geographic 
entities, defined in conjunction with each decennial census, consisting 
of a closely settled, locally recognized concentration of population 
that is identified by name. The Census Bureau uses CDPs to tabulate and 
disseminate information about several thousand localities that 
otherwise would not be identified as places in decennial census data 
products.
    Although not as numerous as incorporated places, CDPs have been 
important geographic entities since the Census Bureau first introduced 
them for the 1950 census. In 1990, more than 29 million people in the 
United States lived in CDPs. To determine the inventory of CDPs, the 
Census Bureau offers a program to local participants, such as American 
Indian tribal officials and state-designated agencies, whereby they can 
update the list and geographic definition of CDPs defined during the 
previous census, and suggest new CDPs according to criteria developed 
and promulgated by the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau then reviews 
the resulting CDP suggestions for conformance with these criteria.
    As the first step in this process, the Census Bureau is requesting 
comments on its proposed criteria for the delineation of CDPs in 
conjunction with Census 2000. These criteria will apply to the 50 
states, American Indian and Alaska Native areas, Puerto Rico, and all 
other Island Territories in Census 2000 except American Samoa.1 
The Census Bureau may modify, and if necessary reject, a CDP that does 
not meet the criteria established following this notice.
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     1 There are no CDPs in American Samoa because incorporated 
villages cover its entire territory and population.
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    In addition to the proposed criteria, this notice includes a 
description of the changes from the criteria used for the 1990 census 
and a list of definitions of key terms used in the criteria.

DATES: Any suggestions or recommendations concerning the proposed 
criteria should be submitted in writing by July 11, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Director, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joel L. Morrison, Chief, Geography 
Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233-7400, telephone 
(301) 457-1132, or e-mail to ``[email protected].''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CDP delineation criteria have evolved 
over the past five decades in response to decennial census practices 
and the preferences of data users. After each decennial census, the 
Census Bureau, in consultation with data users, reviews and revises 
these criteria. Then, before the next decennial census, the Census 
Bureau offers state, tribal, and local officials an opportunity to 
correct, update and otherwise improve the universe of CDPs.
    In July and August 1995, the Census Bureau issued invitations to 
local groups and agencies to participate in the delineation of 
statistical geographic entities for Census 2000. These included 
regional planning agencies, Councils of Governments, county planning 
agencies, officials of American Indian tribes, and officials of the 12 
nonprofit Alaska Native Regional Corporations.
    By early 1997, the Census Bureau will provide program participants 
with maps and detailed guidelines for delineating CDPs for Census 2000.

A. Criteria for Delineating CDPs for Census 2000

    The Census Bureau proposes the following criteria for use in 
determining the areas that will qualify for designation as CDPs based 
on the results of Census 2000.

1. General characteristics

    A CDP constitutes a closely settled center of population that is 
named and not part of an incorporated place. It has a distinct nucleus 
of residences and a relatively high population density. It generally 
consists of a contiguous cluster of census blocks and comprises a 
single piece of territory.

[[Page 29525]]

2. Names

    The CDP name should be one that is recognized and used locally. A 
CDP may not have the same name as an adjacent or nearby incorporated 
place. It is permissible to change the name of a 1990 CDP if the new 
name provides a better identification of the community.

3. Geographic relationships

    A CDP may be located in more than one county, but it may never be 
located either partially or entirely within an incorporated place or 
another CDP. It may not cross the boundaries of an American Indian 
reservation (AIR) or a tribal jurisdiction statistical area (TJSA). A 
CDP also may never be delineated with portions in more than one state; 
that is, a state line is always a CDP boundary, with one exception: if 
a state line splits a community that is located on an AIR, then each 
portion of the community can qualify as a separate CDP regardless of 
its population, provided the combined population of all portions is at 
least 100 people.

4. Boundaries

    The boundaries of a CDP are always census block boundaries. 
Normally, CDP boundaries follow visible features and county lines, but 
in some instances they follow incorporated place boundaries and other 
nonvisible block boundary features. A CDP encompasses, as far as 
possible, all adjacent closely settled territory associated with the 
CDP name.
    Most changes to the boundaries of CDPs occur because of recent 
development, or annexations of former CDP territory by an adjacent 
incorporated place.

5. Population thresholds

    Usually, a CDP qualifies for delineation because it meets a minimum 
population threshold. (There are no maximum population limitations on a 
CDP.) Several minimum population thresholds apply to CDPs (see the 
table below); these may vary by state and statistically equivalent 
entity or because the CDP is located in an urbanized area (UA), AIR, or 
TJSA.

  Population Threshold Criteria for Qualification of CDPs (Census 2000) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Minimum   
                                                            Population  
  Geographic Area(s) Geographic Location/Type of Entity     (number of  
                                                            residents)  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 48 conterminous States:                                             
    inside UAs..........................................           2,500
    outside UAs                                                    1,000
    on AIRs and TJSAs                                                100
    county seats                                                    none
Alaska:                                                                 
    inside UAs..........................................           2,500
    outside UAs.........................................              25
    borough (county) seats..............................            none
Hawaii:                                                                 
    inside UAs..........................................             300
    outside UAs.........................................             300
    county seats........................................            none
Puerto Rico:                                                            
    comunidades.........................................           1,000
    zonas urbanas.......................................            none
Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands of the                   
 United States;                                                         
    all CDPs............................................             300
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In Puerto Rico, the minimum of 1,000 residents applies to all 
comunidades, whether located inside or outside UAs. There is no minimum 
population threshold for the zonas urbanas, which are similar to county 
seats.
    In the case of seasonal and resort communities that are identified 
by local officials and located outside UAs, the Census Bureau will use 
a minimum threshold of 500 housing units rather than 1,000 residents to 
qualify them as CDPs.

B. Changes in the Criteria for Census 2000

    Most provisions of the CDP criteria remain unchanged from those 
used in conjunction with the 1990 census, with the few exceptions 
summarized below.
    1. The Census Bureau will lower the minimum population threshold 
for CDPs on AIRs from 250 to 100 residents. (The Census Bureau also 
will apply the minimum population of 100 residents to CDPs on TJSAs.) 
Based on discussions with tribal officials regarding their data needs, 
it is clear that this lower population threshold will provide a better 
representation of the settlement concentrations found in American 
Indian areas. The Census Bureau estimates there will be approximately 
100 new CDPs because of this provision.
    2. The Census Bureau will recognize a seasonal or resort community 
as a CDP when it has fewer than 1,000 permanent residents but at least 
500 housing units. This measure will allow the identification of 
communities that have the physical attributes of a population center 
but cannot qualify as CDPs because their maximum population is not 
resident there at the time of the decennial census (usually late 
winter-early spring). Program participants must submit information 
showing the potential CDP is a seasonal or resort community. In 
addition, it must be located outside of a UA. The Census Bureau 
estimates there may be 200-300 new CDPs because of this provision.
    3. The Census Bureau will waive the minimum population size for any 
CDP that is a county seat. This measure recognizes the importance of 
small unincorporated settlements as geographic focal points in counties 
that are predominantly rural in character. The Census Bureau estimates 
that there will be fewer than 100 new CDPs because of this provision.
    4. The Census Bureau will simplify its data presentations by 
eliminating CDPs that are geographically coextensive with an Alaska 
Native village statistical area (ANVSA) having the same name. This will 
eliminate duplicate place names and population totals that refer to the 
same geographic area. In 1990, 64 out of 217 ANVSAs were coextensive 
with a CDP. These ANVSAs will retain their status as places for Census 
2000, but not also as CDPs. The Census Bureau will continue to 
recognize as separate CDPs those communities that overlap the 
boundaries of ANVSAs, provided that the two entities are 
distinguishable by name.

Definitions of Key Terms

    Alaska Native village statistical area (ANVSA)--The densely settled 
extent of an Alaska Native village (ANV). The ANV is a type of local 
governmental unit that constitutes an association, band, clan, 
community, tribe, or village recognized pursuant to the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act of 1972.
    American Indian reservation (AIR)--An American Indian entity with 
boundaries established by treaty, statute, and/or executive or court 
order and over which American Indians have governmental jurisdiction. 
Designations such as colonies, communities, pueblos, rancherias, 
reservations, and reserves apply to AIRs.
    Census block--An area of variable extent, generally bounded by 
visible features such as streets, roads, streams, and railroad tracks, 
and also delimited by nonvisible boundaries, such as city, town, 
township, and county limits, and occasionally defined by property 
lines, and short, imaginary extensions of streets and roads or point-
to-point lines.
    Coextensive--Descriptive of two or more geographic entities that 
cover exactly the same area, with all boundaries conjoint.
    Comunidad--A CDP in Puerto Rico for the 1990 census; called an 
aldea or a ciudad in previous censuses.
    Conjoint--Descriptive of a boundary shared by two adjacent 
geographic entities.
    Contiguous--Descriptive of geographic areas that are adjacent to 
one

[[Page 29526]]

another, sharing either a common boundary or point of contact.
    Housing unit--A house, an apartment, a mobile home or trailer, a 
group of rooms or a single room occupied as a separate living quarter 
or, if vacant, intended for occupancy as a separate living quarter. 
Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live and eat 
separately from any other residents of the building and which have 
direct access from outside the building or through a common hall.
    Incorporated place--A type of governmental unit, incorporated under 
state law as a city, town (except in New England, New York, and 
Wisconsin), borough (except in Alaska and New York), or village, having 
legally prescribed limits, powers, and functions.
    Island Territory--An entity, other than a state or the District of 
Columbia, under the jurisdiction of the United States. For Census 2000, 
this will include American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and several small 
islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The Census Bureau 
treats each Island Territory as the statistical equivalent of a state.
    Municipio--A type of governmental unit that is the primary legal 
subdivision of Puerto Rico. The Census Bureau treats the municipio as 
the statistical equivalent of a county.
    Nonvisible feature--A map feature that is not visible, such as a 
city or county boundary, a property line running through space, a short 
imaginary extension of a street or road, or a point-to-point line.
    Outlying Area--See Island Territory.
    Statistical geographic entity--Any specially defined geographic 
entity or combination of entities, such as a block group, CDP, or 
census tract for which the Census Bureau tabulates data. Statistical 
entity boundaries are not legally defined and the entities have no 
governmental standing.
    Tribal jurisdiction statistical area (TJSA)--A statistical entity 
delineated for the decennial census by American Indian tribal officials 
in Oklahoma. A TJSA encompasses the area that includes the American 
Indian population over which a tribe has jurisdiction.
    Urbanized area (UA)--An area consisting of a central place(s) and 
adjacent urban fringe that together have a minimum residential 
population of at least 50,000 people and generally an overall 
population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile. The Census 
Bureau uses published criteria to determine the qualification and 
boundaries of UAs at the time of each decennial census or from the 
results of a special census during the intercensal period.
    Visible feature--A map feature that can be seen on the ground, such 
as a street or road, railroad track, power line, stream, shoreline, 
fence, ridge, or cliff.
    Zona urbana--In Puerto Rico, the settled area functioning as the 
seat of government for a municipio. A zona urbana cannot cross a 
municipio boundary.

    Dated: May 23, 1996.
Martha Farnsworth Riche,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 96-14696 Filed 6-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P