Block Groups for the 2020 Census-Proposed Criteria, 6937-6941 [2018-02624]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 32 / Thursday, February 15, 2018 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 171005975–7975–01]
Block Groups for the 2020 Census—
Proposed Criteria
Bureau of the Census,
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of proposed program and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Census Bureau is
publishing this notice in the Federal
Register to request comments from the
public and other government agencies
on block groups. The Census Bureau
will respond to the comments received
as part of the publication of final criteria
in the Federal Register. After the final
criteria are published in the Federal
Register, the Census Bureau will offer
designated governments or
organizations an opportunity to review
and, if necessary, suggest updates to the
boundaries and attributes of the block
groups in their geographic area under
the Participant Statistical Areas Program
(PSAP). In addition to block groups, the
program also encompasses the review
and update of census tracts, census
designated places, and census county
divisions.
SUMMARY:
Written comments must be
submitted on or before May 16, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Please direct all written
comments on this proposed program to
Vincent Osier, Geographic Standards,
Criteria, and Quality Branch, Geography
Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Room
4H173, 4600 Silver Hill Road,
Washington, DC 20233–7400. Email:
geo.psap.list@census.gov. Phone: 301–
763–3056 (PSAP Hotline).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information on
this proposed program should be
directed to Vincent Osier, Geographic
Standards, Criteria, and Quality Branch,
Geography Division, U.S. Census
Bureau, Room 4H173, 4600 Silver Hill
Road, Washington, DC 20233–7400.
Email: geo.psap.list@census.gov. Phone:
301–763–3056 (PSAP hotline).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Block
groups are statistical geographic
subdivisions of a census tract defined
for the tabulation and presentation of
data from the decennial census and
selected other statistical programs.
Block groups will also be used to
tabulate and publish estimates from the
American Community Survey (ACS) 1
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DATES:
1 The ACS is conducted in the United States and
in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, the survey is called
the Puerto Rico Community Survey. For ease of
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after 2020 and potentially data from
other Bureau of the Census (Census
Bureau) censuses and surveys.
There are no proposed changes to the
existing block group criteria from the
2010 Census, only clarification. The
history of block groups and changes
implemented for the 2010 Census can be
found in the Federal Register from
March 14, 2008 (73 FR 13829).
I. General Principles and Criteria for
Block Groups for the 2020 Census
A. General Principles
1. Block groups are statistical
geographic subdivisions of a census
tract and are the smallest geographic
areas for which the Census Bureau
provides sample data, primarily from
the ACS 5-year period estimates.
2. Block groups form the geographic
framework within which census blocks
are numbered.
3. In order to ensure a minimal level
of reliability in sample data and
minimize potential disclosures of
sensitive information, a block group
should contain either at least 600 people
or at least 240 housing units at
minimum, and 3,000 people or 1,200
housing units at maximum. The housing
unit criterion is used to accommodate
areas that are occupied seasonally and
may otherwise show a discrepancy
between decennial and ACS figures.2
For the ACS, block groups are not
designed to be used individually, rather
they provide a smaller geographic area
than census tracts that allow data users
to combine them to create larger
geographic areas that may be more
meaningful for their specific use.
4. The Census Bureau also recognizes
that there are significant geographic
areas that are characterized by unique
populations (e.g., prisons or
universities) or not characterized by
residential populations at all (e.g.,
National Parks or large bodies of water),
which local participants may wish to
exclude from populated census tracts
and/or block groups for either analytical
or cartographic purposes. These areas
may be designated as special use census
tracts and/or block groups to distinguish
them from standard populated census
tracts and/or block groups. Special land
and/or water use census tracts or block
groups are not required, but if
discussion, throughout this document the term ACS
is used to represent the surveys conducted in the
United States and in Puerto Rico.
2 ‘‘Occupied seasonally’’ refers to seasonal
communities in which residents often are not
present on the date of the decennial census, but will
be present at other times of the year and for which
estimates may be reflected in the ACS. The ACS is
designed to produce local area data as of a 12month period estimate (or an average).
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6937
delineated they must be designated as a
specific type of special use (discussed
below); have an official name; ideally
have no residential population or
housing units or else meet all
population or housing thresholds
mentioned above; and, must not create
noncontiguous block groups or census
tracts. If located in an urban area, a
special use block group must have an
area measurement of approximately one
square mile or more. If delineated
completely outside an urban area, a
special use block group must have an
area of approximately 10 square miles or
more. The Census Bureau recognizes
that some special use areas not intended
for residential population, such as
parks, may contain some minimal
population, such as caretakers or those
experiencing homelessness. Since the
primary purpose of block groups is to
help provide high-quality statistical data
about the population, the participant
and the Census Bureau must decide if
a special use tract would be useful in
such a situation.
B. Criteria
The criteria herein apply to the
United States, including federally
recognized American Indian
reservations (AIRs) and off-reservation
trust lands (ORTLs), Puerto Rico, and
the Island Areas3. The Census Bureau
may modify and, if necessary, reject any
proposals for block groups that do not
meet the published criteria. In addition,
the Census Bureau reserves the right to
modify the boundaries and attributes of
block groups as needed to meet the
published criteria and/or maintain
geographic relationships before or after
the final tabulation geography is set for
the 2020 Census.
The Census Bureau sets forth the
following criteria for use in reviewing,
updating, and delineating 2020 Census
block groups:
1. Block groups must not cross census
tract boundaries.
This criterion takes precedence over
all other criteria or requirements. By
definition, because census tracts cannot
cross county 4 and state boundaries,
3 For Census Bureau purposes, the United States
typically refers to only the fifty states and the
District of Columbia, and does not include the U.S.
territories (Puerto Rico, the Island Areas, and the
U.S. Minor Outlying Islands). The Island Areas
include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. The U.S. Minor Outlying Islands are
an aggregation of nine U.S. territories: Baker Island,
Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll,
Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island,
Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island.
4 For the Census Bureau’s purposes, the term
‘‘county’’ includes parishes in Louisiana; boroughs,
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neither can block groups. It is only
permissible to define a block group with
fewer than 600 people in a county that
has a population less than 600,
coextensive with a special use census
tract, or as a special use block group
delineated within a standard census
tract.
2. Block groups must cover the entire
land and water area of each census tract.
Because census tracts must cover the
entire area of a county, by definition,
block groups also must cover the entire
area of each county.
3. A block group must comprise a
reasonably compact and contiguous
land area.
Noncontiguous boundaries are
permitted only where a contiguous area
or inaccessible area would not meet
population or housing unit count
requirements for a separate block group,
in which case the noncontiguous or
inaccessible area must be combined
within an adjacent or proximate block
group. For example, an island that does
not meet the minimum population
threshold for recognition as a separate
block group should be combined with
other proximate land to form a single
block group. Each case will be reviewed
and accepted at the Census Bureau’s
discretion.
4. Block group boundaries should
follow visible and identifiable features.
To make the location of block group
boundaries less ambiguous, wherever
possible, block group boundaries should
follow significant, visible, easily
identifiable features. The use of visible
features facilitates the location and
identification of block group boundaries
in the field, both on the ground and in
imagery. The selection of permanent
physical features also increases the
stability of the boundaries over time, as
the locations of many visible features in
the landscape tend to change
infrequently. If block group boundaries
are changed, they should not be moved
from a more significant feature (e.g., a
highway or a major river) to a less
significant feature (e.g., a neighborhood
road or a small tributary stream). The
Census Bureau also requires the use of
state and county boundaries in all states
to be used as census tract and block
group boundaries. The Census Bureau
also permits the use of incorporated
place and minor civil division (MCD)
boundaries in states where those
boundaries tend to remain unchanged
over time (see Table 1).
The following features are preferred
as block group boundaries for the 2020
Census:
a. State, county, and census tract
boundaries must always be block group
boundaries. This criterion takes
precedence over all other boundary
criteria or requirements.
b. AIR and ORTL boundaries.
c. Visible, perennial, stable, relatively
permanent natural and constructed
features, such as roads, shorelines,
rivers, perennial streams and canals,
railroad tracks, or above-ground hightension power lines.
d. Boundaries of legal and
administrative entities in selected states.
Table 1 identifies by state which MCD
and incorporated place boundaries may
be used as block group boundaries.
e. Additionally, the following legally
defined, administrative boundaries are
permitted as block group boundaries:
i. Barrio, barrio-pueblo, and subbarrio
boundaries in Puerto Rico;
ii. Census subdistrict and estate
boundaries in the U.S. Virgin Islands;
iii. County and island boundaries
(both MCD equivalents) in American
Samoa;
iv. Election district boundaries in
Guam;
v. Municipal district boundaries in
the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands; and,
vi. Alaska Native Regional
corporation boundaries in Alaska, at the
discretion of the Census Bureau, insofar
as such boundaries are unambiguous for
allocating living quarters as part of 2020
Census activities.
f. The boundaries of large parks,
forests, airports, penitentiaries/prisons,
and/or military installations, provided
the boundaries are clearly marked or
easily recognized in the field in imagery
and on the ground.
g. When acceptable visible and
governmental boundary features are not
available for use as block group
boundaries, the Census Bureau may, at
its discretion, approve other
nonstandard visible features, such as
major ridgelines, above-ground
pipelines, intermittent streams, or fence
lines. The Census Bureau may also
accept, on a case-by-case basis,
relatively short stretches of boundaries
of selected nonstandard and potentially
nonvisible features, such as cadastral
and parcel boundaries or the straightline extensions or other lines-of-sight
between acceptable visible features.
TABLE 1—ACCEPTABLE MINOR CIVIL DIVISION (MCD) AND INCORPORATED PLACE BOUNDARIES
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State
All
MCD
boundaries
Boundaries of MCDs not
coincident with the
boundaries of incorporated places that
themselves are MCDs
All
incorporated
place
boundaries
Only conjoint
incorporated
place boundaries
Alabama ...........................................................................................
Alaska ..............................................................................................
Arizona .............................................................................................
Arkansas ..........................................................................................
California ..........................................................................................
Colorado ..........................................................................................
Connecticut ......................................................................................
Delaware ..........................................................................................
Florida ..............................................................................................
Georgia ............................................................................................
Hawaii ..............................................................................................
Idaho ................................................................................................
Illinois ...............................................................................................
Indiana .............................................................................................
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X
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X
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X
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X
X
X
X
X
X
city and boroughs, municipalities, and census areas
in Alaska; independent cities in Maryland,
Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia; districts and
islands in American Samoa; districts in the U.S.
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Virgin Islands; municipalities in the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
municipios in Puerto Rico; and, the areas
constituting the District of Columbia and Guam. T
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his notice will refer to all these entities collectively
as ‘‘counties.’’
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TABLE 1—ACCEPTABLE MINOR CIVIL DIVISION (MCD) AND INCORPORATED PLACE BOUNDARIES—Continued
State
All
MCD
boundaries
Boundaries of MCDs not
coincident with the
boundaries of incorporated places that
themselves are MCDs
All
incorporated
place
boundaries
Only conjoint
incorporated
place boundaries
Iowa .................................................................................................
Kansas .............................................................................................
Kentucky ..........................................................................................
Louisiana ..........................................................................................
Maine ...............................................................................................
Maryland ..........................................................................................
Massachusetts .................................................................................
Michigan ...........................................................................................
Minnesota ........................................................................................
Mississippi ........................................................................................
Missouri ............................................................................................
Montana ...........................................................................................
Nebraska ..........................................................................................
Nevada .............................................................................................
New Hampshire ...............................................................................
New Jersey ......................................................................................
New Mexico .....................................................................................
New York .........................................................................................
North Carolina ..................................................................................
North Dakota ....................................................................................
Ohio .................................................................................................
Oklahoma .........................................................................................
Oregon .............................................................................................
Pennsylvania ....................................................................................
Rhode Island ....................................................................................
South Carolina .................................................................................
South Dakota ...................................................................................
Tennessee .......................................................................................
Texas ...............................................................................................
Utah .................................................................................................
Vermont ...........................................................................................
Virginia .............................................................................................
Washington ......................................................................................
West Virginia ....................................................................................
Wisconsin .........................................................................................
Wyoming ..........................................................................................
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a Townships
only.
townships only.
b Governmental
5. Population, Housing Unit, and Area
Measurement Thresholds
The following are the population,
housing unit, and area measurement
threshold criteria for block groups (as
summarized in Table 2). The same
population and housing unit thresholds
apply to all types of non-special use
block groups, including those
delineated for AIRs and ORTLs, the
Island Areas, and encompassing group
quarters, military installations, and
institutions.
TABLE 2—BLOCK GROUP THRESHOLDS
Threshold types
Minimum
Standard & tribal block groups ......
Housing unit thresholds .................
Special use block groups ...............
Population thresholds ...................
240 ................................................
Area measurement thresholds
within an urban area.
Area measurement thresholds
outside an urban area.
600 ................................................
.......................................................
1 square mile ................................
3000.
1,200.
none.
10 square miles ............................
none.
Population thresholds ...................
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Block group type
None (or very little), or must be within the standard block group thresholds.
a. 2010 Census population counts
should be used in census block group
review in most cases. Housing unit
counts should be used for block groups
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in seasonal communities that have little
or no population on Census Day (April
1). Locally produced population and
housing unit estimates can be used
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Maximum
when reviewing and updating block
groups, especially in areas that have
experienced considerable growth since
the 2010 Census.
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b. The housing unit thresholds are
based on a national average of 2.5
people per household. The Census
Bureau recognizes that there are
regional variations to this average, and
will take this into consideration when
reviewing all census block group
proposals.
c. For the 2020 Census, the Census
Bureau will allow the delineation of
special use census tracts and special
land use block groups will be created
coextensive with these special use
census tracts, but they are not required.
A special use census tract, and hence a
special use block group, must be
designated as a specific use type (e.g.,
state park), must have an official name
(e.g., Jay Cooke State Park), have no (or
very little) residential population or
meet population or housing unit
thresholds, and must not create a
noncontiguous census tract/block group.
In some instances, multiple areas can be
combined to form a single special land
use census tract/block group if the land
management characteristics are similar,
such as a special land use census tract/
block group comprising adjacent federal
and state parks. If the special land use
census tract/block group is delineated in
a densely populated, urban area, the
census tract/block group must have an
area of approximately one square mile
or more. If the special land use census
tract/block group is delineated
completely outside an urban area, the
census tract/block group must have an
area of approximately 10 square miles or
more. Any resulting special use census
tract/block group should be at least as
large in area as the adjacent standard,
populated census tracts/block groups.
6. Identification of Block Groups
a. A block group encompasses a
cluster of census blocks. Each standard
block group is identified using a singledigit number that will correspond to the
first digit in the number of each census
block encompassed by the block group.
For example, block group 3 includes all
census blocks numbered in the 3000
range within a single census tract.
b. The range of acceptable standard
block group numbers is 1 through 9.
c. Block group numbers must be
unique within a census tract.
7. Block Group Types
Table 3 provides a summary of the
types of block groups (with their
respective population, housing unit, and
area measurement thresholds) that the
Census Bureau will use for the 2020
Census.
TABLE 3—SUMMARY OF BLOCK GROUP TYPES
Block group types
Distinction from standard block groups
Population thresholds
Housing unit thresholds
Standard block groups ..............
..................................................................
Tribal block groups are conceptually
similar and equivalent to census block
groups defined within the standard
state-county-tract-block group geographic hierarchy used for tabulating
and publishing statistical data.
A block group, usually coextensive with a
special census tract, encompassing a
large airport, public park, public forest,
or large water body with no (or very little) population or housing units.
Min: 240 ..................
Max: 1,200 ..............
Min: 240 ..................
Max: 1,200 ..............
None.
Tribal block groups ....................
Min: 600 ..................
Max: 3,000 ..............
Min: 600 ..................
Max: 3,000 ..............
None (or very little)
or within the
standard block
group thresholds.
None (or very little)
or within the
standard block
group thresholds.
Within an urban
area:
min. 1 square mile.
Outside an urban
area:
min. 10 square
miles.
Special use block groups ..........
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C. Tribal Block Groups
Tribal block groups are statistical
geographic entities defined by the
Census Bureau in cooperation with
tribal officials to provide meaningful,
relevant, and reliable data for small
geographic areas within the boundaries
of federally recognized AIRs and/or
ORTLs. As such, they recognize the
unique statistical data needs of federally
recognized American Indian tribes. The
delineation of tribal block groups allows
for an unambiguous presentation of
statistical data specific to the federally
recognized AIR and/or ORTL without
the imposition of state or county
boundaries, which might artificially
separate American Indian populations
located within a single AIR and/or
ORTL. To this end, the American Indian
tribal participant may define tribal block
groups that cross county or state
boundaries, or both. For federally
recognized American Indian tribes with
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AIRs and/or ORTLs that have fewer than
1,200 residents, the Census Bureau will
define one tribal census tract and one
tribal block group coextensive with the
AIR and/or ORTL. Tribal block groups
must be delineated to meet all other
census block group criteria, and must be
identified uniquely so as to clearly
distinguish them from county-based
block groups. The Census Bureau will
address the type of identifiers required
for tribal block groups in more detail in
a separate Federal Register notice
pertaining to all American Indian areas,
including statistical areas defined
through PSAP. Tribal block group
boundaries will be held as census block
boundaries. Census blocks, however,
will be numbered uniquely within
county-based block groups and thus
there will not be a direct relationship
between a tribal block group identifier
and the census block numbers. Tribal
block groups are conceptually similar
and equivalent to census block groups
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Area measurement
thresholds
None.
defined within the standard statecounty-tract-block group geographic
hierarchy used for tabulating and
publishing statistical data.
In order to provide meaningful
statistical geographic areas within the
AIR and/or ORTL, as well as make
meaningful and reliable data available
for these areas and their populations,
tribal block group geography is
maintained separately from standard,
county-based block groups. This change
was first introduced for the 2010
Census, creating standard block groups
nationwide and maintaining tribal block
groups as a completely separate set of
geography from standard block groups
for both geographic and data
presentation purposes, and eliminates,
in part, the reliability and availability
data issues for the tribal block groups
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and the derived standard block groups
that were present in Census 2000.5
As with standard block groups
submitted through this program, the
tribal block groups are submitted to the
Census Bureau, and are subject to
review to ensure compliance with the
published criteria. Detailed criteria
pertaining to tribal block groups will be
published in a separate Federal Register
notice pertaining to all American Indian
areas, including statistical areas defined
through PSAP.
I. Definitions of Key Terms
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Alaska Native Regional Corporation
(ANRC)—A corporate geographic area
established under the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (Pub. L. 92–203,
85 Stat. 688 (1971)) to conduct both the
business and nonprofit affairs of Alaska
Natives. Twelve ANRCs cover the entire
State of Alaska except for the Annette
Island Reserve.
American Indian off-reservation trust
land (ORTL)—An area of land located
outside the boundaries of an AIR, whose
boundaries are established by deed, and
which are held in trust by the U.S.
federal government for a federally
recognized American Indian tribe or
members of that tribe.
American Indian reservation (AIR)—
An area of land with boundaries
established by final treaty, statute,
executive order, and/or court order and
over which a federally recognized,
American Indian tribal government has
governmental authority. Along with
‘‘reservation’’ designations such as
colonies, communities, pueblos,
rancherias, and reserves apply to AIRs.
Census county division (CCD)—Areas
delineated by the Census Bureau in
cooperation with state, tribal, and local
officials for statistical purposes. CCDs
have no legal function and are not
governmental units. CCD boundaries
usually follow visible features and
usually coincide with census tract
boundaries. The name of each CCD is
based on a place, county, or well-known
local name that identifies its location.
5 For Census 2000, tribal block groups were
defined for federally recognized AIRs and/or
ORTLs, and standard block groups were identified
by superimposing county and state boundaries onto
the Census 2000 tribal block groups. For Census
2000 products in which data were presented by
state and county, the standard state-county-tractblock group hierarchy was maintained, even for
territory contained within an AIR and/or ORTL. In
such instances, the state-county portions of tribal
block groups were identified as individual block
groups, and these standard block groups may not
have met the minimum population or housing unit
thresholds, potentially limiting sample data
reliability or availability for both the tribal block
groups and the derived standard block groups.
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Conjoint—A description of a
boundary line shared by two adjacent
geographic entities.
Contiguous—A description of areas
sharing common boundary lines, more
than a single point, such that the areas,
when combined, form a single piece of
territory. Noncontiguous areas form
disjoint pieces.
Group quarters—A location where
people live or stay in a group living
arrangement that is owned or managed
by an entity or organization providing
housing and/or services for the
residents. This is not a typical
household-type living arrangement.
These services may include custodial or
medical care as well as other types of
assistance, and residency is commonly
restricted to those receiving these
services. People living in group quarters
are usually not related to each other.
Group quarters include such places as
college residence halls, residential
treatment centers, skilled nursing
facilities, group homes, military
barracks, correctional facilities, and
workers’ dormitories.
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, generally to provide
governmental services for a
concentration of people within legally
prescribed boundaries.
Minor civil division (MCD)—The
primary governmental or administrative
division of a county in 28 states and the
Island Areas having legal boundaries,
names, and descriptions. The MCDs
represent many different types of legal
entities with a wide variety of
characteristics, powers, and functions
depending on the state and type of
MCD. In some states, some or all of the
incorporated places also constitute
MCDs.
Nonvisible feature—A map feature
that is not visible on the ground and in
imagery such as a city or county
boundary through space, a property
line, or line-of-sight extension of a road.
Retracting—Substantially changing
the boundaries of a census tract so that
comparability over time is not
maintained.
Special use census tract/block
group—Type of census tract or block
group that must be designated as a
specific use type (e.g., state park or large
lake) and have an official name (e.g., Jay
Cooke State Park or Lake Minnetonka),
should have no (or very little)
population or housing units, and must
not create a noncontiguous census tract/
block group. If delineated in a densely
populated, urban area, a special use
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
6941
census tract/block group must have an
area of at least one square mile. If
delineated completely outside an urban
area, a special use census tract/block
group must have an area of at least 10
square miles.
Statistical geographic entity—A
geographic entity that is specially
defined and delineated, such as block
group, CDP, or census tract, so that the
Census Bureau may tabulate data for it.
Designation as a statistical entity neither
conveys nor confers legal ownership,
entitlement, or jurisdictional authority.
Visible feature—A map feature that
can be seen on the ground and in
imagery, such as a road, railroad track,
major above-ground transmission line or
pipeline, river, stream, shoreline, fence,
sharply defined mountain ridge, or cliff.
A nonstandard visible feature is a
feature that may not be clearly defined
on the ground (such as a ridge), may be
seasonal (such as an intermittent
stream), or may be relatively
impermanent (such as a fence). The
Census Bureau generally requests
verification that nonstandard features
used as boundaries for the PSAP
geographic areas pose no problem in
their location during field work.
Dated: January 31, 2018.
Ron S. Jarmin,
Associate Director for Economic Programs,
Performing the Non-Exclusive Functions and
Duties of the Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2018–02624 Filed 2–14–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 171005976–7976–01]
Census Tracts for the 2020 Census—
Proposed Criteria
Bureau of the Census,
Commerce
ACTION: Notice of proposed program and
request for comments
AGENCY:
The Census Bureau is
publishing this notice in the Federal
Register to request comments from the
public and other government agencies
on census tracts. The Census Bureau
will respond to the comments received
as part of the publication of final criteria
in the Federal Register. After the final
criteria are published in the Federal
Register,the Census Bureau will offer
designated governments or
organizations an opportunity to review
and, if necessary, suggest updates to the
boundaries and attributes of the census
tracts in their geographic area under the
Participant Statistical Areas Program
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15FEN2.SGM
15FEN2
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6937-6941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02624]
[[Page 6937]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 171005975-7975-01]
Block Groups for the 2020 Census--Proposed Criteria
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of proposed program and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Census Bureau is publishing this notice in the Federal
Register to request comments from the public and other government
agencies on block groups. The Census Bureau will respond to the
comments received as part of the publication of final criteria in the
Federal Register. After the final criteria are published in the Federal
Register, the Census Bureau will offer designated governments or
organizations an opportunity to review and, if necessary, suggest
updates to the boundaries and attributes of the block groups in their
geographic area under the Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP).
In addition to block groups, the program also encompasses the review
and update of census tracts, census designated places, and census
county divisions.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 16, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Please direct all written comments on this proposed program
to Vincent Osier, Geographic Standards, Criteria, and Quality Branch,
Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 4H173, 4600 Silver Hill
Road, Washington, DC 20233-7400. Email: [email protected].
Phone: 301-763-3056 (PSAP Hotline).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information on
this proposed program should be directed to Vincent Osier, Geographic
Standards, Criteria, and Quality Branch, Geography Division, U.S.
Census Bureau, Room 4H173, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-
7400. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 301-763-3056 (PSAP
hotline).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Block groups are statistical geographic
subdivisions of a census tract defined for the tabulation and
presentation of data from the decennial census and selected other
statistical programs. Block groups will also be used to tabulate and
publish estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) \1\ after
2020 and potentially data from other Bureau of the Census (Census
Bureau) censuses and surveys.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The ACS is conducted in the United States and in Puerto
Rico. In Puerto Rico, the survey is called the Puerto Rico Community
Survey. For ease of discussion, throughout this document the term
ACS is used to represent the surveys conducted in the United States
and in Puerto Rico.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are no proposed changes to the existing block group criteria
from the 2010 Census, only clarification. The history of block groups
and changes implemented for the 2010 Census can be found in the Federal
Register from March 14, 2008 (73 FR 13829).
I. General Principles and Criteria for Block Groups for the 2020 Census
A. General Principles
1. Block groups are statistical geographic subdivisions of a census
tract and are the smallest geographic areas for which the Census Bureau
provides sample data, primarily from the ACS 5-year period estimates.
2. Block groups form the geographic framework within which census
blocks are numbered.
3. In order to ensure a minimal level of reliability in sample data
and minimize potential disclosures of sensitive information, a block
group should contain either at least 600 people or at least 240 housing
units at minimum, and 3,000 people or 1,200 housing units at maximum.
The housing unit criterion is used to accommodate areas that are
occupied seasonally and may otherwise show a discrepancy between
decennial and ACS figures.\2\ For the ACS, block groups are not
designed to be used individually, rather they provide a smaller
geographic area than census tracts that allow data users to combine
them to create larger geographic areas that may be more meaningful for
their specific use.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ ``Occupied seasonally'' refers to seasonal communities in
which residents often are not present on the date of the decennial
census, but will be present at other times of the year and for which
estimates may be reflected in the ACS. The ACS is designed to
produce local area data as of a 12-month period estimate (or an
average).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. The Census Bureau also recognizes that there are significant
geographic areas that are characterized by unique populations (e.g.,
prisons or universities) or not characterized by residential
populations at all (e.g., National Parks or large bodies of water),
which local participants may wish to exclude from populated census
tracts and/or block groups for either analytical or cartographic
purposes. These areas may be designated as special use census tracts
and/or block groups to distinguish them from standard populated census
tracts and/or block groups. Special land and/or water use census tracts
or block groups are not required, but if delineated they must be
designated as a specific type of special use (discussed below); have an
official name; ideally have no residential population or housing units
or else meet all population or housing thresholds mentioned above; and,
must not create noncontiguous block groups or census tracts. If located
in an urban area, a special use block group must have an area
measurement of approximately one square mile or more. If delineated
completely outside an urban area, a special use block group must have
an area of approximately 10 square miles or more. The Census Bureau
recognizes that some special use areas not intended for residential
population, such as parks, may contain some minimal population, such as
caretakers or those experiencing homelessness. Since the primary
purpose of block groups is to help provide high-quality statistical
data about the population, the participant and the Census Bureau must
decide if a special use tract would be useful in such a situation.
B. Criteria
The criteria herein apply to the United States, including federally
recognized American Indian reservations (AIRs) and off-reservation
trust lands (ORTLs), Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas\3\. The Census
Bureau may modify and, if necessary, reject any proposals for block
groups that do not meet the published criteria. In addition, the Census
Bureau reserves the right to modify the boundaries and attributes of
block groups as needed to meet the published criteria and/or maintain
geographic relationships before or after the final tabulation geography
is set for the 2020 Census.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ For Census Bureau purposes, the United States typically
refers to only the fifty states and the District of Columbia, and
does not include the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, the Island
Areas, and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands). The Island Areas
include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The U.S. Minor Outlying
Islands are an aggregation of nine U.S. territories: Baker Island,
Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway
Islands, Navassa Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Census Bureau sets forth the following criteria for use in
reviewing, updating, and delineating 2020 Census block groups:
1. Block groups must not cross census tract boundaries.
This criterion takes precedence over all other criteria or
requirements. By definition, because census tracts cannot cross county
\4\ and state boundaries,
[[Page 6938]]
neither can block groups. It is only permissible to define a block
group with fewer than 600 people in a county that has a population less
than 600, coextensive with a special use census tract, or as a special
use block group delineated within a standard census tract.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ For the Census Bureau's purposes, the term ``county''
includes parishes in Louisiana; boroughs, city and boroughs,
municipalities, and census areas in Alaska; independent cities in
Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia; districts and islands in
American Samoa; districts in the U.S. Virgin Islands; municipalities
in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; municipios in
Puerto Rico; and, the areas constituting the District of Columbia
and Guam. T his notice will refer to all these entities collectively
as ``counties.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Block groups must cover the entire land and water area of each
census tract.
Because census tracts must cover the entire area of a county, by
definition, block groups also must cover the entire area of each
county.
3. A block group must comprise a reasonably compact and contiguous land
area.
Noncontiguous boundaries are permitted only where a contiguous area
or inaccessible area would not meet population or housing unit count
requirements for a separate block group, in which case the
noncontiguous or inaccessible area must be combined within an adjacent
or proximate block group. For example, an island that does not meet the
minimum population threshold for recognition as a separate block group
should be combined with other proximate land to form a single block
group. Each case will be reviewed and accepted at the Census Bureau's
discretion.
4. Block group boundaries should follow visible and identifiable
features.
To make the location of block group boundaries less ambiguous,
wherever possible, block group boundaries should follow significant,
visible, easily identifiable features. The use of visible features
facilitates the location and identification of block group boundaries
in the field, both on the ground and in imagery. The selection of
permanent physical features also increases the stability of the
boundaries over time, as the locations of many visible features in the
landscape tend to change infrequently. If block group boundaries are
changed, they should not be moved from a more significant feature
(e.g., a highway or a major river) to a less significant feature (e.g.,
a neighborhood road or a small tributary stream). The Census Bureau
also requires the use of state and county boundaries in all states to
be used as census tract and block group boundaries. The Census Bureau
also permits the use of incorporated place and minor civil division
(MCD) boundaries in states where those boundaries tend to remain
unchanged over time (see Table 1).
The following features are preferred as block group boundaries for
the 2020 Census:
a. State, county, and census tract boundaries must always be block
group boundaries. This criterion takes precedence over all other
boundary criteria or requirements.
b. AIR and ORTL boundaries.
c. Visible, perennial, stable, relatively permanent natural and
constructed features, such as roads, shorelines, rivers, perennial
streams and canals, railroad tracks, or above-ground high-tension power
lines.
d. Boundaries of legal and administrative entities in selected
states. Table 1 identifies by state which MCD and incorporated place
boundaries may be used as block group boundaries.
e. Additionally, the following legally defined, administrative
boundaries are permitted as block group boundaries:
i. Barrio, barrio-pueblo, and subbarrio boundaries in Puerto Rico;
ii. Census subdistrict and estate boundaries in the U.S. Virgin
Islands;
iii. County and island boundaries (both MCD equivalents) in
American Samoa;
iv. Election district boundaries in Guam;
v. Municipal district boundaries in the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands; and,
vi. Alaska Native Regional corporation boundaries in Alaska, at the
discretion of the Census Bureau, insofar as such boundaries are
unambiguous for allocating living quarters as part of 2020 Census
activities.
f. The boundaries of large parks, forests, airports,
penitentiaries/prisons, and/or military installations, provided the
boundaries are clearly marked or easily recognized in the field in
imagery and on the ground.
g. When acceptable visible and governmental boundary features are
not available for use as block group boundaries, the Census Bureau may,
at its discretion, approve other nonstandard visible features, such as
major ridgelines, above-ground pipelines, intermittent streams, or
fence lines. The Census Bureau may also accept, on a case-by-case
basis, relatively short stretches of boundaries of selected nonstandard
and potentially nonvisible features, such as cadastral and parcel
boundaries or the straight-line extensions or other lines-of-sight
between acceptable visible features.
Table 1--Acceptable Minor Civil Division (MCD) and Incorporated Place Boundaries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boundaries of MCDs not
coincident with the All Only conjoint
State All MCD boundaries of incorporated incorporated
boundaries incorporated places that place place
themselves are MCDs boundaries boundaries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama............................ ............... ........................ ............... X
Alaska............................. ............... ........................ ............... X
Arizona............................ ............... ........................ ............... X
Arkansas........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
California......................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Colorado........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Connecticut........................ X ........................ X ...............
Delaware........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Florida............................ ............... ........................ ............... X
Georgia............................ ............... ........................ ............... X
Hawaii............................. ............... ........................ ............... X
Idaho.............................. ............... ........................ ............... X
Illinois........................... ............... X ............... X
Indiana............................ X ........................ ............... X
[[Page 6939]]
Iowa............................... ............... X \b\ ............... X
Kansas............................. ............... X \a\ ............... X
Kentucky........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Louisiana.......................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Maine.............................. X ........................ X ...............
Maryland........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Massachusetts...................... X ........................ X X
Michigan........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Minnesota.......................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Mississippi........................ ............... ........................ ............... X
Missouri........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Montana............................ ............... ........................ ............... X
Nebraska........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Nevada............................. ............... ........................ ............... X
New Hampshire...................... X ........................ X ...............
New Jersey......................... X ........................ X ...............
New Mexico......................... ............... ........................ ............... X
New York........................... X ........................ X ...............
North Carolina..................... ............... ........................ ............... X
North Dakota....................... ............... X ............... X
Ohio............................... ............... X ............... X
Oklahoma........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Oregon............................. ............... ........................ ............... X
Pennsylvania....................... X ........................ X ...............
Rhode Island....................... X ........................ X ...............
South Carolina..................... ............... ........................ ............... X
South Dakota....................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Tennessee.......................... ............... X ............... X
Texas.............................. ............... ........................ ............... X
Utah............................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Vermont............................ X ........................ X ...............
Virginia........................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Washington......................... ............... ........................ ............... X
West Virginia...................... ............... ........................ ............... X
Wisconsin.......................... ............... X ............... X
Wyoming............................ ............... ........................ ............... X
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Townships only.
\b\ Governmental townships only.
5. Population, Housing Unit, and Area Measurement Thresholds
The following are the population, housing unit, and area
measurement threshold criteria for block groups (as summarized in Table
2). The same population and housing unit thresholds apply to all types
of non-special use block groups, including those delineated for AIRs
and ORTLs, the Island Areas, and encompassing group quarters, military
installations, and institutions.
Table 2--Block Group Thresholds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Block group type Threshold types Minimum Maximum
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard & tribal block groups....... Population thresholds.. 600.................... 3000.
Housing unit thresholds.............. 240.................... ....................... 1,200.
Special use block groups............. Area measurement 1 square mile.......... none.
thresholds within an
urban area.
Area measurement 10 square miles........ none.
thresholds outside an
urban area.
-------------------------------------------------
Population thresholds.. None (or very little), or must be within the
standard block group thresholds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. 2010 Census population counts should be used in census block
group review in most cases. Housing unit counts should be used for
block groups in seasonal communities that have little or no population
on Census Day (April 1). Locally produced population and housing unit
estimates can be used when reviewing and updating block groups,
especially in areas that have experienced considerable growth since the
2010 Census.
[[Page 6940]]
b. The housing unit thresholds are based on a national average of
2.5 people per household. The Census Bureau recognizes that there are
regional variations to this average, and will take this into
consideration when reviewing all census block group proposals.
c. For the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will allow the
delineation of special use census tracts and special land use block
groups will be created coextensive with these special use census
tracts, but they are not required. A special use census tract, and
hence a special use block group, must be designated as a specific use
type (e.g., state park), must have an official name (e.g., Jay Cooke
State Park), have no (or very little) residential population or meet
population or housing unit thresholds, and must not create a
noncontiguous census tract/block group. In some instances, multiple
areas can be combined to form a single special land use census tract/
block group if the land management characteristics are similar, such as
a special land use census tract/block group comprising adjacent federal
and state parks. If the special land use census tract/block group is
delineated in a densely populated, urban area, the census tract/block
group must have an area of approximately one square mile or more. If
the special land use census tract/block group is delineated completely
outside an urban area, the census tract/block group must have an area
of approximately 10 square miles or more. Any resulting special use
census tract/block group should be at least as large in area as the
adjacent standard, populated census tracts/block groups.
6. Identification of Block Groups
a. A block group encompasses a cluster of census blocks. Each
standard block group is identified using a single-digit number that
will correspond to the first digit in the number of each census block
encompassed by the block group. For example, block group 3 includes all
census blocks numbered in the 3000 range within a single census tract.
b. The range of acceptable standard block group numbers is 1
through 9.
c. Block group numbers must be unique within a census tract.
7. Block Group Types
Table 3 provides a summary of the types of block groups (with their
respective population, housing unit, and area measurement thresholds)
that the Census Bureau will use for the 2020 Census.
Table 3--Summary of Block Group Types
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distinction from Population Housing unit Area measurement
Block group types standard block groups thresholds thresholds thresholds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard block groups.......... ...................... Min: 600......... Min: 240......... None.
Max: 3,000....... Max: 1,200.......
Tribal block groups............ Tribal block groups Min: 600......... Min: 240......... None.
are conceptually Max: 3,000....... Max: 1,200.......
similar and
equivalent to census
block groups defined
within the standard
state-county-tract-
block group
geographic hierarchy
used for tabulating
and publishing
statistical data.
Special use block groups....... A block group, usually None (or very None (or very Within an urban
coextensive with a little) or little) or area:
special census tract, within the within the min. 1 square
encompassing a large standard block standard block mile.
airport, public park, group thresholds. group thresholds. Outside an urban
public forest, or area:
large water body with min. 10 square
no (or very little) miles.
population or housing
units.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Tribal Block Groups
Tribal block groups are statistical geographic entities defined by
the Census Bureau in cooperation with tribal officials to provide
meaningful, relevant, and reliable data for small geographic areas
within the boundaries of federally recognized AIRs and/or ORTLs. As
such, they recognize the unique statistical data needs of federally
recognized American Indian tribes. The delineation of tribal block
groups allows for an unambiguous presentation of statistical data
specific to the federally recognized AIR and/or ORTL without the
imposition of state or county boundaries, which might artificially
separate American Indian populations located within a single AIR and/or
ORTL. To this end, the American Indian tribal participant may define
tribal block groups that cross county or state boundaries, or both. For
federally recognized American Indian tribes with AIRs and/or ORTLs that
have fewer than 1,200 residents, the Census Bureau will define one
tribal census tract and one tribal block group coextensive with the AIR
and/or ORTL. Tribal block groups must be delineated to meet all other
census block group criteria, and must be identified uniquely so as to
clearly distinguish them from county-based block groups. The Census
Bureau will address the type of identifiers required for tribal block
groups in more detail in a separate Federal Register notice pertaining
to all American Indian areas, including statistical areas defined
through PSAP. Tribal block group boundaries will be held as census
block boundaries. Census blocks, however, will be numbered uniquely
within county-based block groups and thus there will not be a direct
relationship between a tribal block group identifier and the census
block numbers. Tribal block groups are conceptually similar and
equivalent to census block groups defined within the standard state-
county-tract-block group geographic hierarchy used for tabulating and
publishing statistical data.
In order to provide meaningful statistical geographic areas within
the AIR and/or ORTL, as well as make meaningful and reliable data
available for these areas and their populations, tribal block group
geography is maintained separately from standard, county-based block
groups. This change was first introduced for the 2010 Census, creating
standard block groups nationwide and maintaining tribal block groups as
a completely separate set of geography from standard block groups for
both geographic and data presentation purposes, and eliminates, in
part, the reliability and availability data issues for the tribal block
groups
[[Page 6941]]
and the derived standard block groups that were present in Census
2000.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ For Census 2000, tribal block groups were defined for
federally recognized AIRs and/or ORTLs, and standard block groups
were identified by superimposing county and state boundaries onto
the Census 2000 tribal block groups. For Census 2000 products in
which data were presented by state and county, the standard state-
county-tract-block group hierarchy was maintained, even for
territory contained within an AIR and/or ORTL. In such instances,
the state-county portions of tribal block groups were identified as
individual block groups, and these standard block groups may not
have met the minimum population or housing unit thresholds,
potentially limiting sample data reliability or availability for
both the tribal block groups and the derived standard block groups.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As with standard block groups submitted through this program, the
tribal block groups are submitted to the Census Bureau, and are subject
to review to ensure compliance with the published criteria. Detailed
criteria pertaining to tribal block groups will be published in a
separate Federal Register notice pertaining to all American Indian
areas, including statistical areas defined through PSAP.
I. Definitions of Key Terms
Alaska Native Regional Corporation (ANRC)--A corporate geographic
area established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (Pub. L.
92-203, 85 Stat. 688 (1971)) to conduct both the business and nonprofit
affairs of Alaska Natives. Twelve ANRCs cover the entire State of
Alaska except for the Annette Island Reserve.
American Indian off-reservation trust land (ORTL)--An area of land
located outside the boundaries of an AIR, whose boundaries are
established by deed, and which are held in trust by the U.S. federal
government for a federally recognized American Indian tribe or members
of that tribe.
American Indian reservation (AIR)--An area of land with boundaries
established by final treaty, statute, executive order, and/or court
order and over which a federally recognized, American Indian tribal
government has governmental authority. Along with ``reservation''
designations such as colonies, communities, pueblos, rancherias, and
reserves apply to AIRs.
Census county division (CCD)--Areas delineated by the Census Bureau
in cooperation with state, tribal, and local officials for statistical
purposes. CCDs have no legal function and are not governmental units.
CCD boundaries usually follow visible features and usually coincide
with census tract boundaries. The name of each CCD is based on a place,
county, or well-known local name that identifies its location.
Conjoint--A description of a boundary line shared by two adjacent
geographic entities.
Contiguous--A description of areas sharing common boundary lines,
more than a single point, such that the areas, when combined, form a
single piece of territory. Noncontiguous areas form disjoint pieces.
Group quarters--A location where people live or stay in a group
living arrangement that is owned or managed by an entity or
organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. This
is not a typical household-type living arrangement. These services may
include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance,
and residency is commonly restricted to those receiving these services.
People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other.
Group quarters include such places as college residence halls,
residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes,
military barracks, correctional facilities, and workers' dormitories.
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,
generally to provide governmental services for a concentration of
people within legally prescribed boundaries.
Minor civil division (MCD)--The primary governmental or
administrative division of a county in 28 states and the Island Areas
having legal boundaries, names, and descriptions. The MCDs represent
many different types of legal entities with a wide variety of
characteristics, powers, and functions depending on the state and type
of MCD. In some states, some or all of the incorporated places also
constitute MCDs.
Nonvisible feature--A map feature that is not visible on the ground
and in imagery such as a city or county boundary through space, a
property line, or line-of-sight extension of a road.
Retracting--Substantially changing the boundaries of a census tract
so that comparability over time is not maintained.
Special use census tract/block group--Type of census tract or block
group that must be designated as a specific use type (e.g., state park
or large lake) and have an official name (e.g., Jay Cooke State Park or
Lake Minnetonka), should have no (or very little) population or housing
units, and must not create a noncontiguous census tract/block group. If
delineated in a densely populated, urban area, a special use census
tract/block group must have an area of at least one square mile. If
delineated completely outside an urban area, a special use census
tract/block group must have an area of at least 10 square miles.
Statistical geographic entity--A geographic entity that is
specially defined and delineated, such as block group, CDP, or census
tract, so that the Census Bureau may tabulate data for it. Designation
as a statistical entity neither conveys nor confers legal ownership,
entitlement, or jurisdictional authority.
Visible feature--A map feature that can be seen on the ground and
in imagery, such as a road, railroad track, major above-ground
transmission line or pipeline, river, stream, shoreline, fence, sharply
defined mountain ridge, or cliff. A nonstandard visible feature is a
feature that may not be clearly defined on the ground (such as a
ridge), may be seasonal (such as an intermittent stream), or may be
relatively impermanent (such as a fence). The Census Bureau generally
requests verification that nonstandard features used as boundaries for
the PSAP geographic areas pose no problem in their location during
field work.
Dated: January 31, 2018.
Ron S. Jarmin,
Associate Director for Economic Programs, Performing the Non-Exclusive
Functions and Duties of the Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2018-02624 Filed 2-14-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
