Census County Division (CCD) Program for Census 2000Final Criteria

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket No. 970501104-7271-02]

Census County Division (CCD) Program for Census 2000--Final

Criteria

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of final program.

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SUMMARY: Census county divisions (CCDs) are geographic statistical

entities established cooperatively by the Census Bureau and officials

of state and local governments in 21 states where minor civil divisions

(MCDs) either do not exist or are unsatisfactory for reporting

decennial census data. The primary goal of the CCD program is to

establish and maintain a set of subcounty units that have stable

boundaries and recognizable names. A CCD usually represents one or more

communities, trading centers, or, in some instances, major land uses.

It usually consists of a single geographic piece that is relatively

compact in shape. The geographic ``building blocks'' of CCDs are census

tracts, and many CCDs are groupings of several contiguous census

tracts.

Since the 1950s, the Census Bureau has worked with state and local

officials to create subcounty areas for the collection, presentation,

and analysis of census statistics in states where MCDs do not exist,

are not well-known locally, or are subject to frequent change. By 1990,

21 states had shifted to CCDs: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado,

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada,

New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,

Washington, and Wyoming. Once a state has replaced its MCDs with CCDs,

it usually keeps them throughout subsequent decennial censuses. For

Census 2000, all of the above 21 states will retain their CCDs.

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To maintain and update the boundaries and names of CCDs for Census

2000, the Census Bureau offers a program for state and local officials

to review and update their 1990 CCDs according to criteria developed

and promulgated by the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau then reviews

their CCD plans for conformance to these criteria.

The Census Bureau is now publishing the final CCD criteria proposed

for Census 2000. These criteria will apply only to states with CCDs.

The Census Bureau may modify and, if necessary, reject proposals for

any CCD changes that do not meet its criteria.

In addition to these final 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: The CCD criteria for Census 2000 become effective on February 9,

1998.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joel Morrison, Chief, Geography

Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233-7400, telephone

(301) 457-1132, or e-mail ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CCD criteria have evolved in response to

decennial census practices and the preferences of state and local

participants and data users. After each decennial census, the Census

Bureau, in consultation with program participants and data users,

reviews and revises these criteria. Then, before the next decennial

census, the Census Bureau offers participants and data users an

opportunity to correct, update, and otherwise improve their CCDs.

In July and August 1995, the Census Bureau issued invitations to

state and local groups and agencies to participate in the delineation

of statistical geographic areas for Census 2000. These included state

and regional planning agencies, councils of governments, and county

planning agencies.

By early 1998, the Census Bureau will provide maps and detailed

guidelines to program participants for the review and delineation of

CCDs for Census 2000.

Response to Comments

The Census Bureau issued a Notice of Proposed Program Revisions and

Request for Comments in the Federal Register (62 FR 27217) on Monday,

May 19, 1997. That notice solicited comments on the proposed criteria

changes for delineating CCDs for Census 2000. The Census Bureau

received comments from a State Data Center proposing major

modifications to CCDs on the basis of population size. In counties of

500,000 people or more, the proposal was to subdivide some CCDs with

very large populations. In smaller counties, the CCDs would be

consolidated into units with minimum populations from 20,000-30,000

people. In response, the Census Bureau indicated its willingness to

consider proposals to subdivide some of the most populous CCDs,

provided that such modifications did not violate the delineation

criteria. However, the Census Bureau could not agree to the minimum

population threshold of 20,000 people for a CCD, because such a major

consolidation would cause an unacceptable disruption of historical

comparability and a loss of name identification for many distinct

geographic regions within counties.

Executive Order 12866

This notice does not meet the criteria for a ``significant

regulatory action'' as specified in E.O. 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

Pursuant to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5

U.S.C. 605(b)), the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and

Regulation, Department of Commerce, certified to the Chief Counsel,

Small Business Administration, that this notice will not have a

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This notice sets forth the criteria for the delineation of CCDs for

Census 2000. These criteria will be used to establish and maintain a

set of subcounty areas for the collection, presentation, and analysis

of census statistics in states that have CCDs. Because CCDs are used

solely for statistical purposes, their delineation will not have a

significant economic impact on a substantial number of entities.

Final Program Requirements

A. Criteria for Delineating CCDs for Census 2000

The Census Bureau requires that CCDs--(1) have community

orientation, (2) have visible, stable boundaries, (3) conform to

groupings of census tracts, and (4) have recognizable names.

1. Community Orientation

Each CCD should focus on one or more communities or places and take

in the additional surrounding territory that is served by these in some

fashion. The definition of community should take into account factors

such as production, marketing, consumption, and the integrating factor

of local institutions.

The community on which a CCD is centered usually is an incorporated

place or a census designated place. In some cases, the CCD may be

centered on a major area of significantly different land use or

ownership, such as a large military base or American Indian

reservation. In other situations, a CCD can represent an area that is

physiographically different from the rest of the county. A CCD should

always consist of a single geographic piece that is relatively compact

in shape.

2. Visible, Stable Boundaries

A CCD should have easily locatable boundaries that seldom change.

These should be readily discernible in the field and easy to depict on

maps. This provision makes the location of boundaries less ambiguous

and easier for data users to locate. The following features are

acceptable:

County boundaries (always a CCD boundary).

Census tract boundaries, which usually follow visible,

perennial natural and cultural features, such as roads; rivers; canals;

railroads; above-ground, high-tension power lines; and so forth.

American Indian reservation boundaries.

Conjoint city limits (in certain situations).

When the above types of features are not available for selection,

the Census Bureau may, at its discretion, approve nonstandard visible

features, such as ridge lines, pipelines, intermittent streams, fence

lines, and so forth. The Census Bureau also may accept, on a case-by-

case basis, the boundaries of selected nonstandard and potentially

nonvisible features, such as the boundaries of national parks and

national forests, cemeteries or other special land-use properties; the

straight-line extensions of visible features; and other lines of sight.

3. Groupings of Census Tracts, CCD Population Size

A CCD should almost always consist of one census tract or a

combination of contiguous census tracts. Therefore, CCD boundaries

should conform to census tract boundaries. In counties that had block

numbering areas (BNAs) in 1990, program participants will be converting

the BNAs to census tracts. For these counties, the Census Bureau

strongly recommends adjusting the CCDs to conform to groupings of

census tracts. As an alternative, program participants may use the CCD

framework as a basis for establishing some or all of their census

tracts. It is permissible to use both approaches.

In a few exceptional situations, some CCD boundaries may not need

to follow census tract boundaries, and there may

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be two or more 1990 CCDs within one census tract. Usually, such

situations are limited to very sparsely populated counties with a large

land area.

Population size is not as important a consideration with CCDs as it

is with census tracts. Historically, CCDs have ranged from a few

hundred people (in selected situations) to more than one million.

However, insofar as possible, CCDs that are new for Census 2000 should

have a population of at least 1,500 people, the recommended minimum for

a census tract.

4. Name Identification

A CCD usually should be named after the largest population center

or place within it (Los Angeles). Sometimes a CCD name may represent

the two largest centers; for example, Bayard-Santa Rita. In some

situations, a CCD may be named after a prominent physical feature

(Castle Rock, Lake Mono, Pikes Peak ) or a distinctive region within

the county (Death Valley, Everglades, Lower Keys, Tellico Plains). In

other cases, a CCD name may consist of the county name and a compass

direction to indicate the portion of the county in the CCD, or a place

name and a compass direction to give the CCD location relative to the

place. The directional indicator usually precedes a county name, as in

Northwest Union. If a place name is used, the directional indicator

follows it; for example, Smithville North. In all cases, the objective

is to identify clearly the extent of the CCD by means of an area name;

CCD names always should be meaningful to data users.

5. Revisions to Existing CCDs

Some 1990 CCD boundaries have errors. Most of these involve small

areas where the CCD boundaries and census tract boundaries were

supposed to be conjoint but were not. The Census Bureau will bring

these specific situations to the attention of local participants and

request that they submit corrections.

The Census Bureau does not encourage state and local officials to

make major revisions to their CCDs, since the goal of the program is to

maintain a set of stable subcounty entities that allows data

comparability from census to census. However, updates and revisions may

be necessary in some instances, such as where there have been county

boundary changes, revisions to census tract boundaries, or as part of

the initial delineation of census tracts. Additionally, revisions to

CCD names may be necessary due to population changes within CCDs.

6. Final Approval of CCDs

The Census Bureau reserves the right to approve all CCD proposals

for Census 2000. The Census Bureau will make an effort to reach

agreement with local participants, but cannot approve the CCDs

submitted if the changes are unwarranted or do not meet Census 2000

criteria. If necessary, the Census Bureau will revise CCDs that do not

meet its requirements.

B. Changes to the Criteria for Census 2000

Most provisions of the CCD criteria remain unchanged from those

used in conjunction with the 1990 census. The only major change is the

shift to census tracts in all counties that had BNAs and the need to

adjust the CCDs in those counties to the boundaries of census tracts.

Definitions of Key Terms

American Indian reservation (AIR)--A federally recognized American

Indian entity with boundaries established by treaty, statute, and/or

executive or court order and over which American Indians have

governmental jurisdiction. Along with reservation, designations such as

colonies, communities, pueblos, rancherias, and reserves apply to AIRs.

Block numbering area (BNA)--A small-area, statistical geographic

division of a county or statistically equivalent area delineated in

1990 instead of and generally geographically equivalent to a census

tract. For Census 2000, the Census Bureau is merging the BNA program

with the census tract program and converting all BNAs to census tracts.

Census block--The smallest geographic entity for which the Census

Bureau collects and tabulates decennial census information, bounded on

all sides by visible and nonvisible features identified by the Census

Bureau in computer files and on maps.

Census designated place (CDP)--A locally recognized, closely

settled population center identified by name. The Census Bureau uses

CDPs to present data for localities that otherwise would not be

identified as places in its data products.

Census tract--A small, relatively permanent statistical geographic

subdivision of a county or statistically equivalent area defined for

the tabulation of data. For Census 2000, the Census Bureau is replacing

BNAs with census tracts.

Conjoint--A description of a boundary shared by two adjacent

geographic areas.

Contiguous--A description of geographic areas that are adjacent to

one another, sharing either a common boundary or point.

Incorporated place--A type of governmental unit, sanctioned by

state law as a city, town (except in New England, New York, and

Wisconsin), village, or borough (except in Alaska and New York) having

legally prescribed limits, powers, and functions.

Minor civil division (MCD)--The primary governmental or

administrative division of a county in 28 states, Puerto Rico, and the

Island Areas having legal boundaries, names, and descriptions. 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, such as a city or county boundary through space, a property

line, a short line-of-sight extension of a road, or a point-to-point

line of sight.

Special place--A specific location requiring special enumeration

because the location includes people not in households or the area

includes special land use. Special places include facilities with

resident population, such as correctional institutions, military

installations, college campuses, workers' dormitories, hospitals,

nursing homes, and group homes, and land-use areas such as national

parks. A special place includes the entire facility, including

nonresidential areas and staff housing units, as well as all group

quarters population.

Visible feature--A map feature that one can see on the ground, such

as a road, railroad track, above-ground transmission line, 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 are easily locatable.

Dated: November 19, 1997.

Bradford R. Huther,

Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Bureau of the Census.

[FR Doc. 98-543 Filed 1-8-98; 8:45 am]

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