Census county division

A Census County Division (CCD) is a subdivision of a county used by the United States Census Bureau for the purpose of presenting statistical data. A CCD is a relatively permanent statistical area delineated cooperatively by the Census Bureau and state and local government authorities. CCDs are defined in states that do not have well-defined and stable minor civil divisions (e.g., townships) that have local governmental purposes. [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/cs_metadata.html County Subdivisions Cartographic Boundary Files Descriptions and Metadata] , U.S. Census Bureau website, accessed August 16, 2008]

CCDs were first implemented for tabulation of 1950 Census data from the state of Washington. As of the 1990 census, a total of 5,581 CCDs were defined in 21 states. [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/GARM/Ch8GARM.pdf Chapter 8: County Subdivisions] , U.S. Census Bureau, "Geographic Areas Reference Manual", November 1994]

North Dakota, briefly adopted CCDs for the 1970 Census, but soon returned to using Minor Civil Divisions (MCD) for subsequent censuses. The main reason for abandoning CCDs was financial. As legal units of local government, MCDs can qualify for federal revenue sharing funds, while purely statistical areas like CCDs do not.

The boundaries of a CCD usually follow visible features, and coincide with census tract boundaries. The name of a CCD is based on a local place name or a county name that identifies the area's location.

References

External links

* [http://www.census.gov/ U.S. Census Bureau]
* [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/GARM/Ch8GARM.pdf Chapter 8: County Subdivisions] , U.S. Census Bureau, Geographic Areas Reference Manual (PDF)