Census geography

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ECS-000258",
  "term": "Census geography",
  "field": "Economic statistics",
  "definition": "A collective term referring to the types of geographic areas used by the Census Bureau in its data collection and tabulation operations.\n\nThis diagram shows many geographic entities for which data are available from the Census Bureau.\n\nWith connecting lines, the diagram shows the hierarchical relationships between geographic types. For example, a line extends from states to counties because a state is comprised of many counties, and a county can never cross a state boundary.\n\nIf no line joins two geographic types, then an absolute and predictable relationship does not exist between them.\n\nFor example, many places do not cross a county boundary (that is, only one county). However, some places extend over more than one county like New York City. Therefore, an absolute hierarchical relationship does not exist between counties and places, and any tabulation involving both these geographic types may represent only a part of one county or one place.\n\nAs the diagram shows, many lines radiate from blocks, indicating that all geographic entities can be described as a collection of blocks, the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau reports data.",
  "references": [
    "U.S. Census Bureau Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/economic-statistics/census-geography/"
}