83_FR_56504 83 FR 56285 - Census County Divisions (CCDs) and Equivalent Entities for the 2020 Census-Final Criteria

83 FR 56285 - Census County Divisions (CCDs) and Equivalent Entities for the 2020 Census-Final Criteria

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 219 (November 13, 2018)

Page Range56285-56287
FR Document2018-24566

Census county divisions (CCDs) and equivalent entities are statistical geographic 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 have been unsatisfactory for reporting statistical data. The primary goal of the CCD program has been to establish and maintain a set of subcounty units that have stable boundaries and recognizable names. The Census Bureau is publishing this notice in the Federal Register to announce final criteria and program implementation for defining CCDs for the 2020 Census. In addition to CCDs, the program also encompasses the review and update of census tracts, block groups, and census designated places (CDPs).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56285-56287]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24566]



[[Page 56285]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 180926887-8887-01]


Census County Divisions (CCDs) and Equivalent Entities for the 
2020 Census--Final Criteria

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of final criteria and program implementation.

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SUMMARY: Census county divisions (CCDs) and equivalent entities are 
statistical geographic 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 have been 
unsatisfactory for reporting statistical data. The primary goal of the 
CCD program has been to establish and maintain a set of subcounty units 
that have stable boundaries and recognizable names. The Census Bureau 
is publishing this notice in the Federal Register to announce final 
criteria and program implementation for defining CCDs for the 2020 
Census. In addition to CCDs, the program also encompasses the review 
and update of census tracts, block groups, and census designated places 
(CDPs).

DATES: This notice's final criteria will be effective on December 13, 
2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information on 
this program should be directed to the Geographic Standards, Criteria, 
and Quality Branch, Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau, via email 
at geo.psap.list@census.gov or telephone at 301-763-3056.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Census county divisions (CCDs) and equivalent entities are 
statistical geographic entities established cooperatively by the Census 
Bureau and officials of state and local governments in 21 states \1\ 
where minor civil divisions (MCDs) either do not exist or have been 
unsatisfactory for reporting statistical data. The primary goal of the 
CCD program has been to establish and maintain a set of subcounty \2\ 
units that have stable boundaries and recognizable names.
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    \1\ In Alaska, census subareas are county subdivisions 
equivalent to CCDs. For purposes of this notice, the term CCD also 
refers to census subareas in Alaska.
    \2\ 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. This notice will refer to all these entities collectively as 
``counties''.
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    The Census Bureau is publishing this notice in the Federal Register 
to announce final criteria for defining CCDs for the 2020 Census. The 
Census Bureau did not receive any comments in response to proposed 
criteria published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2018 (83 FR 
6932). After publication of final criteria 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 CCDs in their geographic area under the 
Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP). In addition to CCDs, the 
program also encompasses the review and update of census tracts, block 
groups, and census designated places (CDPs).

I. History

    When CCDs were introduced prior to the 1950 Census, few 
alternatives were available for the provision of statistical data 
related to relatively stable, subcounty geographic units. Census tracts 
were defined in only a subset of metropolitan area counties. MCDs 
existed in all counties, but in some states MCD boundaries changed 
frequently enough that they were not useful for comparing statistical 
data from one decade to another.
    For much of the period from the 1950 Census through the 1980 
Census, county subdivisions (MCDs and CCDs) provided the only subcounty 
unit of geography at which data users could obtain statistical data for 
complete coverage of counties nationwide. The introduction of block 
numbering areas (BNAs) in counties without census tracts for the 1990 
Census offered an alternate subcounty entity for which data could be 
tabulated. For Census 2000, the Census Bureau introduced census tracts 
nationwide (in many counties, BNAs were simply relabeled as ``census 
tracts''), increasing the dissemination of, and ability to analyze, 
data at the census tract level, and providing an alternative set of 
subcounty statistical geographic areas in each county in addition to 
MCDs and CCDs. Nevertheless, CCDs and MCDs remain useful for presenting 
subcounty statistics and, in less populous counties containing only one 
or two census tracts, can provide greater spatial resolution when 
analyzing the distribution of population and characteristics.

II. Summary of Comments Received in Response to the Proposed Criteria

    The Census Bureau's proposed criteria for the 2020 Census were 
unchanged from the final criteria used to delineate CCDs for the 2010 
Census. The Census Bureau did not receive any comments in response to 
the proposed criteria published in the Federal Register published on 
February 15, 2018 (83 FR 6932). As a result, the proposed criteria are 
adopted as final criteria with only minor clarifying changes and an 
update for a population figure used as an example.

III. General Principles and Criteria for CCDs for the 2020 Census

    The criteria outlined herein apply to the United States,\3\ Puerto 
Rico, and the Island Areas.\4\
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    \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.
    \4\ The Island Areas include the U.S. territories American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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A. General Principles

    1. The primary goal of the CCD program is to establish and maintain 
a set of subcounty units that have stable boundaries and recognizable 
names. The boundaries of CCDs usually coincide with visible features or 
stable, significant legal boundaries, such as the boundary of an 
American Indian reservation (AIR), federally managed land, or conjoint 
incorporated places. CCDs have no legal status as statistical 
geographic entities and are defined only for the tabulation and 
presentation of statistical data.
    2. A CCD usually represents a single contiguous area consisting of 
one or more communities, economic centers, or, in some instances, major 
land uses that are relatively compact in shape.
    3. A CCD should have a relationship to existing census tracts, 
either encompassing one or more census tracts or having two or more 
CCDs nest within a single census tract. The boundaries of a CCD, or 
combination of nested CCDs, align with census tract boundaries. Note 
that a county with a population less than the optimum population for a 
census tract (less than 4,000 people) may contain more CCDs than census 
tracts. For example, McCone County, Montana, which has a 2017 estimated 
population of 1,718, contains only one

[[Page 56286]]

census tract, but is divided into two CCDs.
    4. Since the 1950s, the Census Bureau has worked with state and 
local officials to replace MCDs with CCDs for the collection, 
presentation, and analysis of Census Bureau data, particularly in 
states in which MCDs do not provide governmental services and 
functions, and in which MCD boundaries tend to change between decennial 
censuses. For the 2020 Census, CCDs are defined in 21 states: Alabama, 
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, 
South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. North Dakota 
adopted CCDs for use in tabulating and presenting data from the 1970 
Census. Following the 1970 Census, North Dakota requested that the 
Census Bureau again use MCDs to tabulate and present statistical data. 
For the 2010 Census, Tennessee requested that the Census Bureau replace 
its CCDs with county commissioner districts, a type of legal, 
administrative MCD.

B. Criteria

    CCDs should (1) have community orientation, (2) have visible and/or 
stable boundaries, (3) maintain relationships with census tract 
boundaries, and (4) have recognizable names.
1. Community Orientation
    Each CCD should center on one or more places and encompass 
additional surrounding territory that together form a cohesive 
community area. The definition of community should take into account 
factors, such as production, marketing, consumption, and the 
integrating factor of local institutions.
    The locality on which a CCD is centered usually is an incorporated 
place or an unincorporated community, which might be identified as a 
CDP. In some cases, the CCD may center on a major area of significantly 
different topography, land use, or ownership, such as a large military 
installation or AIR. A CCD should always comprise a reasonably compact, 
continuous land area, generally with road access to all areas within 
the CCD.
2. Visible and/or Stable Boundaries
    To make the location of CCD boundaries less ambiguous, the 
boundaries should follow, wherever possible, visible and identifiable 
features. The use of visible features makes it easier to locate and 
identify CCD boundaries over time, as the locations of most visible 
features in the landscape change infrequently, making data collection 
easier and more reliable, while reducing the possibility for data 
allocation errors. The Census Bureau requires that CCDs follow state 
and county boundaries, conform to census tract boundaries, and allows 
CCDs to follow the boundaries of federally recognized AIRs, and 
federal, state, or locally managed land.
    The following features are acceptable:
    a. County boundaries (always a CCD boundary);
    b. Census tract boundaries, which usually follow visible, 
perennial, natural, and cultural features, such as roads, rivers, 
canals, railroads, or above-ground, high-tension power lines;
    c. Legally defined, federally recognized AIR boundaries;
    d. The boundaries of federal, state, or locally managed land, such 
as national parks, national monuments, national forests, other types of 
large parks or forests, airports, marine ports, prisons, military 
installations, or other large facilities;
    e. Conjoint city limits (in certain situations, such as city limits 
that change infrequently); and,
    f. When the above types of features are not available for use as 
CCD boundaries, the Census Bureau may, at its discretion, approve other 
nonstandard, visible features, such as ridge lines, above-ground 
pipelines, streams, or fence lines. The Census Bureau may also accept, 
on a case-by-case basis, the boundaries of selected nonstandard and 
potentially nonvisible features, such as the boundaries of cemeteries, 
golf courses, glaciers, or the straight-line extensions of visible 
features and other lines-of-sight.
3. Census Tract Boundaries and Population Size
    Whenever possible, a CCD should encompass one or more contiguous 
census tracts, or multiple CCDs should constitute a single census 
tract. Therefore, CCD boundaries should be consistent with census tract 
boundaries. Population size is not as important a consideration with 
CCDs as it is with census tracts. For CCDs that do not meet the 
thresholds for a census tract, the Census Bureau encourages creating 
one or more block groups within a census tract that encompass a CCD. 
Historically, CCDs have ranged from a few hundred people (in selected 
situations) to more than one million. However, data quality and 
availability may be factors that local governments and planners should 
consider in defining statistical geographic areas. As a general rule, 
period estimates of demographic characteristics of small population 
areas from the American Community Survey will be subject to higher 
variances than comparable period estimates for areas with larger 
populations. In addition, the Census Bureau's disclosure rules may have 
the effect of restricting the availability and amount of data for areas 
with small populations.
4. Name Identification
    a. The names of existing CCDs shall not be changed unless a 
compelling reason is provided, such as when the name from which the CCD 
was derived has changed, as in the case of Bainbridge Island, 
Washington, when the name of the city (Winslow) changed;
    b. A new CCD usually is named after the largest population center 
or historically central place within it (e.g., Taos, Hobbs, or Zuni 
Pueblo, New Mexico);
    c. Where a CCD contains multiple centers with relatively equal 
importance, a CCD name may represent the two or three centers (e.g., 
Mount Pleasant-Moroni, Utah);
    d. A CCD may be named after the AIR (e.g., Hualapai, Arizona or Nez 
Perce, Idaho) or a prominent land use area (e.g., Federal Reservation, 
Washington or Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming) in which it is 
significantly or wholly located;
    e. A CCD may be named after a prominent physical feature (e.g., 
Mount Rainier, Washington) or a distinctive region within the county 
(e.g., Death Valley, California; Everglades or Lower Keys, Florida); 
and,
    f. If there is no clear cultural focus or topographic name that can 
be applied, a CCD name shall 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 precedes a county name (e.g., 
Northeast Cobb, Georgia). If a place name is used, the directional 
indicator follows it (e.g., Del Rio Northwest, Texas).
    In all cases, the objective is to clearly identify the extent of 
the CCD by means of an area name since CCD names always should be 
meaningful to data users. Any name used as a CCD name must also be 
recognized by the Board on Geographic Names for federal use and appear 
in the Geographic Names Information System maintained by the U.S. 
Geological Survey. This includes any individual names combined to make 
a hyphenated CCD name.

[[Page 56287]]

III. Definitions of Key Terms

    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.
    Block group--A statistical subdivision of a census tract consisting 
of all census blocks whose numbers begin with the same digit in a 
census tract. A block group is the smallest geographic entity for which 
the Census Bureau normally tabulates sample data.
    Census block--A geographic area bounded by visible and/or invisible 
features shown on a map prepared by the Census Bureau. A block is the 
smallest geographic entity for which the Census Bureau tabulates and 
publishes decennial census data.
    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, 
country, or well-known local name that identify its location.
    Census designated place (CDP)--A statistical geographic entity 
equivalent to an incorporated place with a concentration of population, 
housing, and commercial and nonresidential structures that is 
identifiable by name, but is not within an incorporated place.
    Census tract--A small, relatively permanent statistical geographic 
division of a county defined for the tabulation and publication of 
Census Bureau data. The primary goal of census tracts is to provide a 
set of nationally consistent, relatively small, statistical geographic 
units, with stable boundaries that facilitate analysis of data across 
time and between decennial censuses.
    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.
    Federally managed land--Territory that is federally owned and/or 
administered by an agency of the U.S. federal government, such as the 
National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Department of 
Defense.
    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.
    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: October 30, 2018.
Ron S. Jarmin,
Deputy Director, Performing the Non-Exclusive Functions and Duties of 
the Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2018-24566 Filed 11-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P



                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 13, 2018 / Notices                                                   56285

                                              DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  have stable boundaries and recognizable               resolution when analyzing the
                                                                                                      names.                                                distribution of population and
                                              Bureau of the Census                                       The Census Bureau is publishing this               characteristics.
                                              [Docket Number 180926887–8887–01]
                                                                                                      notice in the Federal Register to
                                                                                                      announce final criteria for defining                  II. Summary of Comments Received in
                                                                                                      CCDs for the 2020 Census. The Census                  Response to the Proposed Criteria
                                              Census County Divisions (CCDs) and
                                              Equivalent Entities for the 2020                        Bureau did not receive any comments in                  The Census Bureau’s proposed
                                              Census—Final Criteria                                   response to proposed criteria published               criteria for the 2020 Census were
                                                                                                      in the Federal Register on February 15,               unchanged from the final criteria used
                                              AGENCY: Bureau of the Census,                           2018 (83 FR 6932). After publication of               to delineate CCDs for the 2010 Census.
                                              Commerce.                                               final criteria in the Federal Register, the           The Census Bureau did not receive any
                                              ACTION: Notice of final criteria and                    Census Bureau will offer designated                   comments in response to the proposed
                                              program implementation.                                 governments or organizations an                       criteria published in the Federal
                                                                                                      opportunity to review and, if necessary,              Register published on February 15, 2018
                                              SUMMARY:    Census county divisions                     suggest updates to the boundaries and                 (83 FR 6932). As a result, the proposed
                                              (CCDs) and equivalent entities are                      attributes of CCDs in their geographic                criteria are adopted as final criteria with
                                              statistical geographic entities                         area under the Participant Statistical                only minor clarifying changes and an
                                              established cooperatively by the Census                 Areas Program (PSAP). In addition to                  update for a population figure used as
                                              Bureau and officials of state and local                 CCDs, the program also encompasses                    an example.
                                              governments in 21 states where minor                    the review and update of census tracts,
                                              civil divisions (MCDs) either do not                    block groups, and census designated                   III. General Principles and Criteria for
                                              exist or have been unsatisfactory for                   places (CDPs).                                        CCDs for the 2020 Census
                                              reporting statistical data. The primary                                                                          The criteria outlined herein apply to
                                              goal of the CCD program has been to                     I. History
                                                                                                                                                            the United States,3 Puerto Rico, and the
                                              establish and maintain a set of                            When CCDs were introduced prior to                 Island Areas.4
                                              subcounty units that have stable                        the 1950 Census, few alternatives were
                                              boundaries and recognizable names.                      available for the provision of statistical            A. General Principles
                                              The Census Bureau is publishing this                    data related to relatively stable,                       1. The primary goal of the CCD
                                              notice in the Federal Register to                       subcounty geographic units. Census                    program is to establish and maintain a
                                              announce final criteria and program                     tracts were defined in only a subset of               set of subcounty units that have stable
                                              implementation for defining CCDs for                    metropolitan area counties. MCDs                      boundaries and recognizable names.
                                              the 2020 Census. In addition to CCDs,                   existed in all counties, but in some                  The boundaries of CCDs usually
                                              the program also encompasses the                        states MCD boundaries changed                         coincide with visible features or stable,
                                              review and update of census tracts,                     frequently enough that they were not                  significant legal boundaries, such as the
                                              block groups, and census designated                     useful for comparing statistical data                 boundary of an American Indian
                                              places (CDPs).                                          from one decade to another.                           reservation (AIR), federally managed
                                              DATES: This notice’s final criteria will be                For much of the period from the 1950               land, or conjoint incorporated places.
                                              effective on December 13, 2018.                         Census through the 1980 Census, county                CCDs have no legal status as statistical
                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        subdivisions (MCDs and CCDs)                          geographic entities and are defined only
                                              Requests for additional information on                  provided the only subcounty unit of                   for the tabulation and presentation of
                                              this program should be directed to the                  geography at which data users could                   statistical data.
                                              Geographic Standards, Criteria, and                     obtain statistical data for complete                     2. A CCD usually represents a single
                                              Quality Branch, Geography Division,                     coverage of counties nationwide. The                  contiguous area consisting of one or
                                              U.S. Census Bureau, via email at                        introduction of block numbering areas                 more communities, economic centers,
                                              geo.psap.list@census.gov or telephone at                (BNAs) in counties without census                     or, in some instances, major land uses
                                              301–763–3056.                                           tracts for the 1990 Census offered an                 that are relatively compact in shape.
                                                                                                      alternate subcounty entity for which                     3. A CCD should have a relationship
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                      data could be tabulated. For Census                   to existing census tracts, either
                                              Background                                              2000, the Census Bureau introduced                    encompassing one or more census tracts
                                                Census county divisions (CCDs) and                    census tracts nationwide (in many                     or having two or more CCDs nest within
                                              equivalent entities are statistical                     counties, BNAs were simply relabeled                  a single census tract. The boundaries of
                                              geographic entities established                         as ‘‘census tracts’’), increasing the                 a CCD, or combination of nested CCDs,
                                              cooperatively by the Census Bureau and                  dissemination of, and ability to analyze,             align with census tract boundaries. Note
                                              officials of state and local governments                data at the census tract level, and                   that a county with a population less
                                              in 21 states 1 where minor civil                        providing an alternative set of                       than the optimum population for a
                                              divisions (MCDs) either do not exist or                 subcounty statistical geographic areas in             census tract (less than 4,000 people)
                                              have been unsatisfactory for reporting                  each county in addition to MCDs and                   may contain more CCDs than census
                                              statistical data. The primary goal of the               CCDs. Nevertheless, CCDs and MCDs                     tracts. For example, McCone County,
                                              CCD program has been to establish and                   remain useful for presenting subcounty                Montana, which has a 2017 estimated
                                              maintain a set of subcounty 2 units that                statistics and, in less populous counties             population of 1,718, contains only one
                                                                                                      containing only one or two census
                                                                                                      tracts, can provide greater spatial
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                                 1 In Alaska, census subareas are county                                                                      3 For Census Bureau purposes, the United States

                                              subdivisions equivalent to CCDs. For purposes of                                                              typically refers to only the fifty states and the
                                              this notice, the term CCD also refers to census         islands in American Samoa; districts in the U.S.      District of Columbia, and does not include the U.S.
                                              subareas in Alaska.                                     Virgin Islands; municipalities in the                 territories (Puerto Rico, the Island Areas, and the
                                                 2 For the Census Bureau’s purposes, the term         Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;         U.S. Minor Outlying Islands.
                                              ‘‘county’’ includes parishes in Louisiana; boroughs,    municipios in Puerto Rico; and the areas                4 The Island Areas include the U.S. territories

                                              city and boroughs, municipalities, and census areas     constituting the District of Columbia and Guam.       American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
                                              in Alaska; independent cities in Maryland,              This notice will refer to all these entities          Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S.
                                              Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia; districts and           collectively as ‘‘counties’’.                         Virgin Islands.



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                                              56286                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 13, 2018 / Notices

                                              census tract, but is divided into two                   landscape change infrequently, making                 population areas from the American
                                              CCDs.                                                   data collection easier and more reliable,             Community Survey will be subject to
                                                 4. Since the 1950s, the Census Bureau                while reducing the possibility for data               higher variances than comparable
                                              has worked with state and local officials               allocation errors. The Census Bureau                  period estimates for areas with larger
                                              to replace MCDs with CCDs for the                       requires that CCDs follow state and                   populations. In addition, the Census
                                              collection, presentation, and analysis of               county boundaries, conform to census                  Bureau’s disclosure rules may have the
                                              Census Bureau data, particularly in                     tract boundaries, and allows CCDs to                  effect of restricting the availability and
                                              states in which MCDs do not provide                     follow the boundaries of federally                    amount of data for areas with small
                                              governmental services and functions,                    recognized AIRs, and federal, state, or               populations.
                                              and in which MCD boundaries tend to                     locally managed land.
                                              change between decennial censuses. For                     The following features are acceptable:             4. Name Identification
                                              the 2020 Census, CCDs are defined in 21                    a. County boundaries (always a CCD
                                                                                                                                                               a. The names of existing CCDs shall
                                              states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,                       boundary);
                                                                                                         b. Census tract boundaries, which                  not be changed unless a compelling
                                              California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida,                                                                      reason is provided, such as when the
                                              Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky,                       usually follow visible, perennial,
                                                                                                      natural, and cultural features, such as               name from which the CCD was derived
                                              Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,                                                                                  has changed, as in the case of
                                              Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina,                       roads, rivers, canals, railroads, or above-
                                                                                                      ground, high-tension power lines;                     Bainbridge Island, Washington, when
                                              Texas, Utah, Washington, and                                                                                  the name of the city (Winslow) changed;
                                              Wyoming. North Dakota adopted CCDs                         c. Legally defined, federally
                                              for use in tabulating and presenting data               recognized AIR boundaries;                               b. A new CCD usually is named after
                                              from the 1970 Census. Following the                        d. The boundaries of federal, state, or            the largest population center or
                                              1970 Census, North Dakota requested                     locally managed land, such as national                historically central place within it (e.g.,
                                              that the Census Bureau again use MCDs                   parks, national monuments, national                   Taos, Hobbs, or Zuni Pueblo, New
                                              to tabulate and present statistical data.               forests, other types of large parks or                Mexico);
                                              For the 2010 Census, Tennessee                          forests, airports, marine ports, prisons,                c. Where a CCD contains multiple
                                              requested that the Census Bureau                        military installations, or other large                centers with relatively equal
                                              replace its CCDs with county                            facilities;                                           importance, a CCD name may represent
                                              commissioner districts, a type of legal,                   e. Conjoint city limits (in certain                the two or three centers (e.g., Mount
                                              administrative MCD.                                     situations, such as city limits that                  Pleasant-Moroni, Utah);
                                                                                                      change infrequently); and,
                                              B. Criteria                                                f. When the above types of features                   d. A CCD may be named after the AIR
                                                                                                      are not available for use as CCD                      (e.g., Hualapai, Arizona or Nez Perce,
                                                CCDs should (1) have community
                                                                                                      boundaries, the Census Bureau may, at                 Idaho) or a prominent land use area
                                              orientation, (2) have visible and/or
                                                                                                      its discretion, approve other                         (e.g., Federal Reservation, Washington
                                              stable boundaries, (3) maintain
                                                                                                      nonstandard, visible features, such as                or Yellowstone National Park,
                                              relationships with census tract
                                                                                                      ridge lines, above-ground pipelines,                  Wyoming) in which it is significantly or
                                              boundaries, and (4) have recognizable
                                                                                                      streams, or fence lines. The Census                   wholly located;
                                              names.
                                                                                                      Bureau may also accept, on a case-by-                    e. A CCD may be named after a
                                              1. Community Orientation                                case basis, the boundaries of selected                prominent physical feature (e.g., Mount
                                                 Each CCD should center on one or                     nonstandard and potentially nonvisible                Rainier, Washington) or a distinctive
                                              more places and encompass additional                    features, such as the boundaries of                   region within the county (e.g., Death
                                              surrounding territory that together form                cemeteries, golf courses, glaciers, or the            Valley, California; Everglades or Lower
                                              a cohesive community area. The                          straight-line extensions of visible                   Keys, Florida); and,
                                              definition of community should take                     features and other lines-of-sight.
                                                                                                                                                               f. If there is no clear cultural focus or
                                              into account factors, such as production,               3. Census Tract Boundaries and                        topographic name that can be applied,
                                              marketing, consumption, and the                         Population Size                                       a CCD name shall consist of the county
                                              integrating factor of local institutions.                                                                     name and a compass direction to
                                                 The locality on which a CCD is                          Whenever possible, a CCD should
                                                                                                      encompass one or more contiguous                      indicate the portion of the county in the
                                              centered usually is an incorporated
                                                                                                      census tracts, or multiple CCDs should                CCD or a place name and a compass
                                              place or an unincorporated community,
                                                                                                      constitute a single census tract.                     direction to give the CCD location
                                              which might be identified as a CDP. In
                                                                                                      Therefore, CCD boundaries should be                   relative to the place. The directional
                                              some cases, the CCD may center on a
                                                                                                      consistent with census tract boundaries.              indicator precedes a county name (e.g.,
                                              major area of significantly different
                                                                                                      Population size is not as important a                 Northeast Cobb, Georgia). If a place
                                              topography, land use, or ownership,
                                                                                                      consideration with CCDs as it is with                 name is used, the directional indicator
                                              such as a large military installation or
                                                                                                      census tracts. For CCDs that do not meet              follows it (e.g., Del Rio Northwest,
                                              AIR. A CCD should always comprise a
                                                                                                      the thresholds for a census tract, the                Texas).
                                              reasonably compact, continuous land
                                              area, generally with road access to all                 Census Bureau encourages creating one                    In all cases, the objective is to clearly
                                              areas within the CCD.                                   or more block groups within a census                  identify the extent of the CCD by means
                                                                                                      tract that encompass a CCD.                           of an area name since CCD names
                                              2. Visible and/or Stable Boundaries                     Historically, CCDs have ranged from a                 always should be meaningful to data
                                                 To make the location of CCD                          few hundred people (in selected                       users. Any name used as a CCD name
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                                              boundaries less ambiguous, the                          situations) to more than one million.                 must also be recognized by the Board on
                                              boundaries should follow, wherever                      However, data quality and availability                Geographic Names for federal use and
                                              possible, visible and identifiable                      may be factors that local governments                 appear in the Geographic Names
                                              features. The use of visible features                   and planners should consider in                       Information System maintained by the
                                              makes it easier to locate and identify                  defining statistical geographic areas. As             U.S. Geological Survey. This includes
                                              CCD boundaries over time, as the                        a general rule, period estimates of                   any individual names combined to
                                              locations of most visible features in the               demographic characteristics of small                  make a hyphenated CCD name.


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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 13, 2018 / Notices                                           56287

                                              III. Definitions of Key Terms                              Incorporated place—A type of                       take this opportunity to comment on
                                                 American Indian reservation (AIR)—                   governmental unit, incorporated under                 proposed and/or continuing information
                                              An area of land with boundaries                         state law as a city, town (except in New              collections, as required by the
                                              established by final treaty, statute,                   England, New York, and Wisconsin),                    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
                                              executive order, and/or court order and                 borough (except in Alaska and New                     DATES: To ensure consideration, written
                                              over which a federally recognized                       York), or village, generally to provide               comments must be submitted on or
                                              American Indian tribal government has                   governmental services for a                           before January 14, 2019.
                                              governmental authority. Along with                      concentration of people within legally                ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
                                              ‘‘reservation,’’ designations such as                   prescribed boundaries.                                to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
                                              colonies, communities, pueblos,                            Minor civil division (MCD)—The                     Paperwork Clearance Officer,
                                              rancherias, and reserves apply to AIRs.                 primary governmental or administrative                Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
                                                 Block group—A statistical subdivision                division of a county in 28 states and the             14th and Constitution Avenue NW,
                                              of a census tract consisting of all census              Island Areas having legal boundaries,                 Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
                                              blocks whose numbers begin with the                     names, and descriptions. The MCDs                     internet at docpra@doc.gov). You may
                                              same digit in a census tract. A block                   represent many different types of legal               also submit comments, identified by
                                              group is the smallest geographic entity                 entities with a wide variety of                       Docket Number USBC–2018–0016 to the
                                              for which the Census Bureau normally                    characteristics, powers, and functions                Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://
                                              tabulates sample data.                                  depending on the state and type of                    www.regulations.gov. All comments
                                                 Census block—A geographic area                       MCD. In some states, some or all of the               received are part of the public record.
                                              bounded by visible and/or invisible                     incorporated places also constitute                   No comments will be posted to http://
                                              features shown on a map prepared by                     MCDs.                                                 www.regulations.gov for public viewing
                                              the Census Bureau. A block is the                          Nonvisible feature—A map feature                   until after the comment period has
                                              smallest geographic entity for which the                that is not visible on the ground and in              closed. Comments will generally be
                                              Census Bureau tabulates and publishes                   imagery such as a city or county                      posted without change. All Personally
                                              decennial census data.                                  boundary through space, a property                    Identifiable Information (for example,
                                                 Census county division (CCD)—Areas                   line, or line-of-sight extension of a road.           name and address) voluntarily
                                              delineated by the Census Bureau in                         Visible feature—A map feature that                 submitted by the commenter may be
                                              cooperation with state, tribal, and local               can be seen on the ground and in                      publicly accessible. Do not submit
                                              officials for statistical purposes. CCDs                imagery, such as a road, railroad track,              Confidential Business Information or
                                              have no legal function and are not                      major above-ground transmission line or               otherwise sensitive or protected
                                              governmental units. CCD boundaries                      pipeline, river, stream, shoreline, fence,            information. You may submit
                                              usually follow visible features and                     sharply defined mountain ridge, or cliff.             attachments to electronic comments in
                                              usually coincide with census tract                      A nonstandard visible feature is a                    Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or
                                              boundaries. The name of each CCD is                     feature that may not be clearly defined               Adobe PDF file formats only.
                                              based on a place, country, or well-                     on the ground (such as a ridge), may be               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                              known local name that identify its                      seasonal (such as an intermittent                     Requests for additional information or
                                              location.                                               stream), or may be relatively
                                                 Census designated place (CDP)—A                                                                            copies of the information collection
                                                                                                      impermanent (such as a fence). The                    instrument(s) and instructions should
                                              statistical geographic entity equivalent                Census Bureau generally requests
                                              to an incorporated place with a                                                                               be directed to Leah Meyer, U.S. Census
                                                                                                      verification that nonstandard features                Bureau, ADDP, HQ–7H157, 4600 Silver
                                              concentration of population, housing,                   used as boundaries for the PSAP
                                              and commercial and nonresidential                                                                             Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233–0001
                                                                                                      geographic areas pose no problem in                   (301–763–7174 or via email at
                                              structures that is identifiable by name,                their location during field work.
                                              but is not within an incorporated place.                                                                      Leah.Meyer@census.gov).
                                                 Census tract—A small, relatively                       Dated: October 30, 2018.                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                              permanent statistical geographic                        Ron S. Jarmin,
                                                                                                                                                            I. Abstract
                                              division of a county defined for the                    Deputy Director, Performing the Non-
                                              tabulation and publication of Census                    Exclusive Functions and Duties of the                    Sponsored primarily by the U.S.
                                              Bureau data. The primary goal of census                 Director, Bureau of the Census.                       Department of Health and Human
                                              tracts is to provide a set of nationally                [FR Doc. 2018–24566 Filed 11–9–18; 8:45 am]           Services’ (HHS) Health Resources
                                              consistent, relatively small, statistical               BILLING CODE 3510–07–P                                Services Administration’s Maternal and
                                              geographic units, with stable boundaries                                                                      Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB), the
                                              that facilitate analysis of data across                                                                       National Survey of Children’s Health
                                              time and between decennial censuses.                    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                (NSCH) is designed to produce data on
                                                 Conjoint—A description of a                                                                                the physical and emotional health of
                                              boundary line shared by two adjacent                    Census Bureau                                         children under 18 years of age who live
                                              geographic entities.                                                                                          in the United States. The United States
                                                                                                      Proposed Information Collection;                      Department of Agriculture (USDA),
                                                 Contiguous—A description of areas
                                                                                                      Comment Request; National Survey of                   Environmental Protection Agency
                                              sharing common boundary lines, more
                                                                                                      Children’s Health                                     (EPA), and United States Department of
                                              than a single point, such that the areas,
                                              when combined, form a single piece of                   AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau,                           Health and Human Services’ Center for
                                              territory. Noncontiguous areas form                     Commerce.                                             Disease Control and Prevention,
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                                              disjoint pieces.                                        ACTION: Notice.                                       National Center on Birth Defects and
                                                 Federally managed land—Territory                                                                           Developmental Disabilities (HHS/CDC/
                                              that is federally owned and/or                          SUMMARY:    The Department of                         NCBDDD) sponsor supplemental
                                              administered by an agency of the U.S.                   Commerce, as part of its continuing                   questions on the NSCH. The NSCH
                                              federal government, such as the                         effort to reduce paperwork and                        collects information on factors related to
                                              National Park Service, Bureau of Land                   respondent burden, invites the general                the well-being of children, including
                                              Management, or Department of Defense.                   public and other Federal agencies to                  access to health care, in-home medical


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Document Created: 2018-11-10 03:18:17
Document Modified: 2018-11-10 03:18:17
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of final criteria and program implementation.
DatesThis notice's final criteria will be effective on December 13, 2018.
ContactRequests for additional information on this program should be directed to the Geographic Standards, Criteria, and Quality Branch, Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau, via email at [email protected] or telephone at 301-763-3056.
FR Citation83 FR 56285 

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