Secondary Marketing Research Certificate

Find links to resources and questions to guide your exploration.

Census Geographies

Geography provides the framework for survey design, sample selection, data collection, tabulation, and dissemination.

The standard hierarchy of census geographic entities displays the relationships between legal, administrative, and statistical boundaries maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau. The hierarchy provides a quick and easy way to see how the different geographic entities at the Census Bureau relate to one another.

U.S. Census Geography Program
Geography Hierarchy Diagrams
Standard Hierarchy of Census Geographic Entities
U.S. Census Geography Glossary
Find a definition for tract and block.
About Geographic Areas
Learn about Congressional Districts, Metropolitan areas, urban and rural, ZIP code tabulations areas, USPS vs Census geography and more.
Census Tract
Data Gem: What is a Census Tract? Making Sense of Census Geography
Watch this short video to better understand this level of census geography.

Questions to Explore

What three types of boundaries are represented on the standard hierarchy of census geographic entities?
What is the census geographic term for cities (based on the standard hierarchy diagram)?
What is the smallest statistical census geography?
What is a typical population size for a Census tract?
What is a definition of an urban area?
Does the Census Bureau collect data using USPS ZIP codes? What is the difference between USPS ZIP codes and ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA)?