2007 Economic Census

Geography

Places

The economic census provides data for the following types of statistical areas that are published as "Places" in the United States and selected Island Areas.

Incorporated Places

For the 2007 Economic Census, incorporated places are legally defined as incorporated municipalities (cities, towns, villages and boroughs) with 5,000 or more inhabitants as of the 2007 American Community Survey.

Note: The population cutoff for prior economic censuses was 10,000 for the six New England states, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. For the rest of the country, the cutoff is 2,500 inhabitants.

Starting with the 2007 Economic Census, data are provided for incorporated places with 5,000 or more jobs as of the preceding decennial census.

Unincorporated Places

Unincorporated places are unincorporated county subdivisions with 5,000 or more inhabitants or jobs for all States.

These are also known as Census Designated Places (CDP's).

Note: These are new starting with the 2007 Economic Census, except for Hawaii (which included CDP's with 2,500 or more inhabitants in the 2002 and prior economic censuses, since it does not have any recognized incorporated places).

Independent Cities

These cities (in Maryland, Missouri, Nevada and Virginia) are independent of any county organization and constitute primary divisions of their States.

They are treated as County and Place equivalents.

Additional "place equivalents" in the Island Areas

These include "Counties" in American Samoa and towns in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Part Places

Part Places are the County parts of places that cross County boundaries. The Place total, as well as the County parts of the Place are both published.

Balances of Counties

Balances of Counties include all municipalities, towns and townships that do not qualify using the criteria noted above as well as the remainders of Counties outside places.

Coding

Places are identified by a 5-digit Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Place code (PLACE), which are sequenced alphabetically within a state.

• Part place totals are identified with a county code of "000" and the appropriate place code.
• Place parts are assigned the appropriate county code for each part.
• "Balance of county" places are assigned a place code of "98xxx", where "xxx" uniquely identifies the balance of county.

Note: With the change in the population cutoff and the addition of a jobs-based cutoff for Incorporated Places, plus the addition of CDPs, the places shown may be different from what was shown in prior economic censuses.