Census Block

Acronym: spatial

A census block is the smallest geographic unit used by the United States Census Bureau for tabulation of 100-percent data (data collected from all houses, rather than a sample of houses). The number of blocks in the United States, including Puerto Rico, for the 2010 Census was 11,155,486. Census blocks are grouped into block groups, which are grouped into census tracts. There are on average about 39 blocks per block group. Blocks typically have a four-digit number; the first number indicates which block group the block is in. For example, census block 3019 would be in block group 3. Blocks are typically bounded by roads and highways, town/city/county/state boundaries, creeks and rivers, etc. In cities, a census block may correspond to a city block, but in rural areas where there are fewer roads, blocks may be delimited by other features such as political boundaries, rivers and other natural features, as well as parks and similar facilities, etc. The population of a census block varies greatly. A census block is a component of a block group identified by a four-digit code. Blocks are small in area, in general, especially in cities. However, blocks in rural or remote areas may cover hundreds of square miles. A block code that starts with a zero indicates a water-only block. For more information: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/reference/GARM/Ch11GARM.pdf](https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/reference/GARM/Ch11GARM.pdf)