List of census-designated places in Massachusetts facts for kids

A census-designated place (CDP) is a special kind of area in the U.S. State of Massachusetts (and other states!) that the U.S. Census Bureau defines for gathering information. It's like a neighborhood or a small community that might not be an official city or town, but it has enough people living there to be counted separately. This article lists all 190 of these special places in Massachusetts.

What are Census-Designated Places?

Imagine a map of a state. You see official cities and towns, right? But sometimes, there are areas that look like towns, with homes and businesses, but they don't have their own local government. They might be part of a larger town or county. That's where a CDP comes in! The Census Bureau draws lines around these areas just for counting people and collecting data.

Why are CDPs important?

CDPs help us understand where people live, even in places that aren't official cities. This information is super useful for planning things like schools, roads, and emergency services. It helps local governments and communities know how many people are in different areas and what they might need. It's all about making sure everyone is counted and understood!

Massachusetts' CDPs

Massachusetts has 190 of these census-designated places. Many of them are parts of larger towns or cities, while some are almost the same size as the official town they are in. The list below shows these places, their population from the 2020 census, the county they are in, and the main city or town they belong to.