List of census-designated places in New York facts for kids
New York State has many different kinds of places where people live. Besides big cities, towns, and villages, there are also special areas called census-designated places (CDPs). These aren't official cities or towns with their own governments. Instead, they are areas that the United States Census Bureau defines just for counting people and collecting information. Think of them like neighborhoods or communities that are grouped together for statistics.
As of the 2020 census, New York had 699 of these census-designated places.
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What are Census-Designated Places?
A census-designated place, or CDP, is a type of area created by the United States Census Bureau. They do this to gather information about places that look like towns or communities but don't have their own local government. For example, a CDP might be a large neighborhood outside a city, or a group of homes that share a name but aren't officially incorporated.
Why are CDPs Important?
CDPs help the Census Bureau collect accurate data on where people live, even in areas without clear town or city borders. This information is super important for understanding population changes, planning for schools, roads, and other community needs. It helps local and state governments make smart decisions about resources.
Sometimes, different CDPs can have the same name! To avoid confusion, the Census Bureau adds the county name to tell them apart. Here are a few examples from New York:
- Fairview (Dutchess County) and Fairview (Westchester County)
- Greenville (Greene County) and Greenville (Westchester County)
- Milton (Saratoga County) and Milton (Ulster County)