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 A place whose territory also is considered to be within the territory of one or more surrounding MCDs is called dependent. The Census Bureau considers all CDPs to be dependent places, whether the county subdivisions are MCDs or CCDs. In the 21 CCD States, the Census Bureau considers all incorporated places to be dependent; the Census Bureau also considers the incorporated places of Alaska to be dependent on the CSAs. Incorporated places in the remaining States, the 28 MCD States, can be either independent of, or dependent on, MCDs since the laws of the States vary. provides detailed information on the relationships between incorporated places and county subdivisions in each State.

An incorporated place that is independent of an MCD is not considered to be part of any surrounding MCD or MCDs; the Census Bureau treats these independent incorporated places as a type of county subdivision. If an independent incorporated place exists in more than one county or statistically equivalent entity, the Census Bureau considers each county part to constitute a unique county subdivision.

Some places are geographically coextensive with an MCD; for example, independent incorporated places, and, in some situations, CDPs. In parts of the United States where MCDs are perceived as communities, such as in the Northeast, it is not uncommon for a CDP to be coextensive with an MCD of the same name.

There is no governmental relationship between county subdivisions and American Indian and Alaska Native areas. Further, it is not necessary for American Indian and Alaska Native areas to conform to the hierarchy of States/counties/county subdivisions. There are exceptions—in Maine and New York, some American Indian reservations are equivalent to MCDs. Elsewhere, the Census Bureau established some CCDs and UTs to be coextensive with, or to follow, the boundaries of American Indian reservations. 8-36County Subdivisions