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 Figure 11-3, Census Block 315 is contained wholly within the place of Baker and does not carry a suffix, whereas the blocks numbered 102, 201, and 314 contain suffixes because they are split by the boundary of Baker. It is customary to use the suffix A for the area of the collection block contained within a place, and the suffix B for the area of the collection block in the balance of the county. The result is that each distinct piece of ground is block numbered uniquely. Where two pieces of a single collection block are within the same place, but are discontiguous and separated by area not in the place, the Census Bureau assigns three suffixes, (as shown in Figure 11-4), one for each part in the place (suffixes A and B), and a third for the balance of the block (suffix C).

Figure 11-4. Collection Block Split With Multiple Suffixes for an Entity The Census Bureau tabulated data for a total of 6,961,150 census tabulation blocks in the United States (7,020,924 including Puerto Rico and the Outlying Areas). The United States had 234,078 water blocks, 864,423 census blocks with suffixes, and 2,023,109 tabulation blocks with zero population. The percentage of tabulation blocks with zero population varied considerably from one State and region to another—from a low of 14.1 percent within the State of Rhode Island to a high of 64.7 percent within the State of Wyoming. The median State was the State of Washington with 31.1 percent. Census Blocks and Block Groups11-15