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 The development and maintenance of the statistical entities comprise a significant part of the Census Bureau’s total geographic effort. There are numerous types of statistical entities, both large and small in population or land area. They include the groupings of States into regions and divisions, the metropolitan areas, the urbanized areas, some types of county subdivisions, and the small-area subhierarchy of census tracts/BNAs and their subdivisions. provides brief definitions of the most familiar types of statistical areas. Detailed information on the origin, development, function, and relationship of these areas within the Census Bureau’s overall system of geographic entities is contained in subsequent chapters.

Data users often request that the Census Bureau tabulate its data in terms of a geographic entity that does not correspond with combinations of legal entities. To meet such needs, the Census Bureau offers a variety of statistical entities in its standard data products. It also offers customized data tabulations upon receipt of reimbursement, from the requesting person or agency, for the relevant costs.

The Census Bureau considers introducing new standard statistical entities when two conditions are met: (1) there must be a general consensus in favor of this new kind of geographic unit, and (2) the Census Bureau must secure the funding needed to prepare the geographic area plan, the additional data tabulations, and any required map information. Once the Census Bureau obtains the needed funding, it generally establishes a cooperative program with State, tribal, and/or local agencies to establish meaningful criteria to define the new type of entity. To implement the program, the Census Bureau generally works with State, tribal, and/or local officials to delineate and identify the statistical entities as standard units for data tabulation and dissemination.

Practice and tradition, rather than statute or legislation, have made statistical entities important elements in the Census Bureau’s overall geographic Geographic Overview2-21