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 a knowledge of local geographic conditions and small-area variations in the physical environment and local demographic and economic characteristics. On a nationwide scale, this task is not only immense, but it requires expert local knowledge that generally is not available at the Federal level of government. The most widely used subcounty statistical entity is the census tract. Other small-area statistical geographic units of analysis devised by the Census Bureau include census county divisions (CCDs), unorganized territories (UTs), census designated places (CDPs), block numbering areas (BNAs), block groups (BGs), and census blocks.

Originally, local census tract committees, now called Census Statistical Areas Committees (CSACs), assisted the Census Bureau in establishing and maintaining census tracts for use in presenting data from each census of population and housing. In addition, they served as local liaisons between data users and the Census Bureau. Later, these committees expanded their role slightly when they identified specific census tracts as central business districts (CBDs) for the census of retail trade.

With the expanding scope of the Census Bureau’s small-area geographic programs, the role of the CSACs expanded as well. During the 1970s, and even more so in the 1980s, the CSACs became advocates for, and very involved with, the delineation and review of several other small-area statistical geographic entities; areas that are no longer part of the inventory of small-area statistical geography: the data collection units for earlier decennial censuses, enumeration districts (EDs), and two entities used for several earlier censuses of retail trade, central business districts (CBDs), and major retail centers (MRCs). The 1990 census no longer required EDs, so the Census Bureau invited the CSACs to participate instead in the delineation of BGs in order to improve the usefulness of these areas to data users; although participation was optional, most committees participated to some degree.

The rather limited geographic areas served by these committees, often only one or a few counties, left large expanses of territory with no local participation. This led the Census Bureau to seek partnership with State Notes and References 3-2Sources of Local Assistance