Urban and Rural

Urban and Rural
Urban and Rural
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Within About Geographic Areas
Urban and Rural
The Census Bureau’s urban-rural classification is a delineation of geographic areas, identifying both individual urban areas and the rural area of the nation. The Census Bureau’s urban areas represent densely developed territory, and encompass residential, commercial, and other non-residential urban land uses. The Census Bureau delineates urban areas after each decennial census by applying specified criteria to decennial census and other data. Rural encompasses all population, housing, and territory not included within an urban area.
For the 2020 Census, an urban area will comprise a densely settled core of census blocks that meet minimum housing unit density and/or population density requirements. This includes adjacent territory containing non-residential urban land uses. To qualify as an urban area, the territory identified according to criteria must encompass at least 2,000 housing units or have a population of at least 5,000.
Urban Area Announcement and Criteria for the 2020 Census
(Updated September 2023)
Qualifying Urban Areas for the 2020 Census; Correction Federal Register Notice
2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications Federal Register Notice
Urban Area Criteria for the 2020 Census – Final Criteria Federal Register Notice
Urban Areas for the 2020 Census – Proposed Criteria Federal Register Notice
Differences Between the 2010 Census and 2020 Census Urban Area Criteria
[< 1.0 MB]
For comparable information for 2010 urban areas, go to the
Federal Register Notice
webpage.
2020 Census Urban Areas Facts
Tallies, percentages, and rankings of urban and rural areas in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas.
List of 2020 Census Urban Areas
(Updated July 2023)
A list of all 2020 Census Urban Areas for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas sorted by Urban Area Census (UACE) code
[<1.0 MB]
A state-sorted list of all 2020 Census Urban Areas for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas first sorted by state FIPS code, then sorted by Urban Area Census (UACE) code
[< 1.0 MB]
List of 2010 Census Urban Areas that are Classified as Rural in 2020
A list of 2010 Census Urban Areas for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas that are classified as rural in 2020, sorted by Urban Area Census (UACE) code
[< 1.0 MB]
State-level Urban and Rural Information for the 2020 Census and 2010 Census
State-level 2020 and 2010 Census Urban and Rural Information for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas sorted by state FIPS code
[< 1.0 MB]
County-level Urban and Rural information for the 2020 Census
(Updated September 2023)
County-level 2020 Census Urban and Rural Information for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas sorted by state and county FIPS codes
[10 MB]
Block-level Urban Area information for the 2020 Census
A list of 2020 Census tabulation blocks classified as urban in the 2020 Census with associated 2020 Census Urban Area Census (UACE) codes and names for the U.S. and Puerto Rico
[282 MB]
Field Descriptions for the 2020 Census tabulation blocks urban areas file
[< 1.0 MB]
2020 Census Urban Area FAQs
2020 Census Urban Area FAQs
Frequently asked questions about the 2020 Census Urban Areas.
Reference Map
2020 Census Urban Areas Wall Map
August 2023
Here is the 2020 Census Urban Areas Wall Map. (Updated August 2023)
Geographic Data Available for 2020 Census Urban Areas
Mapping File
TIGER/Line Shapefiles
View all the available mapping files from the Geography program.
There are currently two ways to access the 2020 Census Urban Area TIGER/Line Shapefile:
On the 2023 tab, select the FTP Archive by Layer option, select the UAC20 folder, and then download the tl_rd22_us_uac20.zip file.
On the 2020 tab, select the FTP Archive option, select the UAC folder, and then download the tl_2020_us_uac20.zip file.
Additionally, the 2020 Census Tabulation Block TIGER/Line Shapefiles contain urban and rural information.  There are currently two ways to access the 2020 Census Tabulation Block TIGER/Line Shapefiles:
On the 2023 tab, using the FTP Archive by Layer option, select the TABBLOCK20 folder, and then download the tl_rd22_##_tabblock20.zip file where ## is the FIPS code for the state of interest.
On the 2020 tab:
Using the Web Interface, Select year: 2020 and Select a layer type: Blocks and then select the state(s) of interest.
Using the FTP Archive option, select the TABBLOCKS20 folder, and then download the tl_2020_##_tabblock20.zip file where ## is the FIPS code for the state of interest.
Correction Specific Partnership Shapefiles (State-Level)
(Updated July 2023)
June 2023 Atlanta, GA and Gainesville, GA 2020 Urban Area Corrections
[2.1 MB]
June 2023 New Orleans, LA and Laplace--Lutcher--Gramercy, LA 2020 Urban Area Corrections
[1.1 MB]
Mapping File
TIGER/Line Geodatabases
View the available TIGER/Line geodatabases from the Geography program.
Access the 2020 Census Urban Area TIGER/Line Geodatabase on the 2020 tab, by selecting the Urban Areas National Geodatabase [507 MB].
Data Tool
Census Geocoder
Provides interactive & programmatic (REST) access to users interested in matching addresses to geographic locations and entities containing those addresses.
Data Tool
TIGERweb
TIGERweb and TIGERweb Decennial web-based applications allow visualization of TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) data.
Reference File
Relationship Files
View all the available relationship files from the Geography program.
Access the 2020 Census Urban Area relationship files on the 2020 tab.
Additional Census Urban Area Information
Video
Defining Census Bureau Urban Areas
September 22, 2022
This video provides an overview of the Census Bureau's definition of urban and rural areas.
2020 Census Urban Area Errata
2020 Census Urban Area Errata Summary Table
[<1.0 MB]
2020 Census Urban Area Errata - February 2023
[<1.0 MB]
2020 Census Urban Area Errata - June 2023
[<1.0 MB]
Contact Information
For questions regarding urban areas or the urban-rural classification, contact the Census Bureau by email at
[email protected]
Related Information
2010 Census Urban and Rural Classification and Urban Area Criteria
Documents, maps, and facts related to the 2010 Urban Area delineation.
2000 Census Urban and Rural Classification
Documents, maps, and facts related to the 2000 Urban Area delineation.
1990 Census Urban and Rural Classification
1990 Urban and Rural Definitions
[<1.0 MB]
1990 Urbanized Area Codes and Names
[<1.0 MB]
For more information about the history of Urban and Rural Classification, please see:
Urban and Rural References
Related Information
Urban Area Criteria in Federal Register Notices
Brief: "Defining Rural at the United States Census Bureau" [PDF 1.0 MB]
Related Information
County Classification Lookup Table [XLS <1.0 MB]
Related Information
Rural America: How Does the U.S. Census Bureau Define "Rural?" Interactive Story Map
A Century of Delineating a Changing Landscape: The Census Bureau's Urban and Rural Classification, 1910 to 2010 [PDF <1.0 MB]
Other related links
Frequently Asked Questions
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service: Rural Classifications
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Page Last Revised - December 16, 2024