Census Data

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the decennial census survey every 10 years as mandated by the U.S. Constitution. During each decennial census, the Census Bureau collects data from every household in the U.S. and its territories. To provide researchers with easily accessible New York City denominator information for the calculation of rates for New York City residents, the Health Department provides downloadable tables of Census data at three geographies (citywide, borough or neighborhood) and stratified by up to three demographic variables (sex, race or age group).

Data

Data Sources

The 2020 data are from the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary Files.

The 2010 data are from the Census Summary File 1 (SF 1).

The 2000 data are from the Census Summary File 1 (SF 1).

The 1990 data come from the Census Summary Tape File 1 (STF 1) for all subgroups, except for neighborhood population numbers. Neighborhood-level data come from the Census Summary Tape File 3 (STF 3). It is not possible to obtain racial/ethnic Census data by ZIP code for 1990, therefore we cannot provide UHF neighborhood by race/ethnicity counts for 1990.

1991-1999 Population Estimates

Estimates from 1991 to 1999 were created using linear interpolation methodology. Linear interpolation assumes that the population increased or decreased at the same amount each year. Because 1990 Census data by ZIP code and race/ethnicity are not available, we cannot provide UHF neighborhood by race/ethnicity counts for 1991-1999.

Neighborhood Definition

Neighborhoods are aggregations of ZIP codes as defined by the United Hospital Fund (UHF). In the 2010 Census, Central Park in Manhattan had 25 people. Central Park is not assigned a ZIP code/UHF neighborhood. Therefore, the population by neighborhood will not total to the New York City 2010 population.

Race/Ethnicity Definitions

The Census Bureau changed the way it collected race and ethnicity information for the 2000 Census, making the racial/ethnic categories different from the 1990 census. Specifically, in 2000 for the first time, respondents could choose more than one racial category, creating "multiple race" categories. In addition, in 1990 there was one category for "Asian or Pacific Islander," but in 2000 there were separate categories for "Asian" and "Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander." In order to create 2000 racial/ethnic categories similar to those in 1990 for the interpolation of 1991-1999 estimates and comparison purposes, Asian and Pacific Islander categories were grouped together into one category, and all respondents who reported two or more non-Hispanic racial categories were included in the "Other race" category.

Due to changes in data collection, caution should be used in interpreting trends by race/ethnicity between 1990 and 2000. Get more information on how the Census Bureau collects race/ethnicity information.

Additional Resources