2020 Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP)

The Basics
The 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) offers local governments, councils of government, and regional planning organizations the opportunity to review and modify select statistical boundaries that the U.S. Census Bureau uses to count people in our community.

PSAP in the Triangle
By participating in the PSAP, the Triangle region will ultimately be provided with the most relevant, useful data possible about population, income, and housing for small-area geographic analyses. The Census Bureau uses statistical boundaries to tabulate data for the 2020 Census, American Community Survey, Economic Census, and other surveys. Data tabulated to PSAP geographies are used by federal, state, and local agencies for planning and future purposes, as well as by the private sector, academia, and the public. Standard statistical geographies include: Census Tracts, Census Block Groups, and Census Designated Places (CDPs).

Outreach & Coordination with Our Partners
Triangle J COG worked with its seven counties and other interested local parties to ensure that the region’s priorities were appropriately considered in the delineation and verification of the statistical boundaries. Census data for updated statistical areas are used to prepare grant applications to fund community and regional development, education, agriculture, energy, and environmental programs, as well as other needed community improvements and enhancements. Census data are used to plan for future community needs, which necessitated outreach and engagement across multiple county departments, such as planning, public works, transportation, and GIS/information technology. In coordination with the counties, MPOs, and RPO, TJCOG submitted the final PSAP package to the Census Bureau on May 15, 2020. The Census Bureau will begin to release geographies from the 2020 Census in December 2020. The next opportunity to review and delineate statistical areas is planned for the 2030 Census.

Outcomes from PSAP Delineation & Verification
In coordination with local government and transportation planning agencies, TJCOG delineated and verified Census statistical boundaries for our seven counties. In addition, TJCOG and CAMPO staff coordinated closely with the Kerr-Tar Regional COG to make sure TAZs in Franklin, Granville, and Person figure into Kerr-Tar’s work. Ultimately, Triangle J COG submitted 119 tracts and 430 block groups as additions to the 2010 Census Geographies, which totals to 480 tracts and 1,299 block groups in the Triangle region. Statistical boundaries, such as tracts and block groups, break down large geographical areas into smaller, local areas. The increase in both tracts and block groups will provide TJCOG and its member communities with the most relevant, useful data possible about population, income, and housing in the Triangle region.

A full breakdown of TJCOG's PSAP Program process, timeline, and outcomes is available in the 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program handout, drafted on May 29, 2020.


2020 Participant Statistical Areas Materials

TJCOG Activities

Quick Program & Reference Guides

TIGERweb
Use TIGERweb to review the 2020 statistical areas

Refer to the PSAP Verification Quick Program and Respondent Guide for instructions on how to use TIGERweb to review 2020 PSAP statistical areas.

New Census Designated Places (CDPs)

Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS)


Interested in Learning More?

More information on the PSAP can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau's website.