• Contact Information
• 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP)
• What is the 2020 Census PSAP Schedule?
• 2020 Census PSAP Verification Materials
• 2020 Census PSAP Delineation Materials
• Who is my 2020 Census PSAP contact?
• Additional Information

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Support from the Census Bureau is available by email at geo.psap@census.gov or by phone at 1-844-788-4921 to address PSAP questions, including specific programmatic questions, and technical GUPS application questions.

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The 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) enables invited participants to review and verify selected statistical area boundaries for 2020 Census data tabulation following U.S. Census Bureau guidelines and criteria. The Census Bureau also will use the statistical areas defined for the 2020 Census to tabulate data for the annual American Community Survey (ACS) estimates and the Economic Census.

There are two types of statistical geographies, standard and tribal, available for review under the 2020 Census PSAP.

The Census Bureau may modify, and if necessary reject, statistical geographic areas and/or their boundaries submitted by participants that do not meet established criteria and guidelines.

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• March - May 2018: Census Bureau contacted 2010 Census PSAP participants to inquire about 2020 Census PSAP participation. ✔
• July 2018: Census Bureau distributed 2020 Census PSAP invitation materials to 2020 Census PSAP participants. ✔
• January 2019: 2020 Census PSAP delineation phase began. Participants had 120 calendar days to submit updates. ✔
• January - February 2019: Census Bureau conducted 2020 Census PSAP webinar trainings. ✔
• July 2019: Census Bureau conducted closeout of the 2020 Census PSAP delineation phase. ✔
  
• January 2020: 2020 Census PSAP verification phase begins. Participants have 90 calendar days upon receipt of the verification announcement to review the 2020 statistical areas and submit corrections. ✔
  
• April 2020: 2020 Census PSAP verification phase ends.
• September 2020: Census Bureau plans to conduct closeout of the 2020 Census PSAP verification phase. 
  
• November 2020 - February 2021: 2020 statistical areas available for public use.

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The 2020 Census PSAP verification phase began on January 15, 2020, with the receipt of the verification announcement. Participants have 90 calendar days following receipt of the verification announcement to review. Within 30 calendar days of receipt of the verification announcement, the Census Bureau requests either the PSAP primary official contact or the PSAP primary technical contact email geo.psap@census.gov to indicate whether or not corrections to the 2020 statistical areas for their county(s) are forthcoming.

PSAP Verification Quick Program Guides provide consolidated instruction on how to review and verify the 2020 statistical geographies that apply to a county(s) or tribal areas and to submit corrections to the statistical area boundaries where needed. Detailed instructions are in the PSAP verification respondent guides below.

PSAP Verification Respondent Guides provide detailed instruction on how to review, correct, and submit corrections where needed to the 2020 PSAP statistical areas.

Quick Reference Guides provide a snapshot of delineation criteria and guidelines for the PSAP statistical geographies. The Quick Reference Guides were provided during the delineation phase and remain available for reference during the verification phase.

Standard Geography Quick Reference Guides:

Standard Geography Quick Reference Guides for Puerto Rico participants (Spanish):

Tribal Geography Quick Reference Guides:

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The training videos provide details on reviewing the 2020 statistical areas and submitting corrections if needed. They also provide information concerning specific situations that participants encounter when reviewing and verifying their statistical areas.

Use TIGERweb to review the 2020 statistical areas and determine if corrections are needed.

TIGERweb is a web-based system that allows users to visualize our TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing database) data. TIGERweb provides a simple way to view our TIGER data without Geographic Information System (GIS) software and without downloading data. Other options include TIGERweb WMS and TIGERweb REST Services which allow users to integrate our data into their own GIS or custom web-based applications.

Please refer to the PSAP Verification Quick Program and Respondent Guides for instructions on how to use TIGERweb to review 2020 PSAP statistical areas.

The Census Bureau created county-based, Portable Document Format (PDF) maps that show the census tract boundaries, census tract coding (labels), and other common map features to assist with the review of the 2020 census tract coding. These are available online only. While census tract codes can be reviewed in TIGERweb, this PDF map product allows participants to more easily scan and review the coding scheme to ensure any existing coding patterns are maintained throughout the 2020 Census PSAP process. Because this product does not include all of the statistical area types, it should not be used to review the statistical area boundaries.

Use the state drop down below. Once a state is selected the system links to a file transfer protocol (FTP) directory for the selected state with census tract maps for each county.

The Census Bureau created tribal statistical area PDF maps that show the tribal statistical area boundaries, attributes, and other common map features to assist with the review of the 2020 tribal statistical areas. Tribal statistical area maps are available in printed form upon request.

Select the appropriate type of tribal entity from the folder menu below. The system routes participants to the FTP directory for the type of tribal entity selected that shows sub-folders for each tribal area within that tribal entity type.

Within the sub-folder for the type of tribal entity, scroll through the list of sub-folders to locate the one that corresponds with the tribal area for review and click it.

Tribal Area File Naming Conventions

• Federal Reservations sub-folder naming convention = r<AAAA>_<Tribal name>, where AAAA corresponds to the last four digits of the unique 11-digit code.

• State Reservations sub-folder naming convention = r<AAAA>_<Tribal name>, where AAAA corresponds to the last four digits of the unique 11-digit code.

• Alaska Native Regional Corporations sub-folder naming convention = r<fffff>_<ANRC name>, where fffff corresponds to the five digit FIPS code of the ANRC.

• Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas sub-folder naming convention = s<AAAA>_<ANVSA name>, where AAAA corresponds to the last four digits of the unique 11-digit code.

• Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas sub-folder naming convention = s<AAAA>_<OTSA name>, where AAAA corresponds to the last four digits of the unique 11-digit code.

• State Designated Tribal Statistical Areas sub-folder naming convention = s<AAAA>_<SDTSA name>, where AAAA corresponds to the last four digits of the unique 11-digit code.

• Tribal Designated Statistical Areas sub-folder naming convention = s<AAAA>_<TDSA name>, where AAAA corresponds to the last four digits of the unique 11-digit code.

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Provided below is a PDF containing the new CDPs created in the delineation phase, and which Federal American Indian Reservations/Off-Reservation Trust Lands (if applicable) and county(ies) the CDPs are within. The file is sorted by the American Indian Area name, then the state county code and the CDP name.  This sort promotes the CDPs that fall within American Indian Areas to the top of the file. CDP codes shown in red font indicate a CDP that crosses into more than one county (i.e., duplicated in  file).

In addition to the PDF, three Microsoft Excel .xls files are provided: one that lists the new CDPs that are delineated within American Indian Areas, one that lists the new CDPs that are delineated within Puerto Rico, and one that is a duplicate of the PDF that includes all of the new CDPs. Participants may use the Excel .xls files to execute filters or different sorts on the data and to allow for use in mapping or other electronic analysis.

IMPORTANT: Please use caution when sorting and/or filtering the Excel .xls file as an incorrect manipulation of the data will cause errors with the information it provides.

Regardless of which file(s) you use, please review the CDPs within the counties listed on the verification announcement to ensure each CDP captures the extent of the community it seeks to define (i.e., review the boundary) and is identified by the name locally used for the community (i.e., review the CDP name).

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Participants that determine corrections are necessary for standard statistical geographies must use GUPS to perform corrections. Tribal participants have an option to use paper maps instead of GUPS.

All participants using GUPS to draft corrections during the verification phase must download and install the newer version of the software. The version of GUPS used during the delineation phase cannot be used during the verification phase.

The software is in a zipped file. If assistance is required with the installation, contact the Census Bureau at geo.psap@census.gov or 1-844-788-4921. Installation should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

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Use the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM) to securely transfer the submission to the Census Bureau. SWIM is the only way to submit 2020 PSAP corrections, made using GUPS, to the Census Bureau. If assistance is required with the SWIM, contact the Census Bureau at geo.psap@census.gov or 1-844-788-4921.

For tribal participants using paper maps, send only the map sheets with corrections. Retain a copy of the portion of the map(s) that show the corrections for use if the Census Bureau has questions. Retain copies of all supporting documentation. Complete all work prior to making a submission.

Place the updated maps and any supporting documentation that may assist the Census Bureau with understanding the corrections in the original verification phase material packaging. Use the FedEx postage paid label/envelope to return the corrected map(s) to the Census Bureau. If the postage-paid label is misplaced, contact the Census Bureau at geo.psap@census.gov or by phone at 1-844-788-4921 for instructions. To ship the corrected materials, the Census Bureau recommends using a service that provides tracking information, such as the United States Postal Service traceable delivery, FedEx, or United Parcel Service.

Ship the corrected map sheets to the following address:

ATTN: GEOGRAPHY PSAP BLDG 63E

National Processing Center

1201 E 10^th St

Jeffersonville IN 47132

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The 2020 Census PSAP Delineation Phase has ended. The documentation listed below for the 2020 Census PSAP Delineation Phase remain for reference only.

PSAP Delineation Respondent Guides provide detailed instruction on how to use Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) or paper maps to review and update (if needed), or delineate statistical areas.

Recordings of the PSAP Standard GUPS webinar and PSAP Tribal GUPS webinar are available below. The webinars include information about the statistical geography criteria and guidelines, the delineation materials, and how to provide updates using the GUPS or paper maps. 

No training webinars are planned for the verification phase. Please reference the delineation phase training materials for detailed instructions on using GUPS.

The presentations that were used during the live webinars are provided below in PDF format for reference.

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The name and contact information for the government entities and regional organizations that are participating in the 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP), known as primary PSAP participants, are in the Primary PSAP Participant Contact Information file below. The primary PSAP participants received the 2020 Census PSAP delineation phase materials for the county or counties identified, and are responsible for the review and update of statistical areas for that county or counties. If you are interested in providing input to the statistical areas plans for your area, please contact your primary PSAP participant or contact the Census Bureau at geo.psap@census.gov or 1-844-788-4921.

Only entities responding for standard statistical geographies are shown in the Primary PSAP Participant Contact Information file. Federal and state tribal statistical areas and the entities reporting for those areas are not shown in the file.

The STCOU field in the Primary PSAP Participant Contact Information file represents the code of the county for which the participant is responsible for statistical area review and update, where ST is the two-digit state FIPS code and COU is the three-digit county FIPS code. The information within this file will be updated periodically, as needed.

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The 2020 Census PSAP Information Guide provides important information for governments planning to participate in the 2020 Census PSAP, including how to prepare for the 2020 Census PSAP and the final statistical geographies criteria and tribal statistical geographies criteria.

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The 2020 Census PSAP is the only opportunity prior to the 2020 Census for regional planning agencies (RPAs); councils of governments (COGs); Alaska Native Regional Associations (ANRAs); and tribal, state, county, and local governments (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) to review and update the selected statistical areas. The Census Bureau uses the statistical areas defined for the 2020 Census to tabulate data for the ACS throughout the decade. These data 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.
• Plan for future community needs. The next opportunity to review and delineate statistical areas is planned for the 2030 Census.

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• The former Tribal Statistical Areas Program (TSAP) is included as part of the 2020 Census PSAP. Federally recognized tribes and state tribal liaisons have the opportunity to update tribal statistical geographies in 2020 Census PSAP.
• To reduce participant burden, the Census Bureau is providing proposed 2020 Census tracts and block groups for review and update by PSAP participants. Participants may accept the Census Bureau’s 2020 Census tracts and block groups, update the proposed tracts and block groups, or use the 2010 Census statistical area geography as a base to make updates (see "2020 Census Tract and Block Group Proposed Changes Files" below).
• Participants reviewing standard statistical area geographies are required to use the Census Bureau’s Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) to delineate updates. The GUPS runs in QGIS, which is an open source Geographic Information System (GIS), and it contains all functionality required to make 2020 Census PSAP updates, execute automated checks for program criteria compliance, and create standardized data output files for Census Bureau processing. The GUPS will be available for download from the Census Bureau's website or available on DVD.
• Participants using the GUPS to update their statistical areas must use the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM) to send their updates. The SWIM is the official web portal for uploading partnership materials to the Census Bureau.
• Tribal participants reviewing TCTs, TBGs, or CDPs may use the GUPS or may elect to use the Census Bureau provided paper maps to review and edit tribal statistical geographies.
• Participants reviewing ANVSAs, OTSAs, OTSA tribal subdivisions, TDSAs, or SDTSAs are provided Census Bureau paper maps to review and edit tribal statistical areas.

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2020 Census PSAP Federal Register Notice

Standard Statistical Geographies

The Federal Register Notices providing final criteria for the 2020 Census PSAP standard statistical geographies (census tracts, block groups, census designated places, and census county divisions) were published on November 13, 2018. Copies of these Federal Register Notices are available via the links below.

Tribal Statistical Geographies

The tribal statistical geographies for the 2020 Census PSAP share the same criteria and guidelines as published in the 2008 FRN for the 2010 Census PSAP. These guidelines and criteria are available via the links below.

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• Please watch this short video to understand how your participation benefits your community.
• You can find statistical data for tribal geographies in the Census Bureau's My Tribal Area application.
• View the 2020 Census PSAP Flyer [PDF].

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