A minor civil division (MCD) is a term used by the United States Census Bureau for primary governmental and/or administrative divisions of a county or county-equivalent, typically a municipal government such as a city, town, or civil township. MCDs are used for statistical purposes by the Census Bureau, and do not necessarily represent the primary form of local government. They range from non-governing geographical survey areas to municipalities with weak or strong powers of self-government. Some states with large unincorporated areas give substantial powers to counties; others have smaller or larger incorporated entities with governmental powers that are smaller than the MCD level chosen by the Census.
As of 2010, MCDs exist in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In all other states where state-defined entities are not used for census purposes (mostly in the South and the West), the Census Bureau designates Census County Divisions (CCDs). For several decennial censuses prior to the 2010 census, 28 states used MCDs, but in 2008, Tennessee changed from CCDs to MCDs, bringing the total number of MCD states to 29.[1]
In states that use MCDs, when any land or water is not covered by a state-defined MCD, the Census Bureau creates additional entities as unorganized territories, that it treats as equivalent to MCDs for statistical purposes. Because MCDs are used to divide up counties, when a MCD-level municipality or unallocated territory or water spans county boundaries, that entity's boundaries are used to create multiple MCDs, one for each county. For water areas unallocated to any MCD, the Census Bureau assigns a default FIPS county subdivision code of 00000 and an ANSI code of eight zeroes.[1] This typically happens when state and county boundaries extend into the ocean or Great Lakes, but MCDs are not defined by the state for the unoccupied water. (For the ocean boundary of state vs. federal responsibility, see Tidelands.)
Connecticut - towns and consolidated city-towns, unorganized water in Long Island Sound. Groton is the only city not consolidated with a town. Naugatuck is the only borough coterminous with a town.
District of Columbia - considered an undivided equivalent of state, county, and MCD.
Guam - villages (technically election districts,[2] but these are currently all co-terminous). Some reports treat villages as county equivalents.[3]
Illinois - townships in 85 counties, election precincts in 17 counties, unorganized water in Lake Michigan. Chicago spans two counties and is thus two separate MCDs.
Indiana - townships, one unorganized territory (Camp Atterbury), unorganized water in Lake Michigan
Iowa - townships, cities, one unorganized water area (reservoir in Polk County). The city of Tabor spans two counties and constitutes two MCDs.
North Carolina - townships (non-governing), one city (Asheville), four unorganized territories, and Cleveland County is undivided after abolishing townships
North Dakota - townships (mostly governing), cities, unorganized territories
Tennessee - county commissioner districts (non-governing)
South Dakota - cities, townships, unorganized territories
Vermont - cities, towns (governing except 5 unincorporated), and four gores (one of which is known as Warner's Grant)
Virginia - independent cities (each of which is also a county equivalent), districts (used for election of county supervisors, known as magisterial districts or election districts); Arlington County is a single MCD
US Virgin Islands - subdistricts (created by the territorial government explicitly for census purposes)
Wisconsin - towns (mostly governing, consolidated with county in Menominee County), cities, villages, unorganized water
The United States also performs a census for the Republic of Palau, which has an agreement of free association. The U.S. Census considers all of Palau a county equivalent, and uses its states (formerly known as municipalities) as MCDs.[4]
Notesedit
^ abU.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division (February 2011). "Geographic Terms and Concepts – County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. from the original on December 10, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
^ abcUnited States Census (1990). "Puerto Rico and the Outlying Areas" (PDF). Retrieved 20 July 2021.
^United States Census (September 12, 2016). "2012 Economic Census / Geographic Levels".
^U.S. Census Bureau. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 Dec 2016. (updated for 2010 Census)
Referencesedit
, U.S. Census Bureau, Geographic Areas Reference Manual, November 1994
January 01, 1970
minor, civil, division, minor, civil, division, term, used, united, states, census, bureau, primary, governmental, administrative, divisions, county, county, equivalent, typically, municipal, government, such, city, town, civil, township, mcds, used, statistic. A minor civil division MCD is a term used by the United States Census Bureau for primary governmental and or administrative divisions of a county or county equivalent typically a municipal government such as a city town or civil township MCDs are used for statistical purposes by the Census Bureau and do not necessarily represent the primary form of local government They range from non governing geographical survey areas to municipalities with weak or strong powers of self government Some states with large unincorporated areas give substantial powers to counties others have smaller or larger incorporated entities with governmental powers that are smaller than the MCD level chosen by the Census As of 2010 MCDs exist in 29 states the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico In all other states where state defined entities are not used for census purposes mostly in the South and the West the Census Bureau designates Census County Divisions CCDs For several decennial censuses prior to the 2010 census 28 states used MCDs but in 2008 Tennessee changed from CCDs to MCDs bringing the total number of MCD states to 29 1 In states that use MCDs when any land or water is not covered by a state defined MCD the Census Bureau creates additional entities as unorganized territories that it treats as equivalent to MCDs for statistical purposes Because MCDs are used to divide up counties when a MCD level municipality or unallocated territory or water spans county boundaries that entity s boundaries are used to create multiple MCDs one for each county For water areas unallocated to any MCD the Census Bureau assigns a default FIPS county subdivision code of 00000 and an ANSI code of eight zeroes 1 This typically happens when state and county boundaries extend into the ocean or Great Lakes but MCDs are not defined by the state for the unoccupied water For the ocean boundary of state vs federal responsibility see Tidelands Contents 1 Minor civil divisions by state and territory 2 Notes 3 ReferencesMinor civil divisions by state and territory editAmerican Samoa counties are treated as MCDs districts and atolls are treated as county equivalents 2 Arkansas townships non governing one unorganized territory Fort Chaffee Connecticut towns and consolidated city towns unorganized water in Long Island Sound Groton is the only city not consolidated with a town Naugatuck is the only borough coterminous with a town District of Columbia considered an undivided equivalent of state county and MCD Guam villages technically election districts 2 but these are currently all co terminous Some reports treat villages as county equivalents 3 Illinois townships in 85 counties election precincts in 17 counties unorganized water in Lake Michigan Chicago spans two counties and is thus two separate MCDs Indiana townships one unorganized territory Camp Atterbury unorganized water in Lake Michigan Iowa townships cities one unorganized water area reservoir in Polk County The city of Tabor spans two counties and constitutes two MCDs Kansas cities townships some non governing Louisiana parish governing authority districts non governing used for elections one city New Orleans Maine cities towns plantation American Indian reservations unorganized territories including one gore Maryland county election districts one city Baltimore Massachusetts cities towns unorganized water Michigan townships cities unorganized water Minnesota townships mostly governing cities unorganized territories unorganized water Mississippi supervisors districts five per county only used for electing county officials Missouri townships mostly non governing one city St Louis Nebraska townships 27 counties mostly governing election precincts 65 counties election districts Webster County cities villages New Hampshire cities towns unincorporated townships some of which are known as grants locations or purchases unorganized water New Jersey cities towns boroughs villages townships governing unorganized water New York cities towns American Indian reservations unorganized territory unorganized water Each of the boroughs of New York City is a county The city of Geneva also spans county boundaries the only part in Seneca County is water North Carolina townships non governing one city Asheville four unorganized territories and Cleveland County is undivided after abolishing townships North Dakota townships mostly governing cities unorganized territories Northern Mariana Islands municipal districts municipalities are treated as county equivalents 2 Ohio townships cities villages Pennsylvania townships governing except for Cold Spring Township boroughs cities 3 municipalities 1 town and 1 area of unorganized water Puerto Rico barrios and barrios pueblo unorganized water Rhode Island towns cities unorganized water Tennessee county commissioner districts non governing South Dakota cities townships unorganized territories Vermont cities towns governing except 5 unincorporated and four gores one of which is known as Warner s Grant Virginia independent cities each of which is also a county equivalent districts used for election of county supervisors known as magisterial districts or election districts Arlington County is a single MCD US Virgin Islands subdistricts created by the territorial government explicitly for census purposes West Virginia magisterial districts used to elect county commissioners and school board members Wisconsin towns mostly governing consolidated with county in Menominee County cities villages unorganized water The United States also performs a census for the Republic of Palau which has an agreement of free association The U S Census considers all of Palau a county equivalent and uses its states formerly known as municipalities as MCDs 4 Notes edit a b U S Census Bureau Geography Division February 2011 Geographic Terms and Concepts County Subdivision United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on December 10 2016 Retrieved July 10 2012 a b c United States Census 1990 Puerto Rico and the Outlying Areas PDF Retrieved 20 July 2021 United States Census September 12 2016 2012 Economic Census Geographic Levels U S Census Bureau Guide to State and Local Census Geography PDF Archived from the original PDF on 10 Dec 2016 updated for 2010 Census References editChapter 8 County Subdivisions U S Census Bureau Geographic Areas Reference Manual November 1994 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Minor civil division amp oldid 1196356090, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
