A census-designated place (CDP)[1][2][3] is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places,[4] such as self-governing cities, towns, and villages, for the purposes of gathering and correlating statistical data.
[6] In addition, census city lists from 2007 included Arlington County, Virginia's CDP in the list with the incorporated places,[7] but since 2010, only the Urban Honolulu CDP, Hawaii, representing the historic core of Honolulu, Hawaii, is shown in the city and town estimates.
[2] From 1950 through 1990, the Census Bureau specified other population requirements for unincorporated places or CDPs in Alaska, Puerto Rico, island areas, and Native American reservations.
By defining an area as a CDP, that locality then appears in the same category of census data as incorporated places.
This distinguishes CDPs from other census classifications, such as minor civil divisions (MCDs), which are in a separate category.
Generally, a CDP shall not be defined within the boundaries of what the Census Bureau regards to be an incorporated city, village or borough.