retail and service businesses. CBDs usually consisted of one or more whole census tracts; in the few cases where a CBD tract extended beyond the city limits, the Census Bureau recognized only that part of the census tract within the city as the CBD (or part of the CBD). See also major retail center.
Central city The largest city of an MA or, from the 1950 through 1980 censuses, an urbanized area (UA). (Also included as central cities are the CDP of Honolulu in Hawaii, highly urban MCDs in Massachusetts and New Jersey, and several zonas urbanas in Puerto Rico.) Central cities are a basis for establishment of an MA, and prior to the 1990 census, a UA. Additional cities that meet specific criteria also are identified as central city(ies). In a number of instances, only part of a city qualifies as central, because another part of the city extends beyond the MA boundary. See also central place.
Central place The core incorporated place(s) or CDP(s) of a UA, usually consisting of the most populous place(s) in the UA. If a central place also is defined as an extended city, only the portion of the central place contained within the UA is recognized as the central place. The term was first used for the 1990 census to recognize a CDP as the most populous place in a UA. See also central city, extended city.
Centroid The central location within a specified geographic area. A centroid may fall outside its geographic area, or may be adjusted so that it is located within its geographic area. See also internal point.
Chapter (American Indian) See American Indian subreservation area.
City A type of incorporated place in 49 States and the District of Columbia. In 20 States, some or all cities are not part of any MCD, and the Census Bureau also treats these as county subdivisions, statistically equivalent to MCDs. See also county subdivision, dependent place, incorporated place, independent place.
