Census Data for East Palo Alto
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave East Palo Alto a population of 29,386 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave East Palo Alto a population of 28,155 people.
The city of East Palo Alto is located in San Mateo County. The 2010 Census gave San Mateo County; a population of 718,451 people. This means that East Palo Alto had 3.92% of the county's total population, making it San Mateo's 11th most populous community.
At the same time, California had a population of 37,253,956 people, meaning that East Palo Alto had 0.08% of the total population of California - making it the state's 245th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for East Palo Alto has a total area of 2.61 square miles [6.8 km²]. Of this total, 2.5 square miles [6.5 km²] is land, with the balance (4.1%) being water (0.11 square miles [0.3 km²]).
San Mateo County has a land area of 448.4 square miles [1,161.4 km²]. At 2.5 square miles [6.5 km²], East Palo Alto has 0.56% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like East Palo Alto, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for East Palo Alto reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of East Palo Alto might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 37° 28' 4" (or 37.47°)
- Lon: -122° 7' 57" (or -122.13°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, East Palo Alto had 7,819 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 28,155 people, this averages 3.6 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows East Palo Alto had a land area of 2.5 square miles [6.5 km²]. This translates to 2,993 Housing Units per square mile [1,155 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: East Palo Alto had 7,091 Housing Units, a population of 29,506 people and a land area of 2.55 square miles [6.6 km²]. This gives a density of 4.16 people per Housing Unit and 2,760 Housing Units per square mile [1,065 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for East Palo Alto and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
San Mateo County ...
The community of East Palo Alto is located in San Mateo County<4>.
The county had a population of 718,451 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 28,155 people, East Palo Alto represented 3.92% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of East Palo Alto has a population density of 10,779 people per square mile [4,161 people/km²], San Mateo County averages 1,602 people per square mile [618 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for San Mateo County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for East Palo Alto, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of East Palo Alto. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for East Palo Alto or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of East Palo Alto, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for East Palo Alto.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 37.467780° (or 37°28'4" N)
- Lon: -122.132550° (or -122°7'57" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 37.467038° (or 37°28'1" N)
- Lon: -122.139699° (or -122°8'22" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,086 feet to the east<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2410389) to East Palo Alto. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of East Palo Alto. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 37.467095° (or 37°28'1" N)
- Lon: -122.134900° (or -122°8'5" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 724 feet to the east<6> of the point given by the GNIS for East Palo Alto. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for East Palo Alto.
Miscellaneous Information for East Palo Alto ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either San Mateo County or the city of East Palo Alto:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 06 (California)
- County Code: 081 (San Mateo County)
- Place Code: 20956 (East Palo Alto)
- State & County Code: 06/081 (California / San Mateo County)
- State & Place Code: 06/20956 (California / East Palo Alto)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- East Palo Alto is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #9 (the Pacific Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for East Palo Alto.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for East Palo Alto: www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/
The official website for San Mateo County: www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/
The official website for State of California: https://www.ca.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of California's counties, including San Mateo, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 277 degrees and a distance of 2,086 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 290 degrees and a distance of 724 feet. |