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Census Data for Berkeley

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Berkeley a population of 123,757 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Berkeley a population of 112,580 people.

The city of Berkeley is located in Alameda County. The 2010 Census gave Alameda County; a population of 1,512,986 people. This means that Berkeley had 7.44% of the county's total population, making it Alameda's 4th most populous community.

At the same time, California had a population of 37,253,956 people, meaning that Berkeley had 0.3% of the total population of California - making it the state's 52nd most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Berkeley has a total area of 17.7 square miles [45.8 km²]. Of this total, 10.47 square miles [27.1 km²] is land, with the balance (40.83%) being water (7.23 square miles [18.7 km²]).

Alameda County has a land area of 739 square miles [1,914 km²]. At 10.47 square miles [27.1 km²], Berkeley has 1.42% of the county's total land area.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Berkeley, 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 Berkeley reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Berkeley 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° 52' 0"   (or 37.87°)
    • Lon:   -122° 17' 56"   (or -122.3°)
    • 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, Berkeley had 49,454 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 112,580 people, this averages 2.28 people per Housing Unit.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • The 2010 Census shows Berkeley had a land area of 10.47 square miles [27.1 km²]. This translates to 2,794 Housing Units per square mile [1,079 housing units/km²].
    • From the Census of 2000: Berkeley had 46,875 Housing Units, a population of 102,743 people and a land area of 10.46 square miles [27.1 km²]. This gives a density of 2.19 people per Housing Unit and 2,647 Housing Units per square mile [1,022 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 Berkeley and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Alameda County ...

The community of Berkeley is located in Alameda County<4>.

The county had a population of 1,512,986 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 112,580 people, Berkeley represented 7.44% of the county's total.

In addition, where the city of Berkeley has a population density of 6,361 people per square mile [2,456 people/km²], Alameda County averages 2,047 people per square mile [790 people/km²].

For more information, please visit our Census Page for Alameda County.

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Berkeley, 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 Berkeley. 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 Berkeley 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 Berkeley, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Berkeley.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
    • Lat:   37.866702°   (or 37°52'0" N)
    • Lon:   -122.299066°   (or -122°17'56" W)
    • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
    • Lat:   37.871775°   (or 37°52'18" N)
    • Lon:   -122.274603°   (or -122°16'28" W)
    • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 7,279 feet to the west<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 (#2409837) to Berkeley. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Berkeley. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
    • Lat:   37.866498°   (or 37°51'59" N)
    • Lon:   -122.298800°   (or -122°17'55" W)
    • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 106.7 feet to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Berkeley. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Berkeley.

Miscellaneous Information for Berkeley ...

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 Alameda County or the city of Berkeley:

  • The GNIS Codes ...
    • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Berkeley:
    • GNIS ID for Berkeley: 2409837
    • GNIS ID for Alameda County: 1675839
    • GNIS ID for State of California: 1779778
  • Misc. Census Codes ...
    • Berkeley is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #9 (the Pacific Division).
  • The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
    • While some people have used ZIP codes to identify a community, the ZIP codes were actually created to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although a ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Berkeley, they do identify addresses that are in (or near) the city. It's important to remember that the boundaries of the ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned, eliminated or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
    • Our list of ZIP codes for Berkeley:<7>
    • 94701, 94702, 94703, 94704, 94705, 94706, 94707, 94708, 94709, 94712 & 94720.
  • Census ZCTA Codes ...
    • The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
    • ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.

For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Berkeley.

The official website for Berkeley: www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/

The official website for Alameda County: www.acgov.org/

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 Alameda, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 104 degrees and a distance of 7,279 feet.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 45 degrees and a distance of 106.7 feet.
<7>When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Berkeley or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS).









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 19 Sep 2024