Census Data for West Sacramento
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave West Sacramento a population of 53,749 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave West Sacramento a population of 48,744 people.
The city of West Sacramento is located in Yolo County. The 2010 Census gave Yolo County; a population of 200,849 people. This means that West Sacramento had 24.27% of the county's total population, making it Yolo's 3rd most populous community.
At the same time, California had a population of 37,253,956 people, meaning that West Sacramento had 0.13% of the total population of California - making it the state's 172nd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for West Sacramento has a total area of 22.85 square miles [59.2 km²]. Of this total, 21.43 square miles [55.5 km²] is land, with the balance (6.22%) being water (1.42 square miles [3.7 km²]).
Yolo County has a land area of 1,014 square miles [2,628 km²]. At 21.43 square miles [55.5 km²], West Sacramento has 2.11% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like West Sacramento, 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 West Sacramento reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of West Sacramento 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: 38° 33' 16" (or 38.55°)
- Lon: -121° 32' 55" (or -121.55°)
- 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, West Sacramento had 18,681 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 48,744 people, this averages 2.61 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows West Sacramento had a land area of 21.43 square miles [55.5 km²]. This translates to 817 Housing Units per square mile [315.7 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: West Sacramento had 12,133 Housing Units, a population of 31,615 people and a land area of 20.94 square miles [54.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.61 people per Housing Unit and 530 Housing Units per square mile [205 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 West Sacramento 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).
Yolo County ...
The community of West Sacramento is located in Yolo County<4>.
The county had a population of 200,849 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 48,744 people, West Sacramento represented 24.27% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of West Sacramento has a population density of 2,133 people per square mile [823 people/km²], Yolo County averages 197.9 people per square mile [76.4 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Yolo County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for West Sacramento, 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 West Sacramento. 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 West Sacramento 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 West Sacramento, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for West Sacramento.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 38.554509° (or 38°33'16" N)
- Lon: -121.548808° (or -121°32'55" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 38.571105° (or 38°34'15" N)
- Lon: -121.539170° (or -121°32'21" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 6,645 feet to the southwest<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 (#2412228) to West Sacramento. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of West Sacramento. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 38.555619° (or 38°33'20" N)
- Lon: -121.550540° (or -121°33'1" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 638 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for West Sacramento. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Sacramento.
Miscellaneous Information for West Sacramento ...
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 Yolo County or the city of West Sacramento:
- 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: 113 (Yolo County)
- Place Code: 84816 (West Sacramento)
- State & County Code: 06/113 (California / Yolo County)
- State & Place Code: 06/84816 (California / West Sacramento)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- West Sacramento 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 West Sacramento, 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 West Sacramento:<7>
- 95605, 95691, 95798 & 95799.
- 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 West Sacramento.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for West Sacramento: www.cityofwestsacramento.org/
The official website for Yolo County: www.yolocounty.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 Yolo, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 155 degrees and a distance of 6,645 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 230 degrees and a distance of 638 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether West Sacramento or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |