Census Data for Centennial
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Centennial a population of 111,121 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Centennial a population of 100,377 people.
The city of Centennial is located in Arapahoe County. The 2010 Census gave Arapahoe County; a population of 572,003 people. This means that Centennial had 17.55% of the county's total population, making it Arapahoe's 2nd most populous community.
At the same time, Colorado had a population of 5,029,196 people, meaning that Centennial had 2% of the total population of Colorado - making it the state's 10th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Centennial has a total area of 28.87 square miles [74.8 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.15 square miles [0.4 km²]).
Arapahoe County has a land area of 798 square miles [2,067.1 km²]. At 28.72 square miles [74.4 km²], Centennial has 3.6% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Centennial, 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 Centennial reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Centennial 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: 39° 35' 26" (or 39.59°)
- Lon: -104° 52' 8" (or -104.87°)
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Centennial had 38,779 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 100,377 people, this averages 2.59 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Centennial had a land area of 28.72 square miles [74.4 km²]. This translates to 1,343 Housing Units per square mile [518 housing units/km²].
Arapahoe County ...
The community of Centennial is located in Arapahoe County<4>.
The county had a population of 572,003 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 100,377 people, Centennial represented 17.55% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Centennial has a population density of 3,476 people per square mile [1,342 people/km²], Arapahoe County averages 716 people per square mile [276.7 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Arapahoe County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Centennial, 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 Centennial. 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 Centennial 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 Centennial, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Centennial.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Censuses, the location was given as:
Lat: 39.590568° (or 39°35'26" N)
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2409422) to Centennial. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Centennial. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 39.592845° (or 39°35'34" N)
- Lon: -104.868340° (or -104°52'6" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 858 feet to the south<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Centennial. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Centennial.
Lon: -104.869118° (or -104°52'8" W)
Miscellaneous Information for Centennial ...
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 Arapahoe County or the city of Centennial:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 08 (Colorado)
- County Code: 005 (Arapahoe County)
- Place Code: 12815 (Centennial)
- State & County Code: 08/005 (Colorado / Arapahoe County)
- State & Place Code: 08/12815 (Colorado / Centennial)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Centennial is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Centennial.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Centennial: www.centennialcolorado.com/
The official website for Arapahoe County: www.co.arapahoe.co.us/
The official website for State of Colorado: https://www.colorado.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 Colorado's counties, including Arapahoe, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 165 degrees and a distance of 858 feet. |