Census Data for New Canaan
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave New Canaan a population of 20,251 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave New Canaan a population of 19,738 people.
The community of New Canaan is located in Fairfield County. The 2010 Census gave Fairfield County; a population of 916,829 people. This means that New Canaan had 2.15% of the county's total population, making it Fairfield's 19th most populous community.
At the same time, Connecticut had a population of 3,574,097 people, meaning that New Canaan had 0.55% of the total population of Connecticut - making it the state's 73rd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for New Canaan has a total area of 22.52 square miles [58.3 km²]. Of this total, 22.2 square miles [57.5 km²] is land, with the balance (1.46%) being water (0.33 square miles [0.9 km²]).
Fairfield County has a land area of 624 square miles [1,618.5 km²]. At 22.2 square miles [57.5 km²], New Canaan has 3.55% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like New Canaan, 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 community.
- Things like population, area and housing for New Canaan reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of New Canaan 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: 41° 9' 39" (or 41.16°)
- Lon: -73° 30' 4" (or -73.5°)
- 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, New Canaan had 7,551 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 19,738 people, this averages 2.61 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows New Canaan had a land area of 22.2 square miles [57.5 km²]. This translates to 335.2 Housing Units per square mile [129.4 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: New Canaan had 7,141 Housing Units, a population of 19,395 people and a land area of 22.13 square miles [57.3 km²]. This gives a density of 2.72 people per Housing Unit and 317.7 Housing Units per square mile [122.7 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for New Canaan and you need to be careful when comparing numbers 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).
Fairfield County ...
The community of New Canaan is located in Fairfield County<4>.
The county had a population of 916,829 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 19,738 people, New Canaan represented 2.15% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of New Canaan has a population density of 876 people per square mile [338.3 people/km²], Fairfield County averages 1,467 people per square mile [566 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Fairfield County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for New Canaan, 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 New Canaan. 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 New Canaan 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 New Canaan, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for New Canaan.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 41.161054° (or 41°9'39" N)
- Lon: -73.501184° (or -73°30'4" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 41.152096° (or 41°9'7" N)
- Lon: -73.491945° (or -73°29'31" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 4,134 feet to the northwest<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 (#213468) to New Canaan. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of New Canaan. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 41.160374° (or 41°9'37" N)
- Lon: -73.500956° (or -73°30'3" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 255.7 feet to the north<6> of the point given by the GNIS for New Canaan. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for New Canaan.
Miscellaneous Information for New Canaan ...
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 Fairfield County or the community of New Canaan:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 09 (Connecticut)
- County Code: 001 (Fairfield County)
- Place Code: 50580 (New Canaan)
- State & County Code: 09/001 (Connecticut / Fairfield County)
- State & Place Code: 09/50580 (Connecticut / New Canaan)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- New Canaan is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for New Canaan.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for New Canaan. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Connecticut: https://portal.ct.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 Connecticut's counties, including Fairfield, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 37 degrees and a distance of 4,134 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 14 degrees and a distance of 255.7 feet. |