Census Data for New London

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave New London a population of 26,974 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave New London a population of 27,620 people.

The city of New London is located in New London County. The 2010 Census gave New London County; a population of 274,055 people. This means that New London had 10.08% of the county's total population, making it New London's 5th most populous community.

At the same time, Connecticut had a population of 3,574,097 people, meaning that New London had 0.77% of the total population of Connecticut - making it the state's 56th most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for New London has a total area of 10.61 square miles [27.5 km²]. Of this total, 5.62 square miles [14.5 km²] is land, with the balance (47.06%) being water (4.99 square miles [12.9 km²]).

New London County has a land area of 664 square miles [1,722 km²]. At 5.62 square miles [14.5 km²], New London has 0.84% of the county's total land area.

• Continue Reading ...
  • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like New London, 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 New London reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of New London 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° 19' 50"   (or 41.33°)
  • Lon:   -72° 5' 38"   (or -72.09°)
  • 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 London had 11,840 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 27,620 people, this averages 2.33 people per Housing Unit.

• Continue Reading ...
  • The 2010 Census shows New London had a land area of 5.62 square miles [14.5 km²]. This translates to 1,116 Housing Units per square mile [431 housing units/km²].
  • From the Census of 2000: New London had 11,560 Housing Units, a population of 25,671 people and a land area of 5.54 square miles [14.3 km²]. This gives a density of 2.22 people per Housing Unit and 1,074 Housing Units per square mile [414.7 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 New London 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).

New London County ...

New London is located in New London County<4>.

The county had a population of 274,055 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 27,620 people, New London represented 10.08% of the county's total.

In addition, where the city of New London has a population density of 2,604 people per square mile [1,005 people/km²], New London County averages 412.2 people per square mile [159.1 people/km²].

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

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

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

• Continue Reading ...
  • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
  • Lat:   41.330607°   (or 41°19'50" N)
  • Lon:   -72.093918°   (or -72°5'38" W)
  • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
  • Lat:   41.352498°   (or 41°21'8" N)
  • Lon:   -72.103389°   (or -72°6'12" W)
  • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 8,391 feet to the south<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 (#2378286) to New London. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of New London. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
  • Lat:   41.332700°   (or 41°19'57" N)
  • Lon:   -72.096376°   (or -72°5'46" W)
  • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,017 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for New London. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for New London.

Miscellaneous Information for New London ...

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 New London County or the city of New London:

• The GNIS Codes ...
  • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to New London:
  • GNIS ID for New London: 2378286
  • GNIS ID for New London County: 212799
  • GNIS ID for State of Connecticut: 1779780

• The FIPS Codes ...
  • An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
  • State Code: 09 (Connecticut)
  • County Code: 011 (New London County)
  • Place Code: 52280 (New London)
  • State & County Code: 09/011 (Connecticut / New London County)
  • State & Place Code: 09/52280 (Connecticut / New London)

• Misc. Census Codes ...
  • New London is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).

• The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
  • While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like New London, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) New London. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
  • The ZIP code for New London:06320<7>

• 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 New London.

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for New London: www.ci.new-london.ct.us/

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)