Census Data for Ray City
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Ray City a population of 1,094 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Ray City a population of 1,090 people.
The city of Ray City is located in Berrien County. The 2010 Census gave Berrien County; a population of 19,286 people. This means that Ray City had 5.65% of the county's total population, making it Berrien's 3rd most populous community.
At the same time, Georgia had a population of 9,687,653 people, meaning that Ray City had 0.01% of the total population of Georgia - making it the state's 284th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Ray City has a total area of 0.89 square miles [2.3 km²].
Berrien County has a land area of 451.9 square miles [1,170.4 km²]. At 0.89 square miles [2.3 km²], Ray City has 0.2% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Ray City, 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 Ray City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Ray City 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: 31° 4' 32" (or 31.08°)
- Lon: -83° 11' 48" (or -83.2°)
- 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, Ray City had 474 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 1,090 people, this averages 2.3 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Ray City had a land area of 0.89 square miles [2.3 km²]. This translates to 531 Housing Units per square mile [205.4 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Ray City had 341 Housing Units, a population of 139 people and a land area of 0.8 square miles [2.1 km²]. This gives a density of 0.41 people per Housing Unit and 428 Housing Units per square mile [165.3 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 Ray City and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Berrien County ...
The community of Ray City is located in Berrien County<4>.
The county had a population of 19,286 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 1,090 people, Ray City represented 5.65% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Ray City has a population density of 1,223 people per square mile [472.3 people/km²], Berrien County averages 42.68 people per square mile [16.48 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Berrien County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Ray City, 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 Ray City. 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 Ray City 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 Ray City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Ray City.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 31.075655° (or 31°4'32" N)
- Lon: -83.196853° (or -83°11'48" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 31.075646° (or 31°4'32" N)
- Lon: -83.197399° (or -83°11'50" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 170.5 feet to the east<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 (#2404595) to Ray City. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Ray City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 31.075443° (or 31°4'31" N)
- Lon: -83.197380° (or -83°11'50" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 181.8 feet to the northeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Ray City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Ray City.
Miscellaneous Information for Ray City ...
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 Berrien County or the city of Ray City:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 13 (Georgia)
- County Code: 019 (Berrien County)
- Place Code: 63728 (Ray City)
- State & County Code: 13/019 (Georgia / Berrien County)
- State & Place Code: 13/63728 (Georgia / Ray City)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Ray City is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic 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 Ray City, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Ray City. 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 Ray City:31645<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 Ray City.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Ray City. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Georgia: https://georgia.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 Georgia's counties, including Berrien, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 271 degrees and a distance of 170.5 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 295 degrees and a distance of 181.8 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Ray City or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |