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Census Data for Sandpoint

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Sandpoint a population of 8,991 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Sandpoint a population of 7,365 people.

The city of Sandpoint is located in Bonner County. The 2010 Census gave Bonner County; a population of 40,877 people. This means that Sandpoint had 18.02% of the county's total population, making it Bonner's most populous community.

At the same time, Idaho had a population of 1,567,582 people, meaning that Sandpoint had 0.47% of the total population of Idaho - making it the state's 25th most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Sandpoint has a total area of 4.79 square miles [12.4 km²]. Of this total, 3.98 square miles [10.3 km²] is land, with the balance (16.96%) being water (0.81 square miles [2.1 km²]).

Bonner County has a land area of 1,734 square miles [4,492.5 km²]. At 3.98 square miles [10.3 km²], Sandpoint has 0.23% of the county's total land area.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Sandpoint, 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 Sandpoint reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Sandpoint 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:   48° 16' 50"   (or 48.28°)
    • Lon:   -116° 33' 36"   (or -116.56°)
    • 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, Sandpoint had 3,769 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 7,365 people, this averages 1.95 people per Housing Unit.

  • Continue Reading ...
    • The 2010 Census shows Sandpoint had a land area of 3.98 square miles [10.3 km²]. This translates to 786 Housing Units per square mile [303.5 housing units/km²].
    • From the Census of 2000: Sandpoint had 3,188 Housing Units, a population of 6,835 people and a land area of 3.9 square miles [10.1 km²]. This gives a density of 2.14 people per Housing Unit and 672 Housing Units per square mile [259.7 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 Sandpoint and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Bonner County ...

Sandpoint is located in Bonner County<4> and is the County Seat for Bonner County.

The county had a population of 40,877 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 7,365 people, Sandpoint represented 18.02% of the county's total.

In addition, where the city of Sandpoint has a population density of 1,535 people per square mile [593 people/km²], Bonner County averages 23.57 people per square mile [9.1 people/km²].

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

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

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

  • Continue Reading ...
    • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
    • Lat:   48.280716°   (or 48°16'50" N)
    • Lon:   -116.560067°   (or -116°33'36" W)
    • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
    • Lat:   48.275603°   (or 48°16'32" N)
    • Lon:   -116.559151°   (or -116°33'32" W)
    • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,877 feet to the north<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 (#2411808) to Sandpoint. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Sandpoint. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
    • Lat:   48.280617°   (or 48°16'50" N)
    • Lon:   -116.559650°   (or -116°33'34" W)
    • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 107.4 feet to the west<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Sandpoint. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Sandpoint.

Miscellaneous Information for Sandpoint ...

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 Bonner County or the city of Sandpoint:

  • The GNIS Codes ...
    • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Sandpoint:
    • GNIS ID for Sandpoint: 2411808
    • GNIS ID for Bonner County: 395158
    • GNIS ID for State of Idaho: 1779783
  • The FIPS Codes ...
    • An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
    • State Code: 16 (Idaho)
    • County Code: 017 (Bonner County)
    • Place Code: 72100 (Sandpoint)
    • State & County Code: 16/017 (Idaho / Bonner County)
    • State & Place Code: 16/72100 (Idaho / Sandpoint)
  • Misc. Census Codes ...
    • Sandpoint is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain 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 Sandpoint, 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 Sandpoint:<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 Sandpoint.

The official website for Sandpoint: www.cityofsandpoint.com/

The official website for Bonner County: www.co.bonner.id.us/

The official website for State of Idaho: www.state.id.us/

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 Idaho's counties, including Bonner, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 6 degrees and a distance of 1,877 feet.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 70 degrees and a distance of 107.4 feet.
<7>When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Sandpoint or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS).









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 10 Mar 2024