Census Data for Water Valley
Population ...
The last Decennial Census<1> was in 2010, which gave Water Valley a population of 279 people.
The city of Water Valley is located in Graves County. The 2010 Census gave Graves County; a population of 37,121 people. This means that Water Valley had 0.75% of the county's total population, making it Graves' 3rd most populous community.
At the same time, Kentucky had a population of 4,339,367 people.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Water Valley has a total area of 0.63 square miles [1.6 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0 square miles [0 km²]).
Graves County has a land area of 551 square miles [1,429 km²]. At 0.62 square miles [1.6 km²], Water Valley has 0.11% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Water Valley, 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 Water Valley reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Water Valley 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: 36° 34' 5" (or 36.57°)
- Lon: -88° 48' 38" (or -88.81°)
- 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, Water Valley had 145 Housing Units<2> and with its population of 279 people, this averages 1.92 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Water Valley had a land area of 0.62 square miles [1.6 km²]. This translates to 232 Housing Units per square mile [89.6 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Water Valley had 166 Housing Units, a population of 316 people and a land area of 0.62 square miles [1.6 km²]. This gives a density of 1.9 people per Housing Unit and 266.8 Housing Units per square mile [103 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 Water Valley 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).
Graves County ...
The community of Water Valley is located in Graves County<3>.
The county had a population of 37,121 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 279 people, Water Valley represented 0.75% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Water Valley has a population density of 446.4 people per square mile [172.4 people/km²], Graves County averages 67.3 people per square mile [25.98 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Graves County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Water Valley, 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 Water Valley. 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 Water Valley 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 Water Valley, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Water Valley.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 36.568276° (or 36°34'5" N)
- Lon: -88.810732° (or -88°48'38" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 36.566559° (or 36°33'59" N)
- Lon: -88.810928° (or -88°48'39" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 628 feet to the north<4> 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 (#2405684) to Water Valley. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Water Valley. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 36.568880° (or 36°34'7" N)
- Lon: -88.810767° (or -88°48'38" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 220.4 feet to the south<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Water Valley. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Water Valley.
Miscellaneous Information for Water Valley ...
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 Graves County or the city of Water Valley:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 21 (Kentucky)
- County Code: 083 (Graves County)
- Place Code: 80832 (Water Valley)
- State & County Code: 21/083 (Kentucky / Graves County)
- State & Place Code: 21/80832 (Kentucky / Water Valley)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Water Valley is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #6 (the East South-Central 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 Water Valley, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Water Valley. 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 Water Valley:42085<6>
- 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 Water Valley.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Water Valley. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Kentucky: https://kentucky.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 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. |
| <2> | 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). |
| <3> | If you're interested in how the shape of Kentucky's counties, including Graves, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <4> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 354 degrees and a distance of 628 feet. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 182 degrees and a distance of 220.4 feet. |
| <6> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Water Valley or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |