Census Data for Blowing Rock
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Blowing Rock a population of 1,325 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Blowing Rock a population of 1,241 people.
The town of Blowing Rock is located in Caldwell County. The 2010 Census gave Caldwell County; a population of 83,022 people. This means that Blowing Rock had 1.49% of the county's total population, making it Caldwell's 7th most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people, meaning that Blowing Rock had 0.01% of the total population of North Carolina - making it the state's 309th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Blowing Rock has a total area of 3.04 square miles [7.9 km²]. Of this total, 3 square miles [7.8 km²] is land, with the balance (1.48%) being water (0.04 square miles [0.1 km²]).
Caldwell County has a land area of 471.6 square miles [1,221.4 km²]. At 3 square miles [7.8 km²], Blowing Rock has 0.64% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like Blowing Rock, 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 town.
- Things like population, area and housing for Blowing Rock reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Blowing Rock 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° 7' 45" (or 36.13°)
- Lon: -81° 40' 13" (or -81.67°)
- 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, Blowing Rock had 2,060 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 1,241 people, this averages 0.6 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Blowing Rock had a land area of 3 square miles [7.8 km²]. This translates to 676 Housing Units per square mile [261.2 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Blowing Rock had 1,524 Housing Units, a population of 1,418 people and a land area of 2.97 square miles [7.7 km²]. This gives a density of 0.93 people per Housing Unit and 507 Housing Units per square mile [196.1 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 Blowing Rock and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Caldwell County ...
The community of Blowing Rock is primarily located in Caldwell County<4>. A portion of Blowing Rock extends into Watauga County.
The county had a population of 83,022 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 1,241 people, Blowing Rock represented 1.49% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of Blowing Rock has a population density of 407.6 people per square mile [157.4 people/km²], Caldwell County averages 176.1 people per square mile [68 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Caldwell County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Blowing Rock, 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 Blowing Rock. 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 Blowing Rock 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 Blowing Rock, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Blowing Rock.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 36.129282° (or 36°7'45" N)
- Lon: -81.670544° (or -81°40'13" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 36.129663° (or 36°7'46" N)
- Lon: -81.672566° (or -81°40'21" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 611 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 (#2405281) to Blowing Rock. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Blowing Rock. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 36.129265° (or 36°7'45" N)
- Lon: -81.671396° (or -81°40'17" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 251 feet to the east<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Blowing Rock. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Blowing Rock.
Miscellaneous Information for Blowing Rock ...
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 Caldwell County or the town of Blowing Rock:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 37 (North Carolina)
- County Code: 027 (Caldwell County)
- Place Code: 06500 (Blowing Rock)
- State & County Code: 37/027 (North Carolina / Caldwell County)
- State & Place Code: 37/06500 (North Carolina / Blowing Rock)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Blowing Rock 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 town like Blowing Rock, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Blowing Rock. 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 Blowing Rock:28605<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 Blowing Rock.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Blowing Rock: www.townofblowingrock.com/
The official website for Caldwell County: www.co.caldwell.nc.us/
The official website for State of North Carolina: https://www.nc.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 North Carolina's counties, including Caldwell, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 256 degrees and a distance of 611 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 271 degrees and a distance of 251 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Blowing Rock or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |