Census Data for Highlands
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Highlands a population of 978 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Highlands a population of 924 people.
The town of Highlands is located in Jackson County. The 2010 Census gave Jackson County; a population of 40,271 people. This means that Highlands had 2.29% of the county's total population, making it Jackson's 2nd most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Highlands has a total area of 6.15 square miles [15.9 km²]. Of this total, 6.01 square miles [15.6 km²] is land, with the balance (2.34%) being water (0.14 square miles [0.4 km²]).
Jackson County has a land area of 490.8 square miles [1,271 km²]. At 6.01 square miles [15.6 km²], Highlands has 1.22% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like Highlands, 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 Highlands reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Highlands 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: 35° 3' 13" (or 35.05°)
- Lon: -83° 11' 51" (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).
Jackson County ...
Highlands is primarily located in Jackson County<3>. A portion of Highlands extends into Macon County.
The county had a population of 40,271 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 924 people, Highlands represented 2.29% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of Highlands has a population density of 150.1 people per square mile [58 people/km²], Jackson County averages 82.1 people per square mile [31.68 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Jackson County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Highlands, 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 Highlands. 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 Highlands 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 Highlands, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Highlands.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 35.053845° (or 35°3'13" N)
- Lon: -83.197579° (or -83°11'51" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 35.054129° (or 35°3'14" N)
- Lon: -83.202351° (or -83°12'8" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,427 feet to the east<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 (#2405833) to Highlands. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Highlands. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 35.054058° (or 35°3'14" N)
- Lon: -83.197103° (or -83°11'49" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 161.9 feet to the southwest<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Highlands. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Highlands.
Miscellaneous Information for Highlands ...
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 Jackson County or the town of Highlands:
- 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: 099 (Jackson County)
- Place Code: 31360 (Highlands)
- State & County Code: 37/099 (North Carolina / Jackson County)
- State & Place Code: 37/31360 (North Carolina / Highlands)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Highlands is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Highlands.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Highlands: www.main.nc.us/highlands/
The official website for Jackson County: www.jacksonnc.org/
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> | If you're interested in how the shape of North Carolina's counties, including Jackson, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <4> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 265 degrees and a distance of 1,427 feet. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 118 degrees and a distance of 161.9 feet. |