Census Data for River Bend
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave River Bend a population of 3,031 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave River Bend a population of 3,119 people.
The town of River Bend is located in Craven County. The 2010 Census gave Craven County; a population of 103,505 people. This means that River Bend had 3.01% of the county's total population, making it Craven's 4th most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people, meaning that River Bend had 0.03% of the total population of North Carolina - making it the state's 196th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for River Bend has a total area of 2.75 square miles [7.1 km²]. Of this total, 2.51 square miles [6.5 km²] is land, with the balance (8.83%) being water (0.24 square miles [0.6 km²]).
Craven County has a land area of 708 square miles [1,836.2 km²]. At 2.51 square miles [6.5 km²], River Bend has 0.35% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like River Bend, 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 River Bend reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of River Bend 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° 4' 8" (or 35.07°)
- Lon: -77° 8' 59" (or -77.15°)
- 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, River Bend had 1,577 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 3,119 people, this averages 1.98 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows River Bend had a land area of 2.51 square miles [6.5 km²]. This translates to 573 Housing Units per square mile [221.3 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: River Bend had 1,477 Housing Units, a population of 2,923 people and a land area of 2.55 square miles [6.6 km²]. This gives a density of 1.98 people per Housing Unit and 537 Housing Units per square mile [207.4 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 River Bend and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Craven County ...
The community of River Bend is located in Craven County<4>.
The county had a population of 103,505 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 3,119 people, River Bend represented 3.01% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of River Bend has a population density of 1,133 people per square mile [437.6 people/km²], Craven County averages 146 people per square mile [56.4 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Craven County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for River Bend, 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 River Bend. 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 River Bend 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 River Bend, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for River Bend.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 35.068909° (or 35°4'8" N)
- Lon: -77.149927° (or -77°8'59" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 35.074324° (or 35°4'27" N)
- Lon: -77.148519° (or -77°8'54" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,018 feet to the south<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 (#2407222) to River Bend. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of River Bend. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 35.072055° (or 35°4'19" N)
- Lon: -77.150659° (or -77°9'2" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,167 feet to the south<6> of the point given by the GNIS for River Bend. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for River Bend.
Miscellaneous Information for River Bend ...
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 Craven County or the town of River Bend:
- 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: 049 (Craven County)
- Place Code: 56710 (River Bend)
- State & County Code: 37/049 (North Carolina / Craven County)
- State & Place Code: 37/56710 (North Carolina / River Bend)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- River Bend 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 River Bend.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for River Bend: www.ci.river-bend.nc.us/
The official website for Craven County: www.co.craven.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 Craven, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 167 degrees and a distance of 2,018 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 190 degrees and a distance of 1,167 feet. |