Census Data for Sanford
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Sanford a population of 30,074 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Sanford a population of 28,094 people.
The city of Sanford is located in Lee County. The 2010 Census gave Lee County; a population of 57,866 people. This means that Sanford had 48.55% of the county's total population, making it Lee's most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people, meaning that Sanford had 0.29% of the total population of North Carolina - making it the state's 31st most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Sanford has a total area of 27.04 square miles [70 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.25 square miles [0.7 km²]).
Lee County has a land area of 255 square miles [660.3 km²]. At 26.79 square miles [69.4 km²], Sanford has 10.51% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Sanford, 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 Sanford reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Sanford 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° 29' 0" (or 35.48°)
- Lon: -79° 10' 39" (or -79.18°)
- 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, Sanford had 11,411 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 28,094 people, this averages 2.46 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Sanford had a land area of 26.79 square miles [69.4 km²]. This translates to 422 Housing Units per square mile [162.9 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Sanford had 9,223 Housing Units, a population of 23,220 people and a land area of 24.07 square miles [62.3 km²]. This gives a density of 2.52 people per Housing Unit and 381.9 Housing Units per square mile [147.4 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 Sanford 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).
Lee County ...
The community of Sanford is located in Lee County<4> and is the County Seat for Lee County.
The county had a population of 57,866 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 28,094 people, Sanford represented 48.55% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Sanford has a population density of 1,038 people per square mile [401.2 people/km²], Lee County averages 227 people per square mile [87.6 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Lee County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Sanford, 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 Sanford. 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 Sanford 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 Sanford, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Sanford.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 35.483463° (or 35°29'0" N)
- Lon: -79.177659° (or -79°10'39" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 35.475881° (or 35°28'33" N)
- Lon: -79.175463° (or -79°10'31" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,840 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 (#2405419) to Sanford. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Sanford. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 35.480122° (or 35°28'48" N)
- Lon: -79.178156° (or -79°10'41" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,226 feet to the north<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Sanford. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Sanford.
Miscellaneous Information for Sanford ...
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 Lee County or the city of Sanford:
- 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: 105 (Lee County)
- Place Code: 59280 (Sanford)
- State & County Code: 37/105 (North Carolina / Lee County)
- State & Place Code: 37/59280 (North Carolina / Sanford)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Sanford 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 Sanford.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Sanford: www.sanfordnc.net/
The official website for Lee County: www.leecountync.com/
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 Lee, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 13 degrees and a distance of 2,840 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 353 degrees and a distance of 1,226 feet. |