Census Data for Selma
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Selma a population of 7,119 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Selma a population of 6,073 people.
The town of Selma is located in Johnston County. The 2010 Census gave Johnston County; a population of 168,878 people. This means that Selma had 3.6% of the county's total population, making it Johnston's 3rd most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people, meaning that Selma had 0.06% of the total population of North Carolina - making it the state's 117th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Selma has a total area of 4.85 square miles [12.6 km²].
Johnston County has a land area of 791 square miles [2,049.5 km²]. At 4.85 square miles [12.6 km²], Selma has 0.61% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like Selma, 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 Selma reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Selma 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° 32' 36" (or 35.54°)
- Lon: -78° 17' 39" (or -78.29°)
- 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, Selma had 2,590 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 6,073 people, this averages 2.34 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Selma had a land area of 4.85 square miles [12.6 km²]. This translates to 534 Housing Units per square mile [206.3 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Selma had 2,515 Housing Units, a population of 5,914 people and a land area of 3.23 square miles [8.4 km²]. This gives a density of 2.35 people per Housing Unit and 778 Housing Units per square mile [300.6 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 Selma and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Johnston County ...
The community of Selma is located in Johnston County<4>.
The county had a population of 168,878 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 6,073 people, Selma represented 3.6% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of Selma has a population density of 1,252 people per square mile [483.7 people/km²], Johnston County averages 213.4 people per square mile [82.4 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Johnston County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Selma, 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 Selma. 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 Selma 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 Selma, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Selma.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 35.543495° (or 35°32'36" N)
- Lon: -78.294247° (or -78°17'39" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 35.536982° (or 35°32'13" N)
- Lon: -78.284642° (or -78°17'4" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,709 feet to the northwest<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 (#2407310) to Selma. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Selma. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 35.546207° (or 35°32'46" N)
- Lon: -78.293791° (or -78°17'37" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 997 feet to the south<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Selma. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Selma.
Miscellaneous Information for Selma ...
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 Johnston County or the town of Selma:
- 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: 101 (Johnston County)
- Place Code: 60320 (Selma)
- State & County Code: 37/101 (North Carolina / Johnston County)
- State & Place Code: 37/60320 (North Carolina / Selma)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Selma 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 Selma.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Selma: www.selma-nc.com/
The official website for Johnston County: www.co.johnston.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 Johnston, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 50 degrees and a distance of 3,709 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 172 degrees and a distance of 997 feet. |