Census Data for North Tonawanda
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave North Tonawanda a population of 30,255 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave North Tonawanda a population of 31,568 people.
The city of North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County. The 2010 Census gave Niagara County; a population of 216,475 people. This means that North Tonawanda had 14.58% of the county's total population, making it Niagara's 2nd most populous community.
At the same time, New York had a population of 19,378,102 people, meaning that North Tonawanda had 0.16% of the total population of New York - making it the state's 69th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for North Tonawanda has a total area of 10.9 square miles [28.2 km²]. Of this total, 10.1 square miles [26.2 km²] is land, with the balance (7.36%) being water (0.8 square miles [2.1 km²]).
Niagara County has a land area of 522 square miles [1,352.9 km²]. At 10.1 square miles [26.2 km²], North Tonawanda has 1.93% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like North Tonawanda, 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 North Tonawanda reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of North Tonawanda 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: 43° 2' 56" (or 43.05°)
- Lon: -78° 52' 16" (or -78.87°)
- 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, North Tonawanda had 14,757 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 31,568 people, this averages 2.14 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows North Tonawanda had a land area of 10.1 square miles [26.2 km²]. This translates to 1,353 Housing Units per square mile [522 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: North Tonawanda had 14,425 Housing Units, a population of 33,262 people and a land area of 10.1 square miles [26.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.31 people per Housing Unit and 1,318 Housing Units per square mile [509 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 North Tonawanda and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Niagara County ...
The community of North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County<4>.
The county had a population of 216,475 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 31,568 people, North Tonawanda represented 14.58% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of North Tonawanda has a population density of 2,895 people per square mile [1,118 people/km²], Niagara County averages 414.4 people per square mile [160 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Niagara County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for North Tonawanda, 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 North Tonawanda. 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 North Tonawanda 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 North Tonawanda, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for North Tonawanda.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 43.049157° (or 43°2'56" N)
- Lon: -78.871224° (or -78°52'16" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 43.041006° (or 43°2'27" N)
- Lon: -78.868920° (or -78°52'8" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,034 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 (#979293) to North Tonawanda. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of North Tonawanda. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 43.043946° (or 43°2'38" N)
- Lon: -78.865592° (or -78°51'56" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 2,420 feet to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for North Tonawanda. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for North Tonawanda.
Miscellaneous Information for North Tonawanda ...
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 Niagara County or the city of North Tonawanda:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to North Tonawanda:
- GNIS ID for North Tonawanda: 979293
- GNIS ID for Niagara County: 974130
- GNIS ID for State of New York: 1779796
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- North Tonawanda is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for North Tonawanda.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for North Tonawanda: www.northtonawanda.org/
The official website for Niagara County: www.niagaracounty.com/
The official website for State of New York: https://www.ny.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 New York's counties, including Niagara, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
<5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 11 degrees and a distance of 3,034 feet. |
<6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 38 degrees and a distance of 2,420 feet. |