Census Data for Rockville Centre
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Rockville Centre a population of 24,553 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Rockville Centre a population of 24,023 people.
The village of Rockville Centre is located in Nassau County. The 2010 Census gave Nassau County; a population of 1,339,532 people. This means that Rockville Centre had 1.79% of the county's total population, making it Nassau's 9th most populous community.
At the same time, New York had a population of 19,378,102 people, meaning that Rockville Centre had 0.12% of the total population of New York - making it the state's 102nd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Rockville Centre has a total area of 3.33 square miles [8.6 km²]. Of this total, 3.25 square miles [8.4 km²] is land, with the balance (2.55%) being water (0.09 square miles [0.2 km²]).
Nassau County has a land area of 284.7 square miles [737.4 km²]. At 3.25 square miles [8.4 km²], Rockville Centre has 1.14% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a village like Rockville Centre, 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 village.
- Things like population, area and housing for Rockville Centre reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Rockville Centre 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: 40° 39' 50" (or 40.66°)
- Lon: -73° 38' 16" (or -73.64°)
- 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, Rockville Centre had 9,679 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 24,023 people, this averages 2.48 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Rockville Centre had a land area of 3.25 square miles [8.4 km²]. This translates to 2,904 Housing Units per square mile [1,121 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Rockville Centre had 9,419 Housing Units, a population of 24,568 people and a land area of 3.28 square miles [8.5 km²]. This gives a density of 2.61 people per Housing Unit and 2,802 Housing Units per square mile [1,082 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Rockville Centre and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Nassau County ...
The community of Rockville Centre is located in Nassau County<4>.
The county had a population of 1,339,532 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 24,023 people, Rockville Centre represented 1.79% of the county's total.
In addition, where the village of Rockville Centre has a population density of 7,209 people per square mile [2,783 people/km²], Nassau County averages 4,704 people per square mile [1,816 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Nassau County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Rockville Centre, 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 Rockville Centre. 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 Rockville Centre 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 Rockville Centre, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Rockville Centre.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 40.664024° (or 40°39'50" N)
- Lon: -73.638048° (or -73°38'16" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 40.663390° (or 40°39'48" N)
- Lon: -73.636831° (or -73°38'12" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 408.3 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 (#2391098) to Rockville Centre. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Rockville Centre. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 40.664277° (or 40°39'51" N)
- Lon: -73.638297° (or -73°38'17" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 115.1 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Rockville Centre. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Rockville Centre.
Miscellaneous Information for Rockville Centre ...
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 Nassau County or the village of Rockville Centre:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 36 (New York)
- County Code: 059 (Nassau County)
- Place Code: 63264 (Rockville Centre)
- State & County Code: 36/059 (New York / Nassau County)
- State & Place Code: 36/63264 (New York / Rockville Centre)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Rockville Centre 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 Rockville Centre.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Rockville Centre: www.ci.rockville-centre.ny.us/
The official website for Nassau County: www.nassaucountyny.gov/
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 Nassau, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 55 degrees and a distance of 408.3 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 216 degrees and a distance of 115.1 feet. |