Census Data for Sinking Spring
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Sinking Spring a population of 4,101 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Sinking Spring a population of 4,008 people.
The community of Sinking Spring is located in Berks County. The 2010 Census gave Berks County; a population of 412,039 people. This means that Sinking Spring had 0.97% of the county's total population, making it Berks' 10th most populous community.
At the same time, Pennsylvania had a population of 12,702,379 people, meaning that Sinking Spring had 0.03% of the total population of Pennsylvania - making it the state's 253rd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Sinking Spring has a total area of 1.26 square miles [3.3 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0 square miles [0 km²]).
Berks County has a land area of 856 square miles [2,218.3 km²]. At 1.26 square miles [3.3 km²], Sinking Spring has 0.15% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like Sinking Spring, 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 community.
- Things like population, area and housing for Sinking Spring reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Sinking Spring 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° 19' 28" (or 40.32°)
- Lon: -76° 1' 21" (or -76.02°)
- 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, Sinking Spring had 1,733 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 4,008 people, this averages 2.31 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Sinking Spring had a land area of 1.26 square miles [3.3 km²]. This translates to 1,375 Housing Units per square mile [531 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Sinking Spring had 1,269 Housing Units, a population of 2,639 people and a land area of 1.35 square miles [3.5 km²]. This gives a density of 2.08 people per Housing Unit and 942 Housing Units per square mile [364 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 Sinking Spring and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Berks County ...
Sinking Spring is located in Berks County<4>.
The county had a population of 412,039 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 4,008 people, Sinking Spring represented 0.97% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of Sinking Spring has a population density of 3,180 people per square mile [1,228 people/km²], Berks County averages 481.1 people per square mile [185.7 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Berks County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Sinking Spring, 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 Sinking Spring. 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 Sinking Spring 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 Sinking Spring, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Sinking Spring.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 40.324692° (or 40°19'28" N)
- Lon: -76.022530° (or -76°1'21" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 40.324725° (or 40°19'29" N)
- Lon: -76.022386° (or -76°1'20" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 41.79 feet to the west<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 (#1214929) to Sinking Spring. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Sinking Spring. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 40.323981° (or 40°19'26" N)
- Lon: -76.023550° (or -76°1'24" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 384.2 feet to the northeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Sinking Spring. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Sinking Spring.
Miscellaneous Information for Sinking Spring ...
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 Berks County or the community of Sinking Spring:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 42 (Pennsylvania)
- County Code: 011 (Berks County)
- Place Code: 70880 (Sinking Spring)
- State & County Code: 42/011 (Pennsylvania / Berks County)
- State & Place Code: 42/70880 (Pennsylvania / Sinking Spring)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Sinking Spring 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 Sinking Spring.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Sinking Spring: www.borough.sinking-spring.pa.us/
The official website for Berks County: www.co.berks.pa.us/
The official website for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.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 Pennsylvania's counties, including Berks, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 106 degrees and a distance of 41.79 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 312 degrees and a distance of 384.2 feet. |