Census Data for Little Compton
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Little Compton a population of 3,481 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Little Compton a population of 3,492 people.
The community of Little Compton is located in Newport County. The 2010 Census gave Newport County; a population of 82,888 people. This means that Little Compton had 4.21% of the county's total population, making it Newport's 6th most populous community.
At the same time, Rhode Island had a population of 1,052,567 people, meaning that Little Compton had 0.33% of the total population of Rhode Island - making it the state's 38th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Little Compton has a total area of 28.8 square miles [74.6 km²]. Of this total, 20.52 square miles [53.2 km²] is land, with the balance (28.74%) being water (8.28 square miles [21.4 km²]).
Newport County has a land area of 102.4 square miles [265.2 km²]. At 20.52 square miles [53.2 km²], Little Compton has 20.04% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like Little Compton, 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 Little Compton reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Little Compton 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: 41° 30' 13" (or 41.5°)
- Lon: -71° 9' 58" (or -71.17°)
- 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, Little Compton had 2,367 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 3,492 people, this averages 1.48 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Little Compton had a land area of 20.52 square miles [53.2 km²]. This translates to 82.2 Housing Units per square mile [31.73 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Little Compton had 2,103 Housing Units, a population of 3,593 people and a land area of 20.87 square miles [54.1 km²]. This gives a density of 1.71 people per Housing Unit and 72.8 Housing Units per square mile [28.09 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 Little Compton and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Newport County ...
The community of Little Compton is located in Newport County<4>.
The county had a population of 82,888 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 3,492 people, Little Compton represented 4.21% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of Little Compton has a population density of 121.3 people per square mile [46.81 people/km²], Newport County averages 809 people per square mile [312.6 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Newport County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Little Compton, 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 Little Compton. 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 Little Compton 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 Little Compton, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Little Compton.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 41.503720° (or 41°30'13" N)
- Lon: -71.166383° (or -71°9'58" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 41.518038° (or 41°31'4" N)
- Lon: -71.165484° (or -71°9'55" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 5,225 feet to the south<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 (#1220062) to Little Compton. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Little Compton. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 41.516770° (or 41°31'0" N)
- Lon: -71.166156° (or -71°9'58" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 4,758 feet to the south<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Little Compton. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Little Compton.
Miscellaneous Information for Little Compton ...
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 Newport County or the community of Little Compton:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 44 (Rhode Island)
- County Code: 005 (Newport County)
- Place Code: 42400 (Little Compton)
- State & County Code: 44/005 (Rhode Island / Newport County)
- State & Place Code: 44/42400 (Rhode Island / Little Compton)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Little Compton is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Little Compton.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Little Compton. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Rhode Island: https://www.ri.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 the state's counties, including Newport, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 177 degrees and a distance of 5,225 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 179 degrees and a distance of 4,758 feet. |