Census Data for Bear Creek
Population ...
The last Decennial Census<1> was in 2010, which gave Bear Creek a population of 382 people.
The village of Bear Creek is located in Hays County. The 2010 Census gave Hays County; a population of 157,107 people. This means that Bear Creek had 0.24% of the county's total population, making it Hays' 10th most populous community.
At the same time, Texas had a population of 25,145,561 people.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Bear Creek has a total area of 1.18 square miles [3 km²].
Hays County has a land area of 677 square miles [1,756 km²]. At 1.18 square miles [3 km²], Bear Creek has 0.17% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a village like Bear Creek, 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 Bear Creek reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Bear Creek 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: 30° 10' 57" (or 30.18°)
- Lon: -97° 56' 23" (or -97.94°)
- 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, Bear Creek had 142 Housing Units<2> and with its population of 382 people, this averages 2.69 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Bear Creek had a land area of 1.18 square miles [3 km²]. This translates to 120.6 Housing Units per square mile [46.58 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Bear Creek had 121 Housing Units, a population of 360 people and a land area of 1.15 square miles [3 km²]. This gives a density of 2.98 people per Housing Unit and 105.1 Housing Units per square mile [40.57 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 Bear Creek and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Hays County ...
Bear Creek is located in Hays County<3>.
The county had a population of 157,107 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 382 people, Bear Creek represented 0.24% of the county's total.
In addition, where the village of Bear Creek has a population density of 324.6 people per square mile [125.3 people/km²], Hays County averages 231.7 people per square mile [89.5 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Hays County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Bear Creek, 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 Bear Creek. 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 Bear Creek 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 Bear Creek, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Bear Creek.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 30.182557° (or 30°10'57" N)
- Lon: -97.939981° (or -97°56'23" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 30.182024° (or 30°10'55" N)
- Lon: -97.932738° (or -97°55'57" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,290 feet to the west<4> 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 (#2413531) to Bear Creek. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Bear Creek. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 30.182557° (or 30°10'57" N)
- Lon: -97.939980° (or -97°56'23" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 0.79 feet to the southwest<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Bear Creek. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Bear Creek.
Miscellaneous Information for Bear Creek ...
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 Hays County or the village of Bear Creek:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 48 (Texas)
- County Code: 209 (Hays County)
- Place Code: 06242 (Bear Creek)
- State & County Code: 48/209 (Texas / Hays County)
- State & Place Code: 48/06242 (Texas / Bear Creek)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Bear Creek is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #7 (the West South-Central Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Bear Creek.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Bear Creek. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Hays County: www.co.hays.tx.us/
The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.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 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. |
| <2> | 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). |
| <3> | If you're interested in how the shape of Texas' counties, including Hays, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <4> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 85 degrees and a distance of 2,290 feet. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 156 degrees and a distance of 0.79 feet. |