Census Data for Palm Valley
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Palm Valley a population of 1,240 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Palm Valley a population of 1,304 people.
The city of Palm Valley is located in Cameron County. The 2010 Census gave Cameron County; a population of 406,220 people. This means that Palm Valley had 0.32% of the county's total population, making it Cameron's 14th 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 Palm Valley has a total area of 0.61 square miles [1.6 km²]. Of this total, 0.6 square miles [1.5 km²] is land, with the balance (2.29%) being water (0.01 square miles [0 km²]).
Cameron County has a land area of 890 square miles [2,307.5 km²]. At 0.6 square miles [1.5 km²], Palm Valley has 0.07% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Palm Valley, 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 Palm Valley reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Palm Valley 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: 26° 12' 16" (or 26.2°)
- Lon: -97° 45' 15" (or -97.75°)
- 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, Palm Valley had 709 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 1,304 people, this averages 1.84 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Palm Valley had a land area of 0.6 square miles [1.5 km²]. This translates to 1,158 Housing Units per square mile [447.3 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Palm Valley had 705 Housing Units, a population of 1,298 people and a land area of 0.62 square miles [1.6 km²]. This gives a density of 1.84 people per Housing Unit and 1,130 Housing Units per square mile [436.5 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 Palm Valley and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Cameron County ...
Palm Valley is located in Cameron County<4>.
The county had a population of 406,220 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 1,304 people, Palm Valley represented 0.32% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Palm Valley has a population density of 2,130 people per square mile [822 people/km²], Cameron County averages 456 people per square mile [176 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Cameron County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Palm Valley, 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 Palm Valley. 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 Palm Valley 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 Palm Valley, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Palm Valley.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 26.204445° (or 26°12'16" N)
- Lon: -97.754319° (or -97°45'15" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 26.203585° (or 26°12'12" N)
- Lon: -97.754013° (or -97°45'14" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 329.1 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 (#2411358) to Palm Valley. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Palm Valley. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 26.201430° (or 26°12'5" N)
- Lon: -97.754640° (or -97°45'16" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,104 feet to the north<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Palm Valley. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Palm Valley.
Miscellaneous Information for Palm Valley ...
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 Cameron County or the city of Palm Valley:
- 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: 061 (Cameron County)
- Place Code: 54798 (Palm Valley)
- State & County Code: 48/061 (Texas / Cameron County)
- State & Place Code: 48/54798 (Texas / Palm Valley)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Palm Valley 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 Palm Valley.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Palm Valley. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Cameron County: www.co.cameron.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 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 Texas' counties, including Cameron, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 17 degrees and a distance of 329.1 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 354 degrees and a distance of 1,104 feet. |