Census Data for Union Gap

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Union Gap a population of 6,204 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Union Gap a population of 6,047 people.

The city of Union Gap is located in Yakima County. The 2010 Census gave Yakima County; a population of 243,231 people. This means that Union Gap had 2.49% of the county's total population, making it Yakima's 6th most populous community.

At the same time, Washington had a population of 6,724,540 people, meaning that Union Gap had 0.09% of the total population of Washington - making it the state's 110th most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Union Gap has a total area of 5.06 square miles [13.1 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0 square miles [0 km²]).

Yakima County has a land area of 4,295 square miles [11,125 km²]. At 5.05 square miles [13.1 km²], Union Gap has 0.12% of the county's total land area.

• Continue Reading ...
  • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Union Gap, 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 Union Gap reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Union Gap 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:   46° 33' 15"   (or 46.55°)
  • Lon:   -120° 29' 29"   (or -120.49°)
  • 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, Union Gap had 2,173 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 6,047 people, this averages 2.78 people per Housing Unit.

• Continue Reading ...
  • The 2010 Census shows Union Gap had a land area of 5.05 square miles [13.1 km²]. This translates to 429.7 Housing Units per square mile [165.9 housing units/km²].
  • From the Census of 2000: Union Gap had 2,210 Housing Units, a population of 5,621 people and a land area of 5.03 square miles [13 km²]. This gives a density of 2.54 people per Housing Unit and 439 Housing Units per square mile [169.5 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 Union Gap 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).

Yakima County ...

The community of Union Gap is located in Yakima County<4>.

The county had a population of 243,231 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 6,047 people, Union Gap represented 2.49% of the county's total.

In addition, where the city of Union Gap has a population density of 1,195 people per square mile [461.7 people/km²], Yakima County averages 56.6 people per square mile [21.86 people/km²].

For more information, please visit our Census Page for Yakima County.

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Union Gap, 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 Union Gap. 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 Union Gap 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 Union Gap, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Union Gap.

• Continue Reading ...
  • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
  • Lat:   46.554276°   (or 46°33'15" N)
  • Lon:   -120.491599°   (or -120°29'29" W)
  • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
  • Lat:   46.558237°   (or 46°33'29" N)
  • Lon:   -120.490566°   (or -120°29'26" W)
  • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,467 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 (#2412131) to Union Gap. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Union Gap. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
  • Lat:   46.556863°   (or 46°33'24" N)
  • Lon:   -120.493640°   (or -120°29'37" W)
  • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,073 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Union Gap. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Union Gap.

Miscellaneous Information for Union Gap ...

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 Yakima County or the city of Union Gap:

• The GNIS Codes ...
  • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Union Gap:
  • GNIS ID for Union Gap: 2412131
  • GNIS ID for Yakima County: 1531929
  • GNIS ID for State of Washington: 1779804

• The FIPS Codes ...
  • An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
  • State Code: 53 (Washington)
  • County Code: 077 (Yakima County)
  • Place Code: 73290 (Union Gap)
  • State & County Code: 53/077 (Washington / Yakima County)
  • State & Place Code: 53/73290 (Washington / Union Gap)

• Misc. Census Codes ...
  • Union Gap is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #9 (the Pacific Division).

• The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
  • While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Union Gap, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Union Gap. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
  • The ZIP code for Union Gap:98903<7>

• Census ZCTA Codes ...
  • The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
  • ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.

For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Union Gap.

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Union Gap: www.ci.union-gap.wa.us/

The official website for Yakima County: www.pan.co.yakima.wa.us/

The official website for State of Washington: https://access.wa.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)