SANDAG Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers infoMay 2014

Census Tracts Jurisdictions Tribal Lands Community ZIP Codes Planning Areas

79

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5 76 76

78

79 78

78 78

67 5

56 79

15

52 67 52 8 5 125

805 8

15 163 94 125 94 282 8

54 125

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805 188 5 905 Introduction Geographic areas are designated divisions of the region used for planning, voting, Table of Contents administrative, and statistical purposes. Dozens of boundaries are defined for Introduction ...... 1 incorporated cities, census tracts, school districts, ZIP codes, political districts, and Comparing Geographic Areas ...... 2 other areas. SANDAG uses these different types of geographic areas to maintain Types of Geographic Areas ...... 4 and report demographic and economic information on the San Diego region. Census Geography ...... 4 Geographic areas defined by the Census Bureau to report census information are Locally-Defined Geographic Areas ...... 9 incorporated into the locally defined system of nested geographic areas, along Viewing Geographic Areas and Accessing Data ..... 21 with other types of areas that are important for collecting, analyzing, and reporting information. These areas include special districts (such as school and water districts), community planning areas, and political districts. Geographic areas are useful for describing the region, making comparisons between areas, and supporting informed decision-making. This INFO describes the variety of geographic areas that exist within the region and the relationship between these areas. Table 1 provides a brief summary of the definitions for easy reference.

Table 1 Summary: Geographies in the San Diego

Census Local Blocks Region • Smallest geographic unit, bounded on all sides by visible • San Diego County boundary features Incorporated Cities Block Groups • City boundaries • Contiguous cluster of blocks with a population between Subregional Areas 600 and 3,000 • Aggregation of census tracts Census Tracts Major Statistical Areas • Relatively permanent, homogeneous statistical areas • Aggregation of subregional areas Census Designated Places Special Districts • Densely settled concentrations of population • Districts for the provision of public services identifiable by name, but not incorporated Voting Districts American Indian Areas • Districts for determining the election of political • Federally designated areas for American Indian tribes representatives Metropolitan Statistical Area Community Planning Areas • County or Counties associated with a core urban area • Areas that are the basis for planning and land use Urbanized Areas decisions • Contiguous, densely developed area with 50,000 people Region or more • San Diego County boundary Urban Clusters Incorporated Cities • Contiguous, densely developed area with 2,500 to • City boundaries 50,000 people Subregional Areas ZIP Code Tabulation Areas • Aggregation of census tracts • Approximation of ZIP Code delivery areas

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 1 Comparing Geographic Areas There is a variety of geographic areas within the region and each is important to users of diverse interests and professions. An understanding of what these divisions are and how they are formed is important when selecting an area type for analysis and making “apples-to-apples” comparisons.

Confusion may arise from the fact that similarly named areas can be quite different in terms of the area they cover. For example, there are many business and residential addresses in unincorporated areas that use the names of incorporated cities in their mailing addresses, and the ZIP codes assigned to those areas also are identified by the incorporated city name. For example, El Cajon is covered by three ZIP codes: 92019, 92020, and 92021. These ZIP codes not only include the incorporated City of El Cajon, but also much of the adjacent unincorporated area including the communities of Crest, Granite Hills, Harbison Canyon, and a large part of Rancho San Diego (see Map 1). This problem of similarly named geographic areas that have different boundaries are especially prevalent in the unincorporated parts of the region. The community of Ramona is an instance of an area that can be defined in several different ways. As Table 2 and Map 2 show, when someone cites information for Ramona, he or she could be speaking of several different types of areas that vary greatly in geographic size, and consequently the related population is different as well.

Table 2 Definitions of "Ramona" Area Name Geography (Sq. Miles) Ramona Census Designated Place 38.4 Ramona ZIP Code 92065 178.4 Ramona Subregional Area 135.9 Ramona Community Planning Area 131.3

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SANDAG

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 2 Map 1 Geographic Areas within El Cajon ZIP Codes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SANDAG Map 2 Ramona Geographic Areas

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SANDAG

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 3 Another potential source of confusion is temporal consistency. While some geographic boundaries remain constant over time, others may change in response to development patterns, population growth, or legal mandates. Incorporated cities may annex or (rarely) de-annex land, and Community Planning Areas may merge or split. Unless the change in geographic size is taken into consideration, the degree of population change in the area could be misrepresented. The Community Planning Area of Lakeside is a case in point. As shown in Table 3, Lakeside’s population grew by 28 percent between 2000 and 2010. However, nearly all of the population increase was the result of the Pepper Drive-Bostonia Community Planning area being subsumed into Lakeside. (Population totals within Lakeside’s 2000 era boundary remain mostly unchanged over the same time period.)

Table 3 Change in Population 2000 - 2010 Lakeside Community Planning Area

2000 - 2010 Pepper Drive - 2000 2010 2000 - 2010 Change Bostonia share of population population Change (total) (percent) change Lakeside Community Planning Area 57,422 73,292 15,870 28% 98% Former Pepper Drive-Bostonia Community Planning Area 15,146 15,499 15,499 - - Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SANDAG

When comparing areas, another consideration is the size and heterogeneity of the areas being studied. Comparing population density between a large city such as San Diego and a small city such as Del Mar may not provide meaningful insight, as a wide variety of development patterns and densities exist within the City of San Diego.

Types of Geographic Areas There are two general types of geographic areas used to analyze and report information about the region. The first group consists of geographic areas defined by the Census Bureau for use in the decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is the Census Bureau’s program for the ongoing collection and reporting of detailed demographic, social, and economic data. The second group includes locally defined geographic areas that are specific to the San Diego region.

Census Geography The Census Bureau collects and reports data for many different levels of geography. Prior to each census, the Census Bureau reconfigures geographic areas to conform to its population thresholds and other guidelines. For this effort, the Census Bureau works with local jurisdictions and SANDAG to divide census tracts that grew significantly in population over the decade, delineate block group boundaries, and define Census-Designated Place (unincorporated community) boundaries. These areas are used to report data following the decennial census, as well as ACS data throughout the decade. Additionally, SANDAG releases annual estimates for population and housing, as well as growth forecasts at the census tract level. A description of the most commonly used census-related geographic areas follows:

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 4 Blocks: The block is the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau tabulates data. Census blocks are bounded on all sides by visible features such as streets, streams, power lines, and railroad tracks. In an urban area with a grid street system, census blocks are easily identified as the city blocks. In some instances, invisible boundaries such as property lines and imaginary extensions of streets are used. The boundaries of incorporated cities were used to form census blocks, so blocks nest into city boundaries. Each census block is uniquely identified within a census tract by a four-digit number. Basic census data, such as population counts by age and ethnicity, are available down to the block level of geography for each decennial census. ACS data are not reported at the block level. There are 39,932 blocks in the San Diego region.

Block Groups: A block group is a contiguous cluster of blocks within a census tract, identified by the first digit of the four-digit block number. The population within a block group typically ranges between 600 and 3,000 people. This is the smallest geographic area for which ACS information is available. There are currently 1,794 block groups in the San Diego region.

Census Tracts: Census tracts are among the most commonly used geographic areas for reporting and analyzing information. They are designed to be relatively permanent statistical areas and homogeneous with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions at the time they are established. Census tracts usually contain between 1,200 and 8,000 people, with an optimum population of 4,000. To maintain this population threshold, census tracts in areas of high growth during the decade are subdivided prior to the census. Every attempt is made to maintain the outer boundary of a census tract so that trends in population and other characteristics can be evaluated. Census tracts are uniquely numbered within a county. In the San Diego region, they are two-or three-digit numbers with a two-digit suffix. Tracts that are subdivided are renumbered by changing the two-digit suffix. For example, 2000 census tract 2.00 was split into tracts 2.01 and 2.02 for Census 2010. Blocks and block groups nest into census tracts. There were 605 census tracts in 2000 and 627 in 2010. Please see the Maps and Cross-reference Tables section on www.sandag.org/censusdata for a detailed listing of tract changes between the 2000 and 2010 Censuses.

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 5 Map 3 Census-Designated Places in the San Diego Region

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SANDAG Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

Census Designated Places: For unincorporated areas, Census Designated Places (CDPs) are the statistical counterpart of incorporated cities. CDPs comprise densely settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name, but not legally incorporated. CDP boundaries may change with settlement patterns from census to census, so a CDP with the same name in previous censuses does not necessarily encompass the same area. There were 28 CDPs in 2000; seven new ones were identified for Census 2010 for a total of 35 (see Map 3). There is no minimum or maximum population size for CDPs; however, a CDP must comprise a reasonably compact and continuous land area. In the San Diego region, the smallest CDP (in terms of population) is Mount Laguna (57 people) and the largest is La Presa (34,169 people). Although some CDPs have the same name as County Community Planning Areas, they do not have the same boundaries.

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 6 American Indian Areas: An American Indian Area is a region that has been set aside by the United States for the use of one or more federally recognized American Indian tribes (see Map 4). American Indian Areas also may be referred to reservations, villages, pueblos, rancherias, and ranches. There are 18 reservations in the San Diego region, the most in any single county in the United States.

Map 4 American Indian Areas in the San Diego Region

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SANDAG Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

Metropolitan Statistical Area: These areas are designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget for use by federal statistical agencies. In general, they consist of one or more counties and must meet other specific criteria such as having a central city of at least 50,000 people. The San Diego Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a single-county MSA. The boundaries are identical to those of our county. MSAs are not to be confused with Major Statistical Areas, a local geography that shares the same acronym (MSA) (described further on page 9).

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 7 Urban Area: There are two components of the Urban Area: Urbanized Areas and Urban Clusters. They are contiguous, densely developed areas that meet minimum population density and population size requirements. The minimum population threshold for Urbanized Areas is 50,000, while Urban Clusters must have a population of at least 2,500 and no more than 50,000. In the San Diego region, 97 percent of the population (nearly 3 million people) live in the Urban Area. The Urban Area boundary is shown on Map 5.

Map 5 Urban Areas in the San Diego Region

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SANDAG Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas: ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) represent the Census Bureau’s approximation of the U.S. Postal Service’s 5-digit ZIP Code delivery areas. The Census Bureau delineates ZCTAs using a list of addresses from its Master Address File. A block is assigned to a ZCTA based on the most frequently occurring ZIP code in the list of addresses contained within its boundaries. This process introduces a bias toward residential addresses, which tend to outnumber non-residential ones in most areas. ZCTAs do not offer complete coverage of the region, as unpopulated areas and large water bodies appear as gaps. There are 107 ZCTAs in the San Diego region.

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 8 Locally-Defined Geographic Areas Geographic areas defined for census purposes are valuable because the concepts and guidelines upon which they are based are common to all states and counties in the nation. However, most metropolitan areas have developed geographic area schemes that make sense in terms of the political, administrative, and planning needs. The following is a description of the locally defined geographic areas used in the San Diego region.

Region: The San Diego region is defined as the entirety of San Diego County, including both incorporated cities and unincorporated areas.

Incorporated Cities and Spheres of Influence: There are 18 incorporated cities in the San Diego region (see Map 6). Census information is reported for the population and housing units within city boundaries in place as of January 2010. Eight cities have spheres of influence, which include a city’s current incorporated area plus adjacent unincorporated areas that may be annexed in the future. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) creates spheres of influence and is responsible for authorizing city annexations as well as new incorporations. The pace of new incorporations has slowed considerably in recent years. The last incorporations in this region were in 1986 (Encinitas and Solana Beach). SANDAG also reports information for the unincorporated portion of San Diego County.

Map 6 Cities in the San Diego Region

*Cities with Spheres of Influence Sources: SANDAG, SanGIS Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 9 Subregional Areas: There are 41 Subregional Areas (SRAs), which are aggregations of census tracts. SRAs were defined prior to the 1970 Census and are named for the largest city or community in the SRA (Map 7). While the boundaries of many geographic areas, such as cities, change over time, SRA boundaries have remained essentially the same since their formation. This allows for meaningful comparisons of time series information because identical areas are being compared. While SRAs are composed of Census Tracts, they are defined by SANDAG, not the Census Bureau.

Major Statistical Areas (MSAs): SRAs nest into seven MSAs, whose boundaries also have been held constant. The numbering system for SRAs and MSAs is similar to that of blocks and block groups, where the first digit of the SRA number identifies the MSA in which it lies. For example, SRA 30 (Jamul) is in MSA 3 (East Suburban) (Map 7).

Map 7 Major Statistical Areas and Subregional Areas in the San Diego Region

Source: SANDAG Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 10 Special Districts: Many public services are provided by districts that do not necessarily follow the boundaries of other geographic areas. Some of these services include education, fire protection, water, and sewer. The LAFCO authorizes the establishment of these districts and changes to district boundaries. Special districts cover unincorporated areas, as well as many incorporated areas where city government does not provide certain services. There are several hundred special districts in the San Diego region. The County Assessor maintains a system of Tax Rate Areas (TRAs) that nest primarily into city and school district boundaries, but also secondarily into a variety of other special districts.

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 11 Voting Districts: Voting districts are used for electing political representatives at all levels of government: federal, state, and local. At the local level, voters elect representatives citywide in 17 jurisdictions and by district in the City of San Diego (nine council districts) and the County of San Diego (five supervisorial districts). City Council and County Supervisorial districts are redrawn after every census to reflect population gains, losses, and shifts. The new districts, formed following Census 2010, are shown in Maps 8 and 9.

Map 8 City of San Diego Council Districts

Source: SanGIS Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 12 Map 9 County of San Diego Supervisorial Districts

Source: SanGIS Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 13 For state government, there are 80 Assembly districts and 40 Senatorial districts that also are redrawn after every census. There are now 7 Assembly districts and 4 Senate districts that are either entirely or partially in the San Diego region (see Maps 10 and 11).

Map 10

State of California Assembly Districts in the San Diego Region

*District extends outside the San Diego region Shaded areas represent incorporated cities Source: California Citizens Redistricting Commission Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 14 Map 11 State of California Senate Districts in the San Diego Region

*District extends outside the San Diego region Shaded areas represent incorporated cities Source: California Citizens Redistricting Commission Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 15 At the federal level, five of California’s 53 congressional districts are partially or entirely in the San Diego region. The new district boundaries are shown in Map 12. Local, state, and federal voting districts generally do not follow the boundaries of jurisdictions or planning areas. Table 4 indicates the jurisdictions that are in each Congressional district and each State Assembly and Senate district. For the U.S. Senate, senators are elected and serve statewide.

Map 12 Unites States Congressional Districts in the San Diego Region

*District extends outside the San Diego region Shaded areas represent incorporated cities Source: California Citizens Redistricting Commission Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 16 Table 4 San Diego Region Jurisdictions by State and Federal Voting Districts Congressional Assembly Senate City District District District Carlsbad 49 76 36 Chula Vista 51, 53 79, 80 40 Coronado 52 78 39 Del Mar 49 78 39 El Cajon 50, 53 71 38 Encinitas 49 76 36 Escondido 50 75 38 Imperial Beach 51 78 40 La Mesa 53 79 38 Lemon Grove 53 79 38 National City 51 79, 80 40 Oceanside 49 76 36 Poway 52 77 38 San Diego 51, 52, 53 77, 78, 79, 80 38, 39, 40 San Marcos 50 75 38 Santee 50 71 38 Solana Beach 49 78 39 Vista 49 76 36 Unincorporated 49, 50, 51, 53 71, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80 36, 38, 39, 40

Sources: SANDAG, California Citizens Redistricting Commission

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 17 Community Planning Areas: Due to the large size of their jurisdictions (in terms of area and population), the City and County of San Diego have established Community Planning Areas (CPAs). The City of San Diego has 52 CPAs (with an additional 10 reporting areas such as Miramar Air station and 32nd Street Naval Base included for statistical purposes); the County of San Diego has 24 CPAs (see Maps 13 and 14). The County of San Diego also has identified Sponsor Group areas to help in their planning activities. Both CPAs and Sponsor Groups are recognized by the County Board of Supervisors and address issues related to planning and land use. However, CPAs have officially elected planning group members, while Sponsor Group members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Map 13 City of San Diego Community Planning Areas

Sources: SANDAG, SanGIS Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 18 Map 14 County of San Diego Community Planning Areas

Sources: SANDAG, SanGIS Click map, for a more detailed, full-page map

Table 5 lists City of San Diego Council Districts and the City Community Planning Areas that are in each. The jurisdictions and County Community Planning Areas in each County Supervisorial District are shown in Table 6.

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 19 Table 5 Table 6 City of San Diego Jurisdictions and County of San Diego Community Planning Areas by Community Planning Areas by City Council District Supervisorial District Supervisorial Community Planning Area Council District City District 32nd Street Naval Station* 8 Carlsbad 5 Balboa Park* 3 Chula Vista 1 Barrio Logan 8 Coronado 1 Black Mountain Ranch 5 Del Mar 3 Carmel Mountain Ranch 5 El Cajon 2 Carmel Valley 1 Encinitas 3 Clairemont Mesa 2,6 Escondido 3, 5 College Area 9 Imperial Beach 1 Del Mar Mesa 1 La Mesa 2 Downtown 2,3,8 Lemon Grove 2 East Elliott 7 National City 1 Fairbanks Country Club 1 Oceanside 5 Flower Hill* 1 Poway 2 Greater Golden Hill 3 San Diego 1, 2, 3, 4 Greater North Park 3 San Marcos 5 Harbor* 2, 3, 8 Santee 2 Kearny Mesa 6, 7 Solana Beach 3 La Jolla 1 Vista 5 Linda Vista 2, 7 Unincorporated 1, 2, 3, 5 Lindbergh Field* 2 Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve* 1, 6 County Community Planning Area Supervisorial Mid-City:City Heights 4, 9 Alpine 2 Mid-City:Eastern Area 4, 9 Central Mountain 2 Mid-City:Kensington-Talmadge 9 Crest-Dehesa 2 Mid-City:Normal Heights 3 Desert 2, 5 Midway-Pacific Highway 2 Jamul-Dulzura 1, 2 Mira Mesa 6 Lakeside 2 Miramar Air Station* 6, 7 Mountain Empire 2 Miramar Ranch North 5 North County Metro 2, 3, 5 Mission Bay Park* 2 Otay 1, 2 Mission Beach 2 Pala-Pauma 5 Mission Valley 3, 7 Ramona 2, 3, 5 Navajo 7 San Dieguito 3, 5 NCFUA Reserve 1 Sweetwater 1, 2 NCFUA Subarea 2 1 Valle de Oro 2 Ocean Beach 2 Valley Center 5 Old San Diego 3 Spring Valley 2 Otay Mesa 8 Julian 2 Otay Mesa-Nestor 8 North Mountain 2, 5 Pacific Beach 2 Bonsall 5 Pacific Highlands Ranch 1 Fallbrook 5 Peninsula 2 Pendleton-De Luz 5 Rancho Bernardo 5 Rainbow 5 Rancho Encantada 5 Barona 2 Rancho Penasquitos 5, 6 County Islands 1, 3 Sabre Springs 5 San Pasqual 5 Sources: SANDAG, SanGIS San Ysidro 8 Scripps Miramar Ranch 5 Scripps Reserve* 5 Serra Mesa 7 Skyline-Paradise Hills 4 Southeastern:Encanto Neighborhoods 4 Southeastern:Southeastern San Diego 4, 8, 9 Tierrasanta 7 Tijuana River Valley 8 Torrey Highlands 5, 6 Torrey Hills 1 Torrey Pines 1 University 1 Uptown 3 Via De La Valle 1 *SANDAG reporting area Sources: SANDAG, SanGIS

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 20 ZIP Codes: ZIP codes are approximations of postal delivery routes, and as such do not have official boundaries. SANDAG defines ZIP code boundaries using local geographic features that closely align with the route extents. There are 113 ZIP codes in the region.

Viewing Geographic Areas and Accessing Data In addition to the maps included in this INFO, boundaries for many types of geographic areas can be viewed on the SANDAG website. Geographic Boundary Viewer is an interactive mapping application for exploring geographies within the region. It can be accessed via http://gis1.sandag.org/GeoBoundaryViewer/ or from the SANDAG home page: Maps and GIS -> Interactive Mapping -> Geo-graphic Boundary Viewer. SANDAG also provides demographic data for these areas for the Census, current year estimates, and forecasts. These can be accessed as a profile for individual areas via http://profilewarehouse.sandag.org/, or downloaded as tabular data for multiple areas via http://datawarehouse.sandag.org/.

SANDAG: The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is the region’s primary research and planning agency, providing the public forum for regional policy decisions about growth, transportation, transit planning and construction, environmental management, housing, open space, energy, public safety, and binational topics. SANDAG is composed of mayors, council members, and county supervisors from each of the region’s 18 cities and county government:

Member Agencies

City of Carlsbad • City of Chula Vista • City of Coronado • City of Del Mar •

City of El Cajon • City of Encinitas • City of Escondido • City of Imperial Beach •

City of La Mesa • City of Lemon Grove • City of National City •

City of Oceanside • City of Poway • City of San Diego • City of San Marcos •

City of Santee • City of Solana Beach • City of Vista • County of San Diego

Advisory Agencies

Imperial County • California Department of Transportation •

Metropolitan Transit System • North County Transit District •

United States Department of Defense • San Diego Unified Port District •

San Diego County Water Authority •

Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association • Mexico

April 2014 INFO – Demystifying Geographies: Peeling Back the Layers 21 The Regional Information System: The SANDAG Regional Information System contains a comprehensive collection of historic, current, and forecasted information. We continuously update these datasets that contain demographic, economic, land use, transportation, criminal justice, and environmental information. Much of this information can be obtained at sandag.org.

Formatted data reports and raw data can be extracted from the Profile Warehouse and the Data Warehouse. The site also provides access to several mapping applications.

The Service Bureau: The SANDAG Service Bureau is the consulting arm of SANDAG providing informational and technical services to member agencies, nonmember government agencies, and private organizations and individuals. Customized data, reports, and maps are available through the SANDAG Service Bureau. For information, please call us at (619) 699-1900 or visit us at sandag.org/servicebureau.

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