Census Data for Jersey City
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Jersey City a population of 262,729 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Jersey City a population of 247,597 people.
The city of Jersey City is located in Hudson County. The 2010 Census gave Hudson County; a population of 634,266 people. This means that Jersey City had 39.04% of the county's total population, making it Hudson's most populous community.
At the same time, New Jersey had a population of 8,791,894 people, meaning that Jersey City had 2.82% of the total population of New Jersey - making it the state's 2nd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Jersey City has a total area of 21.08 square miles [54.6 km²]. Of this total, 14.79 square miles [38.3 km²] is land, with the balance (29.82%) being water (6.29 square miles [16.3 km²]).
Hudson County has a land area of 46.19 square miles [119.6 km²]. At 14.79 square miles [38.3 km²], Jersey City has 32.03% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Jersey City, 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 Jersey City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Jersey City 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: 40° 42' 41" (or 40.71°)
- Lon: -74° 3' 53" (or -74.06°)
- 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, Jersey City had 108,720 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 247,597 people, this averages 2.28 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Jersey City had a land area of 14.79 square miles [38.3 km²]. This translates to 5,157 Housing Units per square mile [1,991 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Jersey City had 93,648 Housing Units, a population of 240,055 people and a land area of 14.92 square miles [38.6 km²]. This gives a density of 2.56 people per Housing Unit and 4,435 Housing Units per square mile [1,712 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 Jersey City and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Hudson County ...
Jersey City is located in Hudson County<4> and is the County Seat for Hudson County.
The county had a population of 634,266 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 247,597 people, Jersey City represented 39.04% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Jersey City has a population density of 11,745 people per square mile [4,534 people/km²], Hudson County averages 13,731 people per square mile [5,301 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Hudson County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Jersey City, 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 Jersey City. 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 Jersey City 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 Jersey City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Jersey City.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 40.711417° (or 40°42'41" N)
- Lon: -74.064760° (or -74°3'53" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 40.722102° (or 40°43'19" N)
- Lon: -74.065385° (or -74°3'55" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,899 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 (#885264) to Jersey City. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Jersey City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 40.711491° (or 40°42'41" N)
- Lon: -74.064586° (or -74°3'52" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 55.1 feet to the southwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Jersey City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Jersey City.
Miscellaneous Information for Jersey City ...
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 Hudson County or the city of Jersey City:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 34 (New Jersey)
- County Code: 017 (Hudson County)
- Place Code: 36000 (Jersey City)
- State & County Code: 34/017 (New Jersey / Hudson County)
- State & Place Code: 34/36000 (New Jersey / Jersey City)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Jersey City is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic 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 Jersey City, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Jersey City. 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 Jersey City:07302<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 Jersey City.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Jersey City: www.cityofjerseycity.com/
The official website for Hudson County: www.hudsoncountynj.org/
The official website for State of New Jersey: https://www.state.nj.us/
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 New Jersey's counties, including Hudson, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 182 degrees and a distance of 3,899 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 119 degrees and a distance of 55.1 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Jersey City or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |