1980 Master Area Reference File (Census Master Enumeration District (MED) List)

These reports are in hierarchical order by nested geographic entities (i.e., county, township, city/town, etc.). Printed reports were generated from a special MED LIST census tape file for 1980.

Column 1: CO.

FIPS County Code followed by county name (spans multiple columns)

Column 2: MCD

The 3-digit Minor Civil Division (Township) Code followed by the township name.
Minor civil divisions are the primary political or administrative subdivisions of counties established by State law. Twenty-eight states (including North Carolina) plus the District of Columbia use MCDs. The other states use Census County Divisions (CCDs) to subdivide counties. The most common type of MCD is the township.

Column 3: PLAC

The 4-digit Census Place Code refers to a concentration of population, regardless of the existence of legally prescribed limits, powers, or functions. The place code is followed by the place name (spans multiple columns). "P" at the end means "part".

Column 4: Census Tract Code

Includes suffix, if applicable.
Census tracts are small areas into which large cities and adjacent areas are divided for statistical purposes.

Column 5: BG

Census Block Group Number, this is the leading digit of each component block code. The census block is the smallest geographical unit for which the bureau publishes sample data, i.e data which is only collected from a fraction of all households.

Column 6: ED

Enumeration District Code
The enumeration district was traditionally the geographic area canvassed by a single enumerator.

Column 7: U/R

Urban/Rural Flag, U = urban and R = rural

Column 8: URBA

Urbanized Area Code - Census code for urbanized area
An urbanized area contains at least one city of 50,000 inhabitants or more, as well as its contiguous incorporated and unincorporated areas.

Column 9: CBD

Central Business District Flag (C=CBD)
CBD's were large concentrations of retail stores within metropolitan areas, reported in the census from 1948 to 1982.

Column 10: TOTAL

Total Population count of persons for the area.

Column 11: WHITE

Count of white population for the area.

Column 12: BLACK

Count of black population for the area.

Column 13: A/ESK/A

American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut population count for the area.

Column 14: FAMILY

Count of number of families. Family is defined as two or more persons, including the householder, who are related by birth or marriage, or adoption, and who live together as one household. Persons not in families and not inmates of institutions are classified as unrelated individuals.

Column 15: GRP.QR.

Count of persons living in group quarters. Defined as persons living in arrangements, such as nursing homes or prisons, which are not households.

Column 16: TOT.HU.

Includes vacant and seasonal units.
Count of housing units in the area. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home or trailer, group of rooms, or single room occupied as a separate living quarter or, if vacant, intended for occupancy as a separate living quarter.

Column 17: OCC. U.

Count of occupied housing units for the area.

Column 18: OWN OC.

Count of owner-occupied housing units in the area.