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Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP)

Program webpage
Census email contact: geo.psap@census.gov

Gannt chart showing the Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) timeline

What is PSAP?

Statistical geographies are published by the Census Bureau once a decade. In Tennessee, these include block groups, census tracts, and census designated places. The Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) is a voluntary opportunity that is provided to select local partners to suggest revisions to boundaries within their area. The changes made ensure that statistical areas maintain an optimal population and housing unit count while ensuring stability for longitudinal analysis.

Why does PSAP matter to a community?

Optimizing statistical areas ensures that the best and most detailed data about Tennessee communities is available from a variety of Census Bureau programs, including the decennial census. For instance, in census tracts where the population has grown larger than the optimal size, it may be possible to create two tracts, providing more detail about the community. If population declines, the area may need to be combined with another area to ensure data are not suppressed.

In both cases, local officials’ knowledge of neighborhoods and population trends can be leveraged to ensure that the most valuable statistical delineations are provided to the Census Bureau.

How does PSAP work?

PSAP participants use software and data provided by the Census Bureau. They review statistical area boundaries to identify places where a boundary change would improve the compliance with bureau guidance about population size and number of housing units. The Census Bureau may accept, modify or reject statistical geographic areas submitted by local participants.

Who can participate in PSAP?

Agencies are invited to participate in PSAP by the Census Bureau. For 2020, invitations were first extended to 2010 participants and then to new partners such as planning agencies, local governments and the state. Interested participants who are not invited can collaborate with another invited participant. A list of invited participants in each state should be available on the Bureau’s PSAP website sometime in 2028.

What software and data are required?

  • The Census Bureau provides the necessary software and data to participate in the program. This includes an online software called Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) that is used to make changes.

Notices and Census Bureau Announcements

Detailed information about plans for the 2030 Census PSAP is not currently available. However, the program, as outlined in the 2030 Census Operation Plan, suggests it will closely resemble activities conducted to support the 2020 Census.