Census Designated Place
An unincorporated community identified by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes, providing data for settled areas that lack a municipal government.
Census Designated Places (CDPs) are statistical counterparts to incorporated cities and towns. They are delineated by the Census Bureau (often with input from state and local officials) to provide demographic data for identifiable communities that have no legal municipal boundary. Examples include Paradise, Nevada (population 256,000) and Columbia, Maryland (population 104,000) — both large communities governed by their parent county.
There are approximately 9,600 CDPs in the United States. They are redrawn each decade and have no legal significance: they do not collect taxes, provide services, or pass ordinances.
CDPs appear in ZIP code databases because many USPS-recognized place names correspond to CDPs rather than incorporated cities. Understanding whether a place is an incorporated city or a CDP can matter for tax jurisdictions, zoning, and regulatory compliance.