What are the levels of census geography, and how do they relate?
A hierarchy of regions exists across Canada. Canada is divided into provinces and territories, and these are divided into census divisions, which are equal to regional districts in BC. Census divisions are divided into census subdivisions, which are best thought of as municipalities, but also include towns, villages, Indian reserves, and unorganized territories. For example, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and the Musqueam Indian Reserve are all census subdivisions. Basic Hierarchy of 2001 Census Geography Census subdivisions are divided into dissemination areas (DAs), which are of relatively uniform population (400 to 700 people) but vary widely in area depending whether they are urban or rural. Blocks are even smaller, and only population and dwelling counts are released for these areas, equivalent to city blocks. Census subdivisions (CSDs) can be combined to form census metropolitan areas (CMAs), adjacent municipalities that together form one urban area o
