[Talk-us] Proposal: delete census-designated place polygons

[Nathan Edgars II]

http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/pl_metadata.html
"Census designated places (CDPs) are delineated for each decennial
census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places. CDPs
are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of
population that are identifiable by name but are not legally
incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located.
The boundaries usually are defined in cooperation with local or tribal
officials. These boundaries, which usually coincide with visible
features or the boundary of an adjacent incorporated place or other
legal entity boundary, have no legal status, nor do these places have
officials elected to serve traditional municipal functions. CDP
boundaries may change from one decennial census to the next with
changes in the settlement pattern; a CDP with the same name as in an
earlier census does not necessarily have the same boundary."

In other words, CDPs have no real-world significance, and are intended
only for statistical purposes. In addition, my experience has shown
that they're defined rather arbitrarily (and sometimes incorrectly:
Holden Heights CDP doesn't include the neighborhood of Holden Heights,
which is an enclave of unincorporated Orange County surrounded by the
city of Orlando, since the census boundary for Orlando doesn't have
that area punched out).

I'm proposing to delete the polygons (in Florida only for now) *if a
corresponding place node exists* or it can be shown that the name is
only used for census purposes ("West and East Lealman"?). Does anyone
have any comments? Any benefits to keeping them?