Different types of EAs
For Census purposes EAs are divided into two main groups - urban EAs and rural EAs. The former is mainly built up areas while the latter is mainly rural in character. Sometimes a rural EA may include all or part of a small town and in this case the EA may be termed mixed urban/rural.

Townland
The Townland is the smallest territorial unit distinguished for census purposes. Townlands were formerly used for administrative purposes in the country. It should be noted that Townland boundaries are generally not observed within Municipal Towns. However, in the case of a very small Town, the Townlands on which it stands are listed, in alphabetical order, immediately after the Town's name on Form C so as to ensure the enumeration of houses which cannot be associated with a street or road, (see Section 6.7).