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The American Community Survey (ACS) 2005 Data Release

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What is the American Community Survey?

• Meets a critical need for information

• Contributes to better informed decisions

• Helps communities meet the needs of their residents

• Collect detailed decennial census sample data every month instead of only once each decade

• Release tabulations of these data on a yearly basis

• Allow the Census Bureau to restructure and simplify the decennial census effort

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What is the American Community Survey?

• A large, continuous survey

– Produces single and multi-year estimates of the characteristics of the population and housing

– Produces characteristics, not a population count

– Produces information for small areas including tracts, block groups and population subgroups

– Key component of the decennial census program

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American Community SurveyProgram Schedule

• ACS Demonstration Period: 1996-2004

• ACS full implementation began in 2005– Every county nationwide– First full implementation data products:

Summer, 2006– Annually updated data products every year

thereafter

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Full Implementation:Every County Nationwide

• 3 million addresses every year throughout the U.S. and in Puerto Rico

• Provide single-year period estimates for communities of 65,000 or more starting in 2006

• Provide 3-year period estimates for communities with populations of 20,000 or more starting in 2008

• Provide 5-year period estimates starting in 2010

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2005 Geographic AreasType of Legal, Administrative, or Statistical Area

Number included in

2005 ACS for the United

States

Number included in 2005 ACS for Puerto

Rico

Percent of

All Such Areas

Nation 1 -- 100%

States (including DC and Puerto Rico)

51 1 100%

Census Regions and Census Divisions

13 -- 100%

Congressional Districts 436 1 100%

Urban/Rural State Components (excluding DC)

50 1 100%

Public Use Micro Data Sample Areas

2,071 30 100%

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2005 Geographic AreasType of Legal, Administrative, or

Statistical Area

Number included in

2005 ACS for the United

States

Percent of

All Such Areas

Number included in 2005 ACS for Puerto

Rico

Percent of

All Such Areas

Metropolitan, Micropolitan and Combined Statistical Areas

612 58% 11 61%

Counties and Municipios 775 25% 12 15%

School Districts 878 6% 1 100%

Places 492 2% 7 3%

American Indian and Alaska Native Areas

14 2% -- --

Minor Civil Divisions 186 1% -- --

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August 29: Economic

Characteristics

August 15: Demographic & Social

Characteristics

August

August

Early October: Housing & Detailed Social

Characteristics

November: Selected Population Profiles for Race, Ethnic, &

Ancestry Groups

October

November

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ACS Data Products to be Released Beginning in 2006

– Base Tables (previously called Detailed Tables)

– Data Profiles

– Narrative Profiles

– Subject Tables

– Selected Population Profiles

– Geographic Ranking Tables

– Thematic Maps

– Geographic Comparison Tables

– Analytic Reports

– Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files

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Interpreting the Data: Three Factors to Consider

• Interview and residence rules

• Time periods

• Reference periods

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ACS Universe

• Household population of the United States and Puerto Rico

• Household population ONLY in 2005

• Current resident

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Residence Rules

• Resident of an address if a person– Lives there year round– Lives there more than 2 months but not year

round– Is living there now with no other place to live– Is away now for 2 months or less

• Not a resident of an address if a person– Lives there 2 months or less with another

residence– Is away now for more than 2 months

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ACS Produces Period Estimates

• They describe the characteristics of an area over a specific time period

• Contrast with point-in-time estimates that describe the characteristics of an area on a specific date

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Reference Periods

• ACS uses the interview date as the single reference point, or as the end of a reference period, for all data collection– No specific reference period – Reference period relative to interview

date

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Data Comparisons

• If comparing 2005 ACS data with data from previous years, note:– Increased sample size, which has an

impact on sampling variability– More geographic areas in 2005

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Accessing the Datahttp://factfinder.census.gov

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Data Sets: 2005 ACS

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Select Your Geography

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Data Profile for Prince George’s County, MD

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Ranking Table List

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Ranking Table by State for Median Age

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Subject Table List

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U.S. School Enrollment Subject Table

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Base Table List

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Base Table of Sex by Age for U.S.

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Available Geographies

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Geographic Comparison Tables List

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Median Age for Counties by State

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Newsroom (Embargoed Releases)

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For More Information

Web: www.census.govGeneral Phone: 888-346-9682General Email: cmo.acs@census.gov

Media Phone: 301-763-3691Media Email: pio@census.gov

Census Partners Phone: 301-763-1305Census Partners Email: clo@census.gov