Update on the American Community Survey (ACS)

and Geographic Products

2012 PA SDC Data User ConferenceSeptember 20,2012

Noemi Mendez EliasenGeographer

US Census Bureau Philadelphia Regional Office

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Quick Intro to ACSCommunities need up to date information to make good decisions.

The ACS is a direct descendent of the Census Bureau’s once a decade form.

It is a nationwide monthly survey designed to provide communities with the demographic, social, economic and housing information they need.

2010 Census vs. ACSThe Decennial Census:• Shows the number of people who live in the community. It is the Official

Count.• Conducted once a decade.• 2010 Questionnaire had a total of 10 questions. • 2010 topics limited to name, sex, age, race, ethnicity, housing tenure,

housing relationship.

The ACS :• Is a continuous survey.• Samples approximately 3.54 million resident addresses a year (about

290,000 a month).• Produces characteristics of population and housing. It is not the official

count but an estimate. • Describes that average characteristics over a specific period of time.• Period is 1 year, 3 year, or 5 years of data.

Decennial Census vs ACS vs Population Estimates

• The 2010 Census shows the number of people who live in the U.S. and the American Community Survey shows how people live.

• Use data from the American Community Survey to obtain demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics.

• Use numbers from the 2010 Census to obtain counts of the population and their basic characteristics (sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, and homeowner status).

• Use data from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program in the years between censuses. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces official population estimates for the nation, states, counties, cities, towns plus housing estimates for states and counties.

ACS Current Data Available for PAAreas with a population of 65,000 or more: 1 year estimates• 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Areas with a population of 20,000 or more: 3 year estimates• 2005-07, 2006-08, 2007-09, 2008-10

Areas below 20,000: 5 year estimates (includes tracts and block groups)• 2005-2009, 2006-2010

NOTE: 2011 ACS data will be available in the Fall-Winter 2012. 1 year ACS release on/around late September 2012.

Planned Release Dates for 2011 ACS Planned Release Data Products Lowest Level Geo

Sept 2012 1 Year on AFF 65,000 +

Oct 2012 3 Year on AFF3 Year Summary File1 Year PUMS File

20,000 +

PUMA

Dec 2012 5 Year on AFF5 Year Summary File3 Year PUMS File

Census TractsCensus Block GroupsPUMA

Jan 2013 1,3,5 Year Spanish Version of PR Community Survey on AFF5 year PUMS File

See lowest levels above

PUMA

Census Geography Product Updates

2010 Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles Pre-Joined with 2010 Census Demographic Profileshttp://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tgrshp2010/2010DP1.html.

2010 Geographic Tallies By State and Typehttp://www.census.gov/geo/www/2010census/geo_tallies/all_tallies.html.

TIGERWebhttp://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerwebmain/tigerweb_main.html

2010 Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles Pre-Joined with 2010 Census Demographic Profiles

Available Geodatabases:• American Indian Areas• Congressional/State Legislative Districts• County and Census Tract• Metro/Micro Areas and Related Stat Areas• Places, County Subdivisions and Related Areas• School Districts• Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA)

*These are all NATIONAL level shapefiles and data.

2010 Census Geographic Entity Tallies by State and Type

GSS-Initiative (GSS-I)What Is It?Integrated program in support of the 2020 Census:• Improved address coverage• Continual spatial feature updates• Enhanced quality assessment and measurement

Why Are We Doing It?The GSS Initiative will allow for a targeted, rather than full, address canvassing operation during 2019 in preparation for the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau will collaborate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments and other key stakeholders to establish an acceptable address list for each geographic entity.

What's In It For Me?Better quality data throughout the decade.

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Questions

Philadelphia Regional Office833 Chestnut Street, Suite 504

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Main Number: 215-717-1800Partnership and Data Services: 215-717-1820

Geography: 215-717-1830