The American Community Survey (ACS) 2005 Data Release

1. The American Community Survey (ACS) 2005 Data Release

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 2005 Geographic Areas

7. 2005 Geographic Areas

8. August 15: Demographic & Social Characteristics August August August 29: Economic Characteristics Early October: Housing & Detailed Social Characteristics October November: Selected Population Profiles for Race, Ethnic, & Ancestry Groups November

9. 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 ACS Data Products to be Released Beginning in 2006

10. Interpreting the Data: Three Factors to Consider • Interview and residence rules • Time periods • Reference periods

11. ACS Universe • Household population of the United States and Puerto Rico • Household population ONLY in 2005 • Current resident

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Accessing the Datahttp://factfinder.census.gov

17. Data Sets: 2005 ACS

18. Select Your Geography

19. Data Profile for Prince George’s County, MD

20. Ranking Table List

21. Ranking Table by State for Median Age

22. Subject Table List

23. U.S. School Enrollment Subject Table

24. Base Table List

25. Base Table of Sex by Age for U.S.

26. Available Geographies

27. Geographic Comparison Tables List

28. Median Age for Counties by State

29. Newsroom (Embargoed Releases)

30. For More Information • Web: www.census.gov • General Phone: 888-346-9682 • General Email: cmo.acs@census.gov • Media Phone: 301-763-3691 • Media Email: pio@census.gov • Census Partners Phone: 301-763-1305 • Census Partners Email: clo@census.gov