An Overview of the American Community Survey Updated February 2013

1. An Overview of the American Community SurveyUpdated February 2013

2. Overview What is the American Community Survey? Content Sample Design and Data Collection Data Availability and Data Products Resources for Learning More

3. What is the American Community Survey? A large, continuous survey that: • produces characteristics of population and housing (similar to Census 2000 long form) • produces estimates for small areas and small population groups • samples approximately 3.54 million resident addresses per year (about 290,000 per month)

4. Puerto Rico Community Survey • Equivalent of ACS for Puerto Rico • Form available in both English and Spanish • Tables available in both English and Spanish in AFF

5. Census 2000 In Census 2000, the census used 2 forms • “Short” form – asked for basic demographic and housing information, such as age, sex, race, how many people lived in the housing unit, and if the housing unit was owned or rented by the resident • “Long” form – collected the same information as the short form but also collected more in-depth information such as income, education, and language spoken at home Only a small portion of the population, called a sample, received the long form.

6. 2010 Census and ACS • 2010 Census focused on counting the U.S. population • The “long” form data are now collected by the ACS • Puerto Rico is the only U.S. territory where the ACS is conducted • 2010 Census had a long form for U.S. territories such as Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands • 2010 Census had same “short form” questions as the ACS

7. ACS Estimates Are NOT the 2010 Census Population Counts • The 2010 Census counts the population to support apportionment and redistricting • The ACS supplements this information with annually updated estimates on the nation’s population and housing characteristics • The purpose of the ACS is not to count every person in a community or town but rather, to provide a portrait of the community’s characteristics 7

8. Overview What is the American Community Survey? Content Sample Design and Data Collection Data Availability and Data Products Resources for Learning More

9. ACS Content: Population • SOCIAL • Ancestry • Citizenship & Year of Entry • Disability Status • Educational Attainment • Field of Degree • Health Insurance • Grandparents • Fertility • Language • Marital Status & History • Place of Birth • Migration • Relationship • School Enrollment • Veteran Status • ECONOMIC • Employment & Work Status • Income & Earnings • Industry & Occupation • Class of Worker • Commuting • Poverty Status • SNAP Receipt • DEMOGRAPHIC • Age & Sex • Race & Hispanic Origin 9

10. ACS Content: Housing • Age of Householder • House Heating Fuel • Household Size • Kitchen Facilities • Occupancy and Vacancy • Owner Statistics • Plumbing Facilities • Race of Householder • Renter Statistics • Rooms and Bedrooms • Telephone Service • Tenure • Units in Structure • Value of Home • Vehicles Available • Year Householder Moved Into Unit • Year Structure Built 10

11. Content Changes • 2008: New/modified questions added for • Marital history • Health insurance coverage • Service connected disability status and rating • Disability • 2009: New question added for Bachelor’s field of degree • 2013: New questions added for • Computer ownership/internet access

12. Overview What is the American Community Survey? Content Sample Design and Data Collection Data Availability and Data Products Resources for Learning More

13. Target Population • Resident population of the United States and Puerto Rico living in housing units and group quarters (GQ) • Housing units: house, apartment, mobile home or trailer, a group of rooms, or a single room occupied as separate living quarters • Group quarters: Place where people live or stay that is normally owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing or services for the residents. • Current residents at the selected address • “Two month” rule

14. Data Collection Operations

15. Period Estimates • Describe the average characteristics over a specific period of time • Contrast with point-in-time estimates • Describe characteristics as of a specific date, such as April 1, 2010 • Period is 1-year, 3-year, or 5-years data (combined for 12 months, 36 months, or 60 months)

16. Overview What is the American Community Survey? Content Sample Design and Data Collection Data Availability and Data Products Resources for Learning More

17. Selected Census Geographic Concepts Legal/Administrative Areas Statistical Areas Regions Divisions Census County Divisions Census Designated Places Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMA) Census Tracts Block Groups • Nation • States • Counties • Incorporated Places • Minor Civil Divisions • Congressional Districts • School Districts • ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA)

18. Data Product Release Schedule The ACS annually releases: 1-year estimates (2010) • Areas with populations of 65,000+ • The Nation • Every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico • Every Congressional District • About 25 percent of all counties 3-year estimates (2008-2010) • Areas with populations of 20,000+ 5-year estimates (2006-2010) • All areas

19. Data Products

20. Who Relies on ACS Data Products? • Local governments – State and local leaders use ACS data to determine the needs of their communities, such as where to build new roads, schools, hospitals, offices, and community centers, or what schools need to plan for bilingual education. • Emergency planners – Emergency planners use ACS data for natural disaster planning and response. The number of households and relative economic vulnerability located in small areas inform the plans for moving large numbers of people and for providing efficient and appropriate responses. • Businesses – Companies use ACS data to make investment decisions in assessing such factors as the local labor force, new markets, and the needs of prospective customers. • Learn more –http://www.census.gov/acs/www/about_the_ survey/acs_helps_communities/

21. Overview What is the American Community Survey? Content Sample Design and Data Collection Data Availability and Data Products Resources for Learning More

22. Resources for Learning More • ACS Main Page • Guidance on Comparing ACS Data to Other Sources • ACS Compass Products • Data & Documentation Page • Design & Methodology Report

23. ACS Main Page www.census.gov/acs

24. Comparison Guidance www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/ comparing_data/

25. ACS Compass Products • AIAN Data Users • Business Community • Congress • Federal Agencies • General Data Users • High School Teachers • Media • PUMS User • PRCS Data User • Researchers • Rural Area Data Users • State & Local Government www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/handbooks/

26. Data Page www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/data_main/

27. Documentation Page www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/documentation_main/

28. Design & Methodology Report • Important reference document covering methods used in producing ACS data http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/methodology_main/

29. Additional ACS Resources • ACS website (census.gov/acs) • American FactFinder (factfinder2.census.gov) • QuickFacts(quickfacts.census.gov) • DataFerrett (dataferrett.census.gov) • FAQs (https://ask.census.gov/faq.php?id=5000&rtopic=1805)

30. Contact Information Subscribe to “Email Updates” http://www.census.gov/acs Visit the ACS/PRCS website: http://www.census.gov/acs Contact by Telephone: 1-800-923-8282 Submit a Question: https://ask.census.gov