Geographic Areas and Concepts for the American Community Survey Updated February 2013

1. Geographic Areas and Concepts for the American Community SurveyUpdated February 2013

2. Overview • Basic Census Bureau geography • Geographic areas for which ACS data are available • Geographic area concept and definition issues to be aware of when using ACS data 2

3. Types of Geographic Areas • Legal/administrative areas • have legally described boundaries; they may provide governmental services or may be used to administer programs • Statistical areas • defined primarily for data tabulation and presentation purposes

4. Census Geographic ConceptsLegal/Administrative and Statistical Areas 4

5. ACS Geographic Area Types U.S. and Puerto Rico http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/areas_published/ 5

6. Hierarchy of Census Geographic Entities

7. Overview • Basic Census Bureau geography • Geographic areas for which ACS data are available • Geographic area concept and definition issues to be aware of when using ACS data 7

8. Tracts and Block Groups • Census tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county • Block groups are statistical subdivisions of census tracts and are the lowest level of geography available in the ACS • Block group estimates are available only in the ACS Summary File, not American FactFinder • Block groups and tracts are available only in the ACS 5-year estimates

9. Kalamazoo County, MI -Census Tract 30.04

10. Kalamazoo County, MI - Census Tract 30.04, Block Groups 1, 2, & 3

11. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas • First available in the 2007-2011 ACS 5-year estimates • Abbreviated form-ZCTAs • Similar to U.S. Postal Service ZIP codes http://www.census.gov/geo/reference/zctas.html

12. County SubdivisionsMinor Civil Divisions and Census County Divisions • Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs) • Legally bounded entity • Sub-county entities in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico • May have a local government with elected officials • Census County Divisions (CCDs) • Statistical entity • Sub-county units that have stable boundaries and recognizable names in21states • No minimum or maximum population guidelines • Not included in ACS 1 or 3 year data products 12

13. County SubdivisionsDistribution Map of MCDs and CCDs TN 13

14. PlacesIncorporated Places and Census Designated Places • Incorporated Places • Legally bounded entity • Referred to as cities, boroughs, towns, or villages, depending on the state • Census Designated Places (CDPs) • Statistical entity • Created to present census data for an area with a concentration of population, housing, and commercial structures that is identifiable by name, but not within an incorporated place • Examples: Columbia, MD; Paradise, NV 14

15. PlacesSalem County, New Jersey 15

16. PlacesMendocino County, California 16

17. Urban AreasUrbanized Areas and Urban Clusters Urbanized Areas 50,000 or more people Urban Clusters 2,500 up to 49,999 people Both defined after each decennial census 2012 ACS Estimates and subsequent ACS estimate years will reflect Urban Areas defined using the 2010 Census results 17

18. Rural Areas All territory not within an urban area Cuts across other hierarchies Can be in metropolitan or non-metropolitan areas 18

19. Urban AreasUrbanized Areas and Urban Clusters in Tennessee 19

20. Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Defined by U.S. Office of Management and Budget Metropolitan Statistical Areas Contains core Urban Area of 50,000 or more population Its own County, and Surrounding counties with heavy commuting patterns Micropolitan Statistical Areas Contains urban core between 10,000 – 49,999 population Only small percentage have population 65,000 or more 20

21. Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas-Map 21

22. Partial Map of Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Urban Areas, Places 22

23. Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) Minimum population of 100,000 Cannot cross state boundaries Composed of: Census tracts Places (excluded for the new PUMA definitions) One or more Counties Combination of Tracts and Counties 23

24. Public Use Microdata Areas 24

25. Overview • Basic Census Bureau geography • Geographic areas for which ACS data are available • Geographic area concept and definition issues to be aware of when using ACS data 25

26. Geographic Boundaries • Multiyear estimates are based on geographic boundaries as of January 1 of the last year in the multiyear period • Legal area changes are recorded in the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) • Statistical areas are updated every decade in conjunction with the decennial census 26

27. Geographic BoundariesAmarillo city, TX 27

28. Geography Notes • Release notes available for each year at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/geography/

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. Final Thoughts • The U.S. Census Bureau measures the nation’s People, Places and Economy • Census Bureau statistics are how America knows what America needs • The Census Bureau is the leading source of quality, timely and relevant information about our nation’s people and economy

31. 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