Geographic Areas and Concepts for the American Community Survey Updated February 2013.
Transcript of Geographic Areas and Concepts for the American Community Survey Updated February 2013.
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Geographic Areas and Concepts for the American
Community Survey
Updated February 2013
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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
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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
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Census Geographic ConceptsLegal/Administrative and Statistical Areas
Legal/Administrative Areas Statistical Areas
Nation Regions
States Divisions
Counties Census County Divisions
Minor Civil Divisions Census Designated Places
Incorporated PlacesMetropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
Congressional Districts Urban / Rural Areas
School Districts Census Tracts
Voting Districts Block Groups
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas Public Use Microdata Areas
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ACS Geographic Area Types U.S. and Puerto Rico
Type of Geographic AreaTotal
Number of Areas
Percent of Areas with a Population of 65,000 or more
Percent of Areas with a Population of 20,000 or more
States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
52 100 100
County or equivalent 3,221 26 59
Congressional Districts 435 100 100
Public Use Microdata Areas 2,101 100 100
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
955 55 98
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/areas_published/
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Hierarchy of Census Geographic Entities
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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
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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
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Kalamazoo County, MI -Census Tract 30.04
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Kalamazoo County, MI - Census Tract 30.04, Block Groups 1, 2, & 3
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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
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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 in 21 states– No minimum or maximum population guidelines– Not included in ACS 1 or 3 year data products
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County SubdivisionsDistribution Map of MCDs and CCDs
TN
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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
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PlacesSalem County, New Jersey
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PlacesMendocino County, California
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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
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Rural Areas
• All territory not within an urban area
• Cuts across other hierarchies
• Can be in metropolitan or non-metropolitan areas
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Urban AreasUrbanized Areas and Urban Clusters in Tennessee
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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
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Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas-Map
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Partial Map of Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Urban Areas, Places
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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
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Public Use Microdata Areas
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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
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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
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Geographic BoundariesAmarillo city, TX
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Geography Notes
• Release notes available for each year at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/geography/
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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)
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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
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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
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