Yes. Respondents are required to answer all questions on the American Community Survey (ACS) to the best of their ability. Response to this and other Census surveys is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13, Chapter 7, United States Code). This chapter also contains information regarding offenses and possible penalties.  According to Section 221, persons who do not respond shall be fined not more than $100.  Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3571 and Section 3559, in effect amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221 by changing the fine for anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers from a fine of "not more than $100" to "not more than $5,000." 

Your answers are very important because they represent the answers of many other similar households in your community. The data that you and others provide in response to this survey are required to manage or evaluate federal and state government programs. If you submit an incomplete form or provide data that are unclear, we may contact you by phone or in person to obtain or clarify the missing information.

The ACS is part of the Decennial Census Program. It is a survey that is sent to a small percentage of our population on a rotating basis. These data previously were collected only in census years in conjunction with the decennial census. Since the ACS is conducted every year, rather than once every ten years, it will provide more current data throughout the decade. The Census Bureau may use the information it collects only for statistical purposes. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about you, and all other respondents, strictly confidential.  Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine up to $250,000, a prison sentence up to five years, or both.

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You can get population and housing data for Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) from a variety of Census Bureau sources.

• 2010 Census: Provides ZCTA-level information on a limited range of demographic variables such as race, sex, age, housing tenure (that is, rent or own), and ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino origin). 
  
  
• American Community Survey (ACS): Produces a wide range of estimates on topics such as; income, poverty, educational attainment, disability, marital status, and much more. ACS plans to release ZCTA level estimates for the first time in late 2012 based on the 2007-2011 ACS 5-year estimates.  
  
  
• 2000 Census. Provides statistics with detailed characteristics at the ZCTA-level including; race, age, sex, tenure, income, educational attainment, disability, marital status, etc. 
  
  
• 1990 Census: You can download ZCTA data from the FTP site (Summary Tape File 3B), or order a CD-ROM containing the data. (Not available through American FactFinder.)

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Here are two easy ways to find the population for your city, town, county, or state. 

Quick Start search (from the main page at (http://factfinder2.census.gov) 

• Quick Start is made up of two text boxes.  In the text box on the left, type "Population" and in the text box on the right, type in your city, town, county, or state. Click GO to see a list of search results.
• A box entitled Community Facts will appear above your search results.  Here you will see various data you can view about your community. Click on the first link under 2010 Census.  This will open a table where you will find the population for your city, town or county.
• You can also select a table by clicking the table name in the search results, located under Community Facts. The search results will be organized by year starting with the most recent table.

Note: If the geography displayed in "Your Selections" (upper left corner of screen) does not match what you were searching for, remove it from "Your Selections" by clicking the red 'x’ and use the Geographies search option as described below.

Geography search (from the main page at (http://factfinder2.census.gov)

• Open the Geographies search, located on the left side of the screen below "Topics."
• The Geographies search overlay window will open and will sit over your Search Results.
• Select Place within State (cities and towns) or County in the drop down menu.  Then select a State and in the box below it will display the geographies you selected for that State.
• Find your city, town or county select the name and click “Add to your selections” (it will be added to "Your Selections" in the upper left hand corner of the screen).
• You can now close the Select Geographies overlay window by clicking the "x" in the upper right corner.
• A box entitled Community Facts will appear above your search results.  Here you will see various data you can view about your community.  Click on the first link under 2010 Census.  This will open a table where you will find the population for your city, town or county.

You can also select a table by clicking the table name in the search results, located under Community Facts. The search results will be organized by year starting with the most recent table.

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Although censuses are a source of genealogical information, the Census Bureau does not provide these data nor can we assist in locating missing persons or provide recent information on individuals.  In keeping with the Census Bureau's commitment to confidentiality, information collected in the Decennial Census of Population and Housing on individuals does not become available to the public until after a period of 72 years.

Geneaology Tips will help amateur genealogists use census records to fill out their family tree.

You can access personal census records from the 1930 census and earlier through the U.S. National Archvies and Records Administration (http://www.archives.gov/index.html) . Information on all aspects of how to do a genealogical search and National Archives locations are available.  The 1940 census records will be released to the public on April 2, 2012. 

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The process to find all Census Tracts within a City, Town, or County Subdivision varies based on the dataset you are using as follows: (For the purpose of this example, we will use 2010 Census Datasets -- the process will be similar for Census 2000 datasets.)

Summary File 1:

• Click on the Topics button on the left side of the Main or Search Page.
• Next, expand the Dataset filter and select 2010 SF 1 100% Data.
• Click on the Geographies button located below Topics on the left side of the Main or Search Page.
• In the text box under the Name tab, type "All Census Tracts within___" (Fill the blank with the name of County Subdivision or Place for the blank.) Click "Go".
• If your town is a County Subdivision, select the geography labeled "All Census Tracts (or parts) within City, County, State" from the Geography Results. If your town is a place select the geography labeled "All Census Tracts (or parts) full-or-partially within City, State" from the Geography Results.
• Close the Geographies Search window.
• Use the Topics on the left side of the page to further refine your search or to select a table(s) from your Search Results.

Redistricting Data Summary File (PL 94-171): 

• Click on the Topics Filter button on the left side of the Main or Search Page.
• Next, expand the dataset filter and select the 2010 Redistricting Data Summary File (PL 94-171).
• Click on the Geographies button located below Topics on the left side of the Main or Search Page.
• Type the name of the city or town you are searching for in the text box under the Name tab and click "Go".
• Next, select the "Show all summary levels" radio button found below the Geography Filter Options Box.
• Expand the Summary Level filter in the Geography Filter Options Box.
• Select "Summary Level 730- Census Tract (or Part)."
• Select the Check All Button and then click "Add" to add the Census Tracts to "Your Selections".  Depending on the size of the city or town, you may have to do this for several pages of your Geography Results.  Please note that "Your Selections" is limited to only allow 250 selections per search.  If you exceed this limitation, you may have to repeat the search process more than one time, or use the FTP site download.
• Close the Geographies Search Window.
• Select the appropriate table from your Search Results.

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Thank you for asking about the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS). The answers provided by the households that receive the questionnaire will help federal and state agencies, elected officials, and businesses provide the services that all of the residents of the United States rely on every day. 

Here are questions and answers to questions asked most frequently by households that receive the ACS questionnaire. If you don't find your answer here, simply click on the Ask a Question tab above and we will get back to you ASAP.

• What is the American Community Survey?
• Do I have to answer the ACS questions?
• I've never heard of the ACS.  Is this survey authorized by the government of the United States?
• The ACS questionnaire took longer than 38 minutes to complete.
• Can you remove my address from the ACS sample?
• I've never seen anything this intrusive. Why do you ask such detailed questions?
• The government already asks for a lot of this information. Why are you asking for this information again?
• Why am I getting phone calls from the ACS?
• Why is an ACS field representative visiting my home?
• How can I confirm the enumerator is really from the Census Bureau?
• If I am contacted by telephone, how can I verify that the phone interviewer is a legitimate Census Bureau Employee?
• I am unable to respond because of my age and poor health.
• Why is this information so important?
• How do I benefit by answering the American Community Survey?
• Why was my address selected?
• How will the Census Bureau use the information that I provide?
• How do I know the information I give you will be kept confidential?
• Will the Census Bureau sell my address to a commercial mailing list?
• Will the Census Bureau give information about me to other federal agencies?
• I don't feel comfortable providing my income/salary information. Can't you get my income information from the IRS?
• I don't know what to answer for the race, Hispanic origin, and/or ancestry question(s).
• What if I don't know the exact answer for a question?
• Why did I get a reminder postcard about this survey when I haven't even received the survey?
• What does this reminder postcard refer to?
• What if I want to comment on the survey?
• I want to respond to the American Community Survey but I lost my envelope.

Thanks for your questions and support.

What is the American Community Survey?

The ACS is part of the Decennial Census Program. It is a survey that is sent to a small percentage of our population on a rotating basis. These data previously were collected only in census years in conjunction with the decennial census. Since the ACS is conducted every year, rather than once every ten years, it will provide more current data throughout the decade.

The ACS is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193. The Census Bureau may use the information it collects only for statistical purposes. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about you, and all other respondents, strictly confidential.

Do I have to answer the ACS questions?

Yes. Response to this survey is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13 ).

Respondents are required to answer all questions on the ACS to the best of their ability. Your answers are very important because they represent the answers of many other similar households in your community. The data that you and others provide in response to this survey are required to manage or evaluate federal and state government programs. If you submit an incomplete form or provide data that are unclear, we may contact you by phone or in person to obtain or clarify the missing information.

I've never heard of the ACS. Is this survey authorized by the government of the United States?

Yes. The ACS is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193. Response to this survey is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13). The Census Bureau may use the information it collects only for statistical purposes. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about you, and all other respondents, strictly confidential. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine up to $250,000, a prison sentence up to five years, or both.

The ACS questionnaire took longer than 38 minutes to complete.

Our estimate is that for the average household, the ACS form will take about 38 minutes to complete, including the time for reviewing the instructions and answers. Since this is an estimate, it will not hold true for every household that receives the survey. Many people use estimates for items such as utility payments because looking up the information can be time-consuming.

Can you remove my address from the ACS sample?

No. The validity of sample data would quickly deteriorate if selected households could request that some other household be selected just because they didn't want to participate. An address probably will not be included in the ACS survey more than once in a five-year period.

I've never seen anything this intrusive. Why do you ask such detailed questions?

The ACS questionnaire asks very detailed questions because we are required to collect specific information for federal and state government programs. For example, long-term care providers and community planners use information about disability to help them decide where to locate services and facilities. Federal and state government transportation planning agencies use journey-to-work information for roads and public transit development. You can find Fact Sheets on the ACS Web site that explain why we ask these questions.

The government already asks for a lot of this information. Why are you asking for this information again?

Although other government agencies collect some of the same information, we cannot use it for several reasons. First, we cannot obtain all of the required data from administrative records. Second, administrative records do not contain the data for everyone. Third, data may not be usable because of differences in collection periods or definitions. In addition, the ACS was designed to provide up-to-date information for federal and state agencies. Administrative records usually are not as current as the data that we collect.

Why am I getting phone calls from the ACS?

In order to collect the required information, we use a multi-part mail strategy coupled with telephone calls and personal visits, if necessary. First, we send a prenotice letter to let households know that they will soon receive a questionnaire. In order to improve response, we send a replacement questionnaire to non-respondents about three weeks after the initial questionnaire was delivered. If we do not receive a completed questionnaire after the replacement questionnaire is delivered, we may refer the case to one of our call centers. Since many people work during the week, the telephone interviewers call non-respondents in the evening and on weekends. If we are unable to reach an address by telephone, we may send one of our field representatives to the address to complete the interview in person.

Why is an ACS field representative visiting my home?

In order to collect the required information, we use a multi-part mail strategy coupled with telephone calls and personal visits, if necessary. First, we send a prenotice letter to let households know that they will soon receive a questionnaire. In order to improve response, we send a replacement questionnaire to non-respondents about three weeks after the initial questionnaire was delivered. If we do not receive a completed questionnaire after the replacement questionnaire is delivered, we may refer the case to one of our call centers. Since many people work during the week, the telephone interviewers call non-respondents in the evening and on weekends. If we are unable to reach an address by telephone, we may send one of our field representatives to the address to complete the interview in person.

How can I confirm the field representative is really from the Census Bureau? Where can I call?

Here are several key phone numbers to assist callers with questions on the survey:

• 1-800-354-7271 for survey respondents and questionnaire assistance and to determine whether or not you are in the survey if you are contacted by a Census Bureau field representative
• 1-800-923-8282 for general queries (including media) about the survey, why it's being conducted, who will be surveyed, how many households, etc.
• 301-763-4636 (INFO) for data inquiries

If I am contacted by telephone, how can I verify that the phone interviewer is a legitimate Census Bureau employee?

You can contact the nearest Census Bureau telephone call center:

• Hagerstown, MD:    1-800-392-6975
• Jeffersonville, IN:     1-800-523-3205
• Tucson, AZ:            1-800-642-0469

When you call one of the call centers, you will hear a menu of options. You can avoid listening to all the options by pressing zero on your touch tone phone upon hearing the start of the menu option message; this will connect you immediately to a supervisor who can verify whether or not the telephone interviewer does work for the Census Bureau.

I am unable to respond because of my age and poor health.

We regret that you have been unwell. However, a response to the questionnaire is required by law. If it would be easier for you, you can call us toll-free on 1-800-354-7271 and complete the questionnaire over the phone. If you are not able to complete the questionnaire by yourself, you can ask a friend or relative to help you.

Why is this information so important?

• Local and state governments use statistical information the Census Bureau provides to distribute money to cities and towns. The census data help to plan and fund:
  • School construction.
  • Transportation systems and highways.
  • Police and fire precincts.
  • Public housing.
  • Future utility needs.
    
• Data analysts use census data to:
  • Determine how cities are growing and changing.
  • Determine sites for new businesses.
  • Determine if a community has the workforce a company needs.
  • Forecast future demand for products.
  • Determine sites for day care and nursing care.

How do I benefit by answering the American Community Survey?

• The American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey provide up-to-date information for the nation, states, cities, counties, municipos, metropolitan areas, and communities. By responding to the American Community Survey or the Puerto Rico Community Survey questionnaire, you are helping your community to establish goals, identify problems and solutions, and measure the performance of programs.
• Communities need data about the well-being of children, families, and the elderly to provide services to them. The data also are used to decide where to locate new highways, schools, libraries, hospitals, and community centers; to determine the goods and services its residents need.

 Why was my address selected? 

Your address was scientifically selected to represent a cross section of other households in your community. A sample can be used to measure the whole population without having to spend a larger amount of federal funds to interview every household.

How will the Census Bureau use the information that I provide?

The Census Bureau will use the information you provide for statistical purposes only and cannot publish or release information that would identify you and your household. Your information will be used in combination with information from other households to produce data for your community to help federal, state, and local governments plan, administer and evaluate government programs. Similar data will be produced for communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.

How do I know the information I give you will be kept confidential?

The law requires that the Census Bureau must carefully protect the information you provide and hold it in complete confidence. We will publish only statistics from this survey, not any information that could identify you or anyone else personally. All Census Bureau interviewers take an oath of confidentiality. If an interviewer or other Census Bureau employee breaks this oath and discloses ANY information that could identify you or your household, that person can be fined up to $250,000 and/or sent to prison for up to 5 years.

Will the Census Bureau sell my address to a commercial mailing list?

No. Title 13 prohibits the Census Bureau from giving or selling your address to anyone, including other federal agencies.

Will the Census Bureau give information about me to other federal agencies?

No. Title 13 also restricts the Census Bureau from sharing information about an individual, household, or place of residence with any agency, public or private.

I don't feel comfortable providing my income/salary information. Can't you get my income information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)?

Income information is not something we can obtain from another source such as the IRS. Also, our statistical data is based on different time periods and definitions than the IRS uses. This is information that will be reported statistically and will not identify you as an individual or your household. Each enumerator has taken an oath to keep all census information confidential.

I don't know what to answer for the Race, Hispanic Origin, or Ancestry question.

This/these question(s) represent self-identification. This/these question(s) are not clear-cut biological or genetic in reference, but rather how YOU classify yourself by (race/origin/descent/heritage). (You may indicate more than one ethnic group when answering the ancestry question, such as Italian-Greek.)

What if I don't know the exact answer for a question?

Ask someone else in your household, they might know the answer. If no one knows, give your best estimate.

Why did I get a reminder postcard about this survey when I haven't even received the survey?

Sometimes the postcards reminding you to complete and return the survey actually arrive sooner than the survey materials because they travel more quickly through the postal system.

What does this reminder postcard refer to?

You should have received a questionnaire for the American Community Survey/Puerto Rico Community Survey in the mail. These surveys collect information about population and housing characteristics throughout the decade. They are an ongoing, monthly survey which can provide more accurate and up-to-date data about our rapidly changing country. The postcard was sent to remind you of the importance of completing and mailing back the survey.  If you have not received a survey in the mail, you can call our Questionnaire Assistance Hotline toll-free on 1-800-354-7271 and request to complete the survey over the telephone.

What if I want to comment on the survey?

You can send comments about the survey to:

U.S. Census Bureau
American Community Survey Office
Washington, DC 20233-7500

or you may simply click on the Ask a Question tab above and we will get back to you.

I want to respond to the American Community Survey but I lost my envelope.

Send your completed questionnaire to:

Director
U.S. Census Bureau
P.O. Box 5240
Jeffersonville, IN 47199-5240

Finally, our Are You in a Survey page provides some general guidance on issues pertaining to those participants who fall within either a business or household census or survey.

Thanks for your questions and support.

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The apportionment counts will be delivered to the President within nine months of Census Day (on or before December 31, 2010), as required by law. This report will show the apportionment population counts, by state, and the number of seats in the US House of Representatives apportioned to each state.

Public Law (P.L.) 94-171 requires the Census Bureau to provide only counts of the total population for a variety of geographic areas to be used for the redistricting process. In addition, other data items such as race, ethnicity, voting age and housing unit tallies are included in this data set. P.L. 94-171 also requires that these data be delivered to each state no later than April 1, 2011.

Other 100-percent data products such as demographic profiles, summary files of aggregated data, and reports will be released on a flow basis from April 2011 through September 2013. Please see the link below for a more detailed schedule of products and release dates.

2010 Census Data Products

More detailed population and housing information is available from the American Community Survey.

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In addition to our Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts, 1790 to 1990, for all geographic areas in the United States, there are three major sources of historical decennial census data:

• Historical Census Reports - Contains scanned copies of all decennial census printed reports from 1790 to 2000 in PDF   or ZIP format.  Any data missing from these files may be requested by contacting the Main Census Bureau Library on 301-763-2511.
• Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses from 1790 to 2000  - This report includes the census questionnaire and instructions for each census and individual census histories are also provided.
• Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970 - This section provides data from the Statistical Abstracts from 1900 to 2010, the Bicentennial Edition, Part 1  and Part 2  , and Historical Statistics for the U.S.from 1789 to 1945

In addition to the above, the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) (http://www.fdlp.gov/)  provides local access for census data users.  Libraries designated as FDLPs maintain census publications and products as part of their existing collection and are responsible for assuring that the public has free access to these materials.  Each Congressional District has at least one FDLP.  Libraries identified as Regional Depository Libraries (one per state) have extensive collections of census publications and electronic products.  Other FDLPs often have a more limited selection.

[PDF] or denotes a file in Adobe's Portable Document Format. To view the file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe.

This page contains one or more links, denoted by this symbol , which are not part of the Census Bureau Web site and do not imply endorsement of any particular product, company, or content.

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• While the process to find all blocks within a Census tract is the same for all decennial censuses, the size and number of blocks and tracts may change between censuses. To ensure you are getting the blocks and tracts from the correct census, select the decennial census year or dataset from "Topics." Then click the "Geographies" button located below "Topics" on the left side of the Main or Search page.
• Expand the Summary Level filter in the Geography Filter Options box.
• Select Summary Level "100 - Block."
• Expand the "Within State" filter and select your state.
• Expand the "Within County" filter and select your county.
• The Geography Results will now display all blocks within the county you selected followed by all blocks within census tract "XX." 
• To narrow to a specific census tract, you can input the tract number in the Geography text box located below the Geography Name tab and click GO. Otherwise, you can scroll through the list of census tracts in the Geography Results until you find the one you want.
• To make your selection(s), click the check box next to each geography name and then click "Add" located at the top of the Geography Results.
• Once you have made your geographic selections, you can close out the Geographies Search window. Your search results will be updated.

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1. From the main page (http://factfinder2.census.gov), click the Topics button (left-side of the page) to expand the list and move to the Search page.
   
   
2. In the Topics list, click the “Product Type” option and select Data Profile. Data Profile will then move to “Your Selections” (upper left-hand corner of screen) and your search results will now be limited to only Data Profiles.
   
   
3. Next, in the Topics list expand the “Dataset” option and select 2010 Demographic Profile, then select 2010 ACS 5- year estimates. The two datasets will move to “Your Selections” and your search will now be limited to only the 5 Data Profiles in those datasets.
   
   
4. Now to add your Geography, click the Geography button below the Topics list. This will open a window that sits above your search results. For more information on how to search for a city or town see the FAQ, “American FactFinder: How do I find the population of my city or town?” Once you have added geographies to your search, you can close the geography search.
   
   
5. From your search results you can either view or download tables by clicking the table name (the table name is also a link) or by placing a check next to each table name and clicking View or Download. 

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Yes, we have detailed import and export data available through an on line subscription service. 

The 2007 subscription is now an on line service.  Currently, the 2006 subscription series on DVD prices are listed below.   Contact Me If This Answer Changes. 

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The four summary files below for Census 2000 are among the most detailed data products available from the population and housing census.

• Summary File 1 (SF 1) and Summary File 2 (SF 2) focus on the information collected on the census short form – namely on age, sex, race, Hispanic/Latino origin, households, families, housing units, and owner/renter status.
  
  
• Summary File 3 (SF 3) and Summary File 4 (SF 4) focus on social, economic and housing characteristics compiled from a sample of approximately 19 million housing units (about 1 in 6 households) that received the Census 2000 long-form questionnaire.Topics include income, education, occupation, ancestry, disability, foreign birth, commuting, household financial arrangements, year housing structure built and many other population and housing subjects. 

The data in all four files are readily accessible in American FactFinder and also can be obtained  on DVD or CD-ROM from the Customer Services Center at 1-800-923-8282 or (301) 763-INFO (4636).

All four files show data for states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, counties, county subdivisions, cities, American Indian and Alaska Native areas, Hawaiian Home Lands, and census tracts. SF 1 has the most geographic detail, with data for census block groups and blocks; SF 3 has data for block groups. Both SF 1 and SF 3 have data for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas®, Congressional districts, and metropolitan areas.

SF 1 and SF 3 have data on a larger set of topics than do SF 2 and SF 4. What makes SF 2 and SF 4 special is the vast data on population subgroups found on these files.

SF 2 repeats tables for up to 249 race (e.g., Black, Chinese, Asian Indian, etc.) and Hispanic/Latino groups (e.g., Mexican, Cuban, Salvadoran, etc.), as well as American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. SF 4 repeats tables for these groups and also for up to 86 ancestry groups. 

• Scroll down for other Summary Files from Census 2000.
• Special tabulations cover topics not found in the standard files.

If you want to get started, the Census 2000 Gateway page is a good place to find links to Census 2000 data and reference information.

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A ZCTA is a generalized area representation of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ZIP Code service areas. They represent the most frequently occurring five-digit ZIP Code found in a given area.  Read more about how ZCTAs relate to ZIP Codes. 

2010 ZCTA data is only available in the 2010 Census datasets Summary File 1 & Summary File 2. Note that Summary File 2 began release on a state-by-state flow basis beginning in December 2011. 

To find the 2010 population of a Zip Code Tabulation Area (using Summary File 1):

• From the American FactFinder Main page (left side of page), click the Topics button to expand the Topics list. Then click to expand the Dataset option and select the 2010 SF 1 100% dataset. This will add the 2010 SF1 100% dataset to “Your Selections” and will narrow your Search Results (and remaining search options) to topics and geographies relevant to that dataset.
  
  
• Next, click the Geographies button located just below Topics on the Search page. This will open the Select Geographies overlay window that sits above your Search Results.
  
  
• Inside the Select Geographies overlay window, select Zip Code/ ZCTA from the expanded Geographic Type option in the “Geography Filter Options”. Zip Code/ZCTA is added to “Your Geography Filters” and the Geography Results are now limited to only 2010 ZCTAs. You can now continue to filter using the remaining Geography Filter Options to get results for ZCTAs within a particular geography OR you can use the Geography keyword/text search box to enter a specific ZCTA  you are looking for. Once you have finished narrowing your Geography results, place a check next to each ZCTA that you wish to add to “Your Selections” and click ADD. “Your Selections” will be updated to include the Geography Results you selected to insert it into your search. You can now close the Select Geographies overlay by clicking the “x” in the upper right corner.
  
  
• The Search Results are displayed and are organized by table type starting with Quick Tables for the 2010 Summary File 1 population of the ZCTA.  To learn more about each Search Result, click the “i” button in the “About” column of your Search Results.  If necessary, you may continue to refine your Search Results by using the Topics filters (left side of page) or you can place a check in the box next to the Search Results you would like to View or Download.

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The 2010 Census data will be disseminated mainly through American FactFinder beginning in January of 2011. Visit American Factfinder on the Census Bureau's website (click on the American FactFinder link on the left side of the page). Data will include demographic profiles, summary files of aggregated data, and reports. Data also will be available on DVD and in printed reports.

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• As of April 2, 2012, at 9 a.m. users will be able to search the 1940 Census schedules, free of charge, at <http://1940census.archives.gov>.
  
  
• More information on how to use the records is available at <http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/start-research.html>.
  
  
• For the release of the 1940 Census online, the National Archives has digitized the entire census, creating more than 3.8 million digital images of census schedules, maps, and enumeration district descriptions.
  
  
• View the Census Bureau’s interactive 1940 Census Web page.
  

• Instructions to Enumerators Providing Information on Codes and Abbreviations
• Genealogy
• Reports and statistics from the 1940 Census

Keywords: genealogy, ancestry, 1930, 1950

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The Census Bureau publishes ACS data in tables on the American FactFinder website. From there, you can choose from a variety of table types, including Data Profiles, Geographic Comparison Tables, and more.

Other data options include:

• Summary File

• Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files

• Downloadable data via FTP

To learn more about these options, visit the Data & Documentation page on the ACS website.

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Here are three options:

• Call the Commodity Analysis Branch at 800-549-0595, and press 2 from the main menu.
• Send email inquiries Mr. Paul Herrick at paul.e.herrick@census.gov .
• For help with import classification, you must contact your local Customs.
  

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American FactFinder organizes data for over 11 million different geographic areas. In order to properly organize such a large amount of data, the geographic search function is performed in a overlay window that sits on top of the search results. To open the Geographies overlay window, simply select the Geographies button (left side) from the American FactFinder Main or Search page.

To help system performance, geography search filters have been divided into three levels of detail. You can choose the level of detail you need for your search by clicking the radio button next to one of these three choices:

• Show most requested summary levels (638,280 total geographies). This is the default search index and provides the best performance. It contains the most popular geographic types:
• • Nation
  • State
  • Metropolitan & Micropolitan Areas
  • Congressional District
  • County
  • Place
  • County Subdivision
  • Zip Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA). .
  • Census Tract
  • AI/AN/NH Areas
  • Urban Areas - Group Geographies only
  • School Districts - Group Geographies only
  • Block Groups - Group Geographies only
  • Blocks - Group Geographies only
    
    
• Show all summary levels (8,322,525 total geographies). This index contains all summary levels except blocks. Using this index results in slower response times.
  
  
• Select individual blocks (11,155,486). This index allows you to search for and select Census blocks for the specified vintage (2010 or 2000).

These radio buttons are found below the Geography Filter options pane on the Geographies overlay window. To open the Geographies overlay window, simply select the Geographies button option from the American FactFinder Main or Search page.

For additional information on geographies visit the American FactFinder Glossary or review the 2010 technical documentation.

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Our statistical compendia volumes (see below) do contain some copyrighted material.  In the event you wish to publish these data or tables, you should contact the cited company or agency for permission.  Go to the bottom of the table to see if "copyright" is included in the footnote.  Our statistical compendia publications include:

• Statistical Abstract of the United States 
• County and City Data Book  
• State and Metropolitan Area Data Book 
• USA Counties
  

Keywords: citation, reference,

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• Up to 10 tables at one time
• Up to 50,000 geographies for a table
• Up to 500,000 rows of data
  

1. The sum of all cities or towns in the USA is less than 50,000 geographies.
2. For downloads larger than 50,000 geographies or 500,000 rows, please use the ftp site.
3. To download a table for only one geography or population group at a time, such as the Data Profiles or some SF 2 & SF 4 products, you can calculate the total number of rows in that table by multiplying the number of geographies or population groups by the number of rows in the table.  For example, a table that has ten rows and ten geographies is equivalent to 100 total rows.

• Tables can be downloaded in
• database-compatible (.csv) and
• presentation-ready (.pdf, .rtf & .xls) formats.
  

• Limits for .pdf & .rtf formats are
• 5,000 columns and
• 5,000 data rows.
• Limits for .xls are
• 230 columns and 5,000 rows.
• If the table has more than 230 columns, and fewer rows, select Modify Table to transpose rows and columns to conform to the .xls requirements.
• Using the "View All" option, you can download up to 3 tables at one time in a pdf format.  The row and column limits are the same as above.
• Using the Download button, you can only download the table you are viewing.  If the table is too large to download in a presentation-ready format, you will be prompted to download in a database-compatible (.csv) format.
  

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Our web site on Poverty provides data links to all of the sources of poverty data that are published by the Census Bureau.  These include data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), the American Community survey (ACS), Census 2000, and other data sources.  Also, you can access Detailed and Historical Poverty tables from this page.

• The Current Population Survey collects national and state poverty data through our annual report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008".  Tables can be produced for the U.S. and states and Detailed Tables for the nation.

The following sites require using our data access tool "American FactFinder." If you need assistance you may call the Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office at 1-800-923-8282 or (301) 763-INFO (4636).

• American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder.
  
  
• 2000 Census on Population and Housing - Poverty data are provided from Summary File 3 and Summary File 4 for all geographic areas in the U.S.  You can also access 1990 Census data using Summary Tape File 3.  The census does provide poverty data tables for all geographies down to the block group level and all ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in the U.S.

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For help with import classification, you must contact your local customs office.  For exports, follow the steps below:

1. From the Schedule B page, select "Search" underneath the heading "Schedule B Export Codes".
   
2. Enter a keyword to describe your product.  Use no more than one or two words at a time.  You may need to try this part several times.  Be flexible; try different forms of the same word or synonyms. (For example, if "medicine" does not produce the desired results, try "medicament", instead.)
   
3. The search engine retrieves HS descriptions and codes at the six-digit level.  Click on the corresponding code for the description that best matches your product.
   
4. This brings you to the four-digit heading within the Schedule B chapter.  Read the heading description to make sure that you are looking in the correct area.
   
5. Scroll down to the six-digit HS subheading and verify that the description is also appropriate.
   
6. To locate your ten-digit Schedule B number, read through the descriptions under that subheading, paying attention to indentations and groupings.

For example, entering the keyword "software" pulls up 852431 through 852499, and clicking on the numbers brings you into Chapter 85 at heading 8524, where you can read through the descriptions under the suggested subheadings to find the right Schedule B number.

Please note that the Schedule B manual includes explanatory information such as Section Notes, Statistical Notes and Chapter Notes that should be examined to confirm the proper classification of your product.

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In American FactFinder, you can build a map of a specific piece of data about a particular area. These maps are called thematic maps. You can create thematic maps from the table view of a product. Simply select the "Create a Map" button and follow the instructions to create your map. 

Note that:

• The data in some tables are not appropriate for mapping (for example, Data Profiles); and
• you must select at least 2 like geographies (for example, 2 or more states, or 2 or more counties) to map.

You can view the Create a Map Tutorial or the Create a Thematic Map Help Page in the AFF Help Content to learn more about thematic maps. 

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You must think about the balance between currency and sample size/reliability/precision. The 1-year and 3-year estimates are more current than the 5-year estimates. However, the 5-year estimates have a larger sample size and are therefore usually more precise than the 1-year or 3-year estimates. The increased precision of a 5-year estimate may be particularly important if you are studying a small area or a small population subgroup.

For more detailed information, visit When to use 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year estimates on the American Community Survey (ACS) website.

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The Census Bureau provides data on ancestry from the following sources:

• The American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates provide the most current ancestry data available for the U.S., states, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more population.  The ACS 3-year estimates provide data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more population.
• Decennial censuses:  2000, 1990, and 1980 ancestry data are avalable, including census briefs and tables for the U.S. and states.  You can also access 2000 ancestry tables for all geographic areas using American FactFinder.  Both 1990 and 1980 can be accessed from the historical decennial census reports.  Data on ancestry was first collected in the 1980 census.

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Search for "all counties in a state" or "all the census tracts in a state" or similar geographies by selecting Geographies and the appropriate Geographic Type in the Geography Filter Options under the Name tab in the Geography Search overlay window.


Learn how to use the Geographic Search method by viewing the Geographic Search Tutorial or the Geographic Search Help Content.   

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The United States International Trade Commission allows you to search  the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA) for import commodity codes.

Because import and export commodity codes match at the six-digit level, you may also use our Schedule B Search  to find the first six digits of your import number.

Once you have obtained the six-digit subheading, you can look up the full, ten-digit import code in the HTSUSA.

For help with import classification, you must contact your local Customs office.

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The types of products are the same. We expect to release summary files, profiles, and reports. However, the design of these products will be different, but we hope to provide as much comparability to Census 2000 as possible. The main difference is that the 2010 Census data products contain data derived from the short-form census questionnaire: age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, relationship, housing tenure (owner- and renter-occupied housing units) as opposed to more characteristics captured from the long-form in the past census. Current data on the traditional census long-form subjects are available from the American Community Survey.

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There are several online resources that are useful in associating street addresses to census tracts. The census tract street locator and the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council's (http://www.ffiec.gov/geocode/default.htm) Web site are the most popular.

If you want to look at a map to verify the location of the address, go to the Address Locator (lower left) on the American Factfinder, type your address, highlight "Census Tract" from the geographic option menu and select "Map It." 

We also sell the wall size census tract printed maps. Contact the Customer Services Center at 1-800-923-8282 or (301) 763-INFO (4636) to order these products. Additionally, all the PDF census tract outline maps are available on our Internet site.

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The Census Bureau provides data on educational attainment from the following sources:

• American Community Survey (ACS): Estimates for the United States, Puerto Rico, all states, Congressional Districts, and geographic areas of 65,000 or more are released annually in the ACS 1-year estimates.  Data for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more are available annually from the ACS 3-year estimates.  Data for geographic areas as small as tracts and block groups are available annually from the ACS 5-year estimates.  Learn more about the ACS on our website and access our estimates via American FactFinder.
  
  
• The Current Population Survey (CPS). This survey collects annual data on educational attainment for the nation and from the CPS Data Tables, Products, and Reports as well as historical reports for the U.S. and states.  The CPS report A Half-Century of Learning: Historical Statistics on Educational Attainment in the United States: 1940 to 2000 is also an excellent source of data.
  
  
• 2000 Census of Population and Housing.  Educational attainment are available for all geographic areas.  Our Census 2000 brief Educational Attainment: 2000 provides information at the national and state level, and also includes U.S. map showing county-level information.  Additional data tables from the census are also available..

[PDF] or denotes a file in Adobe's Portable Document Format. To view the file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe.

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The Census Bureau provides first and surname data that may be of interest to people seeking genealogy, family name, or given name information from the following decennial censuses:  

• Frequently Occurring Surnames From Census 2000,
• Frequently Occurring First Names and Surnames From the 1990 Census, and 
• Spanish surname list from the 1990 Census.

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Yes, the U.S. Census Bureau produces data by single year of age:

• The U.S. Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces monthly population estimates by single year of age for the United States and annual population by single year of age for all states.
• The Census 2000 also has single years of age data for several levels of geography. (FAQ 225)

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The Summarized AES Filing Process is as follows:

1. File your Electronic Export Information (EEI) in AES or authorize an agent to file the EEI on your behalf. 
   
2. Obtain a confirmation number (ITN) proving your EEI has been successfully transmitted
   • If an ITN was not returned, you must resolve whatever errors prevented its acceptance and retransmit the corrected record.
   • If a Verify Message is returned with your ITN, verify the data and correct and retransmit as necessary. If no correction is needed, you can disregard the verify message.
     
3. Annotate your invoice, packing list, air waybill, truck bill or other commercial loading document with the AES Proof of Filing Citation.
   • Proof of Filing Citation Format:      "AES  [put ITN here]"
   • Proof of Filing Citation Example:    "AES  X20051020123456"
     
4. Give your export shipment to the carrier with the annotated documents.
   
5. If you discover that changes need to be made to the EEI, please amend the EEI or instruct your agent to amend the EEI and resubmit to AES.
   
6. Keep a copy of the EEI on file for five years.
   

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The Census Bureau provides several Data Extraction Tools and the most extensive table generator tool is the Census Bureau's Data Ferrett which provides over 20 searchable topics.  DataFerrett tutorials are available as well as a help line at 1-888-437-0171.

Our Current Population Survey Table Creator allows you to pull your own custom tables on survey data such as income, poverty, education, health insurance, etc., for the U.S. and states.  Detailed instructions with examples are provided.

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U.S. federal government agencies must adhere to standards issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in October 1997, which specify that  race  and Hispanic origin (also known as ethnicity) are two separate and distinct concepts.  These standards generally reflect a social definition of race and ethnicity recognized in this country and they do not conform to any biological, anthropological, or genetic criteria.  The standards include five minimum categories for data on race:  "American Indian or Alaska Native," "Asian," "Black or African American," "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander," and "White."  There are two minimum categories for data on ethnicity:  "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not Hispanic or Latino."  The concept of race reflects self-identification by people according to the race or races with which they most closely identify.  Persons who report themselves as Hispanic can be of any race and are identified as such in our data tables. The following sources provide data on race and Hispanic origin population:

• Population estimates by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin are produced annually for the U.S., states, and counties. Historical data are also provided in the Archive Files.  Population projections out to 2050 are provided by race and Hispanic origin for the nation.
• The Current Population Survey (CPS) provides national level data on the social, economic, and demographic characteristics of selected race groups, both current and past.  Tables on the Hispanic population in the U.S are also available, both current and past.
• The American Community Survey (ACS) provides sample data from the 1-year or 3-year estimates based on population size.  Selected Population Profiles (select from the right side) enable you to select characteristics by Race or Ethnic Groups (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc.)and by Country of Birth.
• Census 2000 and 1990 census data on race are also available as well as the Hispanic population.  In addition, data can be accessed for Census 2000 using American FactFinder and Summary File 2 and Summary File 4.
• Census 2000 brief   "Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin" describes these concepts and also provides how the race categories used in Census 2000 were defined on page 2.

[PDF] or denotes a file in Adobe's Portable Document Format. To view the file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe.

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• Finding Data, in the Economic Census webpage User Guide, will help you understand what data are available and how it's organized.
  
  
• Using American FactFinder on the Economic Census webpage will help you find what you want in American FactFinder.
  

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Census 2000 Census Tract Outline Maps delineate census tract boundaries within counties, as well as boundaries for political areas such as cities. They do not show smaller area entities such as block groups or blocks. Available on a county-by-county basis, tract maps are our most popular map series. Users filing Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) reports or applying for Community Redevelopment Act grants find these maps especially useful.

Block maps are the most detailed maps, showing all geographic areas down to the level of census blocks. If you are not working with block groups or blocks, you will find it easier to work with the simpler, less detailed tract maps. On block maps, all streets are shown; on tract maps, only streets coinciding with tract boundaries are shown.

Both Census Tract Outline Maps and Census Block Maps may be viewed on the Census Bureau's Web site. Under "Census Tract Outline Maps" and "Census Block Maps," click on "2000" to access the maps in PDF format. You can purchase these map sets in print from the Customer Services Center at 1-800-923-8282 or (301)763-INFO (4636).

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There are a number of options for getting maps.

• You can get data display maps based on the population estimates for states and counties. In addition, check out our Census 2000 Profiles and our publication "Mapping Census 2000: The Geography of Diversity,  available online in PDF. 
  
  
• The American FactFinder allows users to create thematic maps for a variety of topics; check out the Fact Sheets for some of the most popular ones.
  
  
• The Census Atlas of the United States, a map book with thematic maps based on data from Census 2000 and earlier censuses is available from the Government Printing Office.
  
  
• For additional thematic maps and other kinds of maps, visit our Map Products page online.

Contact the Customer Liaison Marketing Services Customer Services Center for more information at 1-800-923-8282 or (301) 763-INFO (4636).

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The ACS uses the concept of "current residence" to determine who should be considered residents of sample housing units. The basic idea behind this concept is that everyone who is currently living or staying at an address for more than two months is considered a current resident of that address.

This means that their expected length of stay is more than two months, not that they have been staying in the housing unit for more than two months at the time when the survey is conducted. Persons away from their residence for two months or less, whether in the United States or overseas, on a vacation or on a business trip, are considered to still be a "resident" at the address, and the unit is classified as occupied and eligible for inclusion in the survey. Persons away from their residence for more than two months are considered not to be a resident. For the ACS, if no one is determined to be a current resident in the sampled housing unit, it is classified as "vacant."

There are a few exceptions to the "two-month" rule, as noted below:

Persons Without Another Place to Stay -- Anyone staying at a residence who does not have another place to stay, even if they are at the residence for two months or less, are always considered current residents of the residence.

Children Away at School -- Children (below college age) who are away at boarding school or summer camp for more than two months are always considered current residents of their parents' homes. College students' current residency is established by the two-month rule.

Children in Joint Custody -- Children who live under joint custody agreements and move between residences are always considered current residents of the sampled housing unit where they are staying at the time of the interview.

"Commuter Workers" -- People who stay at a residence close to work and return regularly to another residence to be with their family are always considered current residents of the family residence, not the work-related residence.

Residency in Group Quarters facilities is determined differently. All people residing in the selected facility at the time of interview, regardless of the length of stay, are eligible to be selected to be interviewed in the ACS.

For more information on ACS residency rules, read Chapter 6: Survey Rules, Concepts and Definitions, Section 6.3: Residence Rules on the Methodology page of the ACS website.

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Use a pen with blue or black ink, or a #2 pencil. For more information on how to respond or get help with your form, visit the About the Survey on the ACS website.

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In order to get trade information, you need to be able to correctly classify your product.  There are many ways to classify goods that are imported and exported.  In each of these systems, the products have specific commodity numbers that indicate various levels of detail.

All U.S. trade data is based on the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS), a series of 10-digit codes. These HTS codes fall under one of two categories: durable goods and non-durable goods. Browse our list of Schedule B export codes  or call our Commodity Analysis Branch to find your product codes.

Once you have the commodity codes, contact our Data Dissemination Branch to order a customized report.

NOTE on Internet availability: There is limited availability of trade data from our web site.  It is available free of charge via more general classification codes (SITC and NAICS).  The most detailed data is available through our Data Dissemination Branch and our online service, USATrade Online, for a fee.

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The metropolitan area (typically a core area such as a central city along with the counties economically and socially connected to it) has long been a popular geographic unit of analysis, and the Census Bureau has long released extensive statistics for these areas.

Determined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the definitions themselves list the core areas and the components of the metro areas; the OMB constantly updates the definitions. (In December 2005, the agency issued its latest revisions at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2006/b06-01.pdf.). Questions concerning the standards by which these areas are defined should be directed to OMB's communications office at: (202) 395-7254.

Users interested in metro data have several options:

• The most recent data for these areas are the July 1, 2007 population estimates for areas and their components (definitions as of November 2004). Your first look at other kinds of population and housing data for these areas will come in summer 2006, with the release of the 2005 data from the American Community Survey.
• Our 2002 Economic Census state reports use the new definitions; these data are available in The American FactFinder  and on the economic census pages. Building permit data are issued monthly for metro areas, again reflecting the new (December 2003) definitions.
• For extensive population and housing data for metro areas, don't overlook the Census 2000 Summary Files (SF 1-complete count) and (SF 3-sample data), which have extensive statistics for metro areas as they were defined in 1999, and the American Community Survey, which contains more recent data also using the 1999 definitions. Both the Census 2000 files and the American Community Survey files are available in the American FactFinder.

To keep up with metro area data, check out the metropolitan area page on the Census Bureau's Web site.

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When exporting commodities out of the United States (or releasing technology or source code to a foreign national in the United States), you need to classify the item to determine if an export license is required from any U.S. Government  agency. If an item is on the Commerce Control List, you need to know the ECCN to determine whether an export license is required.

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The Census Bureau conducted censuses of religious bodies at 10-year intervals from 1906 through 1936. The results were published with statistics on topics such as the number of members in congregations, number of church edifices, seating capacity, value and debt on church property, and so forth. The census publications varied with the first two having volumes of reports and the 1926 and 1936 censuses releasing a Summary report and a second volume made up of individual reports on the denominations listed in the census. See our detailed listing of reports from past censuses (1790 on).

There also was a survey of religious affiliation done as part of the Current Population Survey in 1957 with the results published in a report entitled, "Religion Report by the Civilian Population of the United States, March 1957." The Census of Religious Bodies began as a few questions on the Social Statistics form of the 1850 census. When the Bureau became permanent in 1902, it became possible to separate some data collection from the decennial census. The Census of Religious Bodies was a stand-alone census taken every  10 years between 1906 and 1936. Data were collected in 1946 but the funding for tabulation was not forthcoming. The entire census was eliminated in the mid 1950's. Copies of the report are in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (http://www.nara.gov).

The U.S. Census Bureau does not collect data on religious affiliation in its demographic surveys or decennial census. Public Law 94-521 prohibits us from asking a question on religious affiliation on a mandatory basis; in some person or household surveys, however, the U.S. Census Bureau may collect information about religious practices, on a voluntary basis. Therefore, the U.S. Census Bureau is not the source for information on religion, nor is the Census Bureau the source for information on religious affiliation. Some statistics on religion can be found in the Statistical Abstract of the United States, Section 1, Population.  In addition, we do provide a list of contacts for further assistance regarding religious information.

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Subscribe

To sign up for updates, select the "Get Email Updates" icon on the right side of the ACS homepage or directly access the Census Bureau's GovDelivery system to enter your email address.

The ACS e-mail updates provide periodic e-mail communication to inform you about news, events, data releases, congressional action, and other developments associated with the ACS.

Unsubscribe or change preferences

If you do not want to receive updates about the ACS, or if you want to receive updates only for particular topics, enter your email address in the Census Bureau's GovDelivery system. You will have the option of changing preferences or unsubscribing.

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Freight forwarders are responsible for:

• Preparing the EEI (Electronic Export Information) record based on information received from the exporter (U.S. principal party in interest) or other parties to the transaction,
• Obtaining a power of attorney, written authorization, or signed authorization on the EEI from a principal party in interest,
• Providing the exporter (U.S. principal party in interest) with a copy of the export information filed in the form of a completed EEI, electronic facsimile, or in a manner prescribed by the exporter (U.S. principal party in interest), and
• Maintaining documentation to support information reported on the EEI record.

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Some Census Bureau tables show counts of people or families, categorized by how their income compares with their poverty threshold. The ratio of income to poverty is a family's or person's income divided by their poverty threshold.

Income-to-poverty ratio categories represent variations of the poverty level. Frequently-used ratios include:

• Ratios below 1.00 (below 100 percent of poverty) are below the official poverty definition, while ratios of 1.00 or greater (100 percent of poverty or greater) indicate income above the poverty level.
  
  
• Ratios below 0.50 (50 percent of poverty, that is, income less than half of the poverty threshold) have sometimes been described as "severe poverty", while those with ratios at/or above 1.00 percent by less than 1.25 percent have been described as "near poverty".

You can access the most recent ratio data on a national level from Current Population Survey.  Table POV46 provides poverty status by state (weighted and sample person count) by age and for families by specific age group.   Historical poverty tables include data for these two groups. 

Our most current data on income to poverty ratios comes from the American Community Survey 1-year estimates for all geographic areas of 65,000 or more population, and for all geographic areas of 20,000 or more population from the 2006 to 2008 3-year estimates.  These data tables will be updated annually for all geographic areas in the U.S. after the 2010 census.

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Generally, you can compare American Community Survey (ACS) estimates with data from Census 2000 or 2010 Census. If you are comparing ACS estimates with other ACS estimates, use the same period length. For example, this means you should compare a 1-year estimate only to another 1-year estimate, not to a 3-year estimate or a 5-year estimate. However, since ACS variables change over time, some areas and subjects must be compared with caution or not compared at all. Visit Comparing ACS Data for more information about comparing ACS estimates over time and with Census 2000 or 2010 Census.

If you are looking for a table that is comparable between Census 2000 and the ACS 5-year estimates, you may find our Table Comparisons tool to be useful. This tool allows data users to search by table number for a comparable table between the ACS 5-year estimates and the Census 2000 SF3 detailed tables. The table comparability may be identical, comparable for some uses, or there may be no comparable table.

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