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American Community Survey (ACS)


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Sample Selection

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ACS Operations Plan

Group Quarters

ACS Design and Methodology Paper [PDF 7.4Mb]

Subjects Planned for the 2010 Census and ACS

Questions Planned for the 2010 Census and ACS

ACS and the AIAN Population

 

Each month, we will select a systematic sample of addresses from the most current Master Address File (MAF) for the American Community Survey. The sample will represent the entire United States. No address will receive the American Community Survey questionnaire more than once in any five-year period.

A larger proportion of addresses will be sampled for small governmental units (American Indian reservations, counties, and towns). The monthly sample size is designed to approximate the sampling ratio of Census 2000, including the oversampling of small governmental units.

Counties in the Sample 2003

The 2003 American Community Survey, was conducted from November 2002 through December 2003. The scope of the 2003 American Community Survey was limited to housing units, occupied and vacant.

In 2003, the number of test sites in the sample remained at 31. The test sites reflect various situations in which differences are expected to be prominent. Data were also collected in 1204 additional counties. The combined data provide estimates of detailed subjects for the Nation, all states, most areas with a population of 250,000 or more, and selected areas of 65,000 or more.

For a list of the counties in included in the American Community Survey, see the "Test Sites & Counties".

 

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau  |  American Community Survey Office  |  Page Last Modified: September 15, 2008