The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is part of the 2010 Decennial Census Program. The ACS is a nationwide survey that provides annually updated, detailed demographic, socioeconomic, and housing information for communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
By its sample design, the ACS accumulates independent monthly sample data as time passes. This allows for the release of estimates for smaller geographic areas once enough sample has been accumulated.
This chart explains the ACS release strategy, as it will unfold over the coming years.
The 2005 ACS will provide data for a set of geographic areas with a total population of 65,000 or more. The annual sample size expanded from about 800,000 addresses in 1,240 counties in 2004 to approximately 3 million addresses in 3,141 U.S. counties in 2005. As a result, the 2005 ACS data provide information for many geographic areas that did not receive ACS data in previous years.
The table below shows the geographic levels covered by the 2006 data release with an estimate of the total number of geographic areas that will receive the 2005 ACS data:
| United States – Total | 6,930 |
| Nation | 1 |
| Census Regions | 4 |
| Census Divisions | 9 |
| States (and District of Columbia) | 51 |
| Counties | 775 |
| Minor Civil Divisions (townships, villages, etc.) | 186 |
| Places (cities, towns, and Census designated places) | 492 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native areas | 14 |
| School Districts | 878 |
| Urban Areas | 363 |
| Congressional Districts (including District of Columbia) | 436 |
| Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas | 492 |
| Principal Cities of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas | 330 |
| New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) | 25 |
| Principal Cities of NECTAs | 19 |
| Combined Statistical Areas (Metropolitan and NECTA) | 129 |
| Metropolitan and NECTA Divisions | 38 |
| Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) | 2,071 |
| Other (urban/rural components of states, etc.) | 617 |
