Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs)

A Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) is a statistical geographic area defined for the tabulation and dissemination of decennial census Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) PUMS data and ACS period estimates.

2010 PUMAs:

Nest within states or equivalent entities
Cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas that contain a 2010 Census population of 100,000
Are built on counties and census tracts PUMA delineations are subject to population thresholds and building block geography)
Must be geographically contiguous (unless the geographical features of the county or census tract used as a building block are noncontiguous, i.e. islands, offshore features)

Details about the 2010 PUMAs

2010 PUMA Criteria and Guidelines for the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey [PDF] [TXT]

Summary of Changes in the PUMA Criteria and Guidelines from 2000 to 2010

PUMA Delineation

The Census Bureau will offer the State Data Centers (SDCs) in each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico the opportunity to delineate 2010 PUMAs within their state or equivalent entity using Census Bureau 2010 PUMA criteria and guidelines. The Census Bureau also asks that the SDCs involve interested individuals and regional organizations, especially those officially representing cities and/or counties with 2010 Census populations greater than 100,000, to ensure that PUMA definitions meet the needs of a variety of data users. State Date Centers for Island areas (excluding Puerto Rico) will not be required to submit new PUMAs for 2010. The current populations of these state equivalents either fall below the minimum population threshold for PUMS publication or these areas will not exceed populations required to delineate more than one PUMA.

2010 PUMA delineation program schedule
2010 PUMA Name Guidelines for Participants [PDF] [TXT]
Valid Characters for Geographic Area Names [PDF]
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Questions from State Data Centers and local partners about PUMAs, the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS), partnership shapefiles, and contact information. [PDF] [TXT]

Reference Information

2010 Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMA) and Characteristics of Microdata [PDF] [TXT]
PUMA tutorial with useful background information, definitions, challenges since 2000, and changes for 2010.
History of PUMAs [PDF] [TXT]
Brief history of PUMAs from 1960 to 2000.
2000 PUMA Criteria, Guidelines, Maps, and Data
Decennial Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS)
2000 and historical files that contain records for a sample of housing units with information on the characteristics of each unit and each person in it.
ACS Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS)
Annual files that contain records for a sample of housing units with information on the characteristics of each unit and each person in it.
2010 Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) for the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey presentation
Presented at the State Data Centers June 2011 Steering Committee Meeting, Suitland, MD