The ACS typically publishes estimates using the latest available geographic boundaries (also known as "vintages"). For ACS 5-year estimates, use the last year of the estimate period to determine the vintage. For example, the following datasets use the same vintages of geographic boundaries:
To learn more about geographic concepts used in the ACS, check out our geographic handbook Geography and the American Community Survey: What Data Users Need to Know.
The Census Bureau annually conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) to collect information about selected legally defined geographic areas.
Summary Level
|
Geographic Area |
Vintage of Geographic Area for 2019 ACS Estimate Year
|
---|---|---|
040 |
State and State Equivalent |
January 1, 2019 |
050 |
County or equivalent (Alaska boroughs, Louisiana parishes, Puerto Rico municipios, independent cities) |
January 1, 2019 |
|
||
067 |
Township, Minor Civil Division (MCD)/Barrio and Barrio-Pueblo |
January 1, 2019 |
|
||
160 |
Incorporated Place |
January 1, 2019 |
|
||
230 |
Alaska Native Regional Corporations (ANRCs) |
2010 Census |
250/252/254 |
Federal American Indian Reservation (federal AIR) |
January 1, 2019 |
250/252 |
State American Indian Reservation (state AIR) |
2010 Census |
251 |
American Indian Tribal Subdivision, federal AIR |
January 1, 2019 |
250/254 |
Hawaiian Home Land (HHL) |
2010 Census |
|
||
500 |
Congressional District, Delegate District DC, Resident Commissioner District PR |
January 1, 20191 |
610/620 |
State Legislative Districts (Upper and Lower Chambers) |
|
950/960/970 |
School District (Elementary, Secondary, Unified) |
January 1, 2019 |
170 |
Consolidated City |
January 1, 2019 |
1116th Congress of the United States
For statistical areas, boundary changes are mostly associated with updates from each decennial census. Statistical areas are designed to have stable boundaries over time.
Summary Level
|
Geographic Area |
Vintage of Geographic Area for 2019 ACS Estimate Year
|
---|---|---|
050 |
County Equivalent (Census Areas in Alaska) |
January 1, 2019 |
|
||
060 |
Census County Division (CCD) |
2010 Census** |
Place |
||
160 |
Census Designated Place (CDP)/Zona Urbana and Comunidad |
2010 Census** |
|
||
250/252 |
Tribal Designated Statistical Area (TDSA) |
2010 Census |
250/252 |
State Designated Tribal Statistical Area (SDTSA) |
2010 Census |
250/252 |
Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area (OTSA) |
2010 Census |
251 |
American Indian Tribal Subdivision (within OTSA) |
2010 Census |
256 |
Tribal Tract |
2010 Census** |
258 |
Tribal Block Group |
2010 Census** |
250/252 |
Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA) |
2010 Census |
|
||
310 |
Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan Statistical Area |
September 14, 2018 |
312 |
Metropolitan Statistical Area/Micropolitan Statistical Area - Principal City |
September 14, 2018* |
350 |
New England City and Town Area (NECTA) |
September 14, 2018 |
352 |
New England City and Town Area - Principal City |
September 14, 2018* |
400 |
Urban Area |
2010 Census |
140 |
Census Tract |
2010 Census** |
150 |
Census Block Group |
2010 Census** |
795 |
Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) |
2010 Census |
860 |
5-digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) |
2010 Census |
*While the American Community Survey (ACS) data generally reflect the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definitions of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas; in certain instances the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB definitions due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities.
**Changes to the boundaries of legal areas may cause complementary changes to the boundaries of selected statistical areas.