Documentation: ACS 2011 (1-Year Estimates)
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Publisher: U.S. Census Bureau
Document: ACS 2011-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation
citation:
Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2011 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
Chapter Contents
Code List
Subject Definitions
General Information
Living Quarters
Housing Variables
Acreage (Cuerda)
Agricultural Sales
Bedrooms
Business on Property
Condominium Status and Fee
Contract Rent
Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP)
Gross Rent
Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income
Homeowner Vacancy Rate
House Heating Fuel
Household Size
Housing Units
Insurance for Fire, Hazard, and Flood
Kitchen Facilities
Meals Included in Rent
Mobile Home Costs
Monthly Housing Costs
Monthly Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income
Mortgage Payment
Mortgage Status
Occupants Per Room
Occupied Housing Units
Owner-Occupied Units
Plumbing Facilities
Population in Occupied Housing Units
Poverty Status of Households
Real Estate Taxes
Rent Asked
Rental Vacancy Rate
Renter-Occupied Housing Units
Rooms
Second or Junior Mortgage Payments or Home Equity Loan
Selected Monthly Owner Costs
Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income
Specified Owner-Occupied Units
Specified Renter-Occupied Units
Telephone Service Available
Tenure
Units in Structure
Utilities
Vacancy Status
Vacant - Current Residence Elsewhere
Vacant Housing Units
Value
Vehicles Available
Year Householder Moved into Unit
Year Structure Built
Population Variables
Ability to Speak English
Age
Ancestry
Children Ever Born
Citizenship Status (U.S. Citizenship Status)
Class of Worker
Disability Status
Educational Attainment
Employment Status
Families
Fertility
Field of Degree
Foreign-Born Population
Foster Children
Grade in Which Enrolled
Grandparents as Caregivers
Group Quarters (GQ)
Health Insurance Coverage
Hispanic or Latino Origin
Household
Household Type and Relationship
Household Size
Householder
Immigrants
Income in the Past 12 Months
Industry
Journey to Work
Labor Force Status
Language Spoken at Home
Marital Status/Marital History
Means of Transportation to Work
Migration
Native Population
Nativity
Nativity of Parent
Occupation
Own Children
Period of Military Service
Persons in Family
Persons in Household
Place of Birth
Place of Work
Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months
Private Vehicle Occupancy
Race
Reference Week
Relatives and Nonrelatives
Residence 1 Year Ago
School Enrollment and Type of School
Sex
Social Security Income
Subfamily
Time Leaving Home to Go to Work
Travel Time to Work
Type of School
Usual Hours Worked in the Past 12 Months
Veteran Status
Weeks Worked in the Past 12 Months
Work Experience
Work Status in the Past 12 Months
Year of Entry
Derived Measures
Quality Measures
Instructions for Applying Statistical Testing to ACS 1-Year Data
American Community Survey/Puerto Rico Community Survey
ACS 2011-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation
Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation
Code List
Ancestry Code List
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001-099 WESTERN EUROPE (EXCEPT SPAIN)
1ALSATIAN
2ANDORRAN
3AUSTRIAN
4TIROL
5BASQUE
6FRENCH BASQUE
7SPANISH BASQUE
8BELGIAN
9FLEMISH
10WALLOON
11BRITISH
12BRITISH ISLES
13CHANNEL ISLANDER
14GIBRALTAR
15CORNISH
16CORSICAN
17CYPRIOT
18GREEK CYPRIOTE
19TURKISH CYPRIOTE
20DANISH
21DUTCH
22ENGLISH
23FAEROE ISLANDER
24FINNISH
25KARELIAN
26FRENCH
27LORRAINE
28BRETON
29FRISIAN
30FRIULIAN
31LADIN
32GERMAN
33BAVARIA
34BERLIN
35HAMBURG
36HANNOVER
37HESSIAN
38LUBECKER
39POMERANIAN
40PRUSSIAN
41SAXON
42SUDETENLANDER
43WESTPHALIAN
44EAST GERMAN
45WEST GERMAN
46GREEK
47CRETAN
48CYCLADES
49ICELANDER
50IRISH
51ITALIAN
52TRIESTE
53ABRUZZI
54APULIAN
55BASILICATA
56CALABRIAN
57AMALFIN
58EMILIA ROMAGNA
59ROME
60LIGURIAN
61LOMBARDIAN
62MARCHE
63MOLISE
64NEAPOLITAN
65PIEDMONTESE
66PUGLIA
67SARDINIAN
68SICILIAN
69TUSCANY
70TRENTINO
71UMBRIAN
72VALLE DAOST
73VENETIAN
74SAN MARINO
75LAPP
76LIECHTENSTEINER
77LUXEMBURGER
78MALTESE
79MANX
80MONEGASQUE
81NORTH IRISH
82NORWEGIAN
83OCCITAN
84PORTUGUESE
85AZORES ISLANDER
86MADEIRA ISLANDER
87SCOTCH IRISH
88SCOTTISH
89SWEDISH
90ALAND ISLANDER
91SWISS
92SUISSE
93SWITZER
94IRISH SCOTCH
95ROMANSCH
96SUISSE ROMANE
97WELSH
98SCANDINAVIAN
99CELTIC
100-180 EASTERN EUROPE AND FORMER SOVIET UNION
100ALBANIAN
101AZERBAIJANI
102BELORUSSIAN
103BULGARIAN
104CARPATHO RUSYN
105CARPATHIAN
106RUSYN
107RUTHENIAN
108COSSACK
109CROATIAN
110NOT USED
111CZECH
112BOHEMIAN
113MORAVIAN
114CZECHOSLOVAKIAN
115ESTONIAN
116LIVONIAN
117FINNO UGRIAN
118MORDOVIAN
119VOYTAK
120GRUZIIA
121NOT USED
122GERMAN FROM RUSSIA
123VOLGA
124ROM
125HUNGARIAN
126MAGYAR
127KALMYK
128LATVIAN
129LITHUANIAN
130MACEDONIAN
131MONTENEGRIN
132NORTH CAUCASIAN
133NORTH CAUCASIAN TURKIC
134-139NOT USED
140OSSETIAN
141NOT USED
142POLISH
143KASHUBIAN
144ROMANIAN
145BESSARABIAN
146MOLDAVIAN
147WALLACHIAN
148RUSSIAN
149NOT USED
150MUSCOVITE
151NOT USED
152SERBIAN
153SLOVAK
154SLOVENE
155SORBIAN/WEND
156SOVIET TURKIC
157BASHKIR
158CHUVASH
159GAGAUZ
160MESKNETIAN
161TUVINIAN
162NOT USED
163YAKUT
164SOVIET UNION
165TATAR
166NOT USED
167SOVIET CENTRAL ASIA
168TURKESTANI
169UZBEG
170GEORGIA CIS
171UKRAINIAN
172LEMKO
173BIOKO
174HUSEL
175WINDISH
176YUGOSLAVIAN
177HERZEGOVINIAN
178SLAVIC
179SLAVONIAN
180TAJIK
181-199 EUROPE, N.E.C.
181CENTRAL EUROPEAN
182NOT USED
183NORTHERN EUROPEAN
184NOT USED
185SOUTHERN EUROPEAN
186NOT USED
187WESTERN EUROPEAN
188-189NOT USED
190EASTERN EUROPEAN
191BUKOVINA
192NOT USED
193SILESIAN
194GERMANIC
195EUROPEAN
196GALICIAN
197-199NOT USED
200-299 HISPANIC CATEGORIES (INCLUDING SPAIN)
200SPANIARD
201ANDALUSIAN
202ASTURIAN
203CASTILLIAN
204CATALONIAN
205BALEARIC ISLANDER
206GALLEGO
207VALENCIAN
208CANARY ISLANDER
209NOT USED
210MEXICAN
211MEXICAN AMERICAN
212MEXICANO
213CHICANO
214LA RAZA
215MEXICAN AMERICAN INDIAN
216-217NOT USED
218MEXICAN STATE
219MEXICAN INDIAN
220NOT USED
221COSTA RICAN
222GUATEMALAN
223HONDURAN
224NICARAGUAN
225PANAMANIAN
226SALVADORAN
227CENTRAL AMERICAN
228NOT USED
229CANAL ZONE
230NOT USED
231ARGENTINEAN
232BOLIVIAN
233CHILEAN
234COLOMBIAN
235ECUADORIAN
236PARAGUAYAN
237PERUVIAN
238URUGUAYAN
239VENEZUELAN
240-247NOT USED
248CRIOLLO
249SOUTH AMERICAN
250LATIN AMERICAN
251LATIN
252LATINO
253-260NOT USED
261PUERTO RICAN
262-270NOT USED
271CUBAN
272-274NOT USED
275DOMINICAN
276-289NOT USED
290HISPANIC
291SPANISH
292CALIFORNIO
293TEJANO
294NUEVO MEXICANO
295SPANISH AMERICAN
296-299NOT USED
300-359 WEST INDIES (EXCEPT HISPANIC)
300BAHAMIAN
301BARBADIAN
302BELIZEAN
303BERMUDAN
304CAYMAN ISLANDER
305-307NOT USED
308JAMAICAN
309NOT USED
310DUTCH WEST INDIES
311ARUBA ISLANDER
312ST MAARTEN ISLANDER
313NOT USED
314TRINIDADIAN TOBAGONIAN
315TRINIDADIAN
316TOBAGONIAN
317U S VIRGIN ISLANDER
318ST CROIX ISLANDER
319ST JOHN ISLANDER
320ST THOMAS ISLANDER
321BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDER
322BRITISH WEST INDIES
323TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER
324ANGUILLA ISLANDER
325ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
326MONTSERRAT ISLANDER
327KITTS/NEVIS ISLANDER
328DOMINICA ISLANDER
329GRENADIAN
330VINCENT-GRENADINE ISLANDER
331ST LUCIA ISLANDER
332FRENCH WEST INDIES
333GUADELOUPE ISLANDER
334CAYENNE
335WEST INDIAN
336HAITIAN
337-359NOT USED
360-399 CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA (EXCEPT HISPANIC)
360BRAZILIAN
361-364NOT USED
365SAN ANDRES
366-369NOT USED
370GUYANESE
371-374NOT USED
375PROVIDENCIA
376-379NOT USED
380SURINAM
381-399NOT USED
400-499 NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTHWEST ASIA
400ALGERIAN
401NOT USED
402EGYPTIAN
403NOT USED
404LIBYAN
405NOT USED
406MOROCCAN
407IFNI
408TUNISIAN
409-410NOT USED
411NORTH AFRICAN
412ALHUCEMAS
413BERBER
414RIO DE ORO
415BAHRAINI
416IRANIAN
417IRAQI
418NOT USED
419ISRAELI
420NOT USED
421JORDANIAN
422TRANSJORDAN
423KUWAITI
424NOT USED
425LEBANESE
426NOT USED
427SAUDI ARABIAN
428NOT USED
429SYRIAN
430NOT USED
431ARMENIAN
432-433NOT USED
434TURKISH
435YEMENI
436OMANI
437MUSCAT
438TRUCIAL STATES
439QATAR
440NOT USED
441BEDOUIN
442KURDISH
443NOT USED
444KURIA MURIA ISLANDER
445-464NOT USED
465PALESTINIAN
466GAZA STRIP
467WEST BANK
468-469NOT USED
470SOUTH YEMEN
471ADEN
472-479NOT USED
480UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
481NOT USED
483ASSYRIAN
484CHALDEAN
485SYRIAC
486-489NOT USED
490MIDEAST
491-494NOT USED
495ARAB
496ARABIC
497-499NOT USED
500-599 SUBSAHARAN AFRICA
500ANGOLAN
501NOT USED
502BENIN
503NOT USED
504BOTSWANA
505NOT USED
506BURUNDIAN
507NOT USED
508CAMEROON
509NOT USED
510CAPE VERDEAN
511NOT USED
512CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
513CHADIAN
514NOT USED
515CONGOLESE
516CONGO BRAZZAVILLE
517-518NOT USED
519DJIBOUTI
520EQUATORIAL GUINEA
521CORSICO ISLANDER
522ETHIOPIAN
523ERITREAN
524NOT USED
525GABONESE
526NOT USED
527GAMBIAN
528NOT USED
529GHANIAN
530GUINEAN
531GUINEA BISSAU
532IVORY COAST
533NOT USED
534KENYAN
535-537NOT USED
538LESOTHO
539-540NOT USED
541LIBERIAN
542NOT USED
543MADAGASCAN
544NOT USED
545MALAWIAN
546MALIAN
547MAURITANIAN
548NOT USED
549MOZAMBICAN
550NAMIBIAN
551NIGER
552NOT USED
553NIGERIAN
554FULANI
555HAUSA
556IBO
557TIV
558YORUBA
559-560NOT USED
561RWANDAN
562-563NOT USED
564SENEGALESE
565NOT USED
566SIERRA LEONEAN
567NOT USED
568SOMALIAN
569SWAZILAND
570SOUTH AFRICAN
571UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA
572AFRIKANER
573NATALIAN
574ZULU
575NOT USED
576SUDANESE
577DINKA
578NUER
579FUR
580BAGGARA
581NOT USED
582TANZANIAN
583TANGANYIKAN
584ZANZIBAR ISLANDER
585NOT USED
586TOGO
587NOT USED
588UGANDAN
589UPPER VOLTAN
590VOLTA
591ZAIRIAN
592ZAMBIAN
593ZIMBABWEAN
594AFRICAN ISLANDS (EXCEPT MADAGASCAR)
595MAURITIAN
596CENTRAL AFRICAN
597EASTERN AFRICAN
598WESTERN AFRICAN
599AFRICAN
600-699 SOUTH ASIA
600AFGHANISTAN
601BALUCHISTAN
602PATHAN
603BANGLADESHI
604-606NOT USED
607BHUTANESE
608NOT USED
609NEPALI
610-614NOT USED
615ASIAN INDIAN
616KASHMIR
617NOT USED
618BENGALI
619NOT USED
620EAST INDIAN
621NOT USED
622ANDAMAN ISLANDER
623NOT USED
624ANDHRA PRADESH
625NOT USED
626ASSAMESE
627NOT USED
628GOANESE
629NOT USED
630GUJARATI
631NOT USED
632KARNATAKAN
633NOT USED
634KERALAN
635NOT USED
636MADHYA PRADESH
637NOT USED
638MAHARASHTRAN
639NOT USED
640MADRAS
641NOT USED
642MYSORE
643NOT USED
644NAGALAND
645NOT USED
646ORISSA
647NOT USED
648PONDICHERRY
649NOT USED
650PUNJAB
651NOT USED
652RAJASTHAN
653NOT USED
654SIKKIM
655NOT USED
656TAMIL NADU
657NOT USED
658UTTAR PRADESH
659-674NOT USED
675EAST INDIES
676-679NOT USED
680PAKISTANI
681-689NOT USED
690SRI LANKAN
691SINGHALESE
692VEDDAH
693-694NOT USED
695MALDIVIAN
696-699NOT USED
700-799 OTHER ASIA
700BURMESE
701NOT USED
702SHAN
703CAMBODIAN
704KHMER
705NOT USED
706CHINESE
707CANTONESE
708MANCHURIAN
709MANDARIN
710-711NOT USED
712MONGOLIAN
713NOT USED
714TIBETAN
715NOT USED
716HONG KONG
717NOT USED
718MACAO
719NOT USED
720FILIPINO
721-729NOT USED
730INDONESIAN
731NOT USED
732BORNEO
733NOT USED
734JAVA
735NOT USED
736SUMATRA
737-739NOT USED
740JAPANESE
741ISSEI
742NISEI
743SANSEI
744YONSEI
745GONSEI
746RYUKYU ISLANDER
747NOT USED
748OKINAWAN
749NOT USED
750KOREAN
751-764NOT USED
765LAOTIAN
766MEO
767NOT USED
768HMONG
769NOT USED
770MALAYSIAN
771NORTH BORNEO
772-773NOT USED
774SINGAPOREAN
775NOT USED
776THAI
777BLACK THAI
778WESTERN LAO
779-781NOT USED
782TAIWANESE
783FORMOSAN
784NOT USED
785VIETNAMESE
786KATU
787MA
788MNONG
789NOT USED
790MONTAGNARD
791NOT USED
792INDO CHINESE
793EURASIAN
794AMERASIAN
795ASIAN
796-799NOT USED
800-899 PACIFIC
800AUSTRALIAN
801TASMANIAN
802AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINE
803NEW ZEALANDER
804TUVALUAN
805NORFOLK ISLANDER
806-807NOT USED
808POLYNESIAN
809KAPINGAMARANGAN
810MAORI
811HAWAIIAN
812NOT USED
813PART HAWAIIAN
814SAMOAN
815TONGAN
816TOKELAUAN
817COOK ISLANDER
818TAHITIAN
819NIUEAN
820MICRONESIAN
821GUAMANIAN
822CHAMORRO ISLANDER
823SAIPANESE
824PALAUAN
825MARSHALLESE
826KOSRAEAN
827PONAPEAN
828TRUKESE (CHUUKESE)
829YAPESE
830CAROLINIAN
831KIRIBATESE
832NAURUAN
833TARAWA ISLANDER
834TINIAN ISLANDER
835-839NOT USED
840MELANESIAN
841FIJIAN
842NOT USED
843NEW GUINEAN
844PAPUAN
845SOLOMON ISLANDER
846NEW CALEDONIAN
847VANUATUAN
848-849NOT USED
850PACIFIC ISLANDER
851-859NOT USED
860PACIFIC
861NOT USED
862CHAMOLINIAN
863-899NOT USED
900-994 NORTH AMERICA (EXCEPT HISPANIC)
900AFRO AMERICAN
901AFRO
902AFRICAN AMERICAN
903BLACK
904NEGRO
905NONWHITE
906COLORED
907CREOLE
908MULATTO
909-912NOT USED
913CENTRAL AMERICAN INDIAN
914SOUTH AMERICAN INDIAN
915-916NOT USED
917NATIVE AMERICAN
918INDIAN
919CHEROKEE
920AMERICAN INDIAN
921ALEUT
922ESKIMO
923INUIT
924WHITE
925ANGLO
926NOT USED
927APPALACHIAN
928ARYAN
929PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
930GREENLANDER
931CANADIAN
932NOT USED
933NEWFOUNDLAND
934NOVA SCOTIA
935FRENCH CANADIAN
936ACADIAN
937CAJUN
938NOT USED
939AMERICAN
940UNITED STATES
941ALABAMA
942ALASKA
943ARIZONA
944ARKANSAS
945CALIFORNIA
946COLORADO
947CONNECTICUT
948DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
949DELAWARE
950FLORIDA
951IDAHO
952ILLINOIS
953INDIANA
954IOWA
955KANSAS
956KENTUCKY
957LOUISIANA
958MAINE
959MARYLAND
960MASSACHUSETTS
961MICHIGAN
962MINNESOTA
963MISSISSIPPI
964MISSOURI
965MONTANA
966NEBRASKA
967NEVADA
968NEW HAMPSHIRE
969NEW JERSEY
970NEW MEXICO
971NEW YORK
972NORTH CAROLINA
973NORTH DAKOTA
974OHIO
975NOT USED
976OKLAHOMA
977OREGON
978PENNSYLVANIA
979RHODE ISLAND
980SOUTH CAROLINA
981SOUTH DAKOTA
982TENNESSEE
983TEXAS
984UTAH
985VERMONT
986VIRGINIA
987WASHINGTON
988WEST VIRGINIA
989WISCONSIN
990WYOMING
991GEORGIA
992NOT USED
993SOUTHERNER
994NORTH AMERICAN
995-999 RESIDUAL AND NO RESPONSE
995MIXTURE
996UNCODABLE ENTRIES
997NOT USED
998OTHER RESPONSES
999NOT REPORTED

Group Quarters Classifications
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Institutional Group Quarters:

Correctional facilities for adults
  101. Federal detention centers
  102. Federal prisons
  103. State prisons
  104. Local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
  105. Correctional residential facilities
  106. Military disciplinary barracks and jailsJuvenile facilities
  201. Group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
  202. Residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
  203. Correctional facilities intended for juvenilesNursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
  301. Nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilitiesOther institutional facilities
  401. Mental (psychiatric) hospitals and psychiatric units in other hospitals
  402. Hospitals with patients who have no usual home elsewhere
  403. In-patient hospice facilities
  404. Military treatment facilities with assigned patients
  405. Residential schools for people with disabilities

Noninstitutional Group Quarters:
College/university student housing
  501. College/university student housing

Military Quarters
  601. Military quarters
  602. Military ships

Other noninstitutional facilities
  701. Emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
  801. Group homes intended for adults
  802. Residential treatment centers for adults
  901. Workers' group living quarters and Job Corps centers
  902. Religious group quarters

Hispanic Origin Code List
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001-199, 300-999 Not Spanish/Hispanic200-209 Spaniard210-220 Mexican
221-230 Central American231-249 South American250-259 Latin American
260-269 Puerto Rican270-274 Cuban275-279 Dominican
280-299 Other Spanish/Hispanic
001-199 Not Spanish/Hispanic
001-099 Not used100 Not Hispanic/Spanish (CHECK BOX)101 Not Hispanic/Spanish
102-109 Not Used110 Portuguese111 Azorean
112 Brazilian113-115 Not Used116 Belizean
117 British Honduran118 Haitian119 Dominica Island
120 Basque121 Sephardic122-129 Not used
130 White131-134 Not used135 Black (African American)
136-144 Not used145 American Indian146 Alaska Native
147-149 Not used150 Other Asian151 Asian Indian
152 Chinese153 Filipino154 Japanese
155 Korean156 Vietnamese157-159 Not used
160 Native Hawaiian161-165 Not used166 Other Pacific Islander
167 Guamanian or Chamorro168 Samoan169-199 Not used
200-209 Spaniard
200 Spaniard201 Andalusian202 Asturian
203 Castillian204 Catalonian205 Balearic Islander
206 Gallego207 Valencian208 Canarian
209 Spanish Basque
210-220 Mexican
210 Mexican (CHECK BOX)211 Mexican212 Mexican American
213 Mexicano214 Chicano215 La Raza
216 Mexican American Indian217 Not Used218 Mexican State
219 Mexican Indian220 Not Used
221-230 Central American
221 Costa Rican222 Guatemalan223 Honduran
224 Nicaraguan225 Panamanian226 Salvadoran
227 Central American228 Central American Indian229 Canal Zone
230 Not Used
231-249 South American
231 Argentinean232 Bolivian233 Chilean
234 Colombian235 Ecuadorian236 Paraguayan
237 Peruvian238 Uruguayan239 Venezuelan
240 South American Indian241 Criollo242 South American
243-249 Not Used
250-259 Latin American
250 Latin American251 Latin252 Latino
253-259 Not Used
260-269 Puerto Rican
260 Puerto Rican (CHECK BOX)261 Puerto Rican262-269 Not Used
270-274 Cuban
270 Cuban (CHECK BOX)271 Cuban272-274 Not used
275-279 Dominican
275 Dominican276-279 Not Used
280-299 Other Spanish/Hispanic
280 Other Spanish/Hispanic (CHECK BOX)281 Hispanic282 Spanish
283 Californio284 Tejano285 Nuevo Mexicano
286 Spanish American287 Spanish American Indian288 Meso American Indian
289 Mestizo290 Caribbean
291-298 Not Used299 Other Spanish/Hispanic, N.E.C.
Industry Code List
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Industry 2007 Description
2007 Census Code2007 NAICS Code
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting, and Mining0170-049011-21
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting
0170-029011
Crop production
170111
Animal production
180112
Forestry except logging
1901131, 1132
Logging
2701133
Fishing, hunting and trapping
280114
Support activities for agriculture and forestry
290115
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
0370-049021
Oil and gas extraction
370211
Coal mining
3802121
Metal ore mining
3902122
Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying
4702123
Not specified type of mining
480Part of 21
Support activities for mining
490213
Construction77023
Construction (the cleaning of buildings and dwellings is incidental during construction and immediately after construction)
77023
Manufacturing1070-399031-33
Animal food, grain and oilseed milling
10703111, 3112
Sugar and confectionery products
10803113
Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty food manufacturing
10903114
Dairy product manufacturing
11703115
Animal slaughtering and processing
11803116
Retail bakeries
1190311811; 3118 exc.
Bakeries, except retail
1270311811
Seafood and other miscellaneous foods, n.e.c.
12803117, 3119
Not specified food industries
1290Part of 311
Beverage manufacturing
13703121
Tobacco manufacturing
13903122
Fiber, yarn, and thread mills
14703131
Fabric mills, except knitting mills
14803132 exc. 31324
Textile and fabric finishing and fabric coating mills
14903133
Carpet and rug mills
157031411
Textile product mills, except carpet and rug
1590314 exc. 31411
Knitting fabric mills, and apparel knitting mills
167031324, 3151
Cut and sew apparel manufacturing
16803152
Apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing
16903159
Footwear manufacturing
17703162
Leather tanning and finishing and other allied products manufacturing
17903161, 3169
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills
18703221
Paperboard containers and boxes
188032221
Miscellaneous paper and pulp products
189032222,32223, 32229
Printing and related support activities
19903231
Petroleum refining
207032411
Miscellaneous petroleum and coal products
209032412,32419
Resin, synthetic rubber, and fibers and filaments manufacturing
21703252
Agricultural chemical manufacturing
21803253
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
21903254
Paint, coating, and adhesive manufacturing
22703255
Soap, cleaning compound, and cosmetics manufacturing
22803256
Industrial and miscellaneous chemicals
22903251, 3259
Plastics product manufacturing
23703261
Tire manufacturing
238032621
Rubber products, except tires, manufacturing
239032622, 32629
Pottery, ceramics, and plumbing fixture manufacturing
247032711
Structural clay product manufacturing
248032712
Glass and glass product manufacturing
24903272
Cement, concrete, lime, and gypsum product manufacturing
25703273, 3274
Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing
25903279
Iron and steel mills and steel product manufacturing
26703311, 3312
Aluminum production and processing
26803313
Nonferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing
26903314
Foundries
27703315
Metal forgings and stampings
27803321
Cutlery and hand tool manufacturing
27903322
Structural metals, and boiler, tank, and shipping container manufacturing
28703323, 3324
Machine shops; turned product; screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing
28803327
Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities
28903328
Ordnance
2970332992, 332993, 332994, 332995
Miscellaneous fabricated metal products manufacturing
29803325, 3326, 3329 exc. 332992, 332993, 332994, 332995
Not specified metal industries
2990Part of 331 and 332
Agricultural implement manufacturing
307033311
Construction, and mining and oil and gas field machinery manufacturing
308033312, 33313
Commercial and service industry machinery manufacturing
30903333
Metalworking machinery manufacturing
31703335
Engines, turbines, and power transmission equipment manufacturing
31803336
Machinery manufacturing, n.e.c.
31903332, 3334, 3339
Not specified machinery manufacturing
3290Part of 333
Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing
33603341
Communications, and audio and video equipment manufacturing
33703342, 3343
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
33803345
Electronic component and product manufacturing, n.e.c.
33903344, 3346
Household appliance manufacturing
34703352
Electric lighting and electrical equipment manufacturing, and other electrical component manufacturing, n.e.c.
34903351, 3353, 3359
Motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment manufacturing
35703361, 3362, 3363
Aircraft and parts manufacturing
3580336411, 336412, 336413
Aerospace products and parts manufacturing
3590336414, 336415, 336419
Railroad rolling stock manufacturing
36703365
Ship and boat building
36803366
Other transportation equipment manufacturing
36903369
Sawmills and wood preservation
37703211
Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood products
37803212
Prefabricated wood buildings and mobile homes
3790321991, 321992
Miscellaneous wood products
38703219 exc. 321991, 321992
Furniture and related product manufacturing
3890337
Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing
39603391
Sporting and athletic goods, and doll, toy and game manufacturing
397033992,33993
Miscellaneous manufacturing, n.e.c.
39803399 exc. 33992, 33993
Not specified manufacturing industries
3990Part of 31, 32, 33
Wholesale Trade4070-459042
Motor vehicles, parts and supplies merchant wholesalers
40704231
Furniture and home furnishing merchant wholesalers
40804232
Lumber and other construction materials merchant wholesalers
40904233
Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
41704234
Metals and minerals, except petroleum, merchant wholesalers
41804235
Electrical and electronic goods merchant wholesalers
41904236
Hardware, plumbing and heating equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers
42604237
Machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers
42704238
Recyclable material merchant wholesalers
428042393
Miscellaneous durable goods merchant wholesalers
42904239 exc. 42393
Paper and paper products merchant wholesalers
43704241
Drugs, sundries, and chemical and allied products merchant wholesalers
43804242, 4246
Apparel, fabrics, and notions merchant wholesalers
43904243
Groceries and related products merchant wholesalers
44704244
Farm product raw materials merchant wholesalers
44804245
Petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers
44904247
Alcoholic beverages merchant wholesalers
45604248
Farm supplies merchant wholesalers
457042491
Miscellaneous nondurable goods merchant wholesalers
45804249 exc. 42491
Wholesale electronic markets and agents and brokers
45854251
Not specified wholesale trade
4590Part of 42
Retail Trade4670-579044-45
Automobile dealers
46704411
Other motor vehicle dealers
46804412
Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores
46904413
Furniture and home furnishings stores
4770442
Household appliance stores
4780443111
Radio, TV, and computer stores
4790443112, 44312
Building material and supplies dealers
48704441 exc. 44413
Hardware stores
488044413
Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores
48904442
Grocery stores
49704451
Specialty food stores
49804452
Beer, wine, and liquor stores
49904453
Pharmacies and drug stores
507044611
Health and personal care, except drug, stores
5080446 exc. 44611
Gasoline stations
5090447
Clothing stores
51704481
Shoe stores
518044821
Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores
51904483
Sporting goods, camera, and hobby and toy stores
527044313, 45111, 45112
Sewing, needlework, and piece goods stores
528045113
Music stores
529045114, 45122
Book stores and news dealers
537045121
Department stores and discount stores
538045211
Miscellaneous general merchandise stores
53904529
Retail florists
54704531
Office supplies and stationery stores
548045321
Used merchandise stores
54904533
Gift, novelty, and souvenir shops
557045322
Miscellaneous retail stores
55804539
Electronic shopping
5590454111
Electronic auctions
5591454112
Mail order houses
5592454113
Vending machine operators
56704542
Fuel dealers
568045431
Other direct selling establishments
569045439
Not specified retail trade
5790Part of 44, 45
Transportation and Warehousing and Utilities6070-6390, 0570-069048-49, 22
Transportation and Warehousing
6070-639048-49
Air transportation
6070481
Rail transportation
6080482
Water transportation
6090483
Truck transportation
6170484
Bus service and urban transit
61804851, 4852, 4854, 4855, 4859
Taxi and limousine service
61904853
Pipeline transportation
6270486
Scenic and sightseeing transportation
6280487
Services incidental to transportation
6290488
Postal Service
6370491
Couriers and messengers
6380492
Warehousing and storage
6390493
Utilities
0570-069022
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution
5702211
Natural gas distribution
5802212
Electric and gas, and other combinations
590Pts. 2211, 2212
Water, steam, air-conditioning, and irrigation systems
67022131, 22133
Sewage treatment facilities
68022132
Not specified utilities
690Part of 22
Information6470-678051
Newspaper publishers
647051111
Periodical, book, and directory publishers
64805111 exc. 51111
Software publishers
64905112
Motion picture and video industries
65705121
Sound recording industries
65905122
Radio and television broadcasting and cable subscription programming
6670515
Internet publishing and broadcasting and web search portals
667251913
Wired telecommunications carriers
66805171
Other telecommunications services
6690517 exc. 5171
Data processing, hosting, and related services
66955182
Libraries and archives
677051912
Other information services
67805191 exc. 51912, 51913
Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate, and Rental and Leasing6870-719052-53
Finance and Insurance
6870-699052
Banking and related activities
6870521, 52211,52219
Savings institutions, including credit unions
688052212, 52213
Non-depository credit and related activities
68905222, 5223
Securities, commodities, funds, trusts, and other financial investments
6970523, 525
Insurance carriers and related activities
6990524
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
7070-719053
Real estate
7070531
Automotive equipment rental and leasing
70805321
Video tape and disk rental
717053223
Other consumer goods rental
718053221, 53222, 53229, 5323
Commercial, industrial, and other intangible assets rental and leasing
71905324, 533
Professional, Scientific, and Management, and Administrative, and Waste Management Services7270-779054-56
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
7270-749054
Legal services
72705411
Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services
72805412
Architectural, engineering, and related services
72905413
Specialized design services
73705414
Computer systems design and related services
73805415
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
73905416
Scientific research and development services
74605417
Advertising and related services
74705418
Veterinary services
748054194
Other professional, scientific, and technical services
74905419 exc. 54194
Management of companies and enterprises
757055
Management of companies and enterprises
757055
Administrative and support and waste management services
7580-779056
Employment services
75805613
Business support services
75905614
Travel arrangements and reservation services
76705615
Investigation and security services
76805616
Services to buildings and dwellings (except cleaning during construction and immediately after construction)
76905617 exc. 56173
Landscaping services
777056173
Other administrative and other support services
77805611, 5612, 5619
Waste management and remediation services
7790562
Educational Services, and Health Care and Social Assistance7860-847061-62
Educational Services
7860-789061
Elementary and secondary schools
78606111
Colleges and universities, including junior colleges
78706112, 6113
Business, technical, and trade schools and training
78806114, 6115
Other schools and instruction, and educational support services
78906116, 6117
Health Care and Social Assistance
7970-847062
Offices of physicians
79706211
Offices of dentists
79806212
Offices of chiropractors
799062131
Offices of optometrists
807062132
Offices of other health practitioners
80806213 exc. 62131, 62132
Outpatient care centers
80906214
Home health care services
81706216
Other health care services
81806215, 6219
Hospitals
8190622
Nursing care facilities
82706231
Residential care facilities, without nursing
82906232, 6233, 6239
Individual and family services
83706241
Community food and housing, and emergency services
83806242
Vocational rehabilitation services
83906243
Child day care services
84706244
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, and Accommodation and Food Services8560-869071-72
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
8560-859071
Independent artists, performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries
8560711
Museums, art galleries, historical sites, and similar institutions
8570712
Bowling centers
858071395
Other amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
8590713 exc. 71395
Accommodation and Food Services
8660-869072
Traveler accommodation
86607211
Recreational vehicle parks and camps, and rooming and boarding houses
86707212, 7213
Restaurants and other food services
8680722 exc. 7224
Drinking places, alcoholic beverages
86907224
Other Services, Except Public Administration8770-929081
Automotive repair and maintenance
87708111 exc. 811192
Car washes
8780811192
Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance
87908112
Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment repair and maintenance
88708113
Personal and household goods repair and maintenance
88808114 exc. 81143
Footwear and leather goods repair
889081143
Barber shops
8970812111
Beauty salons
8980812112
Nail salons and other personal care services
8990812113, 81219
Drycleaning and laundry services
90708123
Funeral homes, and cemeteries and crematories
90808122
Other personal services
90908129
Religious organizations
91608131
Civic, social, advocacy organizations, and grantmaking and giving services
91708132, 8133, 8134
Labor unions
918081393
Business, professional, political, and similar organizations
91908139 exc. 81393
Private households
9290814
Public Administration9370-959092
Executive offices and legislative bodies
937092111, 92112, 92114, pt. 92115
Public finance activities
938092113
Other general government and support
939092119
Justice, public order, and safety activities
9470922, pt. 92115
Administration of human resource programs
9480923
Administration of environmental quality and housing programs
9490924, 925
Administration of economic programs and space research
9570926, 927
National security and international affairs
9590928
Military9670-9870928110
U. S. Army
9670928110
U. S. Air Force
9680928110
U. S. Navy
9690928110
U. S. Marines
9770928110
U. S. Coast Guard
9780928110
Armed Forces, Branch not specified
9790928110
Military Reserves or National Guard
9870928110
Unemployed and last worked 5 years ago or earlier or never worked
9920none

Language Code List
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601 Jamaican Creole602 Krio603 Hawaiian Pidgin
604 Pidgin605 Gullah606 Saramacca
607 German608 Pennsylvania Dutch609 Yiddish
610 Dutch611 Afrikaans612 Frisian
613 Luxembourgian614 Swedish615 Danish
616 Norwegian617 Icelandic618 Faroese
619 Italian620 French621 Provencal
622 Patois623 French Creole624 Cajun
625 Spanish626 Catalonian627 Ladino
628 Pachuco629 Portuguese630 Papia Mentae
631 Romanian632 Rhaeto-Romanic633 Welsh
634 Breton635 Irish Gaelic636 Scottic Gaelic
637 Greek638 Albanian639 Russian
640 Bielorussian641 Ukrainian642 Czech
643 Kashubian644 Lusatian645 Polish
646 Slovak647 Bulgarian648 Macedonian
649 Serbocroatian650 Croatian651 Serbian
652 Slovene653 Lithuanian654 Lettish
655 Armenian656 Persian657 Pashto
658 Kurdish659 Balochi660 Tadzhik
661 Ossete662 India N.E.C.663 Hindi
664 Bengali665 Panjabi666 Marathi
667 Gujarathi668 Bihari669 Rajasthani
670 Oriya671 Urdu672 Assamese
673 Kashmiri674 Nepali675 Sindhi
676 Pakistan N.E.C.677 Sinhalese678 Romany
679 Finnish680 Estonian681 Lapp
682 Hungarian683 Other Uralic Lang.684 Chuvash
685 Karakalpak686 Kazakh687 Kirghiz
688 Karachay689 Uighur690 Azerbaijani
691 Turkish692 Turkmen693 Yakut
694 Mongolian695 Tungus696 Caucasian
697 Basque698 Dravidian699 Brahui
700 Gondi701 Telugu702 Kannada
703 Malayalam704 Tamil705 Kurukh
706 Munda707 Burushaski708 Chinese
709 Hakka710 Kan, Hsiang711 Cantonese
712 Mandarin713 Fuchow714 Formosan
715 Wu716 Tibetan717 Burmese
718 Karen719 Kachin720 Thai
721 Mien722 Hmong723 Japanese
724 Korean725 Laotian726 Mon-Khmer, Cambodian
727 Paleo-Siberian728 Vietnamese729 Muong
730 Buginese731 Moluccan732 Indonesian
733 Achinese734 Balinese735 Cham
736 Javanese737 Madurese738 Malagasy
739 Malay740 Minangkabau741 Sundanese
742 Tagalog743 Bisayan744 Sebuano
745 Pangasinan746 Ilocano747 Bikol
748 Pampangan749 Gorontalo750 Micronesian
751 Carolinian752 Chamorro753 Gilbertese
754 Kusaiean755 Marshallese756 Mokilese
757 Mortlockese758 Nauruan759 Palau
760 Ponapean761 Trukese762 Ulithean
763 Woleai-Ulithi764 Yapese765 Melanesian
766 Polynesian767 Samoan768 Tongan
769 Niuean770 Tokelauan771 Fijian
772 Marquesan773 Rarotongan774 Maori
775 Nukuoro776 Hawaiian777 Arabic
778 Hebrew779 Syriac780 Amharic
781 Berber782 Chadic783 Cushite
784 Sudanic785 Nilotic786 Nilo-Hamitic
787 Nubian788 Saharan789 Nilo-Saharan
790 Khoisan791 Swahili792 Bantu
793 Mande794 Fulani795 Gur
796 Kru, Ibo, Yoruba797 Efik798 Mbum (And Related)
799 African800 Unangan/Aleut801 Alutiiq/Sugpiaq
802 Eskimo803 Inupiaq804 St Lawrence Island Yupik
805 Central Alaskan Yup'ik806 Algonquian807 Arapaho
808 Atsina809 Blackfoot810 Cheyenne
811 Cree812 Delaware813 Fox
814 Kickapoo815 Menomini816 French Cree
817 Miami818 Micmac819 Ojibwa
820 Ottawa821 Passamaquoddy822 Penobscot
823 Abnaki824 Potawatomi825 Shawnee
826 Wiyot827 Yurok828 Kutenai
829 Makah830 Kwakiutl831 Nootka
833 Lower Chehalis834 Upper Chehalis835 Clallam
836 Coeur D'Alene837 Columbia838 Cowlitz
839 Salish840 Nootsack841 Okanogan
842 Puget Sound Salish843 Quinault844 Tillamook
845 Twana846 Haida847 Athapascan
848 Ahtena849 Han850 Ingalit
851 Koyukon852 Kuchin853 Upper Kuskokwim
854 Tanaina855 Tanana856 Tanacross
857 Upper Tanana858 Tutchone859 Chasta Costa
860 Hupa861 Other Athapascan-Eyak862 Apache
863 Kiowa864 Navaho865 Eyak
866 Tlingit867 Mountain Maidu868 Northwest Maidu
869 Southern Maidu870 Coast Miwok871 Plains Miwok
872 Sierra Miwok873 Nomlaki874 Patwin
875 Wintun876 Foothill North Yokuts877 Tachi
878 Santiam879 Siuslaw880 Klamath
881 Nez Perce882 Sahaptian883 Upper Chinook
884 Tsimshian885 Achumawi886 Atsugewi
887 Karok888 Pomo889 Shastan
890 Washo891 Up River Yuman892 Cocomaricopa
893 Mohave894 Yuma895 Diegueno
896 Delta River Yuman897 Upland Yuman898 Havasupai
899 Walapai900 Yavapai901 Chumash
902 Tonkawa903 Yuchi904 Crow
905 Hidatsa906 Mandan907 Dakota
908 Chiwere909 Winnebago910 Kansa
911 Omaha912 Osage913 Ponca
914 Quapaw915 Alabama916 Choctaw
917 Mikasuki918 Hichita919 Koasati
920 Muskogee921 Chetemacha922 Yuki
923 Wappo924 Keres925 Iroquois
926 Mohawk927 Oneida928 Onondaga
929 Cayuga930 Seneca931 Tuscarora
932 Wyandot933 Cherokee934 Arikara
935 Caddo936 Pawnee937 Wichita
938 Comanche939 Mono940 Paiute
941 Northern Paiute942 Southern Paiute943 Chemehuevi
944 Kawaiisu945 Ute946 Shoshoni
947 Panamint948 Hopi949 Cahuilla
950 Cupeno951 Luiseno952 Serrano
953 Tubatulabal954 Pima955 Yaqui
956 Aztecan957 Sonoran, n.e.c.959 Picuris
960 Tiwa961 Sandia962 Tewa
963 Towa964 Zuni965 Chinook Jargon
966 American Indian967 Misumalpan968 Mayan Languages
969 Tarascan970 Mapuche971 Oto-Manguen
972 Quechua973 Aymara974 Arawakian
975 Chibchan976 Tupi-Guarani977 Jicarilla
978 Chiricahua979 San Carlos980 Kiowa-apache
981 Kalispel982 Spokane983-997 Not Used
998 Specified Not Listed999 Not Specified
Occupation Code List
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Occupation 2010 Description2010 Census Code2010 SOC Code
The 2010 census occupation classification list has 539 codes including 4 military codes.
Management, Business, Science, and Arts Occupations:0010-354011-0000 - 29-0000
Management, Business, and Financial Occupations:
0010-095011-0000 - 13-0000
Management Occupations:
0010-043011-0000
Chief executives
001011-1011
General and operations managers
002011-1021
Legislators
003011-1031
Advertising and promotions managers
004011-2011
Marketing and sales managers
005011-2020
Public relations and fundraising managers
006011-2031
Administrative services managers
010011-3011
Computer and information systems managers
011011-3021
Financial managers
012011-3031
Compensation and benefits managers
013511-3111
Human resources managers
013611-3121
Training and development managers
013711-3131
Industrial production managers
014011-3051
Purchasing managers
015011-3061
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
016011-3071
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
020511-9013
Construction managers
022011-9021
Education administrators
023011-9030
Architectural and engineering managers
030011-9041
Food service managers
031011-9051
Funeral service managers
032511-9061
Gaming managers
033011-9071
Lodging managers
034011-9081
Medical and health services managers
035011-9111
Natural sciences managers
036011-9121
Postmasters and mail superintendents
040011-9131
Property, real estate, and community association managers
041011-9141
Social and community service managers
042011-9151
Emergency management directors
042511-9161
Managers, all other
043011-9199
Business and Financial Operations Occupations:
0500-095013-0000
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
050013-1011
Buyers and purchasing agents, farm products
051013-1021
Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products
052013-1022
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products
053013-1023
Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators
054013-1030
Compliance officers
056513-1041
Cost estimators
060013-1051
Human resources workers
063013-1070
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
064013-1141
Training and development specialists
065013-1151
Logisticians
070013-1081
Management analysts
071013-1111
Meeting, convention, and event planners
072513-1121
Fundraisers
072613-1131
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
073513-1161
Business operations specialists, all other
074013-1199
Accountants and auditors
080013-2011
Appraisers and assessors of real estate
081013-2021
Budget analysts
082013-2031
Credit analysts
083013-2041
Financial analysts
084013-2051
Personal financial advisors
085013-2052
Insurance underwriters
086013-2053
Financial examiners
090013-2061
Credit counselors and loan officers
091013-2070
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents
093013-2081
Tax preparers
094013-2082
Financial specialists, all other
095013-2099
Computer, Engineering, and Science Occupations:
1000-196515-0000 - 19-0000
Computer and mathematical occupations:
1000-124015-0000
Computer and information research scientists
100515-1111
Computer systems analysts
100615-1121
Information security analysts
100715-1122
Computer programmers
101015-1131
Software developers, applications and systems software
102015-113X
Web developers
103015-1134
Computer support specialists
105015-1150
Database administrators
106015-1141
Network and computer systems administrators
110515-1142
Computer network architects
110615-1143
Computer occupations, all other
110715-1199
Actuaries
120015-2011
Mathematicians
121015-2021
Operations research analysts
122015-2031
Statisticians
123015-2041
Miscellaneous mathematical science occupations
124015-2090
Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
1300-156017-0000
Architects, except naval
130017-1010
Surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists
131017-1020
Aerospace engineers
132017-2011
Agricultural engineers
133017-2021
Biomedical engineers
134017-2031
Chemical engineers
135017-2041
Civil engineers
136017-2051
Computer hardware engineers
140017-2061
Electrical and electronics engineers
141017-2070
Environmental engineers
142017-2081
Industrial engineers, including health and safety
143017-2110
Marine engineers and naval architects
144017-2121
Materials engineers
145017-2131
Mechanical engineers
146017-2141
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
150017-2151
Nuclear engineers
151017-2161
Petroleum engineers
152017-2171
Engineers, all other
153017-2199
Drafters
154017-3010
Engineering technicians, except drafters
155017-3020
Surveying and mapping technicians
156017-3031
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:
1600-196519-0000
Agricultural and food scientists
160019-1010
Biological scientists
161019-1020
Conservation scientists and foresters
164019-1030
Medical scientists
165019-1040
Life scientists, all other
166019-1099
Astronomers and physicists
170019-2010
Atmospheric and space scientists
171019-2021
Chemists and materials scientists
172019-2030
Environmental scientists and geoscientists
174019-2040
Physical scientists, all other
176019-2099
Economists
180019-3011
Survey researchers
181519-3022
Psychologists
182019-3030
Sociologists
183019-3041
Urban and regional planners
184019-3051
Miscellaneous social scientists and related workers
186019-3090
Agricultural and food science technicians
190019-4011
Biological technicians
191019-4021
Chemical technicians
192019-4031
Geological and petroleum technicians
193019-4041
Nuclear technicians
194019-4051
Social science research assistants
195019-4061
Miscellaneous life, physical, and social science technicians
196519-4090
Education, Legal, Community Service, Arts, and Media Occupations:
2000-296021-0000 - 27-0000
Community and Social Service Occupations:
2000-206021-0000
Counselors
200021-1010
Social workers
201021-1020
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
201521-1092
Social and human service assistants
201621-1093
Miscellaneous community and social service specialists, including health educators and community health workers
202521-109X
Clergy
204021-2011
Directors, religious activities and education
205021-2021
Religious workers, all other
206021-2099
Legal Occupations:
2100-216023-0000
Lawyers
210023-1011
Judicial law clerks
210523-1012
Judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers
211023-1020
Paralegals and legal assistants
214523-2011
Miscellaneous legal support workers
216023-2090
Education, Training, and Library Occupations:
2200-255025-0000
Postsecondary teachers
220025-1000
Preschool and kindergarten teachers
230025-2010
Elementary and middle school teachers
231025-2020
Secondary school teachers
232025-2030
Special education teachers
233025-2050
Other teachers and instructors
234025-3000
Archivists, curators, and museum technicians
240025-4010
Librarians
243025-4021
Library technicians
244025-4031
Teacher assistants
254025-9041
Other education, training, and library workers
255025-90XX
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations:
2600-296027-0000
Artists and related workers
260027-1010
Designers
263027-1020
Actors
270027-2011
Producers and directors
271027-2012
Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers
272027-2020
Dancers and choreographers
274027-2030
Musicians, singers, and related workers
275027-2040
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other
276027-2099
Announcers
280027-3010
News analysts, reporters and correspondents
281027-3020
Public relations specialists
282527-3031
Editors
283027-3041
Technical writers
284027-3042
Writers and authors
285027-3043
Miscellaneous media and communication workers
286027-3090
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators
290027-4010
Photographers
291027-4021
Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors
292027-4030
Media and communication equipment workers, all other
296027-4099
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations:
3000-354029-0000
Chiropractors
300029-1011
Dentists
301029-1020
Dietitians and nutritionists
303029-1031
Optometrists
304029-1041
Pharmacists
305029-1051
Physicians and surgeons
306029-1060
Physician assistants
311029-1071
Podiatrists
312029-1081
Audiologists
314029-1181
Occupational therapists
315029-1122
Physical therapists
316029-1123
Radiation therapists
320029-1124
Recreational therapists
321029-1125
Respiratory therapists
322029-1126
Speech-language pathologists
323029-1127
Exercise physiologists
323529-1128
Therapists, all other
324529-1129
Veterinarians
325029-1131
Registered nurses
325529-1141
Nurse anesthetists
325629-1151
Nurse midwives
325729-1161
Nurse practitioners
325829-1171
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other
326029-1199
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
330029-2010
Dental hygienists
331029-2021
Diagnostic related technologists and technicians
332029-2030
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
340029-2041
Health practitioner support technologists and technicians
342029-2050
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
350029-2061
Medical records and health information technicians
351029-2071
Opticians, dispensing
352029-2081
Miscellaneous health technologists and technicians
353529-2090
Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
354029-9000
Service Occupations:3600-465031-0000 - 39-0000
Healthcare Support Occupations:
3600-365531-0000
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides
360031-1010
Occupational therapy assistants and aides
361031-2010
Physical therapist assistants and aides
362031-2020
Massage therapists
363031-9011
Dental assistants
364031-9091
Medical assistants
364531-9092
Medical transcriptionists
364631-9094
Pharmacy aides
364731-9095
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
364831-9096
Phlebotomists
364931-9097
Healthcare support workers, all other, including medical equipment preparers
365531-909X
Protective Service Occupations:
3700-395533-0000
First-line supervisors of correctional officers
370033-1011
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
371033-1012
First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers
372033-1021
First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
373033-1099
Firefighters
374033-2011
Fire inspectors
375033-2020
Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers
380033-3010
Detectives and criminal investigators
382033-3021
Fish and game wardens
383033-3031
Parking enforcement workers
384033-3041
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
385033-3051
Transit and railroad police
386033-3052
Animal control workers
390033-9011
Private detectives and investigators
391033-9021
Security guards and gaming surveillance officers
393033-9030
Crossing guards
394033-9091
Transportation security screeners
394533-9093
Lifeguards and other recreational, and all other protective service workers
395533-909X
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations:
4000-416035-0000
Chefs and head cooks
400035-1011
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
401035-1012
Cooks
402035-2010
Food preparation workers
403035-2021
Bartenders
404035-3011
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
405035-3021
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop
406035-3022
Waiters and waitresses
411035-3031
Food servers, nonrestaurant
412035-3041
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
413035-9011
Dishwashers
414035-9021
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
415035-9031
Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
416035-9099
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations:
4200-425037-0000
First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
420037-1011
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
421037-1012
Janitors and building cleaners
422037-201X
Maids and housekeeping cleaners
423037-2012
Pest control workers
424037-2021
Grounds maintenance workers
425037-3010
Personal Care and Service Occupations:
4300-465039-0000
First-line supervisors of gaming workers
430039-1010
First-line supervisors of personal service workers
432039-1021
Animal trainers
434039-2011
Nonfarm animal caretakers
435039-2021
Gaming services workers
440039-3010
Motion picture projectionists
441039-3021
Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
442039-3031
Miscellaneous entertainment attendants and related workers
443039-3090
Embalmers and funeral attendants
446039-40XX
Morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors
446539-4031
Barbers
450039-5011
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
451039-5012
Miscellaneous personal appearance workers
452039-5090
Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges
453039-6010
Tour and travel guides
454039-7010
Childcare workers
460039-9011
Personal care aides
461039-9021
Recreation and fitness workers
462039-9030
Residential advisors
464039-9041
Personal care and service workers, all other
465039-9099
Sales and Office Occupations:4700-594041-0000 - 43-0000
Sales and Related Occupations:
4700-496541-0000
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
470041-1011
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
471041-1012
Cashiers
472041-2010
Counter and rental clerks
474041-2021
Parts salespersons
475041-2022
Retail salespersons
476041-2031
Advertising sales agents
480041-3011
Insurance sales agents
481041-3021
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
482041-3031
Travel agents
483041-3041
Sales representatives, services, all other
484041-3099
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing
485041-4010
Models, demonstrators, and product promoters
490041-9010
Real estate brokers and sales agents
492041-9020
Sales engineers
493041-9031
Telemarketers
494041-9041
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
495041-9091
Sales and related workers, all other
496541-9099
Office and Administrative Support Occupations:
5000-594043-0000
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
500043-1011
Switchboard operators, including answering service
501043-2011
Telephone operators
502043-2021
Communications equipment operators, all other
503043-2099
Bill and account collectors
510043-3011
Billing and posting clerks
511043-3021
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
512043-3031
Gaming cage workers
513043-3041
Payroll and timekeeping clerks
514043-3051
Procurement clerks
515043-3061
Tellers
516043-3071
Financial clerks, all other
516543-3099
Brokerage clerks
520043-4011
Correspondence clerks
521043-4021
Court, municipal, and license clerks
522043-4031
Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks
523043-4041
Customer service representatives
524043-4051
Eligibility interviewers, government programs
525043-4061
File clerks
526043-4071
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
530043-4081
Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
531043-4111
Library assistants, clerical
532043-4121
Loan interviewers and clerks
533043-4131
New accounts clerks
534043-4141
Order clerks
535043-4151
Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
536043-4161
Receptionists and information clerks
540043-4171
Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
541043-4181
Information and record clerks, all other
542043-4199
Cargo and freight agents
550043-5011
Couriers and messengers
551043-5021
Dispatchers
552043-5030
Meter readers, utilities
553043-5041
Postal service clerks
554043-5051
Postal service mail carriers
555043-5052
Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
556043-5053
Production, planning, and expediting clerks
560043-5061
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks
561043-5071
Stock clerks and order fillers
562043-5081
Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
563043-5111
Secretaries and administrative assistants
570043-6010
Computer operators
580043-9011
Data entry keyers
581043-9021
Word processors and typists
582043-9022
Desktop publishers
583043-9031
Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
584043-9041
Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
585043-9051
Office clerks, general
586043-9061
Office machine operators, except computer
590043-9071
Proofreaders and copy markers
591043-9081
Statistical assistants
592043-9111
Office and administrative support workers, all other
594043-9199
Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance Occupations:6005-763045-0000 - 49-0000
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations:
6005-613045-0000
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
600545-1011
Agricultural inspectors
601045-2011
Animal breeders
602045-2021
Graders and sorters, agricultural products
604045-2041
Miscellaneous agricultural workers
605045-2090
Fishers and related fishing workers
610045-3011
Hunters and trappers
611045-3021
Forest and conservation workers
612045-4011
Logging workers
613045-4020
Construction and Extraction Occupations:
6200-694047-0000
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
620047-1011
Boilermakers
621047-2011
Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons
622047-2020
Carpenters
623047-2031
Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers
624047-2040
Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers
625047-2050
Construction laborers
626047-2061
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
630047-2071
Pile-driver operators
631047-2072
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
632047-2073
Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers
633047-2080
Electricians
635547-2111
Glaziers
636047-2121
Insulation workers
640047-2130
Painters, construction and maintenance
642047-2141
Paperhangers
643047-2142
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
644047-2150
Plasterers and stucco masons
646047-2161
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
650047-2171
Roofers
651547-2181
Sheet metal workers
652047-2211
Structural iron and steel workers
653047-2221
Solar photovoltaic installers
654047-2231
Helpers, construction trades
660047-3010
Construction and building inspectors
666047-4011
Elevator installers and repairers
670047-4021
Fence erectors
671047-4031
Hazardous materials removal workers
672047-4041
Highway maintenance workers
673047-4051
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
674047-4061
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
675047-4071
Miscellaneous construction and related workers
676547-4090
Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining
680047-5010
Earth drillers, except oil and gas
682047-5021
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
683047-5031
Mining machine operators
684047-5040
Roof bolters, mining
691047-5061
Roustabouts, oil and gas
692047-5071
Helpers--extraction workers
693047-5081
Other extraction workers
694047-50XX
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations:
7000-763049-0000
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
700049-1011
Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
701049-2011
Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers
702049-2020
Avionics technicians
703049-2091
Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
704049-2092
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
705049-2093
Electrical and electronics repairers, industrial and utility
710049-209X
Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles
711049-2096
Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers
712049-2097
Security and fire alarm systems installers
713049-2098
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
714049-3011
Automotive body and related repairers
715049-3021
Automotive glass installers and repairers
716049-3022
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
720049-3023
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
721049-3031
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics
722049-3040
Small engine mechanics
724049-3050
Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers
726049-3090
Control and valve installers and repairers
730049-9010
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
731549-9021
Home appliance repairers
732049-9031
Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics
733049-904X
Maintenance and repair workers, general
734049-9071
Maintenance workers, machinery
735049-9043
Millwrights
736049-9044
Electrical power-line installers and repairers
741049-9051
Telecommunications line installers and repairers
742049-9052
Precision instrument and equipment repairers
743049-9060
Wind turbine service technicians
744049-9081
Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers
751049-9091
Commercial divers
752049-9092
Locksmiths and safe repairers
754049-9094
Manufactured building and mobile home installers
755049-9095
Riggers
756049-9096
Signal and track switch repairers
760049-9097
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
761049-9098
Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers
763049-909X
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving Occupations:7700-975051-0000 - 53-0000
Production Occupations:
7700-896551-0000
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
770051-1011
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
771051-2011
Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers
772051-2020
Engine and other machine assemblers
773051-2031
Structural metal fabricators and fitters
774051-2041
Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
775051-2090
Bakers
780051-3011
Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish processing workers
781051-3020
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
783051-3091
Food batchmakers
784051-3092
Food cooking machine operators and tenders
785051-3093
Food processing workers, all other
785551-3099
Computer control programmers and operators
790051-4010
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
792051-4021
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
793051-4022
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
794051-4023
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
795051-4031
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
796051-4032
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
800051-4033
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
801051-4034
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
802051-4035
Machinists
803051-4041
Metal furnace operators, tenders, pourers, and casters
804051-4050
Model makers and patternmakers, metal and plastic
806051-4060
Molders and molding machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
810051-4070
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
812051-4081
Tool and die makers
813051-4111
Welding, soldering, and brazing workers
814051-4120
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
815051-4191
Layout workers, metal and plastic
816051-4192
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
820051-4193
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
821051-4194
Metal workers and plastic workers, all other
822051-4199
Prepress technicians and workers
825051-5111
Printing press operators
825551-5112
Print binding and finishing workers
825651-5113
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
830051-6011
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
831051-6021
Sewing machine operators
832051-6031
Shoe and leather workers and repairers
833051-6041
Shoe machine operators and tenders
834051-6042
Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers
835051-6050
Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders
836051-6061
Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders
840051-6062
Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders
841051-6063
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders
842051-6064
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
843051-6091
Fabric and apparel patternmakers
844051-6092
Upholsterers
845051-6093
Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other
846051-6099
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
850051-7011
Furniture finishers
851051-7021
Model makers and patternmakers, wood
852051-7030
Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood
853051-7041
Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
854051-7042
Woodworkers, all other
855051-7099
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers
860051-8010
Stationary engineers and boiler operators
861051-8021
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
862051-8031
Miscellaneous plant and system operators
863051-8090
Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders
864051-9010
Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and blending workers
865051-9020
Cutting workers
871051-9030
Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
872051-9041
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
873051-9051
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
874051-9061
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
875051-9071
Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians
876051-9080
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
880051-9111
Painting workers
881051-9120
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
883051-9151
Semiconductor processors
884051-9141
Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders
885051-9191
Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders
886051-9192
Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
890051-9193
Etchers and engravers
891051-9194
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
892051-9195
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
893051-9196
Tire builders
894051-9197
Helpers--production workers
895051-9198
Production workers, all other
896551-9199
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations:
9000-975053-0000
Transportation Occupations:
9000-942053-1000 - 53-6000
Supervisors of transportation and material moving workers
900053-1000
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
903053-2010
Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists
904053-2020
Flight attendants
905053-2031
Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
911053-3011
Bus drivers
912053-3020
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
913053-3030
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
914053-3041
Motor vehicle operators, all other
915053-3099
Locomotive engineers and operators
920053-4010
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators
923053-4021
Railroad conductors and yardmasters
924053-4031
Subway, streetcar, and other rail transportation workers
926053-40XX
Sailors and marine oilers
930053-5011
Ship and boat captains and operators
931053-5020
Ship engineers
933053-5031
Bridge and lock tenders
934053-6011
Parking lot attendants
935053-6021
Automotive and watercraft service attendants
936053-6031
Transportation inspectors
941053-6051
Transportation attendants, except flight attendants
941553-6061
Other transportation workers
942053-60XX
Material Moving Occupations:
9500-975053-7000
Conveyor operators and tenders
950053-7011
Crane and tower operators
951053-7021
Dredge, excavating, and loading machine operators
952053-7030
Hoist and winch operators
956053-7041
Industrial truck and tractor operators
960053-7051
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
961053-7061
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
962053-7062
Machine feeders and offbearers
963053-7063
Packers and packagers, hand
964053-7064
Pumping station operators
965053-7070
Refuse and recyclable material collectors
972053-7081
Mine shuttle car operators
973053-7111
Tank car, truck, and ship loaders
974053-7121
Material moving workers, all other
975053-7199
Military Specific Occupations:9800-983055-0000
Military officer special and tactical operations leaders
980055-1010
First-line enlisted military supervisors
981055-2010
Military enlisted tactical operations and air/weapons specialists and crew members
982055-3010
Military, rank not specified
9830none
Unemployed, with no work experience in the last 5 years or earlier or never worked
9920none

Place of Birth, Migration, & Place of Work Code List
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This section contains the numerical list of U.S. States, U.S. Island Areas, foreign countries and other areas. This list was used to assign a three-digit code to birthplaces and state or foreign country of previous residences and places of work reported by each person. The alphabetical list used in coding included abbreviations and alternate names, including some historical names for countries and names of States, provinces, counties, or other subdivisions of countries.

The following list does not include any of these alternate names, but does include continent and area names used as defaults if a specific country was not named but a broader region or area was reported. The names of foreign countries shown on this list and in the publications reflect the most commonly used names for this country, not their official or legal names. Each entry shown on the following list has a unique code.

The U.S. States and U.S. Island Areas were assigned their Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code preceded by a zero. For foreign countries codes were generally assigned by listing the countries or areas in alphabetical order within eight broad continent or regional areas: (1) Europe, (2) Asia, (3) Northern America, (4) Central America, (5) Caribbean, (6) South America, (7) Africa, and (8) Oceania.

001-059 United States060-099 U.S. Outlying Areas and Puerto Rico
100-157, 160, 162-199 Europe158-159, 161, 200-299 Asia
300-399 Americas400-499 Africa
500-553 Oceania554-999 At Sea/Abroad, Not Reported

001-059 United States

001 Alabama002 Alaska003 Not Used
004 Arizona005 Arkansas006 California
007 Not Used008 Colorado009 Connecticut
010 Delaware011 District of Columbia012 Florida
013 Georgia014 Not Used015 Hawaii
016 Idaho017 Illinois018 Indiana
019 Iowa020 Kansas021 Kentucky
022 Louisiana023 Maine024 Maryland
025 Massachusetts026 Michigan027 Minnesota
028 Mississippi029 Missouri030 Montana
031 Nebraska032 Nevada033 New Hampshire
034 New Jersey035 New Mexico036 New York
037 North Carolina038 North Dakota039 Ohio
040 Oklahoma041 Oregon042 Pennsylvania
043 Not Used044 Rhode Island045 South Carolina
046 South Dakota047 Tennessee048 Texas
049 Utah050 Vermont051 Virginia
052 Not Used053 Washington054 West Virginia
055 Wisconsin056 Wyoming057-059 Not Used

060-099 U.S. Outlying Areas and Puerto Rico

060 American Samoa066 Guam067 Johnston Atoll
069 Northern Marianas071 Midway Islands072 Puerto Rico
076 Navassa Island078 U.S. Virgin Islands079 Wake Island
081 Baker Island084 Howland Island086 Jarvis Island
089 Kingman Reef095 Palmyra Atoll096 U.S. Island Area
097-099 Not Used

100-157, 160, 162-199 Europe

106-108,118,119,121,127,135,136,138-145 Northern Europe 101,102,103,109,110,122,123,125,126,137 Western Europe 115,116,120,124,129-131,133,134,146 Southern Europe 100,104,105,117,128,132,147-157,160,162,163,164,165,167, 168 Eastern Europe
100 Albania101 Andorra102 Austria
103 Belgium104 Bulgaria105 Czechoslovakia
106 Denmark107 Faroe Islands108 Finland
109 France110 Germany111-114 Not Used
115 Gibraltar116 Greece117 Hungary
118 Iceland119 Ireland120 Italy
121 Jan Mayan122 Liechtenstein123 Luxembourg
124 Malta125 Monaco126 Netherlands
127 Norway128 Poland129 Portugal
130 Azores Islands131 Madeira Islands132 Romania
133 San Marino134 Spain135 Svalbard
136 Sweden137 Switzerland138 United Kingdom
139 England140 Scotland141 Wales
142 Northern Ireland143 Guernsey144 Jersey
145 Isle of Man146 Vatican City147 Yugoslavia
148 Czech Republic149 Slovakia150 Bosnia and Herzegovina
151 Croatia152 Macedonia153 Slovenia
154 Serbia155 Estonia156 Latvia
157 Lithuania160 Belarus162 Moldova
163 Russia164 Ukraine165 USSR
166 Europe167 Kosovo168 Montenegro
169-199 Not Used
138,139,140,141,142,143,144,145 United Kingdom: 138,141,142,143,144,145 United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland: 127, 121, 135 Norway: 129,130,131 Portugal: 105,148,149 Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia): 147,154,167 Yugoslavia:

158-159, 161, 200-299 Asia

207,209,215,217,220,221,225,228,232,240 Eastern Asia 200,202,203,210,212,218,219,227,229,231,238,241,244,246 South Central Asia 204,205,206,211,223,226,233,236,242,247,250 South Eastern Asia 158,159,161,201,208,213,214,216,222,224,230,234,235,239,243,245,248 Western Asia
158 Armenia159 Azerbaijan161 Georgia
200 Afghanistan201 Bahrain202 Bangladesh
203 Bhutan204 Brunei205 Burma (Myanmar)
206 Cambodia207 China208 Cyprus
209 Hong Kong210 India211 Indonesia
212 Iran213 Iraq214 Israel
215 Japan216 Jordan217 Korea
218 Kazakhstan219 Kyrgyzstan220 South Korea
221 North Korea222 Kuwait223 Laos
224 Lebanon225 Macau226 Malaysia
227 Maldives228 Mongolia229 Nepal
230 Oman231 Pakistan232 Paracel Islands
233 Philippines234 Qatar235 Saudi Arabia
236 Singapore237 Spratley Islands238 Sri Lanka
239 Syria240 Taiwan241 Tajikistan
242 Thailand243 Turkey244 Turkmenistan
245 United Arab Emirates246 Uzbekistan247 Vietnam
248 Yemen249 Asia250 East Timor
251-299 Not Used
207,209,232,240,225 China: 207, 232, 225 China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan: 217, 220, 221 Korea:

300-399 Americas

300-302, 304-309 Northern America

300 Bermuda301 Canada302 Greenland
304 St. Pierre & Miquelon305 North America306-309 Not Used

303, 310-399 Latin America

303, 310-317 Central America

303 Mexico310 Belize311 Costa Rica
312 El Salvador313 Guatemala314 Honduras
315 Nicaragua316 Panama317 Central America
318-319 Not Used321 Antigua &322 Aruba
320 AnguillaBarbuda325 British Virgin Islands
323 Bahamas324 Barbados328 Dominica
326 Cayman Islands327 Cuba331 Guadeloupe
329 Dominican Republic330 Grenada334 Martinique
332 Haiti333 Jamaica337 St. Barthelemy
335 Montserrat336 Netherlands Antilles340 St. Vincent & the Grenadines
338 St. Kitts-Nevis339 St. Lucia343 West Indies
341 Trinidad & Tobago342 Turks & Caicos Islands346 Saba
344 Bonaire345 Curacao349-359 Not Used
347 Sint Eustatius348 Sint Maarten

360-399 South America

360 Argentina361 Bolivia362 Brazil
363 Chile364 Colombia365 Ecuador
366 Falkland Islands367 French Guiana368 Guyana
369 Paraguay370 Peru371 Suriname
372 Uruguay373 Venezuela374 South America
375-399 Not Used

400-499 Africa

404,406,411,413,416-418,422,426,427,431,432,435,437,441,442,445,446,448,453,455,457,460,461 Eastern Africa 401,407,409,410,412,415,419,443,459 Middle Africa 400,414,430,436,451,456,458 Northern Africa 403,428,438,449,452 Southern Africa 402,405,408,420,421,423-425,429,433,434,439,440,444,447,450,454 Western Africa
400 Algeria401 Angola402 Benin
403 Botswana404 British Indian Ocean Territory407 Cameroon
405 Burkina Faso406 Burundi410 Chad
408 Cape Verde409 Central African Republic413 Djibouti
411 Comoros412 Congo416 Ethiopia
414 Egypt415 Equatorial Guinea419 Gabon
417 Eritrea418 Europa Island422 Glorioso Islands
420 Gambia421 Ghana425 Ivory Coast
423 Guinea424 Guinea-Bissau428 Lesotho
426 Juan De Nova Island427 Kenya431 Madagascar
429 Liberia430 Libya434 Mauritania
432 Malawi433 Mali437 Mozambique
435 Mayotte436 Morocco440 Nigeria
438 Namibia439 Niger443 Sao Tome & Principe
441 Reunion442 Rwanda446 Seychelles
444 Senegal445 Mauritius449 South Africa
447 Sierra Leone448 Somalia452 Swaziland
450 St. Helena451 Sudan455 Tromelin Island
453 Tanzania454 Togo458 Western Sahara
456 Tunisia457 Uganda461 Zimbabwe
459 Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)460 Zambia462 Africa
463-499 Not Used

500-553 Oceania

501,502,506,507,515,517 Australia and New Zealand Subregion
500 Not Used501 Australia502 Christmas Island, Indian
503-504 Not Used505 Cook IslandsOcean
507 Heard & McDonald Islands508 Fiji506 Coral Sea Islands
510 Kiribati511 Marshall Islands509 French Polynesia
513 Nauru514 New Caledonia512 Micronesia
516 Niue517 Norfolk Island515 New Zealand
519 Papua New Guinea520 Pitcairn Islands518 Palau
522 Tokelau523 Tonga521 Solomon Islands
525 Vanuatu526 Wallis & Futuna Islands524 Tuvalu
528 Oceania529-553 Not Used527 Samoa

554-999 At Sea/Abroad, Not Reported

554 At Sea555 Abroad556-999 Not Used


Race Code List
back to top
100-199WHITE
100White (Checkbox)
101White ethnic group, not elsewhere classified
102Arab
103English
104French
105German
106Irish
107Italian
108Near Easterner
109Polish
110Scottish
111Armenian
112Assyrian
113Egyptian
114Iranian
115Iraqi
116Lebanese
117Middle East
118Palestinian
119Syrian
120Other Arab
121Afghanistani
122Israeli
123Not Used
  
124Cajun
125Moroccan
126North African
127United Arab Emirates
128Azerbaijani
129Aryan
130-139Not Used
  
140Multiple WHITE responses
141-149Not Used
  
150White
151Caucasian
152-199Not Used
  
200-299BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN
  
200Black, African Am., or Negro (Checkbox)
201Black ethnic group, not elsewhere classified
202African
203African American
204Afro-American
  
205Nigritian
206Negro
207Bahamian
208Barbadian
209Batswana (Botswana)
210-212Not Used
  
213Ethiopian
214Haitian
215Jamaican
216Liberian
217Not Used
  
218Namibian
219Nigerian
220Other African
221-222Not Used
  
223Trinidad and Tobago
224West Indies
225Zaire
226-227Not Used
  
228South African
229Not Used
  
230Dominica Islander
231-233Not Used
  
234Cayenne
235-239Not Used
  
240Multiple BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN responses
241-249Not Used
  
250Black
251-299Not Used
  
300-399, A01- 
Z99AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
  
300American Indian or Alaska Native (Checkbox)
301-399Not Used
  
AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES 
  
Abenaki 
A01Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi
A02Koasek (Cowasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation
A03-A04Not Used
  
  
Algonquian 
A05Algonquian
A06-A08Not Used
  
  
Apache 
A09Apache
A10Not Used
A11Fort Sill Apache (Chiricahua)
A12Jicarilla Apache Nation
A13Lipan Apache
A14Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico
A15Apache Tribe of Oklahoma
A16Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona
A17San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation
A18White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona
A19-A23Not Used
  
  
Arapaho 
A24Arapaho
A25Northern Arapaho
A26Southern Arapaho
A27Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming
A28-A33Not Used
  
  
Assiniboine 
A34Assiniboine
A35-A37Not Used
  
  
Assiniboine Sioux 
A38Assiniboine Sioux
A39Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation
A40Fort Peck Assiniboine
A41Fort Peck Sioux
A42-A44Not Used
  
  
Blackfeet 
A45Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana
A46-A50Not Used
  
  
Brotherton 
A51Brotherton
A52Not Used
  
  
Burt Lake 
A53Burt Lake Chippewa
A54Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
A55Burt Lake Ottawa
  
Caddo 
A56Caddo
A57Caddo Nation of Oklahoma
A58Caddo Adais Indians
A59-A60Not Used
  
  
Cahuilla 
A61Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
A62Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians
A63Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
  
A64Cahuilla
A65Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians
A66Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians
A67Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians
A68Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
A69Ramona Band or Village of Cahuilla
A70-A74Not Used
  
  
California Tribes 
A75Cahto Indian Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria
A76Chimariko
A77-A78Not Used
  
  
A79Kawaiisu
A80Kern River Paiute Council
A81Mattole
A82Red Wood
A83Santa Rosa Indian Community
A84Takelma
A85Wappo
A86Yana
A87Yuki
A88Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria
A89California Valley Miwok Tribe
A90Redding Rancheria, California
A91(see under Tolowa)
A92Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria
A93-A99Not Used
B01-B03Not Used
  
  
Catawba 
B04Catawba Indian Nation
B05-B06Not Used
  
  
Cayuse 
B07Cayuse
B08-B10Not Used
  
  
Chehalis 
B11Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Washington
B12-B13Not Used
  
  
Chemakuan 
B14Chemakuan
B15Hoh Indian Tribe of the Hoh Reservation, Washington
B16Quileute Tribe of the Quileute Reservation, Washington
B17-B18Not Used
  
  
Chemehuevi 
B19Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
B20Not Used
  
Cherokee 
B21Cherokee
B22Cherokee Alabama
B23Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama
B24Cher-O-Creek Intratribal Indians
B25Eastern Band of Cherokees
B26Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
B27Georgia Eastern Cherokee
B28Northern Cherokee Nation of Missouri and Arkansas
B29Tuscola
B30United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee
B31Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (Western Cherokee)
B32Southeastern Cherokee Council
B33Sac River Band of the Chickamauga-Cherokee
B34White River Band of the Chickamauga-Cherokee
B35Four Winds Cherokee
B36Cherokee of Georgia
B37Piedmont American Indian Association-Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation SC (PAIA)
B38United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation
B39Cherokee Bear Clan of South Carolina
  
Cheyenne 
B40Cheyenne
B41Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Montana
B42Southern Cheyenne
B43-B45Not Used
  
  
Cheyenne-Arapaho 
B46Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma
B47-B48Not Used
  
  
Chickahominy 
B49Chickahominy Indian Tribe
B50Chickahominy Eastern Band
B51-B52Not Used
  
  
Chickasaw 
B53Chickasaw Nation
B54Chaloklowa Chickasaw
B55-B56Not Used
  
  
Chinook 
B57Chinook
B58Clatsop
B59Columbia River Chinook
B60Kathlamet
B61Upper Chinook
B62Wakiakum Chinook
B63Willapa Chinook
B64Wishram
B65-B66Not Used
  
  
  
Chippewa 
B67Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe
B68Bay Mills Indian Community
B69Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
B70Not Used
  
  
B71Chippewa
B72Fond du Lac
B73Grand Portage
B74Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
B75Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
B76Lac Court Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
B77Lac du Flambeau
B78Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
B79Lake Superior Chippewa
B80Leech Lake
B81Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana
B82Mille Lacs
B83Minnesota Chippewa
B84Not Used
  
  
B85Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
B86Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
B87Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
B88St. Croix Chippewa
B89Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
B90Sokaogon Chippewa Community
B91Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota
B92White Earth
B93Swan Creek Black River Confederate Tribe
B94-B99Not Used
  
  
Chippewa Cree 
C01Not Used
  
  
C02Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation
C03-C04Not Used
  
  
Chitimacha 
C05Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
C06Pointe Au-Chien Indian Tribe
C07Not Used
  
  
Choctaw 
C08Choctaw
C09Clifton Choctaw
C10Jena Band of Choctaw
C11Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
C12MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians
C13Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
C14-C16Not Used
  
  
  
Choctaw-Apache 
C17Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb
C18-C19Not Used
  
  
Chumash 
C20Chumash
C21Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians
C22San Luis Rey Mission Indian
C23-C24Not Used
  
  
Clear Lake 
C25Clear Lake
Coeur DAlene 
C26Coeur DAlene Tribe
C27-C28Not Used
  
  
Coharie 
C29Coharie Indian Tribe
C30-C31Not Used
  
  
Colorado River Indian 
C32Colorado River Indian Tribes
C33-C34Not Used
  
  
Colville 
C35Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
C36-C38Not Used
  
  
Comanche 
C39Comanche Nation, Oklahoma
C40-C43Not Used
  
  
Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw 
C44Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians
C45Not Used
  
  
Coos 
C46Coos
Coquille 
C47Coquille Indian Tribe
C48Not Used
  
  
Costanoan 
C49Costanoan
C50-C51Not Used
  
  
Coushatta 
C52Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
C53Coushatta
  
C54-C55Not Used
  
  
Cowlitz 
C56Cowlitz Indian Tribe
C57-C58Not Used
  
  
Cree 
C59Cree
C60-C63Not Used
  
  
Creek 
C64Alabama Creek
C65Alabama Quassarte Tribal Town
C66Muscogee (Creek) Nation
C67Eastern Creek
C68Eastern Muscogee
C69Kialegee Tribal Town
C70Lower Muscogee Creek Tama Tribal Town
C71MaChis Lower Creek Indian Tribe
C72Poarch Band of Creek Indians
C73Principal Creek Indian Nation
C74Lower Creek Muscogee Tribe East, Star Clan
C75Thlopthlocco Tribal Town
C76Tuckabachee
C77-C80Not Used
  
  
Croatan 
C81Croatan
C82Not Used
  
  
Crow 
C83Crow Tribe of Montana
C84-C86Not Used
  
  
Cumberland 
C87Cumberland County Association for Indian People
C88Not Used
  
  
Cupeno 
C89Agua Caliente
C90Cupeno
C91-C92Not Used
  
  
Delaware 
C93Delaware (Lenni-Lenape)
C94Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma
C95Not Used
  
  
C96Munsee
C97Delaware Nation
C98Ramapough Lenape Nation (Ramapough Mountain)
C99New Jersey Sand Hill Band of Indians, Inc
  
D01Allegheny Lenape
D02-D04Not Used
  
  
Diegueno (Kumeyaay) 
D05Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band
D06Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
D07Capitan Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
D08Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
D09Diegueno (Kumeyaay)
D10La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
D11Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
D12Mesa Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
D13San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
D14Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel
D15Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
D16Viejas (Baron Long) Group of Capitan Grande Band
D17Inaja Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Inaja and Cosmit Reservation
D18Jamul Indian Village
D19Not Used
  
  
Eastern Tribes 
D20Attacapa
D21Biloxi
D22Georgetown
D23Moor
D24Nansemond Indian Tribe
D25Natchez Indian Tribe of South Carolina (Kusso-Natchez; Edisto)
D26Nausu Waiwash
D27(see under Nipmuc)
D28Golden Hill Paugussett
D29Pocomoke Acohonock
D30Southeastern Indians
D31Susquehanock
D32Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Confederation
D33Tunica Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana
D34Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe
D35Beaver Creek Indians
D36Wicomico
D37Meherrin Indian Tribe
D38Santee Indian Organization
D39Santee Indian Nation of South Carolina
D40Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina
D41Pee Dee Indian Nation of Upper South Carolina
  
Esselen 
D42Esselen
D43Not Used
  
  
Fort Belknap 
D44Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation
Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota 
D45Three Affiliated Tribes of Ft. Berthold Reservation, North Dakota
D46Mandan
D47Hidatsa
D48Arikara (Sahnish)
  
Fort McDowell 
D49Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
D50Not Used
  
  
Fort Hall 
D51Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation
D52Lemhi-Shoshone
D53Bannock
D54Not Used
  
  
Gabrieleno 
D55Gabrieleno
Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians 
D56Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
  
Grand Ronde 
D57Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
  
Guilford 
D58Guilford Native American Association
D59Not Used
  
  
Gros Ventres 
D60Atsina
D61Gros Ventres
D62-D63Not Used
  
  
Haliwa-Saponi 
D64Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe
D65-D67Not Used
  
  
Ho-Chunk Nation 
D68Ho-Chunk Nation
D69Not Used
  
  
Hoopa 
D70Hoopa Valley Tribe
D71Trinity
D72Whilkut
  
D73Not Used
  
  
Hopi 
D74Hopi Tribe of Arizona
D75Arizona Tewa
  
Hoopa Extension 
D76Hoopa Extension
D77Not Used
  
  
Houma 
D78United Houma Nation
D79-D86Not Used
  
  
Iowa 
D87Iowa
D88Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
D89Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma
D90Not Used
  
  
Sappony (Indians of Person County) 
D91Sappony
D92Not Used
  
  
Iroquois 
D93Cayuga Nation
D94Iroquois
D95Mohawk
D96Oneida
D97Onondaga Nation
D98Seneca
D99Seneca Nation
E01Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma
E02Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians
E03Tuscarora Nation
E04Wyandotte Nation, Oklahoma
E05Oneida Nation of New York
E06-E09Not Used
  
  
Juaneno (Acjachemem) 
E10Juaneno (Acjachemem)
E11-E12Not Used
  
  
Kalispel 
E13Kalispel Indian Community
E14-E16Not Used
  
  
Karuk 
E17Karuk Tribe of California
E18-E20Not Used
Kaw 
E21Kaw Nation
E22-E23Not Used
  
  
Kickapoo 
E24Kickapoo
E25Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
E26Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
E27Kickapoo Tribe of Indians in Kansas
E28-E29Not Used
  
  
Kiowa 
E30Kiowa
E31Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma
E32-E36Not Used
  
  
SKlallam 
E37Jamestown SKlallam Tribe of Washington
E38Klallam
E39Lower Elwha Tribal Community of the Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington
E40Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
E41-E43Not Used
  
  
Klamath 
E44Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon
E45-E47Not Used
  
  
Konkow 
E48Konkow
E49Not Used
  
  
Kootenai 
E50Kootenai
E51Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
E52Not Used
  
  
Lassik 
E53Lassik
E54-E58Not Used
  
  
Long Island 
E59Matinecock
E60Montauk
E61Poospatuck
E62Setauket
E63-E65Not Used
  
  
Luiseno 
E66La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
E67Luiseno
E68Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
E69Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
E70Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
E71Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians
E72Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
E73Temecula
E74Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
E75-E77Not Used
  
  
Lumbee 
E78Lumbee Indian Tribe
E79-E83Not Used
  
  
Lummi 
E84Lummi Tribe
E85Not Used
  
  
Maidu 
E86United Auburn Indian Community
E87Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians
E88Maidu
E89Mountain Maidu
E90Nisenen (Nishinam)
E91Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria
E92Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians
E93Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians
E94Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians
  
Makah 
E95Makah Indian Tribe
E96-E99Not Used
  
  
Maliseet 
F01Maliseet
F02Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
F03-F08Not Used
  
  
Mattaponi 
F09Mattaponi Indian Tribe
F10Upper Mattaponi Tribe
Menominee 
F11Menominee Indian Tribe
F12-F14Not Used
  
  
Metrolina 
F15Metrolina Native American Association
F16Not Used
  
  
Miami 
F17Illinois Miami
F18Indiana Miami
F19Miami
F20Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
F21-F23Not Used
  
  
Miccosukee 
F24Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
F25-F26Not Used
  
  
Micmac 
F27Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians
F28Micmac
F29-F30Not Used
  
  
Mission Indians 
F31Mission Indians
F32Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians
F33Not Used
  
  
Miwok/Me-Wuk 
F34Ione Band of Miwok Indians
F35Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians
F36Miwok/Me-Wuk
F37Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California
F38Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of California
F39Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California
F40Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians
F41Not Used
  
  
Modoc 
F42Modoc
F43Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma
F44-F45Not Used
  
  
Mohegan 
F46Mohegan Indian Tribe
F47Not Used
  
  
Monacan 
F48Monacan Indian Nation
Mono 
F49Mono
F50North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians
F51Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians
F52Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians
Nanticoke 
F53Nanticoke
F54-F55Not Used
  
Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape 
F56Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape
  
Narragansett 
F57Narragansett Indian Tribe
F58-F61Not Used
  
  
Navajo 
F62-F63Not Used
  
  
F64Navajo Nation
F65-F70Not Used
  
  
Nez Perce 
F71Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho (Nimiipuu)
F72-F74Not Used
  
  
Nipmuc 
F75Hassanamisco Band of the Nipmuc Nation
F76Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck
D27Nipmuc
  
Nomlaki 
F77Nomlaki
F78Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians
F79Not Used
  
  
Northwest Tribes 
F80Alsea
F81Celilo
F82Columbia
F83Kalapuya
F84Molalla
F85Talakamish
F86Tenino
F87Tillamook
F88Wenatchee
F89-F94Not Used
  
  
Omaha 
F95Omaha Tribe of Nebraska
F96-F98Not Used
  
  
Oneida Tribe 
F99Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
  
Oregon Athabascan 
G01Oregon Athabascan
G02-G03Not Used
  
  
  
Osage 
G04Osage Tribe, Oklahoma
G05-G09Not Used
  
  
Otoe-Missouria 
G10Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians
G11-G13Not Used
  
  
Ottawa 
G14Not Used
  
  
G15Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan
G16Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma
G17Ottawa
G18Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
G19Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians
G20-G22Not Used
  
  
Paiute 
G23Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley
G24Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony
G25Burns Paiute Tribe
G26Cedarville Rancheria
G27Fort Bidwell Indian Community
G28Fort Independence Indian Community
G29Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation
G30Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony
G31Not Used
  
  
G32Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony, Nevada
G33Malheur Paiute
G34Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Nevada
G35Northern Paiute
G36Not Used
  
  
G37Paiute
G38Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada
G39San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona
G40Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (Southern Paiute)
G41Summit Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada
G42Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, California
G43Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River Reservation, Nevada
G44Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony and Campbell Ranch, Nevada
G45Yahooskin Band of Snake
G46Not Used
  
  
G47Susanville Indian Rancheria, California
G48Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada
G49Not Used
  
  
Pamunkey 
G50Pamunkey Indian Tribe
G51-G52Not Used
  
Passamaquoddy 
G53Indian Township
G54Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine
G55Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy
G56-G60Not Used
  
  
Pawnee 
G61Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma
G62Pawnee
G63-G67Not Used
  
  
Penobscot 
G68Penobscot Tribe of Maine
G69-G71Not Used
  
  
Peoria 
G72Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
G73Peoria
G74-G76Not Used
  
  
Pequot 
G77Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut
G78Pequot
G79Paucatuck Eastern Pequot
G80Eastern Pequot
G81-G83Not Used
  
  
Pima 
G84Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation
G85Pima
G86Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
G87Peeposh
G88-G91Not Used
  
  
Piscataway 
G92Piscataway
G93-G95Not Used
  
  
Pit River 
G96Pit River Tribe of California
G97Alturas Indian Rancheria
G98Not Used
  
  
Pomo 
G99Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria
H01Central Pomo
H02Dry Creek Rancheria of Pomo Indians
H03Eastern Pomo
H04Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria
H05Northern Pomo
H06Pomo
  
H07Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California
H08Stonyford
H09Elem Indian Colony of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria
H10Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
H11Guidiville Rancheria of California
H12Lytton Rancheria of California
H13Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
H14Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California
H15-H20(see under Ponca)
H21-H33(see under Potawatomi)
H34-H37(see under Powhatan)
H38-H65(see under Pueblo)
H66Hopland Band of Pomo Indians
H67Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria
H68Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians
H69Pinoleville Pomo Nation
H70-H92(see under Puget Sound Salish)
H93Potter Valley Tribe
H94Redwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians
H95Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians
H96Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake (Upper Lake Band of Pomo Indians of Upper Lake Rancheria)
H97Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
H98Lower Lake Rancheria Koi Nation
  
Ponca 
H15Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
H16Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
H17Ponca
H18-H20Not Used
  
  
Potawatomi 
H21Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma
H22Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin
H23Hannahville Potawatomi Indian Tribe, Michigan
H24Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan
H25Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
H26Potawatomi
H27Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas
H28Wisconsin Potawatomi
H29Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians
H30-H33Not Used
  
  
Powhatan 
H34Powhatan
H35-H37Not Used
  
  
Pueblo 
H38Pueblo of Acoma
H39Not Used
H40Pueblo of Cochiti
H41Not Used
H42Pueblo of Isleta
H43Pueblo of Jemez
H44Not Used
H45Pueblo of Laguna
H46Pueblo of Nambe
H47Pueblo of Picuris
H48Piro Manso Tiwa Tribe
H49Pueblo of Pojoaque
H50Pueblo
H51Pueblo of San Felipe
H52Pueblo of San Ildefonso
H53Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
H54Not Used
H55San Juan
H56Pueblo of Sandia
H57Pueblo of Santa Ana
H58Pueblo of Santa Clara
H59Pueblo of Santo Domingo
H60Pueblo of Taos
H61Pueblo of Tesuque
H62Not Used
H63Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas
H64Pueblo of Zia
H65Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation
H66-H69(see under Pomo)
  
Puget Sound Salish 
H70Marietta Band of Nooksack
H71Duwamish
H72Kikiallus
H73Lower Skagit
H74Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
H75Nisqually Indian Tribe
H76Nooksack Indian Tribe
H77Not Used
H78Puget Sound Salish
H79Puyallup Tribe
H80Samish Indian Tribe
H81Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe
H82Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Indian Reservation, Washington
H83Skykomish
H84Snohomish
H85Snoqualmie Tribe
H86Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington
H87Steilacoom
H88Stillaguamish
H89The Suquamish Tribe
H90Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
H91Tulalip Tribes
H92Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
H93-H98(see under Pomo)
  
Quapaw 
H99Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma
I01-I99Not Used
  
  
Quinault 
J01Quinault Tribe
J02-J04Not Used
  
  
Rappahannock 
J05Rappahannock Indian Tribe
J06Not Used
  
  
Reno-Sparks 
J07Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada
J08-J13Not Used
  
  
Round Valley 
J14Round Valley Indian Tribes
J15-J18Not Used
  
  
Sac and Fox 
J19Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa
J20Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska
J21Sac and Fox Nation, Oklahoma
J22Sac and Fox
J23-J27Not Used
  
  
Salinan 
J28Salinan
J29-J30Not Used
  
  
Salish 
J31Salish
J32-J34Not Used
  
  
Salish and Kootenai 
J35Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation
J36-J37Not Used
  
  
Saponi 
J38Saponi
  
Schaghticoke 
J39Schaghticoke
J40-J46Not Used
  
  
Seminole 
J47Big Cypress Reservation
J48Brighton Reservation
J49Seminole Tribe of Florida
J50Hollywood Reservation (Dania)
J51Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
J52Seminole
J53Not Used
J54Tampa Reservation
J55-J57Not Used
  
  
Serrano 
J58San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians
J59Serrano
J60-J61Not Used
  
  
Shasta 
J62Shasta
J63Quartz Valley Indian Reservation
J64-J65Not Used
  
  
Shawnee 
J66Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
J67Eastern Shawnee
J68Shawnee
J69Piqua Shawnee Tribe
J70Shawnee Tribe, Oklahoma
J71Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band
J72East of the River Shawnee
J73Not Used
  
  
Shinnecock 
J74Shinnecock
J75-J77Not Used
  
  
Shoalwater Bay 
J78Shoalwater Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Reservation, Washington
J79-J80Not Used
  
  
Shoshone 
J81Duckwater Shoshone Tribe
J82Ely Shoshone Tribe
J83Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation
J84Not Used
J85Shoshone
J86Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians of Utah
J87Not Used
J88Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone
J89Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation of Utah (Washakie)
J90Eastern Shoshone (Wind River)
J91Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba Reservation, Nevada
J92Not Used
  
Te-Moak Tribes of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada 
J93Te-Moak Tribes of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada
J94Battle Mountain Band
J95Elko Band
J96South Fork Band
J97Wells Band
J98-J99Not Used
  
  
Paiute-Shoshone 
K01Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation
K02Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada
K03Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe of Nevada and Oregon
K04Shoshone Paiute
K05Bishop Paiute Tribe
K06Lone Pine
K07-K09Not Used
  
  
Siletz 
K10Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon
K11-K15Not Used
  
  
Sioux 
K16Not Used
K17Brule Sioux
K18Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota
K19Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota
K20Dakota Sioux
K21Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota
K22-K23Not Used
K24Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Reservation, South Dakota
K25Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota
K26Mdewakanton Sioux
K27Not Used
K28Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
K29Not Used
K30Pipestone Sioux
K31Prairie Island Indian Community
K32Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (Prior Lake)
K33Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota
K34Not Used
K35Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska
K36Sioux
K37Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota
K38Not Used
K39Spirit Lake Tribe
K40Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
K41Teton Sioux
K42Not Used
K43Upper Sioux Community
K44Wahpekute Sioux
K45Not Used
K46Wazhaza Sioux
K47Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota
K48Yanktonai Sioux
K49-K53Not Used
  
  
Siuslaw 
K54Siuslaw
K55-K58Not Used
  
  
Spokane 
K59Spokane Tribe
K60-K66Not Used
  
  
Stockbridge-Munsee 
K67Stockbridge-Munsee Community
K68-K76Not Used
  
  
Ak-Chin 
K77Ak-Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa Indian Reservation
Tohono OOdham 
K78Gila Bend
K79San Xavier
K80Sells
K81Tohono OOdham Nation of Arizona
K82-K86Not Used
  
  
Tolowa 
K87Tolowa
K88Big Lagoon Rancheria
K89Elk Valley Rancheria
A91Smith River Rancheria
Tonkawa 
K90Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
K91-K93Not Used
  
  
Tygh 
K94Tygh
K95-K96Not Used
  
  
Umatilla 
K97Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
K98-K99Not Used
  
  
Umpqua 
L01Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians of Oregon
L02Umpqua
L03-L05Not Used
  
  
Ute 
L06Not Used
L07Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah
L08Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
L09Ute
L10Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation
L11-L14Not Used
  
  
Wailaki 
L15Wailaki
L16-L18Not Used
  
  
Walla Walla 
L19Walla Walla
L20-L21Not Used
  
  
Wampanoag 
L22Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
L23Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
L24Wampanoag
L25Seaconeke Wampanoag
L26Pocasset Wampanoag
L27Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe
L28Pokanoket (Royal House of Pokanoket)
L29Ponkapoag
L30Chappaquiddick Tribe of the Wampanoag Indian Nation
L31Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation
L32Not Used
  
  
Warm Springs 
L33Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Wascopum 
L34Wascopum
L35-L37Not Used
  
  
Washoe 
L38Alpine
L39-L40Not Used
  
  
L41Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
L42-L46Not Used
  
  
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Oklahoma 
L47Wichita
L48Keechi
L49Waco
L50Tawakonie
L51Not Used
  
  
Wind River 
L52Wind River
L53-L54Not Used
  
Winnebago 
L55Not Used
  
  
L56Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
L57Winnebago
L58-L65Not Used
  
  
Wintun 
L66Wintun
L67Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Rancheria
L68Cortina Indian Rancheria of Wintun Indians
L69Rumsey Indian Rancheria of Wintun Indians
L70Not Used
  
  
Wintun-Wailaki 
L71Grindstone Indian Rancheria of Wintun-Wailaki Indians
Wiyot 
L72Wiyot Tribe, California
L73Not Used
  
  
L74Blue Lake Rancheria
L75-L78Not Used
  
  
Yakama 
L79Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
L80-L84Not Used
  
  
Yakama Cowlitz 
L85Yakama Cowlitz
L86-L90Not Used
  
  
Yaqui 
L91Not Used
  
  
L92Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona
L93Yaqui
L94-L99Not Used
  
  
Yavapai Apache 
M01Yavapai Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation
M02-M06Not Used
  
  
Yokuts 
M07Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians
M08Tachi
M09Tule River Indian Tribe
M10Yokuts
M11Table Mountain Rancheria
M12-M15Not Used
  
  
Yuchi 
M16Yuchi
M17Tla
  
M18Tla Wilano
M19Ani-stohini/Unami
M20-M21Not Used
  
  
Yuman 
M22Cocopah Tribe of Arizona
M23Havasupai Tribe of the Havasupai Reservation
M24Hualapai Indian Tribe of the Hualapai Indian Reservation
M25Maricopa
M26Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California, and Nevada
M27Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation
M28Yavapai-Prescott Tribe of the Yavapai Reservation
M29-M33Not Used
  
  
Yurok 
M34Resighini Rancheria
M35Yurok Tribe
M36-M38Not Used
M39Multiple AMERICAN INDIAN and ALASKA NATIVE responses
M40Multiple AMERICAN INDIAN responses
Tribe Not Specified 
M41American Indian
M42Tribal responses, not elsewhere classified
M43Not Used
  
  
ALASKA NATIVE 
Alaska Native Not Specified 
M44Alaska Indian
M45-M46Not Used
M47Alaska Native
M48-M51Not Used
  
  
Alaskan Athabascan 
M52Ahtna, Inc. Corporation
M53Alaskan Athabascan
M54Alatna Village
M55Alexander
M56Allakaket Village
M57Alanvik
M58Anvik Village
M59Arctic Village
M60Beaver Village
M61Birch Creek Tribe
M62Native Village of Cantwell
M63Chalkyitsik Village
M64Chickaloon Native Village
M65Cheesh-Na Tribe (Chistochina)
M66Native Village of Chitina
M67Circle Native Community
M68Cook Inlet
M69Not Used
M70Copper River
M71Village of Dot Lake
M72Doyon
M73Native Village of Eagle
M74Eklutna Native Village
M75Evansville Village (Bettles Field)
M76Native Village of Fort Yukon
M77Native Village of Gakona
M78Galena Village (Louden Village)
M79Organized Village of Grayling (Holikachuk)
M80Gulkana Village
M81Healy Lake Village
M82Holy Cross Village
M83Hughes Village
M84Huslia Village
M85Village of Iliamna
M86Village of Kaltag
M87Native Village of Kluti Kaah (Copper Center)
M88Knik Tribe
M89Koyukuk Native Village
M90Lake Minchumina
M91Lime Village
M92McGrath Native Village
M93Manley Village Council (Manley Hot Springs)
M94Mentasta Traditional Council
M95Native Village of Minto
M96Nenana Native Association
M97Nikolai Village
M98Ninilchik Village Traditional Council
M99Nondalton Village
N01Northway Village
N02Nulato Village
N03Pedro Bay Village
N04Rampart Village
N05Native Village of Ruby
N06Village of Salamatoff
N07Seldovia Village Tribe
N08Slana
N09Shageluk Native Village
N10Native Village of Stevens
N11Village of Stony River
N12Takotna Village
N13Native Village of Tanacross
N14Not Used
N15Native Village of Tanana
N16Tanana Chiefs
N17Native Village of Tazlina
N18Telida Village
N19Native Village of Tetlin
N20Tok
N21Native Village of Tyonek
N22Village of Venetie
N23Wiseman
N24Kenaitze Indian Tribe
N25-N27Not Used
  
  
Tlingit-Haida 
N28Angoon Community Association
N29Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes
N30Chilkat Indian Village (Klukwan)
N31Chilkoot Indian Association (Haines)
N32Craig Community Association
N33Douglas Indian Association
N34Haida
N35Hoonah Indian Association
N36Hydaburg Cooperative Association
N37Organized Village of Kake
N38Organized Village of Kasaan
N39Not Used
N40Ketchikan Indian Corporation
N41Klawock Cooperative Association
N42Not Used
N43Pelican
N44Petersburg Indian Association
N45Organized Village of Saxman
N46Sitka Tribe of Alaska
N47Tenakee Springs
N48Tlingit
N49Wrangell Cooperative Association
N50Yakutat Tlingit Tribe
N51-N55Not Used
N56-N58(see under Tsimshian)
N59Not Used
N60Sealaska Corporation (Southeast Alaska)
N61-N64Not Used
N65Skagway Village
N66Not Used
  
  
Tsimshian 
N56Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Island Reserve
N57Tsimshian
N58Not Used
  
  
Inupiat 
N67American Eskimo
N68Eskimo
N69Greenland Eskimo
N70-N74Not Used
N75Inuit
N76-N78Not Used
N79Native Village of Ambler
N80Not Used
N81Village of Anaktuvuk Pass
N82Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope
N83Arctic Slope Corporation
N84Atqasuk Village (Atkasook)
N85Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government
N86Bering Straits Inupiat
N87Native Village of Brevig Mission
N88Native Village of Buckland
N89Chinik Eskimo Community (Golovin)
N90Native Village of Council
N91Native Village of Deering
N92Native Village of Elim
N93Not Used
N94Native Village of Diomede (Inalik)
N95Not Used
N96Inupiat (Inupiaq)
N97Kaktovik Village (Barter Island)
N98Kawerak
N99Native Village of Kiana
O01-O99Not Used
P01Native Village of Kivalina
P02Native Village of Kobuk
P03Native Village of Kotzebue
P04Native Village of Koyuk
P05-P06Not Used
P07Nana Inupiat
P08Native Village of Noatak
P09Nome Eskimo Community
P10Noorvik Native Community
P11Native Village of Nuiqsut (Nooiksut)
P12Native Village of Point Hope
P13Native Village of Point Lay
P14Native Village of Selawik
P15Native Village of Shaktoolik
P16Native Village of Shishmaref
P17Native Village of Shungnak
P18Village of Solomon
P19Native Village of Teller
P20Native Village of Unalakleet
P21Village of Wainwright
P22Native Village of Wales
P23Native Village of White Mountain
P24Not Used
P25Native Village of Marys Igloo
P26King Island Native Community
P27-P29Not Used
P30-P32(see under Yupik)
P33-P35Not Used
P36Chevak Native Village
P37Native Village of Mekoryuk
  
Yupik 
P30Native Village of Gambell
P31Native Village of Savoonga
P32Siberian Yupik
P33-P37(see under Inupiat)
P38Akiachak Native Community
P39Akiak Native Community
P40Village of Alakanuk
P41Native Village of Aleknagik
P42Yupiit of Andreafski
P43Village of Aniak
P44Village of Atmautluak
P45Orutsararmiut Native Village (Bethel)
P46Village of Bill Moores Slough
P47Bristol Bay
P48Calista
P49Village of Chefornak
P50Native Village of Hamilton
P51Native Village of Chuathbaluk
P52Village of Clarks Point
P53Village of Crooked Creek
P54Curyung Tribal Council (Native Village of Dillingham)
P55Native Village of Eek
P56Native Village of Ekuk
P57Ekwok Village
P58Emmonak Village
P59Native Village of Goodnews Bay
P60Native Village of Hooper Bay (Naparagamiut)
P61Iqurmuit Traditional Council
P62Village of Kalskag
P63Native Village of Kasigluk
P64Native Village of Kipnuk
P65New Koliganek Village Council
P66Native Village of Kongiganak
P67Village of Kotlik
P68Organized Village of Kwethluk
P69Native Village of Kwigillingok
P70Levelock Village
P71Village of Lower Kalskag
P72Manokotak Village
P73Native Village of Marshall (Fortuna Ledge)
P74Village of Ohogamiut
P75Asacarsarmiut Tribe
P76Naknek Native Village
P77Native Village of Napaimute
P78Native Village of Napakiak
P79Native Village of Napaskiak
P80Newhalen Village
P81New Stuyahok Village
P82Newtok Village
P83Native Village of Nightmute
P84Native Village of Nunapitchuk
P85Oscarville Traditional Village
P86Pilot Station Traditional Village
P87Native Village of Pitka's Point
P88Platinum Traditional Village
P89Portage Creek Village (Ohgsenakale)
P90Native Village of Kwinhagak
P91Village of Red Devil
P92Native Village of Saint Michael
P93Native Village of Scammon Bay
P94Native Village of Nunam Iqua (Sheldons Point)
P95Village of Sleetmute
P96Stebbins Community Association
P97Traditional Village of Togiak
P98Nunakauyarmiut Tribe (Toksook Bay)
P99Tuluksak Native Community
Q01-Q99Not Used
R01Native Village of Tuntutuliak
R02Native Village of Tununak
R03Twin Hills Village
R04Yupik (Yupik Eskimo)
R05Not Used
R06Native Village of Georgetown
R07Algaaciq Native Village (St. Marys)
R08Umkumiute Native Village
R09Chuloonawick Native Village
R10Not Used
  
  
Aleut 
R11Aleut
R12-R15Not Used
R16Alutiiq
R17Native Village of Afognak
R18-R22Not Used
R23Native Village of Tatitlek
R24Ugashik Village
R25-R27Not Used
R28Bristol Bay Aleut
R29Chignik Bay Tribal Council (Native Village of Chignik)
R30Chignik Lake Village
R31Egegik Village
R32Igiugig Village
R33Ivanoff Bay Village
R34King Salmon Tribe
R35Kokhanok Village
R36Native Village of Perryville
R37Native Village of Pilot Point
R38Native Village of Port Heiden
R39-R42Not Used
R43Native Village of Chanega (Chenega)
R44Chugach Aleut
R45Chugach Corporation
R46Native Village of Nanwalek (English Bay)
R47Native Village of Port Graham
R48-R50Not Used
R51Native Village of Eyak (Cordova)
R52-R54Not Used
R55Native Village of Akhiok
R56Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove
R57Native Village of Karluk
R58Native Village of Kanatak
R59Kodiak
R60Koniag Aleut
R61Native Village of Larsen Bay
R62Village of Old Harbor
R63Native Village of Ouzinkie
R64Native Village of Port Lions
R65Lesnoi Village (Woody Island)
R66Sunaq Tribe of Kodiak
R67Sugpiaq
R68-R74Not Used
R75Native Village of Akutan
R76Aleut Corporation
R77-R78Not Used
R79Native Village of Atka
R80Native Village of Belkofski
R81Native Village of Chignik Lagoon
R82King Cove
R83Native Village of False Pass
R84Native Village of Nelson Lagoon
R85Native Village of Nikolski
R86Pauloff Harbor Village
R87Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point Village
R88Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska
R89Saint George Island
R90Saint Paul Island
R91Not Used
R92South Naknek Village
R93Unangan (Unalaska)
R94Not Used
R95Native Village of Unga
R96Kaguyak Village
R97-R98Not Used
R99Multiple ALASKA NATIVE responses
S01-S99Not Used
  
  
  
CANADIAN AND LATIN AMERICAN INDIAN 
  
Canadian and French American Indian 
  
T01Canadian Indian
T02French Canadian/French American Indian
T03Abenaki Canadian
T04Acadia Band
T05Ache Dene Koe
T06Ahousaht
T07Alderville First Nation
T08Alexandria Band
T09Algonquins of Barriere Lake
T10Batchewana First Nation
T11Beardys and Okemasis Band
T12Beausoleil
T13Beecher Bay
T14Beothuk
T15Bella Coola (Nuxalk Nation)
T16Big Cove
T17Big Grassy
T18Bigstone Cree Nation
T19Bonaparte Band
T20Boston Bar First Nation
T21Bridge River
T22Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
T23Buffalo Point Band
T24Caldwell
T25Campbell River Band
T26Cape Mudge Band
T27Carcross/Tagish First Nation
T28Caribou
T29Carrier Nation
T30Carry the Kettle Band
T31Cheam Band
T32Chemainus First Nation
T33Chilcotin Nation
T34Chippewa/Ojibwe Canadian
T35Chippewa of Sarnia
T36Chippewa of the Thames
T37Clayoquot
T38Cold Lake First Nations
T39Coldwater Band
T40Comox Band
T41Coquitlam Band
T42Cote First Nation
T43Couchiching First Nation
T44Cowessess Band
T45Cowichan
T46Cree Canadian
T47Cross Lake First Nation
T48Curve Lake Band
T49Dene Canadian
T50Dene Band Nwt (Nw Terr.)
T51Ditidaht Band
T52Dogrib
T53Eagle Lake Band
T54Eastern Cree
T55Ebb and Flow Band
T56English River First Nation
T57Eskasoni
T58Esquimalt
T59Fisher River
T60Five Nations
T61Fort Alexander Band
T62Garden River Nation
T63Gibson Band
T64Gitksan
T65Gitlakdamix Band
T66Grassy Narrows First Nation
T67Gull Bay Band
T68Gwichya Gwich'in
T69Heiltsuk Band
T70Hesquiaht Band
T71Hiawatha First Nation
T72Hope Band (Chawathill Nation)
T73Huron
T74Huron of Lorretteville
T75Innu (Montagnais)
T76Interior Salish
T77James Bay Cree
T78James Smith Cree Nation
T79Kahkewistahaw First Nation
T80Kamloops Band
T81Kanaka Bar
T82Kanesatake Band
T83Kaska Dena
T84Keeseekoose Band
T85Kincolith Band
T86Kingsclear Band
T87Kitamaat
T88Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
T89Klahoose First Nation
T90Kwakiutl
T91Kyuquot Band
T92Lakahahmen Band
T93Lake Manitoba Band
T94Lake St. Martin Band
T95Lennox Island Band
T96Liard River First Nation
T97Lillooet
T98Little Shuswap Band
T99Long Plain First Nation
U01Lower Nicola Indian Band
U02Malahat First Nation
U03Matachewan Band
U04Mcleod Lake
U05Metis
U06Millbrook First Nation
U07Mississaugas of the Credit
U08Mohawk Bay of Quinte
U09Mohawk Canadian
U10Mohawk Kahnawake
U11Mohican Canadian
U12Musqueam Band
U13Namgis First Nation (Nimpkish)
U14Nanaimo (Snuneymuxw)
U15Nanoose First Nation
U16Naskapi
U17Nation Huronne Wendat
U18Nipissing First Nation
U19North Thompson Band (Simpcw First Nation)
U20NQuatqua (Anderson Lake)
U21Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka)
U22Odanak
U23Ohiaht Band
U24Oneida Nation of the Thames
U25Opaskwayak Cree Nation
U26Osoyoos Band
U27Pacheedaht First Nation
U28Pauquachin
U29Peepeekisis


Subject Definitions
General Information
Contact List
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To obtain additional information on these and other American Community Survey (ACS) subjects, see the list of Census 2000/2010 Contacts on the Internet at
http://www.census.gov/contacts/www/c-census2000.html.

Scope
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These definitions apply to the data collected in both the United States and Puerto Rico. The text specifically notes any differences. References about comparability to the previous ACS years refer only to the ACS in the United States. Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters is included in the data tabulations.
Historical census comparability
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For additional information about the data in previous decennial censuses, see http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf4.pdf, Appendix B and subject definitions for American Community Survey years prior to 2005.

Weighting Methodology
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The weighting methodology in the 2006 ACS was modified in order to ensure consistent estimates of occupied housing units, households, and householders. For more information on the 2006 weighting methodology changes, see "User Notes" on the ACS website (http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/documentation_main/). There were no significant changes to the 2007 or 2008 weighting methodology. Beginning in 2009, the weighting methodology has changed to include the use of controls for total population for incorporated places and minor civil divisions.

For subject definitions from previous years, visit http://www.census.gov/acs/www/.

Living Quarters
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Living quarters are classified as either housing units or group quarters. Living quarters are usually found in structures intended for residential use, but also may be found in structures intended for nonresidential use as well as in places such as tents, vans, and emergency and transitional shelters.
Housing Unit
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A housing unit may be a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms or a single room that is occupied (or, if vacant, intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live separately from any other individuals in the building and which have direct access from outside the building or through a common hall. For vacant units, the criteria of separateness and direct access are applied to the intended occupants whenever possible. If that information cannot be obtained, the criteria are applied to the previous occupants.

Both occupied and vacant housing units are included in the housing unit inventory. Boats, recreational vehicles (RVs), vans, tents, railroad cars, and the like are included only if they are occupied as someone's current place of residence. Vacant mobile homes are included provided they are intended for occupancy on the site where they stand. Vacant mobile homes on dealers' sales lots, at the factory, or in storage yards are excluded from the housing inventory. Also excluded from the housing inventory are quarters being used entirely for nonresidential purposes, such as a store or an office, or quarters used for the storage of business supplies or inventory, machinery, or agricultural products.

Occupied Housing Unit
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A housing unit is classified as occupied if it is the current place of residence of the person or group of people living in it at the time of interview, or if the occupants are only temporarily absent from the residence for two months or less, that is, away on vacation or a business trip. If all the people staying in the unit at the time of the interview are staying there for two months or less, the unit is considered to be temporarily occupied and classified as "vacant." The occupants may be a single family, one person living alone, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated people who share living quarters. The living quarters occupied by staff personnel within any group quarters are separate housing units if they satisfy the housing unit criteria of separateness and direct access; otherwise, they are considered group quarters.

Occupied rooms or suites of rooms in hotels, motels, and similar places are classified as housing units only when occupied by permanent residents, that is, people who consider the hotel as their current place of residence or have no current place of residence elsewhere. If any of the occupants in rooming or boarding houses, congregate housing, or continuing care facilities live separately from others in the building and have direct access, their quarters are classified as separate housing units.

Vacant Housing Unit
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A housing unit is vacant if no one is living in it at the time of interview. Units occupied at the time of interview entirely by persons who are staying two months or less and who have a more permanent residence elsewhere are considered to be temporarily occupied, and are classified as "vacant."

New units not yet occupied are classified as vacant housing units if construction has reached a point where all exterior windows and doors are installed and final usable floors are in place. Vacant units are excluded from the housing inventory if they are open to the elements, that is, the roof, walls, windows, and/or doors no longer protect the interior from the elements. Also, excluded are vacant units with a sign that they are condemned or they are to be demolished.
Group Quarters
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Group Quarters (GQs) are places where people live or stay, in a group living arrangement that is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. These services may include custodial or medical care, as well as other types of assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those receiving these services. People living in GQs usually are not related to each other. GQs include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, workers' dormitories, and facilities for people experiencing homelessness. GQs are defined according to the housing and/or services provided to residents, and are identified by census GQ type codes.

In January 2006, the American Community Survey (ACS) was expanded to include the population living in GQ facilities. The ACS GQ sample encompasses 12 independent samples; like the housing unit (HU) sample, a new GQ sample is introduced each month. The GQ data collection lasts only 6 weeks and does not include a formal nonresponse follow- up operation. The GQ data collection operation is conducted in two phases. First, U.S. Census Bureau Field Representatives (FRs) conduct interviews with the GQ facility contact person or administrator of the selected GQ (GQ level), and second, the FR conducts interviews with a sample of individuals from the facility (person level).

The GQ-level data collection instrument is an automated Group Quarters Facility Questionnaire (GQFQ). Information collected by the FR using the GQFQ during the GQ- level interview is used to determine or verify the type of facility, population size, and the sample of individuals to be interviewed. FRs conduct GQ-level data collection at approximately 20,000 individual GQ facilities each year.

A list of the GQ facilities (and their respective type codes) that is in scope for the 2011 ACS can be found in the 2011 Code List.

Question/Concept History
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Though the American Community Survey (ACS) was expanded to include the population living in GQ facilities in 2006 the ACS began field testing early. The pretest in 2001 prevented the ACS from going into 2006 without determining whether or not the new processes, type codes, and procedures would produce the desired outcome for the ACS GQ data collection operation.

In 2001, the ACS GQ operational staff and other ACS staff implemented a number of changes in the GQ operation, the greatest of which was developing an automated Group Quarters Facility Questionnaire (GQFQ). The staff developed the GQFQ based on the decennial Other Living Quarters (OLQ) questionnaire used in the 2004 Census test. However, in order to make that questionnaire script fit with the ACS operation, the developers made some modifications, such as dropping the listing component, and adding the ability to capture multiple GQ types within the special place or GQ sampled.

Along with the introduction of an automated GQFQ, the ACS made the decision to use the revised GQ definitions planned for Census 2010, even though the definitions of GQ types were still evolving. The pretest used a draft version of the GQ definitions that existed at the end of November 2004. Since these definitions will continue to evolve over the next several years, the ACS needed a GQFQ that could easily adopt future revisions to the definitions. Thus, the developers designed a flexible GQFQ. It was through this flexibility that group quarter types have been able to be added or dropped (e.g. YMCA/YWCA and hostels).

Comparability
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The total group quarters population in the ACS may not be comparable with Census 2000 because there are some Census 2000 GQ types that were out of scope in the ACS such as domestic violence shelters, soup kitchens, regularly scheduled mobile food vans, targeted non-sheltered outdoor locations, crews of maritime vessels and living quarters for victims of natural disasters. Also, there are some Census 2000 GQ type categories that are no longer valid (residential care facility providing "Protective Oversight," hospitals/wards for the chronically ill and hospitals/wards for drug/alcohol abuse). The exclusion of these GQ types from the ACS may result in a small bias in some ACS estimates to the extent that the excluded population is different from the included population. Furthermore, only a sample of GQ facilities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico are selected for the ACS. ACS controls the GQ sample at the state level only. Therefore, for lower levels of geography, particularly when there are relatively few GQs in a geographic area, the ACS estimate of the GQ population may vary from the estimate from Census 2000.

When comparing the 2011 ACS data with 2008 ACS data the data should be compared with caution at the National and State level. It should not be compared below the State level because the weighting for the group quarters (GQ) population is not controlled below the state level. Because of this users may observe greater fluctuations in year-to-year ACS estimates of the GQ population at sub-state levels than at state levels. The causes of these fluctuations typically are the result of either GQs that have closed or where the current population of the GQ is significantly different than the expected population as reflected on the sampling frame. Substantial changes in the ACS GQ estimates can impact ACS estimates of total population characteristics for areas where either the GQ population is a substantial proportion of the total population or where the GQ population may have very different characteristics than the total population as a whole. Users can assess the impact that year-to- year changes in sub-state GQ total population estimates have on the changes in total ACS population estimates by accessing Table B26001 on American Fact Finder. Users should also use their local knowledge to help determine whether the year-to-year change in the ACS estimate represents a real change in the GQ population or may be the result of the lack of adequate population controls for sub-state areas.

When comparing ACS GQ data across the years that group quarters data have been collected, it must be noted that beginning in 2008 military transient quarters, YMCA / YWCA and hostels were no longer in scope. These data were collected in 2006 and 2007.

A complete list and definitions of the GQs that have been included in the ACS can be found in the 2011 Code List.

Housing Variables
Acreage (Cuerda)
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The data on acreage were obtained from Housing Question 4 in the 2011 American Community Survey. This question was asked at occupied and vacant one-family houses and mobile homes. The data for vacant units were obtained by asking a neighbor, real estate agent, building manager, or anyone else who had knowledge of the vacant unit in question.
This question determines a range of acres (cuerdas) on which the house or mobile home is located. A major purpose for this question, in conjunction with Housing Question 5 on agricultural sales, is to identify farm units. In previous American Community Surveys and in the 2000 Census, this question was used to determine single-family homes on 10 or more acres (cuerdas). The land may consist of more than one tract or plot. These tracts or plots are usually adjoining; however, they may be separated by a road, creek, another piece of land, etc.
In the American Community Surveys prior to 2004 and in Census 2000, acreage was one of the variables used to determine specified owner- and renter-occupied housing units.
Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 question asked, "Is this house or mobile home on less than 1 acre, 1 to less than 10 acres, or 10 or more acres." Since 1999, the question wording was changed to ask, "How many acres is this house or mobile home on?" and the second response category was modified to "1 to 9.9 acres."
Comparability
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Data on acreage in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 acreage data.
Agricultural Sales
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Data on the sales of agricultural crops were obtained from Housing Question 5 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied one-family houses and mobile homes located on lots of 1 or more acres. Data for this question exclude units on lots of less than 1 acre, units located in structures containing two or more units, and all vacant units. This question refers to the total amount (before taxes and expenses) received in the 12 months prior to the interview, from the sale of crops, vegetables, fruits, nuts, livestock and livestock products, and nursery and forest products, produced on "this property." Respondents new to a unit were to estimate total agricultural sales from the 12 months prior to the interview even if some portion of the sales had been made by previous occupants of the unit.

This question is used mainly to classify housing units as farm or nonfarm residences, not to provide detailed information on the sale of agricultural products. Detailed information on the sale of agricultural products is provided by the Census of Agriculture, which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Agricultural Statistics Service (see
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/).

Question/Concept History
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On the 1996-1998 American Community Survey questionnaires, there were just two response categories to indicate whether or not the amount of sales was over $1,000. Since 1999, the question has included a series of response categories for the amount of the agricultural sales.
Comparability
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Data on agricultural sales in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 agricultural sales data.
Bedrooms
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The data on bedrooms were obtained from Housing Question 7b in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at both occupied and vacant housing units. The number of bedrooms is the count of rooms designed to be used as bedrooms, that is, the number of rooms that would be listed as bedrooms if the house, apartment, or mobile home were on the market for sale or for rent. Included are all rooms intended to be used as bedrooms even if they currently are being used for some other purpose. A housing unit consisting of only one room is classified, by definition, as having no bedroom.

Bedrooms provide the basis for estimating the amount of living and sleeping spaces within a housing unit. These data allow officials to evaluate the adequacy of the housing stock to shelter the population, and to determine any housing deficiencies in neighborhoods. The data also allow officials to track the changing physical characteristics of the housing inventory over time.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question provided a response category for "None" and space for the respondent to enter a number of bedrooms. From 1999-2007, the question provided pre-coded response categories from "No bedroom" to "5 or more bedrooms." Starting in 2008, the question became the second part of a two-part question that linked the number of "rooms" and number of "bedrooms" questions together. In addition, the wording of the question was changed to ask, "How many of these rooms are bedrooms?" Additional changes introduced in 2008 included removing the pre- coded response categories and adding a write-in box for the respondent to enter the number of bedrooms, providing the rule to use for defining a "bedroom" as an instruction, and providing an additional instruction addressing efficiency and studio apartments - "If this is an efficiency/studio apartment, print '0'."

Limitation of the Data
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The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the bedrooms question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Rooms and Bedrooms" on the ACS website (www.census.gov/acs).

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing American Community Survey data on bedrooms from the years 2008 and after with both pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000 data. Changes made to the bedrooms question between the 2007 and 2008 ACS involving the wording as well as the response option resulted in an inconsistency in the ACS data. This inconsistency in the data was most noticeable as an increase in "No bedroom" responses and as a decrease in "1 bedroom" to "3 bedrooms" responses.
Business on Property
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The data for business on property were obtained from Housing Question 6 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied and vacant one-family houses and mobile homes. A business must be easily recognizable from the outside. It usually will have a separate outside entrance and have the appearance of a business, such as a grocery store, restaurant, or barbershop. It may be either attached to the house or mobile home or be located elsewhere on the property. Those housing units in which a room is used for business or professional purposes and have no recognizable alterations to the outside are not considered to have a business. Medical offices are considered businesses for tabulation purposes.

In American Community Surveys prior to 2004 and in Census 2000, business on property was one of the variables used to determine specified owner- and renter-occupied housing units.

Business on property provides information on whether certain housing units should be excluded from statistics on rent, value, and shelter costs. The data provide a means to allow comparisons to be made to earlier census data by identifying information for comparable select groups of housing units without a business or medical office on the property.

Question/Concept History
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Since 1999, the 1996-1998 ACS questions were changed to add parentheses to the question wording: "Is there a business (such as a store or barber shop) or a medical office on this property?"
Comparability
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Data on business on property in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 business on property data.
Condominium Status and Fee
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The data on condominium housing units were obtained from Housing Question 13 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at both occupied and vacant housing units.

Condominium Status
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Condominium is a type of ownership that enables a person to own an apartment or house in a development of similarly owned units and to hold a common or joint ownership in some or all of the common areas and facilities such as land, roof, hallways, entrances, elevators, swimming pool, etc. Condominiums may be single-family houses as well as units in apartment buildings. A unit does not need to be occupied by the owner to be counted as a condominium.

Condominium Fee
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A condominium fee normally is charged monthly to the owners of the individual condominium units by the condominium owners' association to cover operating, maintenance, administrative, and improvement costs of the common property (grounds, halls, lobby, parking areas, laundry rooms, swimming pool, etc.). The costs for utilities and/or fuels may be included in the condominium fee if the units do not have separate meters.
Data on condominium fees may include real estate taxes and/or insurance payments for the common property, but do not include real estate taxes or fire, hazard, and flood insurance reported in Housing Questions 17 and 18 (in the 2011 American Community Survey) for the individual unit.
Amounts reported were the regular monthly payment, even if paid by someone outside the household or remain unpaid. Costs were estimated as closely as possible when exact costs were not known.

The data from this question were added to payments for mortgages (both first, second, home equity loans, and other junior mortgages); real estate taxes; fire hazard, and flood insurance payments; and utilities and fuels to derive "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" for condominium owners. These data provide information on the cost of home ownership and offer an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs.

By listing the condominium status and fee separately on the questionnaire, the data also serve to improving the accuracy of estimating monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners.

Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey included the question on condominium status with one that asked for condominium fees. The words "or mobile home," and an instruction for renters to enter the amount of the condominium fee only if the fee was in addition to rent, were added starting in 1999.
Comparability
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Data on condominium status and fee in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 condominium status and fee data.
Contract Rent
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The data on contract rent (also referred to as "rent asked" for vacant units) were obtained from Housing Question 15a in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied housing units that were for rent, vacant housing units that were for rent, and vacant units rented but not occupied at the time of interview.

Housing units that are renter occupied without payment of rent are shown separately as "No rent paid." The unit may be owned by friends or relatives who live elsewhere and who allow occupancy without charge. Rent-free houses or apartments may be provided to compensate caretakers, ministers, tenant farmers, sharecroppers, or others.

Contract rent is the monthly rent agreed to or contracted for, regardless of any furnishings, utilities, fees, meals, or services that may be included. For vacant units, it is the monthly rent asked for the rental unit at the time of interview.
If the contract rent includes rent for a business unit or for living quarters occupied by another household, only that part of the rent estimated to be for the respondent's unit was included. Excluded was any rent paid for additional units or for business premises.
If a renter pays rent to the owner of a condominium or cooperative, and the condominium fee or cooperative carrying charge also is paid by the renter to the owner, the condominium fee or carrying charge was included as rent.

If a renter receives payments from lodgers or roomers who are listed as members of the household, the rent without deduction for any payments received from the lodgers or roomers, was to be reported. The respondent was to report the rent agreed to or contracted for even if paid by someone else such as friends or relatives living elsewhere, a church or welfare agency, or the government through subsidies or vouchers.

Contract rent provides information on the monthly housing cost expenses for renters. When the data is used in conjunction with utility costs and income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels, and to provide assistance to agencies in determining policies on fair rent.
Median and Quartile Contract Rent
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The median divides the rent distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median contract rent and one-half above the median. Quartiles divide the rent distribution into four equal parts. Median and quartile contract rent are computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") In computing median and quartile contract rent, units reported as "No rent paid" are excluded. Median and quartile rent calculations are rounded to the nearest whole dollar. Upper and lower quartiles can be used to note large rent differences among various geographic areas. (For more information on medians and quartiles, see "Derived Measures.")
Aggregate Contract Rent
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Aggregate contract rent is calculated by adding all of the contract rents for occupied housing units in an area. Aggregate contract rent is subject to rounding, which means that all cells in a matrix are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")
Aggregate Rent Asked
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Aggregate rent asked is calculated by adding all of the rents for vacant-for-rent housing units in an area. Aggregate rent asked is subject to rounding, which means that all cells in a matrix are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")

Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questionnaires provided a space for the respondent to enter a dollar amount. The words "or mobile home" were added to the question starting in 1999 to be more inclusive of the structure type. Since 2004, contract rent has been shown for all renter-occupied housing units. In previous years (1996-2003), it was shown only for specified renter-occupied housing units.

Comparability
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Data on contract rent in the American Community Survey should not be compared to Census 2000 contract rent data. For Census 2000, tables were not released for total renter-occupied units. The universe in Census 2000 was "specified renter-occupied housing units" whereas the universe in the ACS is "renter occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made between these two data sets.
Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP)
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The data on Food Stamp benefits were obtained from Housing Question 12 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The Food Stamp Act of 1977 defines this federally-funded program as one intended to "permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet" (from Title XIII of Public Law 95-113, The Food Stamp Act of 1977, declaration of policy). Food purchasing power is increased by providing eligible households with coupons or cards that can be used to purchase food. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the Food Stamp Program through state and local welfare offices. The Food Stamp Program is the major national income support program to which all low-income and low-resource households, regardless of household characteristics, are eligible.

On October 1, 2008, the Federal Food Stamp program was renamed SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Respondents were asked if one or more of the current members received food stamps or a food stamp benefit card during the past 12 months. Respondents were also asked to include benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in order to incorporate the program name change.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey asked for a 12- month amount for the value of the food stamps following the Yes response category. For the 1999-2002 ACS, the words "Food Stamps" were capitalized in the question following the Yes response category, and the instruction "Past 12 months' value - Dollars" was added. Since 2003, the words "received during the past 12 months" were added to the question following the Yes response category. Beginning in 2008, the value of food stamps received was no longer collected; the wording of the question was changed from "At anytime during the past 12 months" to "In the past 12 months," and the term '"food stamp benefit card' was added.

Adding the text "food stamps benefit card" to the question text and removing the dollar amount portion of the question resulted in a statistically significant increase in the recipiency rate for food stamps because of a decrease in item nonresponse rate.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Many types of GQ populations have food stamp distributions that are very different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the food stamp distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the Food Stamp benefits question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Food Stamps" on the ACS website (http://www.census.gov/acs/www/).

Comparability
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The Food Stamp/SNAP question is not asked in Census 2000. Because of the wording change on the 2008 ACS questionnaire, you cannot compare data before and after 2008.
Gross Rent
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The data on gross rent were obtained from answers to Housing Questions 11a-d and 15a in the 2011 American Community Survey. Gross rent is the contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, and water and sewer) and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.) if these are paid by the renter (or paid for the renter by someone else). Gross rent is intended to eliminate differentials that result from varying practices with respect to the inclusion of utilities and fuels as part of the rental payment. The estimated costs of water and sewer, and fuels are reported on a 12-month basis but are converted to monthly figures for the tabulations. Renter units occupied without payment of rent are shown separately as "No rent paid" in the tabulations.

Gross rent provides information on the monthly housing cost expenses for renters. When the data is used in conjunction with income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels, and to provide assistance to agencies in determining policies on fair rent.

Adjusting Gross Rent for Inflation
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To inflate gross rent amounts from previous years, the dollar values are inflated to the latest year's dollar values by multiplying by a factor equal to the average annual Consumer Price Index (CPI-U-RS) factor for the current year, divided by the average annual CPI-U-RS factor for the earlier/earliest year.

Median Gross Rent
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Median gross rent divides the gross rent distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median gross rent and one-half above the median. Median gross rent is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A") Median gross rent is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. (For more information on medians, see "Derived Measures.")

Aggregate Gross Rent
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Aggregate gross rent is calculated by adding together all the gross rents for all specified housing units in an area. Aggregate gross rent is rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")
Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have remained the same.
Comparability
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Data on gross rent in the American Community Survey should not be compared to Census 2000 gross rent data. For Census 2000, tables were not released for total renter-occupied units. The universe in Census 2000 was "specified renter-occupied housing units" whereas the universe in the ACS is "renter occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made between these two data sets.
Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income
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Gross rent as a percentage of household income is a computed ratio of monthly gross rent to monthly household income (total household income divided by 12). The ratio is computed separately for each unit and is rounded to the nearest tenth. Units for which no rent is paid and units occupied by households that reported no income or a net loss comprise the category, "Not computed."

Gross rent as a percentage of household income provides information on the monthly housing cost expenses for renters. The information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels, and to provide assistance to agencies in determining policies on fair rent.
Median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income
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This measure divides the gross rent as a percentage of household income distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median gross rent as a percentage of household income and one-half above the median. Median gross rent as a percentage of household income is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") Median gross rent as a percentage of household income is rounded to the nearest tenth. (For more information on medians, see "Derived Measures.")
Comparability
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Data on gross rent as a percentage of household income in the American Community Survey should not be compared to Census 2000 gross rent as a percentage of household income data. For Census 2000, tables were not released for total renter-occupied units. The universe in Census 2000 was "specified renter-occupied housing units" whereas the universe in the ACS is "renter occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made between these two data sets.

Homeowner Vacancy Rate
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See Vacancy Status.

House Heating Fuel
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The data on house heating fuel were obtained from Housing Question 10 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied housing units. The data show the type of fuel used most to heat the house, apartment, or mobile home.

House heating fuel provides information on energy supply and consumption. These data are used by planners to identify the types of fuel used in certain areas and the consequences this usage may have on the area. The data also serve to aid in forecasting the need for future energy needs and power facilities such as generating plants, long distance pipelines for oil or natural gas, and long distance transmission lines for electricity.

House heating fuel is categorized on the ACS questionnaire as follows:

Utility Gas
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This category includes gas piped through underground pipes from a central system to serve the neighborhood.
Bottled, Tank, or LP Gas
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This category includes liquid propane gas stored in bottles or tanks that are refilled or exchanged when empty.
Electricity
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This category includes electricity that is generally supplied by means of above or underground electric power lines.
Fuel Oil, Kerosene, etc.
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This category includes fuel oil, kerosene, gasoline, alcohol, and other combustible liquids.
Coal or Coke
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This category includes coal or coke that is usually distributed by truck.
Wood
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This category includes purchased wood, wood cut by household members on their property or elsewhere, driftwood, sawmill or construction scraps, or the like.
Solar Energy
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This category includes heat provided by sunlight that is collected, stored, and actively distributed to most of the rooms.
Other Fuel
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This category includes all other fuels not specified elsewhere.
No Fuel Used
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This category includes units that do not use any fuel or that do not have heating equipment.
Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have remained the same.

Comparability
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Data on house heating fuel in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 house heating fuel data.
Household Size
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This question is based on the count of people in occupied housing units. All people occupying the housing unit are counted, including the householder, occupants related to the householder, and lodgers, roomers, boarders, and so forth.

Average Household Size of Occupied Unit
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A measure obtained by dividing the number of people living in occupied housing units by the total number of occupied housing units. This measure is rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Average Household Size of Owner-occupied Unit
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A measure obtained by dividing the number of people living in owner-occupied housing units by the total number of owner- occupied housing units. This measure is rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Average Household Size of Renter-occupied Unit
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A measure obtained by dividing the number of people living in renter-occupied housing units by the total number of renter- occupied housing units. This measure is rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Comparability
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Data on household size in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 household size data.
Housing Units
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See Living Quarters.

Insurance for Fire, Hazard, and Flood
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The data on fire, hazard, and flood insurance were obtained from Housing Question 18 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked of owner-occupied units. The statistics for this question refer to the annual premium for fire, hazard, and flood insurance on the property (land and buildings), that is, policies that protect the property and its contents against loss due to damage by fire, lightning, winds, hail, flood, explosion, and so on.

Liability policies are included only if they are paid with the fire, hazard, and flood insurance premiums and the amounts for fire, hazard, and flood cannot be separated. Premiums are reported even if they have not been paid or are paid by someone outside the household. When premiums are paid on other than a yearly basis, the premiums are converted to a yearly basis.

The payment for fire, hazard, and flood insurance is added to payments for real estate taxes, utilities, fuels, and mortgages (both first, second, home equity loans, and other junior mortgages) to derive "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income." These data provide information on the cost of home ownership and offer an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs.

A separate question (19d in the 2011 American Community Survey) determines whether insurance premiums are included in the mortgage payment to the lender(s). This makes it possible to avoid counting these premiums twice in the computations.
Median Fire, Hazard, and Flood Insurance
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Median fire, hazard, and flood insurance divides the fire, hazard, and flood insurance distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median fire, hazard, and flood insurance and one-half above the median. Median fire, hazard, and flood insurance is computed on the basis of a standard distribution (see the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") Median fire, hazard, and flood insurance is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. (For more information on medians, see "Derived Measures.")

Question/Concept History
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The American Community Survey questions have been the same since 1996.

Comparability
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Data on fire, hazard, and flood insurance in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 fire, hazard, and flood insurance data.
Kitchen Facilities
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Data on kitchen facilities were obtained from Housing Question 8d-f in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at both occupied and vacant housing units. A unit has complete kitchen facilities when it has all three of the following facilities: (d) a sink with a faucet, (e) a stove or range, and (f) a refrigerator. All kitchen facilities must be located in the house, apartment, or mobile home, but they need not be in the same room. A housing unit having only a microwave or portable heating equipment such as a hot plate or camping stove should not be considered as having complete kitchen facilities. An icebox is not considered to be a refrigerator.
Kitchen facilities provide an indication of living standards and assess the quality of household facilities within the housing inventory. These data provide assistance in determining areas that are eligible for programs and funding, such as Meals on Wheels. The data also serve to aid in the development of policies based on fair market rent, and to identify areas in need of rehabilitation loans or grants.
Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey questions asked whether the house or apartment had complete kitchen facilities, requiring that the three facilities all be in the same unit. In 1999, "mobile home" was added to the question, along with the capitalization of the word "COMPLETE" for emphasis. Starting in 2008, the structure of the question changed and combined kitchen facilities with plumbing facilities and telephone service availability into one question to ask, "Does this house, apartment, or
mobile home have-" and provided the respondent with a "Yes" or "No" checkbox for each component needed for complete facilities. Also in 2008, the component "sink with piped water" was changed to "sink with a faucet."

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing American Community Survey data on kitchen facilities from the years 2008 and after with both pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000 data. Changes made to the kitchen facilities question between the 2007 and 2008 ACS involving the wording as well as the response option resulted in an inconsistency in the ACS data. This inconsistency in the data was most noticeable as an increase in housing units "lacking complete kitchen facilities."
Meals Included in Rent
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The data on meals included in the rent were obtained from Housing Question 15b in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked of occupied housing units that were rented and vacant housing units that were for rent at the time of enumeration. These data only include rental units which meals are included in the rent, or if occupants contract for either their meals or a meal plan in order to live in the unit. Renters in continuing care or life facilities are included in this category if their contracts cover meal services.
The meals included in rent allows for a measurement on the amount of congregate housing within the housing inventory. Congregate housing is considered to be housing units where the rent includes meals and other services.
Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have been the same. Starting in 2004, meals included in rent is shown for all renter-occupied housing units. In previous years (1996-2003), it was shown only for specified renter- occupied housing units.

Comparability
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Data on meals included in rent in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 meals included in rent data.
Mobile Home Costs
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The data on mobile home costs were obtained from Housing Question 21 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at owner-occupied mobile homes.

These data include the total yearly costs for personal property taxes, land or site rent, registration fees, and license fees on all owner-occupied mobile homes. The instructions are to exclude real estate taxes already reported in Question 17 in the 2011 American Community Survey.

Costs are estimated as closely as possible when exact costs are not known. Amounts are the total for an entire 12-month billing period, even if they are paid by someone outside the household or remain unpaid.

The data from this question are added to payments for mortgages; real estate taxes; fire, hazard, and flood insurance payments; utilities; and fuels to derive "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" for mobile home owners. These data provide information on the cost of home ownership and offer an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs.
Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey questions were the same. Starting in 1999, the question had a lead-in question on whether the respondent had an installment loan or a contract on the mobile home. The question then asked for total costs including any installment loan.

Comparability
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Data on mobile home costs in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 mobile home costs data.
Monthly Housing Costs
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The data for monthly housing costs are developed from a distribution of "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" for owner-occupied units and "Gross Rent" for renter-occupied units. The owner-occupied categories are further separated into those with a mortgage and those without a mortgage. See the sections on "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Gross Rent" for more details on what characteristics are included in each measure and how these data are comparable to previous ACS and Census 2000 data.

Monthly housing costs provide information on the cost of monthly housing expenses for owners and renters. When the data is used in conjunction with income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.

Median Monthly Housing Costs
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This measure divides the monthly housing costs distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median monthly housing costs and one-half above the median. Medians are shown separately for units "with a mortgage" and for units "not mortgaged." Median monthly housing costs are computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") Median monthly housing costs are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
Monthly Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income
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The data for monthly housing costs as a percentage of household income are developed from a distribution of "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" for owner-occupied and "Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income" for renter-occupied units. The owner-occupied categories are further separated into those with a mortgage and those without a mortgage. See sections on "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" and "Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income" for more details on what characteristics are included in each measure and how these data are comparable to previous ACS and Census 2000 data.

Monthly housing costs as a percentage of household income provide information on the cost of monthly housing expenses for owners and renters. The information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.
Mortgage Payment
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The data on mortgage payment were obtained from Housing Question 19b in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at owner-occupied units that have a mortgage, deed of trust, or similar debt; or contract to purchase. The question provides the regular monthly amount required to be paid to the lender for the first mortgage (deed of trust, contract to purchase, or similar debt) on the property. Amounts are included even if the payments are delinquent or paid by someone else. The amounts reported are included in the computation of "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" for units with a mortgage.

The amounts reported include everything paid to the lender including principal and interest payments, real estate taxes, fire, hazard, and flood insurance payments, and mortgage insurance premiums. Separate questions determine whether real estate taxes and fire, hazard, and flood insurance payments are included in the mortgage payment to the lender. This makes it possible to avoid counting these components twice in the computation of "Selected Monthly Owner Costs."

Mortgage payment provides information on the monthly housing cost expenses for owners with a mortgage. When the data is used in conjunction with income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs aimed to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.
Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have been the same.
Comparability
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Data on mortgage payment in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 mortgage payment data. For Census 2000, tables for both total owner-occupied housing units and specified owner-occupied housing units were released, thus comparisons can be made only when comparing the same universes between the two data sets.
Mortgage Status
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The data on mortgage status were obtained from Housing Questions 19a and 20a in the 2011 American Community Survey. The questions were asked at owner-occupied units. "Mortgage" refers to all forms of debt where the property is pledged as security for repayment of the debt, including deeds of trust; trust deeds; contracts to purchase; land contracts; junior mortgages; and home equity loans.

A mortgage is considered a first mortgage if it has prior claim over any other mortgage or if it is the only mortgage on the property. All other mortgages (second, third, etc.) are considered junior mortgages. A home equity loan is generally a junior mortgage. If no first mortgage is reported, but a junior mortgage or home equity loan is reported, then the loan is considered a first mortgage.

In most data products, the tabulations for "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" usually are shown separately for units "with a mortgage" and for units "not mortgaged." The category "not mortgaged" is comprised of housing units owned free and clear of debt.

Mortgage status provides information on the cost of home ownership. When the data is used in conjunction with mortgage payment data, the information determines shelter costs for living quarters. These data can be use in the development of housing programs aimed to meet the needs of people at different economic levels. The data also serve to evaluate the magnitude of and to plan facilities for condominiums, which are becoming an important source of supply of new housing in many areas.
Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have been the same.
Comparability
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Data on mortgage status in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 mortgage status data. For Census 2000, tables for both total owner-occupied housing units and specified owner-occupied housing units were released, thus comparisons can be made only when comparing the same universes between the two data sets.
Occupants Per Room
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Occupants per room is obtained by dividing the number of people in each occupied housing unit by the number of rooms in the unit. The figures show the number of occupied housing units having the specified ratio of people per room. Although the Census Bureau has no official definition of crowded units, many users consider units with more than one occupant per room to be crowded. Occupants per room is rounded to the nearest hundredth.

This data is the basis for estimating the amount of living and sleeping spaces within a housing unit. These data allow officials to plan and allocate funding for additional housing to relieve crowded housing conditions. The data also serve to aid in planning for future services and infrastructure, such as home energy assistance programs and the development of waste treatment facilities.

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing American Community Survey data on occupants per room from the years 2008 and after with both pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000 data. Changes made to the rooms question between the 2007 and 2008 ACS involving the wording as well as the response option resulted in an inconsistency in the ACS data. This inconsistency in the data was most noticeable as an increase in "1 room" responses and as a decrease in "2 rooms" to "6 rooms" responses.

Occupied Housing Units
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See Living Quarters.

Owner-Occupied Units
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See Tenure.

Plumbing Facilities
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The data on plumbing facilities were obtained from Housing Question 8 a, b, and c in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at both occupied and vacant housing units. Complete plumbing facilities include: (a) hot and cold running water, (b) a flush toilet, and (c) a bathtub or shower. All three facilities must be located inside the house, apartment, or mobile home, but not necessarily in the same room. Housing units are classified as lacking complete plumbing facilities when any of the three facilities is not present.

Plumbing facilities provide an indication of living standards and assess the quality of household facilities within the housing inventory. These data provide assistance in the assessment of water resources and to serve as an aid to identify possible areas of ground water contamination. The data also are used to forecast the need for additional water and sewage facilities, aid in the development of policies based on fair market rent, and to identify areas in need of rehabilitation loans or grants.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-2007 American Community Survey questions were stand-alone questions that asked the respondent to answer either "Yes, has all three facilities" or "No" to the question of whether the housing unit had complete plumbing facilities, requiring that the facilities all be in the same unit. Starting in 2008, the structure of the question changed and combined plumbing facilities with kitchen facilities and telephone service availability into one question to ask, "Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have -" and provided the respondent with a "Yes" or "No" checkbox for each component needed for complete facilities. An additional change introduced in 2008 included changing the description of the component "hot and cold piped water" to "hot and cold running water."

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing American Community Survey data on plumbing facilities from the years 2008 and after with both pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000 data. Changes made to the plumbing facilities question between 2007 and 2008 ACS involving the wording as well as the response option resulted in an inconsistency in the ACS data. This inconsistency in the data was most noticeable as an increase in housing units "lacking complete plumbing facilities."

Data tables for Puerto Rico were not shown. Research indicated that the questions on plumbing facilities that were introduced in 2008 in the stateside American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey may not have been appropriate for Puerto Rico.
Population in Occupied Housing Units
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The data shown for population in occupied units is the total population minus any people living in group quarters. All people occupying the housing unit are counted, including the householder, occupants related to the householder, and lodgers, roomers, boarders, and so forth.

Population in occupied housing units provides information on the population within the housing inventory. The data allow the identification of population patterns within areas to assist in developing housing programs. These data also serve to aid officials in tracking the changing population characteristics of the housing inventory over time.

Comparability
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Data on the population in occupied housing units in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 population data on the population in occupied housing units.
Poverty Status of Households
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The data on poverty status of households were derived from answers to the income questions. Since poverty is defined at the family level and not the household level, the poverty status of the household is determined by the poverty status of the householder. Households are classified as poor when the total income of the householder's family is below the appropriate poverty threshold. (For nonfamily householders, their own income is compared with the appropriate threshold.) The income of people living in the household who are unrelated to the householder is not considered when determining the poverty status of a household, nor does their presence affect the family size in determining the appropriate threshold. The poverty thresholds vary depending on three criteria: size of family, number of related children, and, for 1- and 2-person families, age of householder. See the table "The 2011 Poverty Factors" in Appendix A. (For more information, see "Poverty Status" and "Income" under "Population Variables.")
Real Estate Taxes
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The data on real estate taxes were obtained from Housing Question 17 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at owner-occupied units. The statistics from this question refer to the total amount of all real estate taxes on the entire property (land and buildings) payable to all taxing jurisdictions, including special assessments, school taxes, county taxes, and so forth.

Real estate taxes include state, local, and all other real estate taxes even if delinquent, unpaid, or paid by someone who is not a member of the household. However, taxes due from prior years are not included. If taxes are paid on other than a yearly basis, the payments are converted to a yearly basis.

The payment for real estate taxes is added to payments for fire, hazard, and flood insurance; utilities and fuels; and mortgages (both first and second mortgages, home equity loans, and other junior mortgages) to derive "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income." These data provide information on the cost of home ownership and offer an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs.

A separate question (Question 19c in the 2008 American Community Survey) determines whether real estate taxes are included in the mortgage payment to the lender(s). This makes it possible to avoid counting taxes twice in the computations.

Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have been the same.

Comparability
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Data on real estate taxes in the American Community Survey should not be compared to Census 2000 real estate taxes data. The universe in Census 2000 was "specified owner-occupied housing units" whereas the universe in the ACS is "owner occupied housing units," thus comparisons cannot be made between these two data sets.
Rent Asked
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See Contract Rent.

Rental Vacancy Rate
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See Vacancy Status.

Renter-Occupied Housing Units
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See Tenure.

Rooms
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The data on rooms were obtained from Housing Question 7a in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at both occupied and vacant housing units. The statistics on rooms are in terms of the number of housing units with a specified number of rooms. The intent of this question is to count the number of whole rooms used for living purposes.

For each unit, rooms include living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, finished recreation rooms, enclosed porches suitable for year-round use, and lodger's rooms. Excluded are strip or pullman kitchens, bathrooms, open porches, balconies, halls or foyers, half-rooms, utility rooms, unfinished attics or basements, or other unfinished space used for storage. A partially divided room is a separate room only if there is a partition from floor to ceiling, but not if the partition consists solely of shelves or cabinets.

Rooms provide the basis for estimating the amount of living and sleeping spaces within a housing unit. These data allow officials to plan and allocate funding for additional housing to relieve crowded housing conditions. The data also serve to aid in planning for future services and infrastructure, such as home energy assistance programs and the development of waste treatment facilities.

Median Rooms
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This measure divides the room distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median number of rooms and one-half above the median. In computing median rooms, the whole number is used as the midpoint of the interval; thus, the category "3 rooms" is treated as an interval ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 rooms. Median rooms is rounded to the nearest tenth. (For more information on medians, see the discussion under "Derived Measures.")
Aggregate Rooms
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Aggregate rooms is calculated by adding all of the rooms for housing units in an area. (For more information on aggregates, see "Derived Measures.")
Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question provided a space for a write-in entry on the number of rooms. From 1999-2007 the question provided response categories from "1 room" to "9 or more rooms." Starting in 2008, the response categories were removed and a write-in box was added for the respondent to enter the number of rooms. Additional changes introduced in 2008 included adding the word "separate" to the question stem, adding an instruction that defines a "room," adding an inclusion instruction to include bedrooms and kitchens in the count of rooms, and changing the current exclusion instruction by removing the word "half-room" and adding the phrase "unfinished basements."

Limitation of the Data
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The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the rooms question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Rooms and Bedrooms" on the ACS website (http://www.census.gov/acs/www/).

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing American Community Survey data on rooms from the years 2008 and after with both pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000 data. Changes made to the rooms question between the 2007 and 2008 ACS involving the wording as well as the response option resulted in an inconsistency in the ACS data. This inconsistency in the data was most noticeable as an increase in "1 room" response and as a decrease in "2 rooms" to "6 rooms" responses.

Second or Junior Mortgage Payments or Home Equity Loan
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The data on second mortgages or home equity loan payments were obtained from Housing Questions 20a and 20b in the 2011 American Community Survey. The questions were asked at owner-occupied units. Question 20a asks whether a second mortgage or a home equity loan exists on the property. Question 20b provides the regular monthly amount required to be paid to the lender on all second and junior mortgages and home equity loans. Amounts are included even if the payments are delinquent or paid by someone else. The amounts reported are included in the computation of "Selected Monthly Owner Costs" and "Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income" for units with a mortgage.

All mortgages other than first mortgages (for example, second, third, etc.) are classified as "junior" mortgages. A second mortgage is a junior mortgage that gives the lender a claim against the property that is second to the claim of the holder of the first mortgage. Any other junior mortgage(s) would be subordinate to the second mortgage. A home equity loan is a line of credit available to the borrower that is secured by real estate. It may be placed on a property that already has a first or second mortgage, or it may be placed on a property that is owned free and clear.

If the respondents answered that no first mortgage existed, but a second mortgage or a home equity loan did, a computer edit assigned the unit a first mortgage and made the first mortgage monthly payment the amount reported in the second mortgage. The second mortgage/home equity loan data were then made "No" in Question 20a and blank in Question 20b.

Second mortgage or home equity loan data provide information on the monthly housing cost expenses for owners. When the data is used in conjunction with income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs aimed to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.

By listing the second mortgage or home equity loan question separately on the questionnaire from other housing cost questions, the data also serve to improving the accuracy of estimating monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners.
Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions remained the same.

Comparability
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Data on second mortgages or home equity loans in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 second mortgages or home equity loans data.

Selected Conditions
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The variable "Selected Conditions" is defined for owner- and renter-occupied housing units as having at least one of the following conditions: 1) lacking complete plumbing facilities, 2) lacking complete kitchen facilities, 3) with 1.01 or more occupants per room, 4) selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income greater than 30 percent, and 5) gross rent as a percentage of household income greater than 30 percent.

Selected conditions provide information in assessing the quality of the housing inventory and its occupants. The data is used to easily identify those homes in which the quality of living and housing can be considered substandard.
Comparability
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Data on selected conditions in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 selected conditions data.
Selected Monthly Owner Costs
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The data on selected monthly owner costs were obtained from Housing Questions 11 and Questions 17 through 21 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The data were obtained for owner-occupied units. Selected monthly owner costs are the sum of payments for mortgages, deeds of trust, contracts to purchase, or similar debts on the property (including payments for the first mortgage, second mortgages, home equity loans, and other junior mortgages); real estate taxes; fire, hazard, and flood insurance on the property; utilities (electricity, gas, and water and sewer); and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). It also includes, where appropriate, the monthly condominium fee for condominiums (Question 13) and mobile home costs (Question 21) (installment loan payments, personal property taxes, site rent, registration fees, and license fees). Selected monthly owner costs were tabulated for all owner-occupied units, and usually are shown separately for units "with a mortgage" and for units "not mortgaged."

Selected monthly owner costs provide information on the monthly housing cost expenses for owners. When the data is used in conjunction with income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.

Adjusting Selected Monthly Owner Costs for Inflation
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To inflate selected monthly owner costs from previous years, the dollar values are inflated to the latest year's dollar values by multiplying by a factor equal to the average annual Consumer Price Index (CPI-U- RS) factor for the current year, divided by the average annual CPI-U-RS factor for the earlier/earliest year.

Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs
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This measure divides the selected monthly owner costs distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median selected monthly owner costs and one-half above the median. Medians are shown separately for units "with a mortgage" and for units "not mortgaged." Median selected monthly owner costs are computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") Median selected monthly owner costs are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the American Community Survey questions have been the same. The American Community Survey collected the monthly cost of electricity and gas, and the 12-month cost of water and sewer. Since 2004, selected monthly owner costs has been shown for all owner-occupied housing units. In previous years (1996-2003), the question was shown only for specified owner-occupied housing units.

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing selected monthly owner costs data between the American Community Survey and Census 2000. For Census 2000, tables for both total owner-occupied housing units and specified owner-occupied housing units were released, thus comparisons can be made only when comparing the same universes between the two data sets. Additionally, for Census 2000 tables with full distributions were released for total owner-occupied housing units but medians were not shown.
Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income
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The information on selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income is the computed ratio of selected monthly owner costs to monthly household income. The ratio was computed separately for each unit and rounded to the nearest whole percentage. The data are tabulated only for owner-occupied units.

Separate distributions are often shown for units "with a mortgage" and for units "not mortgaged." Units occupied by households reporting no income or a net loss are included in the "not computed" category. (For more information, see the discussion under "Selected Monthly Owner Costs.")

Selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income provide information on the monthly housing cost expenses for owners. The information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels.

Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income
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This measure divides the selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income and one-half above the median. Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income is rounded to the nearest tenth. (For more information on medians, see "Derived Measures.")

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income data between the American Community Survey and Census 2000. For Census 2000, tables for both total owner-occupied housing units and specified owner-occupied housing units were released, thus comparisons can be made only when comparing the same universes between the two data sets. Additionally, for Census 2000 tables with full distributions were released for total owner-occupied housing units but medians were not shown.

Specified Owner-Occupied Units
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Specified owner-occupied units include only 1-family houses on less than 10 acres (cuerdas) without a business or medical office on the property. The data for "specified units" exclude mobile homes, houses with a business or medical office, houses on 10 or more acres (cuerdas), and housing units in multiunit buildings.

Specified owner-occupied unit information is used to maintain a comparable universe between the American Community Survey and earlier census data. Financial housing characteristics in earlier census data were based on a specified owner-occupied unit, however the ACS does not provide information solely for this universe. Therefore, the characteristics for a specified owner-occupied unit are maintained within the PUMS file to ensure comparisons can be made between the two data sets.

Question/Concept History
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Prior to 1990, much of the owner-occupied housing inventory was comprised of single-family homes, either detached or attached. Therefore, earlier census data provided financial housing characteristics for the specified owner-occupied unit universe. However, the housing market began to change during the 1990's as an increasing number of units in multiunit structures were constructed and sold as condominiums, as well as the increase of mobile homes as an option for lower-income owners to purchase a home. As a result of these changes, the ACS abandoned the concept of the specified owner- occupied universe to ensure housing data was provided for all owner-occupied units.

Comparability
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The ACS only publishes financial housing characteristics for all units. The ACS PUMS file will provide the individual characteristics of a specified owner-occupied unit to allow comparisons to be made between the ACS and earlier census data. Census 2000 data provide financial housing characteristics for both all owner-occupied units and the more restricted universe of specified owner-occupied units.
Specified Renter-Occupied Units
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Specified renter-occupied units are renter-occupied units that exclude 1-family houses on 10 or more acres (cuerdas).
Specified renter-occupied unit information is used to maintain a comparable universe between the American Community Survey and earlier census data. Financial housing characteristics in earlier census data were based on a specified renter-occupied unit, however the ACS does not provide information solely for this universe. Therefore, the characteristics for a specified renter-occupied unit are maintained within the PUMS file to ensure comparisons can be made between the two data sets.

Comparability
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The ACS only publishes financial housing characteristics for total renter- occupied units, whereas for Census 2000 tables were only released for specified renter- occupied units. Therefore, comparisons between these two data sets cannot be made, unless the characteristics of a specified renter-occupied are used to construct the same universe within the ACS PUMS file.
Telephone Service Available
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The data on telephones were obtained from Housing Question 8g in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied housing units.

The question asked whether telephone service was available in the house, apartment, or mobile home. A telephone must be in working order and service available in the house, apartment, or mobile home that allows the respondent to both make and receive calls. Households whose service has been discontinued for nonpayment or other reasons are not counted as having telephone service available.

The availability of telephone service provides information on the isolation of households. These data help assess the level of communication access amongst elderly and low-income households. The data also serve to aid in the development of emergency telephone, medical, or crime prevention services.
Question/Concept History
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For the 1996-1998 American Community Survey, the question asked whether there was a telephone in the house or apartment. A telephone must be inside the house or apartment for the unit to be classified as having a telephone and units where the respondent used a telephone located inside the building but not in the respondent's living quarters were classified as having no telephone. In 1999, the words "or mobile home" were added question to be more inclusive of the structure type. In 2004, instructions that accompanied the ACS mail questionnaire advised respondents that if the household members used cell phones to answer that the house, apartment, or mobile home had telephone service. Starting in 2008, the structure of the question changed and combined telephone service availability with plumbing facilities and kitchen facilities into one question to ask, "Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have -" and provided the respondent with a "Yes" or "No" checkbox for each component needed for complete facilities. In 2008 the instruction "Include cell phones'' was added.
Limitation of the Data
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The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the telephone service available question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Facilities" on the ACS website (http://www.census.gov/acs).

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing American Community Survey data on telephone service availability from the years 2008 and after with both pre-2008 ACS and Census 2000 data. Changes made to the telephone service availability question between the 2007 and 2008 ACS involving the structure of the question as well as the introduction of an instruction to include cell phones resulted in an inconsistency in the ACS data. This inconsistency in the data was most noticeable as an increase in the number of respondents answering "yes" to the question.

Tenure
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The data for tenure were obtained from Housing Question 14 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied housing units. Occupied housing units are classified as either owner occupied or renter occupied.

Tenure provides a measurement of home ownership, which has served as an indicator of the nation's economy for decades. These data are used to aid in the distribution of funds for programs such as those involving mortgage insurance, rental housing, and national defense housing. Data on tenure allows planners to evaluate the overall viability of housing markets and to assess the stability of neighborhoods. The data also serve in understanding the characteristics of owner occupied and renter occupied units to aid builders, mortgage lenders, planning officials, government agencies, etc., in the planning of housing programs and services.

Owner Occupied
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A housing unit is owner occupied if the owner or co-owner lives in the unit even if it is mortgaged or not fully paid for. The owner or co-owner must live in the unit and usually is Person 1 on the questionnaire. The unit is "Owned by you or someone in this household with a mortgage or loan" if it is being purchased with a mortgage or some other debt arrangement such as a deed of trust, trust deed, contract to purchase, land contract, or purchase agreement. The unit also is considered owned with a mortgage if it is built on leased land and there is a mortgage on the unit. Mobile homes occupied by owners with installment loan balances also are included in this category.

A housing unit is "Owned by you or someone in this household free and clear (without a mortgage or loan)" if there is no mortgage or other similar debt on the house, apartment, or mobile home including units built on leased land if the unit is owned outright without a mortgage.

Renter Occupied
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All occupied housing units which are not owner occupied, whether they are rented or occupied without payment of rent, are classified as renter occupied. "No rent paid" units are separately identified in the rent tabulations. Such units are generally provided free by friends or relatives or in exchange for services such as resident manager, caretaker, minister, or tenant farmer. Housing units on military bases also are classified in the "No rent paid" category. "Rented" includes units in continuing care, sometimes called life care arrangements. These arrangements usually involve a contract between one or more individuals and a health services provider guaranteeing the individual shelter, usually a house or apartment, and services, such as meals or transportation to shopping or recreation. (For more information, see "Meals Included in Rent.")

Question/Concept History
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From 1996-2007 the American Community Survey questions were the same. Starting in 2008, the instruction "Mark (X) ONE box." was added following the question, and the instruction "Include home equity loans." was added following the response category "Owned by you or someone in this household with a mortgage or loan?" Additional changes introduced in 2008 included revising the wording of two of the response categories from "Rented for cash rent?" to "Rented?" and "Occupied without payment of cash rent?" to "Occupied without payment of rent?"

Comparability
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Data on tenure in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 tenure data.
Units in Structure
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The data on units in structure (also referred to as "type of structure") were obtained from Housing Question 1 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied and vacant housing units. A structure is a separate building that either has open spaces on all sides or is separated from other structures by dividing walls that extend from ground to roof. In determining the number of units in a structure, all housing units, both occupied and vacant, are counted. Stores and office space are excluded. The data are presented for the number of housing units in structures of specified type and size, not for the number of residential buildings.

The units in structure provides information on the housing inventory by subdividing the inventory into one-family homes, apartments, and mobile homes. When the data is used in conjunction with tenure, year structure built, and income, units in structure serves as the basic identifier of housing used in many federal programs. The data also serve to aid in the planning of roads, hospitals, utility lines, schools, playgrounds, shopping centers, emergency preparedness plans, and energy consumption and supplies.
Mobile Home
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Both occupied and vacant mobile homes to which no permanent rooms have been added are counted in this category. Mobile homes used only for business purposes or for extra sleeping space and mobile homes for sale on a dealer's lot, at the factory, or in storage are not counted in the housing inventory.

1-Unit, Detached
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This is a 1-unit structure detached from any other house, that is, with open space on all four sides. Such structures are considered detached even if they have an adjoining shed or garage. A one-family house that contains a business is considered detached as long as the building has open space on all four sides. Mobile homes to which one or more permanent rooms have been added or built also are included.
1-Unit, Attached
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This is a 1-unit structure that has one or more walls extending from ground to roof separating it from adjoining structures. In row houses (sometimes called townhouses), double houses, or houses attached to nonresidential structures, each house is a separate, attached structure if the dividing or common wall goes from ground to roof.
2 or More Apartments
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These are units in structures containing 2 or more housing units, further categorized as units in structures with 2, 3 or 4, 5 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 49, and 50 or more apartments.

Boat, RV, Van, Etc.
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This category is for any living quarters occupied as a housing unit that does not fit the previous categories. Examples that fit this category are houseboats, railroad cars, campers, and vans. Recreational vehicles, boats, vans, tents, railroad cars, and the like are included only if they are occupied as someone's current place of residence.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question provided the response category, "a mobile home or trailer." Starting in 1999, the ACS response category dropped "or trailer" to read as "a mobile home."

Comparability
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Data on units in structure in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 units in structure data.
Utilities
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The data on utility costs were obtained from Housing Questions 11a through 11d in the 2011 American Community Survey. The questions were asked of occupied housing units. The questions about electricity and gas asked for the monthly costs, and the questions about water/sewer and other fuels (oil, coal, wood, kerosene, etc.) asked for the yearly costs.

Costs are recorded if paid by or billed to occupants, a welfare agency, relatives, or friends. Costs that are paid by landlords, included in the rent payment, or included in condominium or cooperative fees are excluded.

The cost of utilities provides information on the cost of either home ownership or renting. When the data is used as part of monthly housing costs and in conjunction with income data, the information offers an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels, and to provide assistance in forecasting future utility services and energy supplies.

Question/Concept History
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The American Community Survey questions ask for monthly costs for electricity and gas, and yearly costs for water/sewer and other fuels. Since 1999, the words "or mobile home" were added to each question, and Question 11b, which asked "Last month, what was the cost of gas for this house, apartment, or mobile home?" had an additional response category, "included in electricity payment entered above."

Limitation of the Data
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Research has shown that respondents tended to overstate their expenses for electricity and gas when compared to utility company records. There is some evidence that this overstatement is reduced when yearly costs are asked rather than monthly costs. Caution should be exercised in using these data for direct analysis because costs are not reported for certain kinds of units such as renter-occupied units with all utilities included in the rent and owner-occupied condominium units with utilities included in the condominium fee.
Comparability
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Data on utility costs in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 utility costs data.

Vacancy Status
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The data on vacancy status were obtained only for a sample of cases in the computer-assisted personal interview (known as "CAPI") follow-up by field representatives. Data on vacancy status were obtained at the time of the personal visit. Vacancy status and other characteristics of vacant units were determined by field representatives obtaining information from landlords, owners, neighbors, rental agents, and others.

Vacancy status has long been used as a basic indicator of the housing market and provides information on the stability and quality of housing for certain areas. The data is used to assess the demand for housing, to identify housing turnover within areas, and to better understand the population within the housing market over time. These data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of persons at different economic levels.
Vacant units are subdivided according to their housing market classification as follows:
For Rent
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These are vacant units offered "for rent," and vacant units offered either "for rent" or "for sale."
Rented, Not Occupied
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These are vacant units rented but not yet occupied, including units where money has been paid or agreed upon, but the renter has not yet moved in.

For Sale Only
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These are vacant units being offered "for sale only," including units in cooperatives and condominium projects if the individual units are offered "for sale only." If units are offered either "for rent" or "for sale" they are included in the "for rent" classification.

Sold, Not Occupied
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These are vacant units sold but not yet occupied, including units that have been sold recently, but the new owner has not yet moved in.
For Seasonal, Recreational, or Occasional Use
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These are vacant units used or intended for use only in certain seasons or for weekends or other occasional use throughout the year. Seasonal units include those used for summer or winter sports or recreation, such as beach cottages and hunting cabins. Seasonal units also may include quarters for such workers as herders and loggers. Interval ownership units, sometimes called shared-ownership or timesharing condominiums, also are included here.

For Migrant Workers
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These include vacant units intended for occupancy by migratory workers employed in farm work during the crop season. (Work in a cannery, a freezer plant, or a food-processing plant is not farm work.)

Other Vacant
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If a vacant unit does not fall into any of the categories specified above, it is classified as "Other vacant." For example, this category includes units held for occupancy by a caretaker or janitor, and units held for personal reasons of the owner.

Homeowner Vacancy Rate
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The homeowner vacancy rate is the proportion of the homeowner inventory that is vacant "for sale." It is computed by dividing the number of vacant units "for sale only" by the sum of the owner-occupied units, vacant units that are "for sale only," and vacant units that have been sold but not yet occupied, and then multiplying by 100. This measure is rounded to the nearest tenth.

Rental Vacancy Rate
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The rental vacancy rate is the proportion of the rental inventory that is vacant "for rent." It is computed by dividing the number of vacant units "for rent" by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are "for rent," and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied, and then multiplying by 100. This measure is rounded to the nearest tenth.

Available Housing Vacancy Rate
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The proportion of the housing inventory that is vacant- for-sale only and vacant-for-rent. It is computed by dividing the sum of vacant-for-sale only housing units and vacant-for-rent housing units, by the sum of occupied units, vacant-for-sale only housing units, vacant-sold-not occupied housing units, vacant-for-rent housing units, and vacant-rented-not-occupied housing units, and then multiplying by 100. This measure is rounded to the nearest tenth.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-2004 American Community Survey and Census 2000 used a single vacancy status category for units that were either "Rented or sold, not occupied." Since the 2005 ACS, there have been two separate categories, "Rented, not occupied" and "Sold, not occupied." This change created consistency among the ACS, the Housing Vacancy Survey, and the proposed 2010 Census vacancy status response options. The revised categories were incorporated in the calculations of the rental vacancy rate and the homeowner vacancy rate.

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing vacancy status data between the American Community Survey and Census 2000. The tabulation category "Rented or sold, not occupied" in Census 2000 is separated into the two categories "Rented, not occupied" and "Sold, not occupied" in the ACS.
Vacant - Current Residence Elsewhere
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A housing unit occupied at the time of interview entirely by people who will be there for 2 months or less.

In CATI and CAPI interviews, the data for current residence elsewhere were obtained after creating the roster of people staying at the sample unit and after asking the current residence questions. Temporarily occupied units are sample units occupied at the time of interview entirely by people who will be there for 2 months or less. At sample units where all the people are staying less than 2 months, the respondent is asked a subset of the questions from the housing section, including the question on vacancy status.

The current residence concept is unique to the American Community Survey. By using the current residence to decide for whom to collect survey information, the ACS can provide a more accurate description of an area's social and economic characteristics. Most surveys, as well as the decennial census, use the concept of usual residence. Usual residence is defined as the place where a person lives and sleeps most of the time. The census defines everyone as having only one usual residence.
Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing vacant-current residence elsewhere data between the American Community Survey and Census 2000.
Vacant Housing Units
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See Living Quarters.

Value
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The data on value (also referred to as "price asked" for vacant units) were obtained from Housing Question 16 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at housing units that were owned, being bought, vacant for sale, or sold not occupied at the time of the survey. Value is the respondent's estimate of how much the property (house and lot, mobile home and lot, or condominium unit) would sell for if it were for sale. If the house or mobile home was owned or being bought, but the land on which it sits was not, the respondent was asked to estimate the combined value of the house or mobile home and the land. For vacant units, value was the price asked for the property. Value was tabulated separately for all owner-occupied and vacant-for-sale housing units, as well as owner- occupied and vacant-for-sale mobile homes.

The value of a home provides information on neighborhood quality, housing affordability, and wealth. These data provide socioeconomic information not captured by household income and comparative information on the state of local housing markets. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs designed to meet the housing needs of persons at different economic levels.
Adjusting Value for Inflation
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Since value collected before 2008 is the only dollar amount captured on the questionnaire in specified intervals, the category boundaries for previous years are not adjusted for inflation. In the comparison profiles, however, the median value is adjusted for inflation by multiplying a factor equal to the average annual CPI-U-RS factor for the current year, divided by the average annual CPI-U-RS factor for the earlier/earliest year.
Median and Quartile Value
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The median divides the value distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median value of the property (house and lot, mobile home and lot, or condominium unit) and one-half above the median. Quartiles divide the value distribution into four equal parts. Median and quartile value are computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") Median and quartile value calculations are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. Upper and lower quartiles can be used to note large value differences among various geographic areas. (For more information on medians and quartiles, see "Derived Measures.")

Aggregate Value
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Aggregate value is calculated by adding all of the value estimates for owner occupied housing units in an area. Aggregate value is rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information on aggregates, see "Derived Measures.")
Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question provided a space for the respondent to enter a dollar amount. From 1999-2007 the question provided 19 pre-coded response categories from "Less than $10,000" to "$250,000 or more - Specify.'" Starting in 2004, value was shown for all owner-occupied housing units, unlike from1996-2003 in which value was shown only for specified owner-occupied housing units. Changes introduced in 2008 were removing the pre-coded response categories and adding a write-in box for the respondent to enter the property value amount in dollars, and revising the wording of the question to ask, "About how much do you think this house and lot, apartment, or mobile home (and lot, if owned) would sell for if it were for sale?"
Limitation of the Data
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The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the value question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Property Value" on the ACS website http://www.census.gov/acs.

Comparability
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Caution should be used when comparing American Community Survey data on value from the years 2008 and after with pre-2008 ACS data. Changes made to the value question between the 2007 and 2008 ACS involving the response option may have resulted in an inconsistency in the value distribution for some areas. In 2007 and previous years, the ACS value question included categorical response options with a write-in for values over $250,000. Beginning in 2008, the response option became solely a write-in.
Caution should also be used when comparing value data from the ACS produced in 2008 or later with Census 2000 value data. The 2008 or later ACS provides solely a write-in response option while Census 2000 collected data in categories. Additionally, Census 2000 tables on value were released for both total owner-occupied housing units and specified owner-occupied housing units, thus comparisons can be made only when comparing the same universes between the two data sets.
Vehicles Available
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The data on vehicles available were obtained from Housing Question 9 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at occupied housing units. These data show the number of passenger cars, vans, and pickup or panel trucks of one-ton capacity or less kept at home and available for the use of household members. Vehicles rented or leased for one month or more, company vehicles, and police and government vehicles are included if kept at home and used for non-business purposes. Dismantled or immobile vehicles are excluded. Vehicles kept at home but used only for business purposes also are excluded.

The availability of vehicles provides information for numerous transportation programs. When the data is used in conjunction with place-of-work and journey-to-work data, the information can provide insight into vehicle travel and aid in forecasting future travel and its effect on transportation systems. The data also serve to aid in the development of emergency and evacuation planning, special transportation services, and forecasting future energy consumption and needs.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question provided a space for the respondent to enter the number of vehicles. Since 1999, the American Community Survey question provided seven pre-coded response categories ranging from "None" to "6 or more."

Comparability
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Data on vehicle availability in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 vehicle availability data.
Year Householder Moved into Unit
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The data on year householder moved into unit were obtained from answers to Housing Question 3 in the 2011 American Community Survey, which was asked at occupied housing units. These data refer to the year of the latest move by the householder. If the householder moved back into a housing unit he or she previously occupied, the year of the latest move was reported. If the householder moved from one apartment to another within the same building, the year the householder moved into the present apartment was reported. The intent is to establish the year the present occupancy by the householder began. The year that the householder moved in is not necessarily the same year other members of the household moved in, although in the great majority of cases an entire household moves at the same time.

The year the householder moved into the unit provides information on the specific period of time when mobility occurs, especially for recent movers. These data help to measure neighborhood stability and to identify transient communities. The data also is used to assess the amount of displacement caused by floods and other natural disasters, and as an aid to evaluate the changes in service requirements.
Median Year Householder Moved into Unit
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Median year householder moved into unit divides the distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median year householder moved into unit and one-half above the median. Median year householder moved into unit is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") Median year householder moved into unit is rounded to the nearest calendar year. (For more information on medians, see "Derived Measures.")
Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the question provided two write-in spaces for the respondent to enter month and year the householder (person 1) moved into the house, apartment, or mobile home.
Comparability
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Data on year householder moved into unit in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 year householder moved into unit data.

Year Structure Built
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The data on year structure built were obtained from Housing Question 2 in the 2011 American Community Survey. The question was asked at both occupied and vacant housing units. Year structure built refers to when the building was first constructed, not when it was remodeled, added to, or converted. Housing units under construction are included as vacant housing if they meet the housing unit definition, that is, all exterior windows, doors, and final usable floors are in place. For mobile homes, houseboats, RVs, etc., the manufacturer's model year was assumed to be the year built. The data relate to the number of units built during the specified periods that were still in existence at the time of interview.

The year the structure was built provides information on the age of housing units. These data help identify new housing construction and measures the disappearance of old housing from the inventory, when used in combination with data from previous years. The data also serve to aid in the development of formulas to determine substandard housing and provide assistance in forecasting future services, such as energy consumption and fire protection.

Median Year Structure Built
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Median year structure built divides the distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median year structure built and one-half above the median. Median year structure built is computed on the basis of a standard distribution (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Appendix A.") The median is rounded to the nearest calendar year. Median age of housing can be obtained by subtracting median year structure built from survey year. For example, if the median year structure built is 1969, the median age of housing in that area is 40 years (2011 minus 1970). (For more information on medians, see "Derived Measures.")

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question provided a write-in space for the respondent to enter a year the structure was built. From 1999-2007 the question provided 9 pre-coded response categories, which showed ranges of years, and from 2003-2007 the response categories were updated to provide detail for recently built structures. Starting in 2008, the response category "2000 or later" and the instruction "Specify yeaf with a write-in box replaced the two categories "2000 to 2004" and "2005 or later."

Limitation of the Data
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Data on year structure built are more susceptible to errors of response and non-reporting than data for many other questions because respondents must rely on their memory or on estimates by people who have lived in the neighborhood a long time.

Comparability
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Data on year structure built in the American Community Survey can be compared to previous ACS and Census 2000 year structure built data.

Population Variables
Ability to Speak English
Respondent's Ability to Speak English
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Respondents who reported speaking a language other than English were asked to indicate their English-speaking ability based on one of the following categories: "Very well," "Well," "Not well," or "Not at all." Those who answered "Well," "Not well," or "Not at all" are sometimes referred as "Less than 'very well.'" Respondents were not instructed on how to interpret the response categories in this question.
Households in which no one 14 and over speaks English only or speaks a language other than English at home and speaks English "very well"
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This variable identifies households that may need English language assistance. This arises when no one 14 and over meets either of two conditions (1) they speak English at home or (2) even though they speak another language, they also report that they speak English "very well."

After data are collected for each person in the household, this variable checks if all people 14 and over speak a language other than English. If so, the variable checks the English-speaking ability responses to see if all people 14 and over speak English "Less than 'very well.'" If all household members 14 and over speak a language other than English and speak English "Less than 'very well,'" the household is considered part of this group that may be in need of English language assistance. All members of a household were identified in this group, including members under 14 years old who may have spoken only English.

Government agencies use information on language spoken at home for their programs that serve the needs of the foreign-born and specifically those who have difficulty with English. Under the Voting Rights Act, language is needed to meet statutory requirements for making voting materials available in minority languages. The Census Bureau is directed, using data about language spoken at home and the ability to speak English, to identify minority groups that speak a language other than English and to assess their English-speaking ability. The U.S. Department of Education uses these data to prepare a report to Congress on the social and economic status of children served by different local school districts.

Government agencies use information on language spoken at home for their programs that serve the needs of the foreign-born and specifically those who have difficulty with English. Under the Voting Rights Act, language is needed to meet statutory requirements for making voting materials available in minority languages. The Census Bureau is directed, using data about language spoken at home and the ability to speak English, to identify minority groups that speak a language other than English and to assess their English-speaking ability. The U.S. Department of Education uses these data to prepare a report to Congress on the social and economic status of children served by different local school districts. State and local agencies concerned with aging develop health care and other services tailored to the language and cultural diversity of the elderly under the Older Americans Act.

Question/Concept History
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The English Language Ability question has been the same since the beginning of ACS. "Households in which no one 14 and over speaks English only or speaks a language other than English and speaks English 'very well'" has been calculated the same way in all years of ACS data collection, but has sometimes been termed "Linguistic Isolation."

Limitation of the Data
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Ideally, the data on ability to speak English represented a person's perception of their own English-speaking ability. However, because one household member usually completes American Community Survey questionnaires, the responses may have represented the perception of another household member.
Comparability
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All years of ACS language data are comparable to each other. They are also comparable to Census data from 1980, 1990 and 2000. Though the term "Linguistic Isolation" is no longer used, data under this heading may still be compared
Age
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The data on age were derived from answers to Question 4. The age classification is based on the age of the person in complete years at the time of interview. Both age and date of birth are used in combination to calculate the most accurate age at the time of the interview. Respondents are asked to give an age in whole, completed years as of interview date as well as the month, day and year of birth. People are not to round an age up if the person is close to having a birthday and to estimate an age if the exact age is not known. An additional instruction on babies also asks respondents to print "0" for babies less than one year old. Inconsistently reported and missing values are assigned or imputed based on the values of other variables for that person, from other people in the household, or from people in other households ("hot deck" imputation).

Age is asked for all persons in a household or group quarters. On the mailout/mailback paper questionnaire for households, both age and date of birth are asked for persons listed as person numbers 1-5 on the form. Only age (in years) is initially asked for persons listed as 612 on the mailout/mailback paper questionnaire. If a respondent indicates that there are more than 5 people living in the household, then the household is eligible for Failed Edit Follow-up (FEFU). During FEFU operations, telephone center staffers call respondents to obtain missing data. This includes asking date of birth for any person in the household missing date of birth information. In Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) and Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) instruments both age and date of birth is asked for all persons. In 2006, the ACS began collecting data in group quarters (GQs). This included asking both age and date of birth for persons living in a group quarters. For additional data collection methodology, please see www.census.gov/acs.

Data on age are used to determine the applicability of other questions for a particular individual and to classify other characteristics in tabulations. Age data are needed to interpret most social and economic characteristics used to plan and analyze programs and policies. Age is central for any number of federal programs that target funds or services to children, working-age adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population. The U.S. Department of Education uses census age data in its formula for allotment to states. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs uses age to develop its mandated state projections on the need for hospitals, nursing homes, cemeteries, domiciliary services, and other benefits for veterans. For more information on the use of age data in Federal programs, please see www.census.gov/acs.

Median Age
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The median age is the age that divides the population into two equal-size groups. Half of the population is older than the median age and half is younger. Median age is based on a standard distribution of the population by single years of age and is shown to the nearest tenth of a year. (See the sections on "Standard Distributions" and "Medians" under "Derived Measures.")
Age Dependency Ratio
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The age dependency ratio is derived by dividing the combined under 18 years and 65 years and over populations by the 18-to-64 population and multiplying by 100.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio
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The old-age dependency ratio is derived by dividing the population 65 years and over by the 18-to-64 population and multiplying by 100.

Child Dependency Ratio
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The child dependency ratio is derived by dividing the population under 18 years by the 18-to-64 population, and multiplying by 100.
Question/Concept History
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The 1996-2002 American Community Survey question asked for month, day, and year of birth before age. Since 2003, the American Community Survey question asked for age, followed by month, day, and year of birth. In 2008, an additional instruction was provided with the age and date of birth question on the American Community Survey questionnaire to report babies as age 0 when the child was less than 1 year old. The addition of this instruction occurred after 2005 National Census Test results indicated increased accuracy of age reporting for babies less than one year old.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population living in group quarters (GQ) was included in the American Community Survey population universe. Some types of group quarters have populations with age distributions that are very different from that of the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the age distribution for a given geographic area. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population. For example, in areas with large colleges and universities, the percent of individuals 18-24 would increase due to the inclusion of GQs in the American Community Survey universe.

Comparability
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Caution should be taken when comparing population in age groups across time. The entire population continually ages into older age groups over time, and babies fill in the youngest age group. Therefore, the population of a certain age is made up of a completely different group of people in one time period than in another (e.g. one age group in 2000 versus same age group in 2011). Since populations occasionally experience booms/increases and busts/decreases in births, deaths, or migration (for example, the postwar Baby Boom from 1946-1964), one should not necessarily expect that the population in an age group in one year should be similar in size or proportion to the population in the same age group in a different period in time. For example, Baby Boomers were age 36 to 54 in Census 2000 while they were age 46 to 64 in the 2011 ACS. The age structure and distribution would therefore shift in those age groups to reflect the change in people occupying those age- specific groups over time.

Data users should also be aware of methodology differences that may exist between different data sources if they are comparing American Community Survey age data to data sources, such as Population Estimates or Decennial Census data. For example, the American Community Survey data are that of a respondent-based survey and subject to various quality measures, such as sampling and nonsampling error, response rates and item allocation error. This differs in design and methodology from other data sources, such as Population Estimates, which is not a survey and involves computational methodology to derive intercensal estimates of the population. While ACS estimates are controlled to Population Estimates for age at the nation, state and county levels of geography as part of the ACS weighting procedure, variation may exist in the age structure of a population at lower levels of geography when comparing different time periods or comparing across time due to the absence of controls below the county geography level. For more information on American Community Survey data accuracy and weighting procedures, please see www.census.gov/acs.

It should also be noted that although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns, and estimates of housing units for states and counties.

Ancestry
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Ancestry refers to a person's ethnic origin, heritage, descent, or "roots," which may reflect their place of birth or that of previous generations of their family. Some ethnic identities, such as "Egyptian" or "Polish" can be traced to geographic areas outside the United States, while other ethnicities such as "Pennsylvania German" or "Cajun" evolved in the United States.
The intent of the ancestry question was not to measure the degree of attachment the respondent had to a particular ethnicity, but simply to establish that the respondent had a connection to and self-identified with a particular ethnic group. For example, a response of "Irish" might reflect total involvement in an Irish community or only a memory of ancestors several generations removed from the individual.

The data on ancestry were derived from answers to Question 13. The question was based on self-identification; the data on ancestry represent self-classification by people according to the ancestry group(s) with which they most closely identify.

The Census Bureau coded the responses into a numeric representation of over 1,000 categories. To do so, responses initially were processed through an automated coding system; then, those that were not automatically assigned a code were coded by individuals trained in coding ancestry responses. The code list reflects the results of the Census Bureau's own research and consultations with many ethnic experts. Many decisions were made to determine the classification of responses. These decisions affected the grouping of the tabulated data. For example, the "Indonesian" category includes the responses of "Indonesian," "Celebesian," "Moluccan," and a number of other responses.

The ancestry question allowed respondents to report one or more ancestry groups. Generally, only the first two responses reported were coded. If a response was in terms of a dual ancestry, for example, "Irish English," the person was assigned two codes, in this case one for Irish and another for English. However, in certain cases, multiple responses such as "French Canadian," "Scotch-Irish," "Greek Cypriot," and "Black Dutch" were assigned a single code reflecting their status as unique groups. If a person reported one of these unique groups in addition to another group, for example, "Scotch-Irish English," resulting in three terms, that person received one code for the unique group (Scotch-Irish) and another one for the remaining group (English). If a person reported "English Irish French," only English and Irish were coded. If there were more than two ancestries listed and one of the ancestries was a part of another, such as "German Bavarian Hawaiian," the responses were coded using the more detailed groups (Bavarian and Hawaiian).

The Census Bureau accepted "American" as a unique ethnicity if it was given alone or with one other ancestry. There were some groups such as "American Indian," "Mexican American," and "African American" that were coded and identified separately.

The ancestry question is asked for every person in the American Community Survey, regardless of age, place of birth, Hispanic origin, or race.

Ancestry identifies the ethnic origins of the population, and Federal agencies regard this information as essential for fulfilling many important needs. Ancestry is required to enforce provisions under the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based upon race, sex, religion, and national origin. More generally, these data are needed to measure the social and economic characteristics of ethnic groups and to tailor services to accommodate cultural differences. The Department of Labor draws samples for surveys that provide employment statistics and other related information for ethnic groups using ancestry.

The ACS data on ancestry are released annually on the Census Bureau's internet site. The Detailed Tables (B04001-B04007) contain estimates of over 100 different ancestry groups for the nation, states, and many other geographic areas, while the Special Population Profiles contain characteristics of different ancestry groups.

In all tabulations, when respondents provided an unclassifiable ethnic identity (for example, "multi-national," "adopted," or "I have no idea"), the answer was included in "Unclassified or not reported."

The tabulations on ancestry show two types of data- one where estimates represent the number of people, and the other where estimates represent the number of responses. If you want to know how many people reported an ancestry, use the estimates based on people. If you want to know how many reports there were of a certain ancestry, use the estimates based on reports. The difference between the two types of data presentations represents the fact that people can provide more than one ancestry, therefore can be counted twice in the same ancestry category. Examples are provided below.

The following are the types of estimates shown:

Estimates Based on People
People Reporting Single Ancestry
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Includes all people who reported only one ethnic group such as "German." Also included in this category are people with only a multiple- term response such as "Scotch-Irish" who are assigned a single code because they represent one distinct group. For example, in this type of table, the count for German would be interpreted as "The number of people who reported that German was their only ancestry."

People Reporting Multiple Ancestries
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Includes all people who reported more than one group, such as "German" and "Irish" and were assigned two ancestry codes. The German line on this table would be interpreted as "The number of people who responded that German was part of their multiple ancestry."

People Reporting Ancestry
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Includes all people who reported each ancestry, regardless of whether it was their first or second ancestry, or part of a single or multiple response. This estimate is the sum of the two estimates above (for Single and Multiple ancestry). People can be listed twice in this table. For example, if someone reports their ancestry as "German and Danish", they will be listed once in German and once in Danish, and therefore the sum of the rows would not equal the total population. Interpret the German line of this table as "The total number of people who reported they had German ancestry."
Estimates Based on Responses
First Ancestry Reported
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Includes the first response of all people who reported at least one codeable entry. For example, in this type of table, the count for German would include all those who reported only German and those who reported German first and then some other group. The German line of this table could be interpreted as "The number of times German was listed as the first, or only, ancestry."

Second Ancestry Reported
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Includes the second response of all people who reported a multiple ancestry. Thus, the count for German in this category includes all people who reported German as the second response, regardless of the first response provided. The German line in this table is interpreted as "The number of times German was listed as a second ancestry."

Total Ancestries Reported
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Includes the total number of ancestries reported and coded. If a person reported a multiple ancestry such as "German Danish," that response was counted twice in the tabulations--once in the German category and again in the Danish category. Also, if a person reported two different types of German ancestry, such as "Bavarian Hamburger", they would be counted twice in the German category on this type of table. Thus, each line of this table represents the number of reports for that ancestry type, not the number of people (although sometimes that number is the same). Likewise, the sum of the estimates in each of the rows in this type of presentation is not the total population but the total of all responses. The German line in this table is interpreted as "The number of times a German ancestry was reported."

Question/Concept History
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The question on ancestry has been asked on the American Community Survey since 1996. The question wording has never changed, although placement of the question changed slightly. Also, the examples listed below the write-in lines changed in 1999, but have remained the same since then.

The question on ancestry was first asked in the 1980 Census. It replaced the question on parental place of birth, in order to include ancestral heritage for people whose families have been in the U.S. for more than two generations. The question was also asked in the 1990 and 2000 censuses.

From 1996 to 1999, the ACS editing system used answers to the race and place of birth questions to clarify ancestry responses of "Indian," where possible. In 2000 and subsequent years, the editing was expanded to aid interpretation of two-word ancestries, such as "Black Irish."

Limitation of the Data
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Although some experts consider religious affiliation a component of ethnic identity, the ancestry question was not designed to collect any information concerning religion. The Census Bureau is prohibited from collecting information on religion. Thus, if a religion was given as an answer to the ancestry question, it was coded as an "Other" response.

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) was included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have ancestry distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the ancestry distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.
Comparability
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The data are comparable to Census 2000, as long as some caution is used. Response rates to the ancestry question are generally higher for ACS than for Census, and data are never generated for missing ancestry responses, therefore some ancestry groups are reported more heavily in ACS than in Census 2000.

In 2010, there were two major changes to the coding rules. If up to two ancestries were listed, both were coded, even if one was the specific of the other or if one was American. Also, race groups and Hispanic groups were coded with the same priority as non-race and non-Hispanic groups. For example, "Haitian Black French" would previously have been coded Haitian and French, but now would be coded Haitian and Black.

See the 2011 Code List for Ancestry Code List.
Children Ever Born
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For the 1996-1998 American Community Survey, the data on fertility (also referred to as "children ever born") were derived from answers to Question 17, which was asked of all women 15 years old and over regardless of marital status. Stillbirths, stepchildren, and adopted children were excluded from the number of children ever born. Ever-married women were instructed to include all children born to them before and during their most recent marriage, children no longer living, and children living away from home, as well as children who were still living in the home. Never-married women were instructed to include all children born to them. The question on children ever born was asked to measure lifetime fertility experience of women up to the survey date.

Data were most frequently presented in terms of the aggregate number of children ever born to women in the specified category and in terms of the rate per 1,000 women.

Beginning in 1999, American Community Survey data on fertility were derived from questions that asked if the person had given birth in the past 12 months. See the section on "Fertility" for more information.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey used a write-in space for the number and a response category for "None." No question addressed "children ever born" after 1998.

Limitation of the Data
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The data available for 1996-1998 are only available for a limited number of geographies.
Comparability
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The data on children ever born are comparable to data from the 1990 census and prior censuses. The data are also comparable to the June supplement to the Current Population Survey.
Citizenship Status (U.S. Citizenship Status)
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The data on citizenship status were derived from answers to Question 8. This question was asked about Persons 1 through 5 in the ACS.
Respondents were asked to select one of five categories: (1) born in the United States, (2) born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas, (3) born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents, (4) U.S. citizen by naturalization, or (5) not a U.S citizen. Respondents indicating they are a U.S. citizen by naturalization are also asked to print their year of naturalization. People born in American Samoa, although not explicitly listed, are included in the second response category.

For the Puerto Rico Community Survey, respondents were asked to select one of five categories: (1) born in Puerto Rico, (2) born in a U.S. state, District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas, (3) born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents, (4) U.S. citizen by naturalization, or (5) not a U.S. citizen. Respondents indicating they are a U.S. citizen by naturalization are also asked to print their year of naturalization. People born in American Samoa, although not explicitly listed, are included in the second response category.

When no information on citizenship status was reported for a person, information for other household members, if available, was used to assign a citizenship status to the respondent. All cases of nonresponse that were not assigned a citizenship status based on information from other household members were allocated the citizenship status of another person with similar characteristics who provided complete information. In cases of conflicting responses, place of birth information is used to edit citizenship status. For example, if a respondent states he or she was born in Puerto Rico but was not a U.S. citizen, the edits use the response to the place of birth question to change the respondent's status to "U.S. citizen at birth."
U.S. Citizen
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Respondents who indicated that they were born in the United States, Puerto Rico, a U.S. Island Area (such as Guam), or abroad of American (U.S. citizen) parent or parents are considered U.S. citizens at birth. Foreign-born people who indicated that they were U.S. citizens through naturalization also are considered U.S. citizens.
Not a U.S. Citizen
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Respondents who indicated that they were not U.S. citizens at the time of the survey.
Native
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The native population includes anyone who was a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national at birth. This includes respondents who indicated they were born in the United States, Puerto Rico, a U.S. Island Area (such as Guam), or abroad of American (U.S. citizen) parent or parents.
Foreign born
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The foreign-born population includes anyone who was not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national at birth. This includes respondents who indicated they were a U.S. citizen by naturalization or not a U.S. citizen.

The American Community Survey questionnaires do not ask about immigration status. The population surveyed includes all people who indicated that the United States was their usual place of residence on the survey date. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e. immigrants), temporary migrants (e.g., foreign students), humanitarian migrants (e.g., refugees), and unauthorized migrants (i.e. people illegally present in the United States).

The responses to this question are used to determine the U.S. citizen and non-U.S. citizen populations as well as to determine the native and foreign-born populations.
Question/Concept History
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In the 1996-1998 American Community Survey, the third response category was "Yes, born abroad of American parent(s)." However, since 1999 in the American Community Survey and since the 2005 Puerto Rico Community Survey, the response category was "Yes, born abroad of American parent or parents." In 2008, respondents who indicated that they were a U.S. citizen by naturalization were also asked to print their year of naturalization. Also in 2008, modifications in wording were made to both the third response category (changed from "Yes, born abroad of American parent or parents" to "Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents") and the fifth response category (changed from "No, not a citizen of the United States" to "No, not a U.S. citizen").

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have citizenship status distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the citizenship status distribution. This is particularly true for areas with substantial GQ populations.

Comparability
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Citizenship can be compared both across ACS years and to Census 2000 data.
Class of Worker
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Class of worker categorizes people according to the type of ownership of the employing organization. Class of worker data were derived from answers to question 41. Question 41 provides respondents with 8 class of worker categories from which they are to select one. These categories are:

  1. An employee of a private, for-profit company or business, or of an individual, for wages, salary, or commissions.
  2. An employee of a private, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or charitable organization.
  3. A local government employee (city, county, etc.).
  4. A state government employee.
  5. A Federal government employee.
  6. Self-employed in own not incorporated business, professional practice, or farm.
  7. Self-employed in own incorporated business, professional practice, or farm.
  8. Working without pay in a family business or farm.
These questions were asked of all people 15 years old and over who had worked in the past 5 years. For employed people, the data refer to the person's job during the previous week. For those who worked two or more jobs, the data refer to the job where the person worked the greatest number of hours. For unemployed people and people who are not currently employed but report having a job within the last five years, the data refer to their last job.

The class of worker categories are defined as follows:
Private wage and salary workers
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Includes people who worked for wages, salary, commission, tips, pay-in-kind, or piece rates for a private, for-profit employer or a private not-for-profit, tax-exempt or charitable organization. Self-employed people whose business was incorporated are included with private wage and salary workers because they are paid employees of their own companies.

ACS tabulations present data separately for these subcategories: "Employee of private company workers," "Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers," and "Self-employed in own incorporated business workers."
Government workers
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Includes people who were employees of any local, state, or Federal governmental unit, regardless of the activity of the particular agency. For ACS tabulations, the data are presented separately for the three levels of government.

Employees of Indian tribal governments, foreign governments, the United Nations, or other formal international organizations controlled by governments were classified as "Federal government workers."

The government categories include all government workers, though government workers may work in different industries. For example, people who work in a public elementary school or city owned bus line are coded as local government class of workers.
Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers
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Includes people who worked for profit or fees in their own unincorporated business, profession, or trade, or who operated a farm.
Unpaid family workers
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Includes people who worked without pay in a business or on a farm operated by a relative.

Editing Procedures
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A computer edit and allocation process excludes all responses that should not be included in the universe and evaluates the consistency of the remaining responses. Class of worker responses are checked for consistency with the industry and occupation data provided for that respondent. Occasionally respondents do not report a response for class of worker, industry, or occupation. Certain types of incomplete entries are corrected using the Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations. If one or more of the three codes (occupation, industry, or class of worker) is blank after the edit, a code is assigned from a donor respondent who is a "similar" person based on questions such as age, sex, educational attainment, income, employment status, and weeks worked. If all of the labor force and income data are blank, all of these economic questions are assigned from a "similar" person who had provided all the necessary data.

These data are used to formulate policy and programs for employment and career development and training. Companies use these data to decide where to locate new plants, stores, or offices.
Question/Concept History
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Class of worker data have been collected during decennial censuses since 1910. Starting with the 2010 Census, class of worker data will no longer be collected during the decennial census. Long form data collection has transitioned to the American Community Survey. The American Community Survey began collecting data on class of worker in 1996. The questions on class of worker were designed to be consistent with the 1990 Census questions on class of worker. The 1996-1998 ACS class of worker question had an additional response category for "Active duty U.S. Armed Forces member." People who marked this category were tabulated as Federal government workers. A check box was added to the employer name questionnaire item in 1999. This check box is to be marked by anyone "now on active duty in the Armed Forces..." This information is used by the industry and occupation coders to assist in assigning proper industry codes for active duty military.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) was included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have class of worker distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the class of worker distribution in some geographic areas with a substantial GQ population.
Data on occupation, industry, and class of worker are collected for the respondent's current primary job or the most recent job for those who are not employed but have worked in the last 5 years. Other labor force questions, such as questions on earnings or work hours, may have different reference periods and may not limit the response to the primary job. Although the prevalence of multiple jobs is low, data on some labor force items may not exactly correspond to the reported occupation, industry, or class of worker of a respondent.

Comparability
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Class of worker categories have remained consistent since the implementation of the American Community Survey in 1996. The 1996-1998 ACS class of worker question had an additional response category for "Active duty U.S. Armed Forces member" in order to assist industry and occupation coders in assigning proper industry codes for active duty military. People who selected this category were tabulated as Federal government workers. Active duty U.S. Armed Forces have been coded as Federal government workers from 1996 to 2011.
See also, Industry and Occupation.

Disability Status
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Under the conceptual framework of disability described by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), disability is defined as the product of interactions among individuals' bodies; their physical, emotional, and mental health; and the physical and social environment in which they live, work, or play. Disability exists where this interaction results in limitations of activities and restrictions to full participation at school, at work, at home, or in the community. For example, disability may exist where a person is limited in their ability to work due to job discrimination against persons with specific health conditions; or, disability may exist where a child has difficulty learning because the school cannot accommodate the child's deafness.

Furthermore, disability is a dynamic concept that changes over time as one's health improves or declines, as technology advances, and as social structures adapt. As such, disability is a continuum in which the degree of difficulty may also increase or decrease. Because disability exists along a continuum, various cut-offs are used to allow for a simpler understanding of the concept, the most common of which is the dichotomous "With a disability"/"no disability" differential.

Measuring this complex concept of disability with a short set of six questions is difficult. Because of the multitude of possible functional limitations that may present as disabilities, and in the absence of information on external factors that influence disability, surveys like the ACS are limited to capturing difficulty with only selected activities. As such, people identified by the ACS as having a disability are, in fact, those who exhibit difficulty with specific functions and may, in the absence of accommodation, have a disability. While this definition is different from the one described by the IOM and ICF conceptual frameworks, it relates to the programmatic definitions used in most Federal and state legislation.

In an attempt to capture a variety of characteristics that encompass the definition of disability, the ACS identifies serious difficulty with four basic areas of functioning - hearing, vision, cognition, and ambulation. These functional limitations are supplemented by questions about difficulties with selected activities from the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales, namely difficulty bathing and dressing, and difficulty performing errands such as shopping. Overall, the ACS attempts to capture six aspects of disability, which can be used together to create an overall disability measure, or independently to identify populations with specific disability types.

Information on disability is used by a number of federal agencies to distribute funds and develop programs for people with disabilities. For example, data about the size, distribution, and needs of the disabled population are essential for developing disability employment policy. For the Americans with Disabilities Act, data about functional limitations are important to ensure that comparable public transportation services are available for all segments of the population. Federal grants are awarded, under the Older Americans Act, based on the number of elderly people with physical and mental disabilities.

Question/Concept History
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In the 2011 American Community Survey, disability concepts were asked in questions 17 through 19. Question 17 had two subparts and was asked of all persons regardless of age. Question 18 had three subparts and was asked of people age 5 years and older. Question 19 was asked of people age 15 years and older.

Hearing difficulty
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Hearing difficulty was derived from question 17a, which asked respondents if they were "deaf or ... [had] serious difficulty hearing."

Vision difficulty
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Vision difficulty was derived from question 17b, which asked respondents if they were "blind or ... [had] serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses." Prior to the 2008 ACS, hearing and vision difficulty were asked in a single question under the label "Sensory disability."

Cognitive difficulty
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Cognitive difficulty was derived from question 18a, which asked respondents if due to physical, mental, or emotional condition, they had "serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions." Prior to the 2008 ACS, the question on cognitive functioning asked about difficulty "learning, remembering, or concentrating" under the label "Mental disability."

Ambulatory difficulty
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Ambulatory difficulty was derived from question 18b, which asked respondents if they had "serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs." Prior to 2008, the ACS asked if respondents had "a condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying." This measure was labeled "Physical difficulty" in ACS data products.

Self-care difficulty
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Self-care difficulty was derived from question 18c, which asked respondents if they had "difficulty dressing or bathing." Difficulty with these activities are two of six specific Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) often used by health care providers to assess patients' self- care needs. Prior to the 2008 ACS, the question on self-care limitations asked about difficulty "dressing, bathing, or getting around inside the home," under the label "Self-care disability."

Independent living difficulty
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Independent living difficulty was derived from question 19, which asked respondents if due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition, they had difficulty "doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping." Difficulty with this activity is one of several Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) used by health care providers in making care decisions. Prior to the 2008 ACS, a similar measure on difficulty "going outside the home alone to shop or visit a doctor's office" was asked under the label "Go-outside-home disability."

Disability status
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Disability status is determined from the answers from these six types of difficulty. For children under 5 years old, hearing and vision difficulty are used to determine disability status. For children between the ages of 5 and 14, disability status is determined from hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, and self-care difficulties. For people aged 15 years and older, they are considered to have a disability if they have difficulty with any one of the six difficulty types.

Limitation of the Data
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The universe for most disability data tabulations is the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Some types of GQ populations have disability distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the noninstitutionalized GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the disability distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial noninstitutionalized GQ population. For a discussion of the effect of group quarters data has on estimates of disability status, see "Disability Status and the Characteristics of People in Group Quarters: A Brief Analysis of Disability Prevalence among the Civilian Noninstitutionalized and Total Populations in the American Community Survey" (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/disability/GQdisability.pdf).

Comparability
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Beginning in 2008, questions on disability represent a conceptual and empirical break from earlier years of the ACS. Hence, the Census Bureau does not recommend any comparisons of 2011 disability data to 2007 and earlier ACS disability data.

Research suggests that combining the new separate measures of hearing and vision difficulty to generate a sensory difficulty measure does not create a comparable estimate to the old Sensory disability estimates in prior ACS products. Likewise, the cognitive difficulty, ambulatory difficulty, self-care difficulty, and independent living difficulty measures are based on different sets of activities and different question wordings from similar measures in ACS questionnaires prior to 2008 and thus should not be compared. Because the overall measure of disability status beginning in 2008 is based on different measures of difficulty, these estimates should also not be compared to prior years. For additional information on the differences between the ACS disability questions beginning in 2008 and prior ACS disability questions, see "Review of Changes to the Measurement of Disability in the 2008 American Community Survey" (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/disability/2008ACS_disability.pdf).

The 2011 disability estimates should also not be compared with disability estimates from Census 2000 for reasons similar to the ones made above. ACS disability estimates should also not be compared with more detailed measures of disability from sources such as the National Health Interview Survey and the Survey of Income and Program Participation.
The 2011 ACS disability estimates are comparable with the ACS disability estimates from 2008,2009, and 2010.
Educational Attainment
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Educational attainment data are needed for use in assessing the socioeconomic condition of the U.S. population. Government agencies also require these data for funding allocations and program planning and implementation. These data are needed to determine the extent of illiteracy rates of citizens in language minorities in order to meet statutory requirements under the Voting Rights Act. Based on data about educational attainment, school districts are allocated funds to provide classes in basic skills to adults who have not completed high school.

Data on educational attainment were derived from answers to Question 11, which was asked of all respondents. Educational attainment data are tabulated for people 18 years old and over. Respondents are classified according to the highest degree or the highest level of school completed. The question included instructions for persons currently enrolled in school to report the level of the previous grade attended or the highest degree received.

The educational attainment question included a response category that allowed people to report completing the 12th grade without receiving a high school diploma. Respondents who received a regular high school diploma and did not attend college were instructed to report "Regular high school diploma." Respondents who received the equivalent of a high school diploma (for example, passed the test of General Educational Development (G.E.D.)), and did not attend college, were instructed to report "GED or alternative credential." "Some college" is in two categories: "Some college credit, but less than 1 year of college credit" and "1 or more years of college credit, no degree." The category "Associate's degree" included people whose highest degree is an associate's degree, which generally requires 2 years of college level work and is either in an occupational program that prepares them for a specific occupation, or an academic program primarily in the arts and sciences. The course work may or may not be transferable to a bachelor's degree. Master's degrees include the traditional MA and MS degrees and field-specific degrees, such as MSW, MEd, MBA, MLS, and MEng. Instructions included in the respondent instruction guide for mailout/mailback respondents only provided the following examples of professional school degrees: Medicine, dentistry, chiropractic, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, veterinary medicine, law, and theology. The order in which degrees were listed suggested that doctorate degrees were "higher" than professional school degrees, which were "higher" than master's degrees. If more than one box was filled, the response was edited to the highest level or degree reported.

The instructions further specified that schooling completed in foreign or ungraded school systems should be reported as the equivalent level of schooling in the regular American system. The instructions specified that certificates or diplomas for training in specific trades or from vocational, technical or business schools were not to be reported. Honorary degrees awarded for a respondent's accomplishments were not to be reported.
High School Graduate or Higher
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This category includes people whose highest degree was a high school diploma or its equivalent, people who attended college but did not receive a degree, and people who received an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or professional or doctorate degree. People who reported completing the 12th grade but not receiving a diploma are not included.
Not Enrolled, Not High School Graduate
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This category includes people of compulsory school attendance age or above who were not enrolled in school and were not high school graduates. These people may be referred to as "high school dropouts." There is no restriction on when they "dropped out" of school; therefore, they may have dropped out before high school and never attended high school.

Question/Concept History
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Since 1999, the American Community Survey question does not have the response category for "Vocational, technical, or business school degree" that the 1996-1998 American Community Surveys question had. Starting in 1999, the American Community Survey question had two categories for some college: "Some college credit, but less than 1 year" and "1 or more years of college, no degree." The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question had one category: "Some college but no degree."

In the 1996-1998 American Community Survey, the educational attainment question was used to estimate level of enrollment. Since 1999, a question regarding grade of enrollment was included.

The 1999-2007 American Community Survey attainment question grouped grade categories below high school into the following three categories: "Nursery school to 4th grade," "5th grade or 6th grade," and "7th grade or 8 grade." The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question allowed a write-in for highest grade completed for grades 1-11 in addition to "Nursery or preschool" and "Kindergarten."

Beginning in 2008, the American Community Survey attainment question was changed to the following categories for levels up to "Grade 12, no diploma": "Nursery school," "Kindergarten," "Grade 1 through grade 11," and "12th grade, no diploma." The survey question allowed a write-in for the highest grade completed for grades 1-11. In addition, the category that was previously "High school graduate (including GED)" was broken into two categories: "Regular high school diploma" and "GED or alternative credential." The term "credit" for the two some college categories was emphasized. The phrase "beyond a bachelor's degree" was added to the professional degree category.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have educational attainment distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the educational attainment distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the educational attainment question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Educational Attainment" on the ACS website (www.census.gov/acs).

Comparability
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New questions were added to the 2008 ACS CATI/CAPI instrument. Respondents who received a high school diploma, GED or equivalent were also asked if they had completed any college credit. Therefore, data users may notice a decrease in the number of high school graduates relative to previous years because those people are now being captured in the "Some college credit, but less than 1 year of college credit" or "1 or more years of college credit, no degree" categories. For more information, see the report titled Report P.2.b: "Evaluation Report Covering Educational Attainment" on the ACS website (www.census.gov/acs).

Data about educational attainment are also collected from the decennial Census and from the Current Population Survey (CPS). ACS data is generally comparable to data from the Census. For more information about the comparability of ACS and CPS data, please see the link for the Fact Sheet and the Comparison Report from the CPS Educational Attainment page.
Employment Status
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The data on employment status were derived from Questions 29 and 35 to 37 in the 2011 American Community Survey. (In the 1999-2002 American Community Survey, data were derived from Questions 22 and 28 to 30; in the 1996-1998 American Community Survey, data were derived from Questions 21 and 28 to 30.) The questions were asked of all people 15 years old and over. The series of questions on employment status was designed to identify, in this sequence: (1) people who worked at any time during the reference week; (2) people on temporary layoff who were available for work; (3) people who did not work during the reference week but who had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent (excluding layoff); (4) people who did not work during the reference week, but who were looking for work during the last four weeks and were available for work during the reference week; and (5) people not in the labor force. (For more information, see the discussion under "Reference Week.")

The employment status data shown in American Community Survey tabulations relate to people 16 years old and over.

Employment status is key to understanding work and unemployment patterns and the availability of workers. Based on labor market areas and unemployment levels, the U.S. Department of Labor identifies service delivery areas and determines amounts to be allocated to each for job training. The impact of immigration on the economy and job markets is determined partially by labor force data, and this information is included in required reports to Congress. The Office of Management and Budget, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, uses data about employed workers as part of the criteria for defining metropolitan areas. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses this information, in conjunction with other data, to develop its state per capita income estimates used in the allocation formulas and eligibility criteria for many federal programs such as Medicaid.

Employed
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This category includes all civilians 16 years old and over who either (1) were "at work," that is, those who did any work at all during the reference week as paid employees, worked in their own business or profession, worked on their own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers on a family farm or in a family business; or (2) were "with a job but not at work," that is, those who did not work during the reference week but had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent due to illness, bad weather, industrial dispute, vacation, or other personal reasons. Excluded from the employed are people whose only activity consisted of work around the house or unpaid volunteer work for religious, charitable, and similar organizations; also excluded are all institutionalized people and people on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.
Civilian Employed
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This term is defined exactly the same as the term "employed" above.
Unemployed
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All civilians 16 years old and over are classified as unemployed if they (1) were neither "at work" nor "with a job but not at work" during the reference week, and (2) were actively looking for work during the last 4 weeks, and (3) were available to start a job. Also included as unemployed are civilians who did not work at all during the reference week, were waiting to be called back to a job from which they had been laid off, and were available for work except for temporary illness. Examples of job seeking activities are:

  • Registering at a public or private employment office
  • Meeting with prospective employers
  • Investigating possibilities for starting a professional practice or opening a business
  • Placing or answering advertisements
  • Writing letters of application
  • Being on a union or professional register


Civilian Labor Force
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Consists of people classified as employed or unemployed in accordance with the criteria described above.
Unemployment Rate
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The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the civilian labor force. For example, if the civilian labor force equals 100 people and 7 people are unemployed, then the unemployment rate would be 7 percent.

Labor Force
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All people classified in the civilian labor force plus members of the U.S. Armed Forces (people on active duty with the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard).

Labor Force Participation Rate
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The labor force participation rate represents the proportion of the population that is in the labor force. For example, if there are 100 people in the population 16 years and over, and 64 of them are in the labor force, then the labor force participation rate for the population 16 years and over would be 64 percent.

Not in Labor Force
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All people 16 years old and over who are not classified as members of the labor force. This category consists mainly of students, homemakers, retired workers, seasonal workers interviewed in an off season who were not looking for work, institutionalized people, and people doing only incidental unpaid family work (less than 15 hours during the reference week).

Worker
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This term appears in connection with several subjects: employment status, journey-to-work questions, class of worker, weeks worked in the past 12 months, and number of workers in family in the past 12 months. The meaning varies and, therefore, should be determined in each case by referring to the definition of the subject in which it appears. When used in the concepts "workers in family" and "full-time, year-round workers," the term "worker" relates to the meaning of work defined for the "work experience" subject.
Question/Concept History
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Worked Last Week (Question 29): From 1999-2007, an italicized instruction was added to the question to help respondents determine what to count as work. Starting in 2008, the instruction was removed and the question was separated into two parts in an effort to give respondents - particularly people with irregular kinds of work arrangements - two opportunities to grasp and respond to the correct intent of the question.

On Layoff (Question 35a): Starting in 1999, the "Yes, on temporary layoff from most recent job" and "Yes, permanently laid off from most recent job" response categories were condensed into a single "Yes" category. An additional question (Q35b) was added to determine the temporary/permanent layoff distinction.

Temporarily Absent (Question 35b): Starting in 2008, the temporarily absent question included a revised list of examples of work absences.

Recalled to Work (Question 35c): This question was added in the 1999 American Community Survey to determine if a respondent who reported being on layoff from a job had been informed that he or she would be recalled to work within 6 months or been given a date to return to work.

Looking for Work (Question 36): Starting in 2008, the actively looking for work question was modified to emphasize 'active' job-searching activities.
Available to Work (Question 37): Starting in 1999, the "Yes, if a job had been offered" and "Yes, if recalled from layoff' response categories were condensed into one category, "Yes, could have gone to work." Starting in 2008, the actively looking for work question was modified to emphasize 'active' job-searching activities.

Limitation of the Data
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The data may understate the number of employed people because people who have irregular, casual, or unstructured jobs sometimes report themselves as not working. The number of employed people "at work" is probably overstated in the data (and conversely, the number of employed "with a job, but not at work" is understated) since some people on vacation or sick leave erroneously reported themselves as working. This problem has no effect on the total number of employed people. The reference week for the employment data is not the same for all people. Since people can change their employment status from one week to another, the lack of a uniform reference week may mean that the employment data do not reflect the reality of the employment situation of any given week. (For more information, see the discussion under "Reference Week.")

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have employment status distributions that are different from the household population. All institutionalized people are placed in the "not in labor force category." The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the employment status distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population. For example, in areas having a large state prison population, the employment rate would be expected to decrease because the base of the percentage, which now includes the population in correctional institutions, is larger.

The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the employment status questions in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for these questions as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Employment Status" on the ACS website (www.census.gov/acs).

Along with the 2008 ACS release, the Census Bureau produced a research note comparing 2007 and 2008 ACS employment estimates to 2007 and 2008 Current Population Survey (CPS)/Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) estimates. The research note shows that the changes to the employment status series of questions in the 2008 ACS will make ACS labor force data more consistent with benchmark data from the CPS and LAUS program. For more information, see "Changes to the American Community Survey between 2007 and 2008 and the Effects on the Estimates of Employment and Unemployment" (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/laborfor/researchnote092209.html).

Comparability
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Since employment data from the American Community Survey are obtained from respondents in households, they differ from statistics based on reports from individual business establishments, farm enterprises, and certain government programs. People employed at more than one job are counted only once in the American Community Survey and are classified according to the job at which they worked the greatest number of hours during the reference week. In statistics based on reports from business and farm establishments, people who work for more than one establishment may be counted more than once. Moreover, some tabulations may exclude private household workers, unpaid family workers, and self-employed people, but may include workers less than 16 years of age.

An additional difference in the data arises from the fact that people who had a job but were not at work are included with the employed in the American Community Survey statistics, whereas many of these people are likely to be excluded from employment figures based on establishment payroll reports. Furthermore, the employment status data in tabulations include people on the basis of place of residence regardless of where they work, whereas establishment data report people at their place of work regardless of where they live. This latter consideration is particularly significant when comparing data for workers who commute between areas.

For several reasons, the unemployment figures of the Census Bureau are not comparable with published figures on unemployment compensation claims. For example, figures on unemployment compensation claims exclude people who have exhausted their benefit rights, new workers who have not earned rights to unemployment insurance, and people losing jobs not covered by unemployment insurance systems (including some workers in agriculture, domestic services, and religious organizations, and self-employed and unpaid family workers). In addition, the qualifications for drawing unemployment compensation differ from the definition of unemployment used by the Census Bureau. People working only a few hours during the week and people with a job but not at work are sometimes eligible for unemployment compensation but are classified as "Employed" in the American Community Survey. Differences in the geographical distribution of unemployment data arise because the place where claims are filed may not necessarily be the same as the place of residence of the unemployed worker.
For guidance on differences in employment and unemployment estimates from different sources, go to http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/laborfor/laborguidance082504.html.

Families
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Fertility
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The data on fertility were derived from Question 17 in 1999-2002, Question 18 in 2003-2007, question 23 in 2008, and question 24 since 2009. The question asked if the person had given birth in the past 12 months, and was asked of all women 15 to 50 years old regardless of marital status. From this question, we are able to determine geographies with high numbers of women with births and the characteristics of these women, such as age and marital status. When fertility was not reported, it was imputed according to the woman's age and marital status and the possibility there was an infant in the household.

Data are most frequently presented in terms of the aggregate number of women who had a birth in the past 12 months in the specified category, and in terms of the rate per 1,000 women.

Total Fertility Rate
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This measure estimates the number of children a group of 1,000 women would have by the end of their childbearing years if they all experienced the same-age specific birth rates between ages 15-50 in a given year. This rate is used for comparisons among different population groups--for example, women in different geographical areas--as the rate accounts for differences in the age distribution in those areas. It is calculated by summing the age-specific birth rates for women in 5-year age groups between ages 15-19 and 40-44 and ages 45-50 and multiplying these rates by 5--or by 6 for the final age group- representing the number of years in each age group. The sum of these individual rates is then multiplied by 1,000 to represent the numbers of births per 1,000 women.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey collected data on "children ever born." (See the section on "Children Ever Born" for more information.) In 1999, the American Community Survey began collecting data on children born in the last 12 months.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have fertility distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the fertility distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

Comparability
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The data on fertility can be compared to previous ACS years and to similar data collected in the Current Population Survey (CPS) and Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), and from the National Center for Health Statistics. All of these surveys have slightly different ways of determining the reference period but generally show births occurring over a period of 12 months.
Field of Degree
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Field of degree data are used by the National Science Foundation to study the characteristics of the population with science and engineering degrees and occupations.

Data on field of bachelor's degree were derived from answers to Question 12. This question was asked only to person with a bachelor's degree or higher. Eligible respondents were asked to list the specific major(s) of any bachelor's degree received. This question does not ask for the field of any other type of degree earned (such as master's or doctorate).

An automated computer system coded write-in responses to Question 12 into 192 areas. Clerical coding categorized any write-in responses that could not be autocoded by the computer. Respondents listing multiple fields were assigned a code for each field, with a maximum of 10 fields per respondent.

The majors were further classified into a category scheme detailed in Appendix A.

Question/Concept History
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The field of degree question first appeared in the 2009 ACS. The inclusion of a field of degree question on the ACS was proposed to provide field of degree data annually for small levels of geography and to assist in building a sampling frame for the National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG).

Comparability
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Because of its introduction in 2009, the 201 field of degree data can only be compared to the 2009 and 2010 ACS survey. This data may be roughly comparable to the National Survey of College Graduates and the National Survey of Recent College Graduates, although the sampling frame and survey instruments differ between the surveys. Field of degree data was also collected in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) from1984 to 2004. However, these data would not be comparable to ACS due to differences in data collection period, methodology and collection methods. For example, the SIPP only collects data for respondents who are 15 years and older and does not include group quarters.
Foreign-Born Population
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The foreign-born population includes anyone who was not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national at birth. This includes respondents who indicated they were a U.S. citizen by naturalization or not a U.S. citizen. See Citizenship Status.

Foster Children
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Grade in Which Enrolled
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See School Enrollment and Type of School.
Grandparents as Caregivers
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Data on grandparents as caregivers were derived from Questions 25a through 25c. Data were collected on whether a grandchild lives with a grandparent in the household, whether the grandparent has responsibility for the basic needs of the grandchild, and the duration of that responsibility.

Existence of a Grandparent Living with a Grandchild in the Household
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This was determined by a "Yes" answer to the question, "Does this person have any of his/her own grandchildren under the age of 18 living in this house or apartment?" This question was asked of people 15 years of age and over. Because of the low numbers of persons under 30 years old living with their grandchildren, data were only tabulated for people 30 and over.
Responsibility for Basic Needs
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This question determines if the grandparent is financially responsible for food, shelter, clothing, day care, etc., for any or all grandchildren living in the household. In selected tabulations, grandparent responsibility is further classified by presence of parent (of the grandchild).
Duration of Responsibility
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The answer refers to the grandchild for whom the grandparent has been responsible for the longest period of time. Duration categories ranged from less than 6 months to 5 or more years.

Question/Concept History
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This set of questions was added to the American Community Survey in 1999 to comply with legislation passed in the 104th Congress requiring that the decennial census program obtain information about grandparents who have primary responsibility for the care of their grandchildren.
The response categories for length of time caring for grandchildren were modified slightly between the 1999 and 2000 American Community Survey questionnaires to match the 2000 decennial census questionnaire. The question has remained unchanged since then.
Limitation of the Data
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Before 2006, ACS grandparents data had a universe of people in households (which was the same as that in Census 2000 and the CPS). Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have grandparents as caregivers distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the grandparents as caregivers distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

Comparability
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The data on grandparents as caregivers can be compared to previous ACS years, Census 2000, and to similar data collected in the CPS (with the potential limitation noted above about areas with a substantial GQ population).

Group Quarters (GQ)
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See Living Quarters.

Health Insurance Coverage
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In 2011, data on health insurance coverage were derived from answers to Question 16, which was asked of all respondents. Respondents were instructed to report their current coverage and to mark "yes" or "no" for each of the eight types listed (labeled as parts 16a to 16h).
  1. Insurance through a current or former employer or union (of this person or another family member)
  2. Insurance purchased directly from an insurance company (by this person or another family member)
  3. Medicare, for people 65 and older, or people with certain disabilities
  4. Medicaid, Medical Assistance, or any kind of government-assistance plan for those with low incomes or a disability
  5. TRICARE or other military health care
  6. VA (including those who have ever used or enrolled for VA health care)
  7. Indian Health Service
  8. Any other type of health insurance or health coverage plan
Respondents who answered "yes" to question 16h were asked to provide their other type of coverage type in a write-in field.

Health insurance coverage in the ACS and other Census Bureau surveys define coverage to include plans and programs that provide comprehensive health coverage. Plans that provide insurance for specific conditions or situations such as cancer and long-term care policies are not considered coverage. Likewise, other types of insurance like dental, vision, life, and disability insurance are not considered health insurance coverage.

In defining types of coverage, write-in responses were reclassified into one of the first seven types of coverage or determined not to be a coverage type. Write-in responses that referenced the coverage of a family member were edited to assign coverage based on responses from other family members. As a result, only the first seven types of health coverage are included in the microdata file.

An eligibility edit was applied to give Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE coverage to individuals based on program eligibility rules. TRICARE or other military health care was given to active-duty military personnel and their spouses and children. Medicaid or other means-tested public coverage was given to foster children, certain individuals receiving Supplementary Security Income or Public Assistance, and the spouses and children of certain Medicaid beneficiaries. Medicare coverage was given to people 65 and older who received Social Security or Medicaid benefits.

People were considered insured if they reported at least one "yes" to Questions 16a to 16f. People who had no reported health coverage, or those whose only health coverage was Indian Health Service, were considered uninsured. For reporting purposes, the Census Bureau broadly classifies health insurance coverage as private health insurance or public coverage. Private health insurance is a plan provided through an employer or union, a plan purchased by an individual from a private company, or TRICARE or other military health care. Respondents reporting a "yes" to the types listed in parts a, b, or e were considered to have private health insurance. Public health coverage includes the federal programs Medicare, Medicaid, and VA Health Care (provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs); the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and individual state health plans. Respondents reporting a "yes" to the types listed in c, d, or f were considered to have public coverage. The types of health insurance are not mutually exclusive; people may be covered by more than one at the same time.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other federal agencies, use data on health insurance coverage to more accurately distribute resources and better understand state and local health insurance needs.
Question/Concept History
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The ACS began asking questions about health insurance coverage in 2008. Because 2008 was the first year of collection, the Census Bureau limited the number and type of data products to simple age breakdowns of overall, private, and public coverage status. The evaluation of the 2008 data suggested that the data were of good quality, so the Census Bureau expanded the data products to include estimates of the specific types of coverage along with estimates about social, economic, and demographic details for people with and without health insurance.

For the 2008 data released September 2009, there was no eligibility edit applied. The eligibility edit that was developed for the 2009 was applied to the 2008 data during spring 2010. New estimates of health insurance coverage with this data are available at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthins.html.

Limitation of the Data
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The universe for most health insurance coverage estimates is the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes active-duty military personnel and the population living in correctional facilities and nursing homes. Some noninstitutionalized GQ populations have health insurance coverage distributions that are different from the household population (e.g., the prevalence of private health insurance among residents of college dormitories is higher than the household population). The proportion of the universe that is in the noninstitutionalized GQ populations could therefore have a noticeable impact on estimates of the health insurance coverage. Institutionalized GQ populations may also have health insurance coverage distributions that are different from the civilian noninstitutionalized population, the distributions in the published tables may differ slightly from how they would look if the total population were represented.

Comparability
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Health insurance coverage was added to the 2008 ACS and so no equivalent measure is available from previous ACS surveys or Census 2000. Because of the addition of the eligibility edit to 2009 ACS health insurance, data users should be careful as to which 2008 ACS estimates they use to make comparisons. National, state, county and place-level 2008 1-year data incorporating the eligibility edit are available at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/data/acs/2008/re-run.html; they are comparable to the 2009 estimates in American Fact Finder. For more information on the logical coverage (eligibility) edits, please see http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/publications/coverage_edits_final .pdf.

Because coverage in the ACS references an individual's current status, caution should be taken when making comparisons to other surveys which may define coverage as "at any time in the last year" or "throughout the past year." A discussion of how the ACS health insurance estimates relate to other survey health insurance estimates can be found in A Preliminary Evaluation of Health Insurance Coverage in the 2008 American Community Survey (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/data/acs/2008/2008ACS_healthins.pdf).

Hispanic or Latino Origin
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The data on the Hispanic or Latino population were derived from answers to a question that was asked of all people. The terms "Hispanic," "Latino," and "Spanish" are used interchangeably. Some respondents identify with all three terms while others may identify with only one of these three specific terms. Hispanics or Latinos who identify with the terms "Hispanic," "Latino," or "Spanish" are those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish categories listed on the questionnaire ("Mexican," "Puerto Rican," or "Cuban") as well as those who indicate that they are "another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin." People who do not identify with one of the specific origins listed on the questionnaire but indicate that they are "another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin" are those whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South America, or the Dominican Republic. Up to two write-in responses to the "another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin" category are coded.

Origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person's parents or ancestors before their arrival in the United States. People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race.

Hispanic origin is used in numerous programs and is vital in making policy decisions. These data are needed to determine compliance with provisions of antidiscrimination in employment and minority recruitment legislation. Under the Voting Rights Act, data about Hispanic origin are essential to ensure enforcement of bilingual election rules. Hispanic origin classifications used by the Census Bureau and other federal agencies meet the requirements of standards issued by the Office of Management and Budget in 1997 (Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity). These standards set forth guidance for statistical collection and reporting on race and ethnicity used by all federal agencies.

Some tabulations are shown by the origin of the householder. In all cases where the origin of households, families, or occupied housing units is classified as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish, the origin of the householder is used. (For more information, see the discussion of householder under "Household Type and Relationship.")

Coding of Hispanic Origin Write-in Responses
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There were two types of coding operations: (1) automated coding where a write-in response was automatically coded if it matched a write-in response already contained in a database known as the "master file," and (2) expert coding, which took place when a write-in response did not match an entry already on the master file, and was sent to expert coders familiar with the subject matter. During the coding process, subject-matter specialists reviewed and coded written entries from the "Yes, another Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin" write-in response category on the Hispanic origin question.

Editing of Hispanic Origin Responses
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If an individual did not provide a Hispanic origin response, their origin was allocated using specific rules of precedence of household relationship. For example, if origin was missing for a natural-born child in the household, then either the origin of the householder, another natural-born child, or spouse of the householder was allocated. If Hispanic origin was not reported for anyone in the household and origin could not be obtained from a response to the race question, then the Hispanic origin of a householder in a previously processed household with the same race was allocated. Surnames (Spanish and Non-Spanish) were used to assist in allocating an origin or race.

Question/Concept History
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Beginning in 1996, the American Community Survey question was worded "Is this person Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?" In 2008, the question wording changed to "Is this person of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?" From 1999 to 2007, the Hispanic origin question provided an instruction, "Mark (X) the "No" box if not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino." The 2008 question, as well as the 1996 to 1998 questions, did not have this instruction. In addition, in 2008, the "Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish" category provided examples of six Hispanic origin groups (Argentinean, Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard, and so on).

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have Hispanic or Latino origin distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the Hispanic or Latino origin distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

Comparability
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The ACS question on Hispanic origin was revised in 2008 to make it consistent with the Census 2010 Hispanic origin question. The reporting of specific Hispanic groups (e.g., Colombian, Dominican, Spaniard, etc.) increased at the national level. The change in estimates for 2011 may be due to demographic changes, as well as factors including questionnaire changes, differences in ACS population controls, and methodological differences in the population estimates. Caution should be used when comparing 2011 estimates to estimates from previous years. The 2011 Hispanic origin question is different from the Census 2000 question on Hispanic origin, therefore comparisons should be made with caution. More information about the changes in the estimates is available at http://www.census.gov/population/hispanic/files/acs08researchnote.pdf.

See the 2011 Code List for Hispanic Origin Code List.
Household
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Household Type and Relationship
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The data on relationship to householder were derived from answers to Question 2, relationship to the householder, which was asked of all people in housing units. The question on relationship is essential for classifying the population info families and other groups. Information about changes in the composition of the American family, from the number of people living alone to the number of children living with only one parent, is essential for planning and carrying out a number of federal programs, such as families in poverty.

The responses to this question were used to determine the relationships of all persons to the householder, as well as household type (married couple family, nonfamily, etc.). From responses to this question, we were able to determine numbers of related children, own children, unmarried partner households, and multigenerational households. We calculated average household and family size. When relationship was not reported, it was imputed using the age difference between the householder and the person, sex, and marital status.

Household
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A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit. (People not living in households are classified as living in group quarters.) A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is occupied (or if vacant, is intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live separately from any other people in the building and which have direct access from the outside of the building or through a common hall. The occupants may be a single family, one person living alone, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated people who share living arrangements.

Average Household Size
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A measure obtained by dividing the number of people in households by the number of households. In cases where people in households are cross- classified by race or Hispanic origin, people in the household are classified by the race or Hispanic origin of the householder rather than the race or Hispanic origin of each individual. Average household size is rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Relationship to Householder
Householder
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One person in each household is designated as the householder. In most cases, this is the person, or one of the people, in whose name the home is owned, being bought, or rented and who is listed on line one of the survey questionnaire. If there is no such person in the household, any adult household member 15 years old and over could be designated as the householder.

Households are classified by type according to the sex of the householder and the presence of relatives. Two types of householders are distinguished: a family householder and a non- family householder. A family householder is a householder living with one or more individuals related to him or her by birth, marriage, or adoption. The householder and all people in the household related to him or her are family members. A nonfamily householder is a householder living alone or with non-relatives only.

Spouse
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Includes a person married to and living with a householder who is of the opposite sex of the householder. The category "husband or wife" includes people in formal marriages, as well as people in common-law marriages. In tabulations, unless otherwise specified, "Spouse" does not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples.
Child
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Includes a son or daughter by birth, a stepchild, or adopted child of the householder, regardless of the child's age or marital status. The category excludes sons-in-law, daughters- in-law, and foster children.
  • Biological son or daughter - The son or daughter of the householder by birth.
  • Adopted son or daughter - The son or daughter of the householder by legal adoption. If a stepson or stepdaughter has been legally adopted by the householder, the child is then classified as an adopted child.
  • Stepson or stepdaughter - The son or daughter of the householder through marriage but not by birth, excluding sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. If a stepson or stepdaughter of the householder has been legally adopted by the householder, the child is then classified as an adopted child.


Own Child
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A never-married child under 18 years who is a son or daughter by birth, a stepchild, or an adopted child of the householder. In certain tabulations, own children are further classified as living with two parents or with one parent only. Own children of the householder living with two parents are by definition found only in married-couple families. (Note: When used in "EMPLOYMENT STATUS" tabulations, own child refers to a never married child under the age of 18 in a family or a subfamily who is a son or daughter, by birth, marriage, or adoption, of a member of the householder's family, but not necessarily of the householder.)
Related Child
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Any child under 18 years old who is related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. Related children of the householder include ever-married as well as never-married children. Children, by definition, exclude persons under 18 years who maintain households or are spouses or unmarried partners of householders.
Other Relatives
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In tabulations, the category "other relatives" includes any household member related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption, but not included specifically in another relationship category. In certain detailed tabulations, the following categories may be shown:
  • Grandchild - The grandson or granddaughter of the householder.
  • Brother/Sister - The brother or sister of the householder, including stepbrothers, stepsisters, and brothers and sisters by adoption. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are included in the "Other Relative" category on the questionnaire.
  • Parent - The father or mother of the householder, including a stepparent or adoptive parent. Fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law are included in the "Parent-in-law" category on the questionnaire.
  • Parent-in-law - The mother-in-law or father-in-law of the householder.
  • Son-in-law or daughter-in-law - The spouse of the child of the householder.
  • Other Relatives - Anyone not listed in a reported category above who is related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption (brother-in-law, grandparent, nephew, aunt, cousin, and so forth).


Nonrelatives
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This category includes any household member, including foster children, not related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. The following categories may be presented in more detailed tabulations:

  • Roomer or Boarder - A roomer or boarder is a person who lives in a room in the household of the householder. Some sort of cash or noncash payment (e.g., chores) is usually made for their living accommodations.
  • Housemate or Roommate - A housemate or roommate is a person age 15 years and over, who is not related to the householder, and who shares living quarters primarily in order to share expenses.
  • Unmarried Partner - An unmarried partner is a person age 15 years and over, who is not related to the householder, who shares living quarters, and who has a close personal relationship with the householder. Same-sex spouses are included in this category for tabulation purposes and for public use data files.
  • Foster Child - A foster child is a person who is under 21 years old placed by the local government in a household to receive parental care. Foster children may be living in the household for just a brief period or for several years. Foster children are nonrelatives of the householder. If the foster child is also related to the householder, the child is classified as that specific relative.
  • Other Nonrelatives - Anyone who is not related by birth, marriage, or adoption to the householder and who is not described by the categories given above.
When relationship is not reported for an individual, it is imputed according to the responses for age, sex, and marital status for that person while maintaining consistency with responses for other individuals in the household.

Unrelated Individual
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n unrelated individual is: (1) a householder living alone or with nonrelatives only, (2) a household member who is not related to the householder, or (3) a person living in group quarters who is not an inmate of an institution.

Family Households
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A family consists of a householder and one or more other people living in the same household who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. All people in a household who are related to the householder are regarded as members of his or her family. A family household may contain people not related to the householder, but those people are not included as part of the householder's family in tabulations. Thus, the number of family households is equal to the number of families, but family households may include more members than do families. A household can contain only one family for purposes of tabulations. Not all households contain families since a household may be comprised of a group of unrelated people or of one person living alone - these are called nonfamily households. Families are classified by type as either a "married- couple family" or "other family" according to the sex of the householder and the presence of relatives. The data on family type are based on answers to questions on sex and relationship that were asked of all people.

  • Married-Couple Family - A family in which the householder and his or her spouse are listed as members of the same household.
  • Other Family:
- Male Householder, No Wife Present - A family with a male householderand no spouse of householder present.
- Female Householder, No Husband Present - A family with a female householder and no spouse of householder present.

Family households and married-couple families do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples. Same sex couple households are included in the family households category if there is at least one additional person related to the householder by birth or adoption.

Average Family Size
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A measure obtained by dividing the number of people in families by the total number of families (or family householders). In cases where the measures, "people in family" or "people per family" are cross-tabulated by race or Hispanic origin, the race or Hispanic origin refers to the householder rather than the race or Hispanic origin of each individual. Average family size is rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Subfamily
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A subfamily is a married couple (husband and wife interviewed as members of the same household) with or without never-married children under 18 years old, or one parent with one or more never-married children under 18 years old. A subfamily does not maintain its own household, but lives in a household where the householder or householder's spouse is a relative. The number of subfamilies is not included in the count of families, since subfamily members are counted as part of the householder's family. Subfamilies are defined during processing of data.

In selected tabulations, subfamilies are further classified by type: married-couple subfamilies, with or without own children; mother-child subfamilies; and father-child subfamilies.

In some labor force tabulations, children in both one-parent families and one-parent subfamilies are included in the total number of children living with one parent, while children in both married-couple families and married-couple subfamilies are included in the total number of children living with two parents.

Nonfamily Household
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A householder living alone or with nonrelatives only. Same-sex couple households with no relatives of the householder present are tabulated in nonfamily households.

Unmarried-Partner Household
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An unmarried-partner household is a household other than a "married-couple household" that includes a householder and an "unmarried partner." An "unmarried partner" can be of the same sex or of the opposite sex as the householder. An "unmarried partner" in an "unmarried-partner household" is an adult who is unrelated to the householder, but shares living quarters and has a close personal relationship with the householder. An unmarried-partner household also may be a family household or a nonfamily household, depending on the presence or absence of another person in the household who is related to the householder. There may be only one unmarried partner per household, and an unmarried partner may not be included in a married-couple household, as the householder cannot have both a spouse and an unmarried partner. Same-sex married couples are included in the count of unmarried-partner households for tabulations purposes and for public use data files.
Question/Concept History
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Between 1996 and 2007, the question response categories remained the same. In 2008, the "Son or daughter" category was expanded to "Biological son or daughter," "Adopted son or daughter," and "Stepson or stepdaughter." Also "In-law" was expanded to "Parent-in-law" and "Son-in-law or daughter-in-law."

Limitation of the Data
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Unlike the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), the ACS relationship question does not have a parent pointer to identify whether both parents are present. For example, if a child lives with unmarried parents, we only know the relationship of the child to the householder, not to the other parent. So a count of children living with two biological parents is not precise.

Comparability
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The relationship categories for the most part can be compared to previous ACS years and to similar data collected in the decennial census, CPS, and SIPP. With the change in 2008 from "In-law" to the 2 categories of "Parent-in-law" and "Son- in-law or daughter-in-law", caution should be exercised when comparing data on in-laws from previous years. "In-law" encompassed any type of in-law such as sister-in-law. Combining "Parent-in-law" and "son-in-law or daughter-in-law" does not represent all "in-laws" in 2008. The same can be said of comparing the 3 categories of "biological" "step", and "adopted" child in 2008 to "Child" in previous years. Before 2008, respondents may have considered anyone under 18 as "child" and chosen that category. The ACS includes "foster child" as a category. However, the 2010 census did not contain this category, and "foster children" were included in the "Other nonrelative" category. Therefore, comparison of "foster child" cannot be made to the 2010 census.
Household Size
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Householder
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See Household Type and Relationship.
Immigrants
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See Foreign-Born Population.

Income in the Past 12 Months
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The data on income were derived from answers to Questions 47 and 48, which were asked of the population 15 years old and over. "Total income" is the sum of the amounts reported separately for wage or salary income; net self-employment income; interest, dividends, or net rental or royalty income or income from estates and trusts; Social Security or Railroad Retirement income; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); public assistance or welfare payments; retirement, survivor, or disability pensions; and all other income.

Receipts from the following sources are not included as income: capital gains, money received from the sale of property (unless the recipient was engaged in the business of selling such property); the value of income "in kind" from food stamps, public housing subsidies, medical care, employer contributions for individuals, etc.; withdrawal of bank deposits; money borrowed; tax refunds; exchange of money between relatives living in the same household; gifts and lump-sum inheritances, insurance payments, and other types of lump- sum receipts.

Income is a vital measure of general economic circumstances. Income data are used to determine poverty status, to measure economic well-being, and to assess the need for assistance. These data are included in federal allocation formulas for many government programs. For instance:

Social Services
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Under the Older Americans Act, funds for food, health care, and legal services are distributed to local agencies based on data about elderly people with low incomes. Data about income at the state and county levels are used to allocate funds for food, health care, and classes in meal planning to low-income women with children.

Employment
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Income data are used to identify local areas eligible for grants to stimulate economic recovery, run job-training programs, and define areas such as empowerment or enterprise zones.
Housing
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Under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, income data are used to allocate funds to areas for home energy aid. Under the Community Development Block Grant Program, funding for housing assistance and other community development is based on income and other census data.

Education
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Data about poor children are used to allocate funds to counties and school districts. These funds provide resources and services to improve the education of economically disadvantaged children.

In household surveys, respondents tend to underreport income. Asking the list of specific sources of income helps respondents remember all income amounts that have been received, and asking total income increases the overall response rate and thus, the accuracy of the answers to the income questions. The eight specific sources of income also provide needed detail about items such as earnings, retirement income, and public assistance.
Income Type in the Past 12 Months
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The eight types of income reported in the American Community Survey are defined as follows:
Wage or salary income
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Wage or salary income includes total money earnings received for work performed as an employee during the past 12 months. It includes wages, salary, Armed Forces pay, commissions, tips, piece-rate payments, and cash bonuses earned before deductions were made for taxes, bonds, pensions, union dues, etc.
Self-employment income
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Self-employment income includes both farm and non-farm self-employment income.
Farm self-employment income
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Farm self-employment income includes net money income (gross receipts minus operating expenses) from the operation of a farm by a person on his or her own account, as an owner, renter, or sharecropper. Gross receipts include the value of all products sold, government farm programs, money received from the rental of farm equipment to others, and incidental receipts from the sale of wood, sand, gravel, etc. Operating expenses include cost of feed, fertilizer, seed, and other farming supplies, cash wages paid to farmhands, depreciation charges, rent, interest on farm mortgages, farm building repairs, farm taxes (not state and federal personal income taxes), etc. The value of fuel, food, or other farm products used for family living is not included as part of net income.

Non-farm self-employment income
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Non-farm self-employment income includes net money income (gross receipts minus expenses) from one's own business, professional enterprise, or partnership. Gross receipts include the value of all goods sold and services rendered. Expenses include costs of goods purchased, rent, heat, light, power, depreciation charges, wages and salaries paid, business taxes (not personal income taxes), etc.

Interest, dividends, net rental income, royalty income, or income from estates and trusts
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Interest, dividends, or net rental income includes interest on savings or bonds, dividends from stockholdings or membership in associations, net income from rental of property to others and receipts from boarders or lodgers, net royalties, and periodic payments from an estate or trust fund.

Social Security income
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Social Security income includes Social Security pensions and survivor benefits, permanent disability insurance payments made by the Social Security Administration prior to deductions for medical insurance, and railroad retirement insurance checks from the U.S. government. Medicare reimbursements are not included.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a nationwide U.S. assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration that guarantees a minimum level of income for needy aged, blind, or disabled individuals. The Puerto Rico Community Survey questionnaire asks about the receipt of SSI; however, SSI is not a federally-administered program in Puerto Rico. Therefore, it is probably not being interpreted by most respondents in the same manner as SSI in the United States. The only way a resident of Puerto Rico could have appropriately reported SSI would have been if they lived in the United States at any time during the past 12-month reference period and received SSI.
Public assistance income
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Public assistance income includes general assistance and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Separate payments received for hospital or other medical care (vendor payments) are excluded. This does not include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or noncash benefits such as Food Stamps. The terms "public assistance income" and "cash public assistance" are used interchangeably in the 2011 ACS data products.
Retirement, survivor, or disability income
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Retirement income includes: (1) retirement pensions and survivor benefits from a former employer; labor union; or federal, state, or local government; and the U.S. military; (2) disability income from companies or unions; federal, state, or local government; and the U.S. military; (3) periodic receipts from annuities and insurance; and (4) regular income from IRA and Keogh plans. This does not include Social Security income.
All other income
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All other income includes unemployment compensation, worker's compensation, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) payments, alimony and child support, contributions received periodically from people not living in the household, military family allotments, and other kinds of periodic income other than earnings.
Cash Public Assistance
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See "Public assistance income."
Income of Households
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This includes the income of the householder and all other individuals 15 years old and over in the household, whether they are related to the householder or not. Because many households consist of only one person, average household income is usually less than average family income. Although the household income statistics cover the past 12 months, the characteristics of individuals and the composition of households refer to the time of interview. Thus, the income of the household does not include amounts received by individuals who were members of the household during all or part of the past 12 months if these individuals no longer resided in the household at the time of interview. Similarly, income amounts reported by individuals who did not reside in the household during the past 12 months but who were members of the household at the time of interview are included. However, the composition of most households was the same during the past 12 months as at the time of interview.

Income of Families
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In compiling statistics on family income, the incomes of all members 15 years old and over related to the householder are summed and treated as a single amount. Although the family income statistics cover the past 12 months, the characteristics of individuals and the composition of families refer to the time of interview. Thus, the income of the family does not include amounts received by individuals who were members of the family during all or part of the past 12 months if these individuals no longer resided with the family at the time of interview. Similarly, income amounts reported by individuals who did not reside with the family during the past 12 months but who were members of the family at the time of interview are included. However, the composition of most families was the same during the past 12 months as at the time of interview.
Income of Individuals
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Income for individuals is obtained by summing the eight types of income for each person 15 years old and over. The characteristics of individuals are based on the time of interview even though the amounts are for the past 12 months.
Median Income
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The median divides the income distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median income and one-half above the median. For households and families, the median income is based on the distribution of the total number of households and families including those with no income. The median income for individuals is based on individuals 15 years old and over with income. Median income for households, families, and individuals is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Derived Measures.") Median income is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. Median income figures are calculated using linear interpolation. (For more information on medians and interpolation, see "Derived Measures.")

Aggregate Income
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Aggregate income is the sum of all incomes for a particular universe. Aggregate income is subject to rounding, which means that all cells in a matrix are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")

Mean Income
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Mean income is the amount obtained by dividing the aggregate income of a particular statistical universe by the number of units in that universe. For example, mean household income is obtained by dividing total household income by the total number of households. (The aggregate used to calculate mean income is rounded. For more information, see "Aggregate income.")
For the various types of income, the means are based on households having those types of income. For household income and family income, the mean is based on the distribution of the total number of households and families including those with no income. The mean income for individuals is based on individuals 15 years old and over with income. Mean income is rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

Care should be exercised in using and interpreting mean income values for small subgroups of the population. Because the mean is influenced strongly by extreme values in the distribution, it is especially susceptible to the effects of sampling variability, misreporting, and processing errors. The median, which is not affected by extreme values, is, therefore, a better measure than the mean when the population base is small. The mean, nevertheless, is shown in some data products for most small subgroups because, when weighted according to the number of cases, the means can be computed for areas and groups other than those shown in Census Bureau tabulations. (For more information on means, see "Derived Measures.")

Income Quintile Upper Limits
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Negative incomes are converted to zero for these measures. These measures are the quintile cutoffs, along with the 95th percentile of the distribution. (For more information on quintiles, see "Derived Measures.")

Means of Household Income by Quintiles
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Means of household income by quintiles are calculated by dividing aggregate household income in each quintile by the number of households in each quintile (one-fifth of the total number of households). (For more information on aggregates, see "Aggregate Income." For more information on quintiles, see "Derived Measures.")

Shares of Household Income by Quintiles
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Negative incomes are converted to zero for these measures. These measures are the aggregate household income in each quintile as a percentage of the total aggregate household income. (For more information on aggregates, see "Aggregate income." For more information on quintiles, see "Derived Measures.")
Gini Index of Income Inequality
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Negative incomes are converted to zero. The Gini index of income inequality measures the dispersion of the household income distribution. (For more information on the Gini index, see "Derived Measures.")
Earnings
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Earnings are defined as the sum of wage or salary income and net income from self-employment. "Earnings" represent the amount of income received regularly for people 16 years old and over before deductions for personal income taxes, Social Security, bond purchases, union dues, Medicare deductions, etc. An individual with earnings is one who has either wage/salary income or self-employment income, or both. Respondents who "break even" in self-employment income and therefore have zero self-employment earnings also are considered "individuals with earnings."

Median Earnings
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The median divides the earnings distribution into two equal parts: one- half of the cases falling below the median and one-half above the median. Median earnings is restricted to individuals 16 years old and over with earnings and is computed on the basis of a standard distribution. (See the "Standard Distributions" section under "Derived Measures.") Median earnings figures are calculated using linear interpolation. (For more information on medians and interpolation, see "Derived Measures.")

Aggregate Earnings
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Aggregate earnings are the sum of wage/salary and net self- employment income for a particular universe of people 16 years old and over. Aggregate earnings are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")

Mean Earnings
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Mean earnings is calculated by dividing aggregate earnings by the population 16 years old and over with earnings. (The aggregate used to calculate mean earnings is rounded. For more information, see ''Aggregate earnings.'') Mean earnings is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. (For more information on means, see "Derived Measures.")

Women's Earnings as a Percentage of Men's Earnings
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Women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings is defined as median earnings for females who worked fulltime, year-round divided by median earnings for males who worked full-time, year-round, multiplied by 100. (For more information see "full-time, year-round workers" under "Usual hours worked per weeks worked in the past 12 months" and "Median earnings.")
Per Capita Income
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Per capita income is the mean income computed for every man, woman, and child in a particular group including those living in group quarters. It is derived by dividing the aggregate income of a particular group by the total population in that group. (The aggregate used to calculate per capita income is rounded. For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.") Per capita income is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. (For more information on means, see "Derived Measures.")

Adjusting Income for Inflation
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Income components were reported for the 12 months preceding the interview month. Monthly Consumer Price Indices (CPI) factors were used to inflation-adjust these components to a reference calendar year (January through December). For example, a household interviewed in March 2011 reports their income for March 2010 through February 2011. Their income is adjusted to the 2011 reference calendar year by multiplying their reported income by 2011 average annual CPI (January-December 2011) and then dividing by the average CPI for March 2010-February2011.

In order to inflate income amounts from previous years, the dollar values on individual records are inflated to the latest year's dollar values by multiplying by a factor equal to the average annual CPI-U-RS factor for the current year, divided by the average annual CPI-U- RS factor for the earlier/earliest year.
Question/Concept History
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The 1998 ACS questionnaire deleted references to Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) because of welfare law reforms.
In 1999, the ACS questions were changed to be consistent with the questions for the Census 2000. The instructions are slightly different to reflect differences in the reference periods. The ACS asks about the past 12 months, and the questions for the decennial census ask about the previous calendar year.
Limitation of the Data
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Since answers to income questions are frequently based on memory and not on records, many people tend to forget minor or sporadic sources of income and, therefore, underreport their income. Underreporting tends to be more pronounced for income sources that are not derived from earnings, such as public assistance, interest, dividends, and net rental income.

Extensive computer editing procedures were instituted in the data processing operation to reduce some of these reporting errors and to improve the accuracy of the income data. These procedures corrected various reporting deficiencies and improved the consistency of reported income questions associated with work experience and information on occupation and class of worker. For example, if people reported they were self employed on their own farm, not incorporated, but had reported only wage and salary earnings, the latter amount was shifted to self-employment income. Also, if any respondent reported total income only, the amount was generally assigned to one of the types of income questions according to responses to the work experience and class-of-worker questions. Another type of problem involved non- reporting of income data. Where income information was not reported, procedures were devised to impute appropriate values with either no income or positive or negative dollar amounts for the missing entries. (For more information on imputation, see "Accuracy of the Data" on the ACS website www.census.gov/acs.)

In income tabulations for households and families, the lowest income group (for example, less than $10,000) includes units that were classified as having no income in the past 12 months. Many of these were living on income "in kind," savings, or gifts, were newly created families, or were families in which the sole breadwinner had recently died or left the household. However, many of the households and families who reported no income probably had some money income that was not reported in the American Community Survey.

Users should exercise caution when comparing income and earnings estimates for individuals since the 2006 ACS to earlier years because of the introduction of group quarters. Household and family income estimates are not affected by the inclusion of group quarters.

Users should exercise caution when comparing medians from the 2011 ACS to earlier years. There was a change between 2008 and 2009 1-Year and 3-Year Data Products in Income and Earnings median calculations. Medians above $75,000 were most likely to be affected.

Comparability
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The income data shown in ACS tabulations are not directly comparable with those that may be obtained from statistical summaries of income tax returns. Income, as defined for federal tax purposes, differs somewhat from the Census Bureau concept. Moreover, the coverage of income tax statistics is different because of the exemptions for people having small amounts of income and the inclusion of net capital gains in tax returns. Furthermore, members of some families file separate returns and others file joint returns; consequently, the tax reporting unit is not consistent with the census household, family, or person units.

The earnings data shown in ACS tabulations are not directly comparable with earnings records of the Social Security Administration (SSA). The earnings record data for SSA excludes the earnings of some civilian government employees, some employees of nonprofit organizations, workers covered by the Railroad Retirement Act, and people not covered by the program because of insufficient earnings. Because ACS data are obtained from household questionnaires, they may differ from SSA earnings record data, which are based upon employers' reports and the federal income tax returns of self-employed people.

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) publishes annual data on aggregate and per-capita personal income received by the population for states, metropolitan areas, and selected counties. Aggregate income estimates based on the income statistics shown in ACS products usually would be less than those shown in the BEA income series for several reasons. The ACS data are obtained from a household survey, whereas the BEA income series is estimated largely on the basis of data from administrative records of business and governmental sources. Moreover, the definitions of income are different. The BEA income series includes some questions not included in the income data shown in ACS publications, such as income "in kind," income received by nonprofit institutions, the value of services of banks and other financial intermediaries rendered to people without the assessment of specific charges, and Medicare payments. On the other hand, the ACS income data include contributions for support received from people not residing in the same household if the income is received on a regular basis.

In comparing income for the most recent year with income from earlier years, users should note that an increase or decrease in money income does not necessarily represent a comparable change in real income, unless adjusted for inflation.
Industry
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Industry data describe the kind of business conducted by a person's employing organization. Industry data were derived from answers to questions 42 through 44. Question 42 asks: "For whom did this person work?" Question 43 asks: "What kind of business or industry was this?" Question 44 provides 4 check boxes from which respondents are to select one to indicate whether the business was primarily manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, or other (agriculture, construction, service, government, etc.).

These questions were asked of all people 15 years old and over who had worked in the past 5 years. For employed people, the data refer to the person's job during the previous week. For those who worked two or more jobs, the data refer to the job where the person worked the greatest number of hours. For unemployed people and people who are not currently employed but report having a job within the last five years, the data refer to their last job.

Coding Procedures
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Written responses to the industry questions are coded using the industry classification system developed for Census 2000 and modified in 2002 and again in 2007. This system consists of 269 categories for employed people, including military, classified into 20 sectors. The modified 2007 census industry classification was developed from the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget. The NAICS was developed to increase comparability in industry definitions between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It provides industry classifications that group establishments into industries based on the activities in which they are primarily engaged. The NAICS was created for establishment designations and provides detail about the smallest operating establishment, while the American Community Survey data are collected from households and differ in detail and nature from those obtained from establishment surveys. Because of potential disclosure issues, the census industry classification system, while defined in NAICS terms, cannot reflect the full detail for all categories that the NAICS provides.

Respondents provided the data for the tabulations by writing on the questionnaires descriptions of their kind of business or industry. Clerical staff in the National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana converted the written questionnaire descriptions to codes by comparing these descriptions to entries in the Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations.

The industry category, "Public administration," is limited to regular government functions such as legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities. Other government organizations such as public schools, public hospitals, and bus lines are classified by industry according to the activity in which they are engaged.

Some occupation groups are related closely to certain industries. Operators of transportation equipment, farm operators and workers, and healthcare providers account for major portions of their respective industries of transportation, agriculture, and health care. However, the industry categories include people in other occupations. For example, people employed in agriculture include truck drivers and bookkeepers; people employed in the transportation industry include mechanics, freight handlers, and payroll clerks; and people employed in the health care industry include janitors, security guards, and secretaries.

Editing Procedures
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Following the coding operation, a computer edit and allocation process excludes all responses that should not be included in the universe, and evaluates the consistency of the remaining responses. The codes for industry are checked for consistency with the occupation and class of worker data provided for that respondent. Occasionally respondents supply industry descriptions that are not sufficiently specific for precise classification, or they do not report on these questions at all. Certain types of incomplete entries are corrected using the Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations. If one or more of the three codes (industry, occupation, or class of worker) is blank after the edit, a code is assigned from a donor respondent who is a "similar" person based on questions such as age, sex, educational attainment, income, employment status, and weeks worked. If all of the labor force and income data are blank, all of these economic questions are assigned from a "similar" person who had provided all the necessary data.

These questions describe the industrial composition of the American labor force. Data are used to formulate policy and programs for employment, career development and training, and to measure compliance with antidiscrimination policies. Companies use these data to decide where to locate new plants, stores, or offices.

Question/Concept History
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Industry data have been collected during decennial censuses intermittently since 1820 and on a continuous basis since 1910. Starting with the 2010 Census, industry data will no longer be collected during the decennial census. Long form data collection has transitioned to the American Community Survey. The American Community Survey began collecting data on industry in 1996. The questions on industry were designed to be consistent with the 1990 Census questions on industry. In the 1990 Census and starting with the 1999 ACS, a check box was added to the employer name questionnaire item that was to be marked by anyone "now on active duty in the Armed Forces..." This information is used by the industry and occupation coders to assist in assigning proper industry codes for active duty military. Prior to 1999, the 1996-1998 ACS class of worker question had an additional response category for "Active duty U.S. Armed Forces member." Other than this exception, American Community Survey questions on industry have remained consistent between 1996 and 2011.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) was included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have industry distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the industry distribution in some geographic areas with a substantial GQ population.
Data on occupation, industry, and class of worker are collected for the respondent's current primary job or the most recent job for those who are not employed but have worked in the last 5 years. Other labor force questions, such as questions on earnings or work hours, may have different reference periods and may not limit the response to the primary job. Although the prevalence of multiple jobs is low, data on some labor force items may not exactly correspond to the reported occupation, industry, or class of worker of a respondent.
Comparability
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Comparability of industry data was affected by a number of factors, primarily the system used to classify the questionnaire responses. Changes in the industry classification system limit comparability of the data from one year to another. These changes are needed to recognize the "birth" of new industries, the "death" of others, the growth and decline in existing industries, and the desire of analysts and other users for more detail in the presentation of the data. Probably the greatest cause of noncomparability is the movement of a segment from one category to another. Changes in the nature of jobs, respondent terminology, and refinement of category composition made these movements necessary.

ACS data from 1996 to 1999 used the same industry classification systems used for the 1990 census; therefore, the data are comparable. Since 1990, the industry classification has had major revisions to reflect the shift from the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). These changes were reflected in the Census 2000 industry codes. The 2000-2002 ACS data used the same industry and occupation classification systems used for the 2000 census, therefore, the data are comparable. In 2002, NAICS underwent another change and the industry codes were changed accordingly. Because of the possibility of new industries being added to the list of codes, the Census Bureau needed to have more flexibility in adding codes. Consequently, in 2002, industry census codes were expanded from three-digit codes to four-digit codes. The changes to these code classifications mean that the ACS data from 2003-2011 are not completely comparable to the data from earlier surveys. In 2007, NAICS was updated again. This resulted in a minor change in the industry data that will cause it to not be completely comparable to previous years. The changes were concentrated in the Information Sector where one census code was added (6672) and two were deleted (6675, 6692). For more information on industry comparability across classification systems, please see technical paper #65: The Relationship Between the 1990 Census and Census 2000 Industry and Occupation Classification Systems.
See the 2011 Code List for Industry Code List.

See also, Occupation and Class of Worker.
Journey to Work
Place of Work
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The data on place of work were derived from answers to Question 30, which was asked of people who indicated in Question 29 that they worked at some time during the reference week. (See "Reference Week.")

Data were tabulated for workers 16 years old and over, that is, members of the Armed Forces and civilians who were at work during the reference week. Data on place of work refer to the geographic location at which workers carried out their occupational activities during the reference week. In the American Community Survey, the exact address (number and street name) of the place of work was asked, as well as the place (city, town, or post office); whether the place of work was inside or outside the limits of that city or town; and the county, state or foreign country, and ZIP Code. In the Puerto Rico Community Survey, the question asked for the exact address, including the development or condominium name, as well as the place; whether or not the place of work was inside or outside the limits of that city or town; the municipio or U.S. county. Respondents also were asked to "enter Puerto Rico or name of U.S. state or foreign country" and the ZIP Code. If the respondent's employer operated in more than one location, the exact address of the location or branch where he or she worked was requested. When the number and street name were unknown, a description of the location, such as the building name or nearest street or intersection, was to be entered. People who worked at more than one location during the reference week were asked to report the location at which they worked the greatest number of hours. People who regularly worked in several locations each day during the reference week were requested to give the address at which they began work each day. For cases in which daily work did not begin at a central place each day, the respondent was asked to provide as much information as possible to describe the area in which he or she worked most during the reference week.

Place-of-work data may show a few workers who made unlikely daily work trips (e.g., workers who lived in New York and worked in California). This result is attributable to people who worked during the reference week at a location that was different from their usual place of work, such as people away from home on business.

In areas where the workplace address was geographically coded to the block level, people were tabulated as working inside or outside a specific place based on the location of that address regardless of the response to Question 30c concerning city/town limits. In areas where it was impossible to code the workplace address to the block level, or the coding system was unable to match the employer name and street address responses, people were tabulated as working inside or outside a specific place based on the combination of state, county, ZIP Code, place name, and city limits indicator. The city limits indicator was used only in coding decisions when there were multiple geographic codes to select from, after matching on the state, county, place, and ZIP Code responses. The accuracy of place-of- work data for census designated places (CDPs) may be affected by the extent to which their census names were familiar to respondents, and by coding problems caused by similarities between the CDP name and the names of other geographic jurisdictions in the same vicinity.

Place-of-work data are given for selected minor civil divisions (MCDs), (generally cities, towns, and townships) in the 12 strong MCD states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin), based on the responses to the place of work question. Many towns and townships are regarded locally as equivalent to a place, and therefore, were reported as the place of work. When a respondent reported a locality or incorporated place that formed a part of a township or town, the coding and tabulating procedure was designed to include the response in the total for the township or town.

Workplace-based Geography
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The characteristics of workers may be shown using either residence-based or workplace-based geography. If you are interested in the number and characteristics of workers living in a specific area, you should use the standard (residence- based) journey-to-work tables. If you are interested in the number and characteristics of workers who work in a specific area, you should use the workplace-based journey-to-work tables. Because place-of-work information for workers cannot always be specified below the place level, the workplace-based tables are presented only for selected geographic areas.

Means of Transportation to Work
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The data on means of transportation to work were derived from answers to Question 31, which was asked of people who indicated in Question 29 that they worked at some time during the reference week. (See "Reference Week.") Means of transportation to work refers to the principal mode of travel or type of conveyance that the worker usually used to get from home to work during the reference week.

People who used different means of transportation on different days of the week were asked to specify the one they used most often, that is, the greatest number of days. People who used more than one means of transportation to get to work each day were asked to report the one used for the longest distance during the work trip. The category, "Car, truck, or van," includes workers using a car (including company cars but excluding taxicabs), a truck of one- ton capacity or less, or a van. The category, "Public transportation," includes workers who used a bus or trolley bus, streetcar or trolley car, subway or elevated, railroad, or ferryboat, even if each mode is not shown separately in the tabulation. "Carro publico" is included in the public transportation category in Puerto Rico. The category, "Other means," includes workers who used a mode of travel that is not identified separately within the data distribution. The category, "Other means," may vary from table to table, depending on the amount of detail shown in a particular distribution.

The means of transportation data for some areas may show workers using modes of public transportation that are not available in those areas (for example, subway or elevated riders in a metropolitan area where there is no subway or elevated service). This result is largely due to people who worked during the reference week at a location that was different from their usual place of work (such as people away from home on business in an area where subway service was available), and people who used more than one means of transportation each day but whose principal means was unavailable where they lived (for example, residents of nonmetropolitan areas who drove to the fringe of a metropolitan area, and took the commuter railroad most of the distance to work).

Private Vehicle Occupancy
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The data on private vehicle occupancy were derived from answers to Question 32. This question was asked of people who indicated in Question 29 that they worked at some time during the reference week and who reported in Question 31 that their means of transportation to work was "Car, truck, or van." Data were tabulated for workers 16 years old and over, that is, members of the Armed Forces and civilians who were at work during the reference week. (See "Reference Week.")

Private vehicle occupancy refers to the number of people who usually rode to work in the vehicle during the reference week. The category, "Drove alone," includes people who usually drove alone to work as well as people who were driven to work by someone who then drove back home or to a non-work destination. The category, "Carpooled," includes workers who reported that two or more people usually rode to work in the vehicle during the reference week.

Workers Per Car, Truck, or Van
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Workers per car, truck, or van is a ratio obtained by dividing the aggregate number of workers who reported using a car, truck, or van to get to work by the number of such vehicles that they used. Workers per car, truck, or van is rounded to the nearest hundredth. This measure also may be known as "Workers per private vehicle."
Aggregate Number of Vehicles (Car, Truck, or Van) Used in Commuting
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Theaggregate number of vehicles used in commuting is derived by counting each person who drove alone as occupying one vehicle, each person who reported being in a two-person carpool as occupying one-half of a vehicle, each person who reported being in a three-person carpool as occupying one-third of a vehicle, and so on, then summing all the vehicles. This aggregate is used in the calculation for "workers per car, truck, or van."

Time Leaving Home to Go to Work
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The data on time leaving home to go to work were derived from answers to Question 33. This question was asked of people who indicated in Question 29 that they worked at some time during the reference week, and who reported in Question 31 that they worked outside their home. The departure time refers to the time of day that the respondent usually left home to go to work during the reference week. (See "Reference Week.")

Travel Time to Work
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The data on travel time to work were derived from answers to Question 34. This question was asked of people who indicated in Question 29 that they worked at some time during the reference week, and who reported in Question 31 that they worked outside their home. Travel time to work refers to the total number of minutes that it usually took the worker to get from home to work during the reference week. The elapsed time includes time spent waiting for public transportation, picking up passengers in carpools, and time spent in other activities related to getting to work. (See "Reference Week.")

Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes)
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Aggregate travel time to work is calculated by adding all of the travel times (in minutes) for workers who did not work at home. Aggregate travel times of workers having specific characteristics also are computed. The aggregate travel time is subject to rounding, which means that all cells in a matrix are rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")

Mean Travel Time to Work (in Minutes)
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Mean travel time to work (in minutes) is the average travel time that workers usually took to get from home to work (one way) during the reference week. This measure is obtained by dividing the total number of minutes taken to get from home to work (the aggregate travel time) by the number of workers 16 years old and over who did not work at home. The travel time includes time spent waiting for public transportation, picking up passengers and carpools, and time spent in other activities related to getting to work. Mean travel times of workers having specific characteristics also are computed. For example, the mean travel time of workers traveling 45 or more minutes to work is computed by dividing the aggregate travel time of workers whose travel times were 45 or more minutes by the number of workers whose travel times were 45 or more minutes. The aggregate travel time to work used to calculate mean travel time to work is rounded. (For more information, see "Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes).") Mean travel time is rounded to the nearest tenth of a minute. (For more information on means, see "Derived Measures.")

Time Arriving at Work from Home
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The data on time arriving at work from home were derived from answers to Question 33 (Time Leaving Home to Go to Work) and from answers to Question 34 (Travel Time to Work). These questions were asked of people who indicated in Question 29 that they worked at some time during the reference week, and who reported in Question 31 that they worked outside their home. The arrival time is calculated by adding the travel time to work to the reported time leaving home to go to work. These data are presented with other characteristics of workers at their workplace. (See "Time Leaving Home to Go to Work" and "Travel Time to Work.")

The responses to the place of work and journey to work questions provide basic knowledge about commuting patterns and the characteristics of commuter travel. The commuting data are essential for planning highway improvement and developing public transportation services, as well as for designing programs to ease traffic problems during peak periods, conserve energy, reduce pollution, and estimate and project the demand for alternative-fueled vehicles. These data are required to develop standards for reducing work-related vehicle trips and increasing passenger occupancy during peak period of travel. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) plans to use county-level data in computing gross commuting flows to develop place-of-residence earning estimates from place-of-work estimates by industry. In addition, BEA also plans to use these data for state personal income estimates for determining federal fund allocations.

Question/Concept History
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Starting in 1999, the American Community Survey questions differ from the 1996-1998 questions in that the labels on the write-in spaces and format of the skip instructions were modified to provide clarifications.

Beginning in 2004, the category, "Public transportation" for means of transportation was tabulated to exclude workers who used taxicab as their means of transportation.

The 2004 American Community Survey marked the first time that workplace-based tables were released as a part of a standard census data product.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the group quarters (GQ) population is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have place of work distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the place of work distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

The data on place of work is related to a reference week, that is, the calendar week preceding the date on which the respondents completed their questionnaires or were interviewed. This week is not the same for all respondents because data were collected over a 12-month period. The lack of a uniform reference week means that the place-of-work data reported in the survey will not exactly match the distribution of workplace locations observed or measured during an actual workweek.

The place-of-work data are estimates of people 16 years and over who were both employed and at work during the reference week (including people in the Armed Forces). People who did not work during the reference week but had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent due to illness, bad weather, industrial dispute, vacation, or other personal reasons are not included in the place-of-work data. Therefore, the data on place of work understate the total number of jobs or total employment in a geographic area during the reference week. It also should be noted that people who had irregular, casual, or unstructured jobs during the reference week might have erroneously reported themselves as not working.

The address where the individual worked most often during the reference week was recorded on the questionnaire. If a worker held two jobs, only data about the primary job (the job where one worked the greatest number of hours during the preceding week) was requested. People who regularly worked in several locations during the reference week were requested to give the address at which they began work each day. For cases in which daily work was not begun at a central place each day, the respondent was asked to provide as much information as possible to describe the area in which he or she worked most during the reference week.

Comparability
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This data source is comparable to the decennial censuses for all journey to work variables. Since both the American Community Survey and the decennial censuses are related to a "reference week" that has some variability, the data do not reflect any single week. Since the American Community Survey data are collected over 12 months, the reference week in American Community Survey has a greater range of variation. (See "Reference Week.")

For more detailed information regarding the difference of place of work and journey to work in the ACS and Census 2000, see Estimates about Journey to Work from the 2005 ACS, C2SS, and Census 2000 on the ACS website (www.census.gov/acs).

See the 2011 Code List for Place of Work Code List.
Labor Force Status
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See Employment Status.

Language Spoken at Home
Language Spoken at Home by the Respondent
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Data on language spoken at home were derived from answers to questions 14a and 14b. These questions were asked only of persons 5 years of age and older. Instructions mailed with the American Community Survey questionnaire instructed respondents to mark "Yes" on Question 14a if they sometimes or always spoke a language other than English at home, and "No" if a language was spoken only at school - or if speaking was limited to a few expressions or slang. For Question 14b, respondents printed the name of the non-English language they spoke at home. If the person spoke more than one non-English language, they reported the language spoken most often. If the language spoken most frequently could not be determined, the respondent reported the language learned first.

Questions 14a and 14b referred to languages spoken at home in an effort to measure the current use of languages other than English. This category excluded respondents who spoke a language other than English exclusively outside of the home.

An automated computer system coded write-in responses to Question 14b into more than 380 detailed language categories. This automated procedure compared write-in responses with a master computer code list - which contained approximately 55,000 previously coded language names and variants - and then assigned a detailed language category to each write- in response. The computerized matching assured that identical alphabetic entries received the same code. Clerical coding categorized any write-in responses that did not match the computer dictionary. When multiple languages other than English were specified, only the first was coded.

The write-in responses represented the names people used for languages they spoke. They may not have matched the names or categories used by professional linguists. The categories used were sometimes geographic and sometimes linguistic. The table in Appendix A provides an illustration of the content of the classification schemes used to present language data.

Household Language
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In households where one or more people spoke a language other than English, the household language assigned to all household members was the non- English language spoken by the first person with a non-English language. This assignment scheme ranked household members in the following order: householder, spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, other relative, stepchild, unmarried partner, housemate or roommate, and other nonrelatives. Therefore, a person who spoke only English may have had a non-English household language assigned during tabulations by household language Government agencies use information on language spoken at home for their programs that serve the needs of the foreign-born and specifically those who have difficulty with English. Under the Voting Rights Act, language is needed to meet statutory requirements for making voting materials available in minority languages. The Census Bureau is directed, using data about language spoken at home and the ability to speak English, to identify minority groups that speak a language other than English and to assess their English-speaking ability. The U.S. Department of Education uses these data to prepare a report to Congress on the social and economic status of children served by different local school districts.

Government agencies use information on language spoken at home for their programs that serve the needs of the foreign-born and specifically those who have difficulty with English. Under the Voting Rights Act, language is needed to meet statutory requirements for making voting materials available in minority languages. The Census Bureau is directed, using data about language spoken at home and the ability to speak English, to identify minority groups that speak a language other than English and to assess their English-speaking ability. The U.S. Department of Education uses these data to prepare a report to Congress on the social and economic status of children served by different local school districts. State and local agencies concerned with aging develop health care and other services tailored to the language and cultural diversity of the elderly under the Older Americans Act.

Question/Concept History
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The Language Spoken Questions have changed only once since ACS began. Examples of languages were listed immediately followed the question "What is this language?" in the 1996-1998 questionnaire. Starting in 1999, the list of languages was moved to below the write-in box.

Limitation of the Data
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The language question is about current use of a non-English language, not about ability to speak another language or the use of such a language in the past. People who speak a language other than English outside of the home are not reported as speaking a language other than English. Similarly, people whose mother tongue is a non- English language but who do not currently use the language at home do not report the language. Some people who speak a language other than English at home may have first learned that language in school. These people are expected to indicate speaking English "Very well."
Comparability
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All years of ACS language data are comparable to each other. They are also comparable to Census data from 1980, 1990 and 2000.
See the 2011 Code List for Language Code List.

Marital Status/Marital History
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The data on marital status and marital history were derived from answers to Questions 20 through 23. The marital status question is asked to determine the status of the person at the time of interview. Many government programs need accurate information on marital status, such as the number of married women in the labor force, elderly widowed individuals, or young single people who may establish homes of their own. The marital history data enables multiple agencies to more accurately measure the effects of federal and state policies and programs that focus on the well-being of families. Marital history data can provide estimates of marriage and divorce rates and duration, as well as flows into and out of marriage. This information is critical for more refined analyses of eligibility for program services and benefits, and of changes resulting from federal policies and programs.

Before 2008, the marital status question was asked of all people. Beginning in 2008, the question on marital status was asked only for people 15 years old and over. People 15 and over were asked whether they were "now married," "widowed," "divorced," "separated," or "never married." People in common-law marriages were allowed to report the marital status they considered the most appropriate. When marital status was not reported, it was imputed according to the person's relationship to the householder, sex, and age.

Differences in the number of married males and females occur because there is no step in the weighting process to equalize the weighted estimates of husbands and wives.
Never Married
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Includes all people who have never been married, including people whose only marriage(s) was annulled.

Ever Married
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Includes people ever married at the time of interview (including those now married, separated, widowed, or divorced).
Now Married, Except Separated
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Includes people whose current marriage has not ended through widowhood, divorce, or separation (regardless of previous marital history). The category may also include couples who live together or people in common-law marriages if they consider this category the most appropriate. In certain tabulations, currently married people are further classified as "spouse present" or "spouse absent." In tabulations, unless otherwise specified, "now married" does not include same-sex married people even if the marriage was performed in a state issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples.

Separated
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Includes people legally separated or otherwise absent from their spouse because of marital discord. Those without a final divorce decree are classified as "separated." This category also includes people who have been deserted or who have parted because they no longer want to live together but who have not obtained a divorce.
Widowed
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Includes widows and widowers who have not remarried.
Divorced
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Includes people who are legally divorced and who have not remarried. Those without a final divorce decree are classified as "separated."

In selected tabulations, data for married and separated people are reorganized and combined with information on the presence of the spouse in the same household.

Now Married
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All people whose current marriage has not ended by widowhood or divorce. This category includes people defined above as "separated."
  • Spouse Present - Married people whose wife or husband was reported as a member of the same household, including those whose spouses may have been temporarily absent for such reasons as travel or hospitalization.
  • Spouse Absent - Married people whose wife or husband was not reported as a member of the same household or people reporting they were married and living in a group quarters facility.
- Separated - Defined above.
- Spouse Absent, Other - Married people whose wife or husband was not reported as a member of the same household, excluding separated. Included is any person whose spouse was employed and living away from home or in an institution or serving away from home in the Armed Forces.

Differences between the number of married males and the number of married females occur because: some husbands and wives have their usual residence in different areas; and husbands and wives do not have the same weights. By definition, the numbers would be the same.
Median Age at First Marriage
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The median age at first marriage is calculated indirectly by estimating the proportion of young people who will marry during their lifetime, calculating one-half of this proportion, and determining the age (at the time of the survey) of people at this half-way mark by osculatory interpolation. It does not represent the actual median age of the population who married during the calendar year. It is shown to the nearest tenth of a year. Henry S. Shryock and Jacob S. Siegel outline the osculatory procedure in Methods and Materials of Demography, First Edition (May 1973), Volume 1, pages 291-296.
Marital History
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Beginning in 2008, people 15 years and over who were ever married (married, widowed, separated, or divorced) were asked if they had been married, widowed, or divorced in the past 12 months. They were asked how many times (once, two times, three or more times) they have been married, and the year of their last marriage.
Question/Concept History
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The word "current" was dropped from the 1996-1998 question. Since 1999, the question states, "What is this person's marital status?" The American Community Survey began providing the median age at first marriage with the 2004 data. Data on marital history were first collected in 2008 at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services to provide more detailed annual information on the marital status of the population. Before 2008, the marital status question was asked of all people and only tabulated for those 15 and over. In 2008, marital status was moved from the basic demographic section, at the beginning of the ACS questionnaire, to the detailed person section - a part of the questionnaire where questions were asked of only people 15 and over. The marital history questions follow the marital status question on the questionnaire.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have marital status distributions that are very different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the marital status distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.
Comparability
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The data on marital status can be compared to previous ACS years and to similar data collected on CPS and SIPP. Marital status is no longer asked on the Decennial Census. The marital history data, and particularly marriage and divorce rates derived from the questions asking if the person got married or divorced in the past 12 months is comparable to vital statistics collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Means of Transportation to Work
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See Journey to Work.

Migration
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See Residence 1 Year Ago.

Native Population
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The native population includes anyone who was a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national at birth. This includes respondents who indicated they were born in the United States, Puerto Rico, a U.S. Island Area (such as Guam), or abroad of American (U.S. citizen) parent or parents. See Citizenship Status.

Nativity
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See Place of Birth.

Nativity of Parent
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Nativity of parent indicates the nativity (native or foreign born) of the parent(s) of children living in a family or subfamily with one or more parents present in the household. It applies to "own children," that is, never married children under 18 years of age living with one or more of their parents. (See also "Own Child.") The nativity of the child's parent(s) is determined by the citizenship status of the parent(s). A person is considered native if he/she is a native United States citizen at birth, and foreign born if he/she is not a United States citizen at birth. (See also "Place of Birth.")

Limitation of the Data
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Nativity of parent does not provide information about children over the age of 18 who may live in the same household as their parents, or children of any age who live apart from their parents.

Comparability
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No comparable data were published prior to 2006. However, prior years do include the nativity and relationship data from which "nativity of parent" was created.

Occupation
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Occupation describes the kind of work a person does on the job. Occupation data were derived from answers to questions 45 and 46. Question 45 asks: "What kind of work was this person doing?" Question 46 asks: "What were this person's most important activities or duties?"

These questions were asked of all people 15 years old and over who had worked in the past 5 years. For employed people, the data refer to the person's job during the previous week. For those who worked two or more jobs, the data refer to the job where the person worked the greatest number of hours. For unemployed people and people who are not currently employed but report having a job within the last five years, the data refer to their last job.

These questions describe the work activity and occupational experience of the American labor force. Data are used to formulate policy and programs for employment, career development and training; to provide information on the occupational skills of the labor force in a given area to analyze career trends; and to measure compliance with antidiscrimination policies. Companies use these data to decide where to locate new plants, stores, or offices.
Coding Procedures
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Occupation statistics are compiled from data that are coded based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: 2011, published by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget. Census occupation codes, based on the 2011 SOC, provide 539 specific occupational categories, for employed people, including military, arranged into 23 major occupational groups.

Respondents provided the data for the tabulations by writing on the questionnaires descriptions of the kind of work and activities they are doing. Clerical staff in the National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana converted the written questionnaire descriptions to codes by comparing these descriptions to entries in the Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations.

Some occupation groups are related closely to certain industries. Operators of transportation equipment, farm operators and workers, and healthcare providers account for major portions of their respective industries of transportation, agriculture, and health care. However, the industry categories include people in other occupations. For example, people employed in agriculture include truck drivers and bookkeepers; people employed in the transportation industry include mechanics, freight handlers, and payroll clerks; and people employed in the health care industry include janitors, security guards, and secretaries.

Editing Procedures
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Following the coding operation, a computer edit and allocation process excludes all responses that should not be included in the universe, and evaluates the consistency of the remaining responses. The codes for occupation are checked for consistency with the industry and class of worker data provided for that respondent. Occasionally respondents supply occupation descriptions that are not sufficiently specific for precise classification, or they do not report on these questions at all. Certain types of incomplete entries are corrected using the Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations. If one or more of the three codes (occupation, industry, or class of worker) is blank after the edit, a code is assigned from a donor respondent who is a "similar" person based on questions such as age, sex, educational attainment, income, employment status, and weeks worked. If all of the labor force and income data are blank, all of these economic questions are assigned from a "similar" person who had provided all the necessary data.

Question/Concept History
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Occupation data have been collected during decennial censuses since 1850. Starting with the 2010 Census, occupation data will no longer be collected during the decennial census. Long form data collection has transitioned to the American Community Survey. The American Community Survey began collecting data on occupation in 1996. The questions on occupation were designed to be consistent with the 1990 Census questions on occupation. American Community Survey questions on occupation have remained consistent between 1996 and 2011.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) was included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have occupational distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the occupational distribution in some geographic areas with a substantial GQ population.
Data on occupation, industry, and class of worker are collected for the respondent's current primary job or the most recent job for those who are not employed but have worked in the last 5 years. Other labor force questions, such as questions on earnings or work hours, may have different reference periods and may not limit the response to the primary job. Although the prevalence of multiple jobs is low, data on some labor force items may not exactly correspond to the reported occupation, industry, or class of worker of a respondent.

Comparability
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Comparability of occupation data was affected by a number of factors, primarily the system used to classify the questionnaire responses. Changes in the occupational classification system limit comparability of the data from one year to another. These changes are needed to recognize the "birth" of new occupations, the "death" of others, the growth and decline in existing occupations, and the desire of analysts and other users for more detail in the presentation of the data. Probably the greatest cause of noncomparability is the movement of a segment from one category to another. Changes in the nature of jobs, respondent terminology, and refinement of category composition made these movements necessary.

ACS data from 1996 to 1999 used the same occupation classification systems used for the 1990 census; therefore, the data are comparable. Since 1990, the occupation classification has been revised to reflect changes within the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). The SOC was updated in 2000 and these changes were reflected in the Census 2000 occupation codes. The 2000-2002 ACS data used the same occupation classification systems used for Census 2000, therefore, the data are comparable. Because of the possibility of new occupations being added to the list of codes, the Census Bureau needed to have more flexibility in adding codes. Consequently, in 2002, census occupation codes were expanded from three-digit codes to four-digit codes. For occupation, this entailed adding a "0" to the end of each occupation code. The SOC was revised once more in 2011. Based on the 2011 SOC changes, Census codes were revised resulting in a net gain of 30 Census occupation codes (from 509 occupations to 539 occupations). Most of these changes were concentrated in information technology, healthcare, printing, and human resources occupations. For more information on occupational comparability across classification systems, please see technical paper #65: The Relationship Between the 1990 Census and Census 2000 Industry and Occupation Classification Systems. For information on the 2011 SOC and Census codes, please see the summary of 2011 changes and the Census 2002 to 2011 occupation crosswalk.

See the 2011 Code List for Occupation Code List.
See also, Industry and Class of Worker.
Own Children
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Period of Military Service
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See Veteran Status.

Persons in Family
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Persons in Household
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Place of Birth
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The data on place of birth were derived from answers to Question 7. Respondents were asked to select one of two categories: (1) in the United States, or (2) outside the United States. In the American Community Survey, respondents selecting category (1) were then asked to report the name of the state while respondents selecting category (2) were then asked to report the name of the foreign country, or Puerto Rico, Guam, etc. In the Puerto Rico Community Survey, respondents selecting category (1) were also asked to report the name of the state, while respondents selecting category (2) were then asked to print Puerto Rico or the name of the foreign country, or U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, etc. People not reporting a place of birth were assigned the state or country of birth of another family member, or were allocated the response of another individual with similar characteristics. People born outside the United States were asked to report their place of birth according to current international boundaries. Since numerous changes in boundaries of foreign countries have occurred in the last century, some people may have reported their place of birth in terms of boundaries that existed at the time of their birth or emigration, or in accordance with their own national preference.

The place of birth questions along with the citizenship status question provide essential data for setting and evaluating immigration policies and laws. Knowing the characteristics of immigrants helps legislators and others understand how different immigrant groups are assimilated. Federal agencies require these data to develop programs for refugees and other foreign-born individuals. Vital information on lifetime migration among states also comes from the place of birth question.
Nativity
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Information on place of birth and citizenship status was used to classify the population into two major categories: native and foreign born.

Native
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The native population includes anyone who was a U.S. citizen at birth. The native population includes those born in the United States, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as those born abroad of at least one U.S. citizen parent. The native population is divided into the following groups: people born in the state in which they resided at the time of the survey; people born in a different state, by region; people born in Puerto Rico or one of the U.S. Island Areas; and people born abroad with at least one U.S. citizen parent. (See also "Citizenship Status.")

Foreign Born
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The foreign-born population includes anyone who was not a U.S. citizen at birth. This includes respondents who indicated they were a U.S. citizen by naturalization or not a U.S. citizen. (See also "Citizenship Status.")
The foreign-born population is shown by selected area, country, or region of birth. The places of birth shown in data products were chosen based on the number of respondents who reported that area or country of birth.
Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 American Community Survey question asked respondents to write in the U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or foreign country where this person was born. Beginning in 1999, the question asked "Where was this person born?" and provided two check-boxes, each with a write-in space.

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the group quarters (GQ) population is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have place of birth distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the place of birth distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.
Comparability
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This data source is comparable to the decennial censuses. See the 2011 Code List for Place of Birth Code List.

Place of Work
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See Journey to Work.

Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months
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Poverty statistics in ACS products adhere to the standards specified by the Office of Management and Budget in Statistical Policy Directive 14. The Census Bureau uses a set of dollar value thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. Further, poverty thresholds for people living alone or with nonrelatives (unrelated individuals) vary by age (under 65 years or 65 years and older). The poverty thresholds for two-person families also vary by the age of the householder. If a family's total income is less than the dollar value of the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty. Similarly, if an unrelated individual's total income is less than the appropriate threshold, then that individual is considered to be in poverty.
How the Census Bureau Determines Poverty Status
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In determining the poverty status of families and unrelated individuals, the Census Bureau uses thresholds (income cutoffs) arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The matrix consists of family size (from one person to nine or more people) cross-classified by presence and number of family members under 18 years old (from no children present to eight or more children present). Unrelated individuals and two-person families are further differentiated by age of reference person (RP) (under 65 years old and 65 years old and over).

To determine a person's poverty status, one compares the person's total family income in the last 12 months with the poverty threshold appropriate for that person's family size and composition (see example below). If the total income of that person's family is less than the threshold appropriate for that family, then the person is considered "below the poverty level," together with every member of his or her family. If a person is not living with anyone related by birth, marriage, or adoption, then the person's own income is compared with his or her poverty threshold. The total number of people below the poverty level is the sum of people in families and the number of unrelated individuals with incomes in the last 12 months below the poverty threshold.

Since ACS is a continuous survey, people respond throughout the year. Because the income questions specify a period covering the last 12 months, the appropriate poverty thresholds are determined by multiplying the base-year poverty thresholds (1982) by the average of the monthly inflation factors for the 12 months preceding the data collection. See the table in Appendix A titled "Poverty Thresholds in 1982, by Size of Family and Number of RelatedChildren Under 18 Years (Dollars)," for appropriate base thresholds. See the table "The 2011 Poverty Factors" in Appendix A for the appropriate adjustment based on interview month.

For example, consider a family of three with one child under 18 years of age, interviewed in July 2011 and reporting a total family income of $14,000 for the last 12 months (July 2010 to June 2011). The base year (1982) threshold for such a family is $7,765, while the average of the 12 inflation factors is 2.24574 Multiplying $7,765 by 2.24574 determines the appropriate poverty threshold for this family type, which is $17,438 Comparing the family's income of $14,000 with the poverty threshold shows that the family and all people in the family are considered to have been in poverty. The only difference for determining poverty status for unrelated individuals is that the person's individual total income is compared with the threshold rather than the family's income.

Individuals for Whom Poverty Status is Determined
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Poverty status was determined for all people except institutionalized people, people in military group quarters, people in college dormitories, and unrelated individuals under 15 years old. These groups were excluded from the numerator and denominator when calculating poverty rates.

Specified Poverty Levels
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Specified poverty levels are adjusted thresholds that are obtained by multiplying the official thresholds by specific factor. Using the threshold cited from the previous example (a family of three with one related child under 18 years responding in July 2011), the dollar value at 125 percent of the poverty threshold was $ 21,798 ($ 17,438x 1.25).

Income Deficit
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Income deficit represents the difference between the total income in the last 12 months of families and unrelated individuals below the poverty level and their respective poverty thresholds. In computing the income deficit, families reporting a net income loss are assigned zero dollars and for such cases the deficit is equal to the poverty threshold.

This measure provides an estimate of the amount, which would be required to raise the incomes of all poor families and unrelated individuals to their respective poverty thresholds. The income deficit is thus a measure of the degree of the impoverishment of a family or unrelated individual. However, please use caution when comparing the average deficits of families with different characteristics. Apparent differences in average income deficits may, to some extent, be a function of differences in family size.

Aggregate Income Deficit
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Aggregate income deficit refers only to those families or unrelated individuals who are classified as below the poverty level. It is defined as the group (e.g., type of family) sum total of differences between the appropriate threshold and total family income or total personal income. Aggregate income deficit is subject to rounding, which means that all cells in a matrix are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")

Mean Income Deficit
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Mean income deficit represents the amount obtained by dividing the aggregate income deficit for a group below the poverty level by the number of families (or unrelated individuals) in that group. (The aggregate used to calculate mean income deficit is rounded. For more information, see "Aggregate Income Deficit.") As mentioned above, please use caution when comparing mean income deficits of families with different characteristics, as apparent differences may, to some extent, be a function of differences in family size. Mean income deficit is rounded to the nearest whole dollar. (For more information on means, see "Derived Measures.")
Poverty Status of Households in the Past 12 Months
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Since poverty is defined at the family level and not the household level, the poverty status of the household is determined by the poverty status of the householder. Households are classified as poor when the total income of the householder's family in the last 12 months is below the appropriate poverty threshold. (For nonfamily householders, their own income is compared with the appropriate threshold.) The income of people living in the household who are unrelated to the householder is not considered when determining the poverty status of a household, nor does their presence affect the family size in determining the appropriate threshold. The poverty thresholds vary depending upon three criteria: size of family, number of children, and, for one- and two- person families, age of the householder.
Question/Concept History
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Derivation of the Current Poverty Measure - When the original poverty definition was developed in 1964 by the Social Security Administration (SSA), it focused on family food consumption. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) used its data about the nutritional needs of children and adults to construct food plans for families. Within each food plan, dollar amounts varied according to the total number of people in the family and the family's composition, that is, the number of children within each family. The cheapest of these plans, the Economy Food Plan, was designed to address the dietary needs of families on an austere budget.

Since the USDA's 1955 Food Consumption Survey showed that families of three or more people across all income levels spent roughly one-third of their income on food, the SSA multiplied the cost of the Economy Food Plan by three to obtain dollar figures for total family income. These dollar figures, with some adjustments, later became the official poverty thresholds. Since the Economy Food Plan budgets varied by family size and composition, so too did the poverty thresholds. For two-person families, the thresholds were adjusted by slightly higher factors because those households had higher fixed costs. Thresholds for unrelated individuals were calculated as a fixed proportion of the corresponding thresholds for two-person families.

The poverty thresholds are revised annually to allow for changes in the cost of living as reflected in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The poverty thresholds are the same for all parts of the country; they are not adjusted for regional, state, or local variations in the cost of living.
Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. The part of the group quarters population in the poverty universe (for example, people living in group homes or those living in agriculture workers' dormitories) is many times more likely to be in poverty than people living in households. Direct comparisons of the data would likely result in erroneous conclusions about changes in the poverty status of all people in the poverty universe.

Comparability
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Because of differences in survey methodology (questionnaire design, method of data collection, sample size, etc.), the poverty rate estimates obtained from American Community Survey data may differ from those reported in the Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, and those reported in Census 2000. Please refer to
(http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/datasources/description.html) for more details.

Private Vehicle Occupancy
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See Journey to Work.

Race
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The data on race were derived from answers to the question on race that was asked of all people. The U.S. Census Bureau collects race data in accordance with guidelines provided by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and these data are based on self- identification. The racial categories included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically, or genetically. In addition, it is recognized that the categories of the race item include racial and national origin or sociocultural groups. People may choose to report more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, such as "American Indian"and "White." People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race.
The racial classifications used by the Census Bureau adhere to the October 30, 1997, Federal Register notice entitled, "Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity" issued by OMB. These standards govern the categories used to collect and present federal data on race and ethnicity. OMB requires five minimum categories (White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) for race. The race categories are described below with a sixth category, "Some Other Race," added with OMB approval. In addition to the five race groups, OMB also states that respondents should be offered the option of selecting one or more races.
If an individual did not provide a race response, the race or races of the householder or other household members were imputed using specific rules of precedence of household relationship. For example, if race was missing for a natural-born child in the household, then either the race or races of the householder, another natural-born child, or spouse of the householder were imputed.

If race was not reported for anyone in the household, then the race or races of a householder in a previously processed household were imputed.

Definitions from OMB guide the Census Bureau in classifying written responses to the race question:

White
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A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "White" or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Arab, Moroccan, or Caucasian.

Black or African American
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A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "Black, African Am., or Negro" or report entries such as African American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian.

American Indian or Alaska Native
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A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment. This category includes people who indicate their race as "American Indian or Alaska Native" or report entries such as Navajo, Blackfeet, Inupiat, Yup'ik, or Central American Indian groups, or South American Indian groups.

Respondents who identified themselves as "American Indian or Alaska Native" were asked to report their enrolled or principal tribe. Therefore, tribal data in tabulations reflect the written entries reported on the questionnaires. Some of the entries (for example, Metlakatla Indian Community and Umatilla) represent reservations or a confederation of tribes on a reservation. The information on tribe is based on self-identification and, therefore, does not reflect any designation of federally or state-recognized tribe. The information for the 2011 ACS Detail Race tables were derived from the American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Classification List for the 2010 Census, which was updated through 2009 based on the annual Federal Register notice entitled "Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs," Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, issued by OMB, and through consultation with American Indian and Alaska Native communities and leaders.

The American Indian categories shown in the 2011 ACS Detailed Race tables represent tribal groupings, which refer to the combining of individual American Indian tribes, such as Fort Sill Apache, Mescalero Apache, and San Carlos Apache, into the general Apache tribal grouping.

The Alaska Native categories shown in the 2011 ACS Detailed Race tables represent tribal groupings, which refer to the combining of individual Alaska Native tribes, such as King Salmon Tribe, Native Village of Kanatak, and Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak, into the general Aleut tribal grouping.
All Other American Indian Tribes (with only one tribe reported)
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Includes respondents who provide a response of another American Indian tribe not shown separately, such as Abenaki, Catawba, Eastern Tribes, Kickapoo, Mattaponi, Quapaw, Shawnee, or Yuchi.

American Indian Tribes, not specified
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Includes people who provide a generic term such as "American Indian" or tribal groupings not elsewhere classified.

Alaska Native Tribes, not specified
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Includes people who provide a generic term such as "Alaska Indian" or "Alaska Native" or tribal groupings not elsewhere classified.
American Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Tribes, not specified
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Includes respondents who checked the American Indian or Alaska Native response category on the ACS questionnaire and did not write in a specific group or wrote in a generic term such as "American Indian or Alaska Native."
Two or more American Indian or Alaska Native Tribes
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Includes respondents who provided multiple American Indian or Alaska Native Tribes responses such as Blackfeet and Pueblo; or Alaskan Athabascan and Tlingit-Haida; or Paiute and Aleut.
Asian
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A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. It includes people who indicate their race as "Asian Indian," "Chinese," "Filipino," "Korean," "Japanese," "Vietnamese," and "Other Asian" or provide other detailed Asian responses.
Asian Indian
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Asian Indian" or report entries such as India or East Indian.
Bangladeshi
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Bangladeshi or Bangladesh.
Bhutanese
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Bhutanese or Bhutan.
Burmese
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Burmese or Burma.
Cambodian
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Cambodian or Cambodia.
Chinese, except Taiwanese
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Chinese" or report entries such as China or Chinese American.
Filipino
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Filipino" or report entries such as Philippines or Filipino American.
Hmong
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Hmong or Mong. Indonesian. Includes respondents who report entries such as Indonesian or Indonesia.

Japanese
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Japanese" or report entries such as Japan or Japanese American.
Korean
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Korean" or report entries such as Korea or Korean American.
Laotian
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Laotian or Laos.
Malaysian
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Malaysian or Malaysia.
Mongolian
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Mongolian, Mongolia or Mongol.
Nepalese
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Nepalese or Nepal.
Okinawan
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Okinawan or Okinawa.
Pakistani
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Pakistani or Pakistan.

Sri Lankan
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Sri Lankan or Sri Lanka.
Taiwanese
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Taiwanese" or Taiwan.
Thai
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Thai or Thailand.
Vietnamese
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Vietnamese" or report entries such as Vietnam or Vietnamese American.

Other Asian, specified
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Includes respondents who provide a response of another Asian group not shown separately, such as Iwo Jiman, Maldivian, or Singaporean.
Other Asian, not specified
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Includes respondents who checked the "Other Asian" response category on the ACS questionnaire and did not write in a specific group or wrote in a generic term such as "Asian," or "Asiatic."
Two or more Asian
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Includes respondents who provided multiple Asian responses such as Asian Indian and Japanese; or Vietnamese, Chinese and Hmong.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
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A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. It includes people who indicate their race as "Native Hawaiian," "Guamanian or Chamorro," "Samoan," and "Other Pacific Islander" or provide other detailed Pacific Islander responses.

Native Hawaiian
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Native Hawaiian" or report entries such as Part Hawaiian or Hawaiian.
Samoan
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Samoan" or report entries such as American Samoan or Western Samoan.
Tongan
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Tongan or Tonga.
Other Polynesian
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Includes respondents who provide a response of another Polynesian group, such as Tahitian, Tokelauan, or wrote in a generic term such as "Polynesian."
Guamanian or Chamorro
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Includes respondents who indicate their race as "Guamanian or Chamorro" or report entries such as Chamorro or Guam.
Marshallese
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Marshallese or Marshall Island.
Other Micronesian
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Includes respondents who provide a response of another Micronesian group, such as Carolinian, Chuukese, I-Kiribati, Kosraean, Mariana Islander, Palauan, Pohnpeian, Saipanese, Yapese, or wrote in a generic term such as "Micronesian."
Fijian
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Includes respondents who report entries such as Fijian" or Fiji.
Other Melanesian
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Includes respondents who provide a response of another Melanesian group, such as Papua New Guinean, Ni-Vanuatu (New Hebrides Islander), Solomon Islander, or wrote in a generic term such as "Melanesian."

Other Pacific Islander, not specified
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Includes respondents who checked the Other Pacific Islander response category on the ACS questionnaire and did not write in a specific group or wrote in a generic term such as "Pacific Islander."

Two or more Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
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Includes respondents who provide multiple Pacific Islander responses such as Native Hawaiian and Guamanian or Chamorro; or Tokelauan and Tongan.

Some Other Race
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Includes all other responses not included in the "White," "Black or African American," "American Indian or Alaska Native," "Asian," and "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander" race categories described above. Respondents reporting entries such as multiracial, mixed, interracial, or a Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish group (for example, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Spanish) in response to the race question are included in this category.

Two or More Races
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People may chose to provide two or more races either by checking two or more race response check boxes, by providing multiple responses, or by some combination of check boxes and other responses. The race response categories shown on the questionnaire are collapsed into the five minimum race groups identified by OMB, and the Census Bureau's "Some Other Race" category. For data product purposes, "Two or More Races" refers to combinations of two or more of the following race categories

  1. White
  2. Black or African American
  3. American Indian or Alaska Native
  4. Asian
  5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
  6. Some Other Race
There are 57 possible combinations (see Appendix A) involving the race categories shown above. Thus, according to this approach, a response of "White" and "Asian" was tallied as Two or More Races, while a response of "Japanese" and "Chinese" was not because "Japanese" and "Chinese" are both Asian responses.
Race Concepts
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Given the many possible ways of displaying data on race, data products will provide varying levels of detail. There are several concepts used to display and tabulate race information for the six major race categories (White; Black or African American; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and Some Other Race) and the various details within these groups.

The concept "race alone" includes people who reported a single entry (i.e., Korean) and no other race, as well as people who reported two or more entries within the same major race group (i.e., Asian). For example, respondents who reported Korean and Vietnamese are part of the larger "Asian alone" race group.

The concept "race alone or in combination" includes people who reported a single race alone (i.e., Asian) and people who reported that race in combination with one or more of the other major race groups (i.e., White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and Some Other Race). The "race alone or in combination" concept, therefore, represents the maximum number of people who reported as that race group, either alone, or in combination with another race(s). The sum of the six individual race "alone or in combination" categories may add to more than the total population because people who reported more than one race were tallied in each race category.

The concept "race alone or in any combination" applies only to detailed race iteration groups, such as American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, detailed Asian groups, and detailed Pacific Islander groups. For example, Korean alone or in any combination includes people who reported a single response (i.e., Korean), people who reported Korean and another Asian group (i.e., Korean and Vietnamese), and people who reported Korean in combination with one or more other non-Asian race groups (i.e., White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, or Some Other Race).

Coding of Write-in Entries
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The 2011 ACS included an automated review, computer edit, and coding operation on a 100 percent basis for the write-in responses to the race question, similar to that used in the 2010 Census. There were two types of coding operations: (1) automated coding where a write-in response was automatically coded if it matched a write-in response already contained in a database known as the "master file" and (2) expert coding, which took place when a write-in response did not match an entry already on the master file and was sent to expert coders familiar with the subject matter. During the coding process, subject-matter specialists reviewed and coded written entries from the response areas on the race question: American Indian or Alaska Native, Other Asian, Other Pacific Islander, and Some Other Race. Up to 30 text characters were collected from each race write-in area, and up to two responses were coded and tabulated from each separate race write-in area.
Question/Concept History
1996-1998 American Community Survey
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  • The sequence of the questions on race and Hispanic origin was switched. In the 1996-1998 ACS, the question on race immediately followed the question on Hispanic origin. This approach differed from the 1990 census, where the question on race preceded the question on Hispanic origin with two intervening questions.
  • The 1990 census category, "Black or Negro" was changed to "Black, African Am."
  • The 1990 census category, "Other race," was renamed "Some other race." A separate "Multiracial" category was added. The instruction to "print the race(s) or group below" pertained to both the "Some other race" and "Multiracial" categories.
  • The "Indian (Amer.)," "Other Asian/Pacific Islander," "Some other race," and "Multiracial" response categories all shared a single write-in area.

1999-2002 American Community Survey
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  • The response category "Black, African Am." was changed to "Black, African Am., or Negro" to correspond with the Census 2000 response category.
  • The separate 1990 census and 1996-1998 ACS response categories "Indian (Amer.)," "Eskimo," and "Aleut," were combined into one response category, "American Indian or Alaska Native." Respondents were asked to "print name of enrolled or principal tribe" on a separate write-in line to correspond with the Census 2000 response category.
  • The 1990 Asian or Pacific Islander category was separated into two categories, "Asian" and "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander." Also, the six detailed Asian groups were alphabetized; and the three detailed Pacific Islander groups were alphabetized after the Native Hawaiian response category.
  • The response category "Hawaiian" was changed to "Native Hawaiian." The response category "Guamanian" was changed to "Guamanian or Chamorro." The response category "Other Asian/Pacific Islander" was split into two separate response categories, "Other Asian," and "Other Pacific Islander." These changes correspond to those in the Census 2000 response categories.
  • The separate "multiracial" response category was dropped. Rather, respondents were instructed to "Mark [x] one or more races to indicate what this person considers himself/herself to be." Respondents were allowed to select more than one category for race in Census 2000.
  • In the American Community Survey, the "Other Asian," "Other Pacific Islander," and "Some other race" response categories shared the same write-in area. On the Census 2000 questionnaire, only the "Other Asian" and "Other Pacific Islander" response categories shared the same write-in area, and the "Some other race" category had a separate write-in area.

2003-2007 American Community Survey
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  • The response category "Black, African Am., or Negro" was changed to "Black or African American."

Puerto Rico Community Survey, started in 2005
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  • Separate questions on race and Hispanic origin were included on the questionnaire. These questions were identical to the questions used in the United States.

2008-2011 American Community Survey
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  • The wording of the race question was changed to read, "What is Person 1's race? Mark (X) one or more boxes" and the reference to what this person considers him/herself to be was deleted.
  • The response category "Black or African American" was changed to "Black, African Am., or Negro."
  • Examples were added to the "Other Asian" response categories (Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on) and the "Other Pacific Islander" response categories (Fijian, Tongan, and so on).

Limitation of the data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have race distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the race distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

Comparability
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The data on race in the American Community Survey are not directly comparable across all years. Ongoing research conducted following the 1990 census affected the ACS question on race since its inception in 1996. Also, the October 1997 revised standards for federal data on race and ethnicity issued by the OMB led to changes in the question on race for Census 2000. Consequently, in order to achieve consistency, other census-administered surveys such as the ACS were modified to reflect changes required by OMB.

See the 2011 Code List for Race Code List.
Reference Week
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The data on employment status and journey to work relate to the reference week, that is, the calendar week preceding the date on which the respondents completed their questionnaires or were interviewed. This week is not the same for all respondents since the interviewing was conducted over a 12-month period. The occurrence of holidays during the relative reference week could affect the data on actual hours worked during the reference week, but probably had no effect on overall measurement of employment status.
Relatives and Nonrelatives
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Residence 1 Year Ago
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The data on residence 1 year ago were derived from answers to Question 15, which were asked of the population 1 year and older. For the American Community Survey, people who had moved from another residence in the United States or Puerto Rico 1 year earlier were asked to report the exact address (number and street name); the name of the city, town, or post office; the name of the U.S. county or municipio in Puerto Rico; state or Puerto Rico; and the ZIP Code where they lived 1 year ago. People living outside the United States and Puerto Rico were asked to report the name of the foreign country or U.S. Island Area where they were living 1 year ago.
For the Puerto Rico Community Survey, people who moved from another residence in Puerto Rico or the United States 1 year ago were asked to report the exact address, including the development or condominium name; the name of the city, town, or post office; the municipio in Puerto Rico (county equivalent) or county in the U.S.; and the ZIP Code where they lived. People living outside Puerto Rico and the United States were asked to report the name of the foreign country or U.S. Island Area where they were living 1 year ago.

Residence 1 year ago is used in conjunction with location of current residence to determine the extent of residential mobility of the population and the resulting redistribution of the population across the various states, metropolitan areas, and regions of the country.

When no information on previous residence was reported for a person, information for other family members, if available, was used to assign a location of residence 1 year ago. All cases of nonresponse or incomplete response that were not assigned a previous residence based on information from other family members were allocated the previous residence of another person with similar characteristics who provided complete information.

The tabulation category, "Same house," includes all people 1 year and over who did not move during the 1 year as well as those who had moved and returned to their residence 1 year ago. The category, "Different house in the United States" includes people who lived in the United States 1 year ago but in a different house or apartment from the one they occupied at the time of interview. These movers are then further subdivided according to the type of move.

In most tabulations, movers within the U.S. are divided into three groups according to their previous residence: "Different house, same county," "Different county, same state," and "Different state." The last group may be further subdivided into region of residence 1 year ago. An additional category, "Abroad," includes those whose previous residence was in a foreign country, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, including members of the Armed Forces and their dependents. Some tabulations show movers who were residing in Puerto Rico or one of the U.S. Island Areas 1 year ago separately from those residing in foreign countries.

In most tabulations, movers within Puerto Rico are divided into two groups according to their residence 1 year ago: "Same municipio," and "Different municipio." Other tabulations show movers within or between metropolitan areas similar to the stateside tabulations.

Residence-1-Year-Ago-based Geography
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The characteristics of movers may be shown using either current residence-based or previous residence-based geography. If you are interested in the number and characteristics of movers living in a specific area, you should use the standard (residence-based) tables. If you are interested in the number and characteristics of movers who previous residence was in a specific area, you should use the residence-1-year-ago-based tables. Because residence-1-year-ago information for movers cannot always be specified below the place level, the previous residence-based tables are presented only for selected geographic areas.

Residence 1 year ago is used to assess the residential stability and the effects of migration in both urban and rural areas. This item provides information on the mobility of our population. Knowing the number and characteristics of movers is essential for federal programs dealing with employment, housing, education, and the elderly. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs develops its mandated projection of the need for hospitals and other veteran benefits for each state with migration data about veterans. The Census Bureau develops state age and sex estimates and small-area population projections based on data about residence 1 year ago.

Question/Concept History
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The 1996-1998 questions asked about residence 5 years ago. Beginning in 1999, the time period was changed to that of 1 year ago, which reflects the ongoing data collection on the American Community Survey, and allows for annual estimates of migration. Beginning in 1999, a separate write-in line and a skip instruction were added for a foreign country response. This write-in line was moved to one of the answer categories for the residence one year ago question. The migration parts (city, county, and state response areas) were also reordered. Beginning in 2003, the numerical order was changed so that part c of this question would not be displayed in a separate column of the questionnaire. Beginning with 2008, a write-in space for street address was included and the questions were reworded on both the ACS and the PRCS so that the geographic specificity is maintained for movers within and between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Municipio of previous residence in Puerto Rico is available for people living in the United States as a result of this change. For more information, see the report titled Report P.3: Evaluation Report Covering Residence 1 Year Ago (Migration).

Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the group quarters (GQ) population is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have residence one year ago (migration) distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the residence one year ago (migration) distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.
Comparability
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This data source is not comparable to the Census 2000. The ACS asked for residence 1 year ago whereas Census 2000 asked for residence 5 years ago.
See the 2011 Code List for Migration Code List.
School Enrollment and Type of School
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School enrollment data are used to assess the socioeconomic condition of school-age children. Government agencies also require these data for funding allocations and program planning and implementation.

Data on school enrollment and grade or level attending were derived from answers to Question 10. People were classified as enrolled in school if they were attending a public or private school or college at any time during the 3 months prior to the time of interview. The question included instructions to "include only nursery or preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, home school, and schooling which leads to a high school diploma, or a college degree". Respondents who did not answer the enrollment question were assigned the enrollment status and type of school of a person with the same age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino origin whose residence was in the same or nearby area.

School enrollment is only recorded if the schooling advances a person toward an elementary school certificate, a high school diploma, or a college, university, or professional school (such as law or medicine) degree. Tutoring or correspondence schools are included if credit can be obtained from a public or private school or college. People enrolled in "vocational, technical, or business school" such as post secondary vocational, trade, hospital school, and on job training were not reported as enrolled in school. Field interviewers were instructed to classify individuals who were home schooled as enrolled in private school. The guide sent out with the mail questionnaire includes instructions for how to classify home schoolers.

Enrolled in Public and Private School
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Includes people who attended school in the reference period and indicated they were enrolled by marking one of the questionnaire categories for "public school, public college," or "private school, private college, home school." The instruction guide defines a public school as "any school or college controlled and supported primarily by a local, county, state, or federal government." Private schools are defined as schools supported and controlled primarily by religious organizations or other private groups. Home schools are defined as "parental-guided education outside of public or private school for grades 1-12." Respondents who marked both the "public" and "private" boxes are edited to the first entry, "public."

Grade in Which Enrolled
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From 1999-2007, in the American Community Survey, people reported to be enrolled in "public school, public college" or "private school, private college" were classified by grade or level according to responses to Question 10b, "What grade or level was this person attending?" Seven levels were identified: "nursery school, preschool;" "kindergarten;" elementary "grade 1 to grade 4" or "grade 5 to grade 8;" high school "grade 9 to grade 12;" "college undergraduate years (freshman to senior);" and "graduate or professional school (for example: medical, dental, or law school)."

In 2008, the school enrollment questions had several changes. "Home school" was explicitly included in the "private school, private college" category. For question 10b the categories changed to the following "Nursery school, preschool," "Kindergarten," "Grade 1 through grade 12," "College undergraduate years (freshman to senior)," "Graduate or professional school beyond a bachelor's degree (for example: MA or PhD program, or medical or law school)." The survey question allowed a write-in for the grades enrolled from 1-12.

Question/Concept History
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Since 1999, the American Community Survey enrollment status question (Question 10a) refers to "regular school or college," while the 1996-1998 American Community Survey did not restrict reporting to "regular" school, and contained an additional category for the "vocational, technical or business school."

The 1996-1998 American Community Survey used the educational attainment question to estimate level of enrollment for those reported to be enrolled in school, and had a single year write-in for the attainment of grades 1 through 11. Grade levels estimated using the attainment question were not consistent with other estimates, so a new question specifically asking grade or level of enrollment was added starting with the 1999 American Community Survey questionnaire.
Limitation of the Data
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Beginning in 2006, the population universe in the American Community Survey includes people living in group quarters. Data users may see slight differences in levels of school enrollment in any given geographic area due to the inclusion of this population. The extent of this difference, if any, depends on the type of group quarters present and whether the group quarters population makes up a large proportion of the total population. For example, in areas that are home to several colleges and universities, the percent of individuals 18 to 24 who were enrolled in college or graduate school would increase, as people living in college dormitories are now included in the universe.

Comparability
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Data about level of enrollment are also collected from the decennial Census and from the Current Population Survey (CPS). ACS data is generally comparable to data from the Census. Although it should be noted that the ACS reference period was 3 months preceding the date of interview, while the Census 2000 reference period was any time since February 1, 2000. For more information about the comparability of ACS and CPS data, please see the link for the Fact Sheet from the CPS School Enrollment page.

Data on school enrollment also are collected and published by other federal, state, and local government agencies. Because these data are obtained from administrative records of school systems and institutions of higher learning, they are only roughly comparable to data from population censuses and surveys. Differences in definitions and concepts, subject matter covered, time references, and data collection methods contribute to the differences in estimates. At the local level, the difference between the location of the institution and the residence of the student may affect the comparability of census and administrative data because census data are collected from and based on a respondent's residence. Differences between the boundaries of school districts and census geographic units also may affect these comparisons.
Sex
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The data on sex were derived from answers to Question 3. Individuals were asked to mark either "male" or "female" to indicate their biological sex. For most cases in which sex was invalid, the appropriate entry was determined from other information provided for that person, such as the person's given (i.e., first) name and household relationship. Otherwise, sex was allocated from a hot deck.

Sex is asked for all persons in a household or group quarters. On the mailout/mailback paper questionnaire for households, sex is asked for all persons listed on the form. This form accommodates asking sex for up to 12 people listed as living or residing in the household for at least 2 months. If a respondent indicates that more people are listed as part of the total persons living in the household than the form can accommodate, or if any person included on the form is missing sex, then the household is eligible for Failed Edit Follow-up (FEFU). During FEFU operations, telephone center staffers call respondents to obtain missing data. This includes asking sex for any person in the household missing sex information. In Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) and Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) instruments sex is asked for all persons. In 2006, the ACS began collecting data in group quarters (GQs). This included asking sex for persons living in a group quarters. For additional data collection methodology, please see www.census.gov/acs.

Data on sex are used to determine the applicability of other questions for a particular individual and to classify other characteristics in tabulations. The sex data collected on the forms are aggregated and provide the number of males and females in the population. These data are needed to interpret most social and economic characteristics used to plan and analyze programs and policies. Data about sex are critical because so many federal programs must differentiate between males and females. The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services are required by statute to use these data to fund, implement, and evaluate various social and welfare programs, such as the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Laws to promote equal employment opportunity for women also require census data on sex. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs must use census data to develop its state projections of veterans' facilities and benefits. For more information on the use of sex data in Federal programs, please see www.census.gov/acs.

Sex Ratio
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The sex ratio represents the balance between the male and female populations. Ratios above 100 indicate a larger male population, and ratios below 100 indicate a larger female population. This measure is derived by dividing the total number of males by the total number of females and then multiplying by 100. It is rounded to the nearest tenth.
Question/Concept History
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Sex has been asked of all persons living in a household since the 1996 ACS Test phase. When group quarters were included in the survey universe in 2006, sex was asked of all person in group quarters as well.
Beginning in 2008, the layout of the sex question response categories was changed to a horizontal side-by-side layout from a vertically stacked layout on the mail paper ACS questionnaire
Limitation of the data
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Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) was included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have sex distributions that are very different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the sex distribution. This is particularly true for a given geographic area. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the sex question in the 2007 ACS Grid-Sequential Test (www.census.gov/acs). The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008.

Comparability
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Sex is generally comparable across different data sources and data years.
However, data users should still be aware of methodological differences that may exist between different data sources if they are comparing American Community Survey sex data to other data sources, such as Population Estimates or Decennial Census data. For example, the American Community Survey data are that of a respondent-based survey and subject to various quality measures, such as sampling and nonsampling error, response rates and item allocation. This differs in design and methodology from other data sources, such as Population Estimates, which is not a survey and involves computational methodology to derive intercensal estimates of the population. While ACS estimates are controlled to Population Estimates for sex at the nation, state and county levels of geography as part of the ACS weighting procedure, variation may exist in the sex structure of a population at lower levels of geography when comparing different time periods or comparing across time due to the absence of controls below the county geography level. For more information on American Community Survey data accuracy and weighting procedures, please see www.census.gov/acs.

It should also be noted that although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties .
Social Security Income
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See Income in the Past 12 Months.

Subfamily
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See Household Type and Relationship.

Time Leaving Home to Go to Work
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See Journey to Work.

Travel Time to Work
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See Journey to Work.

Type of School
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See School Enrollment.

Usual Hours Worked in the Past 12 Months
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See Work Experience.

Veteran Status
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Data on veteran status and period of military service were derived from answers to Questions 26 and 27.
Veteran Status
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Veterans are men and women who have served (even for a short time), but are not currently serving, on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard, or who served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. People who served in the National Guard or Reserves are classified as veterans only if they were ever called or ordered to active duty, not counting the 4-6 months for initial training or yearly summer camps. All other civilians are classified as nonveterans.

While it is possible for 17 year olds to be veterans of the Armed Forces, ACS data products are restricted to the population 18 years and older.

Answers to this question provide specific information about veterans. Veteran status is used to identify people with active duty military service and service in the military Reserves and the National Guard. ACS data define civilian veteran as a person 18 years old and over who served (even for a short time), but is not now serving on acting duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, or who served as a Merchant Marine seaman during World War II. Individuals who have training for Reserves or National Guard but no active duty service are not considered veterans in the ACS. These data are used primarily by the Department of Veterans Affairs to measure the needs of veterans.

Other uses include:

  • Used at state and county levels to plan programs for medical and nursing home care for veterans.
  • Used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to plan the locations and sizes of veterans' cemeteries.
  • Used by local agencies, under the Older Americans Act, to develop health care and other services for elderly veterans.
Used to allocate funds to states and local areas for employment and job training programs for veterans under the Job Training Partnership Act.

Question/Concept History
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For the 1999-2002 American Community Survey, the question was changed to match the Census 2000 item. The response categories were modified by expanding the "No active duty service" answer category to distinguish persons whose only military service was for training in the Reserves or National Guard, from persons with no military experience whatsoever.

Beginning in 2003, the "Yes, on active duty in the past, but not now" category was split into two categories. Veterans are now asked whether or not their service ended in the last 12 months.

Limitation of the Data
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There may be a tendency for the following kinds of persons to report erroneously that they served on active duty in the Armed Forces: (a) persons who served in the National Guard or Military Reserves but were never called to duty; (b) civilian employees or volunteers for the USO, Red Cross, or the Department of Defense (or its predecessors, the Department of War and the Department of the Navy); and (c) employees of the Merchant Marine or Public Health Service.

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) was included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have period of military service and veteran status distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the period of service and veteran status distributions. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

Comparability
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The ACS has two separate questions for veteran status and period of military service, whereas in Census 2000, it was a two-part question. The wording for the veteran status question remains the same, however, the response categories have changed over time (see the section "Question/Concept History").

The Group Quarters (GQ) population was included in the 2006 ACS and not included in prior years of ACS data, thus comparisons should be made only if the geographic area of interest does not include a substantial GQ population.

For comparisons to the Current Population Survey (CPS), please see "Comparison of ACS and ASEC Data on Veteran Status and Period of Military Service: 2007."

Period of Military Service
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People who indicate that they had ever served on active duty in the past or were currently on active duty are asked to indicate the period or periods in which they served. Currently, there are 11 periods of service on the ACS questionnaire. Respondents are instructed to mark a box for each period in which they served, even if just for part of the period. The periods were determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs and generally alternate between peacetime and wartime, with a few exceptions. The responses to this question are edited for consistency and reasonableness. The edit eliminates inconsistencies between reported period(s) of service and age of the person; it also removes reported combinations of periods containing unreasonable gaps (for example, it will not accept a response that indicated the person had served in World War II and in the Vietnam era, but not in the Korean conflict).

Period of military service distinguishes veterans who served during wartime periods from those whose only service was during peacetime. Questions about period of military service provide necessary information to estimate the number of veterans who are eligible to receive specific benefits.

Question/Concept History
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In 1999, the response categories were modified by closing the "August 1990 or later (including Persian Gulf War)" period at March 1995, and adding the "April 1995" or later category.

For the 2001-2002 American Community Survey question, the response category was changed from "Korean conflict" to "Korean War."
Beginning in 2003, the response categories for the question were modified in several ways. The first category "April 1995 or later" was changed to "September 2001 or later" to reflect the era that began after the events of September 11, 2001; the second category "August 1990 to March 1995" was then expanded to "August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)." The category "February 1955 to July 1964" was split into two categories: "March 1961 to July 1964" and "February 1955 to February 1961." To match the revised dates for war-time periods of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the dates for the "World War II" category were changed from "September 1940 to July 1947" to "December 1941 to December 1946," and the dates for the "Korean War" were changed from "June 1950 to January 1955" to "July 1950 to January 1955." To increase specificity, the "Some other time" category was split into two categories: "January 1947 to June 1950" and "November 1941 or earlier."
Limitation of the Data
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There may be a tendency for people to mark the most recent period in which they served or the period in which they began their service, but not all periods in which they served.

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have period of military service and veteran status distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the period of service and veteran status distributions. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.
Comparability
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Since Census 2000, the period of military service categories on the ACS questionnaire were updated to: 1) include the most recent period "September 2001 or later;" 2) list all "peace time" periods without showing a date-breakup in the list; and 3) update the Korean War and World War II dates to match the official dates as listed in US Code, Title 38. While the response categories differ slightly from those in Census 2000, data from the two questions can still be compared to one another.

Due to an editing error, veteran's period of service (VPS) prior to 2007 was being incorrectly assigned for some individuals. The majority of the errors misclassified some people who reported only serving during the Vietnam Era as having served in the category "Gulf War and Vietnam Era." The remainder of the errors misclassified some people who reported only serving between the Vietnam Era and Gulf War as having served in the category "Gulf War."

The Group Quarters (GQ) population was included in the 2006 ACS and not included in prior years of ACS data, thus comparisons should be made only if the geographic area of interest does not include a substantial GQ population.

For comparisons to the Current Population Survey (CPS), please see "Comparison of ACS and ASEC Data on Veteran Status and Period of Military Service: 2007."

Service-Connected Disability Status and Ratings
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Data on service-connected disability- rating status and service-connected disability ratings were derived from answers to Questions 28a and 28b.

Service-Connected Disability-Rating Status
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People who indicated they had served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, military Reserves, or National Guard, or trained with the Reserves or National Guard or were now on active duty were asked to indicate whether or not they had a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) service-connected disability rating. These disabilities are evaluated according to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities in Title 38, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 4.

"Service-connected" means the disability was a result of disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a priority system to allocate health care services among veterans enrolled in its programs. Data on service-connected disability status and ratings are used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to measure the demand for VA health care services in local market areas across the country as well as to classify veterans into priority groups for VA health care enrollment.

Question/Concept History
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This question was added to the American Community Survey in 2008. For more information, see "Evaluation Report Covering Service-Connected Disability."
Limitation of the Data
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There may be a tendency for people to erroneously report having a 0 percent rating when they have no service-connected disability rating at all.
Comparability
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The question was not asked in Census 2000. It was added to the ACS in 2008.

Service-Connected Disability Rating
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This question is asked of people who reported having a VA service-connected disability rating. These ratings are graduated according to degrees of disability on a scale from 0 to 100 percent, in increments of 10 percent. The ratings determine the amount of compensation payments made to the veterans. A zero-rating, which is different than having no rating at all, means a disability exists but it is not so disabling that it entitles the veteran to compensation payments.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a priority system to allocate health care services among veterans enrolled in its programs. Data on service-connected disability status and ratings are used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to measure the demand for VA health care services in local market areas across the country as well as to classify veterans into priority groups for VA health care enrollment.

Question/Concept History
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This question was added to the American Community Survey in 2008. For more information, see "Evaluation Report Covering Service-Connected Disability."

Limitation of the Data
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There may be a tendency for people to erroneously report having a 0 percent rating when they have no service-connected disability rating at all.
Comparability
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The question was not asked in Census 2000. It was added to the ACS in 2008.
Weeks Worked in the Past 12 Months
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See Work Experience.

Work Experience
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The data on work experience were derived from answers to Questions 38, 39, and 40. This term relates to work status in the past 12 months, weeks worked in the past 12 months, and usual hours worked per week worked in the past 12 months.

To comply with provisions of the Civil Rights Act, the U.S. Department of Justice uses these data to determine the availability of individuals for work. Government agencies, in considering the programmatic and policy aspects of providing federal assistance to areas, have emphasized the requirements for reliable data to determine the employment resources available. Data about the number of weeks and hours worked last year are essential because these data allow the characterization of workers by full-time/part-time and full-year/part-year status. Data about working last year are also necessary for collecting accurate income data by defining the universe of persons who should have earnings as part of their total income.
Work Status in the Past 12 Months
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The data on work status in the past 12 months were derived from answers to Question 38. People 16 years old and over who worked 1 or more weeks according to the criteria described below are classified as "Worked in the past 12 months." All other people 16 years old and over are classified as "Did not work in the past 12 months."
Weeks Worked in the Past 12 Months
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The data on weeks worked in the past 12 months were derived from responses to Question 39, which was asked of people 16 years old and over who indicated that they worked during the past 12 months.

The data pertain to the number of weeks during the past 12 months in which a person did any work for pay or profit (including paid vacation and paid sick leave) or worked without pay on a family farm or in a family business. Weeks of active service in the Armed Forces are also included.

Usual Hours Worked Per Week Worked in the Past 12 Months
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The data on usual hours worked per week worked in the past 12 months were derived from answers to Question 40. This question was asked of people 16 years old and over who indicated that they worked during the past 12 months.

The data pertain to the number of hours a person usually worked during the weeks worked in the past 12 months. The respondent was to report the number of hours worked per week in the majority of the weeks he or she worked in the past 12 months. If the hours worked per week varied considerably during the past 12 months, the respondent was to report an approximate average of the hours worked per week.

People 16 years old and over who reported that they usually worked 35 or more hours each week during the weeks they worked are classified as "Usually worked full time;" people who reported that they usually worked 1 to 34 hours are classified as "Usually worked part time."
Aggregate Usual Hours Worked Per Week in the Past 12 Months
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Aggregate usual hours worked is the sum of the values for usual hours worked each week of all the people in a particular universe. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")
Mean Usual Hours Worked Per Week in the Past 12 Months
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Mean usual hours worked is the number obtained by dividing the aggregate number of hours worked each week of a particular universe by the number of people in that universe. For example, mean usual hours worked for workers 16 to 64 years old is obtained by dividing the aggregate usual hours worked each week for workers 16 to 64 years old by the total number of workers 16 to 64 years old. Mean usual hours worked values are rounded to the nearest one-tenth of an hour. (For more information, see "Mean" under "Derived Measures.")
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers
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All people 16 years old and over who usually worked 35 hours or more per week for 50 to 52 weeks in the past 12 months.
Number of Workers in Family in the Past 12 Months
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The term "worker" as used for these data is defined based on the criteria for work status in the past 12 months.
Question/Concept History
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Beginning in 2008, the weeks worked question was separated into 2 parts: part (a) asked whether the respondent worked 50 or more weeks in the past 12 months and part (b) asked respondents who answered 'no' to part (a) how many weeks they worked, even for a few hours.

Limitation of the Data
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It is probable that the number of people who worked in the past 12 months and the number of weeks worked are understated since there is some tendency for respondents to forget intermittent or short periods of employment or to exclude weeks worked without pay. There may also be a tendency for people not to include weeks of paid vacation among their weeks worked; one result may be that the American Community Survey figures understate the number of people who worked "50 to 52 weeks."

The American Community Survey data refer to the 12 months preceding the date of interview. Since not all people in the American Community Survey were interviewed at the same time, the reference period for the American Community Survey data is neither fixed nor uniform.

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have work experience distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the work experience distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the weeks worked question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Weeks Worked" (www.census.gov/acs).

Comparability
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For information on Work Experience data comparability, please see the comparability section for Employment Status.

Work Status in the Past 12 Months
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See Work Experience.

Year of Entry
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The data on year of entry were derived from answers to Question 9. This question was asked about Persons 1 through 5 in the ACS, and was restricted to those persons who on Question 8 answered that they were in citizenship categories (2) born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas, (3) born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents, (4) U.S. citizen by naturalization, or (5) not a U.S citizen.

All respondents born outside the United States were asked for the year in which they came to live in the United States. This includes people born in Puerto Rico and U.S. Island Areas; people born abroad of an U.S. citizen parent or parents; and the foreign born. (See "Citizenship Status.") For the Puerto Rico Community Survey, respondents were asked for the year in which they came to live in Puerto Rico.

The responses to this question indicate when persons born outside of the U.S. came to live in the United States.

Question/Concept History
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Since 1996, the year of entry questions for the American Community Survey and for the Puerto Rico Survey were identical. An instruction was added beginning in 1999 to "Print numbers in boxes."

Limitation of the Data
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Respondents were directed to indicate the year they entered the U.S. "to live." (or "to live" in Puerto Rico, for the Puerto Community Survey). For respondents who entered the U.S. (or entered Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Community Survey) multiple times, the interviewers were instructed to request the most recent year of entry. For respondents who entered multiple times and did not ask the interviewer for clarification or who mailed back the questionnaire without being interviewed in person, it is unclear which year of entry was provided (i.e. first or most recent).

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have year of entry distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the year of entry distribution. This is particularly true for areas with substantial GQ populations.

Comparability
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Year of entry was comparable across ACS years. A note of caution when comparing ACS and Census 2000 year of entry data: Census 2000 represents data collected as of April 1, 2000 and thus the "2000" year of entry category accounts only for the first quarter (Jan-Mar) in 2000. In comparison, the ACS represents data collected throughout the entire year and thus the "2000" year of entry category accounts for the entire year of 2000.

Derived Measures
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Census data products include various derived measures, such as medians, means, and percentages, as well as certain rates and ratios. Most derived measures that round to less than 0.1 are shown as zero.
Aggregate
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See "Mean." Average See "Mean."
GiniIndex
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The Gini is a measure of how much a distribution varies from a proportionate distribution. A purely proportionate distribution would have every value in the distribution being equal (that is 20% of the values would equal 20% of the aggregate total of all the values). This is also known as "perfect equality" - all households have an equal share of income. An example of a distribution that deviates the most from perfect equality would be have every value except one equal to zero, and one value that would be equal to the nonzero aggregate total for all the values. This is also known as "perfect inequality" - one household has all income.

The Gini ranges from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality), and it is calculated by measuring the difference between a diagonal line (the purely proportionate distribution) and the distribution of actual values (a Lorenz curve). This measure is presented for household income.
Interpolation
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Interpolation is frequently used to calculate medians or quartiles and to approximate standard errors from tables based on interval data. Different kinds of interpolation may be used to estimate the value of a function between two known values, depending on the form of the distribution. The most common distributional assumption is that the data are linear, resulting in linear interpolation. However, this assumption may not be valid for income data, particularly when the data are based on wide intervals. For these cases, a Pareto distribution is assumed and the median is estimated by interpolating between the logarithms of the upper and lower income limits of the median category. The Census Bureau estimates median income using the Pareto distribution within intervals when the intervals are wider than $2,500.

Mean
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This measure represents an arithmetic average of a set of values. It is derived by dividing the sum (or aggregate) of a group of numerical questions by the total number of questions in that group. For example, mean household earnings is obtained by dividing the aggregate of all earnings reported by individuals with earnings living in households by the total number of households with earnings. (Additional information on means and aggregates is included in the separate explanations of many population and housing variables.)

Aggregate
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An aggregate is the sum of the values for each of the elements in the universe. For example, aggregate household income is the sum of the incomes of all households in a given geographic area. Means are derived by dividing the aggregate by the appropriate universe. When an aggregate used as a numerator is rounded in the detailed (base) tables, the rounded value is used for the calculation of the mean.

Rounding for selected aggregates
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To protect the confidentiality of responses, the aggregates shown in matrices for the list of subjects below are rounded. This means that the aggregates for these subjects, except for travel time to work, are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. Unless special rounding rules apply (see below); $150 rounds up to $200; $149 rounds down to $100. Note that each cell in a matrix is rounded individually. This means that an aggregate value shown for the United States may not necessarily be the sum total of the aggregate values in the matrices for the states. This also means that the cells in the aggregate matrices may not add to the total and/or subtotal lines.

Special rounding rules for aggregates
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  • If the dollar value is between -$100 and +$100, then the dollar value is rounded to $0.
  • If the dollar value is less than -$100, then the dollar value is rounded to the nearest -$100.
Aggregates Subject to Rounding:

Contract Rent, Rent Asked

Earnings in the Past 12 Months (Households)

Earnings in the Past 12 Months (Individuals)
Gross Rent*

Income Deficit in the Past 12 Months (Families)

Income Deficit in the Past 12 Months Per Family Member

Income Deficit in the Past 12 Months Per Unrelated Individual

Income in the Past 12 Months (Household/Family/Nonfamily Household)

Income in the Past 12 Months (Individuals)

Mobile Home Costs

Real Estate Taxes (Per $1,000 Value)

Rent Asked

Selected Monthly Owner Costs* by Mortgage Status

Total Mortgage Payment Travel Time to Work**

Type of Income in the Past 12 Months (Households) Value, Price Asked

[*Note: Gross Rent and Selected Monthly Owner Costs include other aggregates that also are subject to rounding. For example, Gross Rent includes aggregates of payments for "contract rent" and the "costs of utilities and fuels." Selected Monthly Owner Costs includes aggregates of payments for "mortgages, deeds of trust, contracts to purchase, or similar debts on the property (including payments for the first mortgage, second mortgage, home equity loans, and other junior mortgages); real estate taxes; fire, hazard, and flood insurance on the property, and the costs of utilities and fuels."]

[**Note: Aggregate Travel Time to Work is zero if the aggregate is zero, is rounded to 4 minutes if the aggregate is 1 to 7 minutes, and is rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 minutes for all other values (if the aggregate is not already evenly divisible by 5).]
Median
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This measure represents the middle value (if n is odd) or the average of the two middle values (if n is even) in an ordered list of n data values. The median divides the total frequency distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases falling below the median and one-half above the median. Each median is calculated using a standard distribution (see below). (For more information, see "Interpolation.")

For data products displayed in American FactFinder, medians that fall in the upper-most category of an open-ended distribution will be shown with a plus symbol (+) appended (e.g., "$2,000+" for contract rent), and medians that fall in the lowest category of an open-ended distribution will be shown with a minus symbol (-) appended (e.g., "$100- for contract rent"). For other data products and data files that are downloaded by users (i.e., FTP files), plus and minus signs will not be appended. Contract Rent, for example will be shown as $2001 if the median falls in the upper-most category ($2,000 or more) and $99 if the median falls in the lowest category (Less than $100). (The "Standard Distributions" section in Appendix A shows the open-ended intervals for medians.)

Standard Distributions
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In order to provide consistency in the values within and among data products, standard distributions from which medians and quartiles are calculated are used for the American Community Survey. The American Community Survey standard distributions are listed in Appendix A.

Percentage
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This measure is calculated by taking the number of questions in a group possessing a characteristic of interest and dividing by the total number of questions in that group, and then multiplying by 100.
Quartile
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This measure divides a distribution into four equal parts. The first quartile (or lower quartile) is the value that defines the upper limit of the lowest one-quarter of the cases. The second quartile is the median. The third quartile (or upper quartile) is defined as the upper limit of the lowest three quarters of cases in the distribution. Quartiles are presented for certain financial characteristics such as housing value and contract rent. The distribution used to compute quartiles is the same as that used to compute medians for that variable.
Quintile
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This measure divides a distribution into five equal parts. The first quintile (or lowest quintile) is the value that defines the upper limit of the lowest one-fifth of the cases. The second quintile is the 40th percentile. The third quintile is the 60th percentile. The fourth quintile is defined as the upper limit of the lowest four fifths of cases in the distribution, or the 80th percentile. Quintiles are presented for household incomes.
Rate
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This is a measure of occurrences in a given period of time divided by the possible number of occurrences during that period. For example, the homeowner vacancy rate is calculated by dividing the number of vacant units "for sale only" by the sum of owner-occupied units and vacant units that are "for sale only," and then multiplying by 100. Rates are sometimes presented as percentages.
Ratio
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This is a measure of the relative size of one number to a second number expressed as the quotient of the first number divided by the second. For example, the sex ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of males by the total number of females, and then multiplying by 100.

Quality Measures
General Information
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Measures describing the quality of the ACS sample and the data collected by the ACS - including sample sizes, coverage rates, and response rates - are available for 2000 through 2006 on the ACS web page, at www.census.gov/acs. The quality measures illustrate the steps the Census Bureau takes to ensure that ACS survey data are accurate and reliable.

Beginning in 2007, the quality measures are available through American FactFinder in the B98* series of Detailed Tables.
Sample Size
Initially Selected Housing Unit Addresses
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The number of addresses in each state and for the nation that were selected for the ACS sample for a particular year. Each year's sample is systematically divided into 12 monthly samples for ACS interviewing. This initial number includes addresses later determined to be commercial or nonexistent, as well as housing units that are not interviewed due to subsampling for personal visit follow-up, refusals or other reasons.

Housing Unit Final Interviews
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The final number of interviews across all three modes of data collection for the ACS in a given year. This number includes occupied and vacant housing units that were interviewed by mail, telephone, or personal visit methods between January 1 - December 31. It excludes addresses determined to be nonexistent or commercial, and addresses not selected in the subsample for personal visit follow-up, and addresses that are not interviewed due to refusals or other reasons.

Group Quarters Person Initial Sample Selected
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The number of people living in GQs that could be contacted for ACS interviewing in a given year for a given geographic area. Each year's sample is systematically divided into 12 monthly samples for ACS interviewing. This initial number includes people thought to be in group quarters that were later determined to be out of scope or nonexistent, as well as people not interviewed due to the group quarter refusing entry, the person refusing to respond, or other reasons.
Group Quarters Person Final Interviews
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The final number of person interviews for the ACS for those living in group quarters in a given year for a given geographic area.
Coverage Rates
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There are two kinds of coverage error: under-coverage and over-coverage. Under-coverage exists when housing units or people do not have a chance of being selected in the sample. Over-coverage exists when housing units or people have more than one chance of selection in the sample, or are included in the sample when they should not have been. If the characteristics of under-covered or over-covered housing units or individuals differ from those that are selected, the ACS may not provide an accurate picture of the population.

The coverage rates measure coverage error in the ACS. The coverage rate is the ratio of the ACS population or housing estimate of an area or group to the independent estimate for that area or group, times 100.

Coverage rates for the total resident population are calculated by sex at the national, state, and Puerto Rico levels, and at the national level only for total Hispanics, and non-Hispanics crossed by the five major race categories: White, Black, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. The total resident population includes persons in both housing units and group quarters. In addition, a coverage rate that includes only the group quarters population is calculated at the national level. Coverage rates for housing units are calculated at the national and state level, except for Puerto Rico because independent housing unit estimates are not available. These rates are weighted to reflect the probability of selection into the sample, the subsampling for personal visit follow-up, and non-response adjustment.
Response Rates
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The survey response rate is the ratio of the estimate of units interviewed after data collection is complete to the estimate of all units that should have been interviewed. Separate rates are calculated for housing unit response and GQ person response. For housing units, this means all interviews after mail, telephone and personal visit follow-up. For GQ persons, this means all interviews after the personal visit. Interviews include complete and partial interviews with enough information to be processed.

All final noninterviews have been grouped into one of the following Reasons for Noninterviews:
Refusal
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Even though the ACS is a mandatory survey and households whose addresses are selected and GQ persons who are selected for the survey are required to answer the survey questions, a few are reluctant to cooperate and refuse to participate.

Unable to Locate
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If the interviewer cannot find the sample address after using all possible sources, they consider it "unable to locate". For GQ persons, the individual could not be located.
No One Home
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Interviewers assign this code if they could not find anyone at the housing unit during the entire month's interview period. There is no equivalent rate for GQ persons.
Temporarily Absent
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The interviewers confirm that all household members or the GQ person are away during the entire month's interview period on vacation, a business trip, or caring for sick relatives.

Language Problem
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The interviewer could not conduct an interview because of language barriers, was not able to get an interpreter who could translate, and the supervisor or regional office could not help complete this case.

Insufficient Data
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To be considered an interviewed unit in ACS, a household or GQ person's response needs to have a minimum amount of data. Occupied housing units and GQ persons not meeting this minimum are treated as noninterviews in the estimation process. Responses for vacant housing units are not subject to a minimum data requirement
Other
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Unique situations when the reason for noninterview does not fit into one of the classifications described above. Possible reasons include "death in the family", "household quarantined", or "roads impassable".
Whole GQ Refusal
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Some group quarters refuse to allow the ACS to interview any of their residents, citing legal or other reasons.
Whole GQ Other
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These account for other situations where no one in the GQ was interviewed due to reasons other than refusals.
Imputation Rates
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Missing data for a particular question or item is called item nonresponse. It occurs when a respondent fails to provide an answer to a required item. The ACS also considers invalid answers as item nonresponse. The Census Bureau uses imputation methods that either use rules to determine acceptable answers or use answers from similar housing units or people who provided the item information. One type of imputation, allocation, involves using statistical procedures, such as within-household or nearest neighbor matrices populated by donors, to impute for missing values.

Overall Person Characteristic Imputation Rate
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This rate is calculated by adding together the weighted number of allocated items across a set of person characteristics, and dividing by the total weighted number of responses across the same set of characteristics.

Overall Housing Characteristic Imputation Rate
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This rate is calculated by adding together the weighted number of allocated items across a set of household and housing unit characteristics, and dividing by the total weighted number of responses across the same set of characteristics.

These rates give an overall picture of the rate of item nonresponse for a geographic area.

Five-Group ClassificationFifteen-Group ClassificationExamples
Science and EngineeringComputers, Mathematics and StatisticsComputer Science, Mathematics, General Statistics
Biological, Agricultural, and Environmental SciencesCellular and Molecular Biology, Soil Sciences, Natural Resource Management
Physical and Related SciencesPhysics, Organic chemistry, Astronomy
PsychologyPsychology, Counseling, Child psychology
Social SciencesCriminology, Sociology, Political Science
EngineeringChemical Engineering, Thermal engineering, Electrical engineering
Multidisciplinary StudiesNutritional science, Cognitive science, Behavioral science
Science and Engineering RelatedScience and Engineering RelatedPre-Med, Physical therapy, Mechanical engineering technology
BusinessBusinessBusiness administration, Accounting, Human resources development
EducationEducationEarly childhood education, Higher education administration, Special education
Arts, Humanities, and OtherLiterature and LanguagesEnglish, Foreign language and literature, Spanish
Liberal Arts and HistoryPhilosophy, Theology, American history
Visual and Performing ArtsInterior design, Dance, Voice
CommunicationsMass communications, Journalism, Public relations
OtherPublic Administration, Pre-law, Kinesiology


Four Main Group Classifications and Thirty-Nine Subgroup Classifications of Languages Spoken at Home with Illustrative Examples

Four Main Group ClassificationsThirty-Nine Subgroup Classifications
SpanishSpanish or Spanish Creole Examples: Ladino, Pachuco
Other Indo-European languagesFrench    Examples: Cajun, Patois
French Creole    Examples: Haitian Creole
Italian
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole    Examples: Papia Mentae
German    Example: Luxembourgian
Yiddish
Other West Germanic languages    Examples: Dutch, Pennsylvania Dutch,    Afrikaans
Scandinavian languages    Examples: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
Greek
Russian
Polish
Serbo-Croatian    Examples: Bosnian, Serbian
Other Slavic languages
Examples: Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian
Armenian
Persian
Gujarati
Hindi
Urdu
Other Indic languages    Examples: Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Romany
Other Indo-European language    Examples: Albanian, Gaelic, Lithuanian, Romanian
Asian and Pacific Island languagesChinese    Examples: Cantonese, Formosan, Mandarin
Japanese
Korean
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian
Hmong
Thai
Laotian
Vietnamese
Other Asian languages    Examples: Dravidian languages (Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil), Turkish
Tagalog
Other Pacific Island languages    Examples: Chamorro, Hawaiian, Ilocano, Indonesian, Samoan
All other languagesNavajo
Other Native North American languages    Examples: Apache, Cherokee, Dakota, Pima,    Yupik
Hungarian
Arabic
Hebrew
African languages    Examples: Amharic, Ibo, Yoruba, Bantu,    Swahili, Somali
Other and unspecified languages    Examples: Syriac, Finnish, Other languages of    the Americas, not reported


Poverty Factors and Thresholds

The 2011 Poverty Factors:

Interview MonthPoverty Factors
January2.22296
February2.22775
March2.23167
April2.23592
May2.24004
June2.24377
July2.24574
August2.24803
September2.25017
October2.25231
November2.25449
December2.25663


Poverty Thresholds in 1982, by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under
18 Years Old (Dollars)


Size of family unit
Related children under 18 years
One person (unrelated individual)
None
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight ormore
Under 65 years
65 years and over5,019
Two persons4,626
Householder under 65 years6,4596,649
Householder 65 years and over5,8316,624
Three persons7,5467,7657,772
Four persons9,95010,1129,7839,817
Five persons11,99912,17311,80111,51211,336
Six persons13,80113,85513,57013,29612,89012,649
Seven persons15,87915,97915,63715,39914,95514,43713,869
Eight persons or more17,76017,91717,59417,31216,91116,40315,87215,738
Nine persons or more21,36421,46821,18320,94320,54920,00819,51719,39718,649


Race Combinations


Two or More Races (57 Possible Specified Combinations)
1. White; Black or African American
2. White; American Indian and Alaska Native
3. White; Asian
4. White; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
5. White; Some other race
6. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native
7. Black or African American; Asian
8. Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
9. Black or African American; Some other race
10. American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
11. American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
12. American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
13. Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
14. Asian; Some other race
15. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
16. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native
17. White; Black or African American; Asian
18. White; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
19. White; Black or African American; Some other race
20. White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
21. White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
22. White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
23. White; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
24. White; Asian; Some other race
25. White; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
26. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
27. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
28. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
29. Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
30. Black or African American; Asian; Some other race
31. Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
32. American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
33. American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
34. American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
35. Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
36. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian
37. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
38. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Some other race
39. White; Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
40. White; Black or African American; Asian; Some other race
41. White; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
42. White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
43. White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
44. White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
45. White; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
46. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
47. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
48. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
49. Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
50. American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
51. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
52. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Some other race
53. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
54. White; Black or African American; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
55. White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
56. Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race
57. White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some other race

Median Standard Distributions



In order to provide consistency in the values within and among data products, standard distributions from which medians and quartiles are calculated are used for the American Community Survey.
Standard Distribution for Median Age:
[116 data cells]

Under 1 year
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
.
.
.
112 years
113 years
114 years
115 years and over

Standard Distribution for Median Age at First Marriage:
[9 cells]

5 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years

Standard Distribution for Median Agricultural Crop Sales:

[5 data cells]

Less than $1,000
$1,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Bedrooms:
[9 data cells]

No bedroom
1 bedroom
2 bedrooms
3 bedrooms
4 bedrooms
5 bedrooms
6 bedrooms
7 bedrooms
8 or more bedrooms

Standard Distribution for Median Condominium Fees:
[15 data cells]

Less than $50
$50 to $99
$100 to $199
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Contract Rent/Quartile Contract Rent/Rent Asked/Gross Rent:
[23 data cells]

Less than $100
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $299
$300 to $349
$350 to $399
$400 to $449
$450 to $499
$500 to $549
$550 to $599
$600 to $649
$650 to $699
$700 to $749
$750 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Duration of Current Marriage:
[101 data cells]

Under 1 year
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
.
.
.
97 years
98 years
99 years
100 years and over

Standard Distribution for Median Earnings and Median Income (Individuals):
[101 data cells]

Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $7,499
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 to $12,499
$12,500 to $14,999
$15,000 to $17,499
$17,500 to $19,999
$20,000 to $22,499
$22,500 to $24,999
$25,000 to $27,499
$27,500 to $29,999
$30,000 to $32,499
$32,500 to $34,999
$35,000 to $37,499
$37,500 to $39,999
$40,000 to $42,499
$42,500 to $44,999
$45,000 to $47,499
$47,500 to $49,999
$50,000 to $52,499
$52,500 to $54,999
$55,000 to $57,499
$57,500 to $59,999
$60,000 to $62,499
$62,500 to $64,999
$65,000 to $67,499
$67,500 to $69,999
$70,000 to $72,499
$72,500 to $74,999
$75,000 to $77,499
$77,500 to $79,999
$80,000 to $82,499
$82,500 to $84,999
$85,000 to $87,499
$87,500 to $89,999
$90,000 to $92,499
$92,500 to $94,999
$95,000 to $97,499
$97,500 to $99,999
$100,000 to $102,499
$102,500 to $104,999
$105,000 to $107,499
$107,500 to $109,999
$110,000 to $112,499
$112,500 to $114,999
$115,000 to $117,499
$117,500 to $119,999
$120,000 to $122,499
$122,500 to $124,999
$125,000 to $127,499
$127,500 to $129,999
$130,000 to $132,499
$132,500 to $134,999
$135,000 to $137,499
$137,500 to $139,999
$140,000 to $142,499
$142,500 to $144,999
$145,000 to $147,499
$147,500 to $149,999
$150,000 to $152,499
$152,500 to $154,999
$155,000 to $157,499
$157,500 to $159,999
$160,000 to $162,499
$162,500 to $164,999
$165,000 to $167,499
$167,500 to $169,999
$170,000 to $172,499
$172,500 to $174,999
$175,000 to $177,499
$177,500 to $179,999
$180,000 to $182,499
$182,500 to $184,999
$185,000 to $187,499
$187,500 to $189,999
$190,000 to $192,499
$192,500 to $194,999
$195,000 to $197,499
$197,500 to $199,999
$200,000 to $202,499
$202,500 to $204,999
$205,000 to $207,499
$207,500 to $209,999
$210,000 to $212,499
$212,500 to $214,999
$215,000 to $217,499
$217,500 to $219,999
$220,000 to $222,499
$222,500 to $224,999
$225,000 to $227,499
$227,500 to $229,999
$230,000 to $232,499
$232,500 to $234,999
$235,000 to $237,499
$237,500 to $239,999
$240,000 to $242,499
$242,500 to $244,999
$245,000 to $247,499
$247,500 to $249,999
$250,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Fire, Hazard, and Flood Insurance:
[19 data cells]

$0
$1 to $49
$50 to $99
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $299
$300 to $349
$350 to $399
$400 to $449
$450 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income:
[13 data cells]

Less than 10.0 percent
10.0 to 14.9 percent
15.0 to 19.9 percent
20.0 to 24.9 percent
25.0 to 29.9 percent
30.0 to 34.9 percent
35.0 to 39.9 percent
40.0 to 49.9 percent
to 59.9 percent
60.0 to 69.9 percent
70.0 to 79.9 percent
80.0 to 89.9 percent
90.0 percent or more

Standard Distribution for Median Income in the Past 12 Months (Household/Family/Nonfamily Household):
[101 data cells]

Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $7,499
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 to $12,499
$12,500 to $14,999
$15,000 to $17,499
$17,500 to $19,999
$20,000 to $22,499
$22,500 to $24,999
$25,000 to $27,499
$27,500 to $29,999
$30,000 to $32,499
$32,500 to $34,999
$35,000 to $37,499
$37,500 to $39,999
$40,000 to $42,499
$42,500 to $44,999
$45,000 to $47,499
$47,500 to $49,999
$50,000 to $52,499
$52,500 to $54,999
$55,000 to $57,499
$57,500 to $59,999
$60,000 to $62,499
$62,500 to $64,999
$65,000 to $67,499
$67,500 to $69,999
$70,000 to $72,499
$72,500 to $74,999
$75,000 to $77,499
$77,500 to $79,999
$80,000 to $82,499
$82,500 to $84,999
$85,000 to $87,499
$87,500 to $89,999
$90,000 to $92,499
$92,500 to $94,999
$95,000 to $97,499
$97,500 to $99,999
$100,000 to $102,499
$102,500 to $104,999
$105,000 to $107,499
$107,500 to $109,999
$110,000 to $112,499
$112,500 to $114,999
$115,000 to $117,499
$117,500 to $119,999
$120,000 to $122,499
$122,500 to $124,999
$125,000 to $127,499
$127,500 to $129,999
$130,000 to $132,499
$132,500 to $134,999
$135,000 to $137,499
$137,500 to $139,999
$140,000 to $142,499
$142,500 to $144,999
$145,000 to $147,499
$147,500 to $149,999
$150,000 to $152,499
$152,500 to $154,999
$155,000 to $157,499
$157,500 to $159,999
$160,000 to $162,499
$162,500 to $164,999
$165,000 to $167,499
$167,500 to $169,999
$170,000 to $172,499
$172,500 to $174,999
$175,000 to $177,499
$177,500 to $179,999
$180,000 to $182,499
$182,500 to $184,999
$185,000 to $187,499
$187,500 to $189,999
$190,000 to $192,499
$192,500 to $194,999
$195,000 to $197,499
$197,500 to $199,999
$200,000 to $202,499
$202,500 to $204,999
$205,000 to $207,499
$207,500 to $209,999
$210,000 to $212,499
$212,500 to $214,999
$215,000 to $217,499
$217,500 to $219,999
$220,000 to $222,499
$222,500 to $224,999
$225,000 to $227,499
$227,500 to $229,999
$230,000 to $232,499
$232,500 to $234,999
$235,000 to $237,499
$237,500 to $239,999
$240,000 to $242,499
$242,500 to $244,999
$245,000 to $247,499
$247,500 to $249,999
$250,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Monthly Housing Costs:
[30 cells]

Less than $100
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $299
$300 to $349
$350 to $399
$400 to $449
$450 to $499
$500 to $549
$550 to $599
$600 to $649
$650 to $699
$700 to $749
$750 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,499
$3,500 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,499
$4,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $5,499
$5,500 to $5,999
$6,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Real Estate Taxes Paid:
[14 data cells]

Less than $200
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $599
$600 to $799
$800 to $999
$1,000 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,999
$5,000 to $7,499
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Rooms:
[14 data cells]

1 room
2 rooms
3 rooms
4 rooms
5 rooms
6 rooms
7 rooms
8 rooms
9 rooms
10 rooms
11 rooms
12 rooms
13 rooms
14 or more rooms

Standard Distribution for Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs/Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs by Mortgage Status (With a Mortgage):
[23 data cells]

Less than $100
$100 to $199
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,499
$3,500 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,499
$4,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $5,499
$5,500 to $5,999
$6,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs by Mortgage Status (Without a Mortgage):
[17 data cells]

Less than $100
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $299
$300 to $349
$350 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,999
$2,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income by Mortgage Status:
[13 data cells]

Less than 10.0 percent
10.0 to 14.9 percent
15.0 to 19.9 percent
20.0 to 24.9 percent
25.0 to 29.9 percent
30.0 to 34.9 percent
35.0 to 39.9 percent
40.0 to 49.9 percent
50.0 to 59.9 percent
60.0 to 69.9 percent
70.0 to 79.9 percent
80.0 to 89.9 percent
90.0 percent or more

Standard Distribution for Median Total Mortgage Payment:
[21 data cells]

Less than $100
$100 to $199
$200 to $299
$300 to $399
$400 to $499
$500 to $599
$600 to $699
$700 to $799
$800 to $899
$900 to $999
$1,000 to $1,249
$1,250 to $1,499
$1,500 to $1,749
$1,750 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,499
$2,500 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,499
$3,500 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,499
$4,500 to $4,999
$5,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Usual Hours Worked Per Week Worked in the Past 12 Months:
[9 data cells]

Usually worked 50 to 99 hours per week
Usually worked 45 to 49 hours per week
Usually worked 41 to 44 hours per week
Usually worked 40 hours per week
Usually worked 35 to 39 hours per week
Usually worked 30 to 34 hours per week
Usually worked 25 to 29 hours per week
Usually worked 15 to 24 hours per week
Usually worked 1 to 14 hours per week

Standard Distribution for Median Value/Quartile Value/Price Asked:
[24 data cells]

Less than $10,000
$10,000 to $14,999
$15,000 to $19,999
$20,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $29,999
$30,000 to $34,999
$35,000 to $39,999
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $59,999
$60,000 to $69,999
$70,000 to $79,999
$80,000 to $89,999
$90,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $124,999
$125,000 to $149,999
$150,000 to $174,999
$175,000 to $199,999
$200,000 to $249,999
$250,000 to $299,999
$300,000 to $399,999
$400,000 to $499,999
$500,000 to $749,999
$750,000 to $999,999
$1,000,000 or more

Standard Distribution for Median Vehicles Available:
[6 data cells]

No vehicle available
1 vehicle available
2 vehicles available
3 vehicles available
4 vehicles available
5 or more vehicles available

Standard Distribution for Median Year Householder Moved Into Unit:
[16 data cells]

Moved in 2011
Moved in 2010
Moved in 2009
Moved in 2008
Moved in 2007
Moved in 2006
Moved in 2005
Moved in 2004
Moved in 2003
Moved in 2002
Moved in 2001
Moved in 2000
Moved in 1990 to 1999
Moved in 1980 to 1989
Moved in 1970 to 1979
Moved in 1969 or earlier

Standard Distribution for Median Year Structure Built:
[19 data cells]

Built in 2011
Built in 2010
Built in 2009
Built in 2008
Built in 2007
Built in 2006
Built in 2005
Built in 2004
Built in 2003
Built in 2002
Built in 2001
Built in 2000
Built 1990 to 1999
Built 1980 to 1989
Built 1970 to 1979
Built 1960 to 1969
Built 1950 to 1959
Built 1940 to 1949
Built 1939 or earlier


Group Quarters Definitions
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A group quarters is a place where people live or stay, in a group living arrangement, that is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. This isnot a typical household-type living arrangement. These services may include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those receivingthese services. People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other. Group quarters include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled nursingfacilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, and workers dormitories.

Correctional Facilities for Adults
Correctional Residential Facilities
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These are community-based facilities operated for correctional purposes. The facility residents may be allowed extensive contact with the community, such as for employment or attending school, but are obligated to occupy the premises at night. Examples are halfway houses, restitution centers, and prerelease, work release, and study centers.

Federal Detention Centers
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Stand alone, generally multi-level, federally operated correctional facilities that provide Ashort-term@confinement or custody of adults pending adjudication or sentencing. These facilities may holdpretrial detainees, holdovers, sentenced offenders, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) inmates, formerly called Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) inmates. Thesefacilities include: Metropolitan Correctional Centers (MCCs), Metropolitan Detention Centers(MDCs), Federal Detention Centers (FDCs), Bureau of Indian Affairs Detention Centers, ICEService Processing Centers, and ICE contract detention facilities.

Federal and State Prisons
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Adult correctional facilities where people convicted of crimes serve their sentences. Common names include: prison, penitentiary, correctional institution, federal or state correctional facility, and conservation camp. The prisons are classified by two types of control: (1) "federal" (operated by or for the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice) and (2) "state." Residents who are forensic patients or criminally insane are classified on the basis of where they resided at the time of interview. Patients in hospitals (units, wings, or floors) operated by or for federal or state correctional authorities are interviewed in the prison population. Other forensic patients will be interviewed in psychiatric hospital units and floors for long-term non-acute patients. This category may include privately operated correctional facilities.

Local Jails and Other Municipal Confinement Facilities
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Correctional facilities operated by or for counties, cities, and American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments. These facilities hold adults detained pending adjudication and/or people committed after adjudication. This category also includes work farms and camps used to hold people awaiting trial or serving time on relatively short sentences. Residents who are forensic patients or criminally insane are classified on the basis of where they resided at the time of interview. Patients in hospitals (units, wings, or floors) operated by or for local correctional authorities are counted in the jail population. Other forensic patients will be interviewed in psychiatric hospital units and floors for long-term non-acute patients. This category may include privately operated correctional facilities.

Military Disciplinary Barracks and Jails
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Correctional facilities managed by the military to hold those awaiting trial or convicted of crimes.

Juvenile Facilities
Correctional Facilities Intended for Juveniles
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Includes specialized facilities that provide strict confinement for its residents and detain juveniles awaiting adjudication, commitment or placement, and/or those being held for diagnosis or classification. Also included are correctional facilities where residents are permitted contact with the community, for purposes such as attending school or holding a job. Examples are residential training schools and farms, reception and diagnostic centers, group homes operated by or for correctional authorities, detention centers, and boot camps for juvenile delinquents.

Group Homes for Juveniles (non-correctional)
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Includes community-based group living arrangements for youth in residential settings that are able to accommodate three or more clients of a service provider. The group home provides room and board and services, including behavioral, psychological, or social programs. Generally, clients are not related to the care giver or to each other. Examples are maternity homes for unwed mothers, orphanages, and homes for abused and neglected children in need of services. Group homes for juveniles do not include residential treatment centers for juveniles or group homes operated by or for correctional authorities.

Residential Treatment Centers for Juveniles (non-correctional)
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Includes facilities that primarily serve youth that provide services on-site in a highly structured livein environment for the treatment of drug/alcohol abuse, mentalillness, and emotional/behavioral disorders. These facilities are staffed 24-hours a day. The focus of a residential treatment center is on the treatment program.Residential treatment centers for juveniles do not include facilities operated by or for correctional authorities.

Nursing Facilities/Skilled Nursing Facilities
Nursing Facilities/Skilled-Nursing Facilities
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Includes facilities licensed to provide medical care with seven day, twenty-four hour coverage for people requiring long-term non-acute care. People in these facilities require nursing care, regardless of age. Either of these types of facilities may be referred to as nursing homes.

Other Health Care Facilities
Hospitals with Patients Who Have No Usual Home Elsewhere
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Includes hospitals if they have any patients who have no exit or disposition plan, or who are known as "boarder patients" or "boarder babies." All hospitals are eligible for inclusion in this category except psychiatric hospitals, units, wings or floors operated by federal, state or local correctional authorities. Patients in hospitals operated by these correctional authorities will be interviewed in the prison or jail population. Psychiatric units and hospice units in hospitals are also excluded. Only patients with no usual home elsewhere are interviewed in this category.

In-Patient Hospice Facilities
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Includes in-patient hospice facilities (both free-standing and units in hospitals) that provide palliative, comfort, and supportive care for the terminally ill patient and their families. All patients in these GQs are included in the ACS GQ sample.

Mental (Psychiatric) Hospitals and Psychiatric Units in Other Hospitals
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Includes psychiatric hospitals, units and floors for long-term non-acute care patients. The primary function of the hospital, unit, or floor is to provide diagnostic and treatment services for long-term non-acute patients who have psychiatric-related illness.

Military Treatment Facilities with Assigned Patients
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These facilities include military hospitals and medical centers with active duty patients assigned to the facility. Only these patients are interviewed in this category.

Residential Schools for People with Disabilities
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Includes schools that provide the teaching of skills for daily living, education programs, and care for students with disabilities in a live-in environment. Examples are residential schools for the physically or developmentally disabled.

College/University Student Housing
College/University Student Housing
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Includes residence halls and dormitories, which house college and university students in a group living arrangement. These facilities are owned, leased, or managed either by a college, university, or seminary, or by a private entity or organization. Fraternity and sorority housing recognized by the college or university are included as college student housing. Students attending the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy are interviewed in military group quarters.

Military Group Quarters
Military Quarters
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These facilities include military personnel living in barracks (including open barrack transient quarters) and dormitories and military ships. Patients assigned to Military Treatment Facilities and people being held in military disciplinary barracks and jails are not interviewed in this category.Patients in Military Treatment Facilities with no usual home elsewhere are not interviewed in this category.

Other Noninstitutional Facilities
Emergency and Transitional Shelters (with Sleeping Facilities) for People Experiencing Homelessness
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Facilities where people experiencing homelessness stay overnight. These include:1) shelters that operate on a first-come, first-serve basis where people must leave in the morning and have no guaranteed bed for the next night;2) shelters where people know that they have a bed for a specified period of time (even if they leave the building every day); and3) shelters that provide temporary shelter during extremely cold weather (such as churches). This category does not include shelters that operate only in the event of a natural disaster.Examples are emergency and transitional shelters; missions; hotels and motels used to shelter people experiencing homelessness; shelters for children who are runaways, neglected or experiencing homelessness; and similar places known to have people experiencing homelessness.

Group Homes Intended for Adults
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Group homes are community-based group living arrangements in residential settings that are able to accommodate three or more clients of a service provider. The group home provides room and board and services, including behavioral, psychological, or social programs. Generally, clients are not related to the care giver or to each other. Group homes do not include residential treatment centers or facilities operated by or for correctional authorities.

Residential Treatment Centers for Adults
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Residential facilities that provide treatment on-site in a highly structured live-in environment for thetreatment of drug/alcohol abuse, mental illness, and emotional/behavioral disorders. They arestaffed 24-hours a day. The focus of a residential treatment center is on the treatment program.Residential treatment centers do not include facilities operated by or for correctional authorities.

Religious Group Quarters
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These are living quarters owned or operated by religious organizations that are intended to house theirmembers in a group living situation. This category includes such places as convents, monasteries, andabbeys.

Living quarters for students living or staying in seminaries are classified as college student housing notreligious group quarters.

Workers Group Living Quarters and Job Corps Centers
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Includes facilities such as dormitories, bunkhouses, and similar types of group living arrangements for agricultural and non-agricultural workers. This category also includes facilities that provide a full-time, year-round residential program offering a vocational training and employment program that helps young people 16-to-24 years old learn a trade, earn a high school diploma or GED and get help finding a job.

Examples are group living quarters at migratory farm worker camps, construction worker's camps, Job Corps centers, and vocational training facilities, and energy enclaves in Alaska.


Instructions for Applying Statistical Testing to ACS 1-Year Data
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This document provides some basic instructions for obtaining the ACS standard errors needed to do statistical tests, as well as performing the statistical testing.

Once standard errors have been obtained, doing the statistical test to determine significance is not difficult. The determination of statistical significance takes into account the difference between the two estimates as well as the standard errors of both estimates. For two estimates, A and B, with standard errors SE(A) and SE(B), let



If Z < -1.645 or Z > 1.645, then the difference between A and B is significant at the 90 percent confidence level. Otherwise, the difference is not significant. This means that there is less than a 10 percent chance that the difference between these two estimates would be as large or larger by random chance alone.

This is the method used in determining statistical significance for the ACS Comparison Profiles published on AFF. Note that the users determination of statistical significance may not match the results in the Comparison Profile for the same pair of estimates, because the significance tests for Comparison Profiles are made using unrounded standard errors. Standard errors obtained from the rounded margins of error or confidence bounds are unlikely to match the unrounded standard error, and so statistical tests may differ.

Users may choose to apply a confidence level different from 90 percent to their tests of statistical significance. For example, if Z < -1.96 or Z > 1.96, then the difference between A and B is significant at the 95 percent confidence level.

This method can be used for any types of estimates: counts, percentages, proportions, means, medians, etc. It can be used for comparing across years, or across surveys. If one of the estimates is a fixed value or comes from a source without sampling error (such as a count from the 2010 Census), use zero for the standard error for that estimate in the above equation for Z.

NOTE: Making comparisons between ACS single-year and multiyear estimates is very difficult, and is not advised. In addition, using the rule of thumb of overlapping confidence intervals does not constitute a valid significance test and users are discouraged from using that method.

American Community Survey/Puerto Rico Community Survey
American Community Survey Accuracy of the Data (2011)
Introduction
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The data contained in these data products are based on the American Community Survey (ACS) sample interviewed from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. The ACS sample is selected from all counties and county-equivalents in the United States. In 2006, the ACS began collection of data from sampled persons in group quarters (GQs) - for example, military barracks, college dormitories, nursing homes, and correctional facilities. Persons in group quarters are included with persons in housing units (HUs) in all 2011 ACS estimates that are based on the total population. All ACS population estimates from years prior to 2006 include only persons in housing units. The ACS, like any other statistical activity, is subject to error. The purpose of this documentation is to provide data users with a basic understanding of the ACS sample design, estimation methodology, and accuracy of the ACS data. The ACS is sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau, and is part of the 2010 Decennial Census Program.

Additional information on the design and methodology of the ACS, including data collection and processing, can be found at: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/methodology main/.

The 2011 Accuracy of the Data from the Puerto Rico Community Survey can be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/Accuracy/PRCS_Accuracy_of_Data_2011.pdf.
Data Collection
Housing Units
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The ACS employs three modes of data collection:
  • Mailout/Mailback
  • Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)
  • Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
With the exception of addresses in Remote Alaska, the general timing of data collection is:

Month 1: Addresses in sample that are determined to be mailable are sent a questionnaire via
the U.S. Postal Service.

Month 2: All mail non-responding addresses with an available phone number are sent to CATI.


Month 3: A sample of mail non-responses without a phone number, CATI non-responses, and unmailable addresses are selected and sent to CAPI.
Note that mail responses are accepted during all three months of data collection.
All Remote Alaska addresses that are in sample are assigned to one of two data collection periods, January-April, or September-December and are all sent to the CAPI mode of data collection.1 Data for these addresses are collected using CAPI only and up to four months are given to complete the interviews in Remote Alaska for each data collection period.
Group Quarters
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Group Quarters data collection spans six weeks, except in Remote Alaska and for Federal prisons, where the data collection time period is four months. As is done for HUs, Group Quarters in Remote Alaska are assigned to one of two data collection periods, January-April, or September-December and up to four months is allowed to complete the interviews. Similarly, all Federal prisons are assigned to September with a four month data collection window.
Field representatives have several options available to them for data collection. These include completing the questionnaire while speaking to the resident in person or over the telephone, conducting a personal interview with a proxy, such as a relative or guardian, or leaving paper questionnaires for residents to complete for themselves and then pick them up later. This last option is used for data collection in Federal prisons.

Sampling Frame
Housing Units
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The universe for the ACS consists of all valid, residential housing unit addresses in all county and county equivalents in the 50 states, including the District of Columbia. The Master Address File (MAF) is a database maintained by the Census Bureau containing a listing of residential and commercial addresses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The MAF is updated twice each year with the Delivery Sequence Files (DSF) provided by the U.S. Postal Service. The DSF covers only the U.S. These files identify mail drop points and provide the best available source of changes and updates to the housing unit inventory. The MAF is also updated with the results from various Census Bureau field operations, including the ACS.
Group Quarters
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The universe of group quarters (GQs) valid for ACS for 2011 was significantly different than the ACS 2010 GQ universe. Results from nationwide field operations such as address canvassing and group quarters validation conducted for the 2010 Census were available in 2011 for the first time for ACS use. Results from these sources were combined with the 2010 Census universe of GQs to create the final 2011 ACS sampling frame.
As in previous years, due to operational difficulties associated with data collection, the ACS excluded certain types of GQs from the sampling universe and data collection operations. The weighting and estimation accounts for this segment of the population included in the population controls. The following GQ types were removed since they are from the 2011 GQ universe:
  • Soup kitchens
  • Domestic violence shelters
  • Regularly scheduled mobile food vans
  • Targeted non-sheltered outdoor locations
  • Maritime/merchant vessels
  • Living quarters for victims of natural disasters
The ACS GQ universe file contains both valid and invalid GQs, but only valid GQs are eligible for sampling. This is done in order to maintain an inventory of all GQ records. In this way, any updates to the GQ universe can be applied to the combined valid and invalid file.
Sample Design
Housing Units
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The ACS employs a two-phase, two-stage sample design. The ACS first-phase sample consists of two separate samples, Main and Supplemental, each chosen at different points in time.

Together, these constitute the first-phase sample. Both the Main and the Supplemental samples are chosen in two stages referred to as first- and second-stage sampling. Subsequent to second- stage sampling, sample addresses are randomly assigned to one of the twelve months of the sample year. The second-phase of sampling occurs when the CAPI sample is selected (see Section 2 below).

The Main sample is selected during the summer preceding the sample year. Approximately 99 percent of the sample is selected at this time. Each address in sample is randomly assigned to one of the 12 months of the sample year. Supplemental sampling occurs in January/February of the sample year and accounts for approximately 1 percent of the overall first-phase sample. The Supplemental sample is allocated to the last eight months of the sample year. A sub-sample of non-responding addresses and of any addresses deemed unmailable is selected for the CAPI data collection mode.

Several steps used to select the first-phase sample are common to both Main and Supplemental sampling. The descriptions of the steps included in the first-phase sample selection below indicate which are common to both and which are unique to either Main or Supplemental sampling.
1. First-phase Sample Selection
  • First-stage sampling (performed during both Main and Supplemental sampling) - First stage sampling defines the universe for the second stage of sampling through two steps. First, all addresses that were in a first-phase sample within the past four years are excluded from eligibility. This ensures that no address is in sample more than once in any five-year period. The second step is to select a 20 percent systematic sample of "new" units, i.e. those units that have never appeared on a previous MAF extract. Each new address is systematically assigned to either the current year or to one of four back- samples. This procedure maintains five equal partitions (samples) of the universe.
  • Assignment of blocks to a second-stage sampling stratum (performed during Main sampling only) - Second-stage sampling uses 16 sampling strata in the U.S . The stratum level rates used in second-stage sampling account for the first-stage selection probabilities. These rates are applied at a block level to addresses in the U.S. by calculating a measure of size for each of the following geographic entities:

- Counties
- Places
- School Districts (elementary, secondary, and unified)
- American Indian Areas
- Tribal Subdivisions
- Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas
- Hawaiian Homelands
- Minor Civil Divisions - in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin (these are the states where MCDs are active, functioning governmental units)
- Census Designated Places - in Hawaii only

The measure of size for all areas except American Indian Areas, Tribal Subdivisions, and Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas is an estimate of the number of occupied HUs in the area. This is calculated by multiplying the number of ACS addresses by an estimated occupancy rate at the block level. A measure of size for each Census Tract is also calculated in the same manner.

For American Indian, Tribal Subdivisions, and Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas, the measure of size is the estimated number of occupied HUs multiplied by the proportion of people reporting American Indian or Alaska Native (alone or in combination) in the 2010 Census.

Each block is then assigned the smallest measure of size from the set of all entities of which it is a part. The 2011 second-stage sampling strata and the overall first-phase sampling rates are shown in Table 1 below. There are two sets of rates shown in the table, since the sample increase from 2.9 to 3.54 million occurred midway through the 2011 sample year. The 3.54 million target sampling rates are the rates that would have been used if the entire 2011 sample was at the 3.54 million level. The sample rates represent the actual percent in sample that was delivered for the 2011 sample year.
  • Calculation of the second-stage sampling rates (performed during Main sampling only) - The overall first-phase sampling rates given in Table 1 are calculated using the distribution of ACS valid addresses by second-stage sampling stratum in such a way as to yield an overall target sample size for the year of 3,540,000 in the U.S. These rates also account for expected growth of the HU inventory between Main and Supplemental of roughly 1 percent. The first-phase rates are adjusted for the first-stage sample to yield the second-stage selection probabilities1.
  • Second-stage sample selection (performed in Main and Supplemental) - After each block is assigned to a second-stage sampling stratum, a systematic sample of addresses is selected from the second-stage universe (first-stage sample) within each county and county equivalent.
  • Sample Month Assignment (performed in Main and Supplemental) - After the second stage of sampling, all sample addresses are randomly assigned to a sample month. Addresses selected during Main sampling are allocated to each of the 12 months. Addresses selected during Supplemental sampling are assigned to the months of May- December.


2. Second-phase Sample Selection - Subsampling the Unmailable and Non-Responding Addresses
Most addresses determined to be unmailable are subsampled for the CAPI phase of data collection at a rate of 2-in-3. Unmailable addresses, which include Remote Alaska addresses, do not go to the CATI phase of data collection. Subsequent to CATI, all addresses for which no response has been obtained prior to CAPI are subsampled based on the expected rate of completed interviews at the tract level using the rates shown in Table 2.

Table 1. First-phase Sampling Rate Categories for the United States

Second Stage Sampling StratumType of AreaTarget Sampling Rate (3.54 Million)2011 Percent In Sample
10 < MOS1< 20015.00%14.81%
2200 < MOS < 40010.00%9.94%
3400 < MOS < 8007.00%6.97%
4800 < MOS < 1,2004.93%4.44%
50 < TRACTMOS2 < 4006.16%5.55%
60 < TRACTMOS < 400 H.R.35.67%5.00%
7400 < TRACTMOS < 1,0004.93%4.46%
8400 < TRACTMOS < 1,000 H.R.4.53%4.10%
91,000 < TRACTMOS < 2,0002.99%2.71%
101,000 < TRACTMOS < 2,000 H.R.2.75%2.49%
112,000 < TRACTMOS < 4,0001.76%1.61%
122,000 < TRACTMOS < 4,000 H.R.1.62%1.47%
134,000 < TRACTMOS < 6,0001.06%0.96%
144,000 < TRACTMOS < 6,000 H.R.0.97%0.89%
156,000 < TRACTMOS0.62%0.57%
166,000 < TRACTMOS H.R.0.57%0.53%


Footnotes:

1MOS = Measure of size of the smallest governmental entity.
2TRACTMOS = Census Tract measure of size.
3H.R. = areas where predicted levels of completed mail and CATI interviews are > 60%.

Table 2. Second-Phase (CAPI) Subsampling Rates for the United States

Address and Tract CharacteristicsCAPI Subsampling Rate
United States
Addresses in Remote Alaska1Take all (100%)
Addresses in Hawaiian Homelands, Alaska Native Village Statistical areas and a subset of American Indian areas1Take all (100%)
Unmailable addresses that are not in the previous two categories66.70%
Mailable addresses in tracts with predicted levels of completed mail and CATI interviews prior to CAPI subsampling between 0% and less than 36%50.00%
Mailable addresses in tracts with predicted levels of completed mail and CATI interviews prior to CAPI subsampling greater than 35% and less than 51%40.00%
Mailable addresses in other tracts33.30%


Footnotes:

1 The full CAPI follow-up procedure for these two categories is new to the ACS sample design.


Group Quarters
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The 2011 GQ sampling frame is divided into two strata: one for small GQs (having 15 or fewer people according to 2010 Census or updated information), and one for large GQs (having more than 15 people according to 2010 Census or updated information). GQs in the first stratum are sampled using the same procedure, while GQs in the large stratum are sampled using a different method.

1. First-phase Sample Selection for Small GQ Stratum
  • First-stage sampling - Small GQs are only eligible to be selected for the ACS once every five years. To accomplish this, the first stage sampling procedure systematically assigned all small GQs to one of five partitions of the universe. Each partition was assigned to a particular year (2011-2015) and the one assigned to 2011 became the first stage sample. In future years, each new GQ will be systematically assigned to one of the five samples. These samples are rotated over five year periods and become the universe for selecting the second stage sample.
  • Second-stage sampling - During the second stage, GQs are selected from the first stage sample in a systematic sample of 1-in-x where x is dependent upon the state's target sampling rate. Since the first stage sample is one fifth of the universe, x can be calculated as x = (1 /5) x (1 / rate) where rate is the state's target sampling rate. For example, suppose a state had a target sampling rate of 2.5%. The systematic sample would then be 1-in-8 since (1 / 5) x (1 / 0.025) = 8. Regardless of their actual size, all GQs in the small stratum have the same probability of selection.

2. Sample Selection for the Large GQ Stratum
Unlike housing unit address sampling and the small GQ sample selection, the large GQ sampling procedure has no first-stage in which sampling units are randomly assigned to one of five years. All large GQs are eligible for sampling each year. The large GQ samples are selected using a two-phase design.
  • First-phase Sampling - In the large GQ stratum, GQ hits are selected using a systematic PPS (probability proportional to size) sample, with a target sampling rate that varies according to state. A hit refers to a grouping of 10 expected interviews. GQs are selected with probability proportional to its most current count of persons or capacity. For stratification, and for sampling the large GQs, a GQ measure of size (GQMOS) is computed, where GQMOS is the expected population of the GQ divided by 10. This reflects that the GQ data is collected in groups of 10 GQ persons. People are selected in hits of 10 in a systematic sample of 1-in-x where x = 1 / rate (one divided by the state's target sampling rate). For example, suppose a state had a target sampling rate of 2.5%. The hits would then be selected in a systematic sample of 1-in-40, since 1 / 0.025 = 40.

All GQs in this stratum are eligible for sampling every year, regardless of their sample status in previous years. For large GQs, hits can be selected multiple times in the sample year. For most GQ types, the hits are randomly assigned throughout the year. Some GQs may have multiple hits with the same sample date if more than 12 hits are selected from the GQ. In these cases, the person sample within that month is unduplicated. The following table summarizes the 2011 state target sampling rates for the U.S.

Table 3. 2011 State Targeted Sampling Rates for the U.S.

Alabama2.04%Louisiana2.21%North Dakota4.13%
Alaska3.84%Maine2.80%Ohio2.22%
California, Illinois2.15%Maryland2.12%Oklahoma2.09%
Connecticut2.03%Michigan2.53%Oregon, West Virginia2.18%
Delaware4.18%Minnesota2.24%Puerto Rico2.50%
District of Columbia2.39%Missouri, Washington2.01%Rhode Island2.37%
Hawaii, New Jersey2.44%Montana3.41%South Carolina2.02%
Idaho2.75%Nebraska, Pennsylvania2.34%South Dakota2.89%
Indiana2.08%Nevada, Utah2.25%Tennessee2.13%
Iowa2.23%New Hampshire2.56%Vermont3.85%
Kansas, Mississippi2.16%New Mexico2.36%Wisconsin2.20%
Kentucky2.19%North Carolina2.07%Wyoming6.53%
All Other States2.00%

3. Sample Month Assignment
In order to assign each hit to a panel month, all of the GQ samples from a state are combined and sorted by small/large stratum and second-phase order of selection. Consecutive samples are assigned to the twelve panel months in a predetermined order, starting with a randomly determined month, except for Federal prisons and remote Alaska. Remote Alaska GQs are assigned to January and September based on where the GQ is located. Correctional facilities have their sample clustered. All Federal prisons hits are assigned to the September panel. In non-Federal correctional facilities, all hits for a given GQ are assigned to the same panel month. However, unlike Federal prisons, the hits in state and local correctional facilities are assigned to randomly selected panels spread throughout the year.

4. Second Phase Sample: Selection of Persons in Small and Large GQs

Small GQs in the second phase sampling are "take all," i.e., every person in the selected GQ is eligible to receive a questionnaire. If the actual number of persons in the GQ exceeds 15, a field subsampling operation is performed to reduce the total number of sample persons interviewed at the GQ to 10. If the actual number of people is 15 or less, all people in the GQ will receive the questionnaire.

For each hit in the large GQs, the automated instrument uses the population count at the time of the visit and selects a subsample of 10 people from the roster. The people in this subsample receive the questionnaire.
Weighting Methodology
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The estimates that appear in this product are obtained from a raking ratio estimation procedure that results in the assignment of two sets of weights: a weight to each sample person record and a weight to each sample housing unit record. Estimates of person characteristics are based on the person weight. Estimates of family, household, and housing unit characteristics are based on the housing unit weight. For any given tabulation area, a characteristic total is estimated by summing the weights assigned to the persons, households, families or housing units possessing the characteristic in the tabulation area. Each sample person or housing unit record is assigned exactly one weight to be used to produce estimates of all characteristics. For example, if the weight given to a sample person or housing unit has a value 40, all characteristics of that person or housing unit are tabulated with the weight of 40.

The weighting is conducted in two main operations: a group quarters person weighting operation which assigns weights to persons in group quarters, and a household person weighting operation which assigns weights both to housing units and to persons within housing units. The group quarters person weighting is conducted first and the household person weighting second. The household person weighting is dependent on the group quarters person weighting because estimates for total population which include both group quarters and household population are controlled to the Census Bureau's official 2011 total resident population estimates.

Group Quarters Person Weighting
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The group quarters (GQ) person weighting for the ACS 2011 1-year estimates has changed in important ways from that of the ACS 2010 1-year estimates. For the first time, the GQ population sample has been supplemented by a large-scale whole person imputation into not-in-sample GQ facilities. For the 2011 ACS GQ data, roughly as many GQ persons were imputed as sampled. The goal of the imputation methodology was two-fold.

1.The primary objective was to establish representation of county by major GQ type group in the tabulations for each combination that exists on the ACS GQ sample frame. The seven major GQ type groups are defined by the Population Estimates Program and are given in Table 4.

2.A secondary objective was to establish representation of tract by major GQ type group for each combination that exists on the ACS GQ sample frame.

Table 4: Population Estimates Program Major GQ Type Groups

Major GQ Type GroupDefinitionInstitutional/Non-Institutional
1Correctional InstitutionsInstitutional
2Juvenile Detention FacilitiesInstitutional
3Nursing HomesInstitutional
4Other Long-Term Care FacilitiesInstitutional
5College DormitoriesNon-Institutional
6Military FacilitiesNon-Institutional
7Other Non-Institutional FacilitiesNon-Institutional


For all not-in-sample GQ facilities with an expected population of 16 or more persons (large facilities), we imputed a number of GQ persons equal to 2.5% of the expected population. For those GQ facilities with an expected population of fewer than 16 persons (small facilities), we selected a random sample of GQ facilities as needed to accomplish the two objectives given above. For those selected small GQ facilities, we imputed a number of GQ persons equal to 20% of the facility's expected population.

Interviewed GQ person records were then sampled at random to be imputed into the selected not-in-sample GQ facilities. An expanding search algorithm searched for donors within the same specific type of GQ facility and the same county. If that failed, the search included all GQ facilities of the same major GQ type group. If that still failed, the search expanded to a specific type within a larger geography, then a major GQ type group within that geography, and so on until suitable donors were found.

The weighting procedure made no distinction between sampled and imputed GQ person records. The initial weights of person records in the large GQ facilities equaled the observed or expected population of the GQ facility divided by the number of person records. The initial weights of person records in small GQ facilities equaled the observed or expected population of the GQ facility divided by the number of records, multiplied by the inverse of the fraction represented on the frame of the small GQ facilities of that tract by major GQ type group combination. As was done in previous years' weighting, we controlled the final weights to an independent set of GQ population estimates produced by the Population Estimates Program for each state by each of the seven major GQ type groups.

Lastly, the final GQ person weight was rounded to an integer. Rounding was performed so that the sum of the rounded weights were within one person of the sum of the unrounded weights for any of the groups listed below:

Major GQ Type Group Major GQ Type Group x County
Housing Unit and Household Person Weighting

The housing unit and household person weighting uses two types of geographic areas for adjustments: weighting areas and subcounty areas. Weighting areas are county-based and have been used since the first year of the ACS. Subcounty areas are based on incorporated place and minor civil divisions (MCD). Their use was introduced into the ACS in 2010.

Weighting areas are built from collections of whole counties. Census 2000 data are used to group counties of similar demographic and social characteristics. The characteristics considered in the formation include:
  • Percent in poverty
  • Percent renting
  • Percent in rural areas
  • Race, ethnicity, age, and sex distribution
  • Distance between the centroids of the counties
  • Core-based Statistical Area status
Each weighting area is also required to meet a threshold of 400 expected person interviews in the 2005 ACS. The process also tries to preserve as many counties that meet the threshold to form their own weighting areas. In total, there are 1,951 weighting areas formed from the 3,141 counties and county equivalents.

Subcounty areas are built from incorporated places and MCDs, with MCDs only being used in the 20 states where MCDs serve as functioning governmental units. Each subcounty area formed has a total population of at least 24,000, as determined by the July 1, 2011 Population Estimates data, which are based on the 2010 Census estimates of the population on April 1, 2010, extrapolated forward. The subcounty areas can be incorporated places, MCDs, place/MCD intersections (in counties where places and MCDs are not coexistent), 'balance of MCD,' and 'balance of county.' The latter two types group together unincorporated areas and places/MCDs that do not meet the population threshold. If two or more subcounty areas cannot be formed within a county, then the entire county is treated as a single area. Thus all counties whose total population is less than 48,000 will be treated as a single area since it is not possible to form two areas that satisfy the minimum size threshold.

The estimation procedure used to assign the weights is then performed independently within each of the ACS weighting areas.

1. Initial Housing Unit Weighting Factors - This process produced the following factors:
  • Base Weight (BW) - This initial weight is assigned to every housing unit as the inverse of its block's sampling rate.
  • CAPI Subsampling Factor (SSF) - The weights of the CAPI cases are adjusted to reflect the results of CAPI subsampling. This factor is assigned to each record as follows:


Selected in CAPI subsampling: SSF = 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0 according to Table 2 Not selected in CAPI subsampling: SSF = 0.0 Not a CAPI case: SSF = 1.0

Some sample addresses are unmailable. A two-thirds sample of these is sent directly to CAPI and for these cases SSF = 1.5.
  • Variation in Monthly Response by Mode (VMS)-This factor makes the total weight of the Mail, CATI, and CAPI records to be tabulated in a month equal to the total base weight of all cases originally mailed for that month. For all cases, VMS is computed and assigned based on the following groups:

Weighting Area x Month
  • Noninterview Factor (NIF)-This factor adjusts the weight of all responding occupied housing units to account for nonresponding housing units. The factor is computed in two stages. The first factor, NIF1, is a ratio adjustment that is computed and assigned to occupied housings units based on the following groups:

Weighting Area x Building Type x Tract
A second factor, NIF2, is a ratio adjustment that is computed and assigned to occupied housing units based on the following groups:
Weighting Area x Building Type x MonthNIF is then computed by applying NIF1 and NIF2 for each occupied housing unit. Vacant housing units are assigned a value of NIF = 1.0. Nonresponding housing units are assigned a weight of 0.0.
  • Noninterview Factor - Mode (NIFM) - This factor adjusts the weight of the responding CAPI occupied housing units to account for CAPI nonrespondents. It is computed as if NIF had not already been assigned to every occupied housing unit record. This factor is not used directly but rather as part of computing the next factor, the Mode Bias Factor.


NIFM is computed and assigned to occupied CAPI housing units based on the following groups:
Weighting Area x Building Type (single or multi unit) x Month
Vacant housing units or non-CAPI (mail and CATI) housing units receive a value of NIFM = 1.0.
  • Mode Bias Factor (MBF)-This factor makes the total weight of the housing units in the groups below the same as if NIFM had been used instead of NIF. MBF is computed and assigned to occupied housing units based on the following groups:

Weighting Area x Tenure (owner or renter) x Month x Marital Status of the Householder (married/widowed or single)
Vacant housing units receive a value of MBF = 1.0. MBF is applied to the weights computed through NIF.
  • Housing unit Post-stratification Factor (HPF)-This factor makes the total weight of all housing units agree with the 2011 independent housing unit estimates at the subcounty level.

2. Person Weighting Factors-Initially the person weight of each person in an occupied housing unit is the product of the weighting factors of their associated housing unit (BW x ... x HPF). At this point everyone in the household has the same weight. The person weighting is done in a series of three steps which are repeated until a stopping criterion is met. These three steps form a raking ratio or raking process. These person weights are individually adjusted for each person as described below.
The three steps are as follows:
  • Subcounty Area Controls Raking Factor (SUBEQRF) - This factor is applied to individuals based on their geography. It adjusts the person weights so that the weighted sample counts equal independent population estimates of total population for the subcounty area. Because of later adjustment to the person weights, total population is not assured of agreeing exactly with the official 2011 population estimates at the subcounty level.


Spouse Equalization/Householder Equalization Raking Factor (SPHHEQRF)-This factor is applied to individuals based on the combination of their status of being in a married-couple or unmarried-partner household and whether they are the householder. All persons are assigned to one of four groups:
  1. Householder in a married-couple or unmarried-partner household
  2. Spouse or unmarried partner in a married-couple or unmarried-partner household (non-householder)
  3. Other householder
  4. Other non-householder


The weights of persons in the first two groups are adjusted so that their sums are each equal to the total estimate of married-couple or unmarried-partner households using the housing unit weight (BW x ... x HPF). At the same time the weights of persons in the first and third groups are adjusted so that their sum is equal to the total estimate of occupied housing units using the housing unit weight (BW x ... x HPF). The goal of this step is to produce more consistent estimates of spouses or unmarried partners and married-couple and unmarried-partner households while simultaneously producing more consistent estimates of householders, occupied housing units, and households.

Demographic Raking Factor (DEMORF)-This factor is applied to individuals based on their age, race, sex and Hispanic origin. It adjusts the person weights so that the weighted sample counts equal independent population estimates by age, race, sex, and Hispanic origin at the weighting area. Because of collapsing of groups in applying this factor, only total population is assured of agreeing with the official 2011 population estimates at the weighting area level.

This uses the following groups (note that there are 13 Age groupings):

Weighting Area x Race / Ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non- Hispanic American Indian or Alaskan Native, non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic (any race)) x Sex x Age Groups.

These three steps are repeated several times until the estimates at the national level achieve their optimal consistency with regard to the spouse and householder equalization. The effect Person Post-Stratification Factor (PPSF) is then equal to the product (SUBEQRF x SPHHEQRF x DEMORF) from all of iterations of these three adjustments. The unrounded person weight is then the equal to the product of PPSF times the housing unit weight (BW x ... x HPF x PPSF).

3.Rounding-The final product of all person weights (BW x ... x HPF x PPSF) is rounded to an integer. Rounding is performed so that the sum of the rounded weights is within one person of the sum of the unrounded weights for any of the groups listed below:

County
County x Race
County x Race x Hispanic Origin
County x Race x Hispanic Origin x Sex
County x Race x Hispanic Origin x Sex x Age
County x Race x Hispanic Origin x Sex x Age x Tract
County x Race x Hispanic Origin x Sex x Age x Tract x Block

For example, the number of White, Hispanic, Males, Age 30 estimated for a county using the rounded weights is within one of the number produced using the unrounded weights.

4.Final Housing Unit Weighting Factors-This process produces the following factors:
  1. Householder Factor (HHF)-This factor adjusts for differential response depending on the race, Hispanic origin, sex, and age of the householder. The value of HHF for an occupied housing unit is the PPSF of the householder. Since there is no householder for vacant units, the value of HHF = 1.0 for all vacant units.
  2. Rounding-The final product of all housing unit weights (BW x ... x HHF) is rounded to an integer. For occupied units, the rounded housing unit weight is the same as the rounded person weight of the householder. This ensures that both the rounded and unrounded householder weights are equal to the occupied housing unit weight. The rounding for vacant housing units is then performed so that total rounded weight is within one housing unit of the total unrounded weight for any of the groups listed below:

County
County x Tract
County x Tract x Block
Confidentiality of the Data
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The Census Bureau has modified or suppressed some data on this site to protect confidentiality. Title 13 United States Code, Section 9, prohibits the Census Bureau from publishing results in which an individual's data can be identified.

The Census Bureau's internal Disclosure Review Board sets the confidentiality rules for all data releases. A checklist approach is used to ensure that all potential risks to the confidentiality of the data are considered and addressed.
  1. Title 13, United States Code: Title 13 of the United States Code authorizes the Census Bureau to conduct censuses and surveys. Section 9 of the same Title requires that any information collected from the public under the authority of Title 13 be maintained as confidential. Section 214 of Title 13 and Sections 3559 and 3571 of Title 18 of the United States Code provide for the imposition of penalties of up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines for wrongful disclosure of confidential census information.
  2. Disclosure Avoidance: Disclosure avoidance is the process for protecting the confidentiality of data. A disclosure of data occurs when someone can use published statistical information to identify an individual that has provided information under a pledge of confidentiality. For data tabulations, the Census Bureau uses disclosure avoidance procedures to modify or remove the characteristics that put confidential information at risk for disclosure. Although it may appear that a table shows information about a specific individual, the Census Bureau has taken steps to disguise or suppress the original data while making sure the results are still useful. The techniques used by the Census Bureau to protect confidentiality in tabulations vary, depending on the type of data. All disclosure avoidance procedures are done prior to the whole person imputation into not-in-sample GQ facilities.
  3. Data Swapping: Data swapping is a method of disclosure avoidance designed to protect confidentiality in tables of frequency data (the number or percent of the population with certain characteristics). Data swapping is done by editing the source data or exchanging records for a sample of cases when creating a table. A sample of households is selected and matched on a set of selected key variables with households in neighboring geographic areas that have similar characteristics (such as the same number of adults and same number of children). Because the swap often occurs within a neighboring area, there is no effect on the marginal totals for the area or for totals that include data from multiple areas. Because of data swapping, users should not assume that tables with cells having a value of one or two reveal information about specific individuals. Data swapping procedures were first used in the 1990 Census, and were used again in Census 2000 and the 2010 Census.
  4. Synthetic Data: The goals of using synthetic data are the same as the goals of data swapping, namely to protect the confidentiality in tables of frequency data. Persons are identified as being at risk for disclosure based on certain characteristics. The synthetic data technique then models the values for another collection of characteristics to protect the confidentiality of that individual.

Errors in the Data
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  1. Sampling Error - The data in the ACS products are estimates of the actual figures that would have been obtained by interviewing the entire population using the same methodology. The estimates from the chosen sample also differ from other samples of housing units and persons within those housing units. Sampling error in data arises due to the use of probability sampling, which is necessary to ensure the integrity and representativeness of sample survey results. The implementation of statistical sampling procedures provides the basis for the statistical analysis of sample data. Measures used to estimate the sampling error are provided in the next section.
  2. Nonsampling Error - In addition to sampling error, data users should realize that other types of errors may be introduced during any of the various complex operations used to collect and process survey data. For example, operations such as data entry from questionnaires and editing may introduce error into the estimates. Another source is through the use of controls in the weighting. The controls are designed to mitigate the effects of systematic undercoverage of certain groups who are difficult to enumerate as well as to reduce the variance. The controls are based on the population estimates extrapolated from the previous census. Errors can be brought into the data if the extrapolation methods do not properly reflect the population. However, the potential risk from using the controls in the weighting process is offset by far greater benefits to the ACS estimates. These benefits include reducing the effects of a larger coverage problem found in most surveys, including the ACS, and the reduction of standard errors of ACS estimates. These and other sources of error contribute to the nonsampling error component of the total error of survey estimates. Nonsampling errors may affect the data in two ways. Errors that are introduced randomly increase the variability of the data. Systematic errors which are consistent in one direction introduce bias into the results of a sample survey. The Census Bureau protects against the effect of systematic errors on survey estimates by conducting extensive research and evaluation programs on sampling techniques, questionnaire design, and data collection and processing procedures. In addition, an important goal of the ACS is to minimize the amount of nonsampling error introduced through nonresponse for sample housing units. One way of accomplishing this is by following up on mail nonrespondents during the CATI and CAPI phases. For more information, please see the section entitled "Control of Nonsampling Error".

Measures of Sampling Error
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Sampling error is the difference between an estimate based on a sample and the corresponding value that would be obtained if the estimate were based on the entire population (as from a census). Note that sample-based estimates will vary depending on the particular sample selected from the population. Measures of the magnitude of sampling error reflect the variation in the estimates over all possible samples that could have been selected from the population using the same sampling methodology.

Estimates of the magnitude of sampling errors - in the form of margins of error - are provided with all published ACS data. The Census Bureau recommends that data users incorporate this information into their analyses, as sampling error in survey estimates could impact the conclusions drawn from the results.

Confidence Intervals and Margins of Error

Confidence Intervals - A sample estimate and its estimated standard error may be used to construct confidence intervals about the estimate. These intervals are ranges that will contain the average value of the estimated characteristic that results over all possible samples, with a known probability.

For example, if all possible samples that could result under the ACS sample design were independently selected and surveyed under the same conditions, and if the estimate and its estimated standard error were calculated for each of these samples, then:
  • Approximately 68 percent of the intervals from one estimated standard error below the estimate to one estimated standard error above the estimate would contain the average result from all possible samples;
  • Approximately 90 percent of the intervals from 1.645 times the estimated standard error below the estimate to 1.645 times the estimated standard error above the estimate would contain the average result from all possible samples.
  • Approximately 95 percent of the intervals from two estimated standard errors below the estimate to two estimated standard errors above the estimate would contain the average result from all possible samples.

The intervals are referred to as 68 percent, 90 percent, and 95 percent confidence intervals, respectively.

Margin of Error - Instead of providing the upper and lower confidence bounds in published ACS tables, the margin of error is provided instead. The margin of error is the difference between an estimate and its upper or lower confidence bound. Both the confidence bounds and the standard error can easily be computed from the margin of error. All ACS published margins of error are based on a 90 percent confidence level.

Standard Error = Margin of Error / 1.645
Lower Confidence Bound = Estimate - Margin of Error

Upper Confidence Bound = Estimate + Margin of Error

Note that for 2005 and earlier estimates, ACS margins of error and confidence bounds were calculated using a 90 percent confidence level multiplier of 1.65. Beginning with the 2006 data release, we are now employing a more accurate multiplier of 1.645. Margins of error and confidence bounds from previously published products will not be updated with the new multiplier. When calculating standard errors from margins of error or confidence bounds using published data for 2005 and earlier, use the 1.65 multiplier.

When constructing confidence bounds from the margin of error, the user should be aware of any "natural" limits on the bounds. For example, if a characteristic estimate for the population is near zero, the calculated value of the lower confidence bound may be negative. However, a negative number of people does not make sense, so the lower confidence bound should be reported as zero instead. However, for other estimates such as income, negative values do make sense. The context and meaning of the estimate must be kept in mind when creating these bounds. Another of these natural limits would be 100 percent for the upper bound of a percent estimate.

If the margin of error is displayed as '' (five asterisks), the estimate has been controlled to be equal to a fixed value and so it has no sampling error. When using any of the formulas in the following section, use a standard error of zero for these controlled estimates.

Limitations -The user should be careful when computing and interpreting confidence intervals.
  1. The estimated standard errors (and thus margins of error) included in these data products do not include portions of the variability due to nonsampling error that may be present in the data. In particular, the standard errors do not reflect the effect of correlated errors introduced by interviewers, coders, or other field or processing personnel. Nor do they reflect the error from imputed values due to missing responses. Thus, the standard errors calculated represent a lower bound of the total error. As a result, confidence intervals formed using these estimated standard errors may not meet the stated levels of confidence (i.e., 68, 90, or 95 percent). Thus, some care must be exercised in the interpretation of the data in this data product based on the estimated standard errors.
  2. Zero or small estimates; very large estimates - The value of almost all ACS characteristics is greater than or equal to zero by definition. For zero or small estimates, use of the method given previously for calculating confidence intervals relies on large sample theory, and may result in negative values which for most characteristics are not admissible. In this case the lower limit of the confidence interval is set to zero by default. A similar caution holds for estimates of totals close to a control total or estimated proportion near one, where the upper limit of the confidence interval is set to its largest admissible value. In these situations the level of confidence of the adjusted range of values is less than the prescribed confidence level.


Calculation of Standard Errors
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Direct estimates of the margin of error were calculated for all estimates reported in this product. The margin of error is calculated from the variance. The variance, in most cases, is calculated using a replicate-based methodology known as successive difference replication that takes into account the sample design and estimation procedures.

The formula provided below calculates the variance using the ACS estimate (X0) and the 80 replicate estimates (Xr).



X0 is the estimate calculated using the production weight and Xr is the estimate calculated using the rth replicate weight. The standard error is the square root of the variance. The 90th percent margin of error is 1.645 times the standard error.

For more information on the formation of the replicate weights, see chapter 12 of the Design and Methodology documentation at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/survey_methodology/Chapter_12_RevisedDec2010.pdf.
Beginning with the ACS 2011 1-year estimates, a new imputation-based methodology was incorporated into processing (see the description in the Group Quarters Person Weighting Section). An adjustment was made to the production replicate weight variance methodology to account for the non-negligible amount of additional variation being introduced by the new technique.5

Footnote: 5For more information regarding this issue, see Asiala, M. and Castro, E. 2012. Developing Replicate Weight-Based Methods to Account for Imputation Variance in a Mass Imputation Application. In JSM proceedings, Section on Survey Research Methods, Alexandria, VA: American Statistical Association.

Excluding the base weights, replicate weights were allowed to be negative in order to avoid underestimating the standard error.

Exceptions include:

  1. The estimate of the number or proportion of people, households, families, or housing units in a geographic area with a specific characteristic is zero. A special procedure is used to estimate the standard error.

  2. There are either no sample observations available to compute an estimate or standard error of a median, an aggregate, a proportion, or some other ratio, or there are too few sample observations to compute a stable estimate of the standard error. The estimate is represented in the tables by "-" and the margin of error by "**" (two asterisks).
  3. The estimate of a median falls in the lower open-ended interval or upper open-ended interval of a distribution. If the median occurs in the lowest interval, then a "-" follows the estimate, and if the median occurs in the upper interval, then a "+" follows the estimate. In both cases the margin of error is represented in the tables by "***" (three asterisks).

Sums and Differences of Direct Standard Errors

The standard errors estimated from these tables are for individual estimates. Additional calculations are required to estimate the standard errors for sums of or the differences between two or more sample estimates.
The standard error of the sum of two sample estimates is the square root of the sum of the two individual standard errors squared plus a covariance term. That is, for standard errors and of estimates and





The covariance measures the interactions between two estimates. Currently the covariance terms are not available. Data users should use the approximation:



However, this method will underestimate or overestimate the standard error if the two estimates interact in either a positive or negative way.

The approximation formula (2) can be expanded to more than two estimates by adding in the individual standard errors squared inside the radical. As the number of estimates involved in the sum or difference increases, the results of formula (2) become increasingly different from the standard error derived directly from the ACS microdata. Care should be taken to work with the fewest number of estimates as possible. If there are estimates involved in the sum that are controlled in the weighting then the approximate standard error can be increasingly different. Several examples are provided starting on page 32 to demonstrate issues associated with approximating the standard errors when summing large numbers of estimates together.

Ratios
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The statistic of interest may be the ratio of two estimates. First is the case where the numerator is not a subset of the denominator. The standard error of this ratio between two sample estimates is approximated as:




Proportions/Percents
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For a proportion (or percent), a ratio where the numerator is a subset of the denominator, a slightly different estimator is used. If,then the standard error of this proportion is approximated as:



If (P is the proportion and Q is its corresponding percent), then.Note the difference between the formulas to approximate the standard error for proportions (4) and ratios (3) - the plus sign in the previous formula has been replaced with a minus sign. If the value under the radical is negative, use the ratio standard error formula above, instead.

Percent Change
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This calculates the percent change from one time period to another, for example, computing the percent change of a 2011 estimate to a 2010 estimate. Normally, the current estimate is compared to the older estimate.
Let the current estimate and the earlier estimate then the formula for percent change is:


This reduces to a ratio. The ratio formula above may be used to calculate the standard error. As a caveat, this formula does not take into account the correlation when calculating overlapping time periods.
Products
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For a product of two estimates - for example if you want to estimate a proportion's numerator by multiplying the proportion by its denominator - the standard error can be approximated as:




Testing For Significant Differences
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Significant differences - Users may conduct a statistical test to see if the difference between an ACS estimate and any other chosen estimates is statistically significant at a given confidence level. "Statistically significant" means that the difference is not likely due to random chance alone. With the two estimates (Est1 and Est212


If Z > 1.645 or Z < -1.645, then the difference can be said to be statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level. 6
Users are also cautioned to not rely on looking at whether confidence intervals for two estimates overlap or not to determine statistical significance, because there are circumstances where that method will not give the correct test result. If two confidence intervals do not overlap, then the estimates will be significantly different (i.e. the significance test will always agree). However, if two confidence intervals do overlap, then the estimates may or may not be significantly different. The Z calculation above is recommended in all cases.

Here is a simple example of why it is not recommended to use the overlapping confidence bounds rule of thumb as a substitute for a statistical test.
Let: X1 = 6.0 with SE1 = 0.5 and X2 = 5.0 with SE2 = 0.2.
The Lower Bound for X12 = 5.0 + 0.2 x 1.645 = 5.3. The confidence bounds overlap, so, the rule of thumb would indicate that the estimates are not significantly different at the 90% level.
However, if we apply the statistical significance test we obtain:


Z = 1.857 > 1.645 which means that the difference is significant (at the 90% level).
All statistical testing in ACS data products is based on the 90 percent confidence level. Users should understand that all testing was done using unrounded estimates and standard errors, and it may not be possible to replicate test results using the rounded estimates and margins of error as published.

Footnote: 6The ACS Accuracy of the Data document in 2005 used a Z statistic of +/-1.65. Data users should use +/-1.65 for estimates published in 2005 or earlier.

Examples of Standard Error Calculations
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We will present some examples based on the real data to demonstrate the use of the formulas.

Example 1 - Calculating the Standard Error from the Margin of Error

The estimated number of males, never married is 43,674,898 from summary table B12001 for the United States for 2011. The margin of error is 96,892.

Standard Error = Margin of Error / 1.645

Calculating the standard error using the margin of error, we have:



Example 2 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Sum or a Difference

We are interested in the number of people who have never been married. From Example 1, we know the number of males, never married is 43,674,898. From summary table B12001 we have the number of females, never married is 37,708,516 with a margin of error of 81,869. So, the estimated number of people who have never been married is 43,674,898 + 37,708,516 = 81,383,414. To calculate the approximate standard error of this sum, we need the standard errors of the two estimates in the sum. We have the standard error for the number of males never married from example 1 as 58,901. The standard error for the number of females never married is calculated using the margin of error:

SE(37,708,516 ) = 81,869/ 1.645 = 49,768.

So using formula (2) for the approximate standard error of a sum or difference we have:



Caution: This method will underestimate or overestimate the standard error if the two estimates interact in either a positive or negative way.

To calculate the lower and upper bounds of the 90 percent confidence interval around 81,383,414 using the standard error, simply multiply 77,111 by 1.645, then add and subtract the product from 81,383,414. Thus the 90 percent confidence interval for this estimate is [81,383,414 - 1.645(77,111)] to [81,383,414 + 1.645(77,111)] or 81,256,566 to 81,510,262.

Example 3 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Proportion/Percent

We are interested in the percentage of females who have never been married to the number of people who have never been married. The number of females, never married is 37,708,516 and the number of people who have never been married is 81,383,414. To calculate the approximate standard error of this percent, we need the standard errors of the two estimates in the percent. We have the approximate standard error for the number of females never married from example 2 as 49,768 and the approximate standard error for the number of people never married calculated from example 2 as 77,111.

The estimate is (37,708,516 / 81,383,414) x 100% = 46.33%

So, using formula (4) for the approximate standard error of a proportion or percent, we have:



To calculate the lower and upper bounds of the 90 percent confidence interval around 46.33 using the standard error, simply multiply 0.04 by 1.645, then add and subtract the product from 46.33. Thus the 90 percent confidence interval for this estimate is [46.33 - 1.645(0.04)] to [46.33 + 1.645(0.04)], or 46.26% to 46.40%.

Example 4 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Ratio

Now, let us calculate the estimate of the ratio of the number of unmarried males to the number of unmarried females and its approximate standard error. From the above examples, the estimate for the number of unmarried men is 43,674,898 with a standard error of 58,901, and the estimate for the number of unmarried women is 37,708,516 with a standard error of 49,768.

The estimate of the ratio is 43,674,898 / 37,708,516 = 1.158.

Using formula (3) for the approximate standard error of this ratio we have:



The 90 percent margin of error for this estimate would be 0.00219 multiplied by 1.645, or about 0.004. The 90 percent lower and upper 90 percent confidence bounds would then be [1.158 - 1.645(0.00219)] to [1.158 + 1.645(0.00219)], or 1.154 and 1.162.

Example 5 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Product

We are interested in the number of 1-unit detached owner-occupied housing units. The number of owner-occupied housing units is 74,264,435 with a margin of error of 230,440 from subject table S2504 for 2011, and the percent of 1-unit detached owner-occupied housing units is 82.2% (0.822) with a margin of error of 0.1 (0.001). So the number of 1- unit detached owner-occupied housing units is 74,264,435 x 0.822 = 61,045,366. Calculating the standard error for the estimates using the margin of error we have:

SE(74,264,435) = 230,440/1.645 = 140,085
and

SE(0.822) = 0.001/1.645 = 0.0006079

The approximate standard error for number of 1-unit detached owner-occupied housing units is calculated using formula (5) for products as:



To calculate the lower and upper bounds of the 90 percent confidence interval around 61,045,366 using the standard error, simply multiply 123,683 by 1.645, then add and subtract the product from 61,045,366. Thus the 90 percent confidence interval for this estimate is [61,045,366 - 1.645(123,683)] to [61,045,366 + 1.645(123,683)] or 60,841,907 to 61,248,825.

Control of Nonsampling Error
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As mentioned earlier, sample data are subject to nonsampling error. This component of error could introduce serious bias into the data, and the total error could increase dramatically over that which would result purely from sampling. While it is impossible to completely eliminate nonsampling error from a survey operation, the Census Bureau attempts to control the sources of such error during the collection and processing operations. Described below are the primary sources of nonsampling error and the programs instituted for control of this error. The success of these programs, however, is contingent upon how well the instructions were carried out during the survey.

  • Coverage Error
It is possible for some sample housing units or persons to be missed entirely by the survey (undercoverage), but it is also possible for some sample housing units and persons to be counted more than once (overcoverage). Both the undercoverage and overcoverage of persons and housing units can introduce biases into the data, increase respondent burden and survey costs.

A major way to avoid coverage error in a survey is to ensure that its sampling frame, for ACS an address list in each state, is as complete and accurate as possible. The source of addresses for the ACS is the MAF. An attempt is made to assign all appropriate geographic codes to each MAF address via an automated procedure using the Census Bureau TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) files. A manual coding operation based in the appropriate regional offices is attempted for addresses which could not be automatically coded. The MAF was used as the source of addresses for selecting sample housing units and mailing questionnaires. TIGER produced the location maps for CAPI assignments. Sometimes the MAF has an address that is the duplicate of another address already on the MAF. This could occur when there is a slight difference in the address such as 123 Main Street versus 123 Maine Street.

In the CATI and CAPI nonresponse follow-up phases, efforts were made to minimize the chances that housing units that were not part of the sample were interviewed in place of units in sample by mistake. If a CATI interviewer called a mail nonresponse case and was not able to reach the exact address, no interview was conducted and the case was eligible for CAPI. During CAPI follow-up, the interviewer had to locate the exact address for each sample housing unit. If the interviewer could not locate the exact sample unit in a multi-unit structure, or found a different number of units than expected, the interviewers were instructed to list the units in the building and follow a specific procedure to select a replacement sample unit. Person overcoverage can occur when an individual is included as a member of a housing unit but does not meet ACS residency rules.
Coverage rates give a measure of undercoverage or overcoverage of persons or housing units in a given geographic area. Rates below 100 percent indicate undercoverage, while rates above 100 percent indicate overcoverage. Coverage rates are released concurrent with the release of estimates on American FactFinder in the B98 series of detailed tables. Further information about ACS coverage rates may be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/methodology_main/.

  • Nonresponse Error
Survey nonresponse is a well-known source of nonsampling error. There are two types of nonresponse error - unit nonresponse and item nonresponse. Nonresponse errors affect survey estimates to varying levels depending on amount of nonresponse and the extent to which nonrespondents differ from respondents on the characteristics measured by the survey. The exact amount of nonresponse error or bias on an estimate is almost never known. Therefore, survey researchers generally rely on proxy measures, such as the nonresponse rate, to indicate the potential for nonresponse error.

- Unit Nonresponse - Unit nonresponse is the failure to obtain data from housing units in the sample. Unit nonresponse may occur because households are unwilling or unable to participate, or because an interviewer is unable to make contact with a housing unit. Unit nonresponse is problematic when there are systematic or variable differences between interviewed and noninterviewed housing units on the characteristics measured by the survey. Nonresponse bias is introduced into an estimate when differences are systematic, while nonresponse error for an estimate evolves from variable differences between interviewed and noninterviewed households.

The ACS makes every effort to minimize unit nonresponse, and thus, the potential for nonresponse error. First, the ACS used a combination of mail, CATI, and CAPI data collection modes to maximize response. The mail phase included a series of three to four mailings to encourage housing units to return the questionnaire. Subsequently, mail nonrespondents (for which phone numbers are available) were contacted by CATI for an interview. Finally, a subsample of the mail and telephone nonrespondents was contacted by personal visit to attempt an interview. Combined, these three efforts resulted in a very high overall response rate for the ACS.

ACS response rates measure the percent of units with a completed interview. The higher the response rate, and consequently the lower the nonresponse rate, the less chance estimates may be affected by nonresponse bias. Response and nonresponse rates, as well as rates for specific types of nonresponse, are released concurrent with the release of estimates on American FactFinder in the B98 series of detailed tables. Further information about response and nonresponse rates may be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/methodology_main/.

- Item Nonresponse - Nonresponse to particular questions on the survey questionnaire and instrument allows for the introduction of error or bias into the data, since the characteristics of the nonrespondents have not been observed and may differ from those reported by respondents. As a result, any imputation procedure using respondent data may not completely reflect this difference either at the elemental level (individual person or housing unit) or on average.

Some protection against the introduction of large errors or biases is afforded by minimizing nonresponse. In the ACS, item nonresponse for the CATI and CAPI operations was minimized by the requirement that the automated instrument receive a response to each question before the next one could be asked. Questionnaires returned by mail were edited for completeness and acceptability. They were reviewed by computer for content omissions and population coverage. If necessary, a telephone follow-up was made to obtain missing information. Potential coverage errors were included in this follow-up.

Allocation tables provide the weighted estimate of persons or housing units for which a value was imputed, as well as the total estimate of persons or housing units that were eligible to answer the question. The smaller the number of imputed responses, the lower the chance that the item nonresponse is contributing a bias to the estimates. Allocation tables are released concurrent with the release of estimates on American Factfinder in the B99 series of detailed tables with the overall allocation rates across all person and housing unit characteristics in the B98 series of detailed tables. Additional information on item nonresponse and allocations can be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/methodology_main/.

  • Measurement and Processing Error
The person completing the questionnaire or responding to the questions posed by an interviewer could serve as a source of error, although the questions were cognitively tested for phrasing and detailed instructions for completing the questionnaire were provided to each household.

- Interviewer monitoring - The interviewer may misinterpret or otherwise incorrectly enter information given by a respondent; may fail to collect some of the information for a person or household; or may collect data for households that were not designated as part of the sample. To control these problems, the work of interviewers was monitored carefully. Field staff were prepared for their tasks by using specially developed training packages that included hands-on experience in using survey materials. A sample of the households interviewed by CAPI interviewers was reinterviewed to control for the possibility that interviewers may have fabricated data.

- Processing Error - The many phases involved in processing the survey data represent potential sources for the introduction of nonsampling error. The processing of the survey questionnaires includes the keying of data from completed questionnaires, automated clerical review, follow-up by telephone, manual coding of write-in responses, and automated data processing. The various field, coding and computer operations undergo a number of quality control checks to insure their accurate application.

- Content Editing - After data collection was completed, any remaining incomplete or inconsistent information was imputed during the final content edit of the collected data. Imputations, or computer assignments of acceptable codes in place of unacceptable entries or blanks, were needed most often when an entry for a given item was missing or when the information reported for a person or housing unit on that item was inconsistent with other information for that same person or housing unit. As in other surveys and previous censuses, the general procedure for changing unacceptable entries was to allocate an entry for a person or housing unit that was consistent with entries for persons or housing units with similar characteristics. Imputing acceptable values in place of blanks or unacceptable entries enhances the usefulness of the data.


Issues With Approximating the Standard Error of Linear Combinations of Multiple Estimates
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Several examples are provided here to demonstrate how different the approximated standard errors of sums can be compared to those derived and published with ACS microdata.

A. Suppose we wish to estimate the total number of males with income below the poverty level in the past 12 months using both state and PUMA level estimates for the state of Wyoming. Part of the collapsed table C17001 is displayed below with estimates and their margins of error in parentheses.

Table A: 2009 Estimates of Males with Income Below Poverty from table C17001: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Age
CharacteristicWyomingPUMA 00100PUMA 00200PUMA 00300PUMA 00400
Male23,0015,2646,5084,3646,865
-3,309-1,624-1,395-1,026-1,909
Under 188,4792,0412,2221,9992,217
Years Old-1,874-920-778-750-1,192
18 to 6412,9763,0043,7252,0504,197
Years Old-2,076-1,049-935-635-1,134
65 Years and1,546219561315451
Older-500-237-286-173-302

2009 American FactFinder

The first way is to sum the three age groups for Wyoming:

Estimate(Male) = 8,479 + 12,976 + 1,546 = 23,001.

The first approximation for the standard error in this case gives us:



A second way is to sum the four PUMA estimates for Male to obtain:

Estimate(Male) = 5,264 + 6,508 + 4,364 + 6,865 = 23,001 as before.

The second approximation for the standard error yields:



Finally, we can sum up all three age groups for all four PUMAs to obtain an estimate based on a total of twelve estimates:

Estimate (Male) =2,041 + 2,222 + ... + 451 = 23,001

And the third approximated standard error is



However, we do know that the standard error using the published MOE is 3,309 /1.645 = 2,011.6. In this instance, all of the approximations under-estimate the published standard error and should be used with caution.

B. Suppose we wish to estimate the total number of males at the national level using age and citizenship status. The relevant data from table B05003 is displayed in table B below.
Table B: 2009 Estimates of males from B05003: Sex by Age by Citizenship Status

CharacteristicEstimateMOE
Male151,375,32127,279
Under 18 Years38,146,51424,365
Native36,747,40731,397
Foreign Born1,399,10720,177
Naturalized U.S. Citizen268,44510,289
Not a U.S. Citizen1,130,66220,228
18 Years and Older113,228,80723,525
Native95,384,43370,210
Foreign Born17,844,37459,750
Naturalized U.S. Citizen7,507,30839,658
Not a U.S. Citizen10,337,06665,533

2009 American FactFinder

The estimate and its MOE are actually published. However, if they were not available in the tables, one way of obtaining them would be to add together the number of males under 18 and over 18 to get:

Estimate (Male) =38,146,514 + 113,228,807 = 151,375,321

And the first approximated standard error is



Another way would be to add up the estimates for the three subcategories (Native, and the two subcategories for Foreign Born: Naturalized U.S. Citizen, and Not a U.S. Citizen), for males under and over 18 years of age. From these six estimates we obtain:

Estimate(Male) = 36,747,407 + 268,445 + 1,130,662 + 95,384,433 + 7,507,308 + 10,337,066 = 151,375,321.

With a second approximated standard error of:



We do know that the standard error using the published margin of error is 27,279 / 1.645 = 16,583.0. With a quick glance, we can see that the ratio of the standard error of the first method to the published-based standard error yields 1.24; an over-estimate of roughly 24%, whereas the second method yields a ratio of 4.07 or an over-estimate of 307%. This is an example of what could happen to the approximate SE when the sum involves a controlled estimate. In this case, it is sex by age.

C. Suppose we are interested in the total number of people aged 65 or older and its standard error. Table C shows some of the estimates for the national level from table B01001 (the estimates in gray were derived for the purpose of this example only).

Table C: Some Estimates from AFF Table B01001: Sex by Age for 2009

Age CategoryEstimate, MaleMOE, MaleEstimate, FemaleMOE, FemaleTotalEstimated MOE, Total
65 and 66 years old2,492,87120,1942,803,51623,3275,296,38730,854
67 to 69 years old3,029,70918,2803,483,44724,2876,513,22530,398
70 to 74 years old4,088,42821,5884,927,66626,8679,016,09434,466
75 to 79 years old3,168,17519,0974,204,40123,0247,372,57629,913
80 to 84 years old2,258,02117,7163,538,86925,4235,796,89030,987
85 years and older1,743,97117,9913,767,57419,2945,511,54526,381
Total16,781,175NA22,725,473NA39,506,64874,932


2009 American FactFinder

To begin we find the total number of people aged 65 and over by simply adding the totals for males and females to get 16,781,175 + 22,725,542 = 39,506,717. One way we could use is summing males and female for each age category and then using their MOEs to approximate the standard error for the total number of people over 65.



Now, we calculate for the number of people aged 65 or older to be 39,506,648 using the six derived estimates and approximate the standard error:



For this example the estimate and its MOE are published in table B09017. The total number of people aged 65 or older is 39,506,648 with a margin of error of 20,689. Therefore the published- based standard error is:

SE(39,506,648) = 20,689/1.645 = 12,577.

The approximated standard error, using six derived age group estimates, yields an approximated standard error roughly 3.6 times larger than the published-based standard error.

As a note, there are two additional ways to approximate the standard error of people aged 65 and over in addition to the way used above. The first is to find the published MOEs for the males age 65 and older and of females aged 65 and older separately and then combine to find the approximate standard error for the total. The second is to use all twelve of the published estimates together, that is, all estimates from the male age categories and female age categories, to create the SE for people aged 65 and older. However, in this particular example, the results from all three ways are the same. So no matter which way you use, you will obtain the same approximation for the SE. This is different from the results seen in example A.

D. For an alternative to approximating the standard error for people 65 years and older seen in part C, we could find the estimate and its SE by summing all of the estimate for the ages less than 65 years old and subtracting them from the estimate for the total population. Due to the large number of estimates, Table D does not show all of the age groups. In addition, the estimates in part of the table shaded gray were derived for the purposes of this example only and cannot be found in base table B01001.

Table D: Some Estimates from AFF Table B01001: Sex by Age for 2009:

Age CategoryEstimate, MaleMOE, MaleEstimate, FemaleMOE, FemaleTotalEstimated MOE, Total
Total Population151,375,32127,279155,631,23527,280307,006,55638,579
Under 5 years10,853,26315,66110,355,94414,70721,209,20721,484
5 to 9 years old10,273,94843,5559,850,06542,19420,124,01360,641
10 to 14 years old10,532,16640,0519,985,32739,92120,517,49356,549
62 to 64 years old4,282,17825,6364,669,37628,7698,951,55438,534
Total for Age 0 to 64 years old134,594,146117,166132,905,762117,637267,499,908166,031
Total for Age 65 years and older16,781,175
120,30022,725,473120,75839,506,648170,454


2009 American FactFinder

An estimate for the number of people age 65 and older is equal to the total population minus the population between the ages of zero and 64 years old:

Number of people aged 65 and older: 307,006,556 - 267,499,908 = 39,506,648.

The way to approximate the SE is the same as in part C. First we will sum male and female estimates across each age category and then approximate the MOEs. We will use that information to approximate the standard error for our estimate of interest:



...etc. ...



Again, as in Example C, the estimate and its MOE are we published in B09017. The total number of people aged 65 or older is 39,506,648 with a margin of error of 20,689. Therefore the standard error is:

SE(39,506,648) = 20,689 / 1.645 = 12,577.

The approximated standard error using the thirteen derived age group estimates yields a standard error roughly 8.2 times larger than the actual SE.

Data users can mitigate the problems shown in examples A through D to some extent by utilizing a collapsed version of a detailed table (if it is available) which will reduce the number of estimates used in the approximation. These issues may also be avoided by creating estimates and SEs using the Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) or by requesting a custom tabulation, a fee- based service offered under certain conditions by the Census Bureau. More information regarding custom tabulations may be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/custom tabulations/.

Puerto Rico Community Survey Accuracy of the Data (2011)
Data Collection
Housing Units
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The PRCS employs three modes of data collection:

  • Mailout/Mailback
  • Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)
  • Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
The general timing of data collection is:

Month 1: Addresses in sample that are determined to be mailable are sent a questionnaire via the U.S. Postal Service.

Month 2: All mail non-responding addresses with an available phone number are sent to CATI.

Month 3: A sample of mail non-responses without a phone number, CATI non-responses, and unmailable addresses are selected and sent to CAPI.

Note that mail responses are accepted during all three months of data collection.

Group Quarters
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Field representatives have several options available to them for data collection. These include completing the questionnaire while speaking to the resident in person or over the telephone, conducting a personal interview with a proxy, such as a relative or guardian, or leaving paper questionnaires for residents to complete for themselves and then pick them up later. This last option is used for data collection in Federal prisons.

Group Quarters data collection spans six weeks, except for Federal prisons, where the data collection time period is four months. All Federal prisons are assigned to September with a four month data collection window.

Sampling Frame
Housing Units
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The universe for the PRCS consists of all valid, residential housing unit addresses in all municipios in Puerto Rico. The Master Address File (MAF) is a database maintained by the Census Bureau containing a listing of residential and commercial addresses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The MAF is updated twice each year with the Delivery Sequence Files provided by the U.S. Postal Service, however this update covers only the U.S. The DSF does not provide changes and updates to the MAF for Puerto Rico. The MAF is also updated with the results from various Census Bureau field operations, including the PRCS.

Group Quarters
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The universe of group quarters (GQs) valid for PRCS for 2011 was drastically different than the 2010 PRCS GQ universe. Results from nationwide field operations such as address canvassing and group quarters validation were available for the first time for PRCS use. Results from these sources were combined with the 2010 Census universe of GQs to create the final 2011 PRCS sampling frame. In addition, as a result of operational difficulties associated with data collection, the PRCS excluded certain types of GQs from the sampling universe and data collection operations. The weighting and estimation account for this segment of the population as the population in these types of GQs is included in the population controls. The following GQ types were removed from the 2011 GQ universe:
  • Soup kitchens
  • Domestic violence shelters
  • Regularly scheduled mobile food vans
  • Targeted non-sheltered outdoor locations
  • Maritime/merchant vessels
  • Living quarters for victims of natural disasters
The PRCS GQ universe file contains both valid and invalid GQs, but only valid GQs are eligible for sampling. This is done in order to maintain an inventory of all GQ records. In this way, any updates to the GQ universe can be applied to the combined valid and invalid file.


Sample Design
Housing Units
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The PRCS employs a two-phase, two-stage sample design. The PRCS first-phase sample consists of two separate samples, Main and Supplemental, each chosen at different points in time. Together, these constitute the first-phase sample. Both the Main and the Supplemental samples are chosen in two stages referred to as first- and second-stage sampling. Subsequent to second-stage sampling, sample addresses are randomly assigned to one of the twelve months of the sample year. The second-phase of sampling occurs when the CAPI sample is selected (see Section 2 below).

The Main sample is selected during the summer preceding the sample year. Approximately 99 percent of the sample is selected at this time. Each address in sample is randomly assigned to one of the 12 months of the sample year. Supplemental sampling occurs in January/February of the sample year and accounts for approximately 1 percent of the overall first-phase sample. The Supplemental sample is allocated to the last eight months of the sample year. A sub-sample of non-responding addresses and of any addresses deemed unmailable is selected for the CAPI data collection mode.

Several of the steps used to select the first-phase sample are common to both Main and Supplemental sampling. The descriptions of the steps included in the first-phase sample selection below indicate which are common to both and which are unique to either Main or Supplemental sampling.


1. First-phase Sample Selection
  • First-stage sampling (performed during both Main and Supplemental sampling) - First stage sampling defines the universe for the second stage of sampling through two steps. First, all addresses that were in a first-phase sample within the past four years are excluded from eligibility. This ensures that no address is in sample more than once in any five-year period. The second step is to select a 20 percent systematic sample of new units, i.e. those units that have never appeared on a previous MAF extract. Each new address is systematically assigned to either the current year or to one of four back-samples. This procedure maintains five equal partitions of the universe.
  • Assignment of blocks to a second-stage sampling stratum (performed during Main sampling only) - Second-stage sampling uses five sampling strata in PR. The stratum level rates used in second-stage sampling account for the first-stage selection probabilities. These rates are applied at a block level to addresses in PR by calculating a measure of size for Municipios.
The measure of size is an estimate of the number of occupied HUs in the Municipio. This is calculated by multiplying the number of PRCS addresses by the occupancy rate from the 2010 Census at the block level. A measure of size for each Census Tract is also calculated in the same manner.
Each block is then assigned the smallest measure of size from the set of all entities of which it is a part. The second-stage sampling strata and the overall first-phase sampling rates are shown in Table 1 below.
  • Calculation of the second-stage sampling rates (performed during Main sampling only) - The overall first-phase sampling rates given in Table 1 are calculated using the distribution of PRCS valid addresses by second-stage sampling stratum in such a way as to yield an overall target sample size for the year of approximately 36,0001. These rates also account for expected growth of the HU inventory between Main and Supplementa of roughly 1 percent. The first-phase rates are adjusted for the first-stage sample to yield the second-stage selection probabilities.
  • Second-stage sample selection (performed in Main and Supplemental) - After each block is assigned to a second-stage sampling stratum, a systematic sample of addresses is selected from the second-stage universe (first-stage sample) within each municipio.
  • Sample Month Assignment (performed in Main and Supplemental) - After the second stage of sampling, all sample addresses are randomly assigned to a sample month. Addresses selected during Main sampling are allocated to each of the 12 months. Addresses selected during Supplemental sampling are assigned to the months of May-December.
Table 1. First-phase Sampling Rate Categories for Puerto Rico

Type of AreaSecond Stage Sampling StratumTarget Sampling Rate (36,000)2011 In Sample
0 < MOS1 = 200115.00%NA
200 < MOS = 400210.00%NA
400 < MOS = 80037.00%NA
800 < MOS = 1,20044.34%4.26%
0 < TRACTMOS2 = 40055.43%5.38%
400 < TRACTMOS = 1,00074.34%4.29%
1,000 < TRACTMOS = 2,00092.64%2.59%
2,000 < TRACTMOS = 4,000111.55%1.53%
4,000 < TRACTMOS = 6,000130.93%0.92%
6,000 < TRACTMOS150.54%NA


2. Second-phase Sample Selection - Subsampling the Unmailable and Non-Responding Addresses

All addresses determined to be unmailable are subsampled for the CAPI phase of data collection at a rate of 2-in-3. Unmailable addresses do not go to the CATI phase of data collection. Subsequent to CATI, all addresses for which no response has been obtained prior to CAPI are subsampled based on the expected rate of completed interviews at the tract level using the rates shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Second-Phase (CAPI) Subsampling Rates for Puerto Rico

Address CharacteristicsCAPI Subsampling Rate
Unmailable addresses66.70%
Mailable addresses50.00%
Footnotes:

1 For sample year 2011, the total annual Puerto Rico sample size was roughly 36,600. An additional 600 sample cases were added as a result of larger than expected growth in the number of valid addresses in Puerto Rico between main and supplemental sampling.
Group Quarters
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The GQ sampling frame is divided into three strata: one for small GQs (having 15 or fewer people according to 2010 Census or updated information), one for GQs that were closed on 2010 Census Day, and one for large GQs (having more than 15 people according to 2010 Census or updated information). GQs in the first two strata are sampled using the same procedure, and GQs in the large stratum are sampled using different a method. The small GQ stratum and the stratum for GQs closed on Census Day are combined into one sampling stratum and sorted geographically2.

1. First-phase Sample Selection for Small GQ Stratum

  • First-stage sampling - Small GQs are only eligible to be selected for the PRCS once every five years. To accomplish this, the first stage sampling procedure systematically assigned all small GQs to one of five partitions of the universe. Each partition was assigned to a particular year (2011-2015) and the one assigned to 2011 became the first stage sample. In future years, each new GQ will be systematically assigned to one of the five samples. These samples are rotated over five year periods and become the universe for selecting the second stage sample.
  • Second-stage sampling - A simple 1-in-8 systematic sample of the GQs in the first stage sample is selected. Regardless of their actual size, all GQs in the small stratum have the same probability of selection. Since the first stage sample is 20% of the universe, this yields the targeted sampling rate of 2.5%.
2. Sample Selection for the Large GQ Stratum

Unlike housing unit address sampling and the small GQ sample selection, the large GQ sampling procedure has no first-stage in which sampling units are randomly assigned to one of five years. All large GQs are eligible for sampling each year. The large GQ samples are selected using a two-phase design.
  • First-phase Sampling - In the large GQ stratum, GQ hits are selected using a systematic PPS (probability proportional to size) sample, with a target sampling rate of 2.5%. A hit refers to a grouping of 10 expected interviews. GQs are selected with probability proportional to its most current count of persons or capacity. For stratification, and for sampling the large GQs, a GQ measure of size (GQMOS) is computed, where GQMOS is the expected population of the GQ divided by 10. This reflects that the GQ data is collected in groups of 10 GQ persons. People are selected in hits of 10 in a systematic sample of 1-in-40 hits. All GQs in this stratum are eligible for sampling every year, regardless of their sample status in previous years. For large GQs, hits can be selected multiple times in the sample year. For most GQ types, the hits are randomly assigned throughout the year. Some GQs may have multiple hits with the same sample date if more than 12 hits are selected from the GQ. In these cases, the person sample within that month is unduplicated.
3. Sample Month Assignment

In order to assign a panel month to each hit, all of the GQ samples from Puerto Rico are combined and sorted by small/large stratum and second-phase order of selection. Consecutive samples are assigned to the twelve panel months in a predetermined order, starting with a randomly determined month, except for Federal prisons. Correctional facilities have their sample clustered. All Federal prisons hits are assigned to the September panel. In non-Federal correctional facilities, all hits for a given GQ are assigned to the same panel month. However, unlike Federal prisons, the hits in state and local correctional facilities are assigned to randomly selected panels spread throughout the year.

4. Second Phase Sample: Selection of Persons in Small and Large GQs

Small GQs in the second phase sampling are take all, i.e., every person in the selected GQ is eligible to receive a questionnaire. If the actual number of persons in the GQ exceeds 15, a field subsampling operation is performed to reduce the total number of sample persons interviewed at the GQ to 10. If the actual number of persons in the GQ is 15 or less, all people in the GQ will receive the questionnaire.

For each hit in the large GQs, the automated instrument uses the population count at the time of the visit and selects a subsample of 10 people from the roster. The people in this subsample receive the questionnaire.


Footnotes:
2 Note that all references to the small GQ stratum include both small GQs and GQs closed on Census day.
Weighting Methodology
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The estimates that appear in this product are obtained from a raking ratio estimation procedure that results in the assignment of two sets of weights: a weight to each sample person record and a weight to each sample housing unit record. Estimates of person characteristics are based on the person weight. Estimates of family, household, and housing unit characteristics are based on the housing unit weight. For any given tabulation area, a characteristic total is estimated by summing the weights assigned to the persons, households, families or housing units possessing the characteristic in the tabulation area. Each sample person or housing unit record is assigned exactly one weight to be used to produce estimates of all characteristics. For example, if the weight given to a sample person or housing unit has a value 40, all characteristics of that person or housing unit are tabulated with the weight of 40.

The weighting is conducted in two main operations: a group quarters person weighting operation which assigns weights to persons in group quarters, and a household person weighting operation which assigns weights both to housing units and to persons within housing units. The group quarters person weighting is conducted first and the household person weighting second. The household person weighting is dependent on the group quarters person weighting because estimates for total population, which include both group quarters and household population, are controlled to the Census Bureaus official 2011 total resident population estimates.

Group Quarters Person Weighting
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The group quarters (GQ) person weighting for the PRCS 2011 1-year estimates has changed in important ways from that of the PRCS 2010 1-year estimates. For the first time, the GQ population sample has been supplemented by a large-scale whole person imputation into not-in-sample GQ facilities. For the 2011 PRCS GQ data, roughly as many GQ persons were imputed as sampled. The goal of the imputation methodology was two-fold.

1. The primary objective was to establish representation of municipio by major GQ type group in the tabulations for each combination that exists on the PRCS GQ sample frame. The seven major GQ type groups are defined by the Population Estimates Program and are given in Table 4.

2. A secondary objective was to establish representation of tract by major GQ type group for each combination that exists on the PRCS GQ sample frame.

Table 3: Population Estimates Program Major GQ Type Groups

Major GQ Type GroupDefinitionInstitutional / Non-Institutional
1Correctional InstitutionsInstitutional
2Juvenile Detention FacilitiesInstitutional
3Nursing HomesInstitutional
4Other Long-Term Care FacilitiesInstitutional
5College DormitoriesNon-Institutional
6Military FacilitiesNon-Institutional
7Other Non-Institutional FacilitiesNon-Institutional


For all not-in-sample GQ facilities with an expected population of 16 or more persons (large facilities), we imputed a number of GQ persons equal to 2.5% of the expected population. For those GQ facilities with an expected population of fewer than 16 persons (small facilities), we selected a random sample of GQ facilities as needed to accomplish the two objectives given above. For those selected small GQ facilities, we imputed a number of GQ persons equal to 20% of the facilitys expected population.

Interviewed GQ person records were then sampled at random to be imputed into the selected not-in-sample GQ facilities. An expanding search algorithm searched for donors within the same specific type of GQ facility and the same municipio. If that failed, the search included all GQ facilities of the same major GQ type group. If that still failed, the search expanded to a specific type within a larger geography, then a major GQ type group within that geography, and so on until suitable donors were found.

The weighting procedure made no distinction between sampled and imputed GQ person records. The initial weights of person records in the large GQ facilities equaled the observed or expected population of the GQ facility divided by the number of person records. The initial weights of person records in small GQ facilities equaled the observed or expected population of the GQ facility divided by the number of records, multiplied by the inverse of the fraction represented on the frame of the small GQ facilities of that tract by major GQ type group combination. As was done in previous years weighting, we controlled the final weights to an independent set of GQ population estimates produced by the Population Estimates Program for each state by each of the seven major GQ type groups.

Lastly, the final GQ person weight was rounded to an integer. Rounding was performed so that the sum of the rounded weights were within one person of the sum of the unrounded weights for any of the groups listed below:

Major GQ Type Group
Major GQ Type Group x Municipio

Housing Unit and Household Person Weighting

The housing unit and household person weighting use weighting areas built from collections of whole municipios. The 2011 Census data are used to group municipios of similar demographic and social characteristics. The characteristics considered in the formation include:

  • Percent in poverty
  • Percent renting
  • Percent in rural areas
  • Race/ethnicity, age, and sex distribution
  • Distance between the centroids of the municipios
  • Core-based Statistical Area status
Each weighting area is also required to meet a threshold of 400 expected person interviews in the 2011 PRCS. The process also tries to preserve as many municipios that met the threshold to form their own weighting areas. In total, there are 55 weighting areas formed from the 78 municipios in Puerto Rico.

The estimation procedure used to assign the weights is then performed independently within each of the PRCS weighting areas.

1. Initial Housing Unit Weighting Factors-This process produces the following factors:

  • Base Weight (BW)-This initial weight is assigned to every housing unit as the inverse of its blocks sampling rate.
  • CAPI Subsampling Factor (SSF)-The weights of the CAPI cases are adjusted to reflect the results of CAPI subsampling. This factor is assigned to each record as follows:
Selected in CAPI subsampling: SSF = 2.0
Not selected in CAPI subsampling: SSF = 0.0
Not a CAPI case: SSF = 1.0

Some sample addresses are unmailable. A two-thirds sample of these is sent directly to CAPI and for these cases SSF = 1.5.

  • Variation in Monthly Response by Mode (VMS)-This factor makes the total weight of the Mail, CATI, and CAPI records to be tabulated in a month equal to the total base weight of all cases originally mailed for that month. For all cases, VMS is computed and assigned based on the following groups:
Weighting Area x Month

  • Noninterview Factor (NIF)-This factor adjusts the weight of all responding occupied housing units to account for nonresponding housing units. The factor is computed in two stages. The first factor, NIF1, is a ratio adjustment that is computed and assigned to occupied housings units based on the following groups:
Weighting Area x Building Type x Tract

A second factor, NIF2, is a ratio adjustment that is computed and assigned to occupied housing units based on the following groups:

Weighting Area x Building Type x Month

NIF is then computed by applying NIF1 and NIF2 for each occupied housing unit. Vacant housing units are assigned a value of NIF = 1.0. Nonresponding housing units are now assigned a weight of 0.0.

  • Noninterview Factor-Mode (NIFM)-This factor adjusts the weight of the responding CAPI occupied housing units to account for CAPI nonrespondents. It is computed as if NIF had not already been assigned to every occupied housing unit record. This factor is not used directly but rather as part of computing the next factor, the Mode Bias Factor.
NIFM is computed and assigned to occupied CAPI housing units based on the following groups:

Weighting Area x Building Type (single or multi unit) x Month

Vacant housing units or non-CAPI (mail and CATI) housing units receive a value of NIFM = 1.0.

  • Mode Bias Factor (MBF)-This factor makes the total weight of the housing units in the groups below the same as if NIFM had been used instead of NIF. MBF is computed and assigned to occupied housing units based on the following groups:
Weighting Area x Tenure (owner or renter) x Month x Marital Status of the Householder (married/widowed or single)

Vacant housing units receive a value of MBF = 1.0. MBF is applied to the weights computed through NIF.

2. Person Weighting Factors-Initially the person weight of each person in an occupied housing unit is the product of the weighting factors of their associated housing unit (BW x ... x MBF). At this point everyone in the household has the same weight. The person weighting is done in a series of three steps which are repeated until a stopping criterion is met. These three steps form a raking ratio or raking process. These person weights are individually adjusted for each person as described below.

The three steps are as follows:
  • Municipio Controls Raking Factor (SUBEQRF) - This factor is applied to individuals based on their geography. It adjusts the person weights so that the weighted sample counts equal independent population estimates of total population for the municipio. For those municipios which are their own weighting area, this adjustment factor will be 1.0. Because of later adjustments to the person weights, total population is not assured of agreeing exactly with the official 2011 population estimates for municipios which are not their own weighting area.
  • Spouse Equalization/Householder Equalization Raking Factor (SPHHEQRF)-This factor is applied to individuals based on the combination of their status of being in a married-couple or unmarried-partner household and whether they are the householder. All persons are assigned to one of four groups:
1. Householder in a married-couple or unmarried-partner household
2. Spouse or unmarried partner in a married-couple or unmarried-partner household (non-householder)
3. Other householder
4. Other non-householder

The weights of persons in the first two groups are adjusted so that their sums are each equal to the total estimate of married-couple or unmarried-partner households using the housing unit weight (BW x ... x HPF). At the same time the weights of persons in the first and third groups are adjusted so that their sum is equal to the total estimate of occupied housing units using the housing unit weight (BW x ... x HPF). The goal of this step is to produce more consistent estimates of spouses or unmarried partners and married-couple and unmarried-partner households while simultaneously producing more consistent estimates of householders, occupied housing units, and households.

  • Demographic Raking Factor (DEMORF)-This factor is applied to individuals based on their age and sex in Puerto Rico (note that there are 13 Age groupings). It adjusts the person weights so that the weighted sample counts equal the independent population estimates by age and sex at the weighting area level. Because of collapsing of groups in applying this factor, only the total population is assured of agreeing with the official 2011 population estimates at the weighting area level.
These three steps are repeated several times until the estimates for Puerto Rico achieve their optimal consistency with regard to the spouse and householder equalization. The Person Post-Stratification Factor (PPSF) is then equal to the product (SUBEQRF x SPHHEQRF x DEMORF) from all of iterations of these three adjustments. The unrounded person weight is then the equal to the product of PPSF times the housing unit weight (BW x ... x MBF x PPSF).

3. Rounding-The final product of all person weights (BW x ... x MBF x PPSF) is rounded to an integer. Rounding is performed so that the sum of the rounded weights is within one person of the sum of the unrounded weights for any of the groups listed below:

Municipio
Municipio x Sex
Municipio x Sex x Age
Municipio x Sex x Age x Tract
Municipio x Sex x Age x Tract x Block

For example, the number of Males, Age 30 estimated for a municipio using the rounded weights is within one of the number produced using the unrounded weights.

4. Final Housing Unit Weighting Factors-This process produces the following factors:

  • Householder Factor (HHF)-This factor adjusts for differential response depending on the sex and age of the householder. The value of HHF for an occupied housing unit is the PPSF of the householder. Since there is no householder for vacant units, the value of HHF = 1.0 for all vacant units.
  • Rounding-The final product of all housing unit weights (BW x ... x HHF) is rounded to an integer. For occupied units, the rounded housing unit weight is the same as the rounded person weight of the householder. This ensures that both the rounded and unrounded householder weights are equal to the occupied housing unit weight. The rounding for vacant housing units is then performed so that total rounded weight is within one housing unit of the total unrounded weight for any of the groups listed below:
Municipio
Municipio x Tract
Municipio x Tract x Block

Confidentiality Of The Data
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The Census Bureau has modified or suppressed some data on this site to protect confidentiality. Title 13 United States Code, Section 9, prohibits the Census Bureau from publishing results in which an individual's data can be identified.

The Census Bureaus internal Disclosure Review Board sets the confidentiality rules for all data releases. A checklist approach is used to ensure that all potential risks to the confidentiality of the data are considered and addressed.

  • Title 13, United States Code: Title 13 of the United States Code authorizes the Census Bureau to conduct censuses and surveys. Section 9 of the same Title requires that any information collected from the public under the authority of Title 13 be maintained as confidential. Section 214 of Title 13 and Sections 3559 and 3571 of Title 18 of the United States Code provide for the imposition of penalties of up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines for wrongful disclosure of confidential census information.
  • Disclosure Avoidance: Disclosure avoidance is the process for protecting the confidentiality of data. A disclosure of data occurs when someone can use published statistical information to identify an individual that has provided information under a pledge of confidentiality. For data tabulations, the Census Bureau uses disclosure avoidance procedures to modify or remove the characteristics that put confidential information at risk for disclosure. Although it may appear that a table shows information about a specific individual, the Census Bureau has taken steps to disguise or suppress the original data while making sure the results are still useful. The techniques used by the Census Bureau to protect confidentiality in tabulations vary, depending on the type of data. All disclosure avoidance procedures are done prior to the whole person imputation into not-in-sample GQ facilities.
  • Data Swapping: Data swapping is a method of disclosure avoidance designed to protect confidentiality in tables of frequency data (the number or percent of the population with certain characteristics). Data swapping is done by editing the source data or exchanging records for a sample of cases when creating a table. A sample of households is selected and matched on a set of selected key variables with households in neighboring geographic areas that have similar characteristics (such as the same number of adults and same number of children). Because the swap often occurs within a neighboring area, there is no effect on the marginal totals for the area or for totals that include data from multiple areas. Because of data swapping, users should not assume that tables with cells having a value of one or two reveal information about specific individuals. Data swapping procedures were first used in the 1990 Census, and were used again in Census 2000 and the 2010 Census.
  • Synthetic Data: The goals of using synthetic data are the same as the goals of data swapping, namely to protect the confidentiality in tables of frequency data. Persons are identified as being at risk for disclosure based on certain characteristics. The synthetic data technique then models the values for another collection of characteristics to protect the confidentiality of that individual.
Errors In The Data
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  • Sampling Error - The data in the PRCS products are estimates of the actual figures that would have been obtained by interviewing the entire population using the same methodology. The estimates from the chosen sample also differ from other samples of housing units and persons within those housing units. Sampling error in data arises due to the use of probability sampling, which is necessary to ensure the integrity and representativeness of sample survey results. The implementation of statistical sampling procedures provides the basis for the statistical analysis of sample data. Measures used to estimate the sampling error are provided in the next section.
  • Nonsampling Error - In addition to sampling error, data users should realize that other types of errors may be introduced during any of the various complex operations used to collect and process survey data. For example, operations such as data entry from questionnaires and editing may introduce error into the estimates. Another source is through the use of controls in the weighting. The controls are designed to mitigate the effects of systematic undercoverage of certain groups who are difficult to enumerate and to reduce the variance. The controls are based on the population estimates extrapolated from the previous census. Errors can be brought into the data if the extrapolation methods do not properly reflect the population. However, the potential risk from using the controls in the weighting process is offset by far greater benefits to the PRCS estimates. These benefits include reducing the effects of a larger coverage problem found in most surveys, including the PRCS, and the reduction of standard errors of PRCS estimates. These and other sources of error contribute to the nonsampling error component of the total error of survey estimates. Nonsampling errors may affect the data in two ways. Errors that are introduced randomly increase the variability of the data. Systematic errors which are consistent in one direction introduce bias into the results of a sample survey. The Census Bureau protects against the effect of systematic errors on survey estimates by conducting extensive research and evaluation programs on sampling techniques, questionnaire design, and data collection and processing procedures. In addition, an important goal of the PRCS is to minimize the amount of nonsampling error introduced through nonresponse for sample housing units. One way of accomplishing this is by following up on mail nonrespondents during the CATI and CAPI phases. For more information, see the section entitled Control of Nonsampling Error.


Measures Of Sampling Error
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Sampling error is the difference between an estimate based on a sample and the corresponding value that would be obtained if the estimate were based on the entire population (as from a census). Note that sample-based estimates will vary depending on the particular sample selected from the population. Measures of the magnitude of sampling error reflect the variation in the estimates over all possible samples that could have been selected from the population using the same sampling methodology.

Estimates of the magnitude of sampling errors - in the form of margins of error - are provided with all published PRCS data. The Census Bureau recommends that data users incorporate this information into their analyses, as sampling error in survey estimates could impact the conclusions drawn from the results.

Confidence Intervals and Margins of Error

Confidence Intervals - A sample estimate and its estimated standard error may be used to construct confidence intervals about the estimate. These intervals are ranges that will contain the average value of the estimated characteristic that results over all possible samples, with a known probability.

For example, if all possible samples that could result under the PRCS sample design were independently selected and surveyed under the same conditions, and if the estimate and its estimated standard error were calculated for each of these samples, then:

1. Approximately 68 percent of the intervals from one estimated standard error below the estimate to one estimated standard error above the estimate would contain the average result from all possible samples;

2. Approximately 90 percent of the intervals from 1.645 times the estimated standard error below the estimate to 1.645 times the estimated standard error above the estimate would contain the average result from all possible samples.

3. Approximately 95 percent of the intervals from two estimated standard errors below the estimate to two estimated standard errors above the estimate would contain the average result from all possible samples.

The intervals are referred to as 68 percent, 90 percent, and 95 percent confidence intervals, respectively.

Margin of Error - Instead of providing the upper and lower confidence bounds in published PRCS tables, the margin of error is provided instead. The margin of error is the difference between an estimate and its upper or lower confidence bound. Both the confidence bounds and the standard error can easily be computed from the margin of error. All PRCS published margins of error are based on a 90 percent confidence level.

Standard Error = Margin of Error / 1.645

Lower Confidence Bound = Estimate - Margin of Error

Upper Confidence Bound = Estimate + Margin of Error

Note that for 2005, PRCS margins of error and confidence bounds were calculated using a 90 percent confidence level multiplier of 1.65. Beginning with the 2006 data release, we are now employing a more accurate multiplier of 1.645. Margins of error and confidence bounds from previously published products will not be updated with the new multiplier. When calculating standard errors from margins of error or confidence bounds using published data for 2005, use the 1.65 multiplier.

When constructing confidence bounds from the margin of error, the user should be aware of any natural limits on the bounds. For example, if a characteristic estimate for the population is near zero, the calculated value of the lower confidence bound may be negative. However, a negative number of people does not make sense, so the lower confidence bound should be reported as zero instead. However, for other estimates such as income, negative values do make sense. The context and meaning of the estimate must be kept in mind when creating these bounds. Another of these natural limits would be 100 percent for the upper bound of a percent estimate.

If the margin of error is displayed as ' ***** (five asterisks), the estimate has been controlled to be equal to a fixed value and so it has no sampling error. When using any of the formulas in the following section, use a standard error of zero for these controlled estimates.

Limitations -The user should be careful when computing and interpreting confidence intervals.

  • The estimated standard errors (and thus margins of error) included in these data products do not include portions of the variability due to nonsampling error that may be present in the data. In particular, the standard errors do not reflect the effect of correlated errors introduced by interviewers, coders, or other field or processing personnel. Nor do they reflect the error from imputed values due to missing responses. Thus, the standard errors calculated represent a lower bound of the total error. As a result, confidence intervals formed using these estimated standard errors may not meet the stated levels of confidence (i.e., 68, 90, or 95 percent). Thus, some care must be exercised in the interpretation of the data in this data product based on the estimated standard errors.
  • Zero or small estimates; very large estimates - The value of almost all PRCS characteristics is greater than or equal to zero by definition. For zero or small estimates, use of the method given previously for calculating confidence intervals relies on large sample theory, and may result in negative values which for most characteristics are not admissible. In this case the lower limit of the confidence interval is set to zero by default. A similar caution holds for estimates of totals close to a control total or estimated proportion near one, where the upper limit of the confidence interval is set to its largest admissible value. In these situations the level of confidence of the adjusted range of values is less than the prescribed confidence level.
Calculation Of Standard Errors
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Direct estimates of the margin of error were calculated for all estimates reported in this product. The standard errors, in most cases, are calculated using a replicate-based methodology known as successive difference replication that takes into account the sample design and estimation procedures.

The formula provided below calculates the variance using the PRCS estimate (X0) and the 80 replicate estimates (Xr).



X0 is the estimate calculated using the production weight and Xr is the estimate calculated using the rth replicate weight. The standard error is the square root of the variance. The 90th percent margin of error is 1.645 times the standard error.

For more information on the formation of the replicate weights, see chapter 12 of the Design and Methodology documentation at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/survey_methodology/Chapter_12_RevisedDec2010.pdf.


Beginning with the PRCS 2011 1-year estimates, a new imputation-based methodology was incorporated into processing (see the description in the Group Quarters Person Weighting Section). An adjustment was made to the production replicate weight variance methodology to account for the non-negligible amount of additional variation being introduced by the new technique3.

Excluding the base weights, replicate weights were allowed to be negative in order to avoid underestimating the standard error. Exceptions include:

1. The estimate of the number or proportion of people, households, families, or housing units in a geographic area with a specific characteristic is zero. A special procedure is used to estimate the standard error.

2. There are either no sample observations available to compute an estimate or standard error of a median, an aggregate, a proportion, or some other ratio, or there are too few sample observations to compute a stable estimate of the standard error. The estimate is represented in the tables by - and the margin of error by ** (two asterisks).

3. The estimate of a median falls in the lower open-ended interval or upper open-ended interval of a distribution. If the median occurs in the lowest interval, then a - follows the estimate, and if the median occurs in the upper interval, then a + follows the estimate. In both cases the margin of error is represented in the tables by *** (three asterisks).


Footnotes:




3 For more information regarding this issue, see Asiala, M. and Castro, E. 2012. Developing Replicate Weight-Based Methods to Account for Imputation Variance in a Mass Imputation Application. In JSM proceedings, Section on Survey Research Methods, Alexandria, VA: American Statistical Association.


Sums and Differences of Direct Standard Errors
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The standard errors estimated from these tables are for individual estimates. Additional calculations are required to estimate the standard errors for sums of or the differences between two or more sample estimates.


The standard error of the sum of two sample estimates is the square root of the sum of the two individual standard errors squared plus a covariance term. That is, for standard errors and and of estimates X1 and X2:



The covariance measures the interaction between two estimates. Currently the covariance terms are not available. Data users should use the approximation:



This method, however, will underestimate or overestimate the standard error if the two estimates interact in either a positive or negative way.

The approximation formula (2) can be expanded to more than two estimates by adding in the individual standard errors squared inside the radical. As the number of estimates involved in the sum or difference increases, the results of formula (2) become increasingly different from the standard error derived directly from the PRCS microdata. Care should be taken to work with the fewest number of estimates as possible. If there are estimates involved in the sum that are controlled in the weighting then the approximate standard error can be increasingly different. Several examples are provided starting on page 29 to demonstrate how issues associated with approximating the standard errors when summing large numbers of estimates together.

Ratios
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The statistic of interest may be the ratio of two estimates. First is the case where the numerator is not a subset of the denominator. The standard error of this ratio between two sample estimates is approximated as:



Proportions/percents
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For a proportion (or percent), a ratio where the numerator is a subset of the denominator, a slightly different estimator is used. If , then the standard error of this proportion is approximated as:



If (where P is the proportion and Q is its corresponding percent), then (where P is the proportion and Q is its corresponding percent), then . Note the difference between the formulas to approximate the standard error for proportions and ratios - the plus sign in the ratio formula has been replaced with a minus sign in proportions formula. If the value under the square root sign is negative, use the ratio standard error formula instead.


Percent Change
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This calculates the percent change from one time period to another, for example, computing the percent change of a 2011 estimate to a 2010 estimate. Normally, the current estimate is compared to the older estimate.

Let the current estimate = and the earlier estimate = , then the formula for percent change is:



This reduces to a ratio. The ratio formula above may be used to calculate the standard error. As a caveat, this formula does not take into account the correlation when calculating overlapping time periods.

Products
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For a product of two estimates - for example if you want to estimate a proportions numerator by multiplying the proportion by its denominator - the standard error can be approximated as:



Testing For Significant Differences
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Significant differences - Users may conduct a statistical test to see if the difference between a PRCS estimate and any other chosen estimates is statistically significant at a given confidence level. Statistically significant means that the difference is not likely due to random chance alone. With the two estimates (Est1 and Est2) and their respective standard errors (SE1 and SE2), calculate



If Z > 1.645 or Z < -1.645, then the difference can be said to be statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level.4 Any estimate can be compared to a PRCS estimate using this method, including other PRCS estimates from the current year, the PRCS estimate for the same characteristic and geographic area but from a previous year, ACS estimates, 2010 Census counts, estimates from other Census Bureau surveys, and estimates from other sources. Not all estimates have sampling error - 2010 Census counts do not - but they should be used if they exist to give the most accurate result of the test.

Users are also cautioned to not rely on looking at whether confidence intervals for two estimates overlap or not to determine statistical significance, because there are circumstances where that method will not give the correct test result. If two confidence intervals do not overlap, then the estimates will be significantly different (i.e. the significance test will always agree). However, if two confidence intervals do overlap, then the estimates may or may not be significantly different. The Z calculation above is recommended in all cases.

Here is a simple example of why it is not recommended to use the overlapping confidence bounds rule of thumb as a substitute for a statistical test.

Let: X1 = 6.0 with SE1 = 0.5 and X2 = 5.0 with SE2 = 0.2.

The Lower Bound for X1 = 6.0 - 0.5 * 1.645 = 5.2 while the Upper Bound for X2 = 5.0 + 0.2 * 1.645 = 5.3. The confidence bounds overlap, so, the rule of thumb would indicate that the estimates are not significantly different at the 90% level.

However, if we apply the statistical significance test we obtain:



Z = 1.857 > 1.645 which means that the difference is significant (at the 90% level).

All statistical testing in PRCS data products is based on the 90 percent confidence level. Users should understand that all testing was done using unrounded estimates and standard errors, and it may not be possible to replicate test results using the rounded estimates and margins of error as published.

Footnotes:
4 The PRCS Accuracy of the Data was not separate from the ACS Accuracy of the Data in 2005, which used a Z statistic of +/-1.65. Data users should use +/-1.65 for estimates published in 2005 or earlier.
Examples Of Standard Error Calculations
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Example 1 - Calculating the Standard Error from the Margin of Error

The estimated number of males, never married is 583,195 from summary table B12001 for Puerto Rico for 2011. The margin of error is 8,832.

Standard Error = Margin of Error / 1.645

Calculating the standard error using the margin of error, we have:

SE(583,195) = 8,832/ 1.645 = 5,369.

Example 2 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Sum or Difference

We are interested in the number of people who have never been married. From Example 1, we know the number of males, never married is 583,195. From summary table B12001 we have the number of females, never married is 547,586 with a margin of error of 9,011. So, the estimated number of people who have never been married is 583,195 + 547,586 = 1,130,781. To calculate the approximate standard error of this sum, we need the standard errors of the two estimates in the sum. We have the standard error for the number of males never married from Example 1 as 5,369. The standard error for the number of females never married is calculated using the margin of error:

SE(547,586) = 9,011 / 1.645 = 5,478.

So using formula (2) for the approximate standard error of a sum or difference we have:



Caution: This method will underestimate or overestimate the standard error if the two estimates interact in either a positive or negative way.

To calculate the lower and upper bounds of the 90 percent confidence interval around 1,130,781 using the standard error, simply multiply 7,670 by 1.645, then add and subtract the product from 1,130,781. Thus the 90 percent confidence interval for this estimate is [1,130,781 - 1.645(7,670)] to [1,130,781 + 1.645(7,670)] or 1,118,164 to 1,143,398.

Example 3 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Proportion/Percent

We are interested in the percentage of females who have never been married to the number of people who have never been married. The number of females, never married is 547,586 and the number of people who have never been married is 1,130,781. To calculate the approximate standard error of this percent, we need the standard errors of the two estimates in the percent. We have the approximate standard error for the number of females never married from Example 2 as 5,478 and the approximate standard error for the number of people never married calculated from example 2 as 7,670.

The estimate is (547,586 / 1,130,781) * 100% = 48.43%

So, using formula (4) for the approximate standard error of a proportion or percent, we have:



To calculate the lower and upper bounds of the 90 percent confidence interval around 48.43 using the standard error, simply multiply 0.36 by 1.645, then add and subtract the product from 48.43. Thus the 90 percent confidence interval for this estimate is [48.43 - 1.645(0.36)] to [48.43 + 1.645(0.36)], or 47.84% to 49.02%.

Example 4 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Ratio

Now, let us calculate the estimate of the ratio of the number of unmarried males to the number of unmarried females and its standard error. From the above examples, the estimate for the number of unmarried men is 583,195 with a standard error of 5,369, and the estimate for the number of unmarried women is 547,586 with a standard error of 5,478.

The estimate of the ratio is 583,195 / 547,586 = 1.065.

Using formula (3) for the approximate standard error we have:

The 90 percent margin of error for this estimate would be 0.014 multiplied by 1.645, or about 0.023. The 90 percent lower and upper 90 percent confidence bounds would then be [1.065- 1.645(0.014)] to [1.065 + 1.645(0.014)], or 1.042 and 1.088.

Example 5 - Calculating the Standard Error of a Product

We are interested in the number of 1-unit detached owner-occupied housing units. The number of owner-occupied housing units is 876,741 with a margin of error of 9,559 from subject table S2504 for 2011, and the percent of 1-unit detached owner-occupied housing units is 81.1% (0.811) with a margin of error of 0.6 (0.006). So the number of 1-unit detached owner-occupied housing units is 876,741 * 0.811 = 711,037. Calculating the standard error for the estimates using the margin of error we have:



and



The approximate standard error for number of 1-unit detached owner-occupied housing units is calculated using formula (5) for products as:



To calculate the lower and upper bounds of the 90 percent confidence interval around 711,037 using the standard error, simply multiply 5,695 by 1.645, then add and subtract the product from 711,037. Thus the 90 percent confidence interval for this estimate is [711,037 - 1.645(5,695)] to [711,037 + 1.645(5,695)] or 701,669 to 720,405.

Control Of Nonsampling Error
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As mentioned earlier, sample data are subject to nonsampling error. This component of error could introduce serious bias into the data, and the total error could increase dramatically over that which would result purely from sampling. While it is impossible to completely eliminate nonsampling error from a survey operation, the Census Bureau attempts to control the sources of such error during the collection and processing operations. Described below are the primary sources of nonsampling error and the programs instituted for control of this error. The success of these programs, however, is contingent upon how well the instructions were carried out during the survey.
  • Coverage Error - It is possible for some sample housing units or persons to be missed entirely by the survey (undercoverage), but it is also possible for some sample housing units and persons to be counted more than once (overcoverage). Both the undercoverage and overcoverage of persons and housing units can introduce biases into the data, increase respondent burden and survey costs.
A major way to avoid coverage error in a survey is to ensure that its sampling frame, for Puerto Rico an address list in each municipio, is as complete and accurate as possible. The source of addresses for the PRCS is the MAF, which was created using the address list for Census 2000. An attempt is made to assign all appropriate geographic codes to each MAF address via an automated procedure using the Census Bureau TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) files. A manual coding operation based in the appropriate regional offices is attempted for addresses, which could not be automatically coded. The MAF was used as the source of addresses for selecting sample housing units and mailing questionnaires. TIGER produced the location maps for CAPI assignments. Sometimes the MAF has an address that is the duplicate of another address already on the MAF. This could occur when there is a slight difference in the address such as 123 Calle 1, Bayamon versus URB Hermosillo, 123 Calle 1, Bayamon.

In the CATI and CAPI nonresponse follow-up phases, efforts were made to minimize the chances that housing units that were not part of the sample were interviewed in place of units in sample by mistake. If a CATI interviewer called a mail nonresponse case and was not able to reach the exact address, no interview was conducted and the case was eligible for CAPI. During CAPI follow-up, the interviewer had to locate the exact address for each sample housing unit. If the interviewer could not locate the exact sample unit in a multi-unit structure, or found a different number of units than expected, the interviewers were instructed to list the units in the building and follow a specific procedure to select a replacement sample unit. Person overcoverage can occur when an individual is included as a member of a housing unit but does not meet PRCS residency rules.

Coverage rates give a measure of undercoverage or overcoverage of persons or housing units in a given geographic area. Rates below 100 percent indicate undercoverage, while rates above 100 percent indicate overcoverage. Coverage rates are released concurrent with the release of estimates on American FactFinder in the B98 series of detailed tables. Further information about PRCS coverage rates may be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/sample_size_and_data_quality/.
  • Nonresponse Error - Survey nonresponse is a well-known source of nonsampling error. There are two types of nonresponse error - unit nonresponse and item nonresponse. Nonresponse errors affect survey estimates to varying levels depending on amount of nonresponse and the extent to which nonrespondents differ from respondents on the characteristics measured by the survey. The exact amount of nonresponse error or bias on an estimate is almost never known. Therefore, survey researchers generally rely on proxy measures, such as the nonresponse rate, to indicate the potential for nonresponse error.
o Unit Nonresponse - Unit nonresponse is the failure to obtain data from housing units in the sample. Unit nonresponse may occur because households are unwilling or unable to participate, or because an interviewer is unable to make contact with a housing unit. Unit nonresponse is problematic when there are systematic or variable differences between interviewed and noninterviewed housing units on the characteristics measured by the survey. Nonresponse bias is introduced into an estimate when differences are systematic, while nonresponse error for an estimate evolves from variable differences between interviewed and noninterviewed households.

The PRCS made every effort to minimize unit nonresponse, and thus, the potential for nonresponse error. First, the PRCS used a combination of mail, CATI, and CAPI data collection modes to maximize response. The mail phase included a series of three to four mailings to encourage housing units to return the questionnaire. Subsequently, mail nonrespondents (for which phone numbers are available) were contacted by CATI for an interview. Finally, a subsample of the mail and telephone nonrespondents was contacted for by personal visit to attempt an interview

PRCS response rates measure the percent of units with a completed interview. The higher the response rate, and consequently the lower the nonresponse rate, the less chance estimates may be affected by nonresponse bias. Response and nonresponse rates, as well as rates for specific types of nonresponse, are released concurrent with the release of estimates on American FactFinder in the B98 series of detailed tables. Further information about response and nonresponse rates may be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/sample_size_and_data_quality/.

o Item Nonresponse - Nonresponse to particular questions on the survey questionnaire and instrument allows for the introduction of error or bias into the data, since the characteristics of the nonrespondents have not been observed and may differ from those reported by respondents. As a result, any imputation procedure using respondent data may not completely reflect this difference either at the elemental level (individual person or housing unit) or on average.

Some protection against the introduction of large errors or biases is afforded by minimizing nonresponse. In the PRCS, item nonresponse for the CATI and CAPI operations was minimized by the requirement that the automated instrument receive a response to each question before the next one could be asked. Questionnaires returned by mail were edited for completeness and acceptability. They were reviewed by computer for content omissions and population coverage. If necessary, a telephone follow-up was made to obtain missing information. Potential coverage errors were included in this follow-up.

Allocation tables provide the weighted estimate of persons or housing units for which a value was imputed, as well as the total estimate of persons or housing units that were eligible to answer the question. The smaller the number of imputed responses, the lower the chance that the item nonresponse is contributing a bias to the estimates. Allocation tables are released concurrent with the release of estimates on American Factfinder in the B99 series of detailed tables with the overall allocation rates across all person and housing unit characteristics in the B98 series of detailed tables. Additional information on item nonresponse and allocations can be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/methodology/sample_size_and_data_quality/.

  • Measurement and Processing Error - The person completing the questionnaire or responding to the questions posed by an interviewer could serve as a source of error, although the questions were cognitively tested for phrasing, and detailed instructions for completing the questionnaire were provided to each household.
o Interviewer monitoring - The interviewer may misinterpret or otherwise incorrectly enter information given by a respondent; may fail to collect some of the information for a person or household; or may collect data for households that were not designated as part of the sample. To control these problems, the work of interviewers was monitored carefully. Field staff were prepared for their tasks by using specially developed training packages that included hands-on experience in using survey materials. A sample of the households interviewed by CAPI interviewers was reinterviewed to control for the possibility that interviewers may have fabricated data.

o Processing Error - The many phases involved in processing the survey data represent potential sources for the introduction of nonsampling error. The processing of the survey questionnaires includes the keying of data from completed questionnaires, automated clerical review, follow-up by telephone, manual coding of write-in responses, and automated data processing. The various field, coding and computer operations undergo a number of quality control checks to insure their accurate application.

o Content Editing - After data collection was completed, any remaining incomplete or inconsistent information was imputed during the final content edit of the collected data. Imputations, or computer assignments of acceptable codes in place of unacceptable entries or blanks, were needed most often when an entry for a given item was missing or when the information reported for a person or housing unit on that item was inconsistent with other information for that same person or housing unit. As in other surveys and previous censuses, the general procedure for changing unacceptable entries was to allocate an entry for a person or housing unit that was consistent with entries for persons or housing units with similar characteristics. Imputing acceptable values in place of blanks or unacceptable entries enhances the usefulness of the data.

Issues With Approximating The Standard Error Of Linear Combinations Of Multiple Estimates
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Several examples are provided here to demonstrate how different the approximated standard errors of sums can be compared to those derived and published with PRCS microdata. ACS data is used in the examples. However they are applicable to PRCS data as well.

A. Suppose we wish to estimate the total number of males using age and citizenship status. The relevant data from table B05003 is displayed in table A below.

Table A: 2009 Estimates of males from B05003: Sex by Age by Citizenship Status

CharacteristicEstimateMOE
Male19053142,996
Under 18 Years4934062,300
Native4913062,312
Foreign Born2100697
Naturalized U.S. Citizen94163
Not a U.S. Citizen2006687
18 Years and Older14119081,572
Native13639834,197
Foreign Born479254,108
Naturalized U.S. Citizen195492,150
Not a U.S. Citizen283763,290


The estimate and its MOE are actually published. However, if they were not available in the tables, one way of obtaining them would be to add together the number of males under 18 and over 18 to get:



And the first approximated



Another way would be to add up the estimates for the three subcategories (Native, Foreign Born: Naturalized U.S. Citizen, and Foreign Born: Not a U.S. Citizen), for males under and over 18 years of age. From these eight estimates we obtain:



With a second approximation to the SE of:



We do know that the standard error using the published MOE is 2,996 / 1.645 = 1,821.3. With a quick glance, we can see that the ratio of the standard error of the first method to the published-based standard error yields 0.93; an under-estimate of roughly 7%, whereas the second method yields a ratio of 2.08 or an over-estimate of 108%. This is an example of what could happen to the approximate SE when the sum involves a controlled estimate. In this case, it is sex by age.

B. Suppose we are interested in the total number of people aged 65 or older and its standard error. Table B shows some of the estimates for the national level from table B01001 (the estimates in gray were derived for the purpose of this example only).

Table B: Some Estimates from AFF Table B01001: Sex by Age for 2009

Age CategoryEstimate, MaleMOE, MaleEstimate, FemaleMOE, FemaleTotalEstimated MOE, Total
65 and 66 years old34,3872,21044,2622,71978,6493,504
67 to 69 years old47,6392,41851,5472,51199,1863,486
70 to 74 years old58,9242,57677,5083,335136,4324,214
75 to 79 years old42,0911,91258,7882,639100,8793,259
80 to 84 years old31,4942,23741,3002,41872,7943,294
85 years and older26,3991,79045,0632,59571,4623,152
Total240,934NA318,468NA559,4028,579


To begin we find the total number of people aged 65 and over by simply adding the totals for males and females to get 240,934 + 318,468 = 559,402. One way we could approximate the standard error of this estimate is to sum the males and females for each age category and then use their MOEs to obtain the approximate standard error for the total number of people over 65.





... etc. ...

Now, we calculate the number of people aged 65 or older, 559,402, using the six derived estimates and approximate its standard error:



For this example the estimate and MOE are published in table B09017. The total number of people aged 65 or older is 559,402 with a margin of error of 2,595. Therefore the published-based standard error is:

SE(559,402) = 2,595/1,645 = 1,578

The approximated standard error, using the six derived age group estimates, yields an approximated standard error roughly 3.3 times larger than the published-based standard error.

There are two additional ways to approximate the standard error of people aged 65 and over in addition to the way used above. The first is to find the MOEs for the males age 65 and older, and females aged 65 and older separately and then combine them to find the approximated standard error.

For males it is:



And for females:



And the total is then:



The second is to use all twelve of the published estimates together, that is, all estimates from the male age categories and female age categories, to create the SE for people aged 65 and older.



And the standard error is: .



In this particular situation, the results from all three ways are the same. So no matter which way you use, you will obtain the same approximation for the standard error. This is not always the case. The corresponding section in the ACS Accuracy of the Data document gives an example where the three methods yield different answers. It is located at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/Accuracy/ACS_Accuracy_of_Data_2011.pdf.

C. For an alternative to approximating the standard error for people 65 years and older seen in part B, we could find the estimate and its SE by summing all of the estimate for the ages less than 65 years old and subtracting them from the estimate for the total population. Due to the large number of estimates, the Table C does not show all of the age groups. In addition, the estimates in the part of the table shaded gray were derived for the purposes of this example only and cannot be found in base table B01001.

Table C: Some Estimates from AFF Table B01001: Sex by Age for 2009:

Age CategoryEstimate, MaleMOE, MaleEstimate, FemaleMOE, FemaleTotalEstimated MOE, Total
Total Population1,905,3142,9962,061,9742,9963,967,2884,237
Under 5 years119,4171,668114,2401,654233,6572,349
5 to 9 years old132,5394,060118,3613,987250,9005,690
10 to 14 years old150,0274,079150,4484,085300,4755,773
.....................
62 to 64 years old61,3273,23273,1353,368134,4624,668
Total for Age 0 to 64 years old1,664,38011,9451,743,50612,9483,407,88617,617


An estimate for the number of people age 65 and older is equal to the total population minus the population between the ages of zero and 64 years old:

Number of people aged 65 and older: 3,967,288 - 3,407,886 = 559,402.

The way to approximate the SE is the same as in part B. First we will sum males and females estimates across each age category and then approximate the MOEs. We will use that information to approximate the standard error for our estimate of interest:





... etc. ...

And the SE for the total number of people aged 65 and older is:



Again, as in Example B, the estimate and its MOE are published in table B09017. The total number of people aged 65 or older is 559,402 with a margin of error of 2,595. Therefore the standard error is:

SE(559,402) = 2,595 / 1.645 = 1,578.

The approximated standard error using the thirteen derived age group estimates yields a standard error roughly 11.5 times larger than the actual SE.

Data users can mitigate the problems shown in examples A through C to some extent by using a collapsed version of a detailed table if available which will reduce the number of estimates and SEs. These issues may also be avoided by creating estimates and SEs using the Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) or by requesting a custom tabulation, a fee-based service offered under certain conditions by the Census Bureau. More information regarding custom tabulations may be found at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/custom_tabulations/.
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