2008 Release Schedule for American Community Survey Data

Business Wire,  July 16, 2008  

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The U.S. Census Bureau will release data from the 2007 American Community Survey (ACS) beginning Aug. 26.

Similar to last year's release, the 2007 ACS will include one-year estimates available for the nation, 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, every congressional district and all counties, places and metropolitan areas with populations of 65,000 or more.

In December, the U.S. Census Bureau will introduce three-year estimates, providing a first look at the characteristics of midsize population areas (20,000 to 64,999) since the last decennial census in 2000. The three-year estimates will be based on data collected from 2005 to 2007 and will include all geographic areas with populations of 20,000 or more.

Closer to the December release date, the Census Bureau will provide guidance on how to use the new three-year estimates and how they differ from the one-year estimates. Subsequently, five-year estimates will be released based on data collected from 2005 to 2009 and will include the smallest of geographic areas -- down to the tract and block group levels.

Data Release Schedule

* Aug. 26, 2008: Annual release of ACS income, earnings and poverty data, in conjunction with the Census Bureau's annual release of income, poverty and health insurance estimates from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey. There is no embargoed access to the data prior to release. These are 2007 ACS one-year estimates for areas with populations of 65,000 or more.

* Sept. 23, 2008: 2007 ACS one-year estimates on social, economic, demographic and housing characteristics; special population profiles; and Public Use Microdata Sample data. The data will be embargoed on Sept. 18 and will consist of:

Social Characteristics     <

-- Relationship            <
-- Households by type
-- School enrollment       <
-- Residence one year ago
-- Educational attainment  <
-- Place of birth
-- Marital status          <
-- U.S. citizenship status
-- Fertility               <
-- Year of entry
-- Grandparents            <
-- World region of birth
-- Veteran status          <
-- Language spoken at home
-- Disability status       <
-- Ancestry
Economic Characteristics  <

-- Employment status      <
-- Class of worker
-- Commuting to work      <
-- Industry
-- Occupation             <
[TABLE OMITTED]
Demographic Characteristics  <

-- Age                       <
-- Race
-- Sex                       <
-- Hispanic or Latino

* December 2008: 2005-2007 ACS three-year estimates for all characteristics. These will include income, earnings and poverty data, and social, economic, housing and demographic data for areas with a population of 20,000 or more. This marks the first official release of multiyear estimates for the nation. Also in December, 2007 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates will be released for states, counties and school districts.

Embargo Access

Embargoed data will be accessible from the Census Bureau's media embargo site on the specified date. For information on obtaining a password, go to the "Newsroom" page on the Census Bureau's Web site (www.census.gov) and click on "Media Services."

Additional ACS Tools and Information

The Census Bureau will provide tools to aid reporters later this summer, including guidance on making comparisons between ACS data and Census 2000, and table shells for downloading data. Additional information can be found on the ACS Web page (http://www.census.gov/acs), which also includes a link to the ACS Media Toolkit.

The American Community Survey is a powerful new tool designed to produce current local data for communities on a wide range of issues. The ACS is mailed nationwide to about 250,000 (roughly one-in-480) addresses a month and provides current demographic, housing, social and economic information about America's communities every year -- information previously only available once every 10 years.

Editor's note: News releases, reports and data tables are available on the Census Bureau's home page. Go to http://www.census.gov and click on "Releases."

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