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Census Data

Every 10 years, the United States government is required to count all of its citizens. This is a guide to the Decenniel Census. The government not only tries to count all of us, but also gather different types of data about all of us.

About the American Community Survey

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides data every year -- giving communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. Information from the survey generates data that help determine how more than $400 billion in federal and state funds are distributed each year.

To help communities, state governments, and federal programs, they ask about:

  • age
  • sex
  • race
  • family and relationships
  • income and benefits
  • health insurance
  • education
  • veteran status
  • disabilities
  • where you work and how you get there
  • where you live and how much you pay for some essentials

     Interested in helping improve the American Community Survey? The Committee on National Statistics is hosting a 2 day workshop about ACS. The workshop will be held in Washington, D.C. on September 26-27, 2018 at the Keck Center. See their page for more information.

Finding ACS Data

Selected book(s)

The Data & Maps from the Census Bureau

The Census Bureau now releases 1-year and 5-year data every year. The 3-year data set no longer exists.

Congressional hearings about the ACS

These resources tell how the Census Bureau proposed replacing the Long Form of the Decenniel Census with the American Community Survey. Various Subcommittees on the Census held these hearings.

These documents may also be online.