2005 American Community Survey Data Profiles

The American Community Survey is a new nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look at how they are changing. It will replace the long form in future censuses and is a critical element in the U.S. Census Bureau’s reengineered 2010 census plan.  (Click here for more about the ACS, including links to the 2004 and 2003 survey results.)

First wave (August 15, 2006)
Second wave (August 29, 2006)
Third wave (October 3, 2006)

• Click here to go to the Data Profiles

• Subject definitions for the Data Profiles (PDF)

• Census Bureau's American Community Survey Home Page

The three data profiles in each of these downloadable files provide estimates of selected demographic, social, and economic characteristics for geographic areas with populations of 65,000 or more.

1. Profile-General Demographic Characteristics – Contains summary information on population characteristics and household relationships and types.

2. Profile-Selected Social Characteristics - Contains summary data on such items as education, marital status, mobility, disability, place of birth, and ancestry.

3. Profile-Selected Economic Characteristics - Contains summary information on employment status, commuting to work, occupation, income, and poverty.

Each profile estimate is accompanied by its margin of error and the confidence interval was based on the 90% level of confidence. 

Additional Documentation
Each file contains a worksheet or section named “Data Products Footnotes.”  This page contains the footnotes that a data user will see when viewing any of the data profiles, regardless of geography. 

The Profile Characteristics worksheets contain the following file layout: 

            Column 1 – Line Description
            Column 2 – Direct Estimate
            Column 3 – Margin of Error
            Column 4 – Lower Bound Estimate
            Column 5 – Upper Bound Estimate 

Please note that the 2005 American Community Survey universe is limited to the household population and excludes the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. 

Margin of error (MOE)
A margin of error is the maximum difference between an estimate and its upper or lower confidence bounds. A confidence interval can be created by adding the margin of error to the estimate (for an upper bound) and subtracting the margin of error from the estimate (for a lower bound).  In doing this, it is important not to allow either the lower bound or the upper bound of the confidence interval to go beyond the range of possible values for an estimate.  For example, an estimate of children enrolled in school in a geographic area cannot be less than 0.  Therefore, its lower bound can also not be less than 0.  All published margins of error for the American Community Survey are based on a 90 percent confidence level. 

Profile Lines that are Suppressed
In certain geographic areas, there may not be sufficient sample cases to support an estimate or group of estimates.  In that case, an “N” will be displayed in place of the estimate and its margin of error.  For the profile tables, only the affected profile lines will be suppressed instead of suppressing all the estimates in a particular table.
 

Links to the 2005 American Community Survey
Profiles by Geography (first, second and third waves)

For more information, please contact:
Kermit Wies
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
(312) 454-0400
kwies@chicagoareaplanning.org

First Posted 08-15-06
Last Updated 10-02-06