About the 2005 American Community Survey
The U.S.
Census Bureau has released its initial tabulations from the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS), a new
annual survey of about three million households that collects and
produces demographic, housing, and economic information every year
instead of once every ten years. The ACS 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.
Go to the
region's 2005 profiles
(Updated October 3, 2006)
Collecting data every year will reduce the cost of the official
decennial census by eliminating the need for the long-form questionnaire
and will also provide more up-to-date information during the decade
about what trends are taking place at the local community level.
The ACS collects information from U.S. households similar to what was
collected on the Census 2000 long form, such as income, poverty, commute
time to work, home value, housing costs, educational attainment,
citizenship, and place of birth. As with the official U.S. decennial
census, information about individuals remains confidential.
The first round of data from the 2005 ACS is now available for all Census Bureau defined places, townships, counties, and
metropolitan areas with populations of 65,000 or
more. In CMAP's northeastern Illinois
service area,
that includes seven counties, 38 political townships, and 12
municipalities. Information is available by metropolitan area as well.
For the 2005 release, data have been issued
on general demographic and social characteristics. Two types of profiles
summarizing these characteristics are available for each geographic unit
- data tables (Excel format) and narrative text accompanied by charts
(PDF format). Economic information from the 2005 ACS came out in late August, followed by housing characteristics in early
October.
By 2008, data should be available for all areas of
20,000 or more. The first ACS release for small areas under 20,000
should occur in 2010 following a 5-year build-up of a sample large
enough to provide estimates that are as accurate as decennial census
results.
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. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate is
represented through the use of a confidence interval. The confidence
interval computed here is a 90 percent confidence interval and can be
interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent certainty that the true
number falls between the lower and upper bounds.
To learn more about the ACS, please go to the
Census Bureau's American Community
Survey home page.
Previously available:
First Posted 08/15/2006
Updated 10/03/2006
