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American Community Survey (ACS) - updated 04/11/13

The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted for the first time in 2000, provides social and economic data never before available. Survey data does not take the place of the intercensus population estimates, the Current Population Survey, or Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment data, which should be considered the primary authorities on their respective data sets.

The ACS is designed to provide communities with data which was commonly collected in the decennial census long form (Summary File 3 or sample data), but not previously available in the years between censuses. The long form, and therefore Summary File 3, will not exist after the 2000 census.

The links provided below contain data only for the Kansas City region through 2004. In 2005-2007, data for the Peer Metros is included..

In 2005, data variables were collected and analyzed for geographic areas with populations of 65,000 or more (before 2005, only areas with population of 100,000 or more produced enough data for these sample estimates.) For the first time the ACS included school districts which met that population threshold. In 2006 data for the group quarters population was added, giving a more complete picture of the total population of an area.

Because of the growing number of geographies, starting in 2005 the profiles are presented in an index, similar to the Census 2000 Profiles, and different from prior ACS updates. There are four profiles for each geographical unit: Demographic, Social, Economic and Housing.

As the ACS was fully implemented over the following decade, data for smaller communities became available. For 2007, for example, in addition to the 1-Year Estimates available below, ACS also released the first 3-Year Estimates, producing tables and profiles for the first time for geographies with population of 20,000 and above.

In 2010, data for areas with populations under 20,000 was first published as larger samples collected over 5 years became available. Appropriately, these are known as the ACS 5-year Estimates. On December 14, 2010, the Census Bureau released the 2005-2009 ACS 5-year estimates on AFF, the first 5-year estimates covering all geographies down to the census tract level (Block Group level data is available only from the DOWNLOAD site). On American FactFinder (AFF) you will find the same profiles previously published for all geographies, as well as more detailed information. If you would like more information and supporting documentation for this data please visit the ACS web site.

Metro Dataline will not create local data sets of the 3- or 5-Year Estimates, nor any sets for 2008 and beyond. We believe the Census Bureau's AFF application allows the user to create any tables and profiles needed from these new estimates (as well as many other Census data sets). As an alternative, the Missouri Census Data Center has developed an ACS Profiles website that provides the same data in a similar format, but users may find a bit friendlier.

Additionally, if a user needs quick, up-to-date data for a city, for example, AFF's Community Facts provides that information quickly and easily. Enter the name of a state, county, city, town or zip code, press "GO" and a wealth of information will be available, although it is not necessary to pursue it, as you can most likely get your answers on the first screen.

MARC's Research Services staff can be of assistance to first-time users in navigating American FactFinder. Please contact the Research Services staff through the e-mail link below or by calling 816-701-8331.

Available data sets on this site (all 1-year estimates):