ACS Issues for Small Jurisdictions

• Activity Number: 649
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 2, 2012 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Social Statistics Section
• Author(s): Richard Rathge*+
• Companies: North Dakota State University
• Keywords: American Community Survey ; rural ; Rural Statistica Area

Abstract

Effectively profiling population dynamics in rural areas of the U.S. is challenging with the long period estimates available from the American Community Survey (ACS). Five-year period estimates from the ACS moderate dynamic population change because of the accumulation of the sample over 5 years. The Rural Statistical Area (RSA) initiative is an alternative source of data using the American Community Survey Public Microdata (ACS-PUMs) files. Through a partnership with the Economic Research Service (ERS) of USDA, the Census Bureau created an annual PUMs file with a population threshold of 65,000 people opposed to the current 100,000 limit. The ERS created an algorithm using counties as the building block for the file and Urban Influence codes which categories counties by size and distance to metropolitan centers. The resultant PUMAs effectively separate the rural territory from influences of large cities and offer 1-year period estimates. This paper discusses the usefulness of this file by demonstrating its ability to effectively profile dynamic population change in rural areas of North Dakota impacted by energy development activity.