1 Population Controls for the American Community Survey Alexa Kennedy-Puthoff Population Division Prepared for the 2009 SDC Annual Training Conference, October 14, 2009

2 Overview  Population estimates  Population controls provided to ACS  Postcensal versus intercensal estimates  Population controls, ACS (release years )

3 Federal Mandate to Produce Estimates  Production and release of population estimates are required under U.S.C. Title 13, Section 181: “During the intervals between each census of population…the Secretary, to the extent feasible, should annually produce and publish for each State, county, and local unit of general purpose government which has a population of fifty thousand or more, current data on total population and population characteristics and, to the extent feasible, shall biennially produce and publish for other local units of general purpose government current data on total population.”

4 Estimates Produced Annually  Population –Nation by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin –States by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin –Counties by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin –Incorporated places and minor civil divisions (total population only) –Puerto Rico Commonwealth and municipios by age and sex  Housing units –States –Counties

5 Uses of Population Estimates  Distribution of federal funds  Population controls for major surveys –American Community Survey –Current Population Survey –Survey of Income and Program Participation –American Housing Survey  Denominators for statistical rates  Program planning

6 Population Controls for ACS  We provide –County by age (single years 0-84,85+), sex (male, female), race (31 race groups), and Hispanic origin (Hispanic, non-Hispanic) –Puerto Rico Municipios by age and sex  ACS creates their own set of weights from these controls –Collapses the data provided to the weighting cells needed

7 Postcensal versus Intercensal Estimates  Postcensal estimates –July 1 estimates, full series from last Census date forward (for 2009, series is April 1, 2000-July 1, 2009) –“Vintage” identified by terminal year in the series For example, series of estimates released beginning in December 2009 are the “Vintage 2009” estimates  Intercensal estimates –July 1 estimates, full series between two most recent Census dates –Begin with Census 2000 and end with Census 2010 –Timing issue: We receive Census 2010 data in March 2011; the schedule requires us to produce and provide intercensal-based population controls for ACS by May 2011

8 Population Controls by ACS Release Year: 2010 ACS DataYear of Pop ControlRelease Year 2009 ACS July 1, 2009 controls based on Census 2000 (Vintage 2009) ACS Average of July 1, controls based on Census ACS Average of July 1, controls based on Census

9 Population Controls by ACS Release Year: 2011 ACS DataYear of Pop ControlRelease Year 2010 ACS July 1, 2010 controls based on Census 2010 (simple extrapolation) ACS Average of July 1, controls based on Census ACS Average of July 1, controls based on Census Notes: –For , 2008 and 2009 will be based on the intercensal estimates. –For , 2006 through 2009 will be based on the intercensal estimates.

10 Population Controls by ACS Release Year: 2012 ACS DataYear of Pop ControlRelease Year 2011 ACS July 1, 2011 controls based on Census 2010 (Vintage 2011) ACS Average of July 1, controls based on Census ACS Average of July 1, controls based on Census Notes: –For , 2009 will be based on the intercensal estimates and 2010 through 2011 will be based on Census 2010 (Vintage 2011). –For , 2007 through 2009 will be based on the intercensal estimates and 2010 through 2011 will be based on Census 2010 (Vintage 2011).

11 Contact Information Victoria A. Velkoff (301) Alexa Kennedy-Puthoff (301)