Dec. 14, 2004

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries today applauded the announcement that the U.S. Census Bureau received $146 million in funding to fully implement the American Community Survey (ACS), a nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look at how they are changing, beginning in January 2005.  The annual ACS will replace the "long form" questions sent to certain households in past decennial censuses, allowing the Census Bureau to use only the "short form" beginning with the next census in 2010.  The ACS will identify changes in an area's population and provide an up-to-date statistical picture every year, rather than just once a decade.

The Census Bureau received funding for the ACS under a bill recently approved by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush on Dec. 8.

"Replacing the census long form with the ACS is one of the most important things that can be done to promote a high level of accuracy in the 2010 Census and to meet the needs of state and local data users," said Kenneth Darga, Michigan's state demographer.  "The information provided annually by the ACS will be of great value to state and local officials responsible for planning, administering programs and promoting economic growth."

Beginning in late December 2004, the ACS will be mailed each month to a sample of households in all 3,233 U.S. counties and in Puerto Rico.  As the only source for annually updated demographic, social, economic and housing information for a variety of geographic areas, the survey will be used for many purposes, such as determining where to locate new schools, hospitals and highways; tracking the health and well-being of children, families and the elderly; and showing a large corporation that a town has the workforce the company needs. 

The survey is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193.  Responding to the ACS is mandatory, and Census Bureau employees are sworn to protect the confidentiality of those surveyed.  Addresses are selected at random to represent similar households in an area.  Surveys will be sent to approximately 2.5 percent of all U.S. households each year.

To learn more about the ACS, visit http://www.census.gov/acs/www.  For information on the ACS in Michigan, including implementation procedures in specific areas, please contact State Census Data Coordinator Darren Warner at (517) 373-2548 or warnerd@michigan.gov.

Michigan's census data and demography functions are part of the Library of Michigan, an agency of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.  Dedicated to enriching the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center.  To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.