The American Community Survey (ACS) is the Census Bureau’s new approach for collecting demographic and socio-economic information needed for critical government functions.  It provides profiles of America's communities every year, and will replace the long form (sample data) in the 2010 Census.  Full implementation of the American Community Survey began in every county of the United States in 2005.  The survey  includes three million households spread out across the 12 months of each year.  Data are collected by mail and Census Bureau staff follow up with those who do not respond. 

Broward County is one of 31 pilot sites selected around the country to participate in the development of the methodology for the ACS.  The first year for sampling in Broward County was 1998, when only a small sample was funded.  From 1999 on, the annual sample is approximately 3% of the population.  Starting with 2000 data, the results of the ACS have been adjusted to reflect the population base tabulated in the 2000 Census.  Detailed results of the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 ACS have been released for Broward County and for each municipality with a minimum population of 65,000. 

In addition to the 31 American Community Survey pilot sites, the Census Bureau conducted the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey and the 2001 and 2002 Supplementary Surveys, each of which sampled approximately 700,000 households around the country.  Results have been released for each state, metropolitan area, county, place and congressional district with a minimum 250,000 population.  This makes it possible to compare the 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 results for Broward County with those for Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, the state of Florida, and the nation as a whole.

• The Census Bureau’s Home Page for the American Community Survey

• ACS Profiles for Broward County and its Largest Municipalities and Supplementary Survey Profiles for Other Areas in Florida - There are a narrative profile and four tabular profiles (Demographic Characteristics, Social Characteristics, Economic Characteristics, and Housing Characteristics) for each area, each year (only tabular profiles and for change.)

 1999          2000          2001          2002          2003

Change 2000-01  Change 2001-02  Change 2000-02  2003 Multi-year Profiles

• Table Listings for Detailed Tables from the ACS and Supplementary Surveys – These lists describe the many core and non-core detailed tables available on the American FactFinder

• Detailed Tables from the ACS and Supplementary Surveys (American FactFinder)

• Testimony presented at the May 13, 2003 Hearing of the House Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census on "The American Community Survey:  The Challenges of Eliminating the Long Form from the 2010 Census."

For more information, contact:

Richard Ogburn, Principal Planner
South Florida Regional Planning Council
3440 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 140
Hollywood, FL 33021
(954) 985-4416     (954) 985-4417 FAX