[CTPP] Proposed Criteria and Guidelines for PUMAs for the 2010 Census and the ACS

Proposed Criteria and Guidelines for Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) for the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey The Census Bureau announces publication of the "Proposed Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) Criteria and Guidelines for the 2010 Census and American Community Survey" available on the Census Bureau’s website at http://www.census.gov/geo/puma/puma2010.html. The Census Bureau is seeking public comment on these proposed criteria and guidelines. Comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the criteria should be submitted in writing, no later than February 28, 2011 to Timothy Trainor, Chief, Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-7400. The Census Bureau's 2010 PUMAs will be used to present 2010 Census decennial Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) PUMS data, and ACS estimates. PUMA delineations are subject to population threshold, specific building block geography, geographic nesting, and PUMA contiguity criteria. Proposed changes for 2010 PUMAs include: § Only one level of PUMA geography will be delineated (comparable to the 5-percent PUMAs for Census 2000). § Each PUMA must have a population of at least 100,000 persons at the time it is delineated, and must maintain a minimum population of 100,000 throughout the decade. § Each PUMA-county part must meet a minimum population threshold of 2,400 persons. § Counties and census tracts will be the only geographic “building blocks” for 2010 PUMAs. Additional information about the history of PUMAs, as well as summaries of the proposed changes are available on the Census Bureau's website at http://www.census.gov/geo/puma/puma2010.html. To obtain further information concerning the Census Bureau’s proposed 2010 PUMA criteria, please contact Vincent Osier, Chief, Geographic Standards and Criteria Branch, Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau, via e-mail at vincent.osier(a)census.gov or by telephone at 301-763-3056. Michael R. Ratcliffe Assistant Division Chief, Geocartographic Products and Criteria Geography Division U.S. Census Bureau 4600 Silver Hill Road/ MS-7400 Washington, DC 20233-7400 301-763-8977 michael.r.ratcliffe(a)census.gov