The American Community Survey

Bringing
you data
every year
about …
Education, Children,
Families, Employment,
Income, Immigration,
Race and Hispanic Origin,
Housing, Group Quarters,
Rural Life, Commuting
Patterns, and Military
Service.

How do I get more information about
the American Community Survey?
For more information about the American
Community Survey data or to obtain survey
results, we encourage you to visit our
Web site at:
www.census.gov/acs/www
You may also contact us by mail at the
following address:
American Community Survey
U.S. Census Bureau
4700 Silver Hill Rd., Room 1657/3
Washington, DC 20233-7500
You can also telephone the Census Bureau’s
Regional Office nearest you as listed below:

Census Bureau Regional Offices
Atlanta, GA
Boston, MA
Charlotte, NC
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Detroit, MI
Kansas City, KS
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Seattle, WA

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

1-800-424-6974
1-800-562-5721
1-800-331-7360
1-800-865-6384
1-800-835-9752
1-800-852-6159
1-800-432-1495
1-800-728-4748
1-800-992-3530
1-800-991-2520
1-866-238-1374
1-800-233-3308

Issued September 2005
ACS-50(GQ)

The American
Community Survey
Group Quarters

What is the American Community
Survey?
The American Community Survey (ACS) is
part of the 2010 Decennial Census Program.
It is a survey that provides information
each year about social, economic, and
housing characteristics of the United States.
Previously, this information was available
only once every 10 years when the U.S.
Census Bureau conducted the decennial
census.
Only a small sample of addresses is
selected to participate in the American
Community Survey and represent other
addresses in the community. In addition to
this household sample, the Census Bureau
selects a sample of group quarters (GQ)
facilities from a sample of all GQs in your
area each year. Individuals from sampled
GQs are randomly selected to participate in
the ACS. A Census Bureau representative
will contact the sample GQs and individuals
and conduct a personal interview. If a
personal interview is not possible, the
Census Bureau representative may collect
your information over the telephone or ask
that you complete the survey questionnaire.
If you complete the survey yourself, a
Census Bureau representative will arrange
for a day and time to return to the GQ to
pick up the completed questionnaire.

Do the sampled Group Quarters
(GQ) and individuals have to
answer the questions on the
American Community Survey?
Yes. Your response to this survey is
required by law (Title 13, United States
Code, Sections 141, 193, and 221). The
Census Bureau estimates that the facility

level survey will take about 15 minutes to
complete and the individual survey will take
about 25 minutes to complete.

How will my participation help me
and my community?
Billions of government and business dollars
are distributed among states, communities,
and population groups based on the social,
economic, housing, and GQ information
available for that area.
The information you provide will help you
and other individuals, local governments,
nongovernmental organizations, and
businesses to:
•

Help distribute resources to
communities.

•

Improve your community by deciding
where in your town new highways,
schools, and hospitals can do the most
good.

•

Measure changes in the well-being of
children, families, and senior citizens to
help plan future programs.

•

Help communities plan for emergency
situations that might affect you such as
floods, fires, and other natural disasters.

Is the information I provide
confidential?
Yes. Your answers are confidential by law
under Title 13, United States Code, Section
9. This law requires that every Census
Bureau employee—including the Director
and every Census Bureau representative—
take an oath and be subject to a jail term,
a fine, or both if he or she discloses ANY
information that could identify you. Your
answers may be used only for statistical
purposes.