ASDC Annual Meeting November 10, 2011 Kathleen Gabler Socioeconomic Research Associate Center for Business and Economic Research Culverhouse College of Commerce

Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama 2 Alabama’s 2010 PUMAs

What is a PUMA? Public Use Microdata Area “..statistical geographic areas defined for the tabulation and dissemination of decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS), Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data.” PUMS are files which contain individual records of the characteristics for a sample of persons and households. Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama 3

Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama 4 Why do PUMAs Matter? Only sub-state geographic identifiers on the PUMS records full range of population and housing unit responses collected on individual ACS questionnaires Being used to publish single-year summary tables based on the American Community Survey data age, sex, tenure, income, education, language spoken at home, journey to work, occupation, condominium status, shelter costs, vehicles available, and other subjects

Defining a 2010 PUMA PUMAs are redefined every ten years Local agencies define PUMA boundaries PUMAs may not cross state boundaries PUMAs are assigned 5-digit codes that are unique within state Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, The University of Alabama 5

Defining a 2010 PUMA Must have a minimum population of 100,000 Should have a maximum population of 200,000 Only contiguous counties and/or census tracts may be used Descriptive names will be assigned Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama 6

Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama 7 Changes from 2000 Census There were actually two kinds of PUMAs 1% or “Super” PUMAs (being done away with) 5% PUMAs (or, simply PUMAs) They were not assigned formal names They could be defined in terms of counties, census tracts and/or places

Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama 8 Alabama’s 2010 PUMAs