ACS Demographic Profiles: 2005-09 Estimates

Each profile includes four tables providing selected demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics for various geographic areas in the region.

Data Files (Excel)

Washington State

Map of PUMA Geography in PSRC Region

Narrative Profiles (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)?
- The general concept of a metropolitan area (MA) is one of a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that nucleus. Some MAs are defined around two or more nuclei. Each MA must contain either a place with a minimum population of 50,000 or a U.S. Census Bureau-defined urbanized area and a total MA population of at least 100,000 (75,000 in New England). An MA contains one or more central counties. The standards provide for a flexible structure of metropolitan definitions that classify each MA either as a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) or as a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA) divided into primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSA).

What is a Census Designated Place (CDP)?
- CDPs are unincorporated communities with concentrations of population, housing and commercial structures that are identifiable by name and are not within or overlapping an incorporated municipality. They are delineated for each decennial census for reporting purposes, and are the statistical counterparts of incorporated municipalities. CDP boundaries may change from one decennial census to the next.

What is a PUMA?
- A public use microdata area (PUMA) is a decennial census area for which the U.S. Census Bureau provides specially selected extracts of raw data from a small sample (5-percent) of population and housing unit records from the American Community Survey that are screened to protect confidentiality. These extracts are referred to as ‘‘public use microdata sample (PUMS)’’ files and they allow data users to create their own statistical tabulations and data summaries. PUMAs are delineated uniquely within each state and comprise areas that contain at least 100,000 people.

Download the PSRC User’s Guide to the American Community Survey (ACS) for answers to questions such as:

How is the ACS different from the decennial census long form survey?
Can I compare ACS data with decennial census data?
What is a Margin of Error?
Which estimate series should I use?

More Information

Census Bureau ACS Home Page

ACS Release Schedule

ACS Compass Handbooks for Data Users

Comparing ACS Data to Other Sources

Using Multiyear Estimates

American FactFinder – Online portal to Census Bureau data

Contact

Neil Kilgren
206-971-3602