The Public Use Microdata Sample files, or PUMS, are a sample of the actual responses to the American Community Survey and include most population and housing characteristics. These files provide users with the flexibility to prepare customized tabulations and can be used for detailed research and analysis. Files have been edited to protect the confidentiality of all individuals and of all individual households. For an overview of the file, please see the American Community Survey PUMS overview.
The 2006-2008 ACS 3-year PUMS files include the total population including those living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarter facilities. The smallest geographic unit that is identified within the PUMS is the Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA). PUMAs are defined after each decennial census for use in presenting PUMS data, and are defined within states based on a minimum population threshold of 100,000. PUMAs are not updated between decennial censuses in response to shifts in patterns of population distribution; as a result, some PUMAs may now have estimated populations less than 100,000.
The 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-year PUMS file contains the same sample of actual responses provided in the 2006, 2007, and 2008 1-year PUMS files. For an overview of the files, please see the American Community Survey Multiyear PUMS overview.
The 2008 ACS 1-year PUMS file is also available (see left menu).
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