Documentation Supporting the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates Now Available

We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of the 2021 American Community Survey 1-year estimates scheduled for release on Thursday, September 15, 2022. This documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data release.

New and updated information related to this release is available now on the 2021 Data Release page.

Highlights include links to the following:

• The Table & Geography Changes page explains new and modified tables, as well as information on changes to geography.
• The Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy page includes code lists, subject definitions, group quarters definitions, and the statistical testing tool. 
• The Table Shells display the layout of the tables without the estimates or margins of error filled in. The Table List includes information, such as table IDs, titles, universes, as well as 1-year/5-year availability, in one spreadsheet.
• The Geography Boundaries by Year page shows on which vintage of geography the 2021 ACS 1-year estimates are based.
• The Areas Published page lists the total number of geographic areas that receive 2021 ACS 1-year estimates. The Reference Materials page also details the specific geographies that have published data.
• ​The 2021 ACS 1-year Summary File will be released as a table-based format, replacing the prior sequence-based Summary File format. Each ACS Detailed Table will be available as a separate file containing the estimate and margin of error for all published geographies. To aid in this transition, the prior sequence-based format will be also available for the 2021 ACS 1-year and 2017-2021 ACS 5-year releases but discontinued thereafter. For more information, visit the ACS Summary File page.
• The Census Bureau will hold a webinar on September 8 explaining how to access data and online resources from the 2021 ACS, which will be publicly released on September 15. The webinar will also provide tips for comparing ACS geographies and statistics over time. Embargo subscribers will have access to these statistics from Tuesday, September 13, at 10 a.m. EDT, to September 15, at 12:01 a.m. EDT. Learn more in the Press Kit.

The 2021 ACS estimates will be released in the Census Bureau's data dissemination platform, data.census.gov, on Thursday, September 15. The platform serves as the primary way for accessing data and digital content from the Census Bureau.  

2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Pre-Release Webinar

Learn more about the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year data release. This webinar will cover background information about the ACS, changes for this release, and where to find new data release information on the ACS website. We will also demonstrate how to access ACS statistics online.

Date & Time: Thursday, September 8 from 2:00-3:00 PM EDT

Presenters: Jewel Jordan, Public Information Office

Amanda Klimek, American Community Survey Office

Rex Kung, Center for Enterprise Dissemination