distinction between 2000 MIGPUMA1/PWPUMA00 codes and 2010 MIGPUMA1/PWPUMA00

USA
1

Hello,

I would appreciate some clarifications on MIGPUMA1/PWPUMA00 codes for 2000 and those for 2010:

  1. (Definition) The MIGPUMA1/PWPUMA00 codes for 2000 constitue those for 2000, 2005-2009. The MIGPUMA1/PWPUMA00 codes for 2010 constitue those for 2010 to 2016. Is this correct?

  2. What is the exact difference between these codes for 2000 and for 2010?

Thank you very much.

2

I’ll address each question individually.

(1) Actually, 2005-2011 ACS samples use the 2000 MGPUMA/PWPUMA definitions while 2012 and later ACS samples use the 2010 definitions. This is the case for both MIGPUMA1and PWPUMA00.

(2) The differences between these codes is the reference PUMA boundaries used when constructing these variables. PUMAs (public use microdata areas) are redrawn with every 10 years with each decennial census to update and more accurately represent the geographic distribution of the US population. It takes a few years for these new geographic boundaries to be used in public use ACS data, so that is why the “new” boundaries are not implemented for a couple years after each decennial census.

This might add unnecessary complexity, but the above details apply to the ACS samples, which basically implement the long form of the census questionnaire on an annual basis. The 2010 10% sample provides responses from the short form census questionnaire from the decennial census. This being the case, the 2010 10% sample implements the 2010 PUMA definitions immediately.

3

Additional key information about the definitions of Migration and Place-of-Work PUMAs is available through IPUMS USA’s Geographic Tools page. There you can find online maps of the areas, as well as boundary files, and listings of the PUMAs that comprise each Migration and Place-of-Work PUMA.

4

can anyone confirm that the PUMA values used in the file: https://usa.ipums.org/usa/resources/volii/puma_migpuma1_pwpuma00.xls are 2010 values and not 2000?

5

That file presents 2010 versions of these geographies.

Thanks for the question. I hadn’t noticed before that this file doesn’t include any direct statement of the version year. I’ll make a note to correct that in a future update.

As it is, I was able to determine this file uses 2010 versions because it presents a single code for both Place-of-Work PUMAs and Migration PUMAs. The 2000 versions of these geographies were not identical, so IPUMS provides separate files for the 2000 Place-of-Work PUMAs and Migration PUMAs. The file you shared is available through the Geographic Tools pages for both the 2010 Place-of-Work PUMAs and Migration PUMAs.

6

Thanks very much!