# I'm using metro status variable in ACS... why so many unidentifiable or central city unID'd cases?

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/im-using-metro-status-variable-in-acs-why-so-many-unidentifiable-or-central-city-unidd-cases/405>\
**Category:** USA\
**Created:** [January 25, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/im-using-metro-status-variable-in-acs-why-so-many-unidentifiable-or-central-city-unidd-cases/405 "2014-01-25T18:56:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![grover](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/grover/32/5_2.png) [@grover](https://forum.ipums.org/u/grover)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/im-using-metro-status-variable-in-acs-why-so-many-unidentifiable-or-central-city-unidd-cases/405/2 "2014-02-12T18:30:00Z")

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In ACS samples, responents are given a code of “Not identifiable” if the [PUMA](https://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/PUMA/#description_section) boundaries within which that respondent lives do not match up with [METAREA](https://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/METAREA#description_section) boundaries. This is briefly discussed in the User Caution note at the bottom of the [METAREA Comparability Statement](https://usa.ipums.org/usa-action/variables/METAREA#comparability_section), as well as on the [Incompletely Identified Metropolitan Areas](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/incompmetareas.shtml) page.

See the Answers to [this question](https://forum.ipums.org/t/in-relation-to-the-variable-city-why-do-so-many-individuals-fall-in-the-category-non-in-identifiable-city/385/1) for more info about CITY.

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