In the 2012 ACS the variable for detailed birthplace (bpld) code 10010 has label “Samoa, 1940-1950”. This label does not exist in ACS or IPUMS codebooks. Is this actually just “Samoa”? How could I verify?
You are correct that “Samoa, 1940-1950” simply represents Samoa (aka the Independent State of Samoa), which is distinct from American Samoa.
Samoa was alternatively coded as “Western Samoa” in the 1930, 1980, 1990, and 2000 samples.
Hope this helps.