Description
After each decennial census, the Census Bureau delineates
Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) for the tabulation and dissemination of decennial
census Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) PUMS data,
and ACS period estimates. Nesting within states, or equivalent entities, PUMAs cover the
entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. PUMA
delineations are subject to population, building block geography, geographic nesting, and
contiguity criteria. Each PUMA is identified by a 5-character numeric census code that may
contain leading zeros and a descriptive name.
The TIGER/Line shapefiles and related database files (.dbf) are an extract of selected geographic and cartographic
information from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated
Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). The MTDB represents a
seamless national file with no overlaps or gaps between parts, however, each TIGER/Line
shapefile is designed to stand alone as an independent data set, or they can be combined
to cover the entire nation.
Resources
| Name | Format | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIGER/Line® Shapefiles PUMA Files | Unknown | Should be used for most mapping projects--this is our most comprehensive dataset. Designed for use with GIS (geographic information systems). |