ACS Data Users Group

Hi There,

I'm trying to join the demographics from ACS 2015 data with Block Shape files from 2015 on BlockGroupID (Block Group FIPS code) and see some of Block groups are missing from ACS that are in Census Shape file. I'm wondering what is the reason behind this. I'm new to this kind of geographic data and the group itself. Would love to hear some expect options on how I can get complete information.

Attached google drive link contains the Block Groups ID (FIPS Codes) from ACS 2015 that did not match with Census Shape file 2015.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72S8sjziFItS2lJY0JSaUZob0E

Thanks !

Regards,

Mohammed Ayub

I just spot-checked your Alaskan block groups, and I don't see the values you list in the ACS 2015. That is, there's no county 02270 for those block groups to be in. 02275 is Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska.

Spot checking the two for CA, I don't find those in the ACS either.
(using this Factfinder page factfinder.census.gov/.../0500000US06037.15000)

060378002043
This tract only seems to have two block groups,

060379304011
There doesn't seem to be any tract 9304 in LA County, let alone 9304.01

How did you come by the ACS data you're trying to join?

Hi Joe,
Sorry I worded my question incorrectly and made you do some analysis. Yes, you are right these block groups are not present in ACS 2015 but they are present in Census Shapefile 2015. And my question would be why are they present in Census but not in ACS ?
1) Is that because ACS does not capture all block groups but census does
2) or, there are changes over time in the geographical block groups, they are merged or broken out every year depending on lot of factors?

Thanks !

Regards,
Mohammed Ayub