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ACS Summary File Sequence-Based Format

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ACS Summary File Sequence-Based Format (2005-2021)

Using the American Community Survey Summary File: What Data Users Need to Know
Download Using the American Community Survey Summary File: What Data Users Need to Know [PDF - 6.5 MB]

The American Community Survey (ACS) Summary File Sequence-Based Format is a set of comma-delimited text files that contain all of the Detailed Tables for the ACS data releases. Summary File data in the sequence-based format are only available for data years 2005-2021. The sequence-based format is divided into three file types: estimates, margin of error, and geography files for each release.

In the sequence-based format, Detailed Tables are stored in a series of files with only the data from the tables and without such information as the table title, description of the rows, or geographic identifiers. That information is located in other files that the user must merge with the data files to reproduce complete tables.

The handbook, Using the ACS Summary File: What Data Users Need to Know, provides an overview and more about working with the sequence-based format. Data, instructions, guides, and example SAS programs are provided below for each year.

2008
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
2008

2008 ACS 1-year Estimates

1-Year Summary File (Sequence-Based)

2006-2008 ACS 3-Year Estimates

3-Year Summary File (Sequence-Based)

Find 2018-Present Table-Based Format.

ACS Summary File Retrieval Tool

Data Tool
Summary File Retrieval Tool
Access an Excel Macro tool to download up to 20 ACS detailed tables for all published geographies within a state for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 ACS.

Technical Documentation

2008 ACS 1-Year Estimates

pdf 1-Year Tech Doc [<1.0 MB]
pdf 1-Year Worked Example [<1.0 MB]

2006-2008 ACS 3-Year Estimates

pdf 3-Year Tech Doc [<1.0 MB]
pdf 3-Year Worked Example [<1.0 MB]

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Page Last Revised - September 7, 2022
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