Description

ACCESS reports the nature of the entrance into the housing unit. Living quarters were of two types: 1) those with "direct access," which could be entered directly from outside the structure, or through a common hallway, lobby, or other entryway that was not part of any household's living quarters (like most apartments/apartment buildings); 2) those with "indirect access," which could only be entered by passing through part of another household's living quarters.

Comparability

This variable yields essentially the same information for all years. In 1960, enumerators answered the question about access on the FOSDIC form; in 1970 and 1980, respondents completed the question on the general census form.

The Census Bureau used information about access as part of the definition of "housing unit." In 1960 and 1970, a housing unit was a place where occupants lived and ate separately from others and had either direct access (as defined in ACCESS) or complete kitchen facilities. (What constituted complete kitchen facilities was defined differently in the two years; see KITCHEN for further explanation). In 1980, a housing unit was a place where occupants lived and ate separately from others and had direct access; kitchen facilities were not part of the 1980 definition.

Information on the nature of entrance into the housing unit was collected for both vacant and occupied units, but vacant units are not part of the 1960 sample in the IPUMS. Vacant mobile homes were not defined as "housing units" in 1960 or 1970; they were in 1980, if they were intended for occupancy where they stood. Moveable structures (i.e., trailers, tents, vehicles) were only defined as "housing units" if people usually ate and lived in them. See also VACANCY.

Universe

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Flags

Editing Procedure

There is no editing procedure available for this variable.