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1980-1990-2000 ConsPUMA Definitions

The CONSPUMA variable supplies codes for the 1980-1990-2000 version of ConsPUMAs (Consistent Public Use Microdata Areas). For this version, each ConsPUMA is an aggregation of one or more 2000 PUMAs (Public Use Microdata Areas) that, in combination, align closely with a corresponding set of 1980 county groups and 1990 PUMAs, based on a visual inspection of the boundaries.

CONSPUMA identifies the most detailed areas that can be consistently delineated from the geographic codes available in PUMS files for 1980 through 2011. For more information about the CONSPUMA variable, see the variable description.

A separate variable, CPUMA0010, identifies sets of 2000 and 2010 PUMAs that comprise comparable populations for samples from 2000 forward.

Detailed Composition

The CONSPUMA component file is an Excel spreadsheet showing which PUMAs and County Groups are associated with each CONSPUMA for each sample. For the specific counties, places, and tracts that comprise each PUMA and County Group, see the composition pages for 1980 County Groups, 1990 PUMAs, and 2000 PUMAs.

Inconsistency in New Orleans area due to Hurricane Katrina:
Due to the population losses in the New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina, the Census merged 3 PUMAs (Louisiana 01801, 01802, and 01905) into 1 PUMA (77777) for the 2006 and later ACS samples.

For samples prior to 2006, PUMAs 01801 and 01802 are allocated to CONSPUMA 172 and PUMA 01905 is allocated to CONSPUMA 173. In 2006 and later samples, the combined PUMA 77777 is allocated wholly to CONSPUMA 172. In effect, the entire area of PUMA 01905 switches from one CONSPUMA to another between 2005 and 2006.

Any analysis that uses CONSPUMA and includes samples from before and after 2005-2006 should recode CONSPUMA codes 172 and 173 to a single code in order to achieve comparability.

Boundary File

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