2010 PUMA Definitions

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Version Summary

The 2010 version of Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) is the lowest level of geography identified in 2010 census samples and in samples from the American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) for 2012-2021.

The Census Bureau redraws PUMA boundaries every 10 years based on population information from the most recent decennial census. The 2010-based PUMAs were first used in ACS/PRCS samples for 2012 respondents. In Multi-Year ACS/PRCS files, the meaning of PUMA codes depends on the year the respondent was interviewed (see MULTYEAR). Codes for 2011 and earlier responses are based on 2000 PUMA definitions, and codes for 2012-2021 are based on 2010 definitions.

Composition Files

2010 PUMAs are defined as groups of counties and/or census tracts. The Census Bureau provides files that identify the components of each 2010 PUMA on their Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) page in two formats:

Reference Maps

Detailed maps of each individual 2010 PUMA can be downloaded from the Census Bureau's Reference Maps page (scroll to the bottom of the page).

2000-2010 PUMA Crosswalk

This file describes all relationships between 2000 and 2010 PUMAs, including 2000 population, 2010 population, land area, and 0010 ConsPUMA codes for each area of intersection:

Web Map of 2000 and 2010 PUMAs

The map below shows both the 2010 (in blue) and 2000 (in yellow) PUMA definitions. Clicking on the map will highlight and identify the county, 2000 PUMA, and 2010 PUMA for the selected location. You can select which boundaries you want to view using the Layers menu at the top of the map. There is also a larger map containing the same information.


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Boundary File

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