Yes, indeed. The 2000 Census included both the short- and long-form questionnaires. In 2010, only the short-form was delivered (and that is also the plan for 2020 and beyond). All of the information that was asked on the long-form is now being collected instead via the American Community Survey. The American Community Survey is asked every year, and while it does have a much smaller sample size, it provides more of a live-action view versus one-time snapshot of the population of the United States.
So, when should you use the Census 2010 data and when should you use American Community Survey data? Well, it depends on how you plan to use it. Want to learn more about data from the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey? The library is offering a free two and a half hour workshop on this topic on May 11, from 9:30am – 12:00pm. The workshop is being conducted by staff from the Maryland State Data Center and the Libraries’ Government Publications, Maps and Law Department. If you are interested in attending, please register here. If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Jennifer Darragh, Data Services and Government Information Librarian.