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This guide is meant to serve as an introduction to understanding and using Census data. The two most commonly used censuses and surveys are the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey.  

After working through the content of this guide, you will:

• Understand the primary differences between the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS)
• Understand the ACS estimates, including margins of error, comparing estimates, and comparing ACS data with decennial census data
• Understand Census geographies
• Understand where to find different forms of Census data

Content adapted with permission from the "Census Workshop" guide created by Jennifer Huck, University of Virginia Libraries, and recreated from the Census guide I created for an urban studies course at Trinity College.