The purpose of this memorandum is to assess the impact on the distribution of the American Community Survey (ACS) sample by including Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs) in the twelve "€œstrong" MCD states as design areas when determining the block level sampling strata assignment -€“ and thus the sampling rate -€“ for the ACS. Beginning with the 2002 sample selection, MCDs were considered for inclusion as design areas. This decision was made for two reasons: 1) MCDs in the 12 "strong" MCD states were included in the Census 2000 Long Form sample design; and 2) The desire to produce reliable ACS estimates for MCDs in the 12 "€œstrong" MCD states.