[gis_info] Census Bureau Introduces New Interactive Mapping Tool along with Latest American Community Survey Statistics

[David Alvarez]

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  TUESDAY, DEC. 17, 2013Census Bureau Introduces New
Interactive Mapping Tool along with Latest American Community Survey
Statistics

The U.S. Census Bureau released Census
Explorer<http://www.census.gov/censusexplorer>,
a new interactive mapping tool that gives users easier access to
neighborhood level statistics. The mapping tool uses updated statistics
from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey (ACS), which were also
released today.
[image: census explorer
map]<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/img/cb13-215_census_explorer.jpg>

The new application allows users to map out different social, economic and
housing characteristics of their state, county or census tract, and to see
how these areas have changed since the 1990 and 2000 censuses. The mapping
tool is powered by American Community Survey statistics from the Census
Bureau's API, an application programming
interface<http://www.census.gov/developers/> that
allows developers to take data sets and reuse them to create online and
mobile apps.

"The American Community Survey data are critically important to powering
our nation's 21st century economy," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny
Pritzker said. "Making data more accessible and user-friendly for all
Americans is a top priority of our 'Open for Business Agenda' at the
Department of Commerce. The rich statistics in the 2008-2012 ACS will help
more businesses, policymakers and communities make better-informed
decisions that will help propel U.S. economic growth."
[image: Interactive
map]<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/cb13-215_interactive_map.pdf>

"Census Explorer is another useful tool, like the dwellr and America's
Economy mobile apps, that the Census Bureau has developed to disseminate
statistics faster and make them easier to access," Census Bureau Director
John H. Thompson added. "This interactive map helps users to learn more
about the social, economic and housing characteristics of their communities
— the same characteristics that drive decision-making from the local to the
national level."

The tool allows users to look at the following eight statistics from the
American Community Survey:

   - Total population
   - Percent 65 and older
   - Foreign-born population percentage
   - Percent of the population with a high school degree or higher
   - Percent with a bachelor's degree or higher
   - Labor force participation rate
   - Home ownership rate
   - Median household income

In addition to these characteristics, more than 40
social<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_5YR/DP02/0100000US.04000>
, economic<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_5YR/DP03/0100000US.04000>
 and housing<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_5YR/DP04/0100000US.04000>
topics
are now available through the American Community Survey statistics for all
communities in the nation, regardless of size, down to the block group
level. For example, health insurance coverage statistics are now available
for the first time at the neighborhood level.
Additional Exploration Tools

A variety of other Census Bureau data tools have been updated with today's
new numbers, including the Census Bureau's application programming
interface<http://www.census.gov/developers/>
, Easy Stats <http://www.census.gov/easystats/> and American
FactFinder<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/navigation/1.0/en/d_dataset:ACS_12_5YR>.
In addition to the updated exploration tools, the Census Bureau is
releasing narrative
profiles<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/2012_narrative_profiles/>
which
allow users to explore a graphical and narrative presentation of the
statistics from the American Community Survey.
About the American Community Survey

The American Community Survey provides a wide range of important statistics
about all communities in the country. The American Community Survey gives
communities the current information they need to plan investments and
services. Retailers, homebuilders, police departments, and town and city
planners are among the many private- and public-sector decision makers who
count on these annual results. Ever since Thomas Jefferson directed the
first census in 1790, the census has collected detailed characteristics
about our nation's people.

The Census Bureau uses information collected over five years from the
American Community Survey in order to have more accurate and reliable
statistics for areas with populations smaller than 20,000. Statistics for
larger areas are also included with this release, making comparisons across
large and small geographies possible.

The Census Bureau is currently reviewing all of the questions on the
American Community Survey to ensure adequate coverage of statistical
information that communities rely on. The survey is the only source of
local statistics for most of the 40 topics it covers, such as educational
attainment, housing, employment, commuting, language spoken at home,
nativity, ancestry and selected monthly homeowner costs down to the
smallest communities. The Census Bureau is inviting the public to give
feedback on each question asked in the survey. For more information on the
review process, please visit the American Community Survey content review
website <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/about_the_survey/acs_content_review/>
for
more details.

-- 
David Alvarez

“THE FURTHER BACKWARDS YOU LOOK, THE FURTHER FORWARD YOU CAN SEE"

Winston Churchill
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