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VISIT DATA.CENSUS.GOV

About data.census.gov

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Data.census.gov outreach staff exhibit at conferences and give presentations, and provide workshops and webinars throughout the year. Learn more about our activities here.

Outreach Webinars

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Releases

Find out the latest updates about data.census.gov, the Census API, and the Microdata Access, including the most recent data releases and news.

data.census.gov Updates Latest Data Releases

Newsletters Upcoming Data Releases

Guidance

Check out our guidance to learn about using data.census.gov, the Census API, and the Microdata Access.

Frequently Asked Questions How-to Materials for Using data.census.gov How-to Materials for Using the Census API

How-to Materials for Using the Microdata Access Video Tutorials Webinars

About

Events

Releases

Guidance

VISIT DATA.CENSUS.GOV

About data.census.gov

Outreach Webinars Workshops Contact Us

data.census.gov Updates Latest Data Releases Newsletters Upcoming Data Releases

Frequently Asked Questions How-to Materials for Using data.census.gov How-to Materials for Using the Census API How-to Materials for Using the Microdata Access Video Tutorials Webinars

Census.gov /
Data /
data.census.gov Resources /
Guidance for Data Users /
Frequently Asked Questions /
Where can I download Shapefiles?

Where can I download Shapefiles?

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Within Frequently Asked Questions

Are table IDs the same?
Can I export tables?
Can I modify tables, download data, and print data?
Can I search by Table ID?
Data by race, Hispanic Origin, ancestry, or country of birth?
Do the customizations in my table view carry over to the download?
How can I access 2020 Census data on data.census.gov?
How can I access Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Tabulation data?
How can I compare Census data from 2020 to 2010 on data.census.gov?
How can I create a custom filter?
How can I find data for ZIP Codes on data.census.gov?
How Can I Find the Land Area of a Geography?
How Can I Group (or Aggregate) Geographies in the Microdata Access Tool?
How Can I Keep My Geographies when Searching for a New Table?
How can I match the GEOID?
How can I print a table/map or download a PDF?
How do I access DP-1 and Quick Tables from the Decennial Census?
How do I clear the cache in Chrome?
How do I freeze columns in a table?
How do I get started with my search?
How do I navigate between the different pages?
How do I provide feedback?
How do I save my results or search?
How do I search by address using data.census.gov?
How do I search by address using the Census Geocoder?
How do I select geographic components such as urban/rural?
How Do I Select PUMAs on MDAT for ACS 5-Year Estimates with Dual Vintage PUMAs?
How far back will the data go?
I provided feedback about the site. What happens next?
Is there an Advanced Search feature?
Learn how to use data.census.gov, the Census API, & Microdata Access?
The difference between the universes for the ACS, Decennial, and CPS?
What about other functionality I’d like to see?
What are the benefits of using data.census.gov?
What are the preferred and supported browsers for data.census.gov?
What does the output actually look like?
What is data.census.gov?
What is Microdata Access?
What is the Census API? How do I use it?
What other surveys/programs do you expect to add?
What should I do if I run into intermittent responses with the site?
When did American FactFinder (AFF) go away?
When I tried accessing the site, I got a Support ID. What should I do?
When was data.census.gov fully operational?
Where are population estimates?
Where can I download Shapefiles?
Why am I getting the message “Data for This Table is Unavailable”?
Why did the Census Bureau develop data.census.gov?
Why does my table not show all of my selected geographies?
Why doesn’t my download look like the table?
Why was American FactFinder retired?
Will I still be able to use other tools (OnTheMap, FTP site, etc.)?

Within Frequently Asked Questions

Are table IDs the same?
Can I export tables?
Can I modify tables, download data, and print data?
Can I search by Table ID?
Data by race, Hispanic Origin, ancestry, or country of birth?
Do the customizations in my table view carry over to the download?
How can I access 2020 Census data on data.census.gov?
How can I access Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Tabulation data?
How can I compare Census data from 2020 to 2010 on data.census.gov?
How can I create a custom filter?
How can I find data for ZIP Codes on data.census.gov?
How Can I Find the Land Area of a Geography?
How Can I Group (or Aggregate) Geographies in the Microdata Access Tool?
How Can I Keep My Geographies when Searching for a New Table?
How can I match the GEOID?
How can I print a table/map or download a PDF?
How do I access DP-1 and Quick Tables from the Decennial Census?
How do I clear the cache in Chrome?
How do I freeze columns in a table?
How do I get started with my search?
How do I navigate between the different pages?
How do I provide feedback?
How do I save my results or search?
How do I search by address using data.census.gov?
How do I search by address using the Census Geocoder?
How do I select geographic components such as urban/rural?
How Do I Select PUMAs on MDAT for ACS 5-Year Estimates with Dual Vintage PUMAs?
How far back will the data go?
I provided feedback about the site. What happens next?
Is there an Advanced Search feature?
Learn how to use data.census.gov, the Census API, & Microdata Access?
The difference between the universes for the ACS, Decennial, and CPS?
What about other functionality I’d like to see?
What are the benefits of using data.census.gov?
What are the preferred and supported browsers for data.census.gov?
What does the output actually look like?
What is data.census.gov?
What is Microdata Access?
What is the Census API? How do I use it?
What other surveys/programs do you expect to add?
What should I do if I run into intermittent responses with the site?
When did American FactFinder (AFF) go away?
When I tried accessing the site, I got a Support ID. What should I do?
When was data.census.gov fully operational?
Where are population estimates?
Where can I download Shapefiles?
Why am I getting the message “Data for This Table is Unavailable”?
Why did the Census Bureau develop data.census.gov?
Why does my table not show all of my selected geographies?
Why doesn’t my download look like the table?
Why was American FactFinder retired?
Will I still be able to use other tools (OnTheMap, FTP site, etc.)?

Where can I download Shapefiles?

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We have not yet added the ability download Shapefiles directly on data.census.gov, but you can download them through these easy steps on census.gov:

Visit the web interface to download TIGER/Line Shapefiles
Select the year and type of geographic area
Click Submit
Choose the state if prompted and click Download
Save the file to your computer or open the zip file
Repeat as needed

Note: Not all versions of TIGER/Line Shapefiles are available through the web interface. You can use the FTP site to access the full set files. For detailed instructions, please see the educational brochure on Downloading TIGER/Line Shapefiles.

Contact Us

Email us at census.data@census.gov for any questions or comments you may have. For more guidance on data availability and using data.census.gov, the Census API, and Microdata Access, visit our Resources page.

Page Last Revised - January 22, 2025

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