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Find data in the Data Library

Updated

The Data Library lists every dataset available in Social Explorer, such as the U.S. Decennial Census and the American Community Survey. From here you can read about a dataset, open its documentation, and start a report or a map with it.

Open the Data Library

  • Click Data Library in the left-hand sidebar, or
  • On the Home page, click Open Data Library under Browse Datasets.
Data Library with search, filters, and the dataset list

Search and filter

  • Search data library: type a dataset or survey name, for example ACS 2023. Results show the matching surveys under each dataset.
  • Source: the organization that publishes the data, such as the U.S. Census Bureau.
  • Subject: topics such as Demographic or Economic.
  • Survey year: a Single year or a Range, with shortcuts such as Last 5yr, 2010s, or Pre-2000.
  • More filters: Released (added in the last week, 2 weeks, month, or 3 months), Update frequency, and Available in (Maps or Reports).

To remove all filters, click the reset icon next to them. Use the icons on the right to switch between list and grid view.

Tip: Your search and filters are kept in the page address, so you can bookmark a filtered view or send it to a colleague.

A New label marks datasets with a recently added survey.

Open a dataset

Click a dataset to see its description, source, update frequency, and the list of Surveys it includes, usually one per year. For long lists, use Search surveys to find a year.

Dataset page with info icon, Begin report, and Open in Maps for each survey

Next to each survey:

  • Info (i) icon: opens the data dictionary, with all variables, sources, and technical documentation. See View Data Dictionary.
  • Begin report: opens the Reports app in a new tab with this survey already selected, so you go straight to choosing geographies. See Create a Report.
  • Open in Maps: opens a map with data from this survey in a new tab. See Introduction to Maps.
Note: A button only appears if the survey is available in that app. Some surveys are available in Reports but not in Maps, or the other way around.

To build a report without choosing a dataset first, click Create report in new app next to the search box.

The same datasets appear on the Home page under Browse Datasets, where the Latest tab shows recently published data.

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