Explore US Demographics With the New ACS Atlas Collection

Esri's new ACS Atlas Collection offers interactive applications that visualize the latest U.S. demographic and socio-economic data, enabling users to explore over 175 curated web maps across various thematic areas.

2 minute read

February 27, 2025, 5:00 AM PST

By Clement Lau


Esri's ArcGIS Living Atlas team has unveiled the American Community Survey (ACS) Atlas Collection, a suite of interactive applications designed to visualize the latest 2019-2023 ACS 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. As reported by Laura Phoebus, this collection comprises five Atlas Instant Apps, each focusing on thematic areas such as Demographics, Social Characteristics, Economic Characteristics, and Housing. Users can explore over 175 web maps addressing various topics, including age, race, income, education, and employment, providing a comprehensive view of community trends across the United States.

The Atlas Instant Apps offer an engaging platform for users to interact with ACS data. Features include browsing and filtering maps by different categories, navigating through bookmarks, and capturing screenshots complete with legends and pop-ups. Additionally, users with ArcGIS Online accounts can save personalized copies of maps, create StoryMaps, or develop other Instant Apps directly from the Atlas interface. This functionality ensures that both novice and experienced GIS professionals can effectively utilize the ACS data for analysis and storytelling.

The ACS Atlas Collection aims to empower the GIS community by providing intuitive tools to explore and uncover new trends within curated map collections. By leveraging the ArcGIS Atlas Instant App template, Esri facilitates a more interactive and accessible means of discovering content derived from the ACS. This initiative not only enhances the user experience but also promotes informed decision-making based on the latest demographic and socio-economic data available.

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