On January 26, we released the following updates to the site:

• New buttons that allow you share data.census.gov content directly via social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) and email. This feature allows you to share any table, map, or profile at the click of a button. You may also share an individual chart or population pyramid within a profile.

We applied this feature to all pre-existing share buttons, and we also added new share buttons to our maps and profiles with this release.

• Behind the scenes technical improvements to:
  • Help external search engines better understand and link to data.census.gov content
  • Reduce load times for long lists
  • Support our ability to provide simpler hierarchical displays in the future
    
• Enhanced summary text for profiles on the All Results page. With this update, we added highlighted data directly to the All Results page. This provides popular statistics at-a-glance and gives you more detail about the type of information you can explore by opening the profile.

• Fixes to 5 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • Return to the default view of the geography filter panel after closing and re-opening it
  • See all relevant variables in the Mi­crodata Access Tool after selecting a topic filter

On March 16, we released the following updates to the site:

• Expanded functionality to restore the table back to the default view. When you click the Restore button at the top of the table, it will clear any custom filters you applied to the columns of the table and return to the original view.

• Behind-the-scenes technical updates to support future improvements to the single search. Specifically, this work is designed to support future enhancements to your experience when the search text includes ambiguous terms that could have multiple meanings.
• Fixes to 12 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  
  • View labels for the most recent congressional district vintage in the typeahead search suggestions
  • Scroll horizontally and view population pyramids on mobile devices
  • See margin of error buttons only in relevant sections of the Profiles
  • Continue to see previous customizations you made to the table view even after applying custom filters 
  • Get links for microdata API queries that match the custom table you created in the Microdata Access Tool (MDAT)

On April 6, we released the following updates to the site:

• New bar charts added to the Marital Status and Marital History section of the Geography Profiles. This update provides more meaningful information in the bar chart.

• New buttons for “Dataset” and “Year” added to the table toolbar. These buttons provide an intuitive option for you to switch between all available datasets and years applicable to the table you are currently viewing. They provide a helpful way for you to interact with the table and replace the previous “Survey” button.

• Simplified column controls. We removed the reset column buttons, because the “Restore” button at the top of the table already provides functionality to return to the default table view.

• Fixes to 16 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • View maps in the Geography Profiles on mobile devices without having the controls cover up the map
  • Automatically experience a readjusted zoom area on the map as you make updates to your selected geographies
    

On May 18, we released the following updates to the site:

• Improved application programming interface (API) functionality for time-series datasets that allow you to specify multiple time values in the same data request. This new feature allows you to add multiple &time= predicates to your API data requests, as shown in the example below: api.census.gov/data/timeseries/eits/qfr?get=data_type_code,time_slot_id,seasonally_adj,category_code,cell_value,error_data&for=us:*&time=2012-Q3&time=2012-Q1
• Technical work to add time-outs to unusually large API data requests. This update helps ensure overall system performance is not negatively impacted by these types of large data requests.
  
• Behind-the-scenes work to update suggested results in the typeahead search suggestions.
  
• Fixes to 20 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  •  Use a keyboard to access the microphone button that enables speech-to-text functionality in the single search bar
  • View relevant pop-up windows and warning messages prior to clearing filters
  • Use the ampersand character ‘&’ in the single search bar

On May 4, we released the following updates to the site:

• New option that allows you to clear filters when running a new search in the single search bar. This toggle allows you to clear filter check boxes you previously selected when running a new search.
  
  

Please note that by default, the toggle is turned off. If you turn on the toggle it will persist across visits to the site unless you manually change it again.

• Improved aesthetics of filter panel side panel and a new label for “Search for filter.” We made this wording improvement to clarify the purpose of the search option.

• Behind-the-scenes technical updates to suggested results for Profiles. This work supports efforts in future releases to provide more relevant Profile suggestions based on your search.
• Technical work to improve structured data for content on data.census.gov so that external search engines can find the content and display more information and context to users.
• Fixes to 19 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • Get consistent search results in instances when a period is added to the search terms
  • View special characters correctly in downloaded tables
  • View NAICS codes in numeric order in the variables drop-down menu of maps

On July 6, we released the following updates to the site:

• New “County Subdivision” box added the “Most Commonly Used Geographies” section of the filter panel. This update makes it easier to select county subdivisions such as towns, townships, and boroughs.

• Improved typeahead search. With this release, you will now get search suggestions after typing 2 characters in the single search bar instead of 3.

• New options in the filter panel to select the following sets of codes
  • Harmonized System (HS) Export Codes
  • End-Use Import Codes
  • End-Use Export Codes
  • Advanced Technology Products (ATP)
  • Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Codes
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Codes

*These new filter panel categories will contain folders and check boxes when relevant datasets from the International Trade program are added to data.census.gov in the future.

• Improved recognition of search terms and better messaging in instances when the search terms do not result in data tables. You will now see filter matches for your search terms even when the site does not have data tables to support the search criteria. These situations are indicated by “No results found” and similar messages.

• New deep links that allow you to share a particular section of a Geography or Industry Profile. When you click one of tabs at the top of a profile, the section you navigated to will now be captured in the URL. For example, after clicking the “Education” tab, the URL will read data.census.gov/profile/Maryland?g=040XX00US24#education
  When visiting the link, you will be taken to the education section of the profile automatically.

You can also right click the link icon to get the URL for that section of the profile.

• Improved labeling in the “Notes” section of American Community Survey data tables. You will now see the “Estimates” section in the notes to indicate whether the table is from the ACS 5-year or ACS 1-year estimates.
  

• Technical work to make back-end data transfer processes run more smoothly.
  
  
• Fixes to 27 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • View the “all census tracts in United States” geography selection on a map
  • Maintain universe restrictions when switching between vintages in the Microdata Access Tool (MDAT)
  • View correct topic tags when accessing tables that are provided for different population groups from the decennial census
  • Access data for all voting districts in a state

On Aug 3, we released the following updates to the site (see Release Notes):

• Redesigned map variable selection process. With this update, we replaced the previous “Variables” button with a drop-down menu. This menu shows you map variables in a readable, hierarchical format that is similar to the table display. Drop-down menus in the “Dimensions” section allow you to switch between different categories available for the map that further contextualize your variable selection. The map also defaults to show percentages when available and the new “Units” section allows you to switch between percentages and numbers. Percentages must be provided in the corresponding table display to be available for the map.

• Simplified labeling for the variable shown in the variable drop-down menu. Variable labels are now broken down into manageable parts. The primary selection is shown in large font for easy readability, with the full context included in the boxes below the variable.

• Improved readability of map legend. This new legend shows the primary variable in bold font, with the variable context included right below it. The legend now includes the year, as well as updated language for the number of geographies selected.

• Improved “Select” and “Identify” buttons on the map. When you use these features, the other buttons on the map will no longer disappear, providing a consistent experience for you to make use of all map features.

• Integration of table header details into the table toolbar. The table ID, table title, survey/program, universe statement, and product will be all be shown as part of the newly redesigned product drop-down menu. We placed these details alongside the other table controls for your convenience, and to allow more room on your screen for the table display.

• Ability to search for UTO Codesets (International Codesets) in the “search for filter” section of the advanced search. These codesets include results from the recently added Harmonized System (HS) Import, Harmonized System (HS) Export, End-Use Import, End-Use Export, Advanced Technology Products (ATP), Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This feature will support future releases of international trade data tables and will not be visible until the corresponding data are release.

• Behind-the-scenes improvements to the API
• Technical updates to improve our internal data review
• Fixes to 9 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • Download data tables with “all places in U.S.” geography selection
  • Select public use microdata areas (PUMAs) in the Microdata Access Tool without slow response times

On Sept 28, we released the following updates to the site:

• New Pop Story App, accessible at data.census.gov/app/population_pyramids This app showcases the use of population pyramids to tell data stories and features a widget at the end which allows you to find the population pyramid for your community.

Pop Story App Features: 

◦  Intuitive scrolling, keyboard controls, and scalable text to help you navigate through the application with ease.

◦  Widget allows you to find population pyramid for the following geographic areas: Nation, state, county, city/town, ZIP code tabulation area, congressional district, school district, American Indian area, Alaska Native area, and Hawaiian Homeland. 

◦  Buttons to share the Pop Story widget on twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and email.

◦  URLs capture different sections of the Pop Story app.

• New Cite button. This automatically provides a citation for the table in common formats that can be copied: MLA, APA, Chicago, and Harvard. The button also contains options to export the citation for BibTeX and Reference Manager.

• Updated URL structure for capturing table IDs. This update allows for better connections between data.census.gov and Google Search. With this update, the dataset selection and table ID are shown as indicated in bold: https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2021.S1901?q=income

Previous links with the old URL convention will continue to function and redirect.

• Persistence when clicking the Filters and Results buttons. When clicking the Filters button, your selection will be maintained until you click it again. When clicking the Results button, your selection will be maintained unless you click the button again or run a new search.

• Updated Profile results that default to ACS 1-year estimates when available for the geography, providing a consistent experience throughout the Profile.

• Increased font size of text on data.census.gov to help you read the content more easily.
• Technical updates to help improve speed of future updates to data.census.gov.
• Fixes to 36 defects.

On Sept 7, we released the following updates to the site:

• New Profiles tab accessible throughout the site. This tab makes it easier to navigate to Geography and Industry Profiles. It also features a list of Profiles to choose from that are relevant to your search.

• Improved width, design, and hover effects for the filter and results button panel.

• Redesign of the filter side panel. With this update, you will now see the filter subcategories shown by default, making it easier to explore the available options.

As you click through the filter panel, clicking an item with a chevron will provide more detailed options to choose from and clicking a check box will add the filter as a final search selection.

• Update to ensure that you see all dimensions in the variable toolbar and map legend, including detailed population groups and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) codes. This makes sure you can always see the full context for the mapped variable.

• New map note explaining how data is provided for Louisville, KY. This map note is displayed when making maps with American Community Survey (ACS) data.

• Behind-the-scenes updates to allow searches for world geographies. This work is being done to support international datasets on data.census.gov.
  
• Fixes for 19 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • View correct table results when selecting filters for a topic and a detailed population group
  • Select public use microdata areas (PUMAs) by state in the Microdata Access Tool
  • Experience improved load times when using the single search bar
  • View the correct number of result pages after editing the number of table results displayed at a time

On Oct 26, we released the following updates to the site:

• New options to select geographies in bulk using a map, including:
  

◦  Circle Selection Tool: Draw a circle to select geographies

◦  Lasso Selection Tool: Draw a custom shape to select geographies 

• Updated design of search bars throughout the filter panel. These appear consistent with the design of the main single search bar to provide a standard look for all search bars across the site.

• Removal of the ‘Embed’ option from the ‘Share Profile’ pop-up window, as this functionality was not supported. However, the functionality to embed individual visualizations within a Profile continue to be supported and remain accessible on data.census.gov.

• New sitemap that provides more details for external search engines to be able to link to data.census.gov content.
  
• Technical work to help improve internal review processes.
  
• Fixes to 6 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • View population pyramids in the Pop Story App in one view that displays all labels.
  • View chart text in the Pop Story App on mobile devices without overlapping text.
  • See correct search results when using the phrases “town of” or “city of” in the single search bar.

On Nov 16, we released the following updates to the site:

• New filter hover effects. When hovering over a selected filter, you will now see a pop-up with the full label of the filter for easy readability.

• Improved ZIP download output. The previously included alternating annotation columns have been removed to simplify the output and make it easier to read. The information in these columns is already included as special characters the corresponding data columns

• Enhance the ability to recognize the search terms you type into the single search bar by implementing a neural network to recognize search criteria.

• Fixes to 9 defects, including fixes that allow you to:    
  • View featured statistics for key search terms at the top of the All Results page. 
  • Use map variable menu options that are responsive to your selections. 
  • Click between tables without arbitrarily keeping URL parameters from the last table.
  • Get MLA citations in Excel downloads that contain the complete data.census.gov URL.

On Nov 7, we released the following updates to the site:

• A table notes toolbar, featuring new functionality that allows you to print and search the content of the table notes.

• Behind-the-scenes work to improve the future layout of table notes, which will allow you to navigate to different sections of the notes with a single click.
  
• Technical work to improve our ability to recognize the search criteria you enter in the single search bar. The benefits from this work will be added to the live site in future system releases.
  
• Fixes to 7 defects, including fixes that allow you to:
  • Obtain complete citations for Annual Business Survey and Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey.
  • View correct sections of population pyramids when scrolling through the Pop Story App.
  • View data when navigating to new tables after having applied a custom filter.