The Tech Labs at USA Today launched an API for the exploration of U.S. Census data yesterday. In the announcement, the lab notes the paper’s heavy reliance on demographic data to set the tone for their coverage. With the API, the lab provides a means for others to pull information from the Census 2010 data as well as to compare it to Census 2000 on such metrics as population totals and percentages on vacant housing and race. The API also includes population numbers going back to the first census in 1790, and will be updated with more Census 2010 data when it becomes available later this Summer.
This move to open data and database isn’t entirely altruistic as I’m certain that the lab will be interested in the queries and insights of other analysts on this data. The move makes good sense to leverage their internal capacity, and interest in uncovering insights that might turn into stories for the paper.
Access to documentation and developer keys is available at the USA Today Developer Portal.
Thanks to @jamesfee for the tip via Twitter.
