Research Guides: SW509: Data Sources for Community Assessment: Making Maps of Census Data

Introduction to Making Maps with Census Data

One of the best ways for understanding and visualizing Census data is to create maps. Within a map, complicated data often appears more simple and clear to the viewer. There are many different programs which can be used to create maps from Census data. The following are several available options for creating maps.

Options for Mapping

Social Explorer
The online program Social Explorer is the simplest method for creating a map of Census data. This program contains Census data from 1790 to the present, offers a fast and effective way to map data, and even allows for the simple creation of time-lapse slideshows of demographic variables. Social Explorer is available in both a free basic version, as well as a premium version available through UM Library. See their help section for guides on creating maps.

Social Explorer Tutorials
Video tutorials to help with finding data and making maps in Social Explorer

PolicyMap
Online data and mapping tool for the United States.

data.census.gov
The new data.census.gov has excellent mapping capabilities. The site can sometimes be slow or buggy, so be patient. You can control classification (breaks), colors, and transparency of the main variable you are mapping. You can also control what other information appears on the map, including adding labels, boundaries, and text callouts. Output options are varied, though no vector graphics output is available.

SimplyAnalytics
For more complex maps, try using Simply Analytics, available through UM Library. If you wish to save your work on Simply Analytics, it is necessary to create a log-in. Once on the website there are various Help topics and tutorial videos to assist you in creating your map.

ArcGIS Desktop Software and other GIS Programs
For the most complex and beautiful data visualizations, you may find it necessary to use a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program to map your data. For assistance in using GIS programs, feel free to contact a Spatial and Numeric Data (SAND) librarian at clarklibrary@umich.edu.

Last Updated: Oct 2, 2025 1:42 PM

Subjects: Course Help, Social Sciences

Tags: 509, assessment, census data, community profile, social work