Census Bureau Backs App Development

The US Census Bureau has launched an API to help developers customise access to its stats into web and mobile apps, with the aim of helping the public view details of America's changing population and economy. Coverage includes demographic, socio-economic and housing statistics.

The API (Application Programming Interface) facilitates the creation of apps working with two sets of statistics: demographics including population, age, gender, race, and household relationship for a variety of geographic areas; and social topics including education, income, occupation and housing.

Stephen Buckner (pictured), Chief of the Census Bureau's Center for New Media and Promotions, comments: 'Apps give people simpler access to our statistics so they can get the information they need to answer questions or solve problems. As web developers exercise their creativity with our statistics, we believe the public will gain more opportunities to access more of our information on their laptops and mobile devices - anytime and anywhere they wish.'

Additionally, the Census Bureau has launched a web site for developers to provide feedback and ideas on the API, and this includes an 'app gallery' where the public can view and download web apps that have already been created.

Web site: www.census.gov .