Documentation of the JSON shape returned by every Census Data API query. The top-level response is a 2-D array where the first inner array is the header row of variable names and each subsequent inner array is one record.
{
"$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/us-census-bureau/main/json-structure/census-data-row-structure.json",
"specification": "JSON Structure 0.1",
"title": "CensusDataRow Structure",
"description": "Documentation of the JSON shape returned by every Census Data API query. The top-level response is a 2-D array where the first inner array is the header row of variable names and each subsequent inner array is one record.",
"shape": {
"type": "array",
"name": "ResultSet",
"description": "Full Census Data API response.",
"elements": [
{
"name": "Header",
"type": "array",
"position": "first",
"elements": {
"name": "VariableName",
"type": "string",
"description": "Variable identifier from the dataset's variables.json dictionary (for example NAME, B01001_001E, state)."
}
},
{
"name": "Record",
"type": "array",
"position": "subsequent",
"repeated": true,
"elements": {
"name": "Cell",
"type": "string",
"description": "Cell value at the column index corresponding to the matching Header element. All values are encoded as strings — even numeric measurements — consumers must coerce using predicateType from variables.json."
}
}
]
},
"annotations": {
"headerRowIndex": 0,
"valueColumnsStartIndex": 0,
"geographyColumnConvention": "Geography identifier columns (state, county, tract, etc.) are appended after the variables in the `get` clause; total columns = (variables) + (geo hierarchy depth)."
},
"example": [
["NAME","B01001_001E","state"],
["California","39538223","06"],
["Texas","29145505","48"]
]
}
Discovery needs no key. Ratings and market analysis are Pro.
Get an API key
Free tier, no form to fill in. Signing in shares your email address with us — we
store it to create your key and to recognise you if you sign in with another
provider. See our Privacy Policy and
Terms.