ACS Data Users Group

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  • 1.  Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-21-2020 03:03 PM

    Hi folks,

    I'm having some challenges with downloading data.

    I am searching for 2018 ACS 5-year estimates for several variables at the Illinois block group level. Specifically:
    Total population: B01003
    Housing units: B25001
    Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over: B15003
    Employment status for the population 16 years and over: B23025
    Living arrangements of adults 18 years and over by age: B09021
    Poverty status of individuals in the past 12 months by living arrangement: B17021
    In some instances I get a message "Data not available" when I click on a table following an advanced search. In other instances, the tables appear to be available, but I attempt to start the download, I receive an error message saying "Download failed."

    Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Shaun



  • 2.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-23-2020 12:36 PM

    I've had similar issues with data.census.gov depending on the web browser I use. I've never had an issue with Microsoft Edge if you can use that.



  • 3.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-23-2020 01:39 PM

    thanks for the tip greg, unfortunately didn't work for me. also gave firefox a try with the same results.

    i reached out to someone at the census office early last week. she went through my search procedure and was getting the same null results. she didn't have too much advice to offer other than saying it could be a glitch that would be worked out, and i could try emailing censci.feedback@census.gov (which I've done twice, no response).

    so i guess i'm pretty stumped right now...



  • 4.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-23-2020 05:13 PM

    Hi Shaun--

    I do not know where you are, but if you have access to Social Explorer, you can easily download all the the block groups in Illinois with the variables you suggest. If you are not at an institution that has a license you can sign-up for a one or two week free trial. The data are delivered in CSV format for SAS and SPSS and R, and in a format that works in STATA or in a GIS format. Check it out at www.socialexplorer.com. We have most extant aggregate Census Files, including ACS etc all the way back to 1790. If you have any questions, send an email to info@socialexplorer.com.

    Thanks.



  • 5.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-23-2020 07:59 PM

    Thanks so much Andrew, I am at a university in Chicago, and it looks like my institution has a license. looking forward to digging into the available data!

    ~Regards



  • 6.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-23-2020 02:42 PM

    I have the summary files in SQL databases if you want to work with it that way. there is always NHGIS.org as well.



  • 7.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-23-2020 07:59 PM

    Thanks so much for the generosity and tip JamiRae, i may be in touch and will check out NHGIS.org!

    ~Regards



  • 8.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-23-2020 08:10 PM

    yes nhghis will definitely get you the block groups



  • 9.  RE: Issues downloading block group level data in Illinois

    Posted 08-24-2020 01:06 PM

    Indeed, this and social explorer are terrific resources! Thank you to all you folks who helped me with this question!