Esri's New Web Portal Provides One-Stop Shop for Census-Related Information

Census Watch Helps Users Tune to the Latest Numbers

Census Watch, a new Web portal launched in February by Esri, provides users with instant access to the most recent census information.

Census Watch (www.esri.com/censuswatch) consolidates census-related resources and links into a one-stop shop for a variety of users who need immediate access to the latest Census 2000 results, data resources, education and training, redistricting, and news about Esri activities with the United States Census Bureau.

According to Christopher Thomas, Esri state and local government industry manager, average citizens, technology experts, and Business people alike will find this Web site useful. "Esri is committed to promoting census-related activities to its users, but also to empowering society with GIS capabilities. This Web site is a vehicle for everybody to get up to speed right away," says Thomas.

Among the data resources available, users will be able to download TIGER/Line shapefiles from the Geography Network, view U.S. demographic data, and access Esri map data sets. There is also a link to American FactFinder, the U.S. Census Bureau's ArcIMS-driven site where users can create maps on-the-fly and review census data. Another important feature of Census Watch is the education and training information, which includes links to census-related courses at Esri's Virtual Campus and other training resources.

Visitors to Census Watch can also keep abreast of the Census 2000 redistricting plan with links to state and national data centers and information on Esri software solutions including autoBound, a GIS-based system for redistricting, reapportionment, and resource allocation, from Digital Engineering Corporation, an Esri Business Partner.

"We expect Census Watch to grow and expand providing users with a quick reference guide to anything and everything they need to know about the census," says Rick Ayers, Esri federal account manager.

For more information, contact Rick Ayers, Esri (e-mail: rayers@esri.com).

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