All of the USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) mapping applications, such as the Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America, the Food Environment Atlas, and the Food Access Research Atlas, use data services developed and hosted by ERS as their map content source. These services are open and freely available for use outside of the ERS map applications; as Feature Services, or Map Services. Developers can include ERS maps in applications by using ArcGIS REST APIs; desktop Geographic Information System (GIS) users can use the maps by directly connecting to the server. Map Services provide map images through apps, while Feature Services allow more capability to query and analyze the data, and export to other formats.
General Geospatial Data Service Documentation
More than 25 ERS map and feature services have been created, each containing anywhere from 4 to 70 map layers. Most services consist of national maps displaying county-level data. The Food Access Research Atlas service is Census-tract based. A good way to discover and browse the available services and maps is to use the ERS map applications themselves; all use similar data organization of "Categories" and "Maps." Each category in the application corresponds to a map or feature service; each layer in that service thematically represent data values as a map.
The ARC GIS REST Services Directory lists all available Map or Feature services. Updates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System have been discontinued.
Note: All map services are accessible only via https.
Summary of ERS map services and where they are used
These are the primary data services that are used in the Atlases provided by ERS. Some apps, will list ‘views’ of the primary feature service that are a categorized subset of the data in the primary services.
| Map or Feature service | Description, type of content | Where used |
|---|---|---|
| The Food Environment Atlas: Access and Proximity to Grocery Stores Feature service | Access and proximity to grocery stores: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 07/10/2025. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Food Assistance Feature service | Food Assistance: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 08/21/2025. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Food Prices and Taxes Feature service | Food Prices and Taxes: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 01/21/2026. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Health and Physical Activity Feature service | Health and Physical Activity: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 07/30/2025. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Local Foods Feature service | Local Foods: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 07/25/2025. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Restaurant Availability and Expenditures Feature service | Restaurant Availability and Expenditures: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 08/21/2025. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Socioeconomic Characteristics Feature service | Socioeconomic Characteristics: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 9/10/2020. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: State Food Insecurity Feature service | State Food Insecurity: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 09/16/2025. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Store Availability Feature service | Store Availability: a category from the Food Environment Atlas. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 08/21/2025. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| The Food Access Research Atlas: Food Access 2010 Mapservice | Food Access 2010: Archived food access measures from 2010 Census used in the Food Access Research Atlas. The spatial reference is Web Mercator. Most current release date is 2/2023. | Not in the app but still available to API access or ArcGIS Pro access. |
| The Food Access Research Atlas: Food Access 2015 Mapservice | Food Access 2015: Food access measures from the 2015 data update to the Food Access Research Atlas. The spatial reference is Web Mercator. Most current release date is 1/17/2017. | The Food Access Research Atlas |
| The Food Access Research Atlas: Food Access 2019 Mapservice | Food Access 2019: Food access measures from the 2019 data update to the Food Access Research Atlas. The spatial reference is Web Mercator. Most current release date is 4/27/2021. | The Food Access Research Atlas |
| Atlas of Rural and Small Town America: County Classifications Mapservice | County Classifications: a category from the Atlas of Rural and Small Town America. The spatial reference is WGS 84. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
| Atlas of Rural and Small Town America: Income Mapservice | Income: a category from the Atlas of Rural and Small Town America. The spatial reference is WGS 84. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
| Atlas of Rural and Small Town America: Jobs Mapservice | Jobs: a category from the Atlas of Rural and Small Town America. The spatial reference is WGS 84. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
| Atlas of Rural and Small Town America: People Mapservice | People: a category from the Atlas of Rural and Small Town America. The spatial reference is WGS 84. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
| Atlas of Rural and Small Town America: Veterans Mapservice | Veterans: a category from the Atlas of Rural and Small Town America. The spatial reference is WGS 84. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
| Filter Mapservice | Aggregation of county boundaries by the Atlas of Rural and Small Town America Metro 2013 classification. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| Filter 2019 Mapservice | Aggregation of circa 2019 county boundaries by the Atlas of Rural and Small Town America Metro 2013 classification. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
| Reference Mapservice | State and county formatted labels. The spatial reference is USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic USGS Most current release date is 2/2/2018. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| Reference 2019 Mapservice | State and county formatted labels for circa 2019 county boundaries. The spatial reference is USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic USGS. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | All ERS map atlases except the Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
| Reference Labels Mapservice | State and county formatted state labels. The spatial reference is USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic USGS. Most current release date is 4/7/2023. | Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America |
Desktop User Instructions
To use the ERS map services in a desktop application, such as ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online:
- Browse the portal at gisportal.ers.usda.gov to select services.
- Use the REST API to integrate the services to your custom application of the data services.
- Use ArcGIS Pro catalog to browse the portal listed above.
Developer API Instructions
The services can be accessed through ArcGIS Server REST API; JSON and SOAP interfaces are also available. See the ArcGIS Server REST API detailed documentation, including general usage instructions, service properties, and methods.