ERS GIS Map Services and API User Guide
Our GIS API URLs have changed
Please note that the URL for each of our GIS API endpoints has changed. The updated URLs are available below.
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 map services developed and hosted by ERS as their map content source. These map services are open and freely available for use outside of the ERS map applications. Developers can include ERS maps in applications by using the map service REST API; desktop Geographic Information System (GIS) users can use the maps by directly connecting to the map server.
General Map Service Documentation
More than 25 ERS map 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 service; each map is a layer in that map service. The Food Access Research Atlas is the exception as it uses temporal-based map services, plus an Esri hosted background map.
The ARC GIS REST Services Directory lists all available map services. Updates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System have been discontinued.
Note: All map services are accessible only via https.
| Map service | Description, type of content | Where used |
|---|---|---|
| Background Mapservice | Generic landmass/water body used for map backgrounds. The spatial reference is USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic USGS. Most current release date is 2/2/2018. | The Food Environment Atlas |
| Background 2019 Mapservice | Generic landmass/water body used for map backgrounds using an updated boundary file for US Territories. 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 |
| The Food Environment Atlas: Access and Proximity to Grocery Stores Mapservice | Access and proximity to grocery stores: 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: Food Assistance Mapservice | Food Assistance: 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: Food Prices and Taxes Mapservice | Food Prices and Taxes: 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: Health and Physical Activity Mapservice | Health and Physical Activity: 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: Local Foods Mapservice | Local Foods: 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: Restaurant Availability and Expenditures Mapservice | Restaurant Availability and Expenditures: 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: Socioeconomic Characteristics Mapservice | 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 Mapservice | State Food Insecurity: 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: Store Availability Mapservice | Store Availability: 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 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. | The Food Access Research Atlas |
| 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 |
| Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System: SNAP Benefits Mapservice | SNAP Benefits: a category from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 5/28/2013. | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System |
| Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System: SNAP Participation per Person in Poverty Mapservice | SNAP Participation per Person in Poverty: a category from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 5/28/2013. | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System |
| Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System: SNAP Participation Mapservice | SNAP Participation: a category from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System. The spatial reference is NAD 1983. Most current release date is 5/28/2013. | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data System |
| 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 |
NASS 2017 and 2012 Ag Census Map Services
In partnership with the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), ERS developed the 2017 Ag Census Maps and the 2012 Ag Census Maps application, and also hosts the map services for that application; see the NASS map service documentation.
Desktop User Instructions
To use the ERS map services in a desktop application, such as ArcMap or ArcGIS Online:
- Browse service description and REST directory to select services and maps.
- Follow the instructions to add the maps to your document.
- Use 'gisportal.ers.usda.gov' as the server specification.
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.