Census API Wrapper

0.8.26 verified Fri May 01 auth: no python

A Python wrapper for the US Census Bureau's API, providing simple access to ACS, Decennial Census, and other datasets. Current version 0.8.26, with yearly updates for new data years.

pip install census

Common errors

error NoAuthHandlerError: No API key provided ↓

cause Missing or empty API key string passed to Census constructor.

fix

Set your Census API key before creating instance: c = Census('your_key_here')

error census.core.CensusUnavailable: 400 Client Error: Bad Request for url ↓

cause Invalid variable code, year, or geography specification.

fix

Verify variable codes and geography parameters (e.g., state FIPS code) via Census API documentation.

Warnings

gotcha Variable names come from Census API, not library; ensure you use valid codes (e.g., 'B01001_001E'). ↓

fix Check Census API documentation for available variables per dataset and year.

deprecated Support for ACS 1-year estimates may be dropped in future; always specify year to avoid surprises. ↓

fix Explicitly pass year parameter to ACS methods (e.g., .acs5.state(..., year=2023)).

Imports

Census
wrong
```
import census
```
correct
```
from census import Census
```
Census is a class; direct import of module does not provide class.

Quickstart

Initialize with API key, then call endpoint methods (e.g., acs5.state) with variables and location.

from census import Census

# Get your API key from https://api.census.gov/data/key_signup.html
api_key = os.environ.get('CENSUS_API_KEY', '')
c = Census(api_key)

# Fetch ACS5 2023 data for a state
result = c.acs5.state(('NAME', 'B01001_001E'), 'Illinois')
print(result)