3-Layer Maps – Download Places

As stated on the 3-Layer Maps tutorial, the Download Places List function will generate a list of geographies and data which have met the criteria setup. It is a simple and highly efficient way to download a large dataset from PolicyMap. There are also some unique ways to use this feature to download data.

For example, if you are looking for a list of places that met just one criteria. Let’s say, you are looking for zip codes with a specific income range.

• Go to 3-Layer Maps from the upper left. Once on the page, use the search bar to center the map to a given area. Even though, the map is centered on one location, the query is being processed for the entire nation.
• Select Income & Spending > Income: Household > Median Household Income: All Households to add the data layer.
• Choose Zip from the Data Shaded By drop down menu. The map will now show income ranges at the zip code level.
  
• Set your range in the legend. Now, only zip codes within the set ranges will appear on the map.
• Finally, select the Download Places List function. Give your list a custom name, select the state (or the nation) to generate the list.
  
• The generated list is a CSV file which will show the zip codes which met the income range and the incomes for each zip code.

Another example of downloading data for one criteria is if you are looking for a list of census tracts which are eligible for the CDFI Fund’s New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) program.

• Go to 3-Layer Maps from the upper left. Once on the page, use the search bar to center the map to a given area.
• Select Federal Guidelines > CDFI Fund NMTC: Eligible Tracts > Eligibility Status: Eligible Tracts to add the data layer.
• Because the NMTC data layer is a checkbox option in the legend, simply uncheck the Not Eligible box and now the map will ONLY show census tracts which are eligible.
  
• Finally, select the Download Places List function. Give your list a custom name, select the state (or the nation) to generate the list.
• The list generated now will give the State and FIPS ID for all census tracts which are eligible for the NMTC program.
  

Finally, users can use the Download Places function to generate a list of geographies within a geography. Let’s say you want a list Zip Codes with eligible NMTC census tracts in a school district with a high graduation rate.

• Go to 3-Layer Maps from the upper left. Once on the page, use the search bar to center the map to a given area.
• First, select Income & Spending > Federal Tax Returns: All Returns > All Federal Tax Returns: Returns > 2009-2011: Returns to add the data layer. Now, because we want all zip codes we will not set any ranges and leave the map completely purple showing 100% of the zip code data.
• Second, select Federal Guidelines > CDFI Fund NMTC: Eligible Tracts > Eligibility Status: Eligible Tracts and uncheck the Not Eligible box from the legend. The map will now show only eligible census tracts on the map in purple (and the zip codes are still showing as 100%).
  
• Last, select Education > School District Statistics: Graduation Rate. Set the range for the graduation rate in the legend.
• Finally, click the download icon and select the Download Places function. Give your list a custom name, select the state (or the nation) to generate the list.
• The list generated now will show only school districts which have NMTC eligible census tracts and the zip codes they sit in.
  
• The size of geography will go from right to left, so in our example, the State (Pennsylvania) is the largest and starts to the left and the Census Tract is the smallest and ends to the right. The values for each school district, then zip codes, and then tracts are shown.

Each example is a unique way to combine the spatial querying feature of the Analytics tool with the ability to download that data. The data layers used in the examples will be completely different for your needs. We hope our users experiment with other datasets and geographies

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us at pmap@policymap.com or call us at (866)923-MAPS.