Data.gov

Data.gov is the home of the U.S. government’s open data. The website, which is managed and hosted by the U.S. General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Service, launched in May 2009 with just 47 datasets. As of April 2018, the platform includes over 235,000 datasets. Data.gov does not host data directly, but aggregates metadata about open data resources in one centralized location.

According to its website, “The Data.gov team typically works with a designated open data point of contact as a liaison for each agency. Data publishers should consult with their agency point of contact to include any additional datasets on Data.gov.” DigitalGov has published a detailed guide, How to Get Your Open Data on Data.gov.

The Data.gov team has also been building a collection of examples that show the power of applying U.S. federal data at Data.gov/Impact. As the website says, “Open government data is important because the more accessible, discoverable, and usable data is, the more impact it can have. These impacts include, but are not limited to: cost savings, efficiency, fuel for business, improved civic services, informed policy, performance planning, research and scientific discoveries, transparency and accountability, and increased public participation in the democratic dialogue.”