This guide walks you through how to format your file, use the uploader, and handle warnings that may arise during the process.
Before you get started: Make sure your file meets format requirements. Not sure? Check out this guide.
✅ Why Use GEOID?
If you have data for standard Census geographies—like tracts or block groups—using the GEOID method helps you map these areas directly. mySidewalk will match them to official Census boundaries, allowing you to visualize and analyze your local data with precision.
📋 What Your File Should Look Like
To ensure your file uploads smoothly:
Include a column titled exactly GEOID (note: this is not case-sensitive)
Use Census-defined GEOIDs, such as 530330011012 for block groups or 53033001100 for tracts
Add any additional data (e.g., number of incidents, percentages, scores) in separate columns
Tip: GEOID must match the format used by the U.S. Census Bureau—usually 11-digit codes for block groups and 10-digit codes for tracts.
Step 1: Upload your file
From the Upload Data page (accessed via Upload data in the main menu), drag and drop your CSV file or browse to select it.
Step 2: mySidewalk detects a GEOID column in your file
If your file includes a column named GEOID, the system will automatically suggest the “GEOID or SHID” method.
Confirm:
The correct column is selected (GEOID)
The type is set to GEOID (Census-defined)
Step 3: Review matches on the map
You’ll see a map preview showing matched areas. This is a chance to verify your data layer looks right.
Step 4: Review warnings (if any)
In this example, three block groups had a warning:
⚠️ Distance from center is greater than expected (8 miles)
This happens when a GEOID’s centroid is farther than expected from the overall cluster of data. It’s not necessarily an error. In many cases, especially when your data spans a larger region or multiple counties, this is totally fine.
You can choose to accept these and continue.
What this means: mySidewalk checks how far each area is from the “center” of the group of uploaded areas. If one is unusually far, it flags it for review in case it was added by mistake—but you’re free to keep it.
Step 5: Check layer info and save
You can update names, set descriptions, and define which columns should be treated as numeric variables (for charts/maps) or metadata.
Success!
Your file is now uploaded and ready to use.
🧠 Common Questions
What if my file isn’t recognized as GEOID?
Make sure:
The column is named exactly GEOID
GEOIDs follow Census formats (no extra spaces or text)
File is a CSV and under 50MB
Can I upload ZIP codes or city (or county, state, etc.) names instead?
Yes, but you’ll need to use the Place Name Matching option instead.