Open Census MCP Server
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENSUS_API_KEY | No | Your Census API key (optional but recommended for improved rate limits). Get one at https://api.census.gov/data/key_signup.html |
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tools | {
"listChanged": false
} |
| experimental | {} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| get_methodology_guidanceA | Query statistical methodology guidance by topic. Call this FIRST for every query to ground your orientation. Topics include:
When in doubt, request more topics rather than fewer. |
| get_census_dataA | Retrieve Census data with statistical methodology guidance. Returns estimates, margins of error, and pragmatic context about fitness-for-use, reliability, and interpretation caveats. Use this after grounding with get_methodology_guidance. Always review the pragmatics field before interpreting results. |
| explore_variablesA | Discover Census variables by concept or keyword. Use when the user describes what they want in plain language and you need to identify the correct variable codes. Returns matching variables with descriptions and table context. NOTE: Variable search is a known weak spot. This provides basic keyword matching. Results may be incomplete. |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No prompts | |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No resources | |
TDQS
Scored across 3 tools
Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose with no overlap: explore_variables for variable discovery, get_methodology_guidance for statistical methodology orientation, and get_census_data for data retrieval. The descriptions explicitly guide when to use each tool, eliminating any ambiguity.
All three tools follow a consistent verb_noun pattern with underscores: explore_variables, get_methodology_guidance, and get_census_data. The naming is uniform and predictable across the set.
With only 3 tools, the set feels thin for a Census data domain that typically involves complex workflows like filtering, aggregation, or visualization. While the tools cover core functions, the low count may limit agent capabilities for comprehensive analysis.
The tools cover key aspects: methodology guidance, variable discovery, and data retrieval, forming a logical workflow. However, there are minor gaps such as no tools for data transformation, geographic mapping, or advanced filtering, which agents might need to work around.