Data Collections

Here are the subcategories under “Data Collections” on this page.

• Access Tools to Multiple Data Series — tools (often query-based) for gathering data from a variety of sources
• Statistical Compendia — handy single volume databooks, often downloadable
• Indices, Rankings, and Comparisons — indices, rankings, and comparisons of states and metro areas by various criteria
• Economic Analyses and Forecasts — reviews of recent and projections of future economic conditions and trends
• Guides to Data on the Web — sites (in addition to ours!) with annotated links to sources of socioeconomic data
• Data Intermediaries — organizations assisting users in regional data access and interpretation
• Search Engines — tools for searching government data sources
• Microdata — data series with observations for individual firms and people
• Mapping Resources — GIS and related tools for mapping socioeconomic data and geographic features
• Geographic Classifications and Codes — Classifications, definitions, and numerical codes for states, metro areas, counties, places, and smaller geographic units.

Access Tools to Multiple Data Series

MapStats, Interagency Council on Statistical Policy
Access to data from multiple federal statistical agencies, for states, counties, federal judicial districts, and Congressional districts.

Bureau of the Census

• State and County QuickFacts — Clickable-map access to data profiles for states and counties. Data topics include population, income and poverty, housing, business activity, and geography. Also provides access to data tables from Economic Census, County Business Patterns, USA Counties, Small Area Poverty and Income Estimates, and Decennial Census.
• CenStats — Query-based access to wide variety of Census Bureau data, including Annual Survey of Manufactures, residential building permits, Census Tract Street Locator, Consolidated Federal Funds Report, County and Zip Business Patterns, USA Counties, and occupation by race and sex.
• American FactFinder — Query-based access to data from 1990 Decennial Census, 1997 Economic Census, and American Community Survey, for states and metro areas.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Geographic Areas at a Glance — Labor force and nonfarm wage and salary employment for states and metro areas, latest six months.
• Monthly Labor Review: The Editor’s Desk — Summaries of press releases concerning employment, wages and benefits, and union membership for states and metro areas.

Geospatial and Statistical Data Center, University of Virginia
Query-based access to several Federal regional economic databases, including County and City Data Book, County Business Patterns, Regional Economic Information System, Regional Economic Projections, and 1990 Census Public Use Microdata Samples.

National Atlas of the United States, U.S. Geological Survey
On-line tool for mapping physical, social, and economic data from multiple federal sources.

Regional Economic Conditions, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Data on labor force, employment, income, housing, and real estate, for states, metro areas, and counties, updated eight times annually. Tools provided to build maps, tables, and charts.

State Economic Data, Northeast Midwest Institute
State tables on a variety of economic topics, including demographics, prices, economic growth, employment, income, housing, energy, and federal spending. Based primarily on federal data.

Cluster Mapping Project, Harvard Business School
Economic profiles of states, metro areas, and economic regions regarding overall performance and the composition of the economy. State profiles, with narrative, also available in .pdf format (February 2002).

Socioeconomic Data, Population Reference Bureau
Access to wide variety of U.S. and international data and articles on socioeconomic topics. Of particular interest:

• AmeriStat — Access to regional data and analyses on a variety of topics.
• DataFinder — Query-based access to data on multiple topics, by state.
• U.S. Population Data Sheet — State-level analyses of population, labor force participation, unemployment, health insurance coverage, and other social and economic characteristics.

Focus on States, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Access to state-level reports on multiple topics of concern to low-income families (e.g., tax and budget, health, welfare, housing, food).

Child Trends DataBank, Child Trends
State and local indicators on child and youth well-being. Topics include health; social and emotional development; income, assets and work; education and skills; demographics; and family and community.

Regional Information Clearinghouse, National Association of Regional Councils
Variety of socioeconomic data provided for substate regions (typically, areas covered by regional councils).

State of the Cities Data Systems, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Query-based access to metro, central city, and suburban data from Decennial Census, County Business Patterns, and Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Census Reports, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
Population, housing and income data by census tract, for metro and balance-of-state areas, based on Decennial Census and the annual Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates of median family incomes.

ERsys.com, ERsys
Information on demographics, environmental factors, economic indicators, housing, media, schools, and transportation for over 1,300 cities.

Community Demographics, Council for Urban Economic Development and Conway Data, Inc.
Query-based access to about 150 single-point data elements for states, metro areas, and counties.

American Community Network
Query-based access to 200 single-point data elements for counties and metro areas.

RealEstateJournal, Wall Street Journal

• City Profiles — Wide variety of data on the 100 largest U.S. cities.  Topics include housing, weather, crime, cost of living, taxes, health care, education, and transportation. Data drawn from public and private sources.
• Relocation Tools — Access to data tools for use in community relocation choices, covering cost of living, schools, crime, and moving costs.

National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership, The Urban Institute
Links to multi-source neighborhood and city data provided by NNIP partners. The purpose of NNIP is to further the development and use of neighborhood information systems in local policymaking and community building. (As of 2002, partners in 12 major cities.)

Regional Reports and Maps, Metropolitan Area Research Corporation
Analytic reports and geographically detailed color-coded maps describing social, racial, public educational, fiscal, land use, and political trends, for each of the largest 25 metropolitan areas.

Economy.com Network
A series of free and fee-based web sites provide data on numerous topics for states and metro areas. Of particular interest:

• FreeLunch.com — Access to Economy.com’s library of time series data at the national, state, and metro level from a wide variety of federal sources.
• Data Buffet  — On-line access to wide variety of historical time series of economic data, for states, metro areas, and counties.  $$
• Research@Economy.com  — On-line time series and forecasts for states and metro areas, for employment and occupation. $$

Demographics Daily, Bizjournals.com, American City Business Journals
Data and analysis for states, metro areas, counties, and zipcodes on various socioeconomic topics, including economic conditions, business activity, population, race, wealth, education, environment, families and children, health, housing and construction, and transportation.

Economic Time Series, Economagic.com  $
Free access to a variety of Federal government regional data time series, including those provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (labor force, employment and unemployment, Consumer Price Index), the Bureau of the Census (building permits), the Bureau of Economic Analysis (Gross State Product), and Regional Federal Reserve Banks. For fee, forecasts provided on-line for any variable.

EconData, University of Maryland
Access to .zip files of Gross State Product and state personal income data from Bureau of Economic Analysis, and state employment, hours and earnings data (CES/790) from BLS.

Regional Federal Reserve Banks
Each of 12 Federal Reserve Banks provides access to economic data for its region.

Economic Insight, Economic Information Systems, Inc. $
Clickable-map access to economic profiles of states and metro areas. Detailed analysis and performance indicators available for purchase, including personal income and average wages; employment and earnings concentration, displacement, and competitiveness by detailed industry; and employment and income growth and volatility. Data from 1970-present, with twenty-year trend forecast of Gross State Product, employment, income, and population. For states, 330 metro areas, and counties.

The Right Site, Easy Analytic Software, Inc. $$
Wide variety of demographic, economic, consumer, and quality of life data and forecasts, for states, metro areas, counties, cities, zip codes, and census tracts. Provided on CD-ROM.

Socioeconomic Estimates and Projections, Woods and Poole $$
Estimates and projections for a wide variety of demographic and economic variables, 1970 to 2020, for states, metro areas, and counties. Provided on CD-ROM and in print.

Economic Data, Global Insight $$
On-line access to a wide variety of economic databases at all levels of geography.

Social Sciences Data Collection, University of California at San Diego
Search engine and web links for reaching a very large number of on-line socioeconomic data bases. Links provided to over 400 sites for specific data series, 100 on-line data archives and libraries, 150 data gateways (i.e., sites with links to on-line data sites), searchable catalogs of data vendors and libraries, and a list of data distributors and vendors.

Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University
Access to a variety of demographic, economic, and land use data bases, as well as mapping resources.

Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan
Access to wide range of socioeconomic data and reports, covering several decades.

Statistical Compendia

U.S. Statistical Abstract, Bureau of the Census
Wide variety of social and economic data for states, metro areas, and cities. Tables available in .pdf format, 1995-latest edition.

Guide to State Statistical Abstracts, Bureau of the Census $
Bibliography, and on-line access where available, of statistical abstracts produced by states.

Small Business State Profiles, Small Business Administration
Data on on each state’s small business economy – number of firms, small business income, industrial composition, job growth and data on minority and women-owned businesses, 1995-latest year.

Green Book, Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
Historical state data on a wide variety of social and economic topics, including Social Security, employment, earnings, welfare, child support, health insurance, the elderly, families with children, poverty and taxation. Biannual publication (latest 2000).

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, Bureau of the Census
Wide variety of social and economic data for states and 273 metro areas. State and metro area rankings, with data, available in .html format. Full publication available in .pdf format.

County and City Data Book, Bureau of the Census  $
Wide variety of social and economic data for all 3,141 counties, 1,078 cities with 25,000 or more inhabitants, and 11,097 places of 2,500 or more inhabitants. Rankings, with data, available on-line for cities of 200,000 or more. Full publication available in print or on CD-ROM.

USA Counties
Query-based access to wide variety of social and economic data for all counties.

State of the Nation’s Cities, Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers University
Data on employment and economic development, demographic measures, housing and land use, income and poverty, fiscal conditions, and other health, social, and environmental variables, for 77 cities and their suburbs. Downloadable file only.

Community Profiles, Knight Foundation
In-depth data analyses of 26 communities in which the foundation makes grants. Data from secondary and primary sources. Communities include major metropolitan areas such as Miami, San Jose, Detroit and Philadelphia, as well as smaller communities such as Boulder, Colo., State College, Pa., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Grand Forks, N.D.  (Released March 2000.)

Industry and Trade Outlook, International Trade Administration and DRI/McGraw-Hill
Data, analysis, and forecasts regarding U.S. competitiveness, employment, productivity, investment, and trade, by industry. Primarily national data.

Data Tables, Economic Report of the President 2000, Council of Economic Advisors
Access to statistical tables concerning income, employment and production, for the nation as a whole.

 

Indices, Rankings, and Comparisons

Ranking Tables, American Community Survey, Bureau of the Census
Annual tables ranking states, counties, and places on a variety of demographic, social, economic, and housing variables (2000-latest year).

Census 2000 Population and Housing Rankings, Bureau of the Census
Ranking tables of Census 2000 data, for states, metro areas, counties, and incorporated places of 100,000 or more.

KIDS COUNT Census Data Online, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Rankings of demographic data regarding children and their families, for states, counties, cities, metro areas, and Congressional districts. Topics include age, sex, race and ethnicity, and living arrangements. Based on Census 2000 short form data.

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book: 1997-98, Bureau of the Census
Wide variety of social and economic data for states and 273 metro areas. State and metro area rankings, with data, available in .html format. Full publication available in .pdf format.

Economic Insight, Economic Information Systems, Inc.  $
Clickable-map access to comparative analyses of states and metro areas. For subscription, on-line access to data analysis, comparative analysis, and forecasts for states, 330 metro areas, and all counties. Data include employment, income, population, and Gross State Product.

Demographics Daily, Bizjournals.com, American City Business Journals
Rankings of states, metro areas, and counties on various socioeconomic topics, including business, education, environment, families and children, health, housing and construction, and transportation.

• Metro Economic Ratings — Monthly economic ratings for 276 metro areas, based on population, employment, and income trends.
• State Economic Ratings — Monthly economic ratings for states and DC, based on population, employment, and income trends.
• Ratings — Listing of comparisons of states, metro areas, and counties.

Area Vitality Profiles, Brandow Company, Inc. $
Series of data reports ranking states, metro areas, and counties regarding high growth firms, startup activity, business retention, and business attraction.  Annual lists of top-ranked areas available free.

State Ranking Publications, Morgan Quitno Press  $$
Annual, monthly, and customized publications that rank states on a variety of characteristics, including agriculture, crime, defense, government finance, health, economy, education, energy, environment, geography, housing, population, social welfare, and transportation.

Economic Climate Study, Office of the Forecast Council, Washington State
Annual study ranking states in a wide variety of categories, including economic performance, quality of life, education, workforce skills, infrastructure, and the cost of doing business. (September 2001)

Development Report Card for the States, Corporation for Enterprise Development
Indicators and rankings of economic performance, business vitality, development capacity, and tax and fiscal system, for states. Annual report, includes over 50 measures.

State Competitiveness Report, The Beacon Hill Institute, Suffolk University
Index of state climate for business competitiveness, examined in nine areas, including government and fiscal policy, institutions, infrastructure, human resources, technology, finance, openness, domestic competition, and environmental policy. (December 2001)

State Asset Development Report Card, Corporation for Enterprise Development
Comparison of states on asset outcomes and policies, 68 indicators.  Examples of topics include financial assets, homeownership, human capital, health insurance, wage protection, and business development. (October 2002)

Asset Index, Asset Development Institute, Center on Hunger and Poverty, Brandeis University
State-by-state comparative study of individual assets important for economic success. Categories for the 39 indicators are job-based and related income assets, human capital, and financial assets. (September 2002)

State of Caring Index, United Way of America
State-level indicators on well-being, covering economic and financial well-being, education, health, civic engagement, safety, and the environment. Reports and query-based tables and graphs available.

State Science and Engineering Profiles and R&D Patterns, National Science Foundation
Rankings of states in terms of a variety of technology-related indicators, by state.

State Science and Technology Indicators, Office of Technology Competitiveness, Technology Administration
Indicators of science and technology activity, by state (.pdf file). (October 2001)  Published biannually, prior edition available.

State New Economy Index, Progressive Policy Institute
Comparison of states in terms of 17 indicators of New Economy assets and activity. Categories include knowledge jobs, globalization, economic dynamism and competition, transformation to digital economy, and technological innovation capacity.

State New Economy Index, Milken Institute
Ranking of states in terms of 12 indicators of New Economy assets and activity.

Advanced Technology Statistics, American Electronics Association  $

• CyberStates and CyberCities — Data on advanced technology activity for states and metro areas.  See press releases for free data summary by state and metro area.
• CyberEducation — Data-based assessment, by state ( with rankings), of extent to which K-12 systems and universities are preparing students for technology-related jobs.  (January 2002)

State Technology and Science Index, Milken Institute  $
Ranking of states on 73 measurements in five categories. Summary available free, detail for fee. (September 2002)

Education Watch Online, The Education Trust
For states, data, charts, and comparisons on educational achievement, curricula, teacher qualifications, and expenditures. Data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and income. Data available through query-based access and .pdf reports.

State Report Cards, Education Week
Grades and rankings for public education systems, by state, in the areas of student achievement, standards and accountability, teacher quality, school climate, resources, and equity.

Measuring Up, National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education
Biennial state report card for higher education.  Rankings in five categories, including preparation, participation, affordability, completion, and benefits.

Grading the States, Governing
Letter grades for each state in five areas — financial management, capital management, human resources, managing for results, and information technology. (February 2001)

Economic Freedom in the States, Clemson University
Index of economic freedom by state, 1999. Areas examined include fiscal, social welfare, size of government, regulation, and judiciary.

Digital State Survey, Center for Digital Government and Government Technology
Annual ranking of state governments in eight dimensions of digital technology utilization: law enforcement and the courts, social services, e-commerce/business regulation, taxation/revenue, digital democracy, management/administration, education and GIS/transportation. (January 2002)

State Health Facts Online, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
State comparisons on demographics, health status, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation.

State Health Ranking–2000 edition, UnitedHealth Group
Annual rankings of states on various dimensions of health status, including lifestyle, mortality, disease, occupational safety, and access to health care.

Children in the States, Children’s Defense Fund
State rankings regarding the condition of children and their families. Rankings cover health insurance and health care, natality, poverty, child support, and education.

KIDS COUNT, Annie E. Casey Foundation
A national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the United States. Includes on-line access to annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, which provides state data on the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children.

The Right Start, Annie E. Casey Foundation and Child Trends
Indicators of the well-being of infants, for states and metro areas, with rankings. Annual report.

Profiles of Individual Charitable Contributions, National Center for Charitable Statistics, The Urban Institute
Rankings of charitable giving by state, including percentage of returns with contributions, average contribution per return, and contributions as a percentage of income.

State of the States, Center for Policy Alternatives
Index of state indicators concerning voter turnout, welfare, women, Medicaid enrollment, and Hispanic population.

Energy Data Rankings, Energy Information Administration
Rankings of energy production, prices, and consumption, by state.

Workers’ Compensation Premium Rates, Workers Compensation Division, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
Biannual ranking of states by workers’ compensation insurance premium rates.

State Business Climate Rankings, Site Selection
Annual state rankings based on measures concerning new and expanded corporate facilities. (November 2002)

County and City Data Book, Bureau of the Census
Wide variety of social and economic data for all 3,141 counties, 1,078 cities with 25,000 or more inhabitants, and 11,097 places of 2,500 or more inhabitants. Rankings, with data, available on-line for cities of 200,000 or more. Full publication available in print or on CD-ROM.

Best Places to Live, Money Magazine 
Annual ranking of 300 metro areas regarding quality of life. Data provided on 20 factors, including those pertaining to pollution, crime, weather, arts and culture, housing, and the economy.

Yahoo! City Comparison
Comparisons and rankings of cities in terms of quality of life (e.g., crime, weather, pollution), real estate (e.g., property tax and home purchase cost), and the economy (e.g., unemployment, cost of living).

The City Report, Homefair.com
Comparison of cities in terms of cost of living, crime, and other information.

Sperling’s BestPlaces, Fast Forward, Inc.
Tools for comparing metro areas regarding cost of living, schools, crime, climate, housing, health, and other topics.

Ranking the Nation’s Big Cities, Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Rankings of the 65 cities with more than 250,000 population for seven characteristics–median household income, college education, homeownership, percent income spent on housing, poverty, and commute time. Based on Census 2000 Supplemental Survey data.

Metropolitan Racial and Ethnic Change, Lewis Mumford Center, State University of New York at Albany
Rankings of 331 metro areas in terms of racial and ethnic integration and segregation, for whole population and children.

State of the Cities (National Urban Policy Report), Department of Housing and Urban Development
Tables on jobs, business establishments, and average annual pay, for 77 cities and their suburbs. Annual report.

Economic Strength of Metro Areas, Policom Corporation
Annual rankings of 318 metro areas regarding economic strength, defined in terms of speed and consistency of growth over the last 25 years.

Places Left Behind in the New Economy, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Examination of unemployment, poverty, and population loss in 539 central cities.

Metropolitan New Economy Index, Progressive Policy Institute
Comparison of the 50 largest metro areas in terms of 16 indicators of New Economy assets and activities. Indicator categories include knowledge jobs, globalization, economic dynamism and competition, transformation to digital economy, and technological innovation capacity. Published April 2001.

Entrepreneurial Hot Spots, Inc.
Annual ranking of metro areas as location to start and grow a new business. Separate rankings for 50 large and 50 small metro areas.  Prepared with Cognetics, Inc. Published December 2000.

Best Cities for Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur
Annual ranking of metro areas as location for entrepreneurs.  Separate rankings for mid-sized and large metro areas, five regions of country, and individual criteria (e.g., entrepreneurial activity, failure rate). Prepared with Dun & Bradstreet.

Best Places for Business and Career, Forbes  and Milken Institute
Annual rankings of top 200 metro areas as places to start a new business or career. Rankings based on salary and job growth and high technology activity. Milken Institute press release. Published May 2001.

High Tech and Info Tech Metros, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Rankings of metro areas in terms of high tech and information technology industry activities (.pdf file). Published August 2001.

High-Growth Company Index, National Commission on Entrepreneurship
Index of high-growth business activity in 394 Labor Market Areas (covering the entire country), 1992-1997. Published July 2001.

America’s High-Tech Economy: Growth, Development, and Risks for Metropolitan Areas, Milken Institute
Rankings of 315 metro areas regarding high technology activity. Published July 1999.

High-Tech Hot Spots, Entrepreneur’s Business Start-ups
Annual ranking of top 50 metro areas as location for new high technology businesses. Prepared with Dun & Bradstreet.  Published November 2000.

Cincinnati’s Benchmarking Technology Study, Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Sciences, Inc.
Comparison of the technology assets and performance of 24 urban areas, using 17 indicators (.pdf file).

America’s Most Wired Cities, Yahoo Internet Life
Annual ranking of 86 metro areas regarding various dimensions of Internet use (e.g., percent households online, domains registered per 1,000 businesses, quality of local government sites). (May 2002)

Best States for E-Commerce, Progressive Policy Institute
Ranking of states regarding extent to which state governments facilitate Internet use for e-commerce, through regulatory, tax, and administrative policy.

World Class Communities for Manufacturing, Industry Week
Annual rankings of 315 metro areas as locations for manufacturing.  Prepared by Cleveland State University.  Published April 2001.

Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
For 39 regions, scores and discussion regarding the presence of 11 dimensions of social capital, for example, civic leadership, association involvement, social trust, inter-racial trust, diversity of friendships, informal socializing, and faith-based engagement. Published March 2001.

Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card, Zero Population Growth
Data and grades for 239 cities regarding the health and well-being of children. Indicators cover health, education, public safety, economics, environment, and community life. Published 2001.

Competitive Cities Report Card, Reason Public Policy Institute
Rankings of 44 cities regarding the efficiency of 11 types of public services (e.g., libraries, street repair, police). (April 2001)

 

Economic Analyses and Forecasts

Current Economic Conditions (Beige Book), Federal Open Market Committee, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
By Federal Reserve District, summary of anecdotal information on current economic conditions through reports from Federal Reserve Bank directors and interviews with key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources. Prepared eight times a year.

Regional Outlook, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Quarterly analysis of current national and regional trends that may affect
the risk exposure of insured depository institutions. Analyses prepared for each of eight FDIC regions.

State of Latinos, William C. Velasquez Institute
Profiles of the socioeconomic well-being of Latinos, in terms of education, employment, entrepreneurship, housing, and health, for states with large Latino populations.

Regional Economic Analysis and Forecasts, Global Insight
Region-specific reports and forecasts covering a variety of economic topics, for states, metro areas, and counties. Individual quarterly reports for states and metro areas can be purchased on-line from Northern Light.

Regional Economic Analysis and Forecasts, Research@Economy.com  $$
State and metro area economic analyses and employment and occupational forecasts for states and 315 metro areas.

Economic Insight, Economic Information Systems, Inc.  $$
Data analysis, comparative analysis, and 20-year forecasts for states, 330 metro areas, and all counties. Data include employment, income, population, and Gross State Product.

The Right Site, Easy Analytic Software, Inc.  $$
Wide variety of demographic, economic, consumer, and quality of life data and forecasts, for states, metro areas, counties, cities, zip codes, and census tracts. Provided on CD-ROM.

Socioeconomic Estimates and Projections, Woods and Poole  $$
Estimates and projections for a wide variety of demographic and economic variables, 1970 to 2020, for states, metro areas, and counties. Provided on CD-ROM and in print.

Economic Forecasts, Economagic.com  $$
Mechanical forecasts provided on-line for labor force, employment and unemployment, Consumer Price Index, building permits, and Gross State Product.

Area Profiles:  Business Migration, Startup, and Retention, Brandow Company  $$
Customized reports on regional business migration, startup, and retention patterns.

 

Guides to Data on the Web

FedStats, Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy
Access to Web sites of over 70 Federal statistical agencies.

Guide to On-Line Sources for Economic Development Data, University of Minnesota
Links to economic data sites maintained by federal and state agencies.

Business and Economics Numeric Data, Mansfield University
Links to a substantial number of economic data Web sites.

State Workforce Development Agencies, ICESA
Links to state workforce development agency Web sites.

State Economic Data Sources,  Association of University Business & Economic Research Centers
Links to sources of state-specific data, including labor market information agencies, economic development organizations, and university-based business and economic research centers.

Census State Data Centers, Bureau of the Census
Links to Census Bureau-sponsored State Data Centers providing Web access to state-specific data.

State and Local Government on the Net, Piper Resources
Links to state and local government Web sites, as well as to national trade associations in public administration.

Resources for Economists on the Internet, University of Southern Mississippi
Links to over 700 economic data and information sources.

Economic.About.com
Links to economics-related Web sites.

 

Data Intermediaries

State Economic Data Centers, Association of University Business & Economic Research Centers
List of university business & economic research centers that aid data users in accessing and using federal and state socioeconomic data. Also State Data Centers and Business and Industry Data Centers, which aid in accessing and using Census Bureau data.

Bureau of the Census

• State Data Centers — State Data Centers provide training and technical assistance in accessing and using Census Bureau data. Includes Business and Industry Data Centers, created to meet needs of local businesses for economic data. Additional information available through SDC/BIDC Network.
• Census Information Centers — Listing of non-profit organizations that serve as repositories of Census data and reports in underserved communities.
• Regional Offices — Contact information for the 12 regional offices of the Census Bureau. Offices provide access to libraries with agency publications going back several decades, and to personnel available to provide information on data sources and uses.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

• State Labor Market Information Agencies — Links to state workforce development agencies, which provide assistance accessing and using a variety of socioeconomic data, particularly those prepared in cooperation with BLS.
• Regional Offices — Contact information for the eight BLS regional offices. Offices provide access to libraries with agency publications going back several decades, and to personnel available to provide information on data sources and uses.

BEA User Group List , Bureau of Economic Analysis
Links to state agencies, universities, and Census State Data Centers that disseminate BEA regional data.

Federal Depository Libraries
Listing of Federal Depository Libraries, which provide free public access to a wide variety of federal government information in both print and electronic formats, and have expert staff available to assist users. There are 1,400 depository libraries nationwide.

ACCRA
List of members of ACCRA, typically in chambers of commerce and economic development agencies. Members can provide advice on data sources and uses.

Economics Departments, Institutes and Research Centers, (EDIRC)
Listing of economics departments, institutes, and research centers, by state, with links.

 

Search Engines

FirstGov, General Services Administration
Search engine for accessing web pages and documents across U.S. government.

Government Information Locator Service (GILS), U.S. Government Printing Office
Access to socioeconomic data through search engine that identifies federal information resources.

Google US search
Access to federal government and military web sites.

usgov.search, Northern Light   $$
Access to federal government and military web sites.

 

Microdata

Microdata, Bureau of the Census
The Census Bureau offers several tools for accessing microdata from the various surveys it carries out. These include:

• FERRET (Federal Electronic Research and Review Extraction Tool) — Access to microdata from the Current Population Survey, the Survey of Income and Program Participation, and the National Health Interview Survey. Provided in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Data Extraction System — Access to Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) from the Decennial Census, the American Housing Survey, and the Current Population Survey.
• Public Use Microdata Samples — Sample of responses to Decennial Census and American Community Survey, available on CD-ROM, disk, and tape. $$
• Business Information Tracking Series — A longitudinal file of all U.S. private business establishments and firms (less farms, railroads, Postal Service), 1989-latest year. Data include employment and payroll. Co-funded by Census and the Small Business Administration. Access in Washington and several regional data centers available to qualified researchers; analysis also available on fee-for-service basis from Center for Economic Studies.
• American Housing Survey Metropolitan Microdata — AHS microdata for metropolitan areas, on CD-ROM .$$
• Center for Economic Studies — Access to a number of Census Bureau longitudinal data bases describing corporate characteristics and behavior.  Surveys include the Census of Manufactures, the Annual Survey of Manufactures, Enterprise Statistics, Quarterly Financial Reports, and Survey of Manufacturing Technology.  Access in Washington and several regional data centers available to qualified researchers; analysis also available on fee-for-service basis.

Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, University of Minnesota
Access to microdata samples from 15 Decennial Censuses, from 1850 through 1990.

SESTAT, National Science Foundation
Public use data files of over 100,000 college graduates with an education and/or occupation in a natural science, social science or engineering field currently representing about 12 million scientists and engineers in the United States.

Health Microdata, National Center for Health Statistics
Public use data files on documentation from NCHS, with analytic tools.

Community Tracking Study, Center for Studying Health System Change
Public use files from a set of national biennial surveys regarding health systems in local markets and the nation as a whole. Data are collected in 60 randomly selected communities, with telephone surveys of households, employers, and physicians.

Mapping Resources

Geography Network, ESRI
Comprehensive on-line portal to maps and GIS data at all levels of geography.

GIS Data Depot, ThinkBurst Media, Inc.  $

Spatial Data on the Web, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Links to primary on-line sources of maps and GIS data.

Maps and Cartographic Resources, Bureau of the Census
Access to reference and thematic maps, cartographic boundary files, and on-line mapping resources. Also of interest from the Census Bureau:

• Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER)
  — Digital database of geographic features, such as roads, railroads, rivers, lakes, political boundaries, census statistical boundaries, etc. covering the entire United States. Contains information about these features such as their location in latitude and longitude, the name, the type of feature, address ranges for most streets, the geographic relationship to other features, and other related information. Maps available on-line through TIGER Map Service.
• Census 2000 Geographic Products — Access to Census 2000 geographic products.
• American FactFinder Reference Maps — On-line map preparation, using clickable maps, and including political and Census boundaries and major features, down to street level. Downloadable.

National Mapping Information, U.S. Geological Survey
Access to a variety of mapping resources. Of particular interest, the National Atlas,
providing small-scale, customized maps detailing geospatial (e.g., soils, watersheds) and geostatistical (e.g., crime patterns, population distribution) data.

National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, Federal Geographic Data Committee
Access to collection of over 100 spatial data servers that have digital geographic data primarily for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), image processing systems, and other modelling software.

Web Links to State and Regional GIS Resources, Federal Geographic Data Committee
Links to individual state and regional GIS resource centers associated with the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse.

Directory of On-Line Maps, MapDigger
Links to free on-line maps, by topic. Also, links to GIS data by state.

Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Data, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Access to variety of data, tools, standards and metadata from the Fish & Wildlife Service and other organizations. Emphasis on topographical and environmental data.

Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University
Access to several mapping resources.

Environmental GIS Tools, Environmental Protection Agency
Links to various on-line GIS resources.

GIS Products, GeoLytics, Inc.  $$
CDs of Census TIGER street, boundary, and zipcode geographic data.

Geographic Classifications and Codes

Geographic Classifications, Codes, and Resources, Bureau of the Census
Reference page regarding Census geographic concepts, definitions, classifications (e.g., urban/rural), and FIPS codes for states, counties, and places. Current and historical lists of metropolitan areas provided.

Geographic Correspondence Engine, Missouri Census Data Center
Tool for determining geocodes within specified geographic area. Codes available for states, metro areas, counties, places, census tracts, ZCTAs, urban/rural, legislative districts, and school districts. Corresponds to Census 2000 geography.

Geography Lookup, ZipInfo.com
Tool for determining geographic information associated with zipcode or place. Information provided includes county (with FIPS code), metro area FIPS code, time zone, area code, and longitude and latitude.