Research and Reference Resources

U.S. Government Statistical Information

Looking for demographic information on the nation or your neighborhood? Census information can help, but only if you know where to find it. Use our guide to help you determine what statistics are available.

Federal Sources: | Economic Census | Employment | Geography/Maps | Guides |Population and Housing | State Sources: |Local Sources: |Major Statistical Agencies | Additional Statistical Publications

Federal Sources:

Census of Agriculture - http://www.nass.usda.gov/Census_of_Agriculture/index.asp
Published every 5 years, the Census of Agriculture is the most comprehensive collection of data portraying the Nation's agriculture. Geographic coverage includes the United States, states, and counties. In addition there are subject volumes for Agricultural Atlas, Aquaculture, Farm and Ranch Survey, Horticulture, and Agricultural Economics and Farm Ownership.

Consumer Price Index - http://stats.bls.gov/cp/
There are two indexes: Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers and the Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. The index for urban consumers covers about 87% of the population whereas the index for wage earners covers about 32% of the population. Both presents a monthly measure of changes in the prices paid by consumers for a representative basket of goods and services. For historical data see: Annual Percent Changes from 1913 to the Present. For prices of individual products see: Consumer Price Index-Average Price Data

Economic Census

The Economic Census is published every 5 years and measures the economic activity of the nation. The current Economic Census includes subject, industry, and geographic area coverage for these industries:

• Construction Industries
• Financial, Insurance, and Real Estate
• Manufacturing Industries
• Mining Industries
• Retail Trade Industries
• Service Industries
• Transportation, Communications, and Utilities
• Wholesale Trade Industries
• Survey of Business Owners: Asian, Black, Hispanic, Women (Formerly :Women and
  Minority-Owned Business Enterprises)
• Auxiliaries
• Business Expenses
• Nonemployer Statistics

Beginning with the 1997 Economic Census, the Census Bureau began using the newly adopted NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) for industries. Previous Economic Censuses used the SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) system. Some comparative data for 1992 and 1997 is available for the US and states, but not on a lower geographic level. Unlike previous censuses, most of the 1997 and later Economic Censuses is available in electronic format either on the Internet or in CD/DVD-Rom format.

In addition to the current Economic Census, this site also includes current business statistics from standard sources such as:

Annual Survey of Manufacturers
County Business Patterns
Current Industrial Reports
Statistics for U.S. Businesses

To keep up-to-date on current economic and business data, use the business.census.gov site.

FedStats - http://www.fedstats.gov/
This site provides links to over 100 federal agencies web sites that produce statistical data. Included is an alphabetical list of agencies along with a A-Z topical list of key subjects. A MapStats feature allow the creation of state profiles with recent statistics on various subjects. The profile compares the individual state with the total numbers for the  United States.

Government Census - http://www.census.gov/govs/
The Census of Government is required by law to be taken every 5 years. It covers three major subject fields: government organization, public employment, and government finance. Geographic coverage includes the United States, states, and local governments.

Empoyment

Census 2000 Special Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Tabluations - http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/eeoindex/eeoindex.html
A special tabulation produced by the Census Bureau for various federal agencies (EEOC, Office of Federal Contract Programs, Dept. of Justice, Dept. of Labor, and the Office of Personnel Management). Detailed data is presented on various occupation groups by race, sex, and ethnicity. Geographic coverage includes the U.S., states, metropolitan areas, counties, places of 50,00 or more population and country seats.

Local Employment Dynamics -http://lehd.did.census.gov/led/led/led.html
Local employment information at the country and sub-county level.

Occupational Employment and Wages --http://www.bls.gov/oes/
.The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations. These are estimates of the number of people employed in certain occupations, and estimates of the wages paid to them. Self-employed persons are not included in the estimates.

Geography/Maps

Census Bureau Geography

Census Tract Outline Maps ( 2000 Census and 1990 Census )

Geographic Terms and Concepts

Guides

Census Guides for the United States: Indexes to historical census publications, guide to the 2000 Census, powerpoint presentations...

Statistics Every Writer Should Know (basic guide to understanding statistics)

Population and Housing Data

American Community Survey - http://www.census.gov/acs/www/
Timely, up-to-date annual profiles of American communities. Beginning with the 2005 release, statistics are released annualy for places with a population of 65,000 or more. Starting in December 2008, three year estimates are publised annually for places with a population of 20,000 or more. For a guide on using the American Community Survey, see Edward Herman's tutorial on using census data and the American Community Survey.

American Factfinder - http://factfinder.census.gov
This is the Census Bureau's main portal to reports and services on its web site. Use it to create tables, reports, and maps with information on your community, the economy, or American society in just a few steps. American Factfinder Tutorials: University of Michigan Library powerpoint presentation: American FactFinder and Census 2000. and UW-Madison Memorial Library tutorial at: U.S. Census Resources on the Web: American Factfinder Guide

Historical Census Brower - http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/
Compiled by the Geostat Center at the University of Virginia, this site presents data on population and the economy of states and counties from the censuses of 1790 to 1960.

Historical Census of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970 -- http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html
An online equivalent of the print edition available in pdf and zip formats.

Historical Census Statistics on Population and Housing by Race, 1790 to 1990 and Hispanic Origin 1970 to 1990 for Large Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States --
http://www.census.gov/population/www.documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html
Provides data for places of 100,000 or greater from 1790 to 1990.

2000 Census Gateway - http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html 
This site provides access to the 2000 Census data by geography using the American Factfinder and State and County QuickFacts. Among the principal products are: Demographic Profiles for each state; Congresional District Summary File; Resident Population; 1990 Census products; Selected Historical Data, 1790-1990; release dates for products, and links to related resources.

For the most detailed information, consult one of the Summary Files (1-4), often listed as SF1, SF2, SF3, and SF4.

U.S. Census Resources on the Web: Selected Web Sites With 2000 Census
Data (UW-Madison - Memorial Library)

State Sources:

2000 Census Summary File (1-4)

• (SF1) http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/sf1.html
  (SF2) http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/sf2.html
  (SF3) http://factfinder.census.gov/jsp/saff/SAFFInfo.jsp?_pageId=sp4_decennial_sf3
  (SF4) http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/sf4.html

Data is available down to the block level in SF1, the place level in SF2, and the 5-digit zip code level in SF3 and SF4.  

Data on Demand -- http://www.jsonline.com/index/index.aspx?id=200
Selected state of Wisconsin and Milwaukee area data compiled by the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel. Among the data included are: business data, census data, consumer statistics, crime figures, education statistics, inspections, property assessments, political data, and salaries for city of Milwaukee employee and State of Wisconsin emplyees.

Demographic Services Center --http://www.doa.state.wi.us/refcenter.asp
The service produces the annual population estimates for all Wisconsin towns, villages, and cities; annual estimates of the voting age population; population projections by age and sex for counties; and estimates of housing units. Serving as a liaison for the Census Bureau's State Data Center, it provides training and resources for various census products.

WisStat - http://www.wisstat.wisc.edu
A UW-Extention and Wisconsin Dept. of Adminstraion joint venture to provide demographic and economic  data  for the state of Wisconsin, counties, and smaller communites.

Wisconsin Worknet: Information to Grow Wisconsin's Workforce - http://worknet.wisconsin.gov/worknet/
The most comprehensive resource for labor market information for the state of Wisconsin. Included are statistics for civilian labor force (current and historical); employment by industry; unemployment rates; workforce profiles by county; and wages for counties and MSAs. Addition data includes: occupations by wages; Wisconsin licensed occupations; affirmative action data; economic indicators; and plant closings and layoffs. See also: Using Labor Market Information to Understand the Local Economy: A Wisconsin Cookbook.

Local Sources:

Capital Area Regional Planning Commission --http://www.capitalarearpc.org/publications.htm
Numerous publications including the annual Regional Trends resource, which includes country data on agriculture, economic development, environmental resource, housing, parks, population, parks, and transportation.

City of Madison- Demographics -http://www.cityofmadison.com/business/demographics.cfm
(including census information (madison_2000_census_data.html)
(Tables 1-7 extracted from SF1; tables 9-11, 23 extracted from SF3)
Census 2000 data by census tract in HTML, Excel, and PDF formats. Includes Madison area 2000 Census Tract Map.

Community Resources (United Way) - http://www.unitedwaydanecounty.org/index.php?page=65&l=0
These are health and social service publications that present a standard measure of change in the social and physical well-being of our community.

Living Here (Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce)- http://www.greatermadisonchamber.com/living/
Community profiles of selected resources: Child Care, Education, Employment, Government, Media, Neighborhoods, Service Clubs, Transportation, Weather and various links.

MMSD District Statistics - http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/stats.htm
Current and historical data for the district and its schools are presented in easy-to-read, downloadable Excel tables. Must have Excel version 5.0 or greater.

Agencies/Bureaus

1. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System --http://www.federalreserve.gov
2. Bureau of Economic Analysis --http://www.bea.gov/
3. Bureau of International Labor Affairs --http://www.dol.gov/ilab/
4. Bureau of Justices Statistics --http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics -- http://www.bls.gov

6. Bureau of Transportation Statistics --http://www.bts.gov/
7. Business.gov --http://www.business.gov
8. Census Bureau --http://www.census.gov
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention --http://www.cdc.gov
10. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid -- <http://www.cms.hhs.gov
11. Central Intelligence Agency-- http://www.cia.gov
12. Citizenship and Immigration Services --http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
13. Childstats -http://www.childstats.gov
14. Congressional Budget Office -- http://www.cbo.gov
15. Defense Links -- http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs
16. Energy Information Administration --http://www.eia.doe.gov
17. Envirofacts Data Warehouse(EPA) --http://www.epa.gov/enviro/
18. Federal Bureau of Invesrigations --http://www.fbi.gov
19. Federal Election Commission -- http://www.fec.gov
20. FedStats --http://www.fedstats.gov
21. Food and Drug Administration -- http://www.fda.gov
22. Food and Nutrition Service --http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
23. National Agricultural Statistical Service --http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp
24. National Center for Education Statistics -http://nces.ed.gov
25. National Center for Health Statistics -- http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
26. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -- http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
25. National Science Foundation --http://www.nsf.gov
27. Science.gov - http://www.science.gov
28. UHeSA.gov -- http://www.usa.gov
29. USAJOBS.gov-- http://www.usajobs.opm.gov

Don't see what you're looking for here? Ask our librarians for help, or visit the library. We keep older census information at the library, or can help you find it on the internet. See also paper historical publications at MPL-Central.

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