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DEMOGRAPHICS & POPULATION: U.S.


American FactFinder

• Sponsored by U.S. Census Bureau
• This interactive site allows the user to compile customized reports for communities, the economy or the nation
• Data sources utilized include the Decennial Census, the Economic Census and the American Community Survey (ACS)
• Site is in transition from 1990 Census data to 2000 Census data
• Maps available for geographic areas specified in profiles
• "Site Tour" includes information on site's features, navigation instructions, using the main page, viewing and using data
• Especially useful for ability to construct community profiles


Ancestry

• Sponsored by U.S. Census Bureau
• Provides census information for 70 ethnic and racial groups
• Site is based on 1990 census data
• 1998 statistical abstract contains updated interim data
• Information provided for educational attainment, language spoken at home and ability to speak English, labor force characteristics, income and poverty
• Despite its datedness, this should be of interest for historical background; Census 2000 data should be released in the near future


Census 2000

• Sponsored by U.S. Census Bureau
• Most authoritative source for up-to-date census information
• Census products and data include information on political redistricting, "American FactFinder, maps, and related information
• "Outreach" includes links to State Data Centers, Census Information Centers, Census in Schools, and other information
• This site provides access to over 100 Census-generated links


Community Information by Zip Code

• Maintained by Mary Finley, California State University Northridge University Library
• Provides links to population, education, health, environment, business, and political websites that allow access by zip code searches
• All of the above topics include geographic-level searches on a national, California and Los Angeles scale
• Some of these sites are fee-based but many are not


Current Population Survey

• Sponsored by U.S. Census Bureau
• Monthly survey of household and workforce information, covering such topics as displaced workers, housing issues, earnings, etc.
• Site provides an overview of methodology used in compiling statistical data
• Links to related surveys


Demographic Resources

• Maintained by the Ithaca College Library
• List of print resources and websites pertaining to demographics
• Includes citations for U.S. resources, relocation sources, bibliographies, demographic and psychographic information
• Print sources cited should be available in most academic libraries


Demographics and Statistics

• Sponsored by the University of Colorado Libraries, Boulder
• Links for over 40 sites for data on demographic information on the national level
• Sites are organized by Census Bureau information, non-Census Bureau data and indexes
• Excellent annotations accompany most links
• Census Bureau's links section is extremely well-done, bringing clarity to an area which can be somewhat daunting to use
• "Finding Aids for Place Names" offers links to make place name identification easier
• This is a great place to start searching for demographic information on the national level


Kids Count

• Sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Documents economic, educational, health and social status of America's children
• Provide Kids Count reports from 1997 to present
• Links to specialized report on various children's issues and major Casey Foundation initiatives


Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey

• Sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Site's mission is "...to provide a comprehensive body of information on the employment and unemployment experience of the Nation's population, classified by age, sex, race, and a variety of other characteristics"
• This site is an offshoot of "Current Population Survey"
• Links to specialized sites for workforce-related information
• Also provides current news releases, methodology data and a FAQ feature


Population of 100 Largest Cities & Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790-1990

• Created by Campbell Gibson for the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
• This document is the "...first time that the populations of the largest urban centers at each census have been published in a single report"
• Basic topical areas concentrate on Urban and Urban Place, City Populations and Annexations, and Cities and Their Suburbs
• Information organized in 26 statistical tables and 2 text tables
• Best source for researching patterns of urban growth


State & County Quick Facts

• Provides access to the Census's most requested information on a national, state and county level
• "QuickFacts" are organized by population, business and geography, with links to 35 data tables
• Tables of state information are accompanied by side-to-side comparisons of national data
• Tables of county information are accompanied by side-to-side comparisons of state data
• While data presented is not exhaustive, this site is extremely useful for basic data


State Data Center Program

• Sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau
• Program created to make census data available to the public through co-operative venture with regional, state and local governments, and library and higher education affiliates
• SDC centers provide training and technical assistance to persons interested in availing themselves of census data
• Links provided to home pages of each SDC center


State Population Estimates

• Sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
• Provides estimates for state populations by age, sex, and race
• Maps provide percentage change in population for 1998-1999 and 1990-1999
• This is the most detailed site for population estimates, with 25 links to relevant information


Statistical Abstract of the United States

• Sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau
• Provides access to most popular demographic statistics for the United States
• Features include national statistics in brief, state rankings, state profiles, guide to state statistical abstracts
• Provides links to, and purchasing information for, companion products for metropolitan, county and state statistics


Statistical Resources on the Web: Demographics and Housing

• Maintained by Grace York for the University of Michigan Documents Center
• Comprehensive site which links to sites for Census 2000, Census 1990, Census: 1790-1980, Census updates, comprehensive sources, homelessness, race/ethnicity, poverty, wealth, housing
• Also provides links to international data
• Excellent annotations accompany most links
• Like all University of Michigan Documents Center websites, this site is one of the best for its clarity, comprehensivess, and organization
• Suitable for the novice researcher as well as the more advanced


United States Historical Census Data Browser

• Created by Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), Ann Arbor, Michigan and made available by Geospatial and Statistical Data Center, University of Virginia Library
• "The data presented here describe the people and economy of the US for each state and county from 1790 to 1960"
• Data gathered from U.S. Census Bureau files
• Data retrievable by decade; most information is demographic or economic
• Availability of data can vary by year and state
• This is an excellent source of primary material for United States history


United States Vital Records Information

• Provides links to each state, territory and county's vital records data centers
• Offers guidelines on best ways to request official records
• Lists other sources of records (historical societies, archives, courts)
• Provides fee information (when available)
• Contains a genealogical search engine


Wealthy Zip Codes of the United States

• Sponsored by NETSource@USC
• Lists wealthiest zip codes for each state
• Criteria for inclusion is an average household income of $150,000+ and/or average property value of $500,000+
• Links to related real estate/zip code sites
• Includes FAQ feature and explanation of methodology for list compilation


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 3/01; updated 3/03; links last checked 10/07

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