The following tools can help users find population, housing, and/or economic data.
Each table summarizes particularly useful tool features and limitations. Information current as 2/15/06.
Name |
Notable Feature |
Notable Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| American FactFinder http://factfinder.census.gov |
Original source for Census 2000 data, Economic Census data and American Community Survey data; detailed information; some customization permitted; searchable by geography or subject. | Complex and quirky system likely to be very congested at times, must restart after 30 minutes of inactivity, only 3 general data sources. |
| FedStats http://www.fedstats.gov |
Gateway to federal agency statistics; searchable by subject, agency, and geography; lots of links to agency data. | Lots of links to agency data.. |
| SDC Web Site http://census.state.nc.us or http://sdc.state.nc.us |
SDC affiliate locator, NC-specific data, comprehensive Public Law 94-171 redistricting tables (to block level), improved access to Census 2000 data for NC, metadata, listserv subscription for notification of new information. | |
| Census 2000 PDF Maps http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ rd_2ktiger/pl_maps/pl_maps.html |
Block, tract, and voting district maps identical in content and quality to large paper maps printed by US Census Bureau; original release of Census 2000 geography; Adobe Acrobat Reader software allows zoom, find, and image capture. | Requires familiarity with census geographies and Adobe Acrobat Reader features; file names are mostly numeric and may be difficult to decipher at first glance. |
| LINC http://data.osbm.state.nc.us/pls/ linc/dyn_linc_main.show |
NC data only from 1969 to present; many sources; rankings; predetermined and customized reports; exportable to spreadsheet; NC Census 2000 Lookup now available. | I think it is difficult to create a data report for several years. |
| NC Demography Web Site http://ospl.state.nc.us/demog |
County and municipal estimates, growth rates, and related variables; population projections up to and including 2020; downloadable to Excel. | Limited race and ethnicity data. |
| CRIS http://www.cris.state.nc.us |
Index of federal pass-through grants and loans offered via NC agencies; searchable by agency, applicant type, assistance type, or subject. | Tends to describe larger programs aimed at institutions rather than individuals, generally updated only once per year, cannot apply for grants through CRIS site. |
| FIND NC http://www.findnc.org |
Searchable indexes to metadata describing Web pages, electronic databases, and other sources from NC governments. |
Metadata sources for many NC government sites are not complete. |
E-mail Reference Service (State |
Provides brief answers to factual questions received via e-mail, including photocopies of specific citations and information about library collections and loan options. | Best suited for direct factual questions, may refer questions to other state agencies or sources, focuses on serving state government agencies and genealogists. |
Name |
Notable Features |
Notable Limitations |
| Censtats | Census Tract Street Locator and other databases. | Limited number of databases with mostly economic rather than demographic data. |
| MapStats | Demographic and economic profiles of states and counties, selection of a county from a state map. | Static tables from paper publications. |
| QuickFacts | National, state, and county data profiles; slightly more user friendly than MapStats; includes Census 2000 data. | Static tables. |
| TIGER Maps | Reference maps offering a precise zooming feature, some thematic mapping, image downloading available. | |
| US Gazetteer | City, state, or zip code used to retrieve TIGER maps or 1990 census lookup data. | |
| 1990 Decennial Census Lookup | Selection of static tables from census publications. | Much less versatile than American FactFinder. |
DataFerret |
Customized cross-tabulations of survey data (some from 1989 to present), including American Community Survey data, mapping capability, and spreadsheet functionality. | Survey data such as Current Population Survey, American Housing Survey, and National Health Interview Survey and Census information. |
| County Business Patterns http://www.census.gov/epcd/ cbp/view/cbpview.html |
County Business Patterns is an annual series that provides subnational economic data by industry. The series is useful for studying the economic activity of small areas; analyzing economic changes over time; and as a benchmark for statistical series, surveys, and databases between economic censuses. Businesses use the data for analyzing market potential, measuring the effectiveness of sales and advertising programs, setting sales quotas, and developing budgets. Government agencies use the data for administration and planning. |
- CRIS
- DataFERRETT
- FEDSTATS
- FERRET
- LINC
- SDC
- STF
- TIGER
General Profiles |
|
|---|---|
| U.S. Bureau of the Census Quickfacts | http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html |
| Geospatial and Statistical Data Center | http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ |
| FedStats | http://www.fedstats.gov |
| Assessing the New Federalism | http://www.urban.org/Content/Research/NewFederalism/ |
| The Urban Institute Home Page | http://www.urban.org/ |
| N.C. Rural Economic Development Center | http://www.ncruralcenter.org |
| Southern Growth Policies Board | http://www.southern.org/ |
| Southern Rural Development Center | http://srdc.msstate.edu/ |
| North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management | http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/osbm/ |
Economic Profiles |
|
| BEARFACTS | http://www.bea.gov/bea/regional/bearfacts/ |
| Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond | http://www.rich.frb.org |
Agriculture Profiles |
|
| N.C. Agricultural Statistics Service | http://www.agr.state.nc.us/stats |
Children and Youth |
|
| Annie E. Casey Foundation | http://www.aecf.org |
| N.C. Kids Count | http://www.ncchild.org |
| Youth Info | http://dhhs.gov/ |
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