LibGuides: Soc 311: Research Methods -- Census and Other Quantitative Data: Finding Aids

Statistical Compendia

Compendia provide quick and easy access to some most-sought-after statistical tables. Footnotes to these tables lead to the web site, statistical series, organization, or government agency that produces the statistics you’re looking for. Chapter headings in compendia may contain useful information about statistics on a particular topic, including the existence of time-series.

These compendia are available on the web and/or in the Reed library:

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book
HA202 .S84 (1979 - 2010). The U.S. Census Bureau terminated the collection of data for the Statistical Compendia program effective October 1, 2011.
City and County Data Book
Oversize HA202 .A36 (1949 - 2007). The U.S. Census Bureau terminated the collection of data for the Statistical Compendia program effective October 1, 2011
USA Counties
Data from 1979-2009. Date coverage varies for different indicators.
State and County Quickfacts
Census web tool for locating current data sets by individual states, counties, and cities.

Historical Statistics of the United States This link opens in a new window
Invaluable for tracking time series data. Also includes statistical tables. Landmark revision of a Census Bureau compendium that had not been updated since 1975. The print version and companion web site were published by Cambridge University Press.

Web Directories & Databases

The following web sites are great starting places for locating government data published directly to the web:

Data.gov
Data.gov increases the ability of the public to easily find, download, and use datasets that are generated and held by the Federal Government. Data.gov provides descriptions of the Federal datasets (metadata), information about how to access the datasets, and tools that leverage government datasets.
UNdata
Downloadable data sets of country information from the United Nations
UN Partners Data
Downloadable data from United Nations' partner organizations.
Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System
Includes pre-made tables and downloadable data on scientists and engineers in the United States.
USPTO patent and trademark data
US Patent searching.
USPTO Trademark Data
Trademark searching.
USPTO - Intellectual Property
Intellectual property searching.