Statistical Abstract of the
United States- Value of Data
Ian O’Brien
Branch Chief, Statistical Compendia Branch, U.S. Census Bureau
Statistical Compendia Branch
Statistical Abstract of the United States
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Statistical Abstract area
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Local Statistics area
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Statisticians
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Information assistants
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IT specialist
Products
Statistical Compendia Branch Print , Web, and CD-ROM products
Statistical Abstract of the United States
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It contains summary statistical indicators on 30 broad subject areas (i.e. population, vital statistics, health, income,
business, and foreign commerce) about conditions in the United States.
About 300 different federal, private, non-profit, and international organizations are contacted and information
collected to produce this product.
Although emphasis in the Statistical Abstract is primarily given to national data, many tables present data for regions
and individual states and a smaller number for metropolitan areas and cities.
State and Metropolitan Area Data Book
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1,387 data items are repeated for 50 states, 165 data item are repeated for 392 metropolitan areas, and 51 data items are
repeated for metropolitan areas and counties components, and 13 data items for 577 micropolitan areas.
Information in the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book covers the following topical areas: age, agriculture, births,
business establishments, communications, construction, cost of living, crime, deaths, education, elections, employment,
energy, finance, government, health, households, housing, immigration, income, manufactures, marriages and divorces,
media, natural resources, population, poverty, race and Hispanic origin, residence, retail sales, science and engineering,
social services, tourism, transportation, and veterans.
Products, continued
USA County Database
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USA Counties features over 6,500 data items for the United States, States and counties from a variety of sources
Information in USA Counties is derived from the following general topics: Accommodation and Food Services, Age,
Agriculture, Ancestry, Banking, Building Permits, County Business Patterns, Civilian Labor Force, Crime, Earnings,
Education, Elections, Employment, Government, Health, Hispanic or Latino, Households, Housing, Income,
Manufactures, Nonemployer Statistics, Population, Poverty, Race and Hispanic Origin, Retail Trade, Social
Programs, Survey of Business Owners, Taxes, Veterans, Vital Statistics, Water Use, and Wholesale Trade
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USA Counties Database is updated and released quarterly
QuickFacts
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QuickFacts tables are summary profiles showing frequently requested data items from various Census Bureau programs.
Profiles are available for the nation, states, counties, and large cities.
QuickFacts tables are updated and released at least once a year. Summary profiles for the U.S., states, counties, and
cities with at least 25,000 population are updated periodically.
Products, continued
County and City Data Book
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The most comprehensive source of information about the individual counties and cities in the United States. It
includes data for all U.S. states, counties, and cities with a population of 25,000 or more. It contains additional data
for places with a population of 100,000 or more. Also included is a complete set of state maps showing all counties,
places of 25,000 or more population, and metropolitan areas.
County and City Data Book has 188 data items repeated for over 3,100 counties and their equivalent and over
1,200 incorporated places with 25,000 or more population.
Information in the County and City Data Book covers the following topical areas: age, agriculture, births, business
establishments, climate, construction, crime, deaths, earnings, education, elections, employment, finance,
government, health, households, housing, income, labor force, manufactures, population, poverty, race and Hispanic
origin, social services, and water use.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
The Statistical Abstract Overview
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Published since 1878, the current 2012 publication will be the 131 st edition.
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The Statistical Abstract provides a comprehensive summary of industrial, social, economic,
demographic, and political data. It serves as a statistical compendium and as a guide to other
statistical publications and sources.
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The Statistical Abstract and its companion products have an online presence, providing Census
Bureau stakeholders, the media, Congress, researchers, and educators with free access to all of
products in PDF and Excel formats.
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Provides enhanced value to the taxpayer by efficiently and effectively meeting the needs of
policymakers, businesses, and entrepreneurs who require more relevant and timely data. They are
used directly by researchers, students, librarians, statisticians, government agencies, businesses,
economists, and many other stakeholders.
Statistical Abstract
The Statistical Abstract
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Published annually which allows for the introduction of new relevant tables such as migration of
college freshman, 2010 Decennial Census, hate crimes, family farms, and horticulture sales.
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Time series allows you to compare statistics over a given time period and observe trends.
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The tables have headnotes, footnotes, and source citations to allow you to go to the direct source for
more information if needed.
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The 2011 and 2012 Statistical Abstract web site are 508 Compliant.
Value of sources
Source of the Statistical Abstract
Statistical Abstract sources
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About 300 different federal, private, non-profit, and international organizations are contacted and information
collected to produce this product.
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Yearly correspondence and exchange with the source of the data.
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Meetings and discussions about the introduction of new data or the deletion of obsolete data.
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Sound methodology for table, survey, report.
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Discrepancies and concerns are worked through with the source of the data.
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Revisions to prior years and changes in text, source notes, and citations are implemented by source.
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The Statistical Abstract allows for some companies to introduce their products to a larger audience. (Copyrighted
Tables)
Added value of the Statistical Abstract
The Statistical Abstract
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Reduces the time necessary for research for the statistical data required for your work, report, paper.
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A wealth of statistical information compiled into one volume.
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A trusting relationship between source and Statistical Compendia Branch
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Revisions to prior years data
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Index to search for your topic of interest
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Methodology and source information
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List of publications provided by the sources
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Introduction to source of the data for more extensive research.
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Every Statistical Abstract back to 1878 is available online at www.census.gov/compendia/statab
2012 Statistical Abstract
Will be released at the end of September with the corresponding
website and CD-ROM to follow.
Websites
Statistical Abstract
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab
Local Area Statistics
http://www.census.gov/compendia/databook
USA Counties Database
http://censtats.census.gov/usa/usa.shtml
QuickFacts
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/