Collins Memorial Library: ECON 241: Regional and Urban Economics: MSA Research Project

City and MSA Data & Statistics

Federal statistics data resources can be extremely helpful, but you should also consult with state, county, regional, and municipal government resources.

Social Explorer
A research tool designed to provide access to historical census data and demographic information. It creates maps and reports to help users visually analyze and understand demography and social change throughout history.

Social Explorer includes the entire US Census (1790 to 2010) and the American Community Survey (2005 to 2015).

Specialized U.S. data resources include the FBI Uniform Crime Report (2010 to 2015), American election results (1912 to 2016), Religious Congregations and Membership Study (1980 and 2010), Vulcan Project carbon emissions data (2002), US Business Patterns (2014), and County Health Rankings and Roadmaps Program data (2010 to 2016).

International data resources include the United Kingdom Census (2011), Canadian Census (2011), Eurostat (1990, 2000, 2010 to 2013), World Development Indicators (2013), and Irish religion and population data (1911 and 2001).

StatsAmerica
StatsAmerica is a service of the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC). We obtain thousands of data items from hundreds of data sets from dozens of federal and state sources, along with some commercial or private source data. While StatsAmerica adds value to these data through easy access and functionality, we acknowledge the direct agency source of the data on every table, profile or map.

Data Planet This link opens in a new window
Data Planet simplifies data analysis by providing an all-in-one resource for researchers and students to access statistics relevant to their areas of study.

Data.gov
U.S. government agencies that provide access to "raw" datasets and searchable catalogs. Begun in 2009 with 47 datasets, there are, as of May 2012, nearly 450,000 datasets across 172 federal agencies divided into "data communities including Business, Education, Health, Law, Energy, Ethics, Ocean, Safety, and Research.

Statistical Abstract of the U. S. This link opens in a new window
A comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Use the Abstract as a convenient volume for statistical reference, and as a guide to sources of more information both in print and on the Web.

Local Newspapers

Local newspapers can be instrumental in providing detailed reporting about local and regional issues for your MSA. The newspapers of record may be included included in the library's subscription databases.

Access World News
Contains many local and regional news sources. Use the USA Source Locator Map to narrow by state resource.
News & Newspapers (ProQuest)
Contains all of the news content provided to Puget Sound by ProQuest. Includes alternative, national, international, local and historical news.
Nexis Uni (formerly LexisNexis Academic)
Access to news, business, governmental and legal sources.

Metropolitan Areas

List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas
The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has defined 384 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for the United States, including eight for Puerto Rico. The OMB defines a Metropolitan Statistical Area as one or more adjacent counties, or county equivalents, that have at least one urban core area of at least 50,000 population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by the commuting tie.