General
Visit the STATISTICS, POLLS, AND DATA RESEARCH GUIDE for more sources and guidance.
- Statistical Abstract of the United States (ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowSearch for statistics in this yearly publication that illuminate the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. The data covers the years 1878-2012 and has been compiled from a variety of public and private sources. (ProQuest)
- Data.govOfficial portal of machine-readable data created by the US federal government.
- Census Bureau: A to Z IndexInformation about and links to data collected by the Census Bureau and other agencies, organized by topic.
- Historical Statistics of the United States This link opens in a new windowSearch for statistics on topics related to American Indians, slavery, poverty, race, ethnicity, migration, health, crime, and more. Each are placed in historical context by a recognized expert in the field. (Cambridge)
Census/Demographic Data
- data.census.govOfficial tool to access data from the Census Bureau, includes American Community Survey (ACS) estimates, Decennial Censuses, economic survey data, business patterns, and Census of Governments. Click on "Advanced Search" to create a table. [Note: replaced American Factfinder in spring 2020]
- Social Explorer This link opens in a new windowCreate reports and maps based on US Census data and demographic information. Create an account on the site to save your maps. (Social Explorer)
- Historical Census Browser (UVa)Browse U.S. Census data for states and counties on a variety of topics for years 1790-1960.
Commercial Databases that contain Government Data/Statistics
These databases are provided by commercial publishers and contain a variety of data from government and other sources. Pay close attention to the author/producer of the data that you find using these sources.
- PolicyMap This link opens in a new windowAccess a data and mapping resource that combines demographic, health, employment, and socioeconomic data about communities, census tracts, and other regions within the United States. (PolicyMap)
- Statista This link opens in a new windowSearch for statistics on topics related to business, markets, mass media, technology, and more. The data is compiled from a variety of public and private sources. (Statista)
- SimplyAnalytics This link opens in a new windowAccess business, consumer, and market data from a variety of sources, including Neilsen, Simmons, and the Census Bureau. Using this data, you can build reports, export data, and create maps. Choose "Sign in as a guest" or create a personal account in order to save your work. Note: Only 10 users may access this database at one time. (SimplyAnalytics)
Social Sciences Librarian
Paul Rosenstein
Contact:
Boatwright Memorial Library, 182
261 Richmond Way
Richmond, VA 23238
261 Richmond Way
Richmond, VA 23238
804.289.8851