Librarian
Benjamin Aldred
They/Them or He/Him
Contact:
Daley Library
801 S. Morgan St.
2-198 LIB
Chicago, IL 60607
801 S. Morgan St.
2-198 LIB
Chicago, IL 60607
(312)413-2594
Sources of Data
The data used for any map depends upon the purpose of the map. While many maps will display information unique to that map, there are some sources of more general information that can be found through the sources indicated on this page.
The Quick & Dirty Sources
- Data.Census.GovThe Census Bureau is the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy.
- The National Historic Geographic Information SystemThe most comprehensive source of both Census data and GIS files for all census in the US (that's right - all the way back to 1790!)
- SimplyAnalyticsA web-based mapping, analytics, and data visualization application with 100,000+ data variables, including demographic data from the US Census dating back to 1980, the American Community Survey (ACS), consumer spending data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX), and D&B's Points-of-Interest business directory providing access to over 5 million US business profiles. Additionally, users have access to the MRI-SimmonsLOCAL consumer behavior dataset, which includes data on over 8,000 brands, 450 categories and detailed lifestyle data, the PRIZM Premier marketing segmentation system, and the Community Lifestages dataset. The CDC PLACES health data delivered by SimplyAnalytics provides 27 diverse health measures, including Health Outcomes, Prevention, Health Risk Behaviors, and Health Status. Data is largely available down to the block group level, and custom locations can be created.
To save your searches, you need to sign up for an account using your UIC email address.
Access restricted to 5 concurrent users. - Social ExplorerSocial Explorer provides access to current and historical census data and demographic information. Create maps and reports to better illustrate, analyze and understand demography and social change.
Note: Social Explorer has developed a new libguide. To see the new libguide, you can go this link here
Commerce Department
- Bureau of Economic AnalysisThe Bureau of Economic Analysis provides data and information for regional, national, and international levels as well as by Industries.
- Economic Surveys and ProgramsFor an overview of the range of information and data available on Economic Indicators and Surveys, this is the source from which you can direct your search,
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment StatisticsThe Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations. These are estimates of the number of people employed in certain occupations, and estimates of the wages paid to them.
- Bureau of Labor StatisticsThis home page for the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides access not only to data and tables but also to publications and up-to-the-minute data factoids.
- HUD UserProvides electronic data sets generated by PD&R sponsored data collection efforts, including the American Housing Survey, HUD median family income limits, as well as microdata from research.
Creating your own data
You can generate your own data using sources such as online YellowPages, GPS or smart phones, and crowdsourced list that are then georeferenced. Below are sites and articles that help with these.
- USC Geospatial ServicesIf you have files with addresses and need to add their longitude and latitude to make a map, the University of Southern California has online, free geospatial services that help you do that.
- iPhone data into spreadsheetsHow to download your location data from an IPhone
- GPS data to computerOne of many programs for putting GPS data to use.