Subject Guides: Government Information: Finding by Topic

Finding by Topic

United States Census

Census Bureau | Other Data Sources | International | Guides

From the Census Bureau

US Census Bureau
Official website for the bureau. Links to official Census publications, data, maps, and press releases.
US Census Data
Search all the online Census data including thousands of tables and maps. Data available from 2000-2022.
American Community Survey
Data previously collected in the long-form decennial Census including ancestry, educational attainment, income, language proficiency, employment, and housing characteristics.
Census Publications
List of publications, briefs, and reports. Does not include the full Census tables. Publications often focus on a single topic over a series of years.
Census Infographics & Visualizations
Infographics and visualizations covering a broad range of topics.
Census Interative Maps
Interactive mapping tools from across the Census Bureau.
Economic Census
Five-year measure of American business. Conducted in years ending in 2 or 7. Includes core and trade sector specific content including sales, shipments, receipts, or revenue; employment and payroll; and more.
Census of Agriculrure
Conducted every five years in years ending with 2 and 7. A complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them including land use and ownership, production practices, income and expenditures, and more.
Census of Governments
Conducted every five years in years ending in 2 and 7. Includes all state and local governments in the United States with data on organization, finance, employment, and more.
Print Materials
Print copies of Census publications held at Lake Forest College.

From Other Organizations

Social Explorer
The best option for accessing Census data at lake Forest College. Generate reports and maps using Census and demographic data from 1790 to the present.
Ancestry Library
View pdf scans of original census records and search for individuals by name. Online access only available on campus.
Statistical Abstract of the US
Annual national statistics on social, political, and economic of the country. Available editions from 1878 - 2012.
Census Records at the National Archives
Links to digitized census records held by partner organizations to the National Archives as well as details about each decennial Census.
IPUMS NHGIS Census Data Tables
Download datasets from 1790 to the present. Requires account creation. Maintained by University of Minnesota.
Census Data in ICPSR
Census data available in a cross-institutional data repository hosted by the University of Michigan.
Census Records in HathiTrust
Census publications digitized by a collaboration of academic libraries. Some available to view in pdf, some are not.

International Censuses

International Censuses and Statistical Agencies
List of US agencies that collect international statistics as well as official statistical agencies for most countries.
Population Reference Bureau
Private non-profit that collects statistics focused on world population, health, and the environment.

Guides & Tutorials

Census Bureau Guides & Tutorials
Instructional videos and guides provided by the Census Bureau.

Countries

US Government Sources | Other Sources

US Government Sources

US Department of State
Official website for the State Department. Includes country profiles and links to subordinate agencies.
Library of Congress Guide to Law Online
Guides to legal information for 125 countries. Includes links to free legal resources.
CIA World Factbook
Information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. From the CIA and includes maps.
US Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets
Profiles for 200 countries or areas from the US State Department. Includes diplomatic and economic history, embassy information, travel warnings, and trade stats.
Country Studies & Area Handbooks
Detailed profiles of countries published by the US. Outdated, but useful for historical context.

Other Sources

Constitute Project
Search the text of constitutions across the world including the option to filter by topics and compare texts. Published by the Comparative Constitutions Project.
Population Reference Bureau
Statistics, articles, and reports on topics such as poverty, education, health, and race around the world.

Economics and Business

General | Federal Reserve | Businesses | Trade

General Statistics & Data

US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Find data on employment, wages, industries, and more. Also includes the CPI inflation calculator.
Census Data
Official data portal for Census information from 2000 - present.
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Economic data about GDP, prices & inflation, international trade, consumer spending, and more. From the US Department of Commerce.
The Economic Report of the President
Annual reports written by the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers from 1996 - present. Includes extensive data appendices.
NBER Public Use Data Archive
Economic, demographic, and enterprise data previously used by NBER affiliated researchers for projects. Not a government agency -- a private non-profit.
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Information on occupations including average pay, job growth, job summaries, and more.
Economic Indicators
Published monthly by the Council of Economic Advisors. Includes measures like gdp, unemployment, prices, and investment. 1995 - present.

Federal Reserve Data

US Federal Reserve Data by Topic
Find data on exchange rates, interest rates, bank assets, and other monetary policy topics. Also includes links to working papers.
Beige Book Archive
Archive of the Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions from 1970 - 2022. From the Federal Reserve.
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
Online database consisting of hundreds of thousands of economic data time series. Created and maintained by the Federal Reserve.
FRASER
Digital library of U.S. economic, financial, and banking history.

Business Information

EDGAR SEC Filing Search
Search full text of electronic Securities and Exchange Commission filings since 2001.
NAICS Codes
Find the 6-digit codes used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments.

International Trade

USA Trade Online
Data tool with access to current and cumulative US export and import data. Account creation required.
OECD Statistics and Data
Stats and data from 38-memeber IGO the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Elections

General Resources | Registering to Vote | Illinois | Candidate & Election Analysis

General Resources

State Election Offices
Official websites and contact information for state election offices. Find candidate information, results, and more.
Federal Election Commission
Find campaign finance data and legal information relating to campaign finance and election issues.
Election Information from the Clerk of the US House
Election information from the House of Representatives including current district maps and member information.
National Archives Voting & Election Resources
Links to voting resources, election information, & the Electoral College from the National Archives.
Lake Forest College Election Guide
Voting and election resources guide. Currently tailored to 2022 midterms, will update for 2024 elections.
Election Official Directory
Contact information for local elections offices down to the county level.

Registering to Vote

vote.gov
Official website for registering to vote and changing registration.
Online Registration by State
Find your state's policies about online voter registration. From the National Conference of State Legislatures.
NASS Voter Registration Status
Check your voter registration status. From the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Changing Voter Registration
Information to help you change your voter registration if you've moved or changed names.

State of Illinois

Illinois State Board of Elections
Official website for the Illinois State Board of Electors.
Illinois Online Voter Application
Register to vote in Illinois online.
Illinois Polling Place Lookup
Look up your polling place using the address you are registered with.
Illinois Voter Registration Form
Printable pdf of Illinois's voter registration form.

Candidate & Election Analysis

Campaign Finance Data
Find fundraising and spending totals for candidates and committees. Filter by election year. From the Federal Election Commission.
Open Secrets
Non-partisan non-profit group tracking money in US politics. Search for politicians by name.
Congressional Record
Official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. Find actions taken by current legislators by searching their names.
Finding Candidate Information at the Library
Candidate information section of lake Forest College voting guide. Information on news access via the library.
On the Issues
Extensive analysis of the voting records and policy positions of US politicians. Owned by Snopes.
Understanding Judicial Elections
Information on how judicial retention elections work in the state of Illinois.
FactCheck.org
Non-profit organization dedicated to analyzing claims made by politicians in the news or on social media.
Voter's Self Defense Guide
Profiles of politicians including voting records and ratings by political action groups on key issues.
Gallup
View polling and analysis of American elections and political issues. Gallup is a privately held company.
Pew Research Center
Analysis and polling from the non-profit non-partisan think tank.
Injustice Watch
Independent journalism covering Cook County policing and criminal justice issues. Collects extensive information on candidates in judicial elections.
An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election
Precinct level information on the 2020 Presidential election results. From the New York Times.

Immigration

Current Resources & Data | Historical Sources

Current Resources & Data

US Citizenship & Immigration Services
Homepage for the USCIS. Find forms and legal information.
US Census - Foreign Born Population
Census data and statistics covering persons not US citizens by birth.
Immigration Statistics
Data and resources published by the Office of Immigration Statistics. Find immigrant counts,, naturalization stats, and information about lawful foreign residents.
Visa Statistics
Monthly and annual reports including information about the number of visa issued by location and classification.
Immigration & Citizenship Resources
General information about residency, green cards, and citizenship requirements and related issues.
State Department Visa Information
General visa information from the Department of State.

Historical Sources

Ellis Island Passenger Search
Search over 65 millions records of immigrants processed at Ellis Island from 1820-1957.
New York Passenger Arrival Lists
Find links to historical documents recording arrivals to Year York City. From the National Archives.

Statistics

Economics, Labor, & Trade

Bureeau of Economic Analysis
Economic indicators, national and international trade, accounts, and industry
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the U.S. economy.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Airline on-time performance, pirates at sea, transportation safety and availability, motorcycle trends, and more.
USA Trade Online
Current and cumulative U.S. export and import data.

Agriculture, Energy, & Climate

Energy Information Administration
Use of coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and more.
climate.gov
NOAA climate data packaged for a general audience with maps and graphs.
NOAA Climate Data
Global historical weather and climate data. Broad NOAA site also includes paleoclimatology and oceanography data.
USDA Economic Research Service
Economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food, the environment, and rural development
National Agricultural Statistical Service
Food production and supply, organic sales, chemical use, demographics of U.S. producers, and more. Conducts the Census of Agriculture.

Health, Education, & Science

National Center for Education Statistics
Public and private K-12 school district data, higher education statistics and measures, survey results, and longitudinal studies.
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
Data on American science and engineering workforce and the progress of STEM education in the United States.
National Center for Health Statistics
Vital statistics, survey results, hospital studies, and more.
CDC Data & Statistics
Data on diseases, immunizations, mortality, COVID-19, and more.

Population, Demographics, & Crime

Census Bureau
Complete census data including population and demographics.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Justice systems, crime, criminal offenders, and victims of crime
Statistical Abstracts of the United States
Authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States, 1878 - 2012.
FBI Crime in the US
Annual reports detailing national crime statistics, trends, and analysis.

Government Operations & General Data

USA spending.gov
Official source for US Government spending data. Breakdown by category and individual award.
data.gov
Open data from the US Government. Includes federal, state, and local data.
OPM FedScope
Data on the Federal civilian workforce.
analytics.usa.gov
Web traffic counts for government sites.

Taxes & Social Security

IRS Tax Statistics
Reports on sources of income, exemptions, use of medical savings accounts, migration, and geographic data, and other tax information.
SSA Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics
Data on social security program benefits, payments, covered workers, and more

Tax Forms

Federal | Illinois

Federal Taxes

Internal Revenue Service
Homepage for the IRS. Links to all relevant federal tax information.
Tax Forms & Instructions
Current tax forms and instructions for filing individual income tax.
Resources for International Students
Official information and FAQs for temporary US residents like students and researchers.
Federal Tax FAQs
Frequently asked questions and answers about US federal taxes.

Illinois and Other States

Illinois Tax Forms
All current forms and instructions for filing individual state income tax.
Forms for Other States
Links to current forms for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.