Colorado by the Numbers: What Was New in 2001

November 26, 2001

• United States Bureau of Justice Statistics
  Crime and Justice Data Online provides the following data for onscreen viewing:
  • Crime trends for violent and property crimes from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports by State including U.S. totals (since 1960) and by reporting local agency (since 1985). Violent crimes include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, larceny/theft, and motor vehicle theft.
  • Homicide trends and characteristics (victim age, gender, and race and weapon used) by State (since 1976) and by local agencies with a population coverage of more than 250,000 (since 1985).
  • Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics for state agencies and large local agencies with 100 more more sworn officers.
    Linked on the Crime page.

November 22, 2001

• Newly released data from the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey on cities and counties in Colorado with populations of 250,000 or more. These include the cities of Aurora, Colorado Springs, and Denver and Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, and Jefferson counties The program provides estimates of demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics for the United States and the fifty states and cities and counties with populations of 250,000 or more. Access to state-level data is available from the pull-down menu of states. For access to city and county data, choose the link to Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables near the bottom of the page. The survey includes:
  • "data on sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, household type, housing occupancy, homeowners, renters, and additional topics." 
  • "information on school enrollment, educational attainment, marital status, disability status, migration, place of birth, language spoken at home, ancestry, and additional topics."
  • "information on labor force status, commuting, occupation, income and benefits, poverty, and additional topics."
  • "units in structure, year structure built, number of rooms, vehicles available, type of heating fuel, occupants per room, value of housing unit, mortgage status, amount of rent paid, and additional topics."

• Zip Code Statistics from the 1997 Economic Census provides data to the 2-digit NAICS codes by state, first three digits of the zip code, and individual zipcodes. Includes the number of establishments, number of paid employees, annual sales or receipts in thousands of dollars and annual payroll in thousands of dollars. Available on the Economy page.
• Colorado Courts page provides information about the Colorado Supreme Court Court of Appeals, Trial Courts by County or District, Water Courts, Denver Probate Court. The site also includes Colorado-approved forms, court rules, statistical data on the operation of the courts, and other information. Provides selected opinions online.
  • Annual Reports provide statistics on the caseloads of the courts; the distribution of case filings by type of case; written Supreme Court opinions; the distribution of case terminations, filings, terminations, court, and jury trials in the district courts; domestic relations, civil, probate, juvenile, juvenile delinquency, mental health and criminal filings in the district courts; filings, caseloads, court and jury trials, DUI/DWAI, civil, small claims, misdemeanor, and felony complaint filings in the county courts. In addition, the reports provide data on the filings, claims, and caseload in the water court. The section on probation includes data on adult, juvenile, and private probation, and on specialized programs to supervise adult, drug, female, juvenile, and sex offenders. Data on probation are available on revocations, length of stay, active clients, new cases by court of origin, gender, age, ethnic group, by type of supervision, investigations, and active client risk levels. The reports also provide data on the financial status of the courts including revenues, budget appropriations, and judicial restitution recoveries. Available on a new Courts page.

October 27, 2001

• Almanac of American Politics provides capsule summaries of states, congressional districts, congressional redistricting, biographies of elected officials (President, Vice-President, Governors, Senators, and Congressional Representatives), election results, campaign finance, basic demographic data, and other information. The 1998, 2000, and 2002 editions are available online. Linked on the Government page.

August 13, 2001

• State Export Maps and Data The International Trade Administration provides customized retrieval of data and maps on US and state level exports from 1997 to the most recent year. Global Patterns of State Exports provides information on the exports of a state or region. Customizable by product group. State Export Patterns to Foreign Markets provides state-by-state data on export of product groups to world regions or specific countries. Linked on the Economy menu.

August 7, 2001

• State Health Profiles 2001 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides access to data it uses to prepare of its print publication series of the same title. The state-level data (available as Excel spreadsheets) include: leading causes of death and years of life lost, developmental disabilities, vaccination coverage, infant mortality; prenatal care, birth rates for teenage girls, motor vehicle-related deaths, suicides, homicides, air quality standards, asthma, disabilities, childhood lead poisoning prevention, deaths from occupational lung diseases, traumatic occupational fatalities, occupational illnesses, AIDS, malaria, chlamydia and gonorrhea, syphillis, deaths from pneumonia and influenza, lyme disease, tuberculosis, oral health, prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, prevalence of physical inactivity and overweight, total cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and mammography, colorectal cancer and proctoscopy, lung cancer and current smoking, prevalence of smoking, health care coverage, health promotion training, and adult vaccination coverage. Also includes background material on the project and methods of data collection in Word format. Linked on the Health page.
• Census 2000 Supplementary Survey provides estimates of demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics for the United States and the fifty states. In the fall, the Census Bureau plans to release similar estimates for most cities and counties with populations of 250,000 or more. The survey includes:
  • "data on sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, household type, housing occupancy, homeowners, renters, and additional topics." 
  • "information on school enrollment, educational attainment, marital status, disability status, migration, place of birth, language spoken at home, ancestry, and additional topics."
  • "information on labor force status, commuting, occupation, income and benefits, poverty, and additional topics."
  • "units in structure, year structure built, number of rooms, vehicles available, type of heating fuel, occupants per room, value of housing unit, mortgage status, amount of rent paid, and additional topics."
    Linked on the Population, Housing, Income, Poverty, Education, and Labor pages.

July 16, 2001

• Colorado Division of Criminal Justice Office of Research and Statistics provides statistics on adult and juvenile arrest rates. In addition, it provides detailed projections of Adult Prison and Parole Populations, and Juvenile Detention, Commitment, and Parole Populations. Linked on the Crime and Prisons page.

July 6, 2001

• Census 2000 mapping tools are available via American Factfinder. The "Start with Basic Facts" section of the website includes a tool to map selected demographic variables from 1990 and 2000 for states by county. Census 2000 Summary File 1 (100 percent data on age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, household type, relationship, group quarters, whether the residence is owned or rented and vacancy status) includes tools to map cross-tabulated data (such as the number of Hispanic homeowners/renters in an area) for smaller areas (such as places, counties, census tracts, or block groups). Choose "Census 2000 Summary File 1" from the Data Sets menu of American Factfinder. Use the "Thematic Maps" tool to create small area maps. See the Tutorial at the University of Michigan for suggested ways to use the American Factfinder.
  Note: Before you dig into the detailed maps, you may with to identify the relevant census tract and block group numbers with the 2000 census maps or address search feature.
  Linked on the Colorado Maps page.

July 3, 2001

Census 2000: New data or data available in a new format:

New Data:

• Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data "presents counts and basic cross tabulations of information collected from all people and housing units. It includes counts for many detailed race and Hispanic or Latino categories." Data include age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, household type, relationship, group quarters, whether the residence is owned or rented (tenure), and vacancy status. Data are available to the block for some tabulations. For others, data are available to the census tract. Although many of the Quick Tables and Geographic Comparison Tables on the American Factfinder are derived from Summary File 1, the data are not cross-tabulated in those data series. Cross-tabulated data (for example, how many Hispanic/Latino households in a community own/rent their homes) is available in the Data Sets menu of American Factfinder. To access the cross-tabulated data:
  • Choose "Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data".
  • Choose "Detailed Tables".
  • Choose a level of geography and a state or states.
  • Choose a subject.
  • Choose a table or tables from the list available for that subject.
  • Choose "Display Tables".

  Note: Before you dig into the detailed tables, you may with to identify the relevant census tract and block group numbers with the 2000 census maps or address search feature.

• Census 2000 Housing Occupancy and Tenure files provide data on the total number of housing units and the percentage occupied and vacant. Data on occupied units are available by tenure (owner- or renter-occupied), race or Hispanic origin, or age of the householder by number and percent. Data on vacant housing units are available by the number and percent available for rent or sale, rented or sold but not occupied, for seasonal, recreational, or occational use, for migratory workers, and other vacant housing. The data for states, counties, county subdivisions, and places are now available for onscreen viewing or download in the "Start with Basic Facts" area of American Factfinder. Choose "Housing Occupancy and Tenure QT" from the pull-down menu before choosing the level of geography (state, county, county subdivision or place). Available on the Housing menu.
• Housing Unit Counts for counties, places, and American Indian Areas (Reservations) Available on the Housing menu.

New Format:

• General demographic data for states, counties, county subdivisions, and places are now available for onscreen viewing or download in the "Start with Basic Facts" area of American Factfinder. Choose "Population and Housing QT" from the pull-down menu before choosing the level of geography (state, county, county subdivision or place). The data is derived from the Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: Colorado report issued in May 2001 in .pdf format. Includes data on population by sex, by age, by race, by Hispanic origin. In addition, it includes data on relationships between occupants of households, household types, housing occupancy and housing tenure for the state, cities, Census designated places, towns, primary metropolitan statistical areas, congressional districts, Indian reservations, and the state as a whole. Available on the Population page.

June 26, 2001

• Cancer in Colorado, 1993-1998: Incidence and Mortality by County provides county level data on the incidence of cancers of the bladder, breast, cervix, colon/rectum, lung/bronchus, prostate, and skin (melanoma). County data is displayed by gender. In addition, the report compares cancer rates in Colorado to national rates and breaks statewide data down by race and ethnicity. Linked on the Health page.

June 22, 2001

• Colorado State Patrol Statistics include data on the number of fatal crashes by county for the years 1990-1999, an analysis of crash trends, fatalities involving teenaged drivers and alcohol and drug use. In addition, the site provides information on all accidents by county, aggressive driving, and citations for driving without seat belts. Available on the Traffic Safety and Transportation menus.

June 20, 2001

• 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation: Colorado Data on the numbers of participants and the economic impacts of fishing, hunting and wildlife-associated recreation such as observation, photography, and feeding of wildlife. Data include number of trips taken; duration of trips; and expenditures for food, lodging, transportation, and equipment. A survey conducted every five years by the Census Bureau for the Fish and Wildlife Service.
  The American Sportfishing Association provides a summary of the national survey data and additional information on economic benefits in its report, The Economic Importance of Sport Fishing. The report includes state data for Colorado. Available on the Economy menu.

May 31, 2001

• Landfill Profiles for the State of Colorado Each profile includes general landfill information (owner, city, county, year open, year closed, annual acceptance rate in tons and waste in place in tons). In addition, each profile includes an estimated methane generation and the potential environmental benefits of using the methane for electricity generation and with other fuels. According to the Background Information, "Once collected, landfill gas can be used as an energy source for many different applications, including electricity generation, space heating and cooling, industrial processes, and vehicle fuels. .... In each of these options, the methane contained in the recovered landfill gas is consumed, either through combustion (e.g., use as a fuel, including upgrading to pipeline quality gas and flaring) or conversion to a non-greenhouse gas, thereby reducing emissions of methane to the atmosphere. Moreover, using landfill gas to generate electricity can displace other fossil fuel use, thereby reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other local air pollutants." Linked on the Energy page.

May 22, 2001

• InstaCheck Statistics contain data on background checks of prospective purchasers of handguns and longuns conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Includes data on the number of purchases approved or denied and the reasons for the denial by type including purchases denied because of restraining orders, arrests or convictions for homicide, kidnapping, larceny, assault, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, and dangerous drugs. Also includes data on the number of appeals received, processed, and reversed, and the total number of arrests on outstanding warrants. Linked on the Crime page.
• Census 2000 General Demographic Characteristics: Colorado a report in .pdf format. Includes data on population by sex, by age, by race, by Hispanic origin. In addition, it includes data on relationships between occupants of households, household types, housing occupancy and housing tenure for the state, cities, Census designated places, towns, primary metropolitan statistical areas, congressional districts, Indian reservations, and the state as a whole. At some point in the future, data will be available via American Factfinder. Linked on the Population, Counties, Cities, and Housing and Households menus.

May 9, 2001

• 2001 Urban Motility Study "provides data on the performance of some elements of the transportation system in 68 urban areas through research performed in cooperation" with state transportation agencies. Includes the full text of the national report and data for Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver from 1982-1999. The data include daily vehicle miles traveled on freeways and principal arterial streets and the percent of moderate, heavy, severe, and extreme congestion experienced on each. The data include a measure of roadway system performance that includes an estimated annual hours of delay, annual excess fuel consumed, and an annual congestion cost. Available on the Transportation page.

April 20, 2001

Census 2000

• Population by County, 1990 and 2000 with Percent Change
• Street Address Search Enter a street address, city, state, and zip code. You can then choose to display Census 2000 data and maps on the state, county, county subdivision, census tract, block, place, voting precinct, congressional, and state legislative districts in which the address is found. Both linked on the Population page.
• Census 2000 Outline Maps. Available as .pdf documents. Use the zoom tool (Adobe Acrobat Reader) to enlarge the detail in any area of the map. Use map in each county identified as 000.pdf as an index for the county. Find the appropriate grid on the map. The last two digits in the filenames of the other maps correspond to the two digit numbers on each map grid. For example, the map grid for block groups in Boulder County has the filename "PB08013_000.pdf ". To view the detailed map for the area labeled "52" on the map grid, choose the file "PB08013_052.pdf"
  • Census County Block Maps--Colorado
  • Census County Tract Maps--Colorado
  • Census Voting District/State Legislative District Maps--Colorado.
    Linked on the Maps page.

April 10, 2001

• Maps for Census 2000 --a guide to Census Bureau geographic products including maps and GIS data. Includes a glossary of terms, a good overview of product uses, and tips, techniques, and software for manipulating/printing data and maps. Linked on the Maps page.

April 2, 2001

• Minority and Women-Owned Business-Colorado Data from the 1997 Economic Census. Use blue arrows to access more detailed data. As of 4/5/2001, the data for black and Hispanic owned firms are available online. Data are available to the two-digit level by SIC code. Available on the Minority Owned Business page.

April 2, 2001

• Natural Hazard Statistics provides "statistical information fatalities, injuries, and damages caused by weather related hazards. These statistics are compiled by the Office of Meteorology and the National Climatic Data Center from information contained in Storm Data, a report comprising data from NWS forecast offices in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands." The site provides state and US summaries and separate reports on lightning, tornadoes, tropical cyclones, heat, floods, cold, winter storms and wind. Data are available from 1995 to the most recent year. Each report is available as an individual file or page. Some pages are in .pdf format. Available on the Geography, Climate and Environment and Vital Statistics pages.

March 20, 2001

Census 2000

• Redistricting Summary File contains summary statistics on counts for the total population, for the population 18 years and over, and population counts by race and by Hispanic or Latino origin. As of March 20, 2001, data are available for states, counties, and places in Colorado. Use the American Factfinder. Data are available for onscreen viewing or for download. In addition, by choosing the Maps option, you can create maps of population, population density, Hispanic origin, or race for counties in Colorado. Make your selections from "Start with Basic Facts". Available on the Population menu.

March 6, 2001

• Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations "The Davis-Bacon Act as amended, requires that each contract over $2,000 to which the United States or the District of Columbia is a party for the construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or public works shall contain a clause setting forth the minimum wages to be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics employed under the contract. Under the provisions of the Act, contractors or their subcontractors are to pay workers employed directly upon the site of the work no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits paid on projects of a similar character." The database provides prevailing county-level wage and fringe benefit determinations for individual occupations in general building, heavy and highway construction, and residential construction trades. Search or browse by state and county. Available on the Labor and Employment page.

March 5, 2001

• Statistical Atlases--An American Memory Collection, Maps Collection, 1500-1999, provides access to statistical atlases that cover the years 1870-1890. Choose "United States--Statistics--Maps" from the Subject Index for the following:
  • Statistical atlas of the United States based on the results of the ninth census 1870 with contributions from many eminent men of science and several departments of the government Comp. under the authority of Congress by Francis A. Walker, M. A., superintendent of the ninth census ...
  • Scribner's statistical atlas of the United States, showing by graphic methods their present condition and their political, social and industrial development by Fletcher W. Hewes and Henry Gannett... [1883]
  • Statistical atlas of the United States, based upon the results of the eleventh census [1890] by Henry Gannett.
    Available on the Population and Maps pages.
• First Measured Century: The Other Way of Looking at American History--a PBS program that examines the 20th century history of the United States as revealed through its numbers. Includes timelines, an analysis of trends, and a companion book, Trends of the Century, with chapters on population, work, education, family, living arrangements, religion, active leisure, health, money, politics, government, crime, transportation, business, and communications. Although this series is not specific to Colorado, it's an interesting look at how statistics can tell a story. Available on the Population page.

February 20, 2001

• Economic Census (1997): Non Employer Statistics "Includes only firms subject to federal income tax. Non employers are businesses with no paid employees....In terms of sales or receipts, non employers account for roughly 3% of business activity. At the same time non employers account for nearly 3/4 of all businesses". Data for the US, states, counties, and metro areas. Available on the Economy menu.

January 31, 2001

• Avalanches The Colorado Avalanche Information Center provides statistics and narratives on avalanches in Colorado, the United States, and the world for the years 1996-2000. The site also provides tables of fatalities by age and activity. Linked on the Geography, Climate and Environment page.

January 29, 2001

• Encyclopedia of ED Stats A compendium of education statistics from The Condition of Education, The Digest of Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics and other sources. Access by title, table of contents, subject area and searches of the table titles or full text. To locate data on Colorado, enter that term and other relevant terms in the search box and select "full text" from the menu. In addition, many of the tables are available in .pdf and spreadsheet formats. Available on the Education page.

January 12, 2001

• Quality Counts, a series of annual reports on education in the states from Education Week. Each report includes essays, state report cards, and indicator tables with data on all states. Data are available for onscreen viewing or download. The 2001 report examines standards, testing, and tools the states need to improve student performance. Earlier reports examined attracting and retaining qualified teachers, accountability, an analysis of urban education, and the condition of public education. Available on the Education page.

January 8, 2001

Census 2000

• Resident population of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for April 1, 2000 (Census 2000) and for April 1, 1990 (1990 Census). First results from the 2000 Census. The site provides data and maps in multiple formats including: PDF, Excel, ASCII, and GIF. Tables include resident population counts for the years 1990 and 2000, state rankings for 1990 and 2000, and numeric and percent change from 1990 to 2000. Includes state level data on resident population and apportionment for congressional representation from the earliest year to the present. Provides maps of percent change from 1990 to 2000 and numeric change from 1990 to 2000. Linked on the Population menu.