State Data Center
Structure
OSBM is the lead agency and point of contact between the Census Bureau and 40 partner agencies across North Carolina. The statewide network includes four coordinating agencies and three dozen local affiliates.
Coordinating Agencies
Coordinating agencies offer services consistent with their individual missions
- State Library of North Carolina: Answers requests for North Carolina data and demographics from local affiliates, public-sector agencies, businesses, and residents. The State Library also provides research support, online databases, and training materials.
- Center for Geographic Information and Analysis: The leading statewide source of geospatial information and analysis. It is part of the NC Department of Information Technology and coordinates NC One Map, an authoritative online collection of geospatial data and mapping resources.
- Carolina Demography: An applied research center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina Demography conducts research for communities seeking to understand and manage local demographic, economic, and social trends.
- Odum Institute for Research in Social Science: Provides advanced research services, data access, and training to university-based users of large datasets. Located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Affiliates
There are four types of affiliate organizations that serve specific geographic areas.
Lead Regional Organization: All 16 of North Carolina’s Regional Councils of Governments are lead regional organizations. They foster use of census and other public information for planning, development, and governing purposes
Public Libraries: Nine of the state’s larger public library systems participate in the network and provide data access and support to local patrons.
Academic Affiliates: The NC Community College System Office and the libraries at six University of North Carolina schools promote census and other public data. Academic affiliates may have special expertise in subjects like agricultural and business statistics.
Data Center Associates: The NC Association of County Commissioners, the NC League of Municipalities, and four large chambers of commerce are associate members providing targeted services.
The NC State Data Center also collaborates with the NC Counts Coalition, a nonprofit organization and the state’s sole Census Information Center. The NC Counts Coalition facilitates access, understanding, and use of census data.
For more, see our Guide to the State Data Center and our History.
Guide to the NC State Data Center
Any of the State Data Center affiliates can help you access and interpret census and other public data or refer you to the appropriate network partner. Typically, the best place to start is with the affiliate closest to you or the geographic area you are researching.
Tips:
- If you represent a state agency or are researching non-contiguous geographic areas, contact the State Library of North Carolina. Visit the library in Raleigh or submit questions via mail, phone, email, or online chat.
- If you are researching a specific county, municipality, or sub-county area, begin by contacting the Lead Regional Organization in that area.
- If you are at a college or university that hosts an academic affiliate, contact your campus affiliate; otherwise; contact the UNC Odum Institute for Research in Social Science.
If you need specialized geospatial information, contact the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis. Many lead regional organizations and academic affiliates also offer help with geospatial analysis; Visit NC One Map, an authoritative online collection of geospatial data and mapping resources. - For census data or help with census concepts and resources, visit the “Log into North Carolina” (LINC) platform, which hosts more than 1,500 frequently requested data series drawn from census, federal, and state agencies and programs. You also can contact your nearest affiliate.
- If you are a general user who lives in an area with a local library affiliate, contact the library for general assistance, data access, and referrals to specialized affiliates.
While general services provided by the NC State Data Center are free, each affiliate may charge for specific services. Some fees, like those for photocopying or printing, may be modest. Others, like those for individualized computer programming, mapping, and consulting services, may be sizable. Please confirm any charges before finalizing your research request.
In addition to maintaining Census Bureau products like the Decennial Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and the Economic Census, the NC State Data Center offers access to data compiled by other federal agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Department of Agriculture. Certain data maintained by state agencies like the NC Department of Public Instruction and NC Department of Health and Human Services is also available.
The easiest way to access frequently requested data is by visiting the “Log into North Carolina” (LINC) platform, which hosts more than 1,500 data series drawn from census, federal, and state agencies and programs.
Training on how to use and interpret key data products also is available in different formats.
Mission
To provide efficient access to US Census data and products, provide training and technical assistance to data users, and provide feedback to the Census Bureau on data usability, state and local government data needs, and operational issues.
The State Data Center supports the legislative mandate of G.S. 143C-2-2 regarding the collections of state statistics.
Vision
Public agencies and state residents look to the NC State Data Center for guidance in accessing demographic, economic, and social information; interpreting that information; and transforming that information into knowledge that can address community issues.
How North Carolina Ranks Annual Report
An annual data dashboard comparing North Carolina to other states on key metrics.