State Data Center History
NC State Data Center is a partnership between the US Census Bureau and the State of North Carolina. It was established in 1978.
The NC State Data Center improves access to the extensive demographic, economic, and social information collected by the US Census Bureau and assists North Carolinians in using the data to understand and address community issues.
NC State Data Center Beginnings
North Carolina was one of the four original states that joined with the Census Bureau in 1978 to launch the State Data Center Program. The program’s vision was to expand access, understanding, and use of census data.
In a pre-internet world, this involved the Census Bureau providing free copies of paper publications, microfiche records, large-reel computer tapes, and mylar maps to a state-coordinated network of public agencies, colleges and universities, libraries, councils of governments, counties, and municipalities.
OSBM has been the lead public agency since 1978. The center’s coordinator is North Carolina’s liaison with the Census Bureau and the national network of State Data Centers, the District of Columbia, and the five insular territories.
The federal government does not provide direct funding to State Data Centers. Instead, the Census Bureau provides in-kind materials and technical support. This leaves each state able to organize and operate its network as it sees fit.
See State Data Center structure for more on how the network is organized.
The Evolution of NC State Data Center Services
The services provided by the NC State Data Center Network have evolved in response to technological advancements and demographic, economic, and social changes.
Before the advent of the internet, the NC State Data Center worked with the Census Bureau to provide network members with free copies of physical materials and records. The network provided people with access to information without requiring travel to research libraries or time-consuming correspondence.
Early Data Center services included written reports and compendia of state-specific information in user-friendly formats. Examples included the Statistical Register of State Government Statistics, the Profile of NC Counties, and the NC State Statistical Abstract. There were also studies of important issues like commuting trends and occupational change. The State Data Center also processed local requests for customized Census Bureau tabulations.
Over time, the NC State Data Center expanded available data beyond Census Bureau products to those collected by other federal agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Department of Agriculture. Some datasets maintained by state agencies like the NC Department of Public Instruction and NC Department of Health and Human Services were also added.
Services later expanded to include the population estimates and projections from the NC State Demographer, who is also part of OSBM.
The goal is to provide North Carolinians with one-stop access to diverse data sources to empower residents to use community data improve knowledge and decision-making.
These days, most census data is accessible and downloadable online without need for printed books or dedicated computer media like data tapes. Consequently, today’s users can be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data available and how to interpret it.
Network members now offer guidance and training to users and answer individual requests submitted by phone, e-mail, physical mail, and in person. The network guides people in deriving meaning from data. Helping a county official understand local trends in population aging, for instance, can better target services for older adults. Similarly, assisting an aspiring entrepreneur in analyzing economic trends can reveal market opportunities and inform strategic planning.
The Growth of LINC, or “Log into North Carolina”
Shortly after its founding in 1978, the NC State Data Center began developing tools for convenient, one-stop public access to census and other statistical data. The “Log into North Carolina” platform, known as LINC, began as an automated, phone service. Users would dial into a computer mainframe to retrieve data.
LINC evolved into an online database and then into a point-and-click open data platform. The current platform offers intuitive data access to novice and intermediate users. It provides plain-language search features and graphing and mapping tools. For experience data users, the platform contains more advanced tools.
The LINC platform hosts more than 1,500 frequently requested data series drawn from census, federal, and state agencies and programs. Information typically is available at the state, county, and municipal levels. Depending on the data series, it’s often available for long periods of time and in relation to other states. Older data series discontinued by federal agencies for budgetary reasons also remain available for research into historical trends in North Carolina.
The Future of the NC State Data Center
The NC State Data Center Network continues to evolve. As census information has become easier to access, network members focus more on helping users understand available data, transform it into knowledge, and communicate it to civic leaders, journalists and the public.
The State Data Center continues to partner with the US Census Bureau and the national network to improve existing data products, inform the development of new ones, and create tools and resources to meet data users’ needs in North Carolina.
Additional Information
Direct questions about the State Data Center via email to the statewide coordinator.