On-Line Help

Help for Select States

Overview

DQS allows you to view aggregate data by state or for the entire United States as one observation. When a single state or the "United State" observation is selected, DQS will output the total of the selected variables (e.g., Total Revenues) for that observation. Not all types of local government exist in every state.

Notes for Use

Highlight states from left box (hold ctrl to select more than one at a time) and click on Add >> to select states for analysis. Highlight states in right box and click << Remove to deselect states.

Example: When "United States" is selected on this page, "State and Local" selected on the "Select Level" page, and "Total Revenue" selected on the "Select Series" page, DQS will output the sum of Total Revenues for all state and local governments in the entire US.

Additionally, you may use the provided buttons to automatically select all the states in a Census Region or Division.

Example: Pressing "Pacific" will automatically move Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington into the right box.

Data Availability

For some years, local government totals for counties, municipalities, townships, and school and special districts are available for the US-level data but not for individual states. These tables show which levels are available for which years.

Availability of US Totals, by year and level
Years State and Local State Local Local Government Detail
2017 X X X X
2013-2016 X X X  
2012 X X X X
2008-2011 X X X  
2007 X X X X
2004-2006 X X X  
2003 X X X X
2002 X X X X
2001 X X X X
2000-1998 X X X  
1997 X X X X
1996-1993 X X X  
1992-1977 X X X X

Availability of State Totals, by year and level
Years State and Local State Local Local Government Detail
2017 X X X X
2013-2016 X X X  
2012 X X X X
2008-2011 X X X  
2007 X X X X
2004-2006 X X X  
2003   X    
2002 X X X X
2001   X    
2000-1998 X X X  
1997 X X X X
1996-1993 X X X  
1992-1977 X X X X

Note: Except for Census of Governments years (i.e., all those ending in "2" and "7"), the local government statistics in this data are based in part on a sample of local governments. They are therefore subject to sampling variability. Estimates of statistical errors for 1993 and later years are available from the Census Bureau. For earlier years, contact the Census staff directly.

WARNING: FY 2003 and 2001 data for US Total of municipalities also includes townships.

Technical Notes

The Census Bureau provides definitions for the different local governments in its Individual State Descriptions: 2017 Census of Governments.

In addition to the Federal Government and the 50 state governments, the Census Bureau recognizes five basic types of local governments: county governments, municipal governments, township governments, special district governments, and school district governments.

Information on the definition of a government entity and types of governments is available in the Census Bureau's Government Units Survey, or can be found the introduction and appendix of Individual State Descriptions: 2017.

Sources

  1. Government Finance and Employment Classification Manual, http://www2.census.gov/govs/pubs/classification/2006_classification_manual.pdf.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances and Census of Governments (1977-2021).
  3. Individual State Descriptions: 2017, https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2019/econ/2017isd.html.