Online Databases

Our region is defined as a Primary Statistical Metropolitan Area (PMSA) in terms of unit of analysis and data sources. This definition is made by the Office of Management and Budget for use by federal statistical agencies. Our PMSA is commonly named PVMA and it consists of 6 counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill counties in Oregon and Clark county in Washington.

The present directory of online sociodemographic and economic databases is divided in three sections.

  • Section 1 is a list of websites displaying data on the PVMA region specifically (click and PVMA data is right there).
  • Section 2 is another list of websites where users can find data about the PVMA after following the search procedures (do-it-yourself.) Usually these sites contain county level data (i.e. Multnomah, Yamhill, etc).
  • Section 3 is a list of online data books with a wide array of sociodemographic and economic variables is included.

 

Section 1. PVMA Data Sources

SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC

General Demographic Characteristics
Source: Bureau of the Census
Description: Data on variables such as total population, sex, age structure etc.
Year data available: 2000
Click to view

Social Characteristics
Source: Bureau of the Census
Description: Data on variables such as school enrollment, educational attainment, ancestry etc.
Year data available: 2000
Click to view

Metropolitan Racial and Ethnic Change
Source: Lewis Mumford Center and the University at Albany
Description: It provides an initial analysis of how the racial and ethnic composition of metropolitan areas has shifted in the last ten years, and how increasing diversity is experienced at the level of local neighborhoods
Years data available: 1980, 1990 and 2000
Click to view

ECONOMIC

Economy At A Glance
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Description: Economic data by industry sector
Year data available: 1995-2005
Click to view

Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Description: Employment and wage estimates. Calculated with data collected from employers in all industry divisions in the Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA PMSA (primary metropolitan statistical area that includes parts of Oregon and Washington.)
Year data available: 2004
Click to view

Section 2. Regional Data Sources

SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC

Socioeconomic Indicator for the Northwest Region Website
Source: Northwest Area Foundation
Description: Data on topics such as population characteristics, income and poverty, employment, housing, and family and kids.
Year Data Available: Several
Click to view

County and State Quick Facts for Oregon
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Description: Summary profiles showing the most common data items from various Census Bureau programs
Years data available: Several
Click to view

State of the Cities Data Systems
Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development
Description: The most complete collection of databases on demographic and economic characteristics for the PVMA available at one site. You have to do the searches yourself, but it is very easy to do.
Years data available: Several
Click to view

Average annual pay by metropolitan area
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Description: Average annual pay for all covered workers
Year data available: 2000 and 2001
Click to view

Regional Facts
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Description: BEA Regional Facts--BEARFACTS--consists of computer-generated narratives for States, counties, and metropolitan statistical areas. The narratives describe an area's personal income using current estimates, growth rates, and a breakdown of the sources of personal income.
Year data available: 1993 to 2003
Click to view

Average annual expenditures
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Consumer Expenditure Survey
Description: Information on the buying habits of consumers in selected western metropolitan statistical areas. Data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics
Year data available: 1999-2000
Click to view

Section 3. Online Data Books and Reports

Regional Data Book
Source: Data Resource Center at Portland's METRO regional government
Description: Geographic, Demographic, Employment, CPI & Interest rate, Income & wages, Housing characteristics and Transportation characteristics for the PVMA.
Year data available: 1990s/2000s
Click to view

U.S. Metro Economies
Source: The United States Conference of Mayors
Description: A summary of economic data for all metropolitan areas in the U.S.
Year data available: 1990 to 2000
Click to view

U.S. Patents
Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Description: Report presenting the number of utility patents awarded to residents of each state, county (or county equivalent), and metropolitan area in the United States
Year data available: 1990 to 1999
Click to view

Draft Regional Forecast
Source: Metro's Data Resource Center
Description: Population, age, household, employment, income and wage projections from 2002 to 2030.
Click to view