County Business Patterns

County Business Patterns Historical Data

County Business Patterns is an annual series that provides subnational economic data by industry. The series is useful for studying the economic activity of small areas; analyzing economic changes over time; and as a benchmark for statistical series, surveys, and databases between economic censuses. Businesses use the data for analyzing market potential, measuring the effectiveness of sales and advertising programs, setting sales quotas, and developing budgets. Government agencies use the data for administration and planning.

County Business Patterns covers most of the country's economic activity. The series excludes data on employees of private households, railroad employees, agricultural production employees, and most government employees. Further, the series excludes nonemployers--mostly self-employed individuals--although those businesses are covered in Nonemployer Statistics.

Availability of data for earlier periods

County Business Patterns was been published in printed reports annually from 1964 through 1998, and at irregular intervals dating back to 1946. Printed volumes in major depository libraries are the only forms in which data are available prior to 1986.

• View County, State, U.S., or ZIP Codes on an Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Basis (1994 - 1997) in hypertext tables
• View publications in pdf format (1993 - 2004)
• Download in data files in comma-delimited format (1986 - Present)
• Order CD-ROMs for counties (1986 - 2004) or ZIP codes (1994 - 2004)
• View Puerto Rico by SIC Industry (1998 - 2002) in hypertext tables

Comparability

The comparability of data over time may be affected by definitional changes in establishments, activity status, and industrial classifications.

Industry Classification

Since 1998, County Business Patterns has been tabulated based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Data were tabulated according to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) System for prior periods. For more information on the SIC system, see the SIC Information Page.

• 2003 to 2007 data use NAICS 2002
• 1998 to 2002 data use NAICS 1997
• 1988 to 1997 data use 1987 SIC
• 1973 to 1987 data use 1972 SIC

In general, CBP lags by one year the adoption of the classification system employed in the economic census.

Classification changes introduced in the 2003 CBP are explored in detail in the Bridge Between 2002 NAICS and 1997 NAICS

Classification changes introduced in the 1998 CBP are explored in detail in the Bridge Between NAICS and SIC.

Treatment of auxiliary establishments

In the 1998 - 2002 CBP reports, corporate, subsidiary, and regional managing offices were tabulated in NAICS Sector 55. All other auxiliaries were tabulated in NAICS 95. Starting with the 2003 CBP, corporate, subsidiary, and regional managing offices are still published in NAICS Sector 55, but the other auxiliaries are tabulated in the industry of the service performed. The other auxiliaries were coded into ten separate NAICS classifications listed in the auxiliary section of the 1997 Bridge Between NAICS and SIC [PDF 2.0mb].

In 1997 and earlier CBP reports based on SIC, auxiliary establishments were similarly excluded from SIC categories, but were reported as a separate data line for those counties where they were present.

Geographic Comparability

Counties: County boundary changes are few and far between, but there were two introduced between the 2002 and 2003 CBP: the creation of Broomfield County, CO, from parts of 4 counties, and the deletion of Clifton Forge (independent) city, VA, which was merged with Alleghany County. Such changes, detailed at /geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, are implemented in CBP in batches once every 5 years.

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas: Metropolitan areas are redefined after each population census and new criteria are generally introduced at that point. Most metropolitan areas tabulated in CBP for 2003-2007, those defined as of June 2003, had at least some boundary changes relative to the areas tabulated in 2002 and prior years. Lists of counties that comprise each metropolitan area as of different time periods can be accessed at http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metrodef.html. There are maps that illustrate the metro area changes implemented in CBP with 2003 data. In 2002 and earlier data, CBP data were published for New England County Metropolitan Areas rather than for MSAs in CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT.

Micropolitan areas were first defined in 2003 and no data have been published for prior years.

ZIP Codes: ZIP codes are defined at the convenience of the U.S. Postal Service and may change from time to time.

Other Comparability Issues

Prior to 1974, there were certain variations in County Business Patterns contents:

• 1974 through 2004 Data are provided for mid-March employment, first-quarter and annual payrolls, and establishments, by industry, for each county in the state and, in a separate report, for the United States. Data are included for every industry having a significant number of employees or establishments. Refer to General Explanation for a description of the types of employment covered.
• 1964 through 1973 Data are provided for first-quarter reporting units, employment, and taxable payrolls for each county and metropolitan area in the state and, in a separate report, for the United States. Data are included for every industry having a significant number of employees or reporting units.
• 1959 and 1962 Data are provided for first-quarter reporting units, employment, and taxable payrolls for each county in the state and, in a separate report, for the United States. Data are included for every industry having a significant number of employees or reporting units. Data are combined for some counties in eight states.
• 1956 Data are provided for first-quarter reporting units, employment, and taxable payrolls for each county in the state and, in a separate report, for the United States. Data are included for SIC economic divisions, major groups, and selected three-digit SICs. Data are combined for some counties in eight states.
• 1949 and 1950 Data are provided for first-quarter manufacturing establishments, employment, and taxable payrolls for each large county in the state and, in a separate report, for the United States. Data are included for manufacturing major industry groups and selected three-digit SICs. Manufacturing totals are included for small counties. Data are combined for some counties in eight states.
• 1947, 1948, 1951, and 1953 Data are provided for first-quarter reporting units, employment, and taxable payrolls for each large county in the state and, in a separate report, for the United States. Data are included for SIC economic divisions, major groups, and selected three-digit SICs. Economic division totals are included for small counties. Data are combined for some counties in eight states.
• 1946 Data are provided for first-quarter reporting units, employment, and taxable payrolls for each large county in the state and, in a separate report, for the United States. Data are included for SIC economic divisions and major groups. Economic division totals are included for small counties. Data are combined for some counties in eight states.

Questions?

A number of other issues, include comparability with other sources, are discussed in introductory material and in CBP Questions.

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