This volume, the fifth in a series, presents a convenient summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the states and metropolitan areas (MAs) of the United States. It is designed to serve as a statistical reference and guide to other statistical publications and sources. The latter function is served by the source citations appearing below each table and in Appendix A, Source Notes and Explanations.

This volume includes a selection of data from many statistical publications and electronic sources, both government and private. Publications cited as sources usually contain additional detail and more comprehensive discussions of definitions and concepts than can be presented here. Data not available in publications issued by the contributing agency but obtained from unpublished records are identified in the source notes as ‘‘unpublished data.’’ More information on the subjects covered in the tables so noted may generally be obtained from the source.