Kansas State Data Center

Kansas State Data Center
Name	Kansas State Data Center
Formed	1970s
Jurisdiction	Kansas
Headquarters	Manhattan, Kansas
Parent agency	Kansas State University

Kansas State Data Center The Kansas State Data Center is a state-level demographic and statistical resource hub affiliated with Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. It aggregates, interprets, and disseminates population, housing, and socioeconomic information produced by the United States Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and other federal and state agencies. The center supports planners, researchers, elected officials and nonprofit organizations across Topeka, Kansas City, Kansas, and rural counties by providing accessible datasets, technical assistance, and outreach.

History and Establishment

The center traces its origins to cooperative federal-state initiatives such as the Census Bureau's outreach programs and the national network of State Data Centers established after the 1970 United States Census and subsequent decennial censuses. Early partnerships involved Kansas State University researchers, the Kansas State Data Center network, and state agencies including the Kansas Legislature and the Kansas Department of Commerce. Milestones include coordination during the 1980 United States Census, expansion with the advent of decennial census digital products, and participation in post-enumeration projects tied to the 2000 United States Census and the 2010 United States Census.

Mission and Governance

The center's mission emphasizes authoritative access to demographic, economic, and social statistics from sources such as the American Community Survey, the Population Estimates Program, and the Economic Census. Governance typically involves academic oversight from Kansas State University colleges and extension services, advisory input from the Kansas State Data Users Group and liaisons with state bodies like the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Kansas Department of Education. Funding and policy are informed by interactions with federal statutes and programs administered by entities such as the United States Department of Commerce and the Office of Management and Budget.

Services and Data Products

Services include customized data tabulations, map-ready shapefiles, time-series tables, small-area population estimates, and workshops on interpreting outputs like the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Census Bureau enumeration data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment series. Data products often reference standards established by the National Historical Geographic Information System, the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and the North American Industry Classification System. Users access products for activities related to redistricting, grant applications to agencies such as the Economic Development Administration, disaster planning with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and health planning tied to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Organizational Structure and Partnerships

Administratively, the center operates within academic units such as the Kansas State University College of Arts and Sciences or extension programs, staffed by demographers, geographers, and statisticians who collaborate with researchers at institutions like the University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and regional planning commissions. Partnerships extend to the United States Census Bureau regional office, state departments including the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, nonprofit research organizations, and federal partners like the Economic Research Service. Memoranda of understanding and cooperative agreements guide data sharing with county clerks, metropolitan planning organizations such as the Mid-America Regional Council, and tribal entities in Kansas.

Impact and Applications

Outputs inform policy decisions by the Kansas Legislature, municipal governments in Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas, and Lawrence, Kansas, healthcare providers linked to the Kansas Hospital Association, and education agencies including the Kansas State Board of Education. The center’s analyses support grant proposals to foundations and agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, economic studies for chambers of commerce, and research published in outlets associated with organizations such as the Population Association of America. During emergencies, data inputs assist coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state emergency management offices.

Access and Data Dissemination Methods

Data dissemination employs web portals, static reports, interactive dashboards, downloadable GIS layers compatible with the U.S. Census TIGER/Line products, and workshops held in partnership with entities like the Kansas Association of Counties. Training materials reference tools developed by the National Historical Geographic Information System, APIs from the United States Census Bureau, and query services used by municipal planners and nonprofit analysts. Outreach includes presentations at conferences hosted by the Kansas Economic Policy Institute and briefings for stakeholders such as county commissioners and legislative staff.

Category:Demographics of Kansas Category:Organizations based in Manhattan, Kansas Category:Kansas State University