The State Data Center has published a new data set showing the location of group quarters in the state; locations and characteristics of college residence halls, nursing homes and correctional facilities are included. When complete, the U.S. Census Bureau will use the data to help ensure a full accounting of residents in these facilities across the state next year.

If you work with demographic or economic statistical data, you’re likely familiar with the acronym MSA. This stands for Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area. In either case, MSA’s are an important regional geography built using population density, jobs and commuting patterns.