I've heard the federal government and the Census Bureau are the best sources for demographic statistics. How do I start my search?

Yes! Start with American FactFinder, from the U. S. Bureau of the Census, which provides access to data about the United States, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. It is an important source for population, housing, economic and geographic information. The data in American FactFinder come from several government-sponsored censuses and surveys. For details on how to use American Factfinder, go to the library's tutorial on American Factfinder.