Average Covered Wages & Employment

 Description : This data will provide the number of units (establishments), average employment, and average weekly wages for various industries.

 Report : Minnesota Average Covered Employment and Wages by Economic Region and County. Note : This is available in either Annual Averages or Quarterly. Quarterly is recommended.

 Source : Minnesota Department of Economic Security, Research & Statistics Office
Frequency of Source : Quarterly

 Contact :
Mary Benton Hummel, Research Analysis Specialist
Minnesota Department of Jobs & Training
309 N. Robert St., St. Paul, MN 55101
(612) 296-7892

Sales Levels

 Description : This data provides Gross Sales, Deductions, Net Sales, Use Tax Purchases, Total Taxable Sales, and Tax Liability for various industries in both the City of Morris and Stevens County.

 Report : Minnesota Sales and Use Tax Data : Annual Averages, City by Industry

 Source : Minnesota Department of Revenue
Frequency of Source : Annual

 Contact :
Diane Carter, Senior Research Analyst
Minnesota Department of Revenue
10 River Park Plaza, Mail Station 2230, St. Paul, MN 55146-2230
(612) 296-3425

Employment and Unemployment

 Description : Civilian labor force, employed persons, unemployed persons, and the unemployment rate is given on a month by month summary.

 Report : Monthly Unemployment Rates

 Source : Minnesota Department of Economic Security, Research & Statistics Office
Frequency of Source : Monthly

 Contact :
Mary Benton Hummel, Research Analysis Specialist
Minnesota Department of Jobs & Training
309 N. Robert St., St. Paul, MN 55101
(612) 296-7892

Age Distributions, Income & Poverty Levels, Housing, Family Size & Type

 Description : Various indicators of census data - The areas of each analysis shall be determined at the beginning of the course.

 Report : 1990, 1980, 1970 Census Data : STF 3A; P1 - P127, H1 - H71

 Source : Census Bureau
Frequency of Source : Every decade

 Internet : http://www.census.gov/

Social Service Programs

 Description : Aid to Families with Dependent Children, viewed as total, regular and unemployed parent recipients for calendar years. This data indicates the number cases, caretakers, children, total persons and total payments to the different programs. Food Stamp Allotments for calendar years. Data includes average monthly households, average monthly allotment, and total allotments to the various counties.

 Report : Minnesota Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Calendar Year Summary. Minnesota Food Stamp Allotments, Calendar Year Summary

 Source : State of Minnesota Department of Human Services
Frequency of Source : Annual

 Contact :
 Fred Bettenberg-Pohl
 Reports and Forecasts Division
Department of Human Services
444 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-3838
(612) 296-6975

Climate

 Description : Temperature readings, wind directions, and precipitation levels will be documented through the Barrett High School and the West Central Experiment Station (WCES). Soil temperature at various depths will also be documented through WCES. Water levels, drainage, discharge and erosion will be measured at two sites (the Pomme De Terre River in Morris, and the P.D.T. river at its intersection with County Road 8, downriver from Morris, and downriver from the Muddy Creek drain in to the Pomme De Terre River) and documented at the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

 Source : WCES documentation is for the previous day, and should be accounted for accordingly (e.g. the 2nd of the month entry is for the 1st of the month readings) These will be automatically sent to the University on a monthly basis.

 Frequency of Source : WCES : Continuous, SWCD : Monthly

 Contact :
West Central Experiment Station
Jean Spohr / George Nelson
PO Box 471
Morris, MN 56267
(320) 589-1711

Land Use

 Description : Students will use existing GIS type maps to analyze various land use characteristics of the Morris area. Maps with residential, commercial, and industrial zonings will be created, analyzed and updated.

 Frequency of Source : Annual

 Contact :
 Maps : Larry Zilliox
Douglas Co. Extension Service
305 8th Ave West
Alexandria, MN 56308
(320) 762-3890lzilliox@mes.umn.edu

 Zoning Updates : Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission
Tom Gillespie
City of Morris - Building Inspector
609 Oregon Avenue
Morris, MN 56267
(320) 589-3141

Transportation (City, Rural, and Regional)

 Description : Local, County and Regional traffic maps, along with usage statistics and estimates will be examined and tested by students. Also, source and destination optimization will examine current and proposed traffic networks.

 Source : Minnesota Department of Transportation
Frequency of Source : Continuous

 Contact :
 (Regional Data)
Al Wolffe
MN DOT
PO Box 666
Detroit Lakes, MN 56502
(218) 847-1540

 (Local Highway Data)
Dean Olson
MN Dep't of Transportation
610 Hwy 9 South
 Morris, MN 56267
(320) 589-7300

 (City Data)
Bill Storck
City of Morris Public Works Director
(320) 589 - 2996

Interdisciplinary Resources

 Description : These resources are to assist the campus community in preparatory and research analysis. Requests will be obtained on a personal basis through meetings with various faculty from different disciplines.

 Political Science :
Dr. Greg Thorson
(320) 589-6208
Social Science 145c
U of MN, Morris

 Biology :
Dr. Ellen Ordway
(320) 589-6308
Science 213
U of MN, Morris