State and Metropolitan Area Data features more than 1,500 data items and indicators for the U.S. and individual states, metro counties, and metropolitan and micropolitan areas from a variety of sources. It includes the latest 2005 population and housing estimates along with the latest information from both the economic and population censuses along with such topical areas as age, agriculture, business, communications, crime, cost of living, education, elections, employment, energy, government, health issues and measures, housing, immigration, income, poverty, science and engineering, tourism, transportation, and veterans.   The metropolitan area information is based on the latest set of definitions for metropolitan and micropolitan areas. This publication comes with rankings, guide to state and local sources, and technical information about the data and methodology.