The book presents individual profile sections in 13 subject categories for each State, the District of Columbia and one for the U.S. in summary. Fifty-four tables list the States in rank order for a selected characteristic chosen from the State profiles. The 13 profile categories include: (1) State Summary; (2) Geography & Environment; (3) Demographics & Characteristics of the Population; (4) Vital Statistics & Health; (5) Education; (6) Social Insurance & Welfare Programs; (7) Housing & Construction; (8) Government and Elections; (9) Governmental Finance; (10) Crime, Law Enforcement & Courts; (11) Labor & Income; (12) Economy, Business, Industry & Agriculture; and (13) Communication, Energy & Transportation. Information for the profiles was chosen to include those items with the greatest general appeal to the broadest cross-section of users. Information came from the latest reports of Federal Government agencies, augmented with data from business and trade organizations.