While many federal data websites, like the U.S. Census, are not operational during the federal shutdown, it is still possible to access some important information. North Dakota Compass, part of the Center for Social Research at NDSU, is a resource that provides access to key data such as social indicators.

The North Dakota Compass website, located at www.ndcompass.org, is available to provides access to vital information. Historical data is available by clicking the gray bar above any graph and selecting "Data & Notes."

North Dakota Compass also notes alternatives for data exist while the U.S. Census Bureau sites are down, including Minnesota Compass at www.mncompass.org and for South Dakota, partners at the Black Hills Knowledge Network also provide statewide information at www.blackhillsknowledgenetwork.org/topic-hub/community-data.

County-level information is available from Stats America at www.statsamerica.org.

For further information on how to access data during the government shutdown, a recent Pew Research Center article describes alternate ways to access census data. The article is available at www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/08/how-to-get-census-data-during-the-government-shutdown.

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