LibGuides: Geography Research Guide: Welcome

Reference Works

Geography: A very short introduction
A concise introduction to the study of geography, from Oxford University Press
Oxford Bibliographies - Geography
The Oxford Bibliographies provide a survey of a discipline and lead you to the top resources in the field such as reference works, journals, and the key topics. The Geography section has entries on each sub-discipline.

Encyclopedia of Human Geography by Audrey Kobayashi (Editor-In-Chief)
ISBN: 9780081022962
Publication Date: 2019-11-29
International Encyclopedia of Human Geography, Second Edition, Fourteen Volume Set. embraces diversity by design and Places an emphasis on how geography is relevant in a social and interdisciplinary context

Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction
A concise introduction to the study of climate change, from Oxford University Press. 4th edition, 2021
Encyclopedia of Soil Science, Third edition
A ready reference addressing a multitude of soil and soil management concerns. The 3rd edition was published in 2016
SAGE Research Methods Online
Explore the research methods terrain, find all you need to know to plan a research project, explore appropriate statistical test methods using the tool 'Which Stats Test'

Michigan Geography

Michigan Geography and Geology (2009). (click here for a keyword index)
Michigan Roadside Naturalist (2003).
Geography of Michigan and the Great Lakes Basin (1993).
Michigan, a geography (1984).
Southern Great Lakes: Field guide (1977).
Michigan's thirty-seven million acres of diamonds (1927).
Physical, Industrial and Sectional Geography of Michigan (1914).
Dodge's Geography of Michigan (1910).

GIS-Related Subscription Resources

This list contains resources that provide mapping, GIS, or georeferenced data. These resources are available to current MSU students faculty and staff.

SimplyAnalytics
SimplyMap provides detailed US data including thousands of population, demographic, business, and marketing data variables from data partners like US Census, consumer expenditure, real estate, crime and many more. See also a guide to using Simplymap at
Guide to Using Simplymap

PolicyMap
Policymap is an online data and mapping application that gives access to over 15,000 indicators related to housing, crime, mortgages, health, jobs, demographics and education. Data are available at all common geographies (address, block group, census tract, zip code, county, city, state, MSA) as well as unique geographies like school districts and political boundaries. Data come from both public and proprietary sources. Many of the public files are available for download. Through PolicyMap, you can access all data in interactive maps, tables, charts, reports and through a unique analytic tool. You may also upload your own address level data and share your data and interactive maps with others.

Includes plumbing and kitchen data from 2011-2015 US Census Annual Community Survey.
Social Explorer
Create maps and reports from selected census statistics. 1790 to 1930: County, state and national data. 1940-2000: Census tract, county, state and national data. 2006- : ACS. Also includes religion data, U.S. Election data, UK Census 2011 data, and Ireland Religion data. Generate thematic maps for census tracts.