Data Drop, our data-focused weekly feature, is closing in on its first anniversary in March, so we thought it would be a good time to highlight some of the many diverse topics we've explored so far. There were so many, in fact, that you probably missed one or two.
Here were some of our favorites, in no particular order:
1. What Minnesotans are throwing away, but could be recycling
Data tracking recyclable items that ended up in landfills or at incinerators shows Minnesotans are trashing less than they used to overall, but more of some items like plastic bags and bottles. There are interesting cultural trends in the data, too, like an increase in cardboard from all those packages we get delivered these days.
2. Minnesota has the second-highest rate of working mothers
More than 80 percent of Minnesota mothers with children under 18 are in the labor force. The Midwest leads the nation, but which is the only state that beats us out?
3. How has the popularity of your name changed in 100 years?
Data on names of babies born in Minnesota sheds light on the names that have been rising and falling in popularity over time. Look up the popularity of your name of the last 100 years.