Often we must use data from a different time period than that which we are studying, or from a different place. Thus after all of our data searching and number crunching are done, instead of being able to declare that we have proved or disproved a theory, the best we can say is that our data support or undermine our confidence in a particular depiction or explanation of historical conditions. Writing skills are essential for representing accurately the conclusions that are justified by historical data. Income, caloric intake, food production, etc. are also of this kind. Note however, that some measures, like types of food, degree of food insecurity, or positions above or below the poverty line, are not ordinal variables.
Geographical data represent the distribution of variable values in space.
In statistical tables, geographical territories most often represent data points, which appear as row labels in the first column. Variables that pertain to each territory appear as column labels. Rows of numbers are the set of descriptors that describe a specific data point, or territory, in that table. Each variable is described by its value in each county, with all the county values being aggregated into a picture for the territory of Pennsylvania. The units of disaggregation are counties, with each county being one unit, each with its own name, location on the map, representatives in state electoral institutions, and such.