Mapping America's UFO Encounters: Cheryl Costa's State-by-State Data Revolution
Cheryl Costa, named UFO Investigator of the Year in 2018, has embarked on an ambitious project with her spouse Linda. Following their comprehensive UFO Sightings Desk Reference, they've created individual books for all 50 states. Each volume breaks down UFO sightings by county, city, and even zip code, making the data accessible and affordable for local researchers and enthusiasts. Twenty-five state books have already been released, with the remainder scheduled to be completed by early January.
Key Takeaways
UFO researchers Cheryl and Linda Costa are publishing detailed state-by-state UFO sighting data books, with 25 states already completed.
The state-specific UFO books provide localized sighting statistics down to zip code level, making comprehensive data more accessible to researchers and enthusiasts.
Cheryl Costa's UFO Data Project
Cheryl Costa, recognized as UFO Investigator of the Year in 2018, has launched an ambitious initiative to document UFO sightings across America. After creating a comprehensive UFO sightings reference with her spouse Linda, Costa is now releasing individual state-by-state volumes containing detailed UFO data.
The project aims to make localized UFO information accessible to everyone. Each book breaks down sightings by county, zip code, and even hamlet level, showing exactly what shapes were reported over a 20-year period. This granular approach allows readers to examine UFO activity specific to their immediate area.
Currently, over 25 state books have been published, with approximately five new volumes being released weekly. The entire 50-state collection is expected to be completed by early January 2025. Each book follows a color-coded system based on census regions: Northeast, South, Midwest, and Western.
The state-specific approach solves practical problems. A single comprehensive volume would have required approximately 6,500 pages and measured a foot and a half thick. By using modular production methods, Costa's team efficiently manages varying page counts - from smaller states like North Dakota (approximately 15 pages) to California (over 300 pages).
Market response has been positive, with sales increasing after media coverage. A recent Detroit Free Press article triggered significant purchases of the Michigan volume. Social media, particularly Twitter, has proven effective for raising awareness about the project.
These affordable books serve multiple audiences, including:
Local journalists researching regional phenomena
New UFO enthusiasts seeking local information
Serious researchers requiring statistical patterns
The state books include the standard analytical essays found in their original desk reference while adding unprecedented local detail without the higher cost of their previous comprehensive volume.
UFO Sighting Data Analysis
Factual Documentation
The UFO statistics compilation project represents one of the most comprehensive collections of unidentified flying object data ever assembled. These datasets contain detailed information categorized by location, time, shape, and numerous other variables. The information provides researchers with objective, quantifiable data rather than relying on anecdotal accounts or sensationalized reports. Each state's collection includes sighting reports spanning over 20 years, broken down to remarkably specific geographic levels including counties, zip codes, and even small hamlets.
The methodology behind this compilation follows rigorous data organization principles. Technical challenges included managing vastly different volumes of data between states—some like North Dakota containing only 14-15 pages of sightings, while California's documentation exceeded 300 pages.
Regional Publications Series
The complete collection includes individual volumes for all 50 states, with the first 25 books released in early 2025. The remaining volumes are being published at a rate of approximately five new books weekly, with completion expected by mid-January.
Each book follows a color-coded system based on the four major U.S. census regions:
Northeast
South
Midwest
West
This organizational approach enables readers to easily identify regional patterns in sighting reports. The decision to create separate volumes rather than a single comprehensive reference stemmed from practical considerations—one complete book would have reached approximately 6,500 pages and measured 18 inches thick.
Research Resource Development
These state-specific volumes serve as invaluable tools for individuals interested in local UFO phenomena. The publications are particularly useful for:
Regional journalists covering unexplained aerial phenomena
Local researchers examining patterns in their communities
Individuals curious about incidents in their specific area
Each book provides detailed breakdowns of sighting shapes, frequencies, and locations. The data extends to remarkably specific geographic levels—down to individual villages and small communities. This granular approach represents a significant advancement from previous work that could only reach county-level detail.
The volumes are intentionally affordable, making them accessible to a broader audience than previous reference materials that often exceeded $40 per copy. Whenever these publications receive media coverage, such as the recent feature in the Detroit Free Press, sales demonstrate significant regional interest in location-specific UFO data.
Cheryl Costa's Professional Journey
Cheryl Costa has established herself as a leading figure in UFO research and documentation. Her meticulous work has transformed how UFO sightings are cataloged and analyzed across the United States. With her spouse Linda, she has compiled comprehensive statistical information on UFO sightings, breaking down data by location, shapes, times, and other relevant factors.
Award-Winning UFO Researcher
In 2018, Cheryl Costa received recognition as "UFO Investigator of the Year" at the International UFO Congress. This prestigious award acknowledged her exceptional contribution to ufology through data collection and analysis. She and Linda created what many consider to be the ultimate desk reference for serious UFO investigators. Their approach to the subject has been particularly noteworthy for avoiding the controversies that often plague the field, focusing instead on objective data collection and presentation.
Diverse Professional Background
Cheryl's career spans multiple disciplines and industries. She served in both the United States Air Force and Navy, gaining valuable experience in military operations and protocols. Following her military service, she worked in the defense industry as an information security professional.
Her writing career includes work as a newspaper columnist, where she authored a popular UFO column in New York state that attracted significant readership. Beyond her scientific and journalistic endeavors, Cheryl is also a playwright, demonstrating her creative talents alongside her analytical abilities.
This multifaceted background has equipped her with a unique set of skills that has proven invaluable in her current project—creating individual UFO data books for all 50 states. The first 25 books have already been published, with the remaining volumes scheduled for release at a rate of approximately five per week.
UFO Data Collection by State
Regional Sighting Statistics
The UFO data series provides comprehensive state-specific information, breaking down sightings by county, city, and even smaller communities. Each volume contains detailed statistics covering a 20-year period, allowing readers to examine UFO activity in their immediate vicinity. The books present shape classifications, frequency patterns, and temporal distribution of reported encounters. This granular approach helps researchers identify local trends that might otherwise be overlooked in national compilations.
Budget-Friendly Research Materials
Each state-specific book offers an affordable alternative to the larger desk reference, which typically costs around $40. These streamlined volumes make specialized UFO data accessible to casual enthusiasts, local journalists, and serious researchers without requiring investment in comprehensive national statistics. The creators intentionally designed these books to be financially accessible, putting detailed paranormal research within reach of more people interested in their local UFO phenomena.
Publication Timeline and Availability
The ambitious publication schedule includes releasing approximately five new state volumes weekly. As of late March 2025, more than half the states have been published, with all 50 expected to be available by early January 2026. The books feature color-coded covers corresponding to four census regions:
Northeast - distinctive color scheme
South - region-specific coloring
Midwest - unique regional identifier
Western - dedicated color coding
Rather than producing one massive reference (estimated at 6,500 pages), this modular approach creates manageable, state-specific resources tailored to regional interests.
UFO Data Compilation for Field Researchers
Comprehensive Statistical Reference
The UFO Data Compilation series represents one of the most ambitious statistical projects in modern ufology. Initially available as a single comprehensive desk reference, the project has now expanded into individual state-by-state volumes. This approach allows researchers to access localized data without purchasing information for regions outside their area of interest.
Each volume breaks down UFO sightings to remarkably specific levels—by county, zip code, and even hamlet. The books display exactly which shapes were reported and track sighting volumes across a 20-year period. This granular approach makes the data accessible to local journalists, regional investigators, and casual researchers alike.
Currently, over 25 state volumes have been published, with new releases appearing at a rate of approximately five per week. The complete 50-state collection is expected to be available by early January 2026.
Methodical Documentation Approach
The volumes are organized according to the four major U.S. census regions:
Northeast
South
Midwest
West
Each region's books feature color-coded covers for easy identification. The page count varies significantly between volumes—states with fewer documented sightings like North Dakota may contain only 14-15 pages of data, while California's documentation exceeds 300 pages.
This modular approach to publishing solved the practical issue of creating what would otherwise have been a single, unwieldy 6,500-page reference book approximately 18 inches thick. The state-by-state format keeps each volume affordable compared to the original comprehensive desk reference, which retailed for approximately $40.
Regional media coverage has consistently driven sales spikes in the corresponding state volumes, indicating strong local interest in this geographically-specific data.
The books maintain a strictly statistical approach to the subject matter, allowing researchers to draw their own conclusions based on objective information rather than interpretation.
Ufology Reference for Serious Investigators
Ultimate Desk Reference
The state-by-state UFO data series serves as an essential resource for anyone conducting serious research into unexplained aerial phenomena. Each volume contains:
Comprehensive temporal data: Tracking of sightings across a 20-year period
Geographic specificity: Breakdown by state, county, zip code and hamlet
Shape categorization: Classification of sightings by reported object configuration
Sequential analysis: Year-by-year comparison of sighting frequencies
This level of detail allows researchers to identify patterns that might otherwise remain obscured in broader datasets. The books do not include narrative descriptions of individual sightings but instead focus on quantitative analysis—how many of which types occurred in specific locations over time.
The compilation represents thousands of hours of statistical work, transforming raw sighting reports into a structured, searchable format accessible to everyone from casual readers to professional investigators.
Avoiding the UFO Community Cat Fights
This data-driven approach deliberately sidesteps the contentious debates that often characterize ufology. By focusing strictly on statistical information rather than interpretation or theory, the volumes provide neutral ground for researchers of various perspectives.
The books contain:
Raw numerical data without speculative conclusions
Factual reporting of what was witnessed, when and where
No advocacy for particular theories or explanations
Statistical trends presented without ideological framing
This neutrality makes the reference series valuable to skeptics and believers alike. Academic researchers, journalists, and government officials can consult these volumes without worrying about being drawn into the field's notorious factional disputes.
The modular nature of the project also allows for ongoing updates as new data becomes available, creating a living reference system that can evolve alongside our understanding of the phenomenon.
Personalization of Data
The collection of UFO sightings data has become increasingly detailed, allowing for more personalized access to information. State-specific books now offer granular insights down to the county, zip code, and hamlet level. This approach helps individuals explore UFO phenomena in their immediate vicinity rather than wading through nationwide statistics.
These specialized volumes emerged from public demand. Many readers expressed interest in learning about UFO activity in their particular regions rather than broad national trends. The state-by-state breakdown provides affordable access to localized information, with each book showing exactly which UFO shapes appeared and their frequency over a 20-year period.
The data organization follows a logical structure based on geographic divisions. The books are color-coded according to four census regions: Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. This systematic approach helps readers quickly identify volumes relevant to their area of interest.
Creating individual state books solved a practical problem. A single comprehensive volume would have required approximately 6,500 pages and measured a foot and a half thick—unwieldy for practical use. Breaking the content into smaller, state-focused books makes the information more accessible and manageable.
Some states have significantly more reported sightings than others. For example, states like California required over 300 pages to document all sightings, while others like North Dakota needed only 14-15 pages. This variation reflects the uneven distribution of UFO reports across different regions.
The publication schedule has been remarkably efficient, with approximately five new state books released weekly. This modular production approach has enabled rapid completion of the entire 50-state series, with all volumes expected to be available by early January.
Inspiration for the Project
The motivation for creating state-specific UFO books came from reader feedback. After publishing the comprehensive UFO Sightings Desk Reference, many people contacted us requesting detailed information about their local areas.
The original reference book covered all 50 states but only reached the county level of detail. These new state-specific volumes delve much deeper, providing data down to county, zip code, and hamlet levels.
Affordability was another key consideration. The original desk reference was priced around $40, which presented a barrier for some interested readers. These state-specific books offer a more economical option while delivering hyper-local information.
The books present sighting data in an accessible format. Readers can find specific information about UFO shapes observed in their immediate area over a 20-year period. This granular approach provides both state-level and local-area statistics in one convenient resource.
Creating separate books for each state solved a practical problem. Calculations showed that combining all this detailed information into a single volume would have resulted in a 6,500-page book approximately 18 inches thick!
A modular engineering approach made this ambitious project possible. Despite initial doubts about feasibility, this systematic method enables publishing approximately five books weekly, with all 50 state volumes expected to be available by early January.
The books are organized by census regions, with covers color-coded accordingly:
Northeast
South
Midwest
West
When media coverage highlights specific state volumes, sales typically surge in those regions, as demonstrated by the Michigan books selling quickly after Detroit Free Press coverage.
Publication Challenges
Cover Design Limitations
Creating individual books for all 50 states presented significant production obstacles. The cover dimensions posed a technical challenge when preparing the state-by-state UFO data compilations. Different states required varying page counts based on their sighting volumes. Some smaller states like North Dakota needed only 14-15 pages of data, while California's extensive sighting history demanded over 300 pages. This disparity in content volume directly affected the book design process.
State Volume Rankings
The research team initially organized publication priorities based on each state's data volume. States with more documented UFO sightings naturally produced thicker books with more detailed county, zip code, and hamlet-level information. This granular approach allows readers to examine specific UFO shapes reported in their immediate vicinity across a 20-year reporting period. The comprehensive nature of larger states' data made publishing decisions more complex, as these states required significantly more production resources.
Regional Color Identification
Rather than designing unique covers for each state book, the team implemented a practical color-coding system based on U.S. Census regions. The four designated regions—Northeast, South, Midwest, and West—each received a distinct cover color to create visual organization within the collection. This systematic approach streamlined production while maintaining geographical coherence across the series. The color-coding makes it easy for readers to identify books from their region at a glance without requiring 50 entirely different cover designs.
Demographics of Sightings Data
UFO sighting data shows significant variations across different regions in the United States. When examining the collected statistics over a 20-year period, clear patterns emerge in both the volume and characteristics of reported incidents.
The data has been meticulously organized by geographic location, allowing for analysis at the state, county, zip code, and even hamlet level. This granular approach reveals fascinating regional differences. For instance, California ranks among the states with the highest number of sightings, with over 300 pages of documented cases. In contrast, North Dakota shows considerably fewer incidents, with only 14-15 pages of records.
The collected information classifies sightings by various factors:
Shape of observed objects
Size of phenomena
Time of day incidents occurred
Specific location details
Data volume follows distinct regional patterns across the four U.S. Census regions:
Northeast
South
Midwest
Western region
Each region exhibits unique characteristics in terms of sighting frequency and object types reported. This comprehensive statistical approach allows researchers to identify local trends and compare them with national patterns.
The breakdown by counties and smaller localities provides unprecedented insight for local researchers. For any given area, the data shows precisely which shapes were reported and their frequency over the two-decade study period. This allows for both micro and macro analysis of UFO phenomena across America.
