The National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Network has been in existence in the U.S. for over 110 years providing local information on temperature, precipitation, snowfall and selected weather elements like fog, freezing rain, thunder and hail. This presentation will summarize the work of Stan Changnon and other climatologists who have extracted a wealth of information on spatial and temporal characteristics of U.S. Climate from the humble Cooperative Program. Several examples of climate information derived from Cooperative data will be shown. The present status of the U.S. Cooperative Program will be described along with prospects for the future.