Many North American regional business publications have list features in their weekly publications that are devoted to the top companies or organizations on a particular topic or industry, like top women-owned businesses, top accounting firms, largest employers in... (name a city)., etc. These weekly lists are compiled annually into a Book of Lists for a city or region.
There are two main publishers of these weeklies, and their contents are incorporated into at least one of our subscription resources, Bizjournals, MasterFile Premier and Gale Business Insights. Southern CA local publications are listed below. You'll have to experiment to find similar publications in another region.
Note: not all of the most recent BoL issues are available yet. They will be updated here as they become available. Use the "latest rankings articles" in the meantime.
Publisher's website: UCSD's online subscription access to The Economist website (covers 2000-present)
Print: Geisel Library houses the print edition, covering 1947-present, call number HG11 .E2. Depending on date sought, it is shelved with current periodicals on 2nd floor, or, earlier editions on the 6th floor.