Census Redistricting Data Program

Geographic Partnership Programs

Participant Guidelines

Census Redistricting Data Program

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2010 Census Redistricting Data Program; Phase 2
Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project
General Guidelines for all Participants

Version 2
October 2008

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VTD/BBSP; General Guidelines for all Participants
Version 2, September 2008

Table of Contents
I. General Information ................................................................................................................4
A. Background.....................................................................................................................4
B. Project Scope..................................................................................................................6
C. Project Deliveries and Schedule ...................................................................................8
D. Census Bureau Contact and Web Site Information...................................................10
E. Submission Methods....................................................................................................11
II. Description and Use of Files Provided .............................................................................12
A. Digital Map Files (Shapefiles) ......................................................................................12
MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project..............................................................12
B. MAF/TIGER Partnership Software...............................................................................13
Web Viewer ...................................................................................................................13
III. Relationship Information...................................................................................................13
IV. Boundary and Annexation Survey ...................................................................................13
V. How to Deliver Submissions ............................................................................................14
VI. Verification .........................................................................................................................15
VII. Certification.......................................................................................................................15
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
Attachment C:
Attachment D:
Attachment E:
Attachment F:
Attachment G:
Attachment H:
Attachment I:
Attachment J:

Operational Flow Chart
Relationship Information Review
Regional Census Center (RCC) Staff
MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS) Instructions
Digital Instructions for Participants not using the MAF/TIGER
Partnership Software
American FactFinder Review Instructions
MTPS Web Viewer Instructions (under development)
Definition of Key Terms
MAF/TIGER Feature Classification Codes
Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server

Note: Grey highlighted text indicates updates since Version 1

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I.

GENERAL INFORMATION

A. BACKGROUND
Under the provisions of Public Law (P.L.) 94–171 (Title13, United States Code
(U.S.C.), Section 141(c)), the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau is required to
provide the states with the opportunity to specify geographic areas, such as
voting districts and state legislative districts, for which they wish to receive
decennial census population totals. In order to comply with P.L. 94-171, the
Census Bureau offers each state the opportunity to participate in the 2010
Census Redistricting Data Program. This program is a five phase program for
2010 and Phases 1 and 2 are optional. All 50 states, as well as the District of
Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, participated in Phase 1 and
have signed up to participate in Phase 2. Phase 1 concluded in January of 2007
with the re-tabulation of 2000 Census Summary File 1 and Summary File 3 data.
The five phases are outlined below with their timeline.
•

Phase 1 - State Legislative District Project (SLDP) - 2004-2006; This
phase included the collection of State Legislative District (SLD)
boundaries. This was the first effort, post Census 2000, to update SLD
boundaries. Participants submitted their SLDs (House and Senate) to the
Census Bureau for the development of data products by legislative district.
Participation was optional and conducted in a non-partisan manner as
required by law. Follow this link to review the data presented from the
Phase 1 effort:
State Legislative District Project, Phase 1
(http://www.census.gov/rdo/program_phases/009916.html)

•

Phase 2 - Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project
(VTD/BBSP) - 2007-2010; Voting District is a generic term that describes
the administrative areas used by each participant to conduct their
elections, for example precincts or wards. Phase 2 of the 2010 Census
Redistricting Data Program involves the collection of VTD boundaries,
updates to legislative districts, and block boundary suggestions for
possible inclusion in the 2010 Census block tabulations. Participation is
optional and must be conducted in a non-partisan manner. Verification is
included for this phase. Follow this link to review the:
Federal Register Notice announcing Phase 2
(http://www.census.gov/rdo/recent_news/010333.html)

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•

Phase 3 - Data Delivery for the 2010 Census Redistricting Data
Program - 2010-2011; This phase includes the delivery of the geographic
products and data products to the majority and minority leadership in each
state legislature, as well as the Governor and other officially designated
liaisons. The Census Bureau also will deliver data and geographic
products to the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico. Geographic products will precede the P.L. 94-171 data tabulations
that are mandated by law for delivery no later than April 1, 2011, one year
following Census Day.

•

Phase 4 - Collection of the Post-2010 Census Redistricting Plans 2012-2013; The Census Bureau will collect the new state legislative and
congressional district plans that were delineated using the Phase 3
materials. The Census Bureau will produce new data products generated
from the 2010 Decennial Census, as well as the American Community
Survey. The Census Bureau also will develop geographic products
including congressional district atlases, TIGER/Line shapefiles, and maps.

•

Phase 5 - Evaluation and Recommendation for Census 2020 - 20122014; Working with the National Conference of State Legislatures, the
Census Bureau will conduct a historical review by the states of the
successes and failures of the Census Bureau to meet the P.L. 94-171
requirements. Together they will develop recommendations for the
Census 2020 Redistricting Data Program and publish the View From the
States. Follow this link to the Federal Register Notice announcing the five
phase program:
Redistricting Data: Program Phases
(http://www.census.gov/rdo/about_the_program/009945.html)
Follow this link to review:
Designing PL94-171 Redistricting Data for the year 2010 Census; The
View From the States
(http://www.census.gov/rdo/pdf/DesignPL94-171.pdf)

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview and general guidelines to
the Liaisons regarding Phase 2; VTD/BBSP.
Detailed instructions for delineating and submitting your VTDs, SLD and
Congressional District (CD) corrections, and suggested 2010 Census tabulation
block boundaries are provided in attachments to these general guidelines.

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¾ MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS) users should follow the
instructions provided in Attachment D.
¾ Liaisons using their own Geographic Information System (GIS) software
with Census Bureau supplied shapefiles should follow the instructions
provide in Attachment E.
Attachment A contains an Operational Flowchart to illustrate how materials will
flow between the Liaison and the Census Bureau.
B. PROJECT SCOPE
During this project, Liaisons will have the opportunity to provide:
¾ VTD Boundaries, Codes, and Names
Unlike the VTDs collected during the Census 2000 Voting District Project,
VTD boundaries are no longer required to follow a visible feature that
would qualify as a Census tabulation block boundary. Because we will
accept and hold all VTD boundaries as 2010 Census tabulation blocks, we
have designed the program for you to complete VTD delineation before
suggesting 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries.
¾ 2010 Census Tabulation Block Boundary Suggestions
Participants may review the features that we plan to hold as 2010
tabulation block boundaries and flag additional features that they want to
be held or not to be held as 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries.
¾ SLD and CD Corrections
Because we have received boundary updates and corrections to legal
boundaries some of your SLD and CD boundaries may need corrections.
Review these as part of Phase 2 to ensure that the boundaries we have
are still correct.
If you have a new SLD plan approved by either legislation or court order,
contact the Census Bureau’s Redistricting Data Office (RDO) rather than
submit it as part of Phase 2. See contact information in Section I. D.
¾ Relationship Information
Participants may supply information about relationships that voting
districts have with other legal geographic entities. See Section III for
more information on possible relationships that you may have and how to

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ensure the Census Bureau will maintain those relationships during final
preparations for data tabulations.
¾ Feature Updates
The Census Bureau has spent the last six years improving the spatial
accuracy of the roads in our MAF/TIGER system (Master Address
File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing
system). Many organizations throughout the country who maintain
geographic information in digital form have worked with us on this project.
The local files used during this project were required to have an accuracy
of 7.6 meters or better. Overall, the results of this project are positive and
those who work with our files have noticed the improved spatial location of
our streets and that the files are more up-to-date.
At this point, the Census Bureau is moving forward with our 2010 Census
field canvassing and collection activities. This means that we are no
longer processing large scale spatial corrections to our street network.
What is critical for the success of the 2010 census data tabulation is the
location of roads relative to tabulation boundaries. As long as each road
is within the correct entity, the population and housing will be properly
reported. The guidelines below explain what we can accept.
Street Update Do’s and Don’ts
•

If a road is missing and it forms the boundary for the area you are
defining, add the road and provide the name.

•

If you cannot correctly delineate the boundary for an entity you are
updating because the feature you need to follow is incorrectly located,
mislabeled, or distorted in the Census Bureau’s file, put the boundary
on the problematic feature in our file. This will establish for us what
feature you want the boundary to follow. In addition, report the
problem area to the Census Bureau (through your regional office
contact) by sending information describing the incorrect feature
including the TIGER Line Identifier (TLID) and the specific entity
boundary affected. This can be done using e-mail with information to
describe the problem, such as an image file, PDF, or other medium
showing the appropriate correction. Here is an example of what you
might see in your file:

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•

Do not spatially realign the street features by merging your roads into
our spatial file and flagging your roads as adds and our roads as
deletes.

•

Do not add streets that are missing unless they are needed to form a
VTD boundary. We will be adding new or missing streets during our
address canvassing operation which will occur in the spring and early
summer of 2009. We recommend that you identify these missing
streets in your GIS file. The Census Bureau will provide verification
materials for VTD/BBSP that will show the results of address
canvassing. If these streets are still missing at that time, we will accept
these from you as adds.

The Census Bureau staff will contact you if they require more information
or have questions about feature updates submitted as part of the
VTD/BBSP.
C. PROJECT DELIVERIES AND SCHEDULE
Deliveries
To begin the project, the Census Bureau sent Liaisons a CD/DVD containing the
most current data from the Census Bureau’s MAF/TIGER Database) MTDB for
one county in shapefile format, an electronic version of these guidelines, and a
software application developed by the Census Bureau called the MAF/TIGER
Partnership Software (MTPS). This will allowed participants to become familiar
with the MTPS, organize their work flow, and complete their Phase 2 delineation

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work for that first county. With these initial materials, the Census Bureau
provided on-site training. For more information on the MTPS see Section II. B.
In the fall of 2008 the Census Bureau will send Liaisons a CD/DVD containing
shapefiles for the remaining counties (and redeliver the initial county) so you can
complete the delineation work.
•

File Redeliveries

As you began to receive and process your initial county, the Census Bureau
discovered that some of these files contained distorted road and water features.
These have been referred to as zingers, daggers, or kinks.
The Census Bureau determined that files containing a large number of “zingers”
were files that had all migrated to the new MAF/TIGER Data Base before they
had been through our realignment process. This involved 1,159 counties, though
it is important to note that in many of these counties, the feature distortions may
be minor and will not prevent you from using the file.
In response to concerns expressed by some states after reviewing their initial
county, the Census Bureau ran the 1,159 counties through new software that
reduced the road and water feature distortions. New files for these counties will
be delivered in February 2009.
You should not assume that because a county is in the 1,159 universe that it is
unusable for your Phase 2 work. Many of you have already worked with and
submitted counties that are in the 1,159 universe. We strongly urge you to look
at the files delivered in November 2008 and determine if they are usable for your
Phase 2 work. One way to determine this is to actually start to delineate your
VTDs in that county. Note that once a county is submitted to the Census Bureau
as part of the VTD/BBSP, it cannot be re-submitted based on the newer file.
Once the MTDB has been updated with the results of the delineation
submissions, the Census Bureau will provide shapefiles on a DVD and on the
Web Viewer (See Section II.B) for you to verify that your data and information
have been entered into the MTDB correctly. Liaisons will work with their
respective Census Bureau Regional Census Center (RCC) staff to make any
necessary corrections.
Schedule
•

July 2007 - Invitations to participate in Phase 2 were sent to each State
Liaison, including liaisons in the District of Columbia and the

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Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with a distribution to the legislative
leadership and the Governor’s office.
•

March 2008 - The Census Bureau provided shapefiles and the MTPS for the
first county.

•

March 2008 – Training - The Census Bureau began to provide training in
the use of the MTPS and assist the participants in submitting the VTDs and
BBSP information for the first county.

•

June 2008 – Deadline for submitting the first county delineations.

•

October 2008 – The Census Bureau will begin sending delineation materials
for all remaining counties. Once the Liaisons receive their materials, they
have four months to review and submit updates to the Census Bureau.

•

February 2009 – The Census Bureau will redeliver materials for the 1,159
counties identified to have realignment concerns.

•

May 1, 2009 – Deadline to submit materials for remaining counties (new
deadline for all counties or just the 1159?.

•

Winter 2009/2010 – Participants receive verification materials.

•

March 2010– Deadline to submit verification corrections.

D. CENSUS BUREAU CONTACT & WEB SITE INFORMATION
Redistricting Data Program Liaisons will accomplish most of the work for the
VTD/BBSP by working directly with the geographic staff in each of the Census
Bureau’s 12 Regional Census Centers. The contact information for each of
those staffs has been included in Attachment C to these guidelines. Liaisons
may direct broader Redistricting Data Program (RDP) questions and comments
to:
Census Redistricting Data Office (RDO)
•
•
•
•
•

RDO; 301-763-4039
Fax number; 301-763-4348
Cathy McCully, Chief
¾ catherine.clark.mccully@census.gov
Deirdre Bishop, Assistant Chief
¾ deirdre.dalpiaz.bishop@census.gov
Office e-mail; RDO@census.gov

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Geography Division – Geographic Areas Branch (GAB)

• GAB; 301-763-1099
•

Fax number; 301-763-4710

• Jamie Rosenson, Chief 301-763-1112
• GAB RDP Staff group e-mail GEO.Redistricting.List@census.gov
Redistricting Data Office Web Site
The Redistricting Data Office web site (www.census.gov/rdo/), is currently
available for you to find information regarding the RDP and related topics.
The Census Bureau’s American FactFinder Web Site
You may review your current congressional and legislative districts, and your preCensus 2000 VTDs by visiting the Census Bureau’s American FactFinder
(http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en) web site.
Instructions are found in Attachment F.
E. Submission Methods
There are two submission methods for the project.
1. MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS); this is software
developed by the Census Bureau to assist our partners in
participating in this program. This software is described in Section II.
B below and in detail in Attachment D.
2. Your own Geographic Information System (GIS) software used to
modify shapefiles provided by the Census Bureau. If you choose this
option, you must use the standardized format for returning the
VTD/BBSP information to us. These instructions are provided in
Attachment E of these guidelines.
As needed, to support the submission methods outlined above, participants may
request paper maps to facilitate collecting the VTD and BBSP updates from local
officials. Then, you will use the paper maps to prepare a file for each county
using either the MTPS or another GIS software package before submitting the
information to the Census Bureau. The Liaison must provide the local officials
with instructions on how they would like their VTD name, boundary, and codes
annotated on these maps. If you need paper maps to assist in this review,
please contact your RCC staff as soon as possible. Note: Paper maps were not
available for the initial county delineation.

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II.

DESCRIPTION AND USE OF FILES PROVIDED

The Census Bureau provides each participant with one or more DVDs that
contain the complete set of digital map files (shapefiles) for every county (or
equivalent) in the state. Also provided is a CD containing the MTPS.
A. DIGITAL MAP FILES (SHAPEFILES)
The shapefiles provided are extracted from the current version of the MTDB.
There are separate layers for 2000 VTDs; current SLDs; 110th CDs; and many
relevant reference layers, such as incorporated places, school districts, roads,
and hydrographic features. Use these files as you would a map to review the
relevant boundaries, codes, and names and provide updates or new plans for
VTDs.
You also will use these files to view the planned 2010 Census tabulation block
boundaries and to supplement them with your block boundary suggestions.
MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project
Shortly after Census 2000, the Census Bureau launched the MAF/TIGER
Accuracy Improvement Project (MTAIP) to improve the spatial quality of road
features within the MTDB. During this process, most of the roads in MTDB were
moved to a more spatially accurate location. If an SLD boundary was conjoint
with one of these realigned roads, the boundary was moved with the road.
Where a boundary was not conjoint with a road, there are instances where the
boundaries may not have been properly relocated or it may have an incorrect
shape. Therefore, review the shapefiles provided and submit corrections for any
CD or SLD boundaries where this may have occurred. Pay particular attention to
county and county subdivision boundaries that should share SLD boundaries.
Shown below is an example where this has happened with a VTD boundary.
The Hamilton Township boundary has moved slightly, leaving the Hamilton TWP
VTD in its original location.

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B. MAF/TIGER PARTNERSHIP SOFTWARE
Also included in your VTD/BBSP materials is a unique, customized software
application developed by the Census Bureau and called the MAF/TIGER
Partnership Software (MTPS).
Participants will have the option to use the MTPS, which allows them to review or
create VTDs, review and correct SLD and CD boundaries, and suggest block
boundaries to be held or not held for 2010 Census tabulation blocks. It also
produces a standard format for returning the VTD/BBSP submissions. Detailed
instructions for using the software can be found in Attachment D.
Web Viewer
The Census Bureau has also developed a tool to view submissions and updated
shapefiles on the World Wide Web. The Web Viewer will be particularly useful if
the RCC staff have questions during the VTD/BBSP process. Liaisons and RCC
staff can view and discuss specific situations simultaneously over the web and
resolve any issues that may arise during any of the processes. The tool will also
be available for reviewing your verification materials. See Attachment G for
instructions on using the Web Viewer.
III. RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION
Some participants may have geographic relationships between their VTDs and
other entities that they want the Census Bureau to maintain in the MTDB. For
example, some of your VTDs may be coextensive with incorporated places.
Attachment B includes general relationship information that was provided to the
Census Bureau during the Census 2000 VTD project and provides examples of
the types of relationships we can maintain in the MTDB. Review this attachment
if you have geographic relationships that you expect the Census Bureau to
maintain. Details can be submitted to the RCC staff on a list in a file (there is
new information in Attachment B regarding creating these standalone lists) or via
the MTPS.
IV. Boundary and Annexation Survey
The Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) is an annual survey conducted by
the Census Bureau to collect and maintain information on the inventory, status,
boundaries, and names of all governmental units, including American Indian
reservations and off-reservation trust lands, counties, minor civil divisions
(MCDs), and incorporated places. The Census Bureau obtains this information
by sending out survey forms and maps or shapefiles to each government to
collect changes or updates.

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The BAS is important for the delineation of VTDs because many VTDs share
their boundaries with legal/administrative entities. For the VTDs that must
maintain a nesting or coextensive relationship with legal entities, it is critical that
the Census Bureau have up-to-date information about the boundaries of all
governmental units.
The Census Bureau cannot accept city, minor civil division, county, or American
Indian Area boundary changes from VTD/BBSP respondents. It is very important
that this boundary information be coordinated within the state and come to the
Census Bureau through the BAS respondent. In some states the Census Bureau
has a state-level BAS agreement and we can provide more information about
these agreements upon request.
As you are completing the work for VTD/BBSP, you may notice legal boundaries
that are not up-to-date. When this occurs, contact the BAS respondent in your
state and encourage them to report all changes to the legal boundary for the
governmental unit. To receive the appropriate BAS contact information, submit
an email to geo.bas@census.gov. Include in the email, the entity in question,
your name, phone number, and if possible an e-mail address.
V. HOW TO DELIVER SUBMISSIONS
To complete this project in a timely manner, submit your information and updates
to the Census Bureau on a county/flow basis within four months after receipt of
materials for that county.
Submit your digital files using one of the following approaches:
•
•

Post to the Census Bureau provided FTP site (instructions are provided in
Attachments D and E.)
Mail to the appropriate RCC staff on a CD or DVD

If you submit your digital files to the FTP site, please e-mail the appropriate RCC
staff to alert them that files have been submitted.
Once the RCC staff receives your submission, they will conduct an initial review
for format, completeness, etc. If problems are found at this time, they will contact
you to resolve these issues. When all issues have been resolved, your
submissions will be inserted into the MTDB. At that time, various validations will
determine if there are other issues that need to be resolved (contiguity, complete
coverage, relationships, etc.). If there are issues, the RCC staff will contact you
to get these resolved.

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VI. VERIFICATION
Once the Census Bureau has updated the MTDB with your delineations and it
has updated the MTDB with the results from our address canvassing activities,
we will create verification shapefiles for your review. These files will be delivered
to you on a DVD and available for review through the Web Viewer (See
Attachment G). You will have one month to review these shapefiles. Contact
your RCC staff to resolve any problems or issues discovered during verification.
VII. CERTIFICATION
Once you have reviewed your verification shapefiles and believe that the Census
Bureau has your information correctly entered into the MTDB, go to the RDO
web site; RDO (http://www.census.gov/rdo/) and print out a copy of the
“Certification Form”. Fill it out, sign it, and fax it to 301-763-4348. This
completes the steps for Phase 2 of the Redistricting Data Program.

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Attachment A

rev. 9/18/08

2010 Decennial Census Voting District and Block Boundary Suggestion Project
Phase 2 of the Redistricting Data Program
Flow of Activities
2
Mail Invitation Letter
Package
Summer 2007

1
Phase 2 announced in
Federal Register
Apr 20, 2007

7
RCCs train States and
gather available
“Relationship Information”
Spring 2008

6
RDO delivers materials for
first county per state to
States and RCCs
Spring 2008

11
Census Headquarters
produces and assembles
materials for delineating
remaining counties
Fall 2008

19
Census Headquarters
creates and reviews
verification data shapefiles
for remaining counties and
puts them on the web
Fall 2009

3
States respond to invitation
Fall 2007

8
States delineate first
county’s VTDs and suggest
block boundaries
Summer 2008

13
States delineate VTDs and
suggest block boundaries for
remaining counties
Fall 2008 - Spring 2009

14
States submit to RCCs
delineation shapefiles for
remaining counties via FTP
site or on CD/DVD
Fall 2008 - Spring 2009

15
RDO delivers materials for
1159 counties to States and
RCCs
Jan - Feb 2009

16
States delineate VTDs and
suggest block boundaries for
1159 counties
Jan - May 2009

17
States submit to RCCs
delineation shapefiles for
remaining counties via FTP
site or on CD/DVD
Jan - May 2009

If Changes
are Required

21
States send in changes to
RCCs
Summer 2009 - Spring 2010

Legend
Census Task

RDO: Redistricting Data Office
RCC: Regional Census Center
VTDs: Voting Districts

9
States submit to RCCs
delineation shapefiles for first
county via FTP site or on
CD/DVD
Summer 2008

12
RDO delivers materials for
remaining counties to States
and RCCs
Fall 2008

20
States verify work either via
updated shapefiles or
discussion of changes with
RCCs using the web tool
Summer 2009 - Spring 2010

State Participant Task

4
RDO works with States to
determine which county each
state will delineate first

If No Changes are Required

23
States notify RCCs that no
changes are required
Summer 2009 - Spring 2010

5
Census Headquarters
produces and assembles
materials for first county
Spring 2008

10
RCCs & States resolve file
problems together
Summer 2008

18
RCCs & States resolve file
problems together
Fall 2008 - Summer 2009

22
RDO posts Certification
Forms on the web
Summer 2009

24
States complete and submit
Certification Forms to RDO
Summer 2009 –
Summer 2010

24
RDO receives Certification
Forms from States
Summer 2009 –
Summer 2010

Attachment B
Relationship Information Review

Version 2
October 2008

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

2

Relationship Information Review
If your Voting Districts (VTDs) have a geographic relationship with another entity
that you would like the Census Bureau to maintain, you must provide that
information as part of this project. You can submit VTD to entity relationship
information using the MTPS, or this information can be supplied to us in a list
using similar wording as in the dialog box below. Suggestions for the formatting
of the list option are found in Section B below.
The Census Bureau will maintain the relationships described to us during Phase
2 by writing specific business rules and applying them to our database.
A. Using the MTPS: You can submit relationship information using the MTPS
in the “Voting District Attributes” dialog box as shown here. If you have any
relationships that aren’t available for selection in this dialog box, please describe
them in the “Other Relationship” text box using similar wording.

We can maintain three types of relationships:
•
•
•

Completely Contains: Select this relationship if an incorporated place is
completely within the VTD. See Example 1 below.
Wholly Within: Select this relationship if a VTD is completely within the
boundaries of a Minor Civil Division (MCD) or an incorporated place. See
Example 2 and 3.
Coextensive: Select this relationship if a VTD and incorporated place or
a VTD and an MCD have the same boundaries. VTDs can be coextensive
with other legal or administrative entities as well. See Example 4 and 5.
3

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

Example 1: VTD Anne Arundel Precinct 06-024 completely contains Highland
Beach incorporated place.

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

4

Example 2: VTDs Reading TWP VTD 01 and Reading TWP VTD 02 are wholly
within Reading Township MCD.

Example 3: VTDs 01Lind 1 and 01Lind 2 are wholly within Lind incorporated
place.

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

5

Example 4: VTD Hamilton TWP is coextensive with Hamilton MCD.

Note that the MCD boundary has moved and the VTD boundary remains in its
original location. If you tell us that this relationship should be maintained, then
the VTD boundary will be moved along with the MCD boundary.

Example 5: VTD 01Hatton City is coextensive with the incorporated place of
Hatton.

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

6

B. Supplying a File: An additional approach to providing the Census Bureau
with relationship information is to create a separate file.
If you already have the information stored in your own Word document,
spreadsheet, or database, provide us with a text file, Word document or Excel
spreadsheet that describes the relationships. Include the following information in
the file you provide:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

2-digit State FIPS code
3-digit County FIPS code
County Name
VTD Code recognized by the Census Bureau (maximum of 6 characters)
VTD Name
Type of relationship (The Census Bureau will maintain “Completely
Contains,” “Wholly Within,” and “Coextensive” relationships.)
Entity with which the VTD has a relationship (incorporated place, minor
civil division (MCD), or American Indian Area (AIA))
Census code for the entity with which VTD has the relationship (5-digit
code for incorporated places and MCDs, and 4-digit code for AIAs)

You do not have to follow a specific format, as long as you provide all the
information in the bullets above. However, if you would like to have a file layout
to use as a guide, see below:
Field Name
STATEFP
County Name
COUNTYFP
VTDST

Length
2
100
3
6

Type
String
String
String
String

VTD_Name
Relate_type

100
25

String
String

Relate_Name 100

String

Relate_Code

String

5

Description
State FIPS Code
County Name
County Code
Voting District
Code
VTD Name
Type of
relationship VTD
has with other
entity
Name of entity to
which VTD is
related
Code of entity to
which VTD is
related

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

Legal Values/Range
01 to 72
001 to 840

Completely Contains
Wholly Within
Coextensive

00001 to 89999 (for
incorporated place)
00001 to 98999 (for
MCDs)
0001 to 9998 (for AIAs)

7

Word document examples:
•
•

VTD 001 in Suffolk County (003) is wholly within Springfield township
(05248)
VTD 005 in Darlington County (013) completely contains Smithberg village
(25618)

Spreadsheet examples:
STATE
FIPS

COUNTY FIPS

VTD Code

VTD Name

Relationship Type

Name of Related Entity

Related Entity_Code

05

115

001

001

wholly within

Springfield township

05248

05

013

005

005

completely contains

Smithberg village

25618

If you want us to maintain general relationships between VTDs and other
entities, we do not recommend using the MTPS.
(Example: “All VTDs are coextensive with MCDs, All VTDs completely contain
incorporated places, etc)
Provide a text file, Word document or Excel spreadsheet that describes the
relationships. In some cases, a one-sentence Word document, provided to your
Regional Census Center (RCC), may be sufficient. For example, if all your
VTDs are coextensive with MCDs, send the document to the RCC indicating just
that general relationship. Additional examples of how to provide this information
in a Word document or spreadsheet are below.
Word document examples:
All VTDs are wholly within MCDs
OR
All VTDs in Jefferson County completely contain places
Spreadsheet examples:
County
All
Counties

Type of
Relationship

Entity with which VTD has
Relationship

Wholly within

MCDs

OR
County
Jefferson

Type of
Relationship
completely contains

Entity with which VTD has
Relationship
places

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

8

Relationship Information Submitted by States for Census 2000

State

VTDs are wholly within
state legislative districts
(Upper and Lower)

Alaska

Yes

Arizona

Yes

VTDs are
wholly
within
MCDs

VTDs are
coextensive
with MCDs

VTDs are
coextensive
with places

49 VTDs

Delaware
Georgia

VTDs are
wholly
within
places

Yes

Idaho

6 VTDs

4 VTDs

Kansas

949 VTDs

19 VTDs

Massachusetts

Yes

Michigan

Yes
Yes

Minnesota

16 VTDs

North Carolina
Pennsylvania

Yes

Washington

Yes for 18 counties

Wisconsin

Yes

Wyoming

Attachment B: Relationship Information Review
VTD/BBSP

Yes
145
VTDs
7792
VTDs

283 VTDs

7 VTDs

1510 VTDs

4328 VTDs

69 VTDs

199 VTDs

24 VTDs

9

Attachment C
Regional Census Center (RCC) Geographic Staff Contact Information
(With state FIPS code)

If your state is:

Your RCC is:

If your state is:

Your RCC is:

If your state is:

Your RCC is:

Alabama (01)

Atlanta

Louisiana (22)

Dallas

Ohio (39)

Detroit

Alaska (02)

Seattle

Maine (23)

Boston

Oklahoma (40)

Kansas City

Arizona (04)

Denver

Maryland (24)

Philadelphia

Oregon (41)

Seattle

Arkansas (05)

Kansas City

Massachusetts (25)

Boston

Pennsylvania (42)

Philadelphia

California (06)

Los Angeles

Michigan (26)

Detroit

Rhode Island (44)

Boston

Colorado (08)

Denver

Minnesota (27)

Kansas City

South Carolina (45)

Charlotte

Connecticut (09)

Boston

Mississippi (28)

Dallas

South Dakota (46)

Denver

Delaware (10)

Philadelphia

Missouri (29)

Kansas City

Tennessee (47)

Charlotte

DC (11)*

Philadelphia

Montana (30)

Denver

Texas (48)

Dallas

Florida (12)

Atlanta

Nebraska (31)

Denver

Utah (49)

Denver

Georgia (13)

Atlanta

Nevada (32)

Denver

Vermont (50)

Boston

Hawaii (15)

Los Angeles

New Hampshire (33) Boston

Virginia (51)

Charlotte

Idaho (16)

Seattle

New Jersey (34)

New York

Washington (53)

Seattle

Illinois (17)

Chicago

New Mexico (35)

Denver

West Virginia (54)

Detroit

Indiana (18)

Chicago

New York (36)

New York

Wisconsin (55)

Chicago

Iowa (19)

Kansas City

North Carolina (37)

Charlotte

Wyoming (56)

Denver

Kansas (20)

Kansas City

North Dakota (38)

Denver

Puerto Rico (72)*

Boston

Kentucky (21)

Charlotte

*Statistical Equivalent

Regional Office

RO Geography Email

RO Geography
Phone Number

RCC
Geography
Phone
Number

Atlanta

atlanta.geography@census.gov

(404) 331-1339

(404) 332-2710

Boston

boston.geography@census.gov

(617) 424-4597

(617) 223-3600

Charlotte

charlotte.geography@census.gov

(704) 424-6420

(704) 936-4200

Chicago

chicago.geography@census.gov

(630) 288-9245

(312) 454-2705

Dallas

dallas.geography@census.gov

(214) 253-4470

(214) 267-6920

Denver

denver.geography@census.gov

(303) 264-0290

(720) 475-3600

Detroit

detroit.geography@census.gov

(313) 656-0183

(313) 396-5002

Kansas City

kansas.city.geography@census.gov

(913) 551-6833

(816) 994-2020

Los Angeles

los.angeles.geography@census.gov

(818) 267-1724

(818) 717-6701

New York

new.york.geography@census.gov

(212) 584-3430

(212) 971-8800

Philadelphia

philadelphia.geography@census.gov

(215) 717-1830

(215) 717-1000

Seattle

seattle.geography@census.gov

(206) 381-6260

(425) 908-3010

Geography Staff will move from Regional Offices (ROs) to Regional Census Centers (RCCs) in Spring 2008

Attachment D
Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the
MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

Version 2
October 2008

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

2

Table of Contents
I. Installation and Review of the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software......................................5
A. Installation..........................................................................................................................5
New for 2010 Census: Nonvisible Voting District Boundaries .....................................7
Delineating VTDs Prior to Making Block Boundary Suggestions .................................7
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.

VTD/BBSP “Help” ..............................................................................................................7
Starting the MTPS for VTD/BBSP/Selecting a County ...................................................7
Working with your Selected County ................................................................................8
The “Standard” Toolbar & Map “Layers” Dialog Box ..................................................10
The “Tools” Toolbox .......................................................................................................12
The “VTD Editing” Toolbox ............................................................................................13
To Reset the Edit Layer (Use with Caution!).................................................................15
Backing Up Your Work ....................................................................................................16
Data Corruption................................................................................................................23

II. Creating and Modifying VTDs ..............................................................................................25
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

To Create a New VTD ......................................................................................................25
To Create VTDs Using a Layer From Your VTD Database as the Source ..................28
If Your State Data Doesn’t Match Census Bureau Data..............................................29
To Create VTDs Using Your Block Equivalency File....................................................31
To Create VTDs Using Your Census 2000 VTDs...........................................................33
To Modify a VTD That Has Been Created Using Any of the Above Methods .............33

III. Editing your VTDs ...............................................................................................................35
A. To Find Unassigned VTD Areas .....................................................................................35
B. To Find Noncontiguous VTDs ........................................................................................35
IV. Adding Lines and Providing Imagery ................................................................................37
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

To Add a Line...................................................................................................................37
Importing Imagery from TerraServer-USA ....................................................................40
Adding Your Own Digital Imagery as a Layer...............................................................41
Mailing or Faxing an Image or Map................................................................................41
Providing a URL to Display an Image or Map ...............................................................41

V. Performing Block Boundary Suggestion Project Tasks ..................................................42
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.

Feature Extension Criteria..............................................................................................42
Planned 2010 Census Tabulation Block Boundaries...................................................42
To Review Census 2000 “Must Holds” and “Do Not Holds” .......................................45
To Review Planned and Ineligible 2010 Census Tabulation Block Boundaries ........45
To Make Block Boundary Suggestions .........................................................................46
To Change the BBSP Display Settings ..........................................................................47
To Find Feature Extensions ...........................................................................................48
To Review Block Boundary Suggestions ......................................................................49

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

3

I. To Move Around the BBSP Map .....................................................................................50
J. To Create a Block Area Group (Island Grouping) .........................................................50
K. To Delete a Block Area Group That You Have Created ...............................................51
L. Dividing Large Water Blocks ..........................................................................................51
M. Dividing Long Narrow Blocks formed by Medians ......................................................51
N. To Verify Your VTD/BBSP Work.....................................................................................51
VI. Reporting and Viewing your Submission..........................................................................53
A. To Report Your VTD/BBSP Changes .............................................................................53
B. To View Your VTD/BBSP Changes after Reporting......................................................53
C. Submitting Files Using the Census Bureau’s “Send a File Utility” ............................54

Note: Grey highlighted text indicates updates since Version 1

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

4

I. Installation and Review of the MAF/TIGER Partnership
Software
The MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS) is the Census Bureau’s primary
tool for submission and review of Voting Districts (VTDs) and Block Boundary
Suggestions. This attachment to the General Guidelines provides specific
instructions on the installation and use of the MTPS for submitting VTDs and
block suggestions to the Census Bureau.
It is very important that you read this document in its entirety, as the
sections build upon each other and each step is important.
You will find the MTPS on the CD provided to your state for this project. It is
labeled “MAF/TIGER Partnership Software; Program Disc.” It is designed to
work with Windows based PCs and will run on Windows 98, 2000, ME, NT, and
XP. You also will find a CD/DVD data disc. This data disc includes entity layers
in ESRI shapefile1 format for all of your counties. Later in 2008 you will receive a
CD/DVD that will include shapefiles for your remaining counties. Depending on
your computer and equipment, and the size of your state, installation of the
MTPS and the data can take up to 45 minutes.
The software and data may be loaded into more than one computer or a local
network server (see Attachment J). However, make sure that only one person
is working on a county. Multiple data sets cannot be merged for the same
county.
Also, since the MTPS is built on Maptitude, and only one Maptitude session can
run at a time, you must first close any other Maptitude session before opening
the MTPS.

A. Installation
To install the MTPS, follow these steps:
1. “Start” Windows.
2. Insert the Program CD into your CD drive.
3. If the “Installation Wizard” does not automatically start up, choose the “Run”
command from the “Start” menu.
1

The use of brand names does not represent an endorsement of a company or its products by the U.S. government.
Due to the wide use of ESRI products by our partners in the GIS community, and the ubiquitous use of the
shapefile format as a medium for GIS data exchange, the Census Bureau is providing this data in shapefile format.

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

5

4. Type the location of your CD drive plus the word “setup” (for example, type
d:\setup), or use the “Browse” button to locate the SETUP.EXE file on the CD.
5. Click “OK.” In a moment, the installation program will appear on your screen.
6. On the “Welcome” screen, click “Next.”
7. For “Installation Type,” choose “Single User” and click “Next.”
8. The setup program guides you through the installation process, asking
questions and making suggestions along the way. It is best to accept the
default settings. The MTPS sets up a folder on your C drive called “MTPS
Data.”
9. Once the program has been installed, the setup program indicates that
“Setup Needs the Census Data” to prompt you to insert the Census RDP
State Data CD/DVD. Remove the program CD and insert the RDP State
Data CD/DVD. Browse to where the Census State Data CD/DVD is located
and click “OK.” The file name will be RDP_ss, where ss = the FIPS code for
your state.
10. After the state data files are copied, the installation process is complete and
the “Setup” is finished. Click on “Finish.”
11. Click the “Start” button on the Windows taskbar and from the Programs
menu, choose “MAF-TIGER Partnership Software” and then “MAF-TIGER
Partnership Software 3.8.”
12. Click “OK.” This will display the “Please Log In” dialog box. Enter the User
Name “RDP” (case sensitive).
13. Click “OK.”
14. You are then prompted with two “Startup Choices”:
•
•

Run the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software Computer Based Training (CBT)
Go Directly to the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software program (default)

When you first open the software, take the time to run the CBT.
Even if you are a sophisticated GIS user, reviewing the CBT will provide you with
time-saving information.
Once you have begun to use the software, you can refer back to the CBT by
choosing “Start (your Windows start button)Æ ProgramsÆ MAF-TIGER
Partnership SoftwareÆ Computer Based Training for MAF-TIGER
Partnership Software.”

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

6

New for 2010 Census: Nonvisible Voting District Boundaries
The Census Bureau has changed its policy on the acceptance of VTD
boundaries. In the past, we required you to modify your VTDs that followed
nonvisible boundaries, such as section lines or rear lot lines. Although we still
believe visible features make better geographic boundaries, we will accept
nonvisible VTD boundaries. If you have VTDs that follow nonvisible lines, we
require you to provide us with a description of the line. If your state requires the
VTDs to follow visible features, the Census Bureau expects the State Liaison to
communicate that information to any local officials submitting the VTDs and
modify the submission to comply with the state law.
Delineating VTDs Prior to Making Block Boundary Suggestions
The MTPS is designed for you to do your VTD work first, followed by the block
boundary suggestion work. Because your VTD boundaries will be held as 2010
Census tabulation block boundaries, delineating your VTD boundaries first may
preclude your having to suggest as many “Must Holds.”

B. VTD/BBSP “Help”
Review the on-line help for the VTD/BBSP program by choosing from the top
menu, HelpÆ ContentsÆ MTPS Census Programs HelpÆ VTD/BBSP. Here
you will find more detailed information regarding the topics included in this
document. The “Help” menu also provides instructions for various other topics.
For instance, under “Basic Skills” you can learn how to create layouts that you
can use in documents or reports. You can preview and make changes to a
layout, and edit and replace maps and dataviews, and print a layout. The “Help”
menu also includes an “Index” tab at the top and you can search on a topic.
Note: To learn more about a command, dialog box, or toolbox, open or highlight
the item and press F1 to get the appropriate topic in the on-line help. To review
the function of an icon on any toolbox, hover the cursor over the icon and a text
box will appear describing the function.

C. Starting the MTPS for VTD/BBSP/Selecting a County
Before you can open the VTD/BBSP map window you must pick a county to work
with. The MTPS will then import the data for that county. The MTPS is designed
to work on one county at a time, with the option to view adjacent counties,
including any updates that have been made. Each time you open the VTD/BBSP
map window, it will display the last county you were editing. To work with a
different county you must close the VTD/BBSP Map window, pick another
county, and open the VTD/BBSP map window again.

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

7

To select a County (or county equivalent) follow these steps:
1. Choose, from the menu bar at the top, VTD/BBSPÆ Pick a County. The
MTPS displays the “MTPS Counties” dialog box.
2. Highlight a county in the scroll list.

3. Click “OK.”
Before starting the import process, the MTPS displays a message to recommend
that you disable any anti-virus software to speed the process. When you click
“OK,” the MTPS imports the county, makes it the current county, and displays a
message indicating success. Depending on your equipment and the size of the
county, importing a county could take up to 10 minutes. When this is complete, a
message box pops up saying that your county was imported successfully.
Note: Your session continuously saves while working. You can also save and
re-open your session at any time. Your session saves when you close the
county.

D. Working With Your Selected County
1. Choose VTD/BBSPÆ Open.
window.

The MTPS displays the VTD/BBSP map

2. If this is the first time you have run the VTD/BBSP module for a given county,
the software presents you with this box:

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

8

“Start with existing features” means that your map will include the VTDs
submitted for use in the Census 2000 tabulation P.L. 94-171 data products.
Those are likely to be a 1998 vintage. If the VTDs of your state do not change
frequently, you may want to use the Census 2000 VTDs as a reference or
starting point. If this is the case, use the default selection, “Start with existing
features.” Instructions for this approach are included in the section called
“Create VTDs using your Census 2000 VTDs” on page 34.
If viewing the older VTDs would be of no help to you in submitting VTDs for the
2010 Census, select “Create empty layer.” Instructions for this approach are
included in the section called “To Create a New VTD” on page 26.
If you want to create your VTDs starting with a block equivalency file that you
have maintained in your own database or GIS application, select “Import
Equivalency.” Instructions for this approach are included in the section called
“To Create VTDs Using Your Block Equivalency File” on page 32.
After selecting your approach, click “OK.”
Note: If your state did not submit Census 2000 VTDs, the only available option
is “Create empty layer.”
3. The “Standard” toolbar appears across the top of the screen and the MTPS
opens the “Tools” and “VTD Editing” toolboxes, and the “Map Layers”
legend.
Note: To learn more about a command, dialog box, or toolbox, open or highlight
the item and press F1 to get the appropriate topic in the on-line help. To review
the function of an icon on any toolbox, hover the cursor over the icon and a text
box will appear describing the function.
The “Map Layers” Legend shows which layers are displayed. The default setting
shows all layers in the MTPS except Census 2000 blocks, block groups, state
legislative districts, and congressional districts.

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

9

E. The “Standard” Toolbar and Map “Layers” Dialog Box

You can turn map layers on or off depending on what you want displayed on the
map. For example, if your VTDs have nothing in common with school districts,
there is no need to display them and you should turn that layer off. If you want to
review your SLDs or CDs to ensure that the relationships they have with other
governmental units is in tact, you should turn those layers on.
Note that the first item listed in the “Layers in Order of Display” column
(described below), VTD, is the first layer drawn on the map. The remaining
layers are drawn sequentially, with each added layer being drawn on top of the
previous one.
Use the map Layers dialog box on the Standard toolbar across the top of the
screen to see the map layers and their settings, as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Open the Layers dialog box

Choose “MapÆ Layers” or click
on the Standard
toolbar, or click the right mouse button on the map window
and choose “Layers.” The MTPS displays the “Layers”
dialog box.

Choose a layer

Within the layers dialog box, highlight the layer in the scroll
list. This list shows the layers in the order they will be
drawn, a sample of the style, and the status.
•
Hidden means the layer will not be drawn.

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

10

•

Autoscale means the layer will be drawn between
certain scales.
•
Blank means the layer will be drawn at all scales.
You can also hold the Shift key and click on another layer to
highlight a range of layers, or hold the Ctrl key and click on a
layer to toggle the highlight on or off and select multiple
layers.
Hide a layer

Click “Hide Layer.” The button will change to “Show Layer”
so that you can reshow the layer. The layer’s status will
change to “Hidden.”

Add a layer

Click “Add Layer” to display the “File Open dialog” box. You
can choose the type of file and one or more files to open.
Click “Cancel” to close the dialog box without adding any
layers.

Drop a layer

Click “Drop Layer.” The MTPS displays a “Confirm” dialog
box. Click Cancel to close the dialog box without dropping
the layer. Only drop layers that you have imported from
your own shapefile. If you do not want to see a layer
that is included in the MTPS, you should “Hide” the
layer rather than drop it.

Change the order of the layers

Click “Move Up” or “Move Down.” The MTPS moves the
highlighted layer up or down.

Change the style settings for a layer

Click “Style” to display the “Style” dialog box, which is
different for point, line, and area layers. You can choose
different styles from the dropdown settings. Your selections
are illustrated in the box to the right of the settings. Click
“Apply” if you want to try out changes to style settings, but
click “Cancel” to close the dialog box without changing the
settings. If you want to save these settings, click “OK.”

Change the label settings for a layer

Click “Labels” to display the “Automatic Labels” dialog box.
Click “Apply” if you want to try out changes to label settings,
but click “Cancel” to close the dialog box without changing
the settings. If you want to save these settings, click “OK.”

Change the autoscale settings for a layer Click Autoscale to display the “Autoscale” dialog box. The
Largest dropdown list, if not blank, shows the largest scale at
which to display the layer, as you zoom in. The smallest
dropdown list, if not blank, shows the smallest scale at which
to display the layer, as you zoom out. Click “Cancel” to
close the dialog box without changing the settings.
Close the Layers dialog box

Click “Close.”

Additional Labeling Information
The MTPS labeling engine places the labels on the center of the district. If the
center of the district is outside of the district itself (as in a crescent shaped
district), the label is supposed to be attached to the edge nearest to the center
point. The labels are static in that they will not move as you zoom and pan.

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

11

The labeling engine makes a determination of which labels to draw and which to
suppress when the drawing of all the labels would cause them to overlap. If you
are zoomed into where the individual blocks are being labeled, this "knocks out"
the VTD labels in some areas where drawing them would force an overlapping
label. If you wish to see those labels and you don't need the block labels, turn off
the block labels. As long as no other area or feature labels would intrude, your
VTD labels should then appear.

F. The “Tools” Toolbox

Use the tools on the “Tools” toolbox to move around the map and change the
map scale, as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Zoom in to a point or a rectangle

Click
on the “Tools” toolbar and click on a point or drag
a rectangle. The MTPS increases the scale and changes
the center of the map.

Zoom out from a point or a rectangle

on the “Tools” toolbar and click on a point or drag
Click
a rectangle. The MTPS makes the scale smaller and
changes the center of the map.

Move the map in any direction

Click
on the “Tools” toolbar and drag the map. The
MTPS changes the center of the map.

Return to the previous scale and center

Choose, from the top menu bar “MapÆPrevious Scale” or
on the “Tools” toolbar.
click

Return to the original scale and center

Choose, from the top menu bar “MapÆOriginal Scale” or
click
on the “Tools” toolbar.

Use the Info tool to see the attributes for a layer, as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Change the working layer

Choose the layer you want from the dropdown list on the
“Standard” toolbar.

Get information on a map feature

Click
on the “Tools” toolbar to activate the Info tool and click
on a feature on the map. The MTPS marks the feature with an “i”
and displays the data for the feature in the Info window.

Get information on several features

on the “Tools” toolbar to activate the Info tool and drag
Click
a circle around the map features. The MTPS marks the features

Attachment D: Instructions for Completing the VTD/BBSP using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software
VTD/BBSP, Version 2, September 2008

12

with an “i” and displays the data for the features in the Info
window.
Get information on several layers

Click
on the “Tools” toolbar to activate the Multi-Layer Info
tool. Click at a location on the map. MTPS displays the MultiLayer Information toolbox, and shows the information for the first
feature in the first layer.
Make choices as follows:

Get information on area layers

on the “Tools” toolbar to activate the Multi-Layer Area
Click
Info tool. Click at a location on the map. MTPS displays the MultiLayer Area Information toolbox, and shows the information for
the features in the chosen area layers.

Measure distance between points

Click
on the “Tools” toolbar to activate the Distance tool.
o Click on the map at the starting point. MTPS starts a line at
the point you marked. MTPS displays the elapsed length of
the line in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.
o If the line is not straight, click on one or more shape points.
MTPS continues the line through each one.
o Double-click on the last point to end the line. MTPS displays
the total length of the line in a Note dialog box.
o Click OK to close the dialog box.

Measure the size of an area

Click
on the “Tools” toolbar to activate the Size tool.
o Click on the map at the starting point of the area. MTPS
starts a line at the point you marked.
o Click on the corners of the area. MTPS continues the line
through each one.
o Double-click to end the area. MTPS connects the first and
last point automatically. MTPS displays the size of the area
(in map units and acres) and its perimeter (in map units) in a
Note dialog box.
o Click OK to close the dialog box.

Change the fields that are displayed

Right click on the “Info” window and choose “Field Sets,”
highlight an existing set or click Add to create a new set, and
click “OK.” The MTPS displays just the fields in the field set, in
the order you chose.

Close the Info window

Click the “Close” box in the upper right corner.

G. The “VTD Editing” Toolbox

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Depending on your method of creating VTDs (by using your 2000 VTDs, creating
new VTDs from an empty layer, or importing your own shapefiles) you will make
different selections. Refer to the various methods in Section II, beginning on
page 26, in order to decide what to select from the different dropdown menus.
The dropdown selections in the “VTD Editing” toolbox are:
¾ Edit Layer:
¾ Target Area:
¾ Source Area:
¾ Selection Layer:

The layer to edit (What are you going to create or
update; VTD, SLD, or CD?)
The area to edit, either a new district, an existing
district, or the unassigned area
The areas from which to select, either all areas, an
existing district, or the unassigned area
The layer from which to select (If your VTDs are
coextensive with incorporated places, you may want
to select incorporated places here.)

1. Choose an edit layer from the “Edit Layer” dropdown list in the “VTD Editing”
toolbox. (Selections are Voting District for creating new VTDs or viewing
2000 VTDs; or SLD lower, SLD upper, and Congressional District for
corrections to these existing entities.)
2. Choose a Target Area as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Pick the target area in the toolbox

Choose a target area from the “Target Area” dropdown list

OR
and click in an area on the map

Pick the target area on the map

Click

Create a new target area

Choose “New District” from the “Target Area” dropdown list

The MTPS makes the area you select the target area and, if it is an existing area,
shades it on the map. If your water layer is turned on and there is water in the
area, the water will be displayed instead of the shading. You may want to turn
your water layer off at this point.
3. Use the following buttons in the “VTD Editing” toolbox:
To zoom to…

Do this…

An existing target area

Click
. The MTPS zooms the map so that the whole target area is visible.
You cannot zoom to the target area if you chose “New District” in the “Target
Area” dropdown list.

The entire map

Click

. The MTPS zooms to show the entire map.

Note: You can also use tools in the “Tools” toolbox to move around the map.

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Other buttons in the “VTD Editing” toolbox:
To do this…

Do this…

Update target area attributes

Click
to display the Attributes dialog box.
necessary.

Delete all work in the county

Click

Make updates as

to select one or more areas, or click and drag a rectangle
Choose areas to create a VTD Click
around areas to select them. The entire polygon or face must be within
the rectangle or shape in order to be included.
Unselect a face

Hold the  key while using the pointer tool (above) on the face.
This will unselect it.

Select areas by shape

to select areas within a shape, then click on the map and
Click
move your mouse and click again until all the areas you want to select
are inside the shape. Double click to end. The entire polygon or face
must be within the rectangle or shape in order to be included.

Save work on current action

Click

Undo work on current action
that has not been saved

Click

Undo work on current action
that has been saved

From the menu selections across the top of the Standard Toolbar,
select “Edit,” “Undo”. It starts with undoing whatever you have just
committed or saved. You’ll get a pop up box asking if you want to
continue undoing your “area” or “line” edit. Then it goes backwards until
it reaches the end of everything you have saved or committed during
that session. Once you close the file, you cannot “Undo” anything.

H. To Reset the Edit Layer (Use with caution!)
Note: Before you use this tool it is important that you realize that it completely
deletes all of your saved VTD delineations from all current and past sessions.
This does not include BBSP flags that have been set. Any BBSP “Hold” or “Do
not hold” flags that you have set will not be deleted.
1. Click
in the “VTD Editing” toolbox. The MTPS displays a message
confirming that you want to delete all of the VTDs you have created in the edit
layer and start over.
2. Click “Yes.” The MTPS displays the “Area Settings” dialog box.

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3. Click the “Start with existing features” or “Create empty layer” radio button.
4. Click “OK.”
The MTPS resets the VTD layer.

I. Backing Up Your Work
If you would like to backup your work, there are 2 options:
Option 1: Copy the entire county subfolder for the county you want to back-up
to another location. When you want to restore to the backed up version, you
need to replace the county subfolder (with MTPS closed) in your main MTPS
data folder with the one copied as a back-up.
Option 2: First, verify and report changes (as instructed in Section VI.) and save
the Return.zip file that is created. Then follow these instructions to import your
Return.zip file back into the MTPS.
1.) Go into your state’s annotation MTPS data directory and delete the county
subfolder of the county you plan to re-import.
2.) Create a fresh import of the original annotation county that you wish to work
with into the MTPS. To do this, open the MTPS and use the VTD/BBSP pull
down menu to select the Pick a County command.
WARNING: It is extremely important that you use the Pick a County function.
If you use the Open function at this stage you will corrupt the data for your
entire state.

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3.) In the Pick a County window that opens, choose the county in which you wish
to work.

4.) The MTPS has to re-import the county to create the editable files and map
layout. It will first warn you about being slowed by your anti-virus software. It
is not necessary for your anti-virus software to be turned off. Click OK to
allow the import to proceed.

5.) The software will import the county you wish to work with.

6.) Once the county’s import is complete, click OK to close the import window.

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7.) Now close the MTPS completely by choosing Exit from the File pull down
menu.

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8.) Navigate to your returned county .ZIP file and open it. It should be named
RDP__Return.zip and look something like the image below.

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9.) Select all the files in the Return.zip file by using the Actions pull down menu
and choosing Select All.

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10.) With all of the files selected, click the Extract button.

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11.) Using the Extract window that opens, navigate to the folder that contains
your state’s annotation data and select the specific county subfolder that
you are trying to review. Also, make sure that the “Selected files/folders”
radio button is active and the “Overwrite existing files” checkbox is checked.
All the other checkboxes should be unchecked.

12.) Once these parameters are set, click the Extract button to unload all of the
contents of the .ZIP file into the county sub-folder of your annotation data.

13.) You can close the .ZIP software as soon as the process is complete.

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14.) Launch the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software again and log in (User Name
= RDP).

15.) Use the VTD/BBSP pull down menu to select Open. This will open the
county you selected earlier. The county will look and perform exactly as it
did on your computer just prior to using the Report Changes command.

J. Data Corruption
In extreme cases where the files become corrupted for an individual county, it
may become necessary to reset that county's data. The following instructions
explain how to perform this operation.
•
•
•
•

Navigate to the main MTPS data folder for your state.
Identify the corrupted county's sub-folder by the state county FIPS code.
Delete the corrupted county's sub-folder.
Launch the MAF/TIGER Partnership software (MTPS).

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•

Use the VTD/BBSP pull down menu and use the Pick a County function
to select the county you just deleted.

WARNING: It is extremely important that you use the Pick a County function.
If you use the Open function at this stage you will corrupt the data for your
entire state.
•
•
•

Allow the county to import.
Once the county has completely imported, use the VTD/BBSP pull down
to select the Open command.
You can now work in your county as needed.

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II.

Creating and Modifying VTDs

A. To Create a New VTD
When you open the county in which you want to work: select “Create empty
layer” from the “Area Settings: Voting District” box.
As you create your VTDs, the MTPS applies a color to the individual VTD, and
adjacent VTDs will receive a different color. You can adjust the color scheme
with the MapÆ Coloring box. This will only change the “scheme”. You cannot
select a specific color for a specific VTD.
Note: At any time during your VTD delineations you may want to see a list of all
of the existing VTDs to review all the VTDs you have created at this point. When
the “VTD Editing” toolbox is open you can generate an inventory file for all
current VTD codes with associated names by county by selecting “VTD” from the
dropdown menu on the “Standard” toolbar and then clicking on the “New
Dataview” icon.
Two other columns in this “Dataview” are:
•

VTD1: This stands for Voting District Indicator. A = Actual; P =Psuedo.

•

LSAD: This stands for legal statistical area description. These are codes
that determine the way the names of some entities will appear in products.
A V2 means the words "Voting District" would be used as a suffix along
with the district's name. A V1 would use "Voting District" as a prefix. A 00
indicates that there is no suffix or prefix.

Note: Turn off or hide the water layer in the “Map Layers” dialog box any time
you are adjusting VTD coverage because that layer will appear on top of the VTD
layer, making it difficult to view the VTD coverage.
1. Make sure that “Voting District” is selected from the “Edit Layer” dropdown list
in the “VTD Editing” toolbox.
2. Choose “New District” from the “Target Area” dropdown list.
3. Choose the source of the areas to select from the “Source Area” dropdown
list. You can choose “All” or “Unassigned” areas. Only choose “Unassigned”
areas if you are trying to ensure that you have complete coverage or if you
want to make sure you do not select a face already assigned to another VTD.
4. Choose the selection layer from the “Selection layer” dropdown list.
•

If your VTD is coextensive with a place, MCD, etc., you may want to select
that area as the “Selection layer.” Otherwise, select faces.

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5. Use the
tool to select one or more areas or the
tool to select areas
within a shape. If you use the select areas within a shape tool, when drawing
the “fence” or “lasso” around the desired selected area for the new VTD, click
at each point and left double-click to complete the “fence.” The faces that are
entirely inside the selected area are highlighted. When you use the
tool,
you can click on one or more areas, or click and drag a rectangle around
areas to select them. You can also hold the Ctrl key and click on selected
areas to remove them from the selection.
¾ When annotating a VTD boundary along a road that is shown as a doubleline you can select the faces along either one of the lines to be the
boundary, but be consistent. For some of the hydrographic features, there
may be three lines for selection: (1) The left shore, (2) the middle
centerline, or (3) the right shore. You may select any of these, but be
consistent throughout the length of the boundary edge.
6. To change the way areas are selected, return to Step 3 to change the source
of the areas or Step 4 to change the selection layer. To cancel the selections
for the VTD you are currently working and not all VTDs created during this
session, click

.

Note: If your VTD boundary follows a nonvisible line or a visible feature that is
not in the MTPS, you need to add a line to create your VTD. (See the “To Add a
Line” section on page 38.)
7. When you have created your VTD, click
to save your work and to display
the “Voting District Attributes” dialog box. You must type a valid VTD code
in the “Code” edit box. It is the only required attribute.
¾ VTD codes can range from 1-6 alphanumeric characters. This includes
dashes, dots, spaces, or forward slashes. If you want to use a different
character, notify the RCC staff.
¾ VTDs are often, but not required to be, named. If the VTD has a name,
type a name in the “Name” box. If a name is not supplied, the Census
Bureau will use the VTD code as the name. Names can be up to 100
characters, including alphanumeric, spaces, and all special characters.
Names appear on the Census Bureau’s data website, the American
FactFinder, and in the PL 94-171 summary files when the data is released
after the 2010 Census.
¾ Codes and names should be consistent and should be reviewed for
spelling accuracy, keeping in mind that these names will appear in public
products.

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¾ We request that you code all areas, including water, to a VTD. If you do
not code each area, the Census Bureau will assign the code of “ZZZZZZ”
to the unassigned areas. This allows us to ensure we have all areas
coded to a VTD.
¾ If the VTD is an “actual” district, uncheck the “Pseudo” box. Otherwise, it
will be considered “pseudo.”
An “actual” VTD is one that exactly matches the precincts or other election
areas in your state. You may choose to identify your submitted VTDs as
“actual.” Otherwise they will be considered “pseudo” so as not to confuse
the data user. For example, states may choose to identify multiple layers
of election areas within their VTD framework and may wish to identify
them as pseudo. This is an acceptable approach to the submission of the
VTD plans.
If you submitted voting district delineations for Census 2000 that were
designated as “actual,” then the file that you get in the MTPS for Census
2010 will have "actual" designation. If this is no longer accurate, you will
need to review the appropriate voting districts and make the necessary
changes.
Create/edit relationships in the “Voting District Attributes” dialog box as
follows:
To do this…

Do this…

To create a relationship

Click
, choose a relationship type from the “Relationship” dropdown
list, choose an entity type from the “Entity Type” dropdown list, and select
a FIPS code from the FIPS Code dropdown list.
•
To find the name that matches the listed FIPS code: From the
dropdown menu on the “Standard” toolbar, select “Incorporated
Place” and click on the “Dataview”

icon.

To remove a relationship

Highlight the relationship and click

To add other relationships

Type the relationships in the “Other Relationships” dialog box, using the
abbreviations CC for completely contains, WW for wholly within, CO for
coextensive.

8. Click “OK.”
The MTPS saves the attributes.
See Attachment B for detailed information regarding the various types of
relationship information that we want to receive.

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B. To create VTDs Using a Layer From Your Database as the Source
Some states maintain a VTD layer in their own GIS software. The MTPS allows
users to import these files and use them as a starting point for adding these
VTDs to the Census Bureau supplied data shapefiles. To import data from your
GIS and create a new layer, do the following steps:
1. When you open the county in which you want to work, select “Create empty
layer” from the “Area Settings: Voting District” box.
2. From the “Layers” dialog box, select “add a Layer.”
3. From the “File open” box, select the type of file you want added from the
“Files of Type” dropdown menu.
4. Select your file.
5. Click “open.”
6. “ESRI shapefile” dialog box opens.
7. Click “coordinates.”
8. Set “Data Conversion” if necessary, to NAD 83. For example, if your
shapefile is USA NAD 27, select “USA NAD 27 to NAD 83.
9. Click “OK.”
10. The file appears in the “Layers” menu as a new layer.
11. Change the “Styles” of borders, fills, etc., in the “Layers” dialog box. Set the
style to a symbology that is conducive to seeing the local VTD boundaries
superimposed on the file. A “Border Style” with a “dashed” symbology,
“Border Color” of “red,” and “Border Width” of “1.5” is one suggestion.
12. Set the labels to identify the VTDs by clicking on “Labels.” Scroll to “Precinct”
on the “Field” at the “Centered” “Position” with “Arial” “Font” at “Size” “16”
“Bold” is one suggestion.
13. Click “Apply.”
14. Close and re-open the “VTD Editing” toolbox.
15. Now you will see the layer you added as a layer selection in the “Layers”
dialog box.

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When you add an external file (a local GIS file, table, or imagery) to your MTPS
project, it is essential that you not move the file from the location from which it
was added. To do so will cause the application to be unable to open since it will
not be able to find the added file and it will crash. However, the file can be
moved back into the folder where it was originally (MTPS will tell you for which
file it is looking and in what directory) and MTPS will be able to open up as
normal, after which time you can drop the layer, move the file, and re-add the
layer from its new location.
To avoid this problem, it is important to either remove the added local file from
the layers before closing the application or be certain to not move the file's
location and be sure you have any needed network connections to the file's
location when you re-launch the application.

C. If Your State Data Does Not Match Census Bureau Data
Since the data displayed in your imported layer may not align exactly to ours, you
may have to cleanup around the edges. For example, if your VTD follows a
school district boundary and the location of the school district is different in the
two files, you must use our school district boundary location. This situation is
demonstrated in the graphic below. If you think the school district boundary is
incorrect or is out-of-date, contact the Geography Division by sending an e-mail
to GEO.redistricting.list@census.gov. If the boundary needs to be corrected, we
will work with our school district mapping coordinator to correct our school district
boundaries, and if they agree, the change will be reflected in a later Census
Bureau shapefile product.
To ensure that the VTD and the school district boundary maintain that
relationship, provide relationship information as instructed in Attachment B.

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Census Bureau and Local School District boundaries have a similar shape
but are in different locations.

Boundary Kinks and distortions
Some states are finding that their state boundaries and other boundaries for legal
areas within their state have kinks and boundary distortions. Here is an example
of what you might find in your data file:

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If you can not correctly delineate the boundary for an entity you are updating
because the feature you need to follow is incorrectly located, mislabeled or
distorted in the Census Bureau’s file, we request that you put the boundary on
the problematic feature in our file. This will establish for us what feature you want
the boundary to follow. In addition, we request that you report the problem area
to the Census Bureau (through your regional office contact) by sending
information describing the incorrect feature including the TIGER Line Identifier
(TLID) and the specific entity boundary affected. This can be done using e-mail
with information to describe the problem such as an image file, PDF or other
medium showing the appropriate correction.

Legal Boundary Corrections; State/County/MCD/Place
The Census Bureau can not accept city, minor civil division, county, or American
Indian Area boundary changes from VTD/BBSP respondents. It is very important
that this boundary information be coordinated within the state and come to the
Census Bureau through the BAS respondent. In some states the Census Bureau
has a state-level BAS agreement and we can provide more information about
these agreements upon request.
As you are completing the work for VTD/BBSP, you may notice legal boundaries
that are not up-to-date. When this occurs, we request that you contact the BAS
respondent in your state and encourage them to report all changes to the legal
boundary for the governmental unit. To receive the appropriate BAS contact
information, submit an e-mail to geo.bas@census.gov. Include in the e-mail, the
entity in question, your name, phone number, and if possible an e-mail address.

D. To Create VTDs Using Your Block Equivalency File
If you decide to use this process, it is important that you use the most current
Census blocks to create your file. As the MTDB is updated through various
geographic processes, the Census 2000 tabulation blocks begin to be divided
into smaller blocks through a process called “block suffixing.” For example, a
Census 2000 tabulation block number of 1004 may now be divided into smaller
blocks that are numbered 1004a, 1004b, and 1004c. If the block in your file is
“1004,” and does not contain the current suffixes, the MTPS will not associate a
VTD code to the suffixed blocks.
If you want to create your VTDs starting with a block equivalency file (BEF) that
you have maintained in your own database or GIS application, select “Import
Equivalency” from the “Area Settings: Voting District” box, when you open the

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county in which you want to work. Click OK. The “Choose File to Import” box
appears as here:

Choose a file and click Open. MTPS displays the “Import Block Equivalency File”
dialog box. Choose a field from your BEF to which to match the block field from
the “Match Block Field To” dropdown list and a field from which to fill the district
from the “Fill District From” dropdown list, then click OK.

MTPS fills your county with the VTDs included in your file.
Each VTD will appear highlighted in a different color so that you can distinguish
adjacent VTDs.
1. Review these VTDs. Make sure that each VTD is following the feature that
you want it to follow. Some updates in the MTDB may have caused a feature

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to change its location. If you need to modify any of these VTDs, follow the
instructions in Section II. F. below.
2. Click
in the “VTD Editing” toolbox to display the “Attributes” dialog box if
you want to change the codes, names, relationships, or the “Pseudo”
assignment. Note that the existing VTD must be selected in the “Target Area”
dropdown menu of the “VTD Editing” toolbox.
3. If you want to create a new VTD using these VTDs as a starting point (for
example, you want to create two new VTDs from one existing VTD), “New
District” must be selected in the “Target Area” dropdown menu.

E. To Create VTDs Using Your Census 2000 VTDs
To create VTDs using your Census 2000 VTDs, select “Start with existing
features” from the “Area Settings: Voting District” box, when you open the
county in which you want to work. Each VTD will appear highlighted in a different
color so that you can distinguish adjacent VTDs.
1. Review your previous VTDs. Make sure that each VTD is following the
feature that you want it to follow. Some updates in the MTDB may have
caused a feature to change its location. If you need to modify any of your
existing VTDs, follow the instructions in Section II. F. below.
in the “VTD Editing” toolbox to display the “Attributes” dialog box if
2. Click
you want to change the codes, names, relationships, or the “Pseudo”
assignment. Note that the existing VTD must be selected in the “Target Area”
dropdown menu of the “VTD Editing” toolbox.
3. If you want to create a new VTD using your Census 2000 VTDs as a starting
point (for example, you want to create two new VTDs from one existing
Census 2000 VTD), “New District” must be selected in the “Target Area”
dropdown menu.

F. To Modify a VTD That Has Been Created Using Any of the Above
Methods
1. Make sure that “Voting District” is selected from the “Edit Layer” dropdown list
in the “VTD Editing” toolbox.
2. Choose the existing district from the “Target Area” dropdown list. The VTD
that you select will highlight in grey. The “Zoom to Area” tool
on the “VTD
Editing” toolbox is very helpful in locating the area.
3. Choose the source of the areas to select, from the “Source Area” dropdown
list. You can choose all areas, unassigned areas, or an existing area.

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4. Choose the selection layer from the “Selection layer” dropdown list.
tool to select one or more areas or the
tool to select areas
5. Use the
within a shape. If you use the select areas tool when drawing the “fence” or
“lasso” around the desired selected area for the new VTD, click at each point
and left double-click to complete the “fence.” This selected area is
highlighted. When you use the
tool, you can click on one or more areas,
or click and drag a rectangle around areas to select them. You can also hold
the Ctrl key and click on selected areas to remove them from the selection.
If you want to remove everything you have selected during this VTD
modification, click

.

Note: You can hover your cursor over any area to find out what VTD is there.
A text box will pop up with the VTD code and name.
6. To change the way areas are selected, return to Step 3 to change the source
of the areas or Step 4 to change the selection layer.
7. Click

to modify the existing district.

The MTPS modifies the VTD.

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III. Editing your VTDs
To ensure you have completed your VTD delineations and that your VTDs are as
you want them to be, the MTPS is designed with built-in edits. There is one for
finding unassigned areas and one for finding noncontiguous areas.

A. To Find Unassigned VTD Areas
1. To ensure that no part of a county has been left without an appropriate VTD
code, choose “Voting Districts” from the “Edit Layer” dropdown list in the
“VTD Editing” toolbox.
2. From the top menu, choose VTD/BBSPÆFind Unassigned Areas. If there
are no unassigned areas, the MTPS displays a message and does not
display the toolbox. Otherwise, the MTPS displays the “Find Unassigned
Areas” toolbox. The unassigned areas appear and are sorted by area size;
the largest area is first on the list.
3. Make choices as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Zoom to unassigned areas

Highlight one or more areas in the scroll list and click

Update the list of unassigned areas

Click

4. Assign all unassigned area using the steps outlined in Section II. F. When all
unassigned areas have been assigned, click the refresh icon
and a note
box will appear saying there are no unassigned areas. Click “OK.”
The MTPS closes the “Find Unassigned Areas” toolbox.

B. To Find Noncontiguous VTDs
1. To ensure that all noncontiguous VTDs are intentional, choose “Voting
Districts” from the “Edit Layer” dropdown list in the “VTD Editing” toolbox.
2. From the top menu, choose VTD/BBSPÆFind Non-Contiguous Areas. If
there are no noncontiguous areas, the MTPS displays a message and does
not display the toolbox. Otherwise, the MTPS displays the “Find NonContiguous Areas” toolbox.

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3. Make choices as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Zoom to non-contiguous areas

Highlight one or more areas if they are the same VTD in the
scroll list and click

Update the list of non-contiguous areas

Click

4. If necessary, make any corrections by following steps in Section II. F. When
you are done with the toolbox, click the close box in the upper right corner.
The MTPS closes the toolbox.

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IV. Adding Lines and Providing Imagery
As mentioned in the General Guidelines, the next Census Bureau effort for
updating roads will be the Address Canvassing Operation next spring/summer
(2009). We will not insert new streets added during the initial VTD/BBSP
program because those streets will be added during that operation. If multiple
programs add the same roads, we run a significant risk of having duplicates in
the file. Add a line during VTD/BBSP to represent a road or other missing
feature only if that feature serves as a VTD boundary or is needed as a
suggested block boundary and we require that you submit imagery to support the
added feature. Verification materials will provide you an opportunity to review the
roads added as part of our Address Canvassing Operation and add roads that
were not picked up.

A. To Add a Line

Any line added too close to existing lines may not be accepted. To avoid this
problem, we advise you to always use existing lines, if possible, when delineating
your VTDs. If an added line repeatedly intersects or is within 10 meters of
another line, the MTPS will ask if you can use the existing line.

The line numbers in the above “Confirm” box are called line IDs. If the line has
no name, you will only see the line ID. If you want to review the referenced line,
follow these steps:
•
•

Make a note of the numbers in the box.
Click Yes. (The line you just delineated will not be added to the map)

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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Make sure that “All lines” appears in the drop down menu on the
“Standard” toolbar at the top.
Click on the “Dataview” Icon
Click on “Edit” in the Standard menu at the top
Click “Find”
Type in the number in the “Dataview Find” box.
Click OK.
Right click on the Record ID.
Select “Zoom”

MTPS zooms to the line. If you hover your mouse over the line, a box will pop up
with the line ID number. You can then determine if the line referenced can be
used or is in fact the feature you were trying to add. Lines added within 30 feet
of an existing line will likely require interactive work to insert them into our
topologically integrated file.
If instead of using the existing line, you choose to use your own added line, the
RCC staff may contact you if there is a problem getting the line into MTDB using
your updated shapefile submission.
1. Choose from the top menu, VTD/BBSPÆ Line Editing Toolbox. The MTPS
displays the “Line Editing” toolbox.
2. Click

to activate the Add Line tool.

3. Click where you want to start the line.
4. Move the cursor and click to create shape points along the new line.
5. Be sure that you are zoomed in sufficiently to see that the end point is
connected to another line if you intend to form a closed polygon. If you want
to end the digitizing of a line without actually creating the line you have
started, hit the Esc key. If you want to finish the line, double-click to end it.
You may click at a node (either at an intersection or at the endpoint of a line),
on a line, or in space. The MTPS adds the new line and displays the “All
Lines – Editing Attributes dataview” box. (If the line is too close to, or
intersects another line, the MTPS will display the “Confirm” dialog box above.
Follow those instructions to review the suggested lines.)
6. In some instances you will have to modify the snapping distance to insert a
line. To do this, choose from the top menu, EditÆ Preferences. On the
System tab, change Snap Tolerence to the distance and units desired. Click
"OK". Once you have inserted the line, restore the snap tolerance back to 50.
This will prevent creating gaps when you try to add a feature where snapping
tolerance isn’t a problem.

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Note: In the “All Lines – Editing Attributes dataview,” only the “MTFCC”
(required) and “fullname” fields should be filled out.
7. Double-click the panel to the right of “MTFCC” (MAF/TIGER Feature
Classification Code) and select a feature type from the dropdown list.
•

If you are creating the line to be a nonvisible VTD boundary, choose
P0001 (Nonvisible legal/statistical boundary).

•

If you are creating a line to be a feature extension, choose P0004
(Other nonvisible bounding Edge (e.g., Census water boundary,
boundary of an areal feature). See feature extension criteria in
Section V. A. on page 43.

8. Click the icon to the right of “FULLNAME” to enter the name. If the feature
you added does not have a name (for example, a township and range line or
a rear property line), we require that you describe the line being added in the
“FULLNAME” field as follows:
¾ Right click in the “FULLNAME” field
¾ Add comment (Township and range line or rear lot line off Y street)
9. Click
to add the line or
to cancel the added line. You can also go to
EditÆ Undo, while still in the map window, to cancel any added saved lines.
Also with the “Line Editing” tool, you can delete, split, and copy lines; edit line
attributes; and display names and address ranges. If you delete a line that has
been added and saved, it will appear as a red dashed line. For more information
on this toolbox, review the Editing Linear Features lesson in the CBT. Also,
you can highlight the tool and press F1.
To add or delete a physical feature requires providing imagery or a reliable map
source to prove that the feature exists or no longer exists. You can do any of the
following:
•
•
•
•

add imagery from TerraServer USA
add your own imagery as a layer
mail or fax an image or map
provide a URL to display an image or map

Line Attributes on Pre-Existing Features
Pre-existing line attributes, including addresses, are not editable in the
Redistricting Data Program version of the MTPS. You can use the "Add a
Comment" functionality, as follows. These comments can then be reviewed by
the RCC staff when the submission is received.

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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Line edit tool
Edit line attribute button
Select line
Right click in the field you want to update
Add comment

Regarding address ranges, when a line is split in the MTPS, both segments
retain the original address range. The split line will be digitized and the address
ranges will be imputed in MTDB. Currently, there is no mechanism for RDP
participants to provide address range information.

B. Importing Digital Imagery from TerraServer USA
Microsoft Corporation maintains TerraServer-USA, an on-line database of high
resolution USGS aerial imagery and scanned USGS topographic maps. If you
have Internet access, you can use it to get an image to add as a new layer in
your map.

The .NET Framework must be installed to use this command; for more
information, see Download details: .NET Framework
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=262d25e3-f5894842-8157-034d1e7cf3a3&displaylang=en)
To add TerraServer USA imagery, click on ToolsÆ ImageryÆ TerraServer
USA Toolbox. Click

to retrieve the image.

Note: If you save an image to be included in your submission, choose “Jpeg” in
the “Files of Type” dropdown menu, in the “Save As” dialog box. Be sure to
include the state and county FIPS codes as part of the name.
To learn more about adding imagery, see the Using Images in a Map lesson in
the CBT. Also, when you activate the “TerraServer-USA Image Tool” toolbox,
press F1 and you will be directed to the on-line help documentation for that
toolbox.

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C. Adding your own Digital Imagery as a Layer
To add your own digital imagery as a layer, use the “Add a Layer” function as
described in Section II. B. on page 29. The imagery must be in a georeferenced format. You must export your image into a format that can be read by
the MTPS. These can be seen by using the “Add a Layer” function and then
using the File Type pull down. If you submit this imagery to the Census Bureau in
support of your feature adds and deletes, be sure to include the state and county
FIPS code as part of the name.

D.

Mailing or Faxing and Image or Map

If you want to provide an image or a map to show that a feature does or doesn’t
exist, you can mail or fax it to your RCC office.
To provide information for an added line, when you create your line in the MTPS,
add a comment as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Line edit tool
Edit line attribute button
Select line
Right click in “FULLNAME” field
Add comment
Type in the name of the image or map, i.e. “State and County name and
FIPS code, Image A.”

To provide information for a deleted line, if the image or map shows that a line no
longer exists, when you select the line for deletion, write an explanation in the
“Add a Comment” box that pops up and reference the image or map that has
been mailed or faxed to the RCC.
Clearly label your image or map including the same information.

E. Providing a URL to Display an Image or Map
To supply a URL to display an image or map, add a comment as described
above, but for number 6, type in the URL and the state and county name and
FIPS code.
It is necessary, when providing URLs to existing imagery, that you provide the full
path to specific imagery that contains a close up of the feature or area being
revised or added. This will increase the likelihood that we will accept the
identified changes.

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V. Performing Block Boundary Suggestion Tasks
The data you will receive as part of Phase 3 of the Redistricting Data Program
includes data at the census tabulation block level. Therefore, the Census Bureau
gives states the opportunity to suggest visible features for use as 2010 Census
tabulation block boundaries. Because we are allowing VTDs to be inserted into
our database as nonvisible lines and these lines will automatically become a
2010 Census tabulation block boundary, you do not need to identify these as
block boundary suggestions. To identify other linear features that you want us to
hold or not hold as 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries, you will use the
“BBSP” toolbox. You can also create Block Area Groups using this toolbox if it is
desirable for several islands to be in a single 2010 Census tabulation block.
All “Hold” block boundary suggestions are contingent upon the lines intersecting
to form a closed polygon at the time we create the 2010 Census tabulation
blocks, which will be in the fall of 2010. For this reason all block boundary
suggestions must form a closed polygon.

A. Feature Extension Criteria
If you want to use an existing feature that doesn’t form a closed polygon, you
may add a short line to connect the features and close the polygon. The Census
Bureau refers to these lines as feature extensions and several requirements
pertain. To avoid creating ambiguous Census block boundaries, we require that
feature extensions:
• be no longer than 300 feet;
• be straight lines from the end of a road and intersecting a non-road
feature (These include all hydrographic features, pipelines, powerlines,
and railroads. Highways and freeways are acceptable as long as it is
confirmed that there are no housing units on them. This situation has
the potential for causing a housing unit to be in the wrong Census
2010 tabulation block.);
• do not intersect a cul-de-sac.
Instructions for viewing Census 2000 feature extensions are found in Section V.
G. below on page 49.
To create a new feature extension, add the line as described in Section IV.A on
page 38. Number 6 in that section describes how you should identify the line.

B. Planned 2010 Census Tabulation Block Boundaries
Below is a list of all the feature and boundary types that are currently planned to
be held as 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries and therefore do not need

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to be suggested as a “Hold.” In some instances you may NOT want the line to
become a 2010 Census tabulation block boundary. A good example of where
you may want to flag a feature with a “Do Not Hold,” is where we have roads
identified in our files as double lined roads. Due to MTAIP, there are now many
more roads in the MTDB classified as double line roads that, in the past, were
classified as single line roads. This causes the area in the middle (a median strip
for example) to become a long narrow block. If you do not want the polygon
formed by the two road edges to be a separate 2010 Census tabulation block,
you may want to flag one of the edges with a “Do Not Hold.”
Note: If any other program sponsored by the Census Bureau uses that line as a
boundary, the Census Bureau will override the “Do Not Hold” status of the line.
Entities: The boundaries, as of January 1, 2010, for each of the entities listed
below, are planned 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries and
therefore do not have to be selected as part of the BBSP work.
MTFCC
G2120
G2130
G2140
G2150
G2160
G2170
G2200
G2300
G2400
G2410
G4000
G4020
G4040
G4060
G4110
G4120
G4210
G5020
G5030
G5035
G5200
G5210
G5220
G5240
G5400
G5410
G5420

Description
Hawaiian Home Land
Alaska Native Village Statistical Area
Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area
State-designated Tribal Statistical Area
Tribal Designated Statistical Area
American Indian Joint Use Area
Alaska Native Regional Corporation
Tribal Subdivision
Tribal Census Tract
Tribal Block Group
State or State Equivalent
County or County Equivalent
County Subdivision
Sub-Minor Civil Division
Incorporated Place
Consolidated City
Census Designated Place
Census Tract
Block Group
Block Area Grouping
Congressional District
State Legislative District (Upper Chamber)
State Legislative District (Lower Chamber)
Voting District
Elementary School District
Secondary School District
Unified School District

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G5430
G6320
G6330
K2110
K2181

Special School Administrative Area
Traffic Analysis Zone
Urban Growth Area
Military Installation
National Park Service Land

Features: The features listed below will qualify as 2010 Census tabulation block
boundaries based on criteria. Those that qualify are shown in red in
the MTPS. All others are available for selection except for those
shown in blue.

MTFCC
S1100
S1200
S1400
S1500
R1011
P0002

Description
Primary Road
Secondary Road
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street
Vehicular Trail (road passable only by a 4-wheel drive)
Main Line Railroad Feature
Perennial Water

Note: Feature extensions and Powerlines are not planned to be held as 2010
Census tabulation block boundaries, but they are eligible to be selected as a
“Hold.”
To assist you with choosing any features that you may want held or not held, the
MTPS displays the following:
•
•
•
•

all currently planned 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries as red
lines;
all lines that are currently considered ineligible for selection as a block
boundaries as blue lines;
lines that were selected as Census 2000 BBSP “Must Holds” and were
held as Census 2000 tabulation blocks, as black lines;
lines that were selected as Census 2000 BBSP “Do Not Hold” and
weren’t held as Census 2000 tabulations blocks, as black dashed
lines.

Your new 2010 “Holds” and “Do Not Holds” also will be displayed as black and
black dashed lines, respectively.
To see a complete list of all MTFCCs (previously referred to as Census Feature
Class Codes [CFCCs]), see Attachment I.

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C. To Review Census 2000 “Must Holds” and “Do Not Holds”
The MTPS is designed to allow you to view the features your state identified as
“Must Hold” or “Do Not Hold” during the Census 2000 BBSP. If you are
interested in seeing these lines, follow the steps below.
From the Standard menu, select VTD/BBSPÆBBSP Toolbox.

To review Census 2000 “Must Holds” and “Do Not Holds”:
1. Click the “Display Settings” icon
2. Select “2000” from the “Use BBSP display settings for” dropdown menu.
3. Click “OK.”
In the “Map Legend,” “2000 Hold Status” appears.

D. To Review Planned and Ineligible 2010 Census Tabulation Block
Boundaries
The lines flagged in our shapefile as planned 2010 Census block boundaries are
identified as such based on their MTFCC or their role as a boundary in 2008. We
did not run the full block algorithm when we flagged these lines. For this reason,
roads that do not form a closed polygon are flagged as planned because of their
characteristics as a road; they would still have to form a closed polygon at the
time of block numbering in 2010 in order to serve as a block boundary. Also note
that although small ponds are flagged as planned block boundaries, these
shorelines will not become 2010 blocks if they are surrounded by a single land
block.
To review planned and ineligible 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries:
From the Standard menu, select VTD/BBSPÆBBSP Toolbox.
1. Click the “Display Settings” icon
2. Select “2010” from the “Use BBSP display settings for” dropdown menu.

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3. Select what you want displayed on the map and click “OK.”

E. To Make Block Boundary Suggestions
To select features for suggested “Holds” and “Do Not Holds”:
1. Make a choice as follows in the “BBSP” toolbox:
To do this…

Do this…

Make Hold suggestions

Click the “Hold” radio button

Make Do Not Hold suggestions

Click the “Do Not Hold” radio button

Clear suggestions

Click the “None” radio button

2. Click

to activate the “Select Feature” tool.

3. Click on one or more line features. The MTPS will display a warning
message if a suggestion is not appropriate or if you are clearing a “Hold” or
“Do Not Hold” suggestion.
4. If you are making a “Hold” suggestion for a line feature marked “Ineligible,”
you must provide imagery to re-classify the feature. You can either attach an
imagery file or reference an image on the internet by providing a URL. The
MTPS displays the “Ineligible BBSP Feature” dialog box. Make choices as
follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Leave the line feature unmarked Click the “Leave unmarked” radio button
, and either

Enclose an image file

Click the “Enclose image file” radio button or click
type a file name or choose an image file, and click OK.

Provide URL

Click the “Reference image URL” radio button and type a URL

When applying a "Hold" to a feature extension that is designated as ineligible for
selection, enter the word EXTENSION in the URL box when prompted for
imagery.
If you want to use a TerraServer USA image, follow the instructions in Section
IV. B., on page 41, and save the image to your hard drive. Then “Enclose an
image file” as instructed above.
5. If you are making a “Do Not Hold” suggestion for a line feature marked as a
“Planned Hold,” the MTPS displays a box saying that. Click “OK.”

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Remember that the boundary of each governmental unit or statistical entity
will be held as a 2010 Census tabulation block boundary as will most roads.
Private roads, trails, and unimproved roads may or may not be held and
therefore, are more the target of the “Do Not Hold” tool. Also, water features
that are not double-lines with area are good candidates for flagging as a “Do
Not Hold.”
If you still want us to consider the “Do Not Hold” do this:
¾
¾
¾
¾

Line edit tool
Edit line attribute button
Select line
Right click (One click) 2010 BBSP field (green box to the
right of the header)
¾ Add comment (Do Not Hold and a short explanation as to
why you do not want the line held)

At this time, in the MTPS display, the line will not appear as a black and white
dashed line, as other “Do Not Hold” suggestions appear, and it will be
evaluated by the RCC staff.
6. If you want to review comments that you have made to a feature, there are
two ways to do so.
•

Go back to the same feature, use the edit line attributes tool in the “Line
Editing” toolbox, and click on the feature. Right click on the field you had
edited before, go to “Add a Comment” and you will see the comment you
typed before.

•

Alternatively, you can look at a DBF file that is created during the “report
changes” process and is one of the files automatically created in the return
zip
file.
The
file
would
be
named
like
this:
RDP_08123_LN_CHANGES_COMMENTS.DBF. There is no “one-stop”
location to see a list of all the comments made until this dbf file is created
during the “report changes” process described in Section VI.

7. If you are trying to suggest a “Hold” on a line that is already a “Planned Hold”
(dark red line), the line will not appear as a bold black line, as other “Hold”
suggestions do, but you should consider it flagged as a “Hold.”

F. To Change the BBSP Display Settings
1. Click
box.

in the “BBSP” toolbox to display the BBSP Display Settings dialog

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2. Make changes as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Use all of the display settings

Check “Use BBSP display settings” and make sure that all of the
items are checked

Use some of the display settings

Check “Use BBSP display settings” and make sure that the items
you want to use are checked

Use none of the display settings

Remove the check from “Use BBSP display settings”

3. Click “OK.”
The MTPS redraws the map to use the display settings that you have chosen.
If you want to use the “Info” tool
current values are as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•

BBSPFLG = 1:
BBSPFLG = 2:
CBBFLG = 4:
CBBFLG = 9:
2010_BBSP = 1:
2010_BBSP = 2:

to determine the current BBSP values, the

Census 2000 Must Holds
Census 2000 Do Not Holds
Planned 2010 Census Block Boundary
Ineligible 2010 Census Block Boundary
2010 Census Participant Hold (filled by participant)
2010 Census Participant Do Not Hold (filled by
participant)

G. To Find 2000 Feature Extensions
The MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project spatially corrected the roads in
our database. This includes roads that had feature extensions connecting the
end of the road to another, usually non-road, feature. As the road moved to its
correct new location, the point connecting the extension to the non-road feature
did not move. This caused almost all the feature extensions in our database to
be at an angle rather than straight. If you still desire a feature extension in these
locations, we request that you add a new straight line and flag it as a “Hold.”
Note: Because the new MTFCCs don’t always match exactly to the old CFCCs,
feature extensions are identified based on certain criteria. Therefore, some
features identified by this function are not actual feature extensions.
From the Standard menu, select VTD/BBSPÆBBSP Toolbox.

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1. Click the “Display Settings” icon
2. Select “2000” from the “Use BBSP display settings for” dropdown menu.
3. Click “OK.”
4. From the top menu, choose VTD/BBSPÆ Find 2000 Feature Extensions. If
there are no 2000 feature extensions, the MTPS displays a message and
does not display the toolbox. Otherwise, the MTPS displays the “Find 2000
Feature Extensions” toolbox.
5. Make choices as follows:
To do this…

Do this…

Zoom to 2000 feature extensions

Highlight one or more entries in the scroll list and click
the “Zoom to” button

Feature extensions are displayed as green lines.
6. When you are done with the toolbox, choose from the top menu VTD/BBSPÆ
Find 2000 Feature Extensions or click the close box in the upper right
corner.
The MTPS closes the “Find 2000 Feature Extensions” toolbox.
To create a new feature extension, see “To Add a Line” section on page 38.

H. To Review Block Boundary Suggestions
1. Make a choice as follows in the “BBSP” toolbox:
To do this…

Do this…

Review Hold suggestions

Click the” Hold” radio button

Review Do Not Hold suggestions

Click the “Do Not Hold“ radio button

When the “BBSP” toolbox is open, the MTPS shows the count of all
suggestions and the position of the current suggestion within that count. The
MTPS activates the navigation buttons as appropriate.

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2. Use the navigation buttons as follows:
Click… To zoom to the…
First suggestion
Previous suggestion
Next suggestion
Last suggestion

The MTPS zooms the map to show the suggestion. You can also click
zoom to the current suggestion.

to

I. To Move Around the BBSP Map
Use the following buttons in the “BBSP” toolbox:
To zoom to…

Do this…

The entire map

Click

The current suggestion

.
Click
suggestion.

. The MTPS zooms to show the entire map.
The MTPS zooms to show the current block boundary

You can also use tools in the “Tools” toolbox to move around the map.

J. To Create a Block Area Group (Island Grouping)
During the 2010 Census tabulation block delineation, the Census Bureau will
automatically group islands to form a single tabulation block if they have no road
features and fall within a 5 kilometer radius.
You also may group specific islands for identification as a single 2010 Census
tabulation block. These are called Block Area Groups (BAGs). BAGs are
exempt from the 5 kilometer radius requirement. To create a BAG:
1. Click
tool.

in the “BBSP” toolbox to activate the “Create Block Area Group”

2. Click at points around a set of islands, making sure not to cross any land
areas, and double-click to complete the shape. You cannot cross an existing
BAG perimeter, but you can connect a new BAG to the side of an existing
one. If it crosses any other tabulation areas, it will be split along that line as
well.

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The MTPS checks whether the shape is valid. If so, the MTPS creates and
shades the BAG. Otherwise, the MTPS displays a message and does not
create the BAG.

K. To Delete a Block Area Group That You Have Created
1. Click
in the “BBSP” toolbox to activate the “Delete Block Area Group”
(BAG) tool.
2. Click in a BAG.
The MTPS deletes the BAG.

L. Dividing Large Water Blocks
If you want to add a line to divide large water blocks for the BBSP program,
add the line and assign an MTFCC of P0002. You must also assign a “Hold”
status to the line.

M. Dividing Long Narrow Blocks formed by Medians
Due to MTAIP, there are now many more roads in the MTDB classified as
double line roads that, in the past, were classified as single line roads. This
causes the area in the middle (a median strip for example) to become a long
narrow block. If you want these divided into smaller blocks, you could draw a
feature extension from a nearby road or add a feature, such as a powerline,
that is missing in the MTDB and flag it as a “Hold.” Also, if you do not want
the polygon formed by the two road edges to be a separate 2010 Census
tabulation block, you may want to flag one of the edges with a “Do Not Hold.”

N. To Verify Your VTD/BBSP Work
1. From the top menu choose VTD/BBSPÆVerify. The MTPS performs the
tests. These tests include checking for noncontiguous and unassigned areas
and closed polygons for “Hold” selections.
2. If the test fails for noncontiguous or unassigned areas, the MTPS displays an
appropriate message. You can review these areas by choosing from the top
menu, VTD/BBSPÆ Find non-contiguous areas or Find unassigned
areas. You’ll get a message to open your “VTD Editing” toolbox.
If the test fails for closed polygons, the MTPS displays the “List Unclosed
Polygons” dialog box. Make choices as follows:

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To do this…

Do this…

Zoom to unclosed polygons

Highlight one or more entries in the scroll list and click

.

Update the list of unclosed polygons Click
. If there are no more unclosed polygons, the MTPS
closes the List Unclosed Polygons dialog box.

Fix your block boundary suggestions.
If you have made corrections and want to run VTD/BBSPÆ Verify again to
make sure you have corrected everything that you intended to correct, be
sure to re-open the “BBSP” toolbox.
When all of the tests pass, the MTPS displays the message “The verification
of VTD/BBSP data was successful.” Click “OK” to close the message.

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VI. Reporting and Viewing your Submission
A. To Report Your VTD/BBSP Changes
1. From the top menu choose VTD/BBSPÆ Report Changes. The MTPS
displays a “Confirm” dialog box to make sure you want to create a ZIP archive
of changes that can be sent to the Census Bureau.
2. Click “Yes.” If there are no changes to report, the MTPS displays a message.
Click “OK.”
Otherwise, the MTPS creates a ZIP archive called RDP_ssccc_Return.zip
(where ssccc is a code based on the state and county FIPS code), puts it in
the MTPS Data folder on the hard drive of your computer, and displays a
message with the path to the archive. Click “OK” to close the message.

B. To View Your VTD/BBSP Changes After Reporting
1. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the folder c:\MTPSData  and open RDP_ssccc_Return.zip.
2. Extract all of the files into a folder, such as c:\Temp.
on the “Standard” toolbar,
3. In the MTPS choose FileÆ Open or click
choose ESRI Shapefile from the “Files of Type” dropdown list, navigate to the
folder where you extracted the Shapefiles, choose a “Shapefile,” and click
“Open.” The MTPS displays the ESRI “Shapefile” dialog box, where the
settings are correct.
4. Click “OK.” The MTPS displays a map with the Shapefile. You can return to
Step 3 to open another Shapefile, or you can add one or more Shapefiles to
the map by:
¾ Choosing, from the top menu, MapÆ Layers to display the “Layers” dialog
box
¾ Clicking “Add Layer” to display the “Layers” dialog box
¾ Choosing ESRI Shapefile from the “Files of Type” dropdown list
¾ Highlighting one or more Shapefiles
¾ Clicking “Open”; The MTPS displays the “ESRI Shapefile” dialog box,
where the settings are correct
¾ Clicking “OK” for each Shapefile; the MTPS returns to the “Layers” dialog
box

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¾ Highlighting each added Shapefile, clicking “Style,” and choosing a
different border color. Click “Apply” and “OK.”
¾ Clicking “Close”; The MTPS displays the map with the added layers

C. Submitting Files Using the Census Bureau’s “Send a File Utility”
You can upload your files through Census Bureau’s Send a File Utility at:
http://www2.census.gov/cgi-bin/sendfile. Or, you can go to the Census
Bureau’s home page at www.census.gov and select:
•

Subjects A-Z

•

Access Data Tools

•

Public file send utility

This utility allows file size up to 500 Mb.
Use the following steps to FTP your files to us:
1. Under Source Information (Local), click on the Browse button to
navigate to the file that you wish to send. Select the file from the
Choose file window by clicking on it. Click Open. The File to Send
field now contains the file name. Note: You can send only one file at
a time.
2. In the Target Information (Remote) section, you must enter
/geo/VTD_BBSP/ST##_SS in the Directory to Receive File, where
## = your state’s two-digit FIPS code and SS = your state’s two-letter
USPS abbreviation.
Examples: if you are California, ## = 06 and SS = CA; if you are
Iowa, ## = 19 and SS = IA. If you are not sure what your state FIPS
code or your USPS state abbreviation is, please click on the
following link: http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip5-2.htm
3. Do not make an entry for New File Name.
4. Under Notify by E-mail, type your e-mail address in the Sender’s Email Address field. In the Census Bureau Employee’s E-Mail
Address field, enter GEO.Redistricting.list@census.gov.
We are asking you to please send a separate e-mail to the same e-mail
address using your regular e-mail account, to notify us when you have
submitted updates for your state.
5. Then type in the Verification Code that you see (or numbers you
hear) in the box on the screen.
6. After filling in all the fields correctly, click on Upload. If you find an
error, click on Clear and repeat the steps.

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Important Note!! If you must resubmit a file for any reason, you must first
rename the file. If not, the utility will produce an error message. Please
retain the default naming convention of RDP_ssccc_Return when you
rename it. For example: RDP_42027_Return_revised.zip or
RDP_42027_Return_2.zip.
We encourage you to call your RCC or headquarters staff (GEO or RDO) at
anytime with any questions, comments, or concerns. Contact information can be
found in Section I. D. of the General Guidelines for the GEO and RDO staff and
in Attachment C for the RCC staff.

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Attachment E
Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER
Partnership Software

Version 2
October 2008

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Table of Contents
I. Preface........................................................................................................................5
II. Performing Voting District (VTD) Tasks...................................................................6
A. Creating VTDs.................................................................................................6
New for 2010 Census: Nonvisible Voting District Boundaries.............................6
Feature Updates ........................................................................................................6
Delineating VTDs Prior to Making Block Boundary Suggestions ......................6

VTD Criteria ....................................................................................................6
If Your State Data Doesn’t Match Census Bureau Data ........................................7
Boundary Kinks and Distortions .............................................................................9
Legal Boundary Corrections; State/County/MCD/Place........................................9

III. Performing BBSP Tasks.........................................................................................10
A.
B.
C.
D.

Planned 2010 Census Tabulation Block Boundaries ................................10
Making Block Boundary Suggestions ........................................................12
Block Area Groups (Island Groupings) ......................................................12
Block Boundary and Block Area Group Criteria........................................13

IV. Census provided data and returned data specifications ....................................15
A.
B.
C.
D.

Type and Projection .....................................................................................15
Provided Files...............................................................................................15
Returned Files ..............................................................................................17
Including Imagery or Maps ..........................................................................19

V. Sample Methodology for Creating VTDs and Doing Block Boundary
Suggestions Using Your Own Shapefiles as the Source ....................................20
A.
B.
C.
D.

Adding and Preparing Data .........................................................................20
VTD Creation Sample Methodology............................................................20
SLDL, SLDU, and CD Corrections Sample Methodology..........................22
Creation of the “Changed Lines” Coverage...............................................22
Adding Block Boundary Suggestions........................................................23

E. Submitting Files Using the Census Bureau’s “Send a File Utility” ..........24
VI. Data Dictionary .......................................................................................................26
Note: Grey highlighted text indicates updates since Version 1

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I. Preface
The MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS) is the Census Bureau’s primary
tool for submission and review of Voting Districts and Block Boundary
Suggestions. However, this attachment to the General Guidelines provides
specific instructions for those participants wishing to use their own Geographic
Information System (GIS) software for modifying the Census Bureau supplied
shapefiles.
You will find a DVD data disc provided to your state for this project. This DVD
includes shapefiles for all the counties in your state.
It is assumed that if you are not using the MTPS, you are skilled in the use of
your own GIS software. It is further assumed that you have completed a
thorough review of the General Guidelines and accompanying attachments. This
document provides:
¾ Criteria for creating Voting Districts and suggesting Block
Boundaries to be held or not to be held.
¾ Census provided and returned data specifications.
¾ Procedural instructions for a sample method of processing the
provided Census files for the creation of a submission for Phase 2
of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program.

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II. Performing Voting District (VTD) Tasks
A. Creating VTDs
New for 2010 Census: Nonvisible Voting District Boundaries
The Census Bureau has changed its policy on the acceptance of VTD
boundaries. In the past, we required you to modify your VTDs that followed nonvisible boundaries, such as section lines or rear lot lines. Although we still
believe visible features make better geographic boundaries, we will accept nonvisible VTD boundaries. If your state requires the VTDs to follow visible features,
the Census Bureau expects the State Liaison to communicate that information to
any local officials submitting the VTDs and modify the submission to comply with
the state law.
Feature Updates
As mentioned in the General Guidelines, the next Census Bureau effort for
updating roads will be the Address Canvassing Operation next spring/summer
(2009). We will not insert new streets added during the initial VTD/BBSP
program because those streets will be added during that operation. If multiple
programs add the same roads, we run a significant risk of having duplicates in
the file. Add a line during VTD/BBSP to represent a road or other missing
feature only if that feature serves as a VTD boundary or is needed as a
suggested block boundary and we require that you submit imagery to support the
added feature. Verification materials will provide you an opportunity to review the
roads added as part of our Address Canvassing Operation and add roads that
were not picked up.
Delineating VTDs Prior to Making Block Boundary Suggestions
Because your VTD boundaries will be held as 2010 Census tabulation block
boundaries, delineating your VTD boundaries first may preclude your having to
suggest as many “Must Holds.”
VTD Criteria
¾ VTD - VTD codes can range from 1-6 alphanumeric characters. This
includes spaces, dashes, dots, or forward slashes. If you want to use a
different character, notify the RCC staff. (See Attachment C for contact
information.)
¾ VTD - When annotating a VTD boundary along a road that is shown as a
double-line, you can select the faces along either one of the lines to be the
boundary, but be consistent. For some of the hydrographic features, there
may be three lines for selection: (1) The left shore, (2) the middle

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centerline, or (3) the right shore. You may select any of these, but be
consistent throughout the length of the boundary edge.
¾ VTD - VTDs must be contained within a single county. They may not cross
county boundaries.
¾ VTD - VTDs are often, but not required to be, named. If a name is not
supplied, the Census Bureau will use the VTD code as the name. Names
can be up to 100 characters, including spaces, alphanumeric and special
characters. Names will appear on the Census Bureau’s data website, the
American FactFinder, and in the PL 94-171 summary files when the data
is released after the 2010 Census.
¾ VTD - Codes and names should be consistent and reviewed for spelling
accuracy.
¾ VTD - We request that you code all areas, including water, to a VTD. If
you do not code each area, the Census Bureau will assign the code of
“ZZZZZZ” to the unassigned areas. This allows us to ensure we have all
areas coded to a VTD.
VTD - VTDs can be identified as “actual” or “pseudo.” An “actual” VTD is
one that exactly matches the precincts or other election areas in your
state. You may choose to identify your submitted VTDs as “actual.”
Otherwise they will be considered “pseudo” so as not to confuse the data
user. For example, states may choose to identify multiple layers of
election areas within their VTD framework and may wish to identify them
as pseudo. This is an acceptable approach to the submission of the VTD
plans.
¾ VTD - Adding or deleting a physical feature requires providing imagery or
a reliable map source to prove that the feature exists or no longer exists.
(See instructions in the “Including Imagery or Maps” section on page
19.)
If Your State Data Does not Match Census Bureau Data
Features in your files may appear in a spatially different location from the
same features in the Census file. For example, if your VTD follows a school
district boundary and the location of the school district is different in the two
files, you must use our school district boundary location. This situation is
demonstrated in the graphic below. If you think the school district boundary is
incorrect or is out-of-date, contact the Geography Division by sending an email to GEO.redistricting.list@census.gov. If the boundary needs to be
corrected, we will work with our school district mapping coordinator to correct
our school district boundaries, and if they agree, the change will be reflected
in a later Census Bureau shapefile product.

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To ensure that the VTD and the school district boundary maintain that
relationship, provide relationship information as instructed in Attachment B.
Census Bureau and Local School District boundaries have a similar shape
but are in different locations.

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Boundary Kinks and distortions
Some states are finding that their state boundaries and other boundaries for legal
areas within their state have kinks and boundary distortions. Here is an example
of what you might find in your data file:

If you can not correctly delineate the boundary for an entity you are updating
because the feature you need to follow is incorrectly located, mislabeled or
distorted in the Census Bureau’s file, we request that you put the boundary on
the problematic feature in our file. This will establish for us what feature you want
the boundary to follow. In addition, we request that you report the problem area
to the Census Bureau (through your regional office contact) by sending
information describing the incorrect feature including the TIGER Line Identifier
(TLID) and the specific entity boundary affected. This can be done using e-mail
with information to describe the problem such as an image file, PDF or other
medium showing the appropriate correction.
Legal Boundary Corrections; State/County/MCD/place
The Census Bureau can not accept city, minor civil division, county, or American
Indian Area boundary changes from VTD/BBSP respondents. It is very important
that this boundary information be coordinated within the state and come to the
Census Bureau through the BAS respondent. In some states the Census Bureau
has a state-level BAS agreement and we can provide more information about
these agreements upon request.
As you are completing the work for VTD/BBSP, you may notice legal boundaries
that are not up-to-date. When this occurs, we request that you contact the BAS
respondent in your state and encourage them to report all changes to the legal
boundary for the governmental unit. To receive the appropriate BAS contact
information, submit an e-mail to geo.bas@census.gov. Include in the e-mail, the
entity in question, your name, phone number, and if possible an e-mail address.

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III. Performing BBSP Tasks
The data you will receive as part of Phase 3 of the Redistricting Data Program
includes data at the census tabulation block level. Therefore, the Census Bureau
gives states the opportunity to suggest visible features for use as 2010 Census
tabulation block boundaries. Because we are allowing VTDs to be inserted into
our database as nonvisible lines and these lines will automatically become a
2010 Census tabulation block boundary, you do not need to identify these as
block boundary suggestions. To identify other linear features that you want us to
hold or not hold as 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries, you will use the
“BBSP” toolbox. You can also create Block Area Groups using this toolbox if it is
desirable for several islands to be in a single 2010 Census tabulation block.
All “Hold” block boundary suggestions are contingent upon the lines intersecting
to form a closed polygon at the time we create the 2010 Census tabulation
blocks, which will be in the fall of 2010. For this reason all block boundary
suggestions must form a closed polygon.

A. Planned 2010 Census Tabulation Block Boundaries
We are providing below, a list of all the feature and boundary types that are
currently planned to be held as 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries and
therefore would not need to be suggested as a “Hold.” In some instances you
may not want the line to become a 2010 Census block boundary. These are
much less common but it is acceptable to flag a line as a “Do Not Hold.”
Note: If any other program sponsored by the Census Bureau uses that line as a
boundary, the Census Bureau will override the “Do Not Hold” status of the line.
Entities: The boundaries, as of January 1, 2010 for each of the entities listed
below, are planned 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries and
therefore do not have to be selected as part of the BBSP work. These
boundaries may change between now and January 1, 2010.
MTFCC
G2120
G2130
G2140
G2150
G2160
G2170
G2200
G2300
G2400
G2410
G4000

Description
Hawaiian Home Land
Alaska Native Village Statistical Area
Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area
State-designated Tribal Statistical Area
Tribal Designated Statistical Area
American Indian Joint Use Area
Alaska Native Regional Corporation
Tribal Subdivision
Tribal Census Tract
Tribal Block Group
State or State Equivalent

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G4020
G4040
G4060
G4110
G4120
G4210
G5020
G5030
G5035
G5200
G5210
G5220
G5240
G5400
G5410
G5420
G5430
G6320
G6330
K2110
K2181

County or State Equivalent
County Subdivision
Sub-Minor Civil Division
Incorporated Place
Consolidated City
Census Designated Place
Census Tract
Block Group
Block Area Grouping
Congressional District
State Legislative District (Upper Chamber)
State Legislative District (Lower Chamber)
Voting District
Elementary School District
Secondary School District
Unified School District
Special School Administrative Area
Traffic Analysis Zone
Urban Growth Area
Military Installation
National Park Service Land

Features: The features listed below will qualify as 2010 Census tabulation block
boundaries based on criteria. They may need to be selected as
“Holds.” You must use the values stored in the “CBBFLG” field of the
“All Lines” layer to determine if a line is a planned 2010 Census
tabulation block. See more details on this in the next section.
MTFCC
S1100
S1200
S1400
S1500
R1011
P0002

Description
Primary Road
Secondary Road
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City Street
Vehicular Trail (road passable only by a 4 wheel drive)
Main Line Railroad Feature
Perennial Water

Note: Feature Extensions and Powerlines are not planned to be held as 2010
Census block boundaries, but they are eligible to be selected as a “Hold.”

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B. Making Block Boundary Suggestions
To assist you with choosing any features that you may want held or not held, the
edges, or lines, layer contains three attributes: The first identifies all currently
planned 2010 Census block boundary lines and ineligible lines. A second
identifies Census 2000 BBSP “Must Holds” and Census 2000 BBSP “Do Not
Holds.” A third attribute field is designed to capture your 2010 Census block
boundary suggestions.
Block boundary suggestions are made by assigning a value of “1” for Must Hold
or “2” for Do Not Hold to the 2010_BBSP field of the lines for which you want to
make a suggestion. These lines must be included along with any added or
deleted lines in the returned changed lines shapefile. Use CHNG_TYPE = CA
for pre-existing lines that are only included in the changed lines shapefile
because they have a block boundary suggestion.
Attribute
Field and Legal Value
Census 2000 Must Holds
BBSPFLG = 1
Census 2000 Do Not Holds
BBSPFLG = 2
Planned 2010 Census Block Boundary CBBFLG = 4
Ineligible 2010 Census Block Boundary CBBFLG = 9
2010 Census Participant Hold
2010_BBSP = 1 (filled by participant)
+
2010 Census Participant Do Not Hold
2010_BBSP = 2 (filled by participant)
+
A 2010 Census Participant Do Not Hold will only be implemented as long as no
other program requires the line be held

If you want to suggest a “Hold” on an existing feature that does not form a closed
polygon, you may want to add a feature extension, (MAF/TIGER Feature Class
Code [MTFCC] P0004). We recommend feature extensions be no longer than
300 feet and as a direct extension of an existing line. Extensions should
terminate on a non-road feature.
It is also possible to review some of the Census 2000 feature extensions. They
can be located by finding all lines with both attributes of BBSPFLG = 1 and an
MTFCC = P0001. Note that these extensions may have been distorted during our
MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project (MTAIP) process. For more
information about MTAIP, please refer to the General Guidlines.

C. Block Area Groups (Island Groupings)
During the 2010 Census tabulation block delineation, the Census Bureau will
automatically group islands to form a single tabulation block if they have no road
features and fall within a 5 kilometer radius.

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You also may group specific islands for identification as a single 2010 Census
tabulation block. These are called Block Area Groups (BAGs). BAGs are
exempt from the 5 kilometer radius requirement. Grouping selected islands to
create a unique block identification is done by delineating a polygon around the
selected islands. When creating a BAG, digitize the polygon around the set of
desired islands making sure not to cross any land areas or an existing BAG
perimeter, but you can connect a new BAG to the side of an existing one. If it
crosses any other tabulations areas, it will be split along that line as well.
The BAG layer you create should be a simple polygon shapefile named
RDP__bag.* where the  is the FIPS state and county code
for the county whose BAGs you are creating. The shapefile should have two text
fields; BAGCE (length of 3), and MTFCC (length of 5). When creating your
BAGs provide each with a number in the BAGCE field. Start with 001 and
increment by 1 for each BAG created. The MTFCC should always be G5035.

D. Block Boundary and Block Area Group Criteria
¾ BBSP - All participant-provided 2010 Census “Holds” must form closed
polygons.
¾ BBSP - 2010 Census planned tabulation block boundaries, or “planned
holds,” are an indication of what we would plan to use as a 2010 Census
tabulation block boundary if they were defined today. The “planned holds”
may change if the criteria changes, or if the attributes are updated through
other Census programs.
¾ BBSP - Participant provided 2010 Census “Do Not Holds” will not be
accepted if the line they are placed on needs to be held for other
purposes. (ex. If a “Do Not Hold” were placed on a city limit, that would not
be accepted, as the city limit is needed as a tabulation block boundary.)
¾ BBSP - Adding or deleting a physical feature requires providing imagery
or some other source to prove that the feature exists or no longer exists.
(See instructions in the “Including Imagery or Maps” section on page
19.)
¾ BBSP - Try to use existing lines if possible. Features in your files may
appear in a spatially different location from the same features in the
Census file. When this occurs, it is important to use the existing Census
feature rather than try to add a duplicate based on the location in your file.
This will help us maintain the topological relationships that are crucial to
correctly allocating population.
¾ BAGS - The perimeter of a Block Area Grouping (BAG) must be entirely
over water.

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¾ BAGS - BAGs can not overlap.
¾ BAGS – BAGs will be split if they cross the boundary of other tabulation
geographies.

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IV. Census Provided Data and Returned Data Specifications
A. Type and Projection
The Census Bureau is providing all digital participants with entity layers in ESRI
shapefile1 format. The data provided will include a series of polygon-based
shapefiles, a single linear shapefile, and several relational .dbf tables for each
county. It is recommended that participants re-project their data files to match
those provided by the Census Bureau to ensure correct alignment of the data.
However, returned shapefiles may be in any projection as long as the projection
information and the *.prj file are provided. A complete data dictionary is provided
at the end of this attachment.
All shapefiles provided by the Census Bureau are in the following unprojected
geographic based coordinate system:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

GCS_NAD83
Angular Unit: Degree (0.017453292519943299)
Prime Meridian: Greenwich (0.000000000000000000)
Datum: D_North_American_1983
Spheroid: GRS_1980
Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000000000000
Semi-minor Axis: 6356752.314140356100000000
Inverse Flattening: 298.257222101000020000

B. Provided Files
The Census Bureau is providing a large number of files in support of this
program. There are both state level and county level files as part of the data
delivery. The naming conventions for the files are as follows:
File Naming Convention – County-based Files
County-Based Redistricting Data Program (RDP) Shapefile Naming Convention =
RDP___.
Where  = start year of the RDP program.
Where  = the 
Where  = FIPS State Code
Where  = FIPS County Code
Where  = three letter file extension (shp, shx, dbf, prj)
Example:
Maricopa
County,
Arizona
All
Lines
shapefiles
would
RDP_2007_edges_04013.shp
1

The use of brand names does not represent an endorsement of a company or its products by the U.S. government.
Due to the wide use of ESRI products by our partners in the GIS community, and the ubiquitous use of the shapefile
format as a medium for GIS data exchange, the Census Bureau is providing this data in shapefile format. You should
encounter no problems when importing these shapefiles into your local GIS software. However, if you are using GIS
software that does not contain a shapefile translator, please contact the Census Bureau for further instructions (301763-1099) or e-mail redistricting@geo.census.gov.

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be

File Naming Convention – State-based Files
RDP___.
Where  = start year of the RDP program.
Where  = the 
Where  = FIPS State Code
Where  = three letter file extension (shp, shx, dbf, prj)
Example: Arizona American Indian Areas (AIA) RDP_2007_aial_04.shp

Legal

shapefile

would

File Naming Convention – Layer Key
Geographic
Level

Shapefile Layer

 Name
Anrc

Alaska Native Regional Corporations (ANRC)
Alaska Native Regional Corporations (ANRC)
American Indian Areas (AIA) - Legal
American Indian Areas (AIA) - Legal
American Indian / Alaska Native Areas (AIANA)
Statistical
American Indian / Alaska Native Areas (AIANA)
Statistical
American Indian Tribal Subdivisions (AITS) - Legal
American Indian Tribal Subdivisions (AITS) - Legal
American Indian Tribal Subdivisions (AITS)
Statistical
American Indian Tribal Subdivisions (AITS)
Statistical
Congressional Districts (CD)
Congressional Districts (CD)
Hawaiian Home Lands (HHL)
Hawaiian Home Lands (HHL)
School Districts (Elementary) (ELSD)
School Districts (Elementary) (ELSD)
School Districts (Secondary) (SCSD)
School Districts (Secondary) (SCSD)
School Districts (Unified) (UNSD)
School Districts (Unified) (UNSD)
State Legislative Districts (Upper/Senate) (SLDU)
State Legislative Districts (Upper/Senate) (SLDU)
State Legislative Districts (Lower/House) (SLDL)
State Legislative Districts (Lower/House) (SLDL)
Urban Growth Areas (UGA)
Voting Districts – Census 2000 (VTD2000)
Voting Districts – Census 2000 (VTD2000)

County
State
County
State

Anrc
Aial
Aial

County

Aias

State
County
State

Aias
Aitsl
Aitsl

County

Aitss

State
County
State
County
State
County
State
County
State
County
State
County
State
County
State
County
County
State

Aitss
Cd
Cd
Hhl
Hhl
Elsd
Elsd
Scsd
Scsd
Unsd
Unsd
Sldu
Sldu
Sldl
Sldl
Uga
vtd2000
vtd2000

–
–

–
–

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be

Census Block Groups
Census Blocks – Current
Census Blocks – Census 2000
Census Tracts
Census Designated Places (CDP)
Census Designated Places (CDP)
Consolidated Cities
Counties and Equivalent Areas
Counties and Equivalent Areas
County Subdivisions – Legal
County Subdivisions – Statistical
County Subdivisions
Incorporated Places
Incorporated Places
States and Equivalent Areas
Subbarrios
All Lines
Area Landmark
Hydrography – Area
Point Landmarks
RELATIONSHIP TABLES
Topological Faces (Listing of faces with all geocodes)
Topological Faces - Area Landmark Relationship
Topological Faces - Area Hydrography Relationship
Address Ranges
Linear Feature Names

County
County
County
County
County
State
County
County
State
County
County
State
County
State
State
County
County
County
County
County

Bg
Tabblock
tabblock2000
Curtracts
Cdp
Cdp
Concity
County
County
Mcd
Ccd
Mcd
Place
Place
State
Submcd
Edges
Arealm
Water
Pointlm

County
County
County
County
County

Faces
Areafaces
Hydrofaces
Addr
Allnames

C. Returned Files
The Census Bureau requires that the returned shapefiles have specific attributes
and characteristics in order for us to accept and process them.
¾ All VTD returned shapefiles need to be county based and provide full
coverage for that county.
¾ All State Legislative District Lower (SLDL), State Legislative District Upper
(SLDU), and Congressional District (CD) returned shapefiles need to be
county based and provide the full (within that county) coverage of any
SLDL, SLDU, or CD that has changes.
¾ All returned VTD shapefiles should follow the naming structure detailed
below.
File Naming Convention – Returned VTD County-based Files
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County-Based RDP Shapefile Naming Convention =
RDP__VTD_WholeEntity.
Where  = FIPS State Code
Where  = FIPS County Code
Where  = three letter file extension (shp, shx, dbf, prj)
Example: Maricopa County, Arizona’s new VTD submission shapefile would be
RDP_04013_VTD_WholeEntity.shp
RDP_04013_VTD_ WholeEntity.shx
RDP_04013_VTD_ WholeEntity.dbf
RDP_04013_VTD_ WholeEntity .prj
¾ All returned SLDL, SLDU, or CD shapefiles should follow the naming
structure detailed below.
File Naming Convention – Returned SLDL, SLDU, or CD County-based Files
County-Based RDP Shapefile Naming Convention =
RDP___Changes.
Where  = FIPS State Code
Where  = FIPS County Code
Where  = the 
Where  = three letter file extension (shp, shx, dbf, prj)
Example: Maricopa County, Arizona’s modified SLDL
RDP_04013_SLDL_Changes.shp
RDP_04013_SLDL_Changes.shx
RDP_04013_SLDL_Changes.dbf
RDP_04013_SLDL_Changes.prj

shapefile

would

¾ In addition to the area coverages (VTDs, SLDLs, SLDUs, and CDs)
returned for each county, a single line (edge) shapefile must also be
returned. This shapefile should contain all new lines, any pre-existing
lines to be deleted, and any lines, new or pre-existing, with a 2010 Census
Block Boundary Suggestion Project designation.
¾ All returned Line (Edges) shapefiles should follow the naming structure
detailed below.

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File Naming Convention – Returned Line (Edge) County-based Files
County-Based RDP Shapefile Naming Convention =
RDP__Ln_Changes.
Where  = FIPS State Code
Where  = FIPS County Code
Where  = three letter file extension (shp, shx, dbf, prj)
Example: Maricopa County, Arizona’s modified lines
RDP_04013_Ln_Changes.shp
RDP_04013_Ln_Changes.shx
RDP_04013_Ln_Changes.dbf
RDP_04013_Ln_Changes.prj

shapefile

would

¾ All area coverages must conform to Census supplied geography wherever
possible. In order to preserve the topology of the Census Bureau’s
MAF/TIGER database (MTDP), participants must conflate their
geographies to the existing Census supplied geographies. Sample
methodology is supplied later in this document.
¾ All required attribute fields must be populated in the returned (VTD, SLDL,
SLDU, CD, and Ln (edges)) shapefiles. The required fields are in bold in
the data dictionary at the end of this attachment.
¾ It is not required, but is highly desirable, for you to include your local
coverage files. These can be very useful when questions arise and will
speed up the disposition of any problems.

D. Including Imagery or Maps
To add or delete a physical feature requires providing imagery or a reliable map
source to prove that the feature exists or no longer exists. You can add your own
imagery as a layer, mail, or fax an image or map, or provide a URL to display an
image or map.
¾ Digital Imagery must be in a geo-referenced format (.jpeg world file or .tiff
image with associated .tiff world file, etc). If you also submit the imagery
to the Census Bureau in support of your feature adds and deletes, be sure
to include the state and county FIPS as part of the name.
¾ If you want to provide a paper image or a map, you can mail or fax it to
your RCC office. (See RCC contact information in Attachment C.)
Clearly label your image or map with the shape IDs of the line or lines it
describes.
¾ To supply a URL to display an image or map, include it in a table with the
associated shape IDs it describes.

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V. Sample Methodology for Creating VTDs and Doing Block
Boundary Suggestions Using Your Own Shapefile as the
Source
A. Adding and Preparing Data
1. Start a project by bringing in and symbolizing the edges layer by type
(road, rail, hydrography, etc.). Later in the VTD creation process, this will
provide you with a feature reference for deciding which VTD a polygon
should be assigned to if your file and the Census provided files do not
exactly align. It is suggested that you symbolize the edges layer based on
the MTFCC codes. A description of specific MTFCC codes can be found
in Attachment I. The basic groupings of the MTFCC codes are as follows:
Sxxxx = Roads; Rxxxx = Railroads; Pxxxx = Invisible Features; Lxxxx =
Other Linear Features; and Hxxxx = Hydrography.
2. Once the edges are symbolized, bring in the provided VTD2000 shapefile.
3. Finally, bring in your own VTD shapefile (also known as the local VTD
file). It is highly suggested that the local VTD file be re-projected to match
that of the Census provided files prior to adding it to your project.
4. For definitions of key terms (e.g. faces = polygons, edges = line segments,
etc.) used in the remaining instructions, please refer to Attachment H.
5. As with all computerized editing operations it is imperative that you save
your work frequently.

B. VTD Creation Sample Methodology
1. Convert the edges shapefile to a polygon shapefile which these
instructions will call the “primitive faces” shapefile. This layer in
combination with the Census VTD2000 layer will enable the user to select
polygons for inclusion in a particular voting district. It is important to note
that the returned shapefile must have the same field structure as the VTD
2000 layer which is found in Section VI, Data Dictionary.
2. Delete all attribute fields from the “primitive faces” shapefile except those
that provide the shapefile’s geometry. Note: There may or may not be
additional fields to delete.
3. Perform a union between the primitive faces shapefile and the provided
VTD2000 shapefile to create the “primitive VTD faces” shapefile. This
creates a layer showing the individual polygons that comprise the Census
provided VTD2000 layer.

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4. Delete any attribute fields from the “primitive VTD faces” shapefile not
found in the provided VTD2000 shapefile. A table listing the fields of the
VTD2000 shapefile can be found in the Data Dictionary at the end of this
attachment.
5. Select one of your local VTDs.
6. Use the “select by location” tool to select all “primitive VTD faces” that fall
completely within the selected local VTD.
7. Open the attribute table of the “primitive VTD faces” shapefile.
8. For the selected polygons, calculate the following fields for each district
you are trying to create: STATEFP00; COUNTYFP00; NEW_CODE;
NEW_NAME; VTDI (A for actual, P for pseudo). Also, calculate the
CHNG_TYPE for these records to be an “E” (new entity). This can be
done by calculating these values for the selected polygons of the “primitive
VTD faces” shapefile.
9. For the selected polygons, delete the values contained in the following
fields: VTDST00; NAMELSAD; LSAD; EFF_DATE; NAME; VINTAGE; and
FUNCSTAT.
10. Repeat for each local VTD until each district from your local file has been
assigned. Some faces, if they are not completely within a single local VTD,
will still not be assigned at this time. We will address these faces in the
next step.
11. Review each remaining unassigned polygon in relation to the features in
the edges shapefile and the local VTD file to determine which VTD it
should belong to. It is very important at this stage to assign the faces
based on equivalent bounding features between the edges shapefile and
the local VTD shapefile. Simply basing these decisions on the spatial
accuracy of the local file will cause the topological relationships between
features and the VTDs to be broken and may result in misallocation of
population. If a new boundary line must be added to split the primitive VTD
face, use the editing functions to digitize the split and then assign each
piece of the polygon to its appropriate VTD. Also, remember to populate
the required attributes in the primitive VTD face shapefile for each piece
that gets assigned.
12. If there are old VTDs in the “primitive VTD faces” shapefile that you want
to keep, select them by their VTD code and then copy the NAME and
VTDST00 fields into the NEW_NAME and NEW_CODE fields
respectively. Also, calculate the VTDI and CHNG_TYPE fields as done
previously.
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13. Once you have copied the field values, delete the values contained in the
following fields: VTDST00; NAMELSAD; LSAD; EFF_DATE; NAME;
VINTAGE; and FUNCSTAT.
14. Check for unassigned polygons by screening for polygons with no value in
the NEW_CODE field.
15. Once all the polygons have been assigned to VTDs, perform a dissolve on
the “primitive VTD faces” shapefile using all of the fields as listed in the
VTD2000 shapefile. This will dissolve the VTDs into single polygons while
preserving all of the fields.
16. Check for discontiguous districts. If necessary, make corrections to the
“primitive VTD faces” layer and re-perform the dissolve.
17. You now have your VTD coverage. Name this output shapefile
RDP__VTD_WholeEntity.* where the  is the state and
county FIPS code.

C. SLDL, SLDU, and CD Corrections Sample Methodology
1. The same methodology can be used to create SLDL, SLDU, and CD
shapefiles for submitting corrections to those geographies to the Census
Bureau. When submitting corrections to these geographies, remember
they are only supposed to be changes to correct drafting errors. New
plans or official changes should be coordinated through the Redistricting
Data Office of the U.S. Census Bureau.
http://www.census.gov/rdo/about_the_program/009946.html)
2. SLDL, SLDU, and CD corrections should all get a CHNG_TYPE code of
“B.”
3. In any returned SLDL, SLDU, or CD shapefile, only include the districts
that have lost or gained area. If a district has not changed, it should not
be included in the returned file. The naming of these returned files is
covered in the “Returned Files” section on page 17.

D. Creation of the “Changed Lines” Coverage
1. Make a copy of the edges shapefile for you to edit. This will be referred to
as the edges shapefile copy.
2. If it is necessary to add linear features, digitize them into the edges
shapefile copy. Provide each feature with a CHNG_TYPE of “AL” and an
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MTFCC. See Attachment I for a list of MTFCC codes. Names may also be
provided at this time.
3. If it is necessary to delete Census provided linear features, attribute each
feature in the edges shapefile copy you want deleted with a CHNG_TYPE
of “DL.” Do not actually delete the line. It needs to be marked with a
code, but not deleted, in order for it to be removed from the MTDB.
•

Adding Block Boundary Suggestions

4. Once completing steps 1 through 3, change the symbology of the edges
shapefile copy to differentiate between:
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ

2010 Census planned tabulation block boundaries (CBBFLG
= 4)
Ineligible as 2010 Census tabulation block boundaries
(CBBFLG = 9)
No designation (CBBFLG = null).

5. Provide block boundary suggestions by selecting features and coding as
follows:
ƒ
ƒ

Must holds: 2010_BBSP = 1 and CHNG_TYPE = CA
Do not holds: 2010_BBSP = 2 and CHNG_TYPE = CA

6. Once all block boundaries are suggested, select by attribute to select all
lines that have a value in the CHNG_TYPE field. Export the selected set
of
edges
as
the
returned
lines
shapefile
called
RDP__LN_Changes.* where the  is the state and county
FIPS code.
7. Convert the polygon coverage (RDP__VTD_WholeEntity.*) to a
line file. This file is for temporary use so can be named accordingly.
8. Perform an Erase on this temporary line file using the original edges
shapefile. This leaves just the new lines that were added during the
RDP__VTD_WholeEntity.* shapefile’s creation.
9. Use the editing tools to add the remaining lines from the temporary lines
file to the RDP__LN_Changes.* shapefile making sure to keep the
attribute fields from the RDP__LN_Changes.* shapefile.
10. Attribute these lines with the appropriate MTFCC (P0001 if it’s an invisible
legal/statistical boundary) code and the CHNG_TYPE = AL. Once this is
completed, the RDP__LN_Changes.* shapefile is ready for
submission.
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E. Submitting Files Using the Census Bureau’s “Send a File Utility”
You can upload your files through Census Bureau’s Send a File Utility at:
http://www2.census.gov/cgi-bin/sendfile. Or, you can go to the Census
Bureau’s home page at www.census.gov and select:
•

Subjects A-Z

•

Access Data Tools

•

Public file send utility

This utility allows file size up to 500 Mb. Your file should be a .zip file
containing all the relevant county files you want to submit. If you do not have
a .zip utility, zip creation software is included on your first data disc as
fbzpack.exe. The zipped file should be named RDP_SSCCC_Return.zip
where the SS is your state’s two-digit FIPS code and CCC is the county’s
FIPS code for the county you are submitting.
Use the following steps to FTP your files to us:
1. Under Source Information (Local), click on the Browse button to
navigate to the file that you wish to send. Select the file from the
Choose file window by clicking on it. Click Open. The File to Send
field now contains the file name. Note: You can send only one file at
a time.
2. In
the
Target
Information
(Remote)
section,
enter
/geo/VTD_BBSP/ST##_SS in the Directory to Receive File, where
## = your state’s two-digit FIPS code and SS = your state’s two-letter
USPS abbreviation.
Examples: if you are California, ## = 06 and SS = CA; if you are
Iowa, ## = 19 and SS = IA. If you are not sure what your state FIPS
code or your USPS state abbreviation is, please click on the
following link: http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip5-2.htm
3. Do not make an entry for New File Name.
4. Under Notify by E-mail, type your e-mail address in the Sender’s Email Address field. In the Census Bureau Employee’s E-Mail
Address field, enter GEO.Redistricting.list@census.gov.
We are asking you to please send a separate e-mail to the same e-mail
address using your regular e-mail account, to notify us when you have
submitted updates for your state.
5. Then type in the Verification Code that you see (or numbers you
hear) in the box on the screen.
6. After filling in all the fields correctly, click on Upload. If you find an
error, click on Clear and repeat the steps.

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Important Note!! If you must resubmit a file for any reason, you must first
rename the file. If not, the utility will produce an error message. Please
retain the default naming convention of RDP_ssccc_Return when you
rename it. For example: RDP_42027_Return_revised.zip or
RDP_42027_Return_2.zip.
We encourage you to call your RCC or headquarters staff (GEO or RDO) at
anytime with any questions, comments, or concerns. Contact information can be
found in Section I. D. of the General Guidelines for GEO and RDO staff, and in
Attachment C for the RCC staff.

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VI. Data Dictionary
Attribute Fields denoted by an asterix (*) are only present in the county level file
and not the state level file.
Attribute Fields denoted in bold are the only fields that require updating for a
returned shapefile, but all fields must be present and in order for a successful
submission. (VTD, SLDL, SLDU, CD, and EDGES shapefiles)
-Alaska Native Regional Corporations (Alaska Only)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

ANRCFP

5

String

FIPS ANRC Code (State Based)

ANRCCE

2

String

Current Census ANRC Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

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-Alaska Native Regional Corporations (Alaska Only)AIANHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American Indian, Alaska
Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or group.

-American Indian Areas – Legal ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

COMPTYP

1

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or off-reservation trust land is
present, or both

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American Indian, Alaska
Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or group.

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

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-American Indian / Alaska Native Areas – StatisticalATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

STATEFP

2

COUNTYFP*

3

AIANNHCE

4

COMPTYP

1

AIANNHFSR

1

NAMELSAD

100

AIANNHNS

8

LSAD

2

FUNCSTAT

1

CLASSFP

2

PARTFLG*

1

CHNG_TYPE

2

EFF_DATE

8

RELATE

120

VINTAGE

2

NAME

100

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

String

FIPS State Code

String
String

FIPS County Code
Census AIANNH Code

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or off-reservation trust land is
present, or both

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American Indian, Alaska
Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or group.

String
String
String

Name with translated LSAD
ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas
Legal/Statistical Area Description

String
String

Functional Status
FIPS55 class code describing entity

String
String
String
String
String

Part Flag Indicator
Type of area update
Effective Date or Vintage
Relationship description
Vintage updated with returned data

String

Name

-American Indian Tribal Subdivisions - LegalATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

TRIBSUBCE

1

String

Census Tribal subdivision

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

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-American Indian Tribal Subdivisions - LegalFUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American Indian, Alaska
Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or group.

-American Indian Tribal Subdivisions - StatisticalATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

TRIBSUBCE

1

String

Census Tribal subdivision

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

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-American Indian Tribal Subdivisions - StatisticalPARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American Indian, Alaska
Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or group.

-Congressional DistrictsATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

CDFP

2

String

Congressional District Code

CDTYP

1

String

Congressional District Type

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective date or vintage

NEW_CODE

2

String

New Congressional District Code

RELTYPE1

2

String

Relationship Type 1

RELTYPE2

2

String

Relationship Type 2

RELTYPE3

2

String

Relationship Type 3

RELTYPE4

2

String

Relationship Type 4

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-Congressional DistrictsRELTYPE5

2

String

Relationship Type 5

REL_ENT1

8

String

Relationship Entity 1

REL_ENT2

8

String

Relationship Entity 2

REL_ENT3

8

String

Relationship Entity 3

REL_ENT4

8

String

Relationship Entity 4

REL_ENT5

8

String

Relationship Entity 5

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

CDSESSN

3

String

Congressional District Session Code

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

-Hawaiian Home Lands (Hawaii Only)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

COMPTYP

1

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or off-reservation trust land is
present, or both

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

AIANNHNS

8

String

ANSI numeric identifier for AIANNH Areas

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS55 class code describing entity

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Hawaiian Home Lands (Hawaii Only)DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID for any boundary update

AREA

10

Numeric (3
decimal
places)

Acreage of area update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

AIANNHFSR

1

String

Flag indicating level of recognition of an American Indian, Alaska
Native, or Native Hawaiian tribe or group.

NAME

100

String

Name

-School Districts (Elementary, Secondary, Unified)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

SDLEA

5

String

Current Local Education Agency Code

NAME

100

String

Name of School District

LSAD

2

Integer

Legal/Statistical Area Description

HIGRADE

2

String

Highest grade for which the district is financially responsible

LOGRADE

2

String

Lowest grade for which the district is financially responsible

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

POLYID

4

String

Record ID for each update polygon for linking back to the submission log

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

FUNCSTAT

3

String

Functional Status

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-State Legislative Districts (Upper/Senate)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

SLDUST

3

String

SLD Upper Chamber Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

NEW_NAME

100

String

New SLDU Name

NEW_CODE

3

String

New SLDU Code

RELTYPE1

2

String

Relationship Type 1

RELTYPE2

2

String

Relationship Type 2

RELTYPE3

2

String

Relationship Type 3

RELTYPE4

2

String

Relationship Type 4

RELTYPE5

2

String

Relationship Type 5

REL_ENT1

8

String

Relationship Entity 1

REL_ENT2

8

String

Relationship Entity 2

REL_ENT3

8

String

Relationship Entity 3

REL_ENT4

8

String

Relationship Entity 4

REL_ENT5

8

String

Relationship Entity 5

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

LSY

4

String

Legislative Session Year

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-State Legislative Districts (Lower/Senate)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

SLDLST

3

String

SLD Lower Chamber Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

PARTFLG*

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

NEW_NAME

100

String

New SLDL Name

NEW_CODE

3

String

New SLDL Code

RELTYPE1

2

String

Relationship Type 1

RELTYPE2

2

String

Relationship Type 2

RELTYPE3

2

String

Relationship Type 3

RELTYPE4

2

String

Relationship Type 4

RELTYPE5

2

String

Relationship Type 5

REL_ENT1

8

String

Relationship Entity 1

REL_ENT2

8

String

Relationship Entity 2

REL_ENT3

8

String

Relationship Entity 3

REL_ENT4

8

String

Relationship Entity 4

REL_ENT5

8

String

Relationship Entity 5

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

LSY

4

String

Legislative Session Year

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Urban Growth Areas (Washington Only)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

UGACE

5

String

Urban Growth Area Code

UGATYP

1

String

Urban Growth Area Type

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

PARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

NAME

100

String

Name

-Voting Districts – Census 2000ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP00

2

String

FIPS 2000 State Code

COUNTYFP00

3

String

FIPS 2000 County Code

VTDST00

6

String

Voting District Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

VTDI

1

String

Voting District Indicator

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

NEW_NAME

100

String

New VTD Name

NEW_CODE

6

String

New VTD Code

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Voting Districts – Census 2000RELTYPE1

2

String

Relationship Type 1

RELTYPE2

2

String

Relationship Type 2

RELTYPE3

2

String

Relationship Type 3

RELTYPE4

2

String

Relationship Type 4

RELTYPE5

2

String

Relationship Type 5

REL_ENT1

8

String

Relationship Entity 1

REL_ENT2

8

String

Relationship Entity 2

REL_ENT3

8

String

Relationship Entity 3

REL_ENT4

8

String

Relationship Entity 4

REL_ENT5

8

String

Relationship Entity 5

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

-Census Block GroupsATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

TRACTCE

6

String

Census Tract Code

BLKGRPCE

1

String

Block Group Code

BLKGRPID

12

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code, Census Tract Code, Block Group
Code

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

BGTYP

1

String

Block Group Characteristic Flag

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

COUNTYFP

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Census Blocks – CurrentATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

STATEFP00

2

String

FIPS 2000 State Code

COUNTYFP00

3

String

FIPS 2000 County Code

TRACTCE00

6

String

Census Tract Code

BLOCKCE

4

String

Tabulation Block Number

SUFFIX1CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 1

SUFFIX2CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 2

BLOCKID

19

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code, Census Tract Code, Tabulation
Block Number, Census Block Suffix 1, Census Block Suffix 2

COUNTYFP

-Census Blocks – Census 2000ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP00

2

String

FIPS 2000 State Code

COUNTYFP00

3

String

FIPS 2000 County Code

TRACTCE00

6

String

Census Tract Code

BLOCKCE

4

String

Tabulation Block Number

BLOCKID00

15

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code, Census Tract Code, Tabulation
Block Number

PARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

HOUSING00

9

Integer

2000 Housing

POP00

9

Integer

Census 2000 population count

-Census TractsATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

TRACTCE

6

String

Census Tract Code

NAME

100

String

Name

COUNTYFP

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Census TractsTRACTID

11

String

FIPS State Code, FIPS County Code, Census Tract Code

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

TRACTTYP

1

String

Tract Characteristic Flag

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

TRACTLABEL

7

String

Tract number used for LUCA geocoding

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

-Census Designated PlacesATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

PLACEFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

PLACENS

5

String

ANSI feature code for the place

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

PARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Consolidated City ShapefileATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

CONCITYFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

CONCITYCE

4

String

Census Consolidated City Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

PLACENS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the place

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(MTPS and Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

COUNTYFP

-County and Equivalent Areas ShapefileATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUNTYNS

8

String

ANSI Feature Code for the County or Equivalent Feature

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD code

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description code

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-County and Equivalent Areas ShapefileFUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(MTPS / Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Area Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

-County Subdivisions Shapefile – Legal (MCD)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS County Subdivision Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

COUSUBNS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the county subdivision

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(MTPS and Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

NAME

100

String

Name

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-County Subdivisions Shapefile – Legal (MCD)VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

-County Subdivisions Shapefile –Statistical (CCD)ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS County Subdivision Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

COUSUBNS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the county subdivision

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

-Incorporated Place ShapefileATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP*

3

String

FIPS County Code

PLACEFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

PLACENS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the place

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 Class Code describing an entity

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Incorporated Place ShapefilePARTFLG

1

String

Part Flag Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

DOCU

120

String

Supporting Documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

(MTPS and Web BAS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

-States and Equivalent AreasATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

USPS State Abbreviation

NAME

10

Integer

Name

LSAD

5

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

STATENS

120

String

ANSI feature code for the state

STATEUSPS

-SubbarriosATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS County Subdivision Code

SUBMCDFP

5

String

FIPS Sub-minor Civil Division Code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-SubbarriosSUBMCDNS

8

String

ANSI feature code for the sub-minor civil division

LSAD

2

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of Update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship Description

FORM_ID

4

String

(MTPS and Web BAS only)

NAME

100

String

Name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage updated with returned data

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional Status

-Edges (All Lines) ShapefileATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

State FIPS Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

County FIPS Code

TLID

10

Integer

Permanent Edge ID

TFIDL

10

Integer

Permanent Face ID (Left)

TFIDR

10

Integer

Permanent Face ID (Right)

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FIDELITY

1

String

Indication to a respondent when their entity boundary has changed
through spatial enhancement

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix qualifier code, prefix direction code, prefix type code, base name,
suffix type code, suffix qualifier code

SMID

22

String

Spatial Tmeta ID

BBSPFLG

1

String

Redistricting data project participant’s submitted request of an EDGE for
selection as a block boundary

CBBFLG

1

String

Indicates the status of an EDGE for a selection as a block boundary

2010_BBSP

1

String

New BBSP flag

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Edges (All Lines) ShapefileCHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of linear update

LTOADD

10

String

Left To Address

RTOADD

10

String

Right To Address

LFROMADD

10

String

Left From Address

RFROMADD

10

String

Right From Address

ZIPL

5

String

Left Zip Code

ZIPR

5

String

Right Zip Code

-Area Landmark ShapefileATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix direction code, prefix type code, base name, suffix type code,
suffix direction code

AREAID

10

Integer

Landmark identification number

ANSICODE

8

String

ANSI code for area landmarks

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Landmark update

EFF_DATE

8

String

Effective Date or Vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

BAG

3

String

Block Area Grouping

-Hydrography Area ShapefileATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

COUNTYFP

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Hydrography Area ShapefileANSICODE

8

String

ANSI code for hydrography area

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix direction code, prefix type code, base name, suffix type, suffix
type code, suffix direction code

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

HYDROID

10

String

Hydrography Identification Number

-Point Landmarks ShapefileATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

3

String

FIPS County Code

POINTID

10

Integer

Point Landmark Identification Number

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Prefix type code, base name, suffix type code

CHNG_TYPE

1

String

Type of Area Update

COUNTYFP

-Topological Faces – Geographic Entity Relationships TableATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

20

Integer

Permanent Face ID

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

TRIBSUBCE

3

String

Census Tribal Subdivision

TTRACTCE

6

String

Tribal Census Tract Code

TBLKGRPCE

1

String

Tribal Census Block Group Code

AIANNHCE

4

String

Census AIANNH Code

COMPTYP

1

String

Indicates if reservation (or equivalent) or off-reservation trust land is
present, or both

ANRCCE

5

String

FIPS ANRC Code

SLDUST

3

String

SLD Upper Chamber Code

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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45

-Topological Faces – Geographic Entity Relationships TableSLDLST

3

String

SLD Lower Chamber Code

ELSD

5

String

Current ELSD Local Education Agency (LEA) Code

SCSD

5

String

Current SCSD Local Education Agency (LEA) Code

UNSD

5

String

Current UNSD Local Education Agency (LEA) Code

CDFP

2

String

Congressional District Code

TRACTCE

6

String

Census Tract Code

UACE

5

String

Census Urban Area Code

BLKGRPCE

1

String

Census Block Group Code

BLOCKCE

4

String

Tabulation Block Number

SUFFIX1CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 1

SUFFIX2CE

2

String

Census Block Suffix 2

TAZCE

6

String

Traffic Analysis Zone Code

SUBMCDFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Sub-minor Civil Division Code

UGACE

5

String

Urban Growth Area Code

VTDST00

6

String

2000 Voting District Code

STATEFP00

2

String

FIPS 2000 State Code

COUNTYFP00

3

String

FIPS 2000 County Code

TRACTCE00

6

String

Census 2000 Tract Code

PLACEFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS 55 County Subdivision Code

CONCITYFP

5

String

FIPS 55 Place Code

LWFLG

1

String

Land/Water Flag

-Topological Faces – Area Landmark Relationships TableATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

20

Integer

Permanent Face ID

AREAID

22

Integer

Object ID

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

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-Topological Faces – Hydrography Area Relationships TableATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

20

Integer

Permanent Face ID

HYDROID

22

Integer

Object ID

-Address Ranges Table ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TLID

22

Integer

TIGER Line ID

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

FROMHN

12

String

From House Number

TOHN

12

String

To House Number

SIDE

1

String

Side Indicator Flag

ZIP

5

String

5-digit ZIP Code

PLUS4

4

String

ZIP+4 Code

LFROMADD

10

String

Left From Address

LTOADD

10

String

Left To Address

RFROMADD

10

String

Right From Address

RTOADD

10

String

Right To Address

ZIPL

5

String

Left 5-digit ZIP Code

ZIPR

5

String

Right 5-digit ZIP Code

ZIP4L

4

String

Left ZIP+4 Code

ZIP4R

4

String

Right ZIP+4 Code

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

VTD/BBSP

47

-Linear Feature Names Table ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

OID

22

Integer

Object ID

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

NAME

100

String

Name

PREDIR

2

String

Prefix Direction code component of feature name

PRETYP

3

String

Prefix Type code component of feature name

PREQUAL

2

String

Prefix Qualifier code component of feature name

SUFDIR

2

String

Suffix Direction code component of feature name

SUFTYP

3

String

Suffix Type code component of feature name

SUFQUAL

2

String

Suffix Qualifier code component of feature name

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

PAFLAG

1

String

Primary/Alternate flag

Attachment E: Digital Instructions for Participants Not Using the MAF/TIGER Partnership Software

VTD/BBSP

48

Attachment F
Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder

Version 1
February 2008

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

2

Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
As part of Phase 2 of the 2000 Census Redistricting Data Program, the Census
Bureau collected voting districts from participating states. As part of Phase 2
states could either submit voting districts, state legislative districts, or both.
Forty-four states submitted voting districts. These districts were in effect during
the 1998 election cycle. (See Figure 5)
Data and maps for these voting districts are available for review on the Census
Bureau’s American FactFinder (AFF). Within the AFF, the option to select voting
districts will appear only if the state submitted boundaries during Phase 2 of the
2000 Census Redistricting Data Program.
To access the voting district information:
1. Go to the Census Bureau homepage at www.census.gov.
2. Select American FactFinder.
3. Select Data Sets – Decennial Census.
4. Scroll down. Select Census 2000 Redistricting Data (P.L 94-171)
Summary File.
5. Select Detailed Tables, Quick Tables or Reference Maps.

Detailed Tables
Detailed tables provide the most detailed Census 2000 data for voting districts.
a. From the Select Geography Window (see Figure 1):
•

Select a geographic type: Voting District/Remainder

•

Select a state

•

Select a county

•

Select one or more voting districts (a selection will appear only if the
state submitted voting districts during Phase 2 of the 2000 Census
Redistricting Data Program)

•

Click Map It to view a map of the selection (optional)(see Figure 2)

•

Add the selection to the current geography selections box

•

Click Next

b. Next, from the Select Tables Window (see Figure 3):
•

Select a table of interest

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

3

•

Add the selection to the current table selections box

•

Click Show Result

Data for the selected detailed table will appear.
Quick Tables
Quick tables provide the most frequently requested Census 2000 data for voting
districts.
a. From the Select Geography Window (see Figure 1):
•

Select a geographic type: Voting District/Remainder

•

Select a state

•

Select a county

•

Select one or more voting districts (a selection will appear only if the
state submitted voting districts during Phase 2 of the 2000 Census
Redistricting Data Program)

•

Click Map It to view a map of the selection (optional)(see Figure 2)

•

Add the selection to the current geography selections box

•

Click Next

b. From the Select Tables Window:
•

Select QT-PL. Race, Hispanic or Latino, and Age: 2000

•

Add the selection to the current table selections box

•

Click Show Result

Data for the Quick Table will appear.
Reference Maps
Reference maps illustrate the geographic boundaries and features of selected
voting districts.
a. From the Reference Maps Window (see Figure 4):
•

Zoom into a state and then to the county or city containing the voting
district

•

Change boundaries and features by clicking on the link in the upper left
hand corner

•

Update the list by placing checks by the following boundaries: State,
County, Place, 2000 Voting Districts

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

4

•

Update the list by placing checks by the following labels: 2000 Voting
Districts

•

Click on the Features tab

•

Update the list by placing checks by the following features: Major
Roads, Streets, Streams

•

Update the list by placing checks by the following labels: Streets

•

Click Update

•

Zoom in until you see the voting district of interest

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

5

Figure 1: Select Geography Window

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

6

Figure 2: Map It Window

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

7

Figure 3: Select Tables Window

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

8

Figure 4: Reference Maps Window

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

9

Figure 5:

Attachment F: Reviewing Voting Districts in the American FactFinder
VTD/BBSP

10

Attachment G
Web Viewer Instructions (Under development)

Version 1
February 2008

Attachment H
Glossary of Key Terms

Version 1
February 2008

Attachment H: Glossary of Key Terms
VTD/BBSP

2

2010 Census tabulation blocks Blocks determined in late 2010 that will be
used to tabulate the data provided as part of the PL 94-171 data set. Bounded
on all sides by visible and non-visible features and shown on Census Bureau
maps and spatial data files, tabulation blocks are the lowest geographic level at
which the Census Bureau tabulates short form data.
American Community Survey The American Community Survey is a new
survey conducted by the Census Bureau. This survey uses a series of monthly
samples to produce annually updated data for the same small areas (census
tracts and block groups) as the decennial census long-form sample formerly
surveyed.
American FactFinder The Census Bureau's data website and search tool
located at www.census.gov (click on “American FactFinder” in the left menu).
American Indian off-reservation trust lands American Indian trust lands are
areas for which the United States holds title in trust for the benefit of an American
Indian tribe or for an individual American Indian. Trust land may be located on or
off a reservation; however, the Census Bureau recognizes and tabulates data
only for off-reservation trust land. Census data always associate off-reservation
trust land with a specific federally recognized reservation and/or tribal
government.
American Indian reservation A federal American Indian reservation is an area
that has been set aside by the United States for the use of one or more federally
recognized American Indian tribes. Its boundary is defined by tribal treaty,
agreement, executive or secretarial order, federal statute, or judicial
determination. The Census Bureau recognizes a federal reservation as territory
over which a tribe(s) has primary governmental authority. A state American
Indian reservation is an area that a state government has allocated to a tribe
recognized by that state, but not by the federal government. American Indian
reservations are known as colonies, communities, Indian communities, Indian
villages, pueblos, rancherias, ranches, reservations, reserves, and villages.
Block area group (BAG) Islands grouped together for identification as a single
2010 Census tabulation block.
Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) An annual survey conducted by the
Census Bureau to collect and maintain information on the inventory, status,
boundaries, and names of all governmental units.
Congressional District (CD) Areas from which people are elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives.
Edge Linear features.
Attachment H: Glossary of Key Terms
VTD/BBSP

3

Face Areal (polygon) features.
Feature A group of connected line segments with the same primary name and
classification.
Feature extension A nonvisible line from the end of a road that extends at an
angle of 180 degrees and is no longer than 300 feet in length and connects the
road to a non-road feature.
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code Codes that are
assigned for a variety of geographic entities, including American Indian area,
Alaska Native area, Hawaiian home land, congressional district, county, county
subdivision, metropolitan area, place, and state. The objective of FIPS codes is
to improve the ability to use the data resources of the federal government and
avoid unnecessary duplication and incompatibilities in the collection, processing,
and dissemination of data.
Geographic Areas Branch (GAB) The branch in the Census Bureau’s
Geography Division responsible for supporting the geographic components of the
Redistricting Data Program.
Geographic Information System (GIS) A collection of computer hardware,
software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying
all forms of geographically referenced information
Incorporated place A type of governmental unit, incorporated under state law
as a city, town (except in New England, New York, and Wisconsin), borough
(except in Alaska and New York), or village, generally to provide specific
governmental services for a concentration of people within legally prescribed
boundaries.
MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project (MTAIP) A Census Bureau
project, conducted from 2003 to 2008, designed to improve the spatial quality of
road features within the MAF/TIGER data base.
MAF/TIGER database (MTDB) Master Address File/Topologically Integrated
Geographic Encoding and Referencing database, developed by the Census
Bureau to support mapping and related geographic activities.
MAF/TIGER feature classification codes (MTFCC) A 5-digit code intended to
classify and describe geographic objects or features.
MAF/TIGER Partnership Software (MTPS) Software developed under contract
for the Census Bureau to support geographic update activities including the
Phase 2 portion of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program—Voting District
Project/Block Boundary Suggestion Project. Software will be distributed to all
Attachment H: Glossary of Key Terms
VTD/BBSP

4

participants. Census Bureau staff will train participants on the use of this
software package.
Minor civil division (MCD) The primary governmental or administrative division
of a county in many states.
MTPS Web Viewer A Module of the MTPS that allows participants to view
Census Bureau and participant shapefiles on the WEB.
Node The end point of a line segment.
Noncontiguous Geographic areas that are not adjacent to one another and do
not share a common boundary.
Nonvisible boundary Boundaries, such as city, town, township, and property
lines that do not follow a physical feature.
PL 94-171 (Public Law 94–171 (Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section
141(c) Public law requiring the Director of the Census Bureau to provide the
states with the opportunity to specify geographic areas, such as voting districts
and state legislative districts, for which they wish to receive decennial census
population totals.
Regional Census Center (RCC) Temporary offices set up approximately two
years prior to the decennial census. The geographic staff from the permanent
Regional Offices are assigned to the RCCs.
Redistricting Data Office (RDO) Census Bureau office responsible for the
overall management of the Census Redistricting Data Program which include 5
phases. For more information go to; http://www.census.gov/rdo/
Redistricting Data Program (RDP) Census Bureau program designed to
comply with the requirements of Public Law (P.L.) 94-171. The 2010 Census
Redistricting Data Program will provide states the opportunity to delineate voting
and state legislative districts and to suggest census block boundaries for use in
the 2010 Census redistricting data tabulations (Public Law 94-171 Redistricting
Data File).
The program also will ensure continued dialogue with the states in regard to
2010 Census planning, thereby allowing states ample time for planning,
response, and participation.
Relationship (geographic) A geographic area that shares a boundary with one
or more other geographic areas.

Attachment H: Glossary of Key Terms
VTD/BBSP

5

Shapefiles An ArcView GIS data set used to represent a set of geographic
features such as streets, hospital locations, trade areas, and ZIP Code
boundaries. Shapefiles can represent point, line, or area features. Each feature
in a shapefile represents a single geographic feature and its attributes.
State legislative district (SLD) The areas from which members are elected to
state legislatures. The SLDs embody the upper and lower chambers of the state
legislature, most frequently referred to as senate and house respectively.
State liaison Person designated by the governor of each state to work with the
Census Bureau on the Redistricting Data Program.
TerraServer-USA An on-line database of high resolution USGS aerial imagery
and scanned USGS topographic maps maintained by Microsoft Corporation.
TIGER/Line spatial files TIGER spatial data in shapefile format.
Topology The mathematical relationship between points, lines, and areas in a
spatial network.
Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project (VTD/BBSP) Phase 2 of
the Redistricting Data Program.

Attachment H: Glossary of Key Terms
VTD/BBSP

6

Attachment I
MAF/TIGER Feature Classification Codes (MTFCC)
CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
A11
A12
A13
A14
A14

A15
A16
A17
A18
A18

A19
A21

Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, unseparated
Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, unseparated, in tunnel
Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, unseparated, underpassing
Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, unseparated, with rail line in center
Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, unseparated, with rail line in center

Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, separated
Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, separated, in tunnel
Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, separated, underpassing
Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, separated, with rail line in center
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
unseparated, with rail line in center

Primary road with limited access or interstate
highway, bridge
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
unseparated

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

S1100

Primary Road

S1100

Primary Road

S1100

Primary Road

S1100

Primary Road

R1051

S1100

Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.
Primary Road

S1100

Primary Road

S1100

Primary Road

S1100

Primary Road

R1015

S1100

Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.
Primary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

1

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
A22
A23
A24
A24

A25
A26
A27
A28
A28

A29
A31
A32
A33
A34

Primary road without limited access, US highways,
unseparated, in tunnel
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
unseparated, underpassing
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
unseparated, with rail line in center
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
unseparated, with rail line in center

Primary road without limited access, US highways,
separated
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
separated, in tunnel
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
separated, underpassing
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
separated, with rail line in center
Primary road without limited access, US highways,
unseparated, with rail line in center

Primary road without limited access, US highways,
bridge
Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, unseparated
Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, unseparated, in tunnel
Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, unseparated, underpassing
Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, unseparated, with rail line in center

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

R1015

S1200

Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.
Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

R1015

S1200

Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.
Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

2

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
A34

Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, unseparated, with rail line in center

R1015

A35

Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, separated
Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, separated, in tunnel
Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, separated, underpassing
Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, separated, with rail line in center

S1200

Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.
Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1200

Secondary Road
Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.
Secondary Road

A36
A37
A38
A38

Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, separated, with rail line in center

R1015

A39

Secondary and connecting road, state and county
highways, bridge
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
unseparated
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
unseparated, in tunnel
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
unseparated, underpassing
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
unseparated, with rail line in center
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
unseparated, with rail line in center

S1200

A41
A42
A43
A44
A44

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

S1400
S1400
S1400
S1400
R1015

Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.

3

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
A45
A46
A47
A48
A48

A49
A51
A52
A53
A61

Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
separated
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
separated, in tunnel
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
separated, underpassing
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
separated, with rail line in center
Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
separated, with rail line in center

Local, neighborhood, and rural road, city street,
bridge
Vehicular trail, road passable only by 4WD vehicle,
unseparated
Vehicular trail, road passable only by 4WD vehicle,
unseparated, in tunnel
Vehicular trail, road passable only by 4WD vehicle,
unseparated, underpassing
Cul-de-sac, the closed end of a road that forms a
loop or turn-around

S1500

Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.
Local Neighborhood Road, Rural Road, City
Street
Vehicular Trail (4WD)

S1500

Vehicular Trail (4WD)

S1500

Vehicular Trail (4WD)

C3061

Cul de sac — A street that is closed at one
end with a circular turnaround area and only
one outlet
Traffic Circle — A circular intersection
allowing for continuous movement of traffic at
the meeting of roadways
Ramp

S1400
S1400
S1400
S1400
R1015

S1400

A62

Traffic circle, the portion of a road or intersection of C3062
roads forming a roundabout

A63

Access ramp, the portion of a road that forms a
S1630
cloverleaf or limited access interchange
Service drive, the road or portion of a road that
S1640
provides access to businesses, facilities, and rest
areas along a limited-access highway; this frontage
road may intersect other roads and be named

A64

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

Service Drive usually along a limited access
highway

4

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
A65

A66
A67
A70
A71
A72
A73

Ferry crossing, the representation of a route over
water that connects roads on opposite shores; used
by ships carrying automobiles or people
Gated barrier to travel (short definition is "gate")
Toll booth barrier to travel (short definition is "toll
booth")
Other thoroughfare, major category used when the
minor category could not be determined
Walkway or trail for pedestrians, usually unnamed
Stairway, stepped road for pedestrians, usually
unnamed
Alley, road for service vehicles, usually unnamed,
located at the rear of buildings and property

L4165

Ferry Crossing

C3066
C3067
S1710

Gate — A movable barrier across a road
Toll booth — A structure or barrier where a
fee is collected for using a road
Walkway/Pedestrian Trail

S1710

Walkway/Pedestrian Trail

S1720

Stairway

S1730

Alley

A74

Private road or drive for service vehicles, usually
S1740
privately owned and unnamed. Primary type of use
is for logging or access to oil rigs, farms, or ranches

Private Road for service vehicles (logging, oil
fields, ranches, etc.)

B11

Railroad main track, not in tunnel or underpassing

R1011

B12
B13
B14
B15
B16

R1011
R1011
R1011
R1011
R1011

B19
B21

Railroad main track, in tunnel
Railroad main track, underpassing
Abandoned/inactive rail line with tracks present
Abandoned rail line with grade, but no tracks
Abandoned rail line with track and grade information
unknown
Railroad main track, bridge
Railroad spur track, not in tunnel or underpassing

Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard) — Rail
feature refers to a line of fixed rails or tracks
that form railways or railroads, spurs, and rail
yards. They are used for the transport of
passengers and goods.
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)

R1011
R1011

Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)

B22
B23

Railroad spur track, in tunnel
Railroad spur track, underpassing

R1011
R1011

Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

5

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
B29
B31

Railroad spur track, bridge
Railroad yard track, not in tunnel or underpassing

R1011
R1011

Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)

B32
B33
B39
B40

Railroad yard track, in tunnel
Railroad yard track, underpassing
Railroad yard track, bridge
Railroad ferry crossing, the representation of a route
over water used by ships carrying train cars to
connecting railroads on opposite shores. These are
primarily located on the Great Lakes
Carline, a track for streetcars, trolleys, and other
mass transit rail systems; used when the carline is
not part of the road right-of-way

R1011
R1011
R1011
L4165

Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Railroad Feature (Main, Spur, or Yard)
Ferry Crossing

R1051

Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — various forms of rail
transport that have one or more than one
track on which monorails or streetcars run.
These tracks are typically in urban areas.

R1052

Cog Rail Line, Incline Rail Line, Tram —
railways with a special toothed rack rail or
rack mounted on the railroad ties between the
running rails. The trains are fitted with one or
more cog wheels that mesh with this rack rail.
This allows the trains to operate on steeply
inclined slopes. A Tram is a cable car,
especially one suspended from an overhead
cable, or a wheeled vehicle that runs on rails
and is propelled by electricity.

B51

B52

Cog railroad, incline railway, or logging tram

C10
C20

Pipeline; major category used alone
L4010
Power transmission line; major category used alone L4020

Pipeline
Powerline

C31

Aerial tramway, monorail, or ski lift

Aerial Tramway/Ski Lift

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

L4031

'Monorail' split apart from
'Aerial Tramway' and 'Ski Lift'

6

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
R1051

C32

D10

Pier/dock a platform built out from the shore into the K2432
water and supported by piles; provides access to
ships and boats
Military installation or reservation; major category
K2110
used alone

D21
D22
D23
D24
D25
D26
D27

Apartment building or complex
Rooming or boarding house
Trailer court or mobile home park
Marina
Crew-of-vessel area
Housing facility for workers
Hotel, motel, resort, spa, hostel, YMCA, or YWCA

K1121
K1122
K1223
K2424
K1225
K1226
K1227

D28
D29
D31

Campground
Shelter or mission
Hospital, urgent care facility, clinic

K1228
K1229
K1231

D32
D33

Halfway house
Nursing home, retirement home, or home for the
aged
County home or poor farm

K1232
K1233

D34

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

K1234

Carline, Streetcar Track, Monorail, Other
Mass Transit Rail — Carline, Streetcar Track,
Monorail, and other mass transit refer to
various forms of rail transport that have one
or more than one track on which monorails or
streetcars run. These tracks are typically in
urban areas.
Pier/Dock

Military Installation — This feature represents
areas owned and/or occupied by the
Department of Defense for use by a branch of
the armed forces, including the Army, Navy,
Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and
includes state owned areas for the use of the
National Guard.
Apartment Building or Complex
Rooming or Boarding House
Trailer Court or Mobile Home Park
Marina
Crew-of-Vessel Location
Housing Facility/Dormitory for Workers
Hotel, Motel, Resort, Spa, Hostel, YMCA, or
YWCA
Campground
Shelter or Mission
Hospital/Hospice/Urgent Care Facility -- One
or more structures where the sick or injured
may receive medical or surgical attention
(infirmary)
Halfway House/Group Home
Nursing Home, Retirement Home, or Home
for the Aged
County Home or Poor Farm

7

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
D35
D36
D37

Orphanage
Jail or detention center
Federal penitentiary, state prison, or prison farm

K1235
K1236
K1237

D41
D42

Sorority or fraternity
Convent or monastery

K1241
K1239

D43

Educational institution, including academy, school,
college, and university

K2543

K2540

D44

D45
D46
D50

Religious institution including church, synagogue,
seminary, temple, and mosque

K2540

K3544
Museum including visitor center, cultural center, or K2545
tourist attraction
Community Center
K2146
Transportation terminal; major category used alone K2400
when the minor category could not be determined

D51

Airport or airfield

K2451

D52

Train station including trolley and mass transit rail
station
Bus terminal
Marine terminal
Seaplane anchorage

K2452

D53
D54
D55

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

K2453
K2454
K2455

Juvenile Institution
Local Jail or Detention Center
Federal Penitentiary, State Prison, or Prison
Farm
Sorority, Fraternity, or College Dormitory
Convent, Monastery, Rectory, Other Religious
Group Quarters
School or Academy — A building or group of
buildings used as an institution for study,
teaching, and learning (elementary school,
high school)
University or College — A building or group of
buildings used as an institution for postsecondary study, teaching, and learning
(seminary)
University or College — A building or group of
buildings used as an institution for postsecondary study, teaching, and learning
(seminary)
Place of Worship
Museum, Visitor Center, Cultural Center, or
Tourist Attraction
Community Center
Transportation Terminal

'Educational Institution' split
into two separate MTFCCs

'Seminaries' now belong with
'University or College'

Airport or Airfield — A manmade facility
maintained for the use of aircraft (airfield,
airstrip, landing field, landing strip)
Train Station, Trolley or Mass Transit Rail
Station
Bus Terminal
Marine Terminal
Seaplane Anchorage

8

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
D56

D57

D58

D60

Airport Intermodal Transportation Hub/Terminal site
that allows switching of differing modes of
transportation in the same facility
Airport – Statistical Representation used as part of
urban area delineation where major airports are
contiguous with urban areas
Park and ride facility/parking lot. A Park and Ride
facility is designed to intercept automobiles at
outlying locations along transit corridors (e.g., bus
routes)
Employment center; major category used alone
when the minor category could not be determined

K2456

Airport - Intermodal Transportation
Hub/Terminal

K2457

Airport - Statistical Representation

K2458

Park and Ride Facility /Parking Lot

K2300

Commercial Workplace

D61
D62

Shopping center or major retail center
K2361
Industrial building or industrial park including public K2362
and commercial storage, but excluding tank farms

Shopping Center or Major Retail Center
Industrial Building or Industrial Park

D63
D64

Office building or office park
Amusement center including arena, auditorium,
stadium, coliseum, race course, theme park, or
shooting range
Government center
Other employment center
Convention Center
Towers, monuments and other vertical structures;
major category used alone when minor category
could not be determined

K2363
K2564

Office Building or Office Park
Amusement Center

K2165
K2366
K2167
C3070

Government Center
Other Employment Center
Convention Center
Tower/beacon — A manmade structure,
higher than its diameter, generally used for
observation, storage, or electronic
transmission
Lookout Tower — A manmade structure,
higher than its diameter used for observation

D65
D66
D67
D70

D71

Lookout tower

C3071

D72

Transmission tower including cell, radio and TV

C3072

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

Transmission Tower including cell, radio and
TV -- A manmade structure, higher than its
diameter used for electronic transmission

9

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
D73

Water tower

C3073

Water Tower — A manmade structure, higher
than its diameter used for water storage

D74

Lighthouse beacon

C3074

D75

Tank/tank farm with a number of liquid (petroleum,
natural gas, etc.) tanks that are operated together
as a depot for storage and distribution activities

C3075

Lighthouse Beacon — A manmade structure,
higher than its diameter used for
transmission of light generally to aid in
navigation
Tank/Tank Farm — A manmade structure(s),
higher than its diameter used for liquid (other
than water) or gas storage

D76

Windmill farm

C3076

D77

Solar farm

C3077

D78

Monument or memorial

C3078

D79

Survey or boundary monument

C3079

D80

Open space; major category used alone when the
minor category could not be determined

K2180

D81
D82

Golf course
Cemetery

K2561
K2582

D83
D84
D85

National Park Service land
National forest or other Federal land
State or local park or forest

K2181
K2182
K2183

K2184

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

Windmill Farm — A manmade structure(s)
used to generate power from the wind
Solar Farm — A manmade structure(s) used
to generate power from the sun
Monument or Memorial — A manmade
structure to educate, commemorate, or
memorialize an event, person, or feature
Boundary Monument Point — Material object
placed on or near a boundary line to preserve
and identify the location of the boundary line
on the ground
Park — This feature represents parklands
defined and administered by Federal, State
and Local governments.
Golf Course
Cemetery — A place or area for burying the
dead (burial, burying ground, grave, memorial
garden)
National Park Service Land
National Forest or Other Federal Land
Tribal Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
'State or local park or forest'
split into several separate
MTFCCs
State Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

10

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
K2185
K2186
K2187
K2188
K2189
K2190

D86
D87
D88
E10
E21
E22

Zoo
Vineyard, winery, orchard or other agricultural or
horticultural establishment
Landfill, incinerator, dump, spoil, or other location
for refuse (can be unnamed)
Fence line locating a visible and permanent fence
between separately identified property
Ridge line, the line of highest elevation of a linear
mountain
Mountain peak, the point of highest elevation of a
mountain

K2586
K2364

Zoo
Farm/Vineyard/Winery/Orchard

C3088
L4110

Landfill — A disposal facility at which solid
waste is placed on or in the land
Fence Line

L4121

Ridge Line

C3022

Mountain Peak or Summit — Prominent
elevation rising above the surrounding level of
the Earth's surface
Island — Area of dry or relatively dry land
surrounded by water or low wetland
(archipelago, atoll, cay, hammock, hummock,
isla, isle, key, moku, rock)
Levee — Natural or manmade embankment
flanking a stream (bank, berm)

E23

Island, identified by name

C3023

E24

Levee, an embankment, as of earth or concrete,
used to prevent a river or other body of water from
overflowing
Marsh/Swamp

C3024

E25

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

Regional Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
County Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
County Subdivision Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area
Incorporated Place Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area
Private Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
Other Park, Forest, or Recreation Area (quasipublic, independent park, commission, etc.)

H2025

Swamp/Marsh — A poorly drained wetland,
fresh or saltwater, wooded or grassy, possibly
covered with open water (bog, cienega,
marais, marsh, pocosin)

11

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
E26

Quarry (not water-filled), open pit mine or mine is a C3026
site where raw materials have been mined, and is
generally unsuitable for residential use

E27

Dam

C3027

F10

P0001

F11

Nonvisible jurisdictional boundary of a legal or
administrative entity
Offset boundary of a legal entity

Quarry (not water-filled), Open Pit Mine or
Mine — Place or area from which commercial
minerals are or were removed from the Earth;
not including oilfield
Dam — Water barrier or embankment built
across the course of a stream or into a body
of water to control and (or) impound the flow
of water (breakwater, dike, jetty)
Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F12

Corridor boundary of a legal entity

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F13

Nonvisible superseded 2000 legal boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F14

Nonvisible superseded 1990 legal boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F15

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F17

Nonvisible superseded 1990 legal boundary,
corrected through post census process
Nonvisible superseded legal boundary, current at
the time of the 1997 Economic Census
Nonvisible State Legislative District boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F18

Nonvisible Congressional District boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F19

Nonvisible corrected 2000 legal boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F20

Nonvisible feature for database topology; major
category used when the minor category could not
be determined
Automated feature extension to lengthen existing
physical feature

P0004

Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)
Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)

F16

F21

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

P0004

12

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
F22

Irregular feature extension, determined manually, to P0004
lengthen existing physical feature

F23

Closure extension to complete database topological P0004
closure between extremely close features (used to
close small gaps between complete chains and
create polygons to improve block labeling on
cartographic products)
Nonvisible separation line used with offset and
P0004
corridor boundaries

F24

F25

Nonvisible centerline of area enclosed by corridor
boundary

F30

Point-to-point line, follows a line of sight and should L4130
not cross any visible feature; for example, from the
end of a road to a mountain peak

F40

Property line, nonvisible boundary of either public or
private lands, e.g., a park boundary
Public Land Survey System or equivalent survey
line (not used as a boundary)
ZIP Code® tabulation area (ZCTA™) boundary,
used in delineating ZCTAs™
Statistical boundary; major category used when the
minor category could not be determined
1980 statistical boundary

F41
F50
F70
F71
F72

F74

1990 statistical boundary; used to hold 1990
collection and tabulation census block boundaries
not represented by existing physical features
1990 statistical boundary; used to hold a 1990
tabulation census block boundary not represented
by an existing physical feature

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

P0004

Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)
Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)

Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)
Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)
Point-to-Point Line

L4140

Property/Parcel Line (Including PLSS)

L4140

Property/Parcel Line (Including PLSS)

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

13

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
F80

F81

Nonvisible other tabulation boundary; major
category used when the minor category could not
be determined
School district boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F87

Census 2000 collection block boundary; used to
hold Census 2000 collection block boundaries not
represented by existing physical features
Census 2000 statistical area boundary; used to hold
Census 2000 statistical area boundaries not
represented by existing physical features
Census 2000 tabulation block boundary; used to
hold Census 2000 tabulation block boundaries not
represented by existing physical features
Oregon urban growth area boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

F88

Current statistical area boundary

P0001

Nonvisible Linear Legal/Statistical Boundary

H01
H02
H10

Shoreline of perennial water feature
Shoreline of intermittent water feature
Stream or river; major category used when the
minor category could not be determined

P0002
P0003
H3010

Perennial Shoreline
Intermittent Shoreline
Stream/River — A linear body of water flowing
on the Earth's surface (anabranch, awawa,
bayou, branch, brook, creek, distributary, fork,
kill, pup, rio, river, run, slough)

H11

Perennial stream or river

H3010

Stream/River — A linear body of water flowing
on the Earth's surface (anabranch, awawa,
bayou, branch, brook, creek, distributary, fork,
kill, pup, rio, river, run, slough)

H12

Intermittent stream, river, or wash

H3010

Stream/River — A linear body of water flowing
on the Earth's surface (anabranch, awawa,
bayou, branch, brook, creek, distributary, fork,
kill, pup, rio, river, run, slough)

F83

F84

F85

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

14

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
H13

Braided stream or river

H3013

H20

Canal, ditch, or aqueduct; major category used
when the minor category could not be determined

H3020

H21

Perennial canal, ditch, or aqueduct

H3020

H22

Intermittent canal, ditch, or aqueduct

H3020

H30

Lake or pond; major category used when the minor H2030
category could not be determined

H31

Perennial lake or pond

H2030

H32

Intermittent lake or pond

H2030

H40

H2040

H41

Reservoir; major category used when the minor
category could not be determined
Perennial reservoir

H2040

H42

Intermittent reservoir

H2040

H43

Treatment pond

H2041

H51

Bay, estuary, gulf, or sound

H2051

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

Braided Stream — A body of water flowing on
the Earth's surface that is separated into
multiple channels
Canal, Ditch or Aqueduct — A manmade
waterway used by watercraft or for drainage,
irrigation, mining, or water power (ditch,
lateral)
Canal, Ditch or Aqueduct — A manmade
waterway used by watercraft or for drainage,
irrigation, mining, or water power (ditch,
lateral)
Canal, Ditch or Aqueduct — A manmade
waterway used by watercraft or for drainage,
irrigation, mining, or water power (ditch,
lateral)
Lake/Pond — A natural body of inland water
(backwater, lac, lagoon, laguna, pond, pool,
resaca, waterhole)
Lake/Pond — A natural body of inland water
(backwater, lac, lagoon, laguna, pond, pool,
resaca, waterhole)
Lake/Pond — A natural body of inland water
(backwater, lac, lagoon, laguna, pond, pool,
resaca, waterhole)
Reservoir — An artificially impounded body of
water (lake, tank)
Reservoir — An artificially impounded body of
water (lake, tank)
Reservoir — An artificially impounded body of
water (lake, tank)
Treatment Pond — An artificial body of water
built to treat fouled water
Bay/Estuary/Gulf/Sound — A body of water
partly surrounded by land (arm, bight, cove,
inlet)

15

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
H53

Sea or ocean

H2053

H60
H70

Gravel pit or quarry filled with water
Nonvisible water area definition boundary; used to
separate named water areas and as the major
category when the minor category could not be
determined
Census water boundary separating inland from
coastal or Great Lakes; used as an area
measurement line
Census water boundary separating coastal water
from territorial sea at the 3-mile limit; used as an
area measurement line
Artificial path through double line hydrography, from
the US Geological Survey feature in the National
Hydrography Dataset (NHD)

H2060
P0004

H74

H75

H76

P0004

P0004

H1100

H3010

H3013

H3020

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

Ocean/Sea — Large body of salt water (gulf,
ocean)
Gravel Pit/Quarry filled with water —
Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)
Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)
Other non-visible bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary, boundary of an areal
feature)
Connector — A known, but nonspecific,
Features that previously would
hydrographic connection between two
have received an 'H76' CFCC
nonadjacent water features.
will now typically be assigned
the MTFCC of a connecting
non-Artificial Path linear water
feature.
Stream/River — A linear body of water flowing
on the Earth's surface (anabranch, awawa,
bayou, branch, brook, creek, distributary, fork,
kill, pup, rio, river, run, slough)
Braided Stream — A body of water flowing on
the Earth's surface that is separated into
multiple channels
Canal, Ditch or Aqueduct — A manmade
waterway used by watercraft or for drainage,
irrigation, mining, or water power (ditch,
lateral)

16

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
H77

Artificial path through double line hydrography, from H1100
any source OTHER than the US Geological Survey,
National Hydrography Dataset

H3010

Stream/River — A linear body of water flowing
on the Earth's surface (anabranch, awawa,
bayou, branch, brook, creek, distributary, fork,
kill, pup, rio, river, run, slough)

H3013

Braided Stream — A body of water flowing on
the Earth's surface that is separated into
multiple channels
Canal, Ditch or Aqueduct — A manmade
waterway used by watercraft or for drainage,
irrigation, mining, or water power (ditch,
lateral)

H3020

H81

Glacier

H2081

N/A

C3080

N/A

C3081

N/A
N/A
N/A

K1238
K2100
K2459

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

Connector — A known, but nonspecific,
hydrographic connection between two
nonadjacent water features.

Features that previously would
have received an 'H77' CFCC
will now typically be assigned
the MTFCC of a connecting
non-Artificial Path linear water
feature.

Glacier — an area of relatively permanent
snow or ice on the top or side of a mountain
or mountainous area (ice field, ice patch,
snow patch)
Survey Control Point — Point on the ground
whose position (horizontal or vertical) is
known and can be used as a base for
additional survey work
Locality Point — Points that identify locations
and names of unbounded localities e.g.,
crossroads, community names, names from
the Geographic Names Information System
(GNIS).
Other Correctional Institution
Governmental
Runway/Taxiway

17

CFCC (Legacy CFCC Description

MTFCC MTFCC Description

Comments

TIGER)
N/A
N/A
N/A

K2460
L4040
L4125

N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

S1780
S1820
S1830
S2000

Helicopter Landing Pad
Conveyor
Cliff/Escarpment — A very steep or vertical
slope (bluff, crag, head, headland, nose,
palisades, precipice, promontory, rim,
rimrock)
Parking Lot Road
Bike Path or Trail
Bridle Path
Road Median

Special Cases #1-----These include situations where a CFCC corresponds to multiple MTFCCs
simultaneously. So a former CFCC of A14 would now be represented as both S1100 and R1051 MTFCCs.
Special Cases #2-----These include situations where a CFCC corresponds to one MTFCC, but the MTFCC may
differ depending on the situation. The CFCC does not correspond to multiple MTFCCs simultaneously.
See Comments field.

Attachment I: MAF/TIGER Feature Class Codes (MTFCC)

18

Attachment J
Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server

Version 1
October 2008

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

2

A. Install MTPS on to Local Network Server
To install the MTPS on to a local network server for a designated PC, follow the
steps below. Note that only one designated PC can access the local network
server at any particular time.
1)

Create a state Destination Folder (MTPS directory) named STXX_MTPS on
a selected local network server. (XX = FIPS state code)

2)

Place the MTPS installation disc in the drive of the respective designated
PC that connects to the network.

3)

When installing MTPS, select the radio button for “Install/MAF/TIGER
Partnership Software and Data for a Single User”

4)

Install the MTPS software to the default destination; C\Program Files\MAF –
TIGER Partnership Software.

5)

Install the “MTPSData” browsing to the Destination Folder recently created
on the selected local network server.

6)

Start the installation to the selected Destination Folder on the local network
server.

B. Importing the State Submitted File into the MTPS on the Local
Network Server
To import the state working submission file into the MTPS on the local network
server for a designated PC, follow the steps below.
1)

Create a fresh import to the MTPS of the county to work. If the county has
never been opened on the PC, open and log-in to the MTPS.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

3

2)

Use the “VTD/BBSP” pull down menu to select the “Pick a County”
command.

3)

In the “Pick a County” window that opens, choose the county to work.

4)

Since this county has not been “worked”, the MTPS has to import the county
to create the editable files and map layout. The MTPS warns about being
slowed by resident anti-virus software. It is not necessary to turn off any
anti-virus software. Click “OK” to allow the import to proceed.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

4

5)

The software imports the county to work review.

6)

Once the county’s import is complete, click “OK” to close the import window.

7)

Now close the MTPS completely by choosing “Exit” from the “File” pull down
menu.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

5

8) "Navigate to the RDP_ssccc_Return.zip file you copied from the PC you
are transferring the already started submission file from and open the .zip
file. The file directory displays.
Note: These steps and screenshots assume you are using WinZip as your
file zipping software. Other software you may be using should work in a
similar manner.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

6

9)

Select all the files in the RDP_ssccc_Return.zip file by using the “Actions”
pull down menu and choosing “Select All”.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

7

10) With all of the files selected, click the “Extract” button.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

8

11) Using the “Extract” window that opens, navigate to the folder you recently
created on the local network server that contains the state submission file to
review. Also, make sure that the “Selected files/folders” radio button is
active and the “Overwrite existing files” checkbox is checked. All the other
checkboxes should be unchecked. See “example below.

12) Once these parameters are set, click the “Extract” button to unload all of the
contents of the RDP07_ssccc_Return.zip file into the county sub-folder of
the state annotation data.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

9

13) Close the WinZipZIP software as soon as the process is complete.
14) Open and log-in to the MTPS again.

15) Use the “VTD/BBSP” pull down menu to select “Open”. This will open the
county selected earlier. The county will look and perform exactly as it did on
the state participant’s computer just prior to them using the MTPS “Report
Changes” command.

Attachment J: Installing MTPS and County Data on to Local Network Server
VTD/BBSP

10


File Typeapplication/pdf
AuthorBureau Of The Census
File Modified2008-10-16
File Created2008-10-03

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