BAS Digital Non-Tribal Respondent Guide

16_BASRespondentGuide_Digital.pdf

The Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) & Boundary Validation Program (BVP)

BAS Digital Non-Tribal Respondent Guide

OMB: 0607-0151

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Boundary and Annexation Survey
Respondent Guide: Digital
Revised as of December 15, 2015

Silver Hill City

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
census.gov

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Boundary and Annexation Survey Respondent Guide: Digital

Table of Contents
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) State ment .................................................................. iii
Introduction to Digital Boundary and Annexation Survey .......................................... iv
CHAPTER 1:

Digital BAS Requirements ...................................................................... 1

CHAPTER 2:

Topological Relationships and Spatial Accuracy ............................... 2

CHAPTER 3:

Census Bureau Provided Shapefiles .................................................... 6

CHAPTER 4:

Census Bureau Geocoding..................................................................... 7

CHAPTER 5:

Updating the Census Bureau Shapefiles.............................................. 9

5.1

Annexations and Deannexations ........................................................................ 10

5.2

Boundary Corrections .......................................................................................... 10

5.3

New Incorporations .............................................................................................. 11

5.4

Disincorporations ................................................................................................. 12

5.5

Geographic Corridors .......................................................................................... 12

5.6

Geographic Offsets .............................................................................................. 13

5.7

Adding, Deleting, Renaming, and Recoding Linear Features ........................... 14

5.8

Linear Feature Update Guidelines ...................................................................... 14

5.9

Address Range Updates ..................................................................................... 14

5.10

Area Landmarks, Hydro Areas, and Point Landmarks ...................................... 15

5.11

Boundary-to-Feature Relationships .................................................................... 19

5.12

Large Boundary Corrections ............................................................................... 21

5.13

Including Required Attribute Information ............................................................ 22

5.14

Including Appropriate Metadata (Projection Information) .................................. 22

5.15

Linear Feature Updates ....................................................................................... 22

5.16

Submitting Digital Data ........................................................................................ 23

5.17

Compressing the Digital Files ............................................................................. 26

5.18

Submitting Digital Files via SWIM ....................................................................... 28

5.19

Additional Information .......................................................................................... 34

APPENDICES..................................................................................................................... 35
APPENDIX A Data Dictionary……………………………………………………………A-1
APPENDIX B 2016 Digital Example Process 1……………………………………….B-1
B1.

Required Census Bureau Shapefiles ............................................................... B-1

B2.

Local Data .......................................................................................................... B-1

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B3.

Symbolizing Layers in ArcGIS........................................................................... B-2

B.3.1
B4.

Symbolizing Geographic Areas ..................................................................... B-2
Extracting Incorporated Place or MCD Data from Census Shapefiles ........... B-3

B.4.1

Filtering the Data .................................................................................... B-3

B.4.2

Exporting the Data to a New Shapefile ................................................. B-4

B.4.3

Merging Multipart Place Data................................................................. B-5

B5.

Creating Change Polygons Using Symmetrical Difference ............................. B-6

B6.

Creating Change Polygons Using Union .......................................................... B-7

B7.

Reviewing and Attributing Change Polygons ................................................. B-10

B.7.1

Examples .............................................................................................. B-10

B.7.2

Attribute Information ............................................................................. B-11

B8.

Renaming and Finalizing Change Polygons .................................................. B-13

APPENDIX C 2016 Digital Example Process 2……………………………………….C-1
C1.

Required Census Bureau Shapefiles ............................................................... C-1

C2.

Local Data .......................................................................................................... C-1

C3.

Symbolizing Layers in ArcGIS........................................................................... C-1

C.3.1
C4.

Symbolizing Geographic Areas ............................................................. C-2

Creating and Splitting Linear Features ............................................................. C-3

C.4.1

Creating new linear features .................................................................. C-3

C.4.2

Adding Attribute Data To New Linear Features .................................... C-4

C.4.3

Splitting Linear Features ........................................................................ C-5

C.4.4

Selecting Lines and Creating Change Polygons .................................. C-6

C.4.5

Attributing Change Polygons ................................................................. C-8

C.4.6

Exporting Change Polygons .................................................................. C-9

APPENDIX D MTFCC Codes……………………………………………………………..D-1

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PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT (PRA) STATEMENT
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid
OMB Control Number. This collection is voluntary. The authority for conducting this
collection comes from Title 13 U.S.C, Section 6.
The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0607-0151. Public reporting
for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 2 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collec tion of
information.
Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the
burden should be directed to: Paperwork Reduction 0607-0151, United States Census
Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 3K138, Washington, DC 20233. You may email
comments to paperwork@census.gov; use “Paperwork Project 0607-0151” as the
subject.

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INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL BOUNDARY AND ANNEXATION SURVEY
A.

Overview of the BAS

The Census Bureau conducts an annual survey called the Boundary and Annexation
Survey (BAS) to collect information about selected legally defined geographic areas,
such as counties (and equivalent areas), incorporated places, minor civil divisions
(MCDs), as well as federally recognized American Indian reservations (including offreservation trust lands and tribal subdivisions). The BAS also provides an opportunity
for participants to review the names and geographic relationships for these areas. Title
13, U.S.C., Section 6, authorizes this survey.
The Census Bureau uses BAS information to provide a record for reporting the results
of the decennial and economic censuses, and to support the Population Estimates
Program (PEP) and the American Community Survey (ACS). Maintaining correct
boundaries and boundary-to-feature relationships through the BAS helps ensure that
the Census Bureau assigns the appropriate population to each governmental unit (GU).
In compliance with the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16, the BAS
supports the Census Bureau’s spatial data steward responsibilities for the Federal
Geographic Data Committee and the Geospatial One-Stop by updating the inventory
and boundaries of GUs.
In addition, the BAS is the source of up-to-date information on changes to the
boundaries, codes and names of incorporated places, MCDs, counties (and equivalent
areas), and federally recognized American Indian areas (AIAs), which include
reservations and off-reservation trust lands used by the U.S. Geological Survey’s
(USGS), the National Map, and the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
For more information on the BAS, please view the “Introduction to BAS” video series on
the Census Bureau’s website at
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/videos/introbas.html.

What’s new in the 2016 BAS?
With the suspension of the 2014 BAS and the resumption of the BAS in 2015, it is
important to note some key changes in the 2016 BAS cycle.
All BAS submissions must be submitted via the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM).
No other methods or protocols (e.g., email or file transfer protocol (FTP)) are allowed
because of Census IT security policy. To get a SWIM token, you must fill out the annual
response form located at the following address:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_ar_form.html
Please note that if you received a SWIM token last year, then it will not change for 2016.



BAS participants reporting boundary changes (annexations or deannexations) are
required to include the authorization type (i.e. resolution, ordinance, local law, state
level action or other) in the AUTHTYPE field. All other required data for boundary
changes is unchanged.

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

There is a physical mail out if you request the GUPS or paper maps. All shapefiles
and paper BAS maps are available for download from the BAS website:
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/bas/bashome.html for the 2016 BAS.
o In 2016, BAS paper maps will be available. Maps can be downloaded at
the following link: http://www.census.gov/geo/www/bas/bashome.html

State Specific Arrangements and Agreements
The Census Bureau has established a number of arrangements or agreements with
states for reporting boundary changes. If your state is interested in establishing a BAS
state agreement, please consult the BAS website at:
https://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_sa.html . You may also call the Census
Bureau’s Geographic Partnerships area at 301-763-1099 or send an email to
geo.bas@census.gov. Please visit the BAS program website or call 1-800-972-5651 for
information regarding state agreements.
NOTE: The Census Bureau can only establish BAS state agreements for states that require
local governments to report boundary changes to a state agency.

Legal Disputes
If it comes to the Census Bureau’s attention that an area of land is in dispute between
two or more jurisdictions, the Census Bureau will not make either annexations or
boundary corrections until the parties come to a written agreement, or there is a
documented final court decision regarding the matter/dispute. If you have questions
concerning this, contact the Census Bureau Legal Office at 301-763-9844.

Key Dates for Digital BAS Participants
Deadlines for the current BAS year are:
January 1 – All boundary changes must be legally in effect on or before this date to be
reported under the current BAS year. Please note that the Census Bureau will accept
changes legally effective after January 1 for inclusion in the shapefiles for the next BAS
year. However, these changes will not appear in this year’s ACS or PEP data. Any
changes you submit that become effective after January 1 will be reflected in the
following year’s ACS and PEP data.
March 1 – You must submit changes by this date if you wish them to be included in this
year’s ACS and PEP data. Changes reported by March 1 will also be included in the
BAS shapefiles for the next BAS year.
May 31 – This is the deadline for changes to be submitted for the current BAS year.
Changes received between March 2 and May 31 will be reflected in the shapefiles for
the next BAS year. However, they will not appear in this year’s ACS or PEP data.

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CHAPTER 1:
A.

DIGITAL BAS REQUIREMENTS

Digital BAS Participation Requirements:
1. All participants must have the ability to edit a Census Bureau shapefile1. The
Census Bureau requires that entities update Census Bureau shapefiles with
boundary and feature changes, rather than submitting a shapefile from a local
Geographic Information System (GIS).
2. All participants must provide current information for the BAS point of contact,
the person updating the shapefiles, and the highest elected official (HEO) for
the entity.
3. All participants must provide legal documentation numbers and effective
dates for all legal boundary changes (annexations and deannexations).
4. Each non-legal boundary correction must contain proper update
documentation according to boundary correction guidelines listed below, or
the Census Bureau will not make the correction for this BAS cycle.
5. All participants must use the SWIM to submit their changes to the Census
Bureau. Due to security requirements, we cannot accept submissions via
FTP, email or any protocol other than the SWIM site.

BAS Informational and Tutorial Videos
The Census Bureau created training videos to give BAS participants detailed
instructions and information on how to report and submit BAS changes. These videos
are available on the BAS website at:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_videos.html
If there are any questions or concerns about the participation requirements, contact the
Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or geo.bas@census.gov.

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 w ide 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. There
should be no problem w hen importing these shapefiles into local GIS softw are. How ever, if the GIS softw are does
not contain a shapefile translator, contact the Census Bureau for further ins tructions at 301-763-1099 or e-mail
geo.bas@census.gov.

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CHAPTER 2:

TOPOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SPATIAL
ACCURACY

The Geography Division of the Census Bureau is responsible for developing geographic
applications and executing related activities needed to support the Census Bureau in
collecting and disseminating census data. For more than twenty years, the Census
Bureau’s Master Address File and Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and
Reference (MAF/TIGER) System has been a critical resource for supporting the
Census Bureau Geographic Partnership Programs.
The following section will describe how the Census Bureau uses a topologically
integrated system and how this differs from traditional GIS systems, which use separate
layers of data.

A.

Topological Relationships in MAF/TIGER

At the Census Bureau, we describe topology as the relationship between different levels
of geography. MAF/TIGER is a geographic database in which the topological structures
define the location, connection, and relationships of streets, rivers, railroads, and other
features. These topological structures help define the geographic entities for which the
Census Bureau tabulates data.
Instead of having a separate layer for each feature class (roads, boundaries, etc.) all
MAF/TIGER information is stored in one layer or file. See Examples 1 and 2 for
samples of topologically integrated files in MAF/TIGER.

Example 1: This example shows how a road in MAF/TIGER can also represent a block boundary,
place boundary and a school district boundary.

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Example 2: This example shows the topological integration of four different feature classes into
one layer. One road feature represents not only a road, but also a block boundary, place
boundary, and a school district boundary.

GIS and Spatial Accuracy
In a GIS, feature classes are often not topologically integrated: they are separated into
individual layers. When you overlay these layers in a GIS, there may be boundary
misalignments due to the nature of the data. These non-topologically integrated layers
could cause issues in MAF/TIGER. Examples 3 and 4 show how files that are not
topologically integrated might appear in a GIS when overlaid.

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Example 3: This example shows an overlay of four different feature classes. Notice how the
topological relationship is compromised. The block, place, and school district boundaries, which
are supposed to follow the road feature, are no longer aligned with the road in several locations.

Example 4: This example shows a situation where a local GIS place bounda ry does not follow a
road feature. Assuming that the boundary follows the road feature, changing the Census Bureau
place boundary to match the local file exactly and become misaligned (see arrows) would dissolve
the topological relationship in MAF/TIGER.

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The spatial differences between local GIS data and the Census Bureau’s topologically
integrated file are often very small (less than ten feet) and can create boundary-tofeature relationship issues for the Census Bureau. Section 5.8 provides instructions on
how to review digital submissions for small spatial boundary corrections. It also lists
some of the potential consequences of making spatial boundary corrections that
dissolve the topological relationships present in MAF/TIGER. You may find examples of
suggested methods for correctly making boundary changes in Appendices B and C.

Census Bureau Topology Training Video
The Census Bureau created a video on the subject of topology and why topology is
important to the BAS. For more information, please go to
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/videos/digitalproctopo.html where you can
watch the video.

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CHAPTER 3:

CENSUS BUREAU PROVIDED SHAPEFILES

Please download shapefiles from the website BAS website at:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas.html in order to review your boundaries
and submit changes.
The Census Bureau provides entity layers in ESRI shapefile format for download via the
BAS website. Regardless of the number of geographic entity polygon based shapefiles
each participant downloads and edits, there is only one shapefile for the linear feature
network for each county. See Table 1 for the names of the shapefiles.
BAS Shapefile Naming Conventions
Geographic Entity Type

Shapefile Naming Convention

County

PVS_15_v2_county_.shp

Minor Civil Division

PVS_15_v2_mcd_.shp

Incorporated Place

PVS_15_v2_place_.shp

Consolidated City

PVS_15_v2_concity_.shp

Edges (Roads, Rail, Hydro, etc.)

PVS_15_v2_edges_.shp

Area Landmarks

PVS_15_v2_arealm_.shp

Point Landmarks

PVS_15_v2_pointlm_.shp

Hydro Area

PVS_15_v2_water_.shp

Geographic Offsets / Corridors

PVS_15_v2_offset_.shp

Table 1: BAS Naming Conventions.

NOTE:  represents the two-digit state FIPS code and three-digit county FIPS code.

All shapefiles provided by the Census Bureau are in the following unprojected
geographic-based coordinate system:


Geographic Coordinate System – North American Datum 1983 (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

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CHAPTER 4:

CENSUS BUREAU GEOCODING

Geocoding is how the Census Bureau codes population to geographic entities . There
are two primary methods of geocoding used by the Census Bureau. Both of these
involve coding an address to a spatial polygon, but one uses Global Positioning System
(GPS) technology, while the other uses address ranges.
MAF structure point (MSP) geocoding: a field worker stands in front of a house or living
quarters, and records the physical location with a GPS device (Example 5). Usually, the
GPS point should fall very close to the front door of the house. However, since GPS
points were collected in the field, real-world obstacles like locked fences, poor satellite
reception, or even aggressive dogs might sometimes prevent the worker from gaining
access to the front door. In these circumstances, the worker may have to take the GPS
coordinate from the sidewalk or side of the road.

Example 5: MSP method of geocoding. Notice that it is occasionally not possible for the field
worker to go all the way to the front door, due to unforeseen circumstances, like the fence or the
dog shown above. Thus, the MSP (represented here by the red pins) can sometimes fall within the
road or the road right-of-way.

Address Range geocoding: when no MSP is available, the Census Bureau codes
houses and living quarters according to a potential range of addresses associated with
the adjacent stretch of road (Example 6).

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Example 6: Address Range method of geocoding. When it is not possible to collect an MSP,
houses are geocoded according to their placement along a range of potential addresses along
that road. Since the address has a relationship with the road, boundaries placed on front lot
lines will lead to mis-geocoding unless an offset flag is used.

While the two methods of geocoding differ greatly, both rely heavily on the integrated
nature of MAF/TIGER. These geocoding methods are affected by the way streets and
boundaries are represented in relation to one another. This interdependence between
streets, boundaries, and geocoding means that Census Bureau representations of legal
boundaries may sometimes differ from other representations (e.g., in local or state GIS).
This is especially true regarding geographic corridors and offsets that follow road right
of ways (or the front lot lines of parcels). In both of the examples above, delineating a
boundary along the front lot line will tend to increase the risk of incorrect geocoding. As
a result, using the road centerline as a boundary is the safer method.
When completing a BAS submission in which a road or road right-of-way is owned or
maintained by a place but the adjacent housing is not, the respondent should use the
centerline of the road (not the front lot-line) as the boundary whenever possible. If local
or state law requires the use of the front lot line boundary, the respondent must explicitly
designate the polygon(s) between the road centerline and the front-lot boundary as a
corridor or an offset (see Section 5.4 and 5.5 of this document for more details).

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CHAPTER 5:

UPDATING THE CENSUS BUREAU SHAPEFILES

Census Bureau shapefiles can be updated to reflect boundary and/or linear feature
changes that have occurred since the last BAS update. Please go to Appendices B
and C and watch the Digital BAS demonstration video series at
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/videos/digitalbasdemo.html for more
examples and sample demonstrations.
NOTE: If there are problems with the processing of returned files, the Census Bureau will email
a feedback document requesting clarification of any issues. If the problem cannot be resolved
before the project deadline, the changes in question will not be made during the current BAS.

A.

General File Setup Guidelines

After downloading the shapefiles from the PVS download page, follow these procedures
before beginning actual updates:


Open the downloaded .ZIP file to verify its contents.



Copy the shapefiles into a directory on a server/hard drive.



Open the shapefiles with GIS software.

Changing the Map Projection
Census Bureau files are in GCS NAD83 format and can be projected into any local
coordinate system/projection. Most GIS software packages will allow users to transform
file coordinate systems and projections. For example, if using ArcView to update files,
activate and utilize ArcView’s Projection Utility Wizard extension. If using ArcGIS, use
its Project tool in ArcToolbox. MAF/TIGER shapefile extracts contain defined
projection information in the *.prj file. ArcView and ArcGIS access the *.prj file for
projection information so there is no need to define these parameters before changing
the file coordinate systems.
When updates are complete, participants may submit the boundary shapefile using any
local coordinate system/projection if the shapefile contains a .prj file or spatial reference
materials such as metadata.

Boundary Changes
In order to update MAF/TIGER, participants must create a separate change polygon
layer for each updated entity type (county, MCD, place). Please create change
polygons in relation to the current MAF/TIGER boundary.
Appendices B and C provide two examples for creating annexation, deannexation,
boundary correction, new entity, geographic corridor, and geographic offset change
polygons. Review any boundary change polygons before submitting them
(Section 5.8).
If you need additional shapefiles, please contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651
or geo.bas@census.gov.

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5.1

Annexations and Deannexations

The Census Bureau will accept annexations and deannexations from counties, MCDs,
and incorporated places. Each annexation or deannexation change polygon must have
the required attributes and corresponding change type populated, as seen in Table 2.
The Census Bureau will snap any annexation or deannexation to a MAF/TIGER feature
when it exists within thirty feet of that feature.
NOTE: Enter the name of the jurisdiction annexing or deannexing the area in the NAME field.

Annexations and Deannexations
DOCU

AREA

NAME

CHNG_TY PE

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

(Not Required
in GA)

(Required
in GA)

Annexation

X

X(‘A’)

X

X

X

* See
Note

Deannexation

X

X(‘D’)

X

X

X

* See
Note

RELATE

Table 2: Annexations and Deannexations (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

NOTE: Area in acres is required for Georgia, and requested for all other areas.

5.2

Boundary Corrections

The Census Bureau will also accept specific boundary corrections from counties,
MCDs, and incorporated places. As with annexations and deannexations, the
participant must create individual change polygons for each boundary correction. Each
boundary correction must also have the required attributes and corresponding change
type populated, as seen in Table 3, or the Census Bureau will reject them.
NOTE: Enter the name of the jurisdiction the boundary correction is for in the NAME field.

Boundary Corrections

Boundary
Correction
(Add Area)
Boundary
Correction
(Remove
Area)

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

AREA

RELATE

X

X(‘B’)

X(‘IN’)

X

X(‘B’)

X(‘OUT’)

Table 3: Boundary Corrections (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

The Census Bureau uses a topologically integrated database. As a result, the Census
Bureau cannot process all types of boundary corrections for inclusion in MAF/TIGER.
The following are types of boundary corrections that the Census Bureau will accept,
process, and update or reject during the current BAS.
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The Census Bureau will accept and process properly documented boundary
corrections during the current BAS cycle that spatially interact with (abut) other BAS
legal changes (annexation, deannexation, corridor, offset) and meet both of the
following two conditions:


In situations where the existing boundary has been digitized incorrectly or
appears in the incorrect location due to Census Bureau activities.



where the overall shape of the geographic entity is maintained and no feature-toboundary relationships are dissolved.

The Census Bureau will reject boundary corrections:


along county boundaries unless there is a written agreement between the two
counties that documents the correct location of the boundary.



between adjacent incorporated places or adjacent MCDs unless the county
submitting the changes is part of a consolidated county agreement or there is a
written agreement between the two incorporated places or MCDs.



that dissolves boundary-to-feature relationships (roads, rivers, railroads, etc.) if
the difference is less than thirty feet.



which are greater than one square mile, or not contiguous with the rest of the
entity boundary. These boundary corrections may be part of annexations that
were never reported to the Census Bureau. If they are previously unreported
boundary changes, please include effective dates and legal documentation
numbers for these changes.



that have a width of less than thirty feet over the entire polygon.

NOTE: Remember that the Census Bureau will snap any entity boundary correction to a
MAF/TIGER feature when it exists within thirty feet of that feature.

5.3

New Incorporations

County participants may submit new incorporations for incorporated places and MCDs
through Digital BAS. As with other change types, an individual change polygon must be
created for each new incorporation and possess the required attributes and the
corresponding change type field must be populated (see Table 4).
NOTE: Enter the name of the new jurisdiction in the NAME field. For required documentation
for new incorporations, contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or geo.bas@census.gov.

New Incorporations

New
Incorporation

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

X

X(‘E’)

X

X

X

AREA

RELATE

Table 4: New Incorporations (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

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5.4

Disincorporations

County participants may submit disincorporations through Digital BAS. As with other
change types, an individual change polygon for each disincorporation and must possess
the required attributes and the corresponding change type must be populated.
Disincorporations

Disincorporation

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

X

X(‘X’)

X

X

X

AREA

RELATE

Table 5: Disincorporations (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

5.5

Geographic Corridors

The Census Bureau sometimes geocode addresses based on the street centerline. If
the geocoding of these addresses would result in the assignment of population to the
incorrect geographic entity, participants should create a geographic corridor.
A geographic corridor is an area that includes only the road right-of-way and does not
contain any structures addressed to either side of the street. Example 7 shows a
corridor created where the incorporated place owns the right-of-way but the housing
units are not included in the incorporated place (shown in color).
Example 8 shows that the right-of-way belongs in the unincorporated area, while the
housing units are included in the incorporated place (shown in color). This is important
for some cities because they are portraying that the city is not responsible for road
maintenance. This is not relevant for Census Bureau tabulations and is not easy to
depict in the MAF/TIGER. This type of corridor should not be included in a BAS
response.

Example 7

Example 8

The Census Bureau will accept new geographic corridors. Please create individual
change polygons for each new geographic corridor. Each change polygon must have
the required attributes and corresponding change type populated, as seen in Table 6.
In the NAME field, enter the name of the jurisdiction. In the RELATE field, indicate
whether the change is adding IN or taking OUT (removing) the corridor.

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Geographic Corridors
NAME

CHNG_TYPE

X

X(‘C’)

Geographic
Corridor

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

AREA

RELATE
X(’IN’, ‘OUT’)

Table 6: Geographic Corridors (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

5.6

Geographic Offsets

A geographic offset is an area claimed by a geographic entity that is only on one side
of a road and does not include structures addressed to that side of the road.
The Census Bureau is aware that many governments base their legal boundaries on
cadastral (parcel-based) right-of-way mapping. The Census Bureau bases their maps
on spatial data that is topologically integrated. This makes the maintenance of
geographic offsets inefficient. Snapping an entity boundary to the centerline wherever
applicable will help to establish more accurate population counts. If a boundary is the
front lot line, the Census Bureau strongly prefers that the boundary be snapped to the
road. If a boundary is at the rear of a lot, then please depict it as such. Example 9
depicts a cadastral (parcel-based) boundary map and Example 10 shows how the
boundary should be reported when sent to the Census Bureau.

Example 9

Example 10

The Census Bureau will accept new geographic offsets. Please create individual
change polygons for each new geographic offset. Each change polygon must have the
required attributes and corresponding change type populated, as seen in Table 7. In
the NAME field, enter the name of the jurisdiction. In the RELATE field, indicate
whether the change is adding IN or taking OUT (removing) the area represented as an
offset.
Geographic Offsets

Geographic
Offset

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

X

X(‘F’)

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

AREA

RELATE
X(’IN’,
‘OUT’)

Table 7: Geographic Offsets (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

The Census Bureau has included an “offset” shapefile in the BAS materials
(PVS_15_v2_offset_.shp), so that your jurisdiction can be checked for any
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existing corridors or offsets. While the Census Bureau prefers that you do not create
new offsets, (see above), this information can be helpful in determining if current
boundaries are correct.

Linear Feature Updates
5.7

Adding, Deleting, Renaming, and Recoding Linear Features

The Census Bureau will accept linear feature modifications when needed. Please
submit linear feature updates in a separate linear feature update layer. Each linear
feature update must have the required attributes and corresponding change type
populated, as seen in Table 8. In the TLID field, preserve the existing TLID for the
feature.
Linear Feature Updates
CHNG_TYPE

TLID

Add Feature

X(‘AL’)

Delete Feature

X(‘DL’)

X

Rename Feature

X(‘CA’)

X

Recode Feature

X(‘CA’)

X

FULLNAME

MTFCC

X

X

X
X

Table 8: Linear Feature Updates (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

NOTE: A list of MTFCC codes can be found in Appendix D.

5.8

Linear Feature Update Guidelines



If a road, subdivision, etc. is missing from the Census Bureau’s feature network,
add the feature(s) and provide the name and MTFCC.



If a feature that does not exist is in the Census Bureau’s feature network, delete
the feature.



If a feature is in the incorrect location in the Census Bureau’s feature network,
delete the feature and re-add it in the correct location. Only do this if the feature
is very far off or in the wrong position relative to boundaries or other features.

5.9

Address Range Updates

The Census Bureau accepts address range data as part of the linear feature update
layer. As with other linear feature updates, address ranges must have the required
attributes and corresponding change type populated. As existing address ranges
cannot be shown in our outgoing shapefiles, we recommend that participants generally
only add address ranges to new features.

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Address Ranges
CHNG_TYPE
Address
Ranges

FULLNAME

MTFCC

LTOADD

RTOADD

X

X

X(‘CA’)

LFROMADD RFROMADD
X

X

Table 9: Address Ranges (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

5.10 Area Landmarks, Hydro Areas, and Point Landmarks
1. Area Landmark / Hydro Area Updates
The Census Bureau accepts updates to area landmarks and hydro areas in a
similar manner to legal boundary changes. However, area landmarks and hydro
areas are not legal entities, so no documentation or effective dates are required.
In order to submit area landmark and hydro area updates, create a separate
change polygon layer. Updates to area landmarks and hydro areas include:


boundary corrections (adding and removing area)



creating a new area landmark or hydro area



removing an area landmark or hydro area



name changes

Example 11: This example shows a boundary correction to Park A.

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Each area landmark or hydro area update must have the required attributes and
corresponding change type populated. In the AREAID field, preserve the existing
AREAID for the feature.
Landmarks and Hydro Areas
FULLNAME

CHNG_TYPE

RELATE

X

X(‘B’)

X(‘IN’)

X

X(‘B’)

X(‘OUT’)

Boundary Correction
(Add Area)
Boundary Correction
(Remove Area)
Delete Landmark

MTFCC

AREAID
X
X

X(‘D’)

X
X

Change Landmark
Name

X

X(‘G’)

New Landmark

X

X(‘E’)

X

Table 10: Landmarks and Hydro Areas (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

The examples in Appendices B and C provide information on how to create change
polygons. While the sample processes are written for legal boundary changes, the
same methods apply for creating change polygons for area landmarks and hydro areas.
When adding new area landmarks or hydro areas, only add the following types of areas:


water bodies



glaciers



airports



cemeteries



golf courses



parks

The Census Bureau cannot add other types of areas at this time (although some may
already exist in MAF/TIGER). The following are acceptable MTFCC codes for new area
landmarks or hydro areas:
Area Landmark MTFCC Codes
MTFCC

Description

H2030

Lake/Pond

H2040

Reservoir

H2041

Treatment Pond

H2051

Bay/Estuary/Gulf/Sound

H2081

Glacier

C3023

Island

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MTFCC

Description

K1231

Hospital/Hospice/Urgent Care Facility

K1235

Juvenile Institution

K1236

Local Jail or Detention Center

K1237

Federal Penitentiary, State Prison, or Prison Farm

K2110

Military Installation

K2180

Park

K2181

National Park Service Land

K2182

National Forest or Other Federal Land

K2183

Tribal Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2184

State Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2185

Regional Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2186

County Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2187

County Subdivision Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2188

Incorporated Place Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2189

Private Park, Forest, or Recreation Area

K2190

Other Park, Forest, or Recreation Area (quasi-public, independent
park, commission, etc.)

K2424

Marina

K2540

University or College

K2457

Airport – Area Representation

K2561

Golf Course

K2582

Cemetery
Table 11: Landmark Area MTFCC Codes.

The Census Bureau prioritizes boundary changes to legal areas in order to meet ACS,
PEP, and BAS deadlines. Therefore, there may be delays in incorporating area
landmark and hydrographic area changes to MAF/TIGER. Please do not resubmit any
changes that were sent during the previous year’s BAS. We are working on
incorporating those changes, and they will be reflected in the next year’s BAS materials.

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2. Point Landmark Updates
The Census Bureau accepts updates to point landmarks. Please submit point landmark
updates as a separate point landmark update layer. Updates to point landmarks
include:


adding a new point landmark



deleting an existing point landmark



renaming a point landmark

Each point landmark update must have the required attributes and corresponding
change type populated. In the POINTID field, preserve the existing POINTID for the
feature.
Point Landmarks
FULLNAME

CHNG_TYPE

MTFCC

X

X(‘E’)

X

New Point Landmark
Delete Point Landmark
Change Name

X

POINTID

X(‘D’)

X

X(‘G’)

X

Table 12: Point Landmarks (Note: ‘X’ = Required Field).

The Census Bureau cannot make the following point landmark changes due to Title 13
privacy concerns. Do not include any of the following types of landmarks in the point
landmark changes file.
Restricted MTFCCs
MTFCC Description
K1100
K1121
K1122
K1223
K1226
K1227
K1228
K1229
K1232
K1233
K1234
K1235
K1241
K1251
K1299
K2100

Housing Unit Location
Apartment Building or Complex
Rooming or Boarding House
Trailer Court or Mobile Home Park
Housing Facility/Dormitory for Workers
Hotel, Motel, Resort, Spa, Hostel, YMCA, or YWCA
Campground
Shelter or Mission
Halfway House/Group Home
Nursing Home, Retirement Home, or Home for the Aged
County Home or Poor Farm
Juvenile Institution
Sorority, Fraternity, or College Dormitory
Military Group Quarters
Other Group Quarters Location
Governmental

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K2197
K2300
K2361
K2362
K2363
K2364
K2366
K2464
K2500
K2564

Mixed Use/Other Non-residential
Commercial Workplace
Shopping Center or Major Retail Center
Industrial Building or Industrial Park
Office Building or Office Park
Farm/Vineyard/Winery/Orchard
Other Employment Center
Marina
Other Workplace
Amusement Center
Table 13: Restricted MTFCCs.

The Census Bureau also cannot delete or modify any point landmarks imported from
the USGS GNIS database. Changes submitted for the following types of landmarks
may be left unchanged:


K2451 (Airport)



K2582 (Cemetery)



C3022 (Summit or Pillar)



C3081 (Locale or Populated Place)



C3061 (Cul-de-sacs)

The Census Bureau prioritizes boundary changes to legal areas in order to meet ACS,
PEP, and BAS deadlines. Therefore, there may be delays in incorporating point
landmark changes to MAF/TIGER. Please do not resubmit any changes that were sent
during the previous year’s BAS. We are working on incorporating those changes, and
they will be reflected in the next year’s BAS materials.

Reviewing Changes to the Census Bureau Shapefiles
Please review all changes to ensure that they are intentional and correct. The video
series “Introduction to the Digital BAS” can be found on the web at:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/videos/introdigitalbas.html. The videos
have information on many of the topics below.

5.11 Boundary-to-Feature Relationships
Please review all changes to ensure that the correct boundary-to-feature relationships
are being created or maintained. The Census Bureau is aware that many governments
base their legal boundaries on cadastral (parcel-based) right-of-way mapping; however,
the Census Bureau bases maps on spatial data that is topologically integrated.
Therefore, snap boundaries to street centerlines (or rivers, railroads, etc.) wherever
applicable. This will help establish a more accurate population count for entities.

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The following examples show situations where boundary changes should be snapped to
existing linear features. The Census Bureau will snap boundary changes to any linear
feature within thirty feet.

Example 12: These boundary corrections are not snapped to existing linear features in
MAF/TIGER. Both boundary corrections should be snapped to centerlines or population may be
assigned to incorrect entities.

Example 13: This is an example of an annexation created without snapping to existing centerlines
in MAF/TIGER. Unless the boundary is snapped to centerlines, some of the population may be
assigned to an incorrect entity.

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The Census Bureau will not accept boundary corrections that dissolve the current
relationship between an existing boundary and linear feature, without specific instruction
that the relationship is incorrect. The Census Bureau will not incorporate any boundary
corrections that create thirty feet or less of gap or overlap between the existing linear
feature and boundary into MAF/TIGER. See below for examples of changes that will
not be accepted.

Example 14: Small spatial boundary corrections would dissolve the relationship with the river.
These boundary corrections will not be incorporated into MAF/TIGER.

Example 15: Small spatial boundary corrections would dissolve the boundary-to-feature
relationship with multiple streets. Incorporating these changes would affect the population
counts for the area. Therefore, the Census Bureau will not accept these small boundary
corrections.

5.12 Large Boundary Corrections
The Census Bureau will not accept large boundary corrections to an entity without the
appropriate legal documentation numbers and effective dates. These large boundary
corrections may be legal boundary changes that occurred in the past and were never

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reported to the Census Bureau. Please submit the appropriate legal documentation
number and effective date so that the changes may be incorporated into MAF/TIGER.

Example 16: Without the appropriate documentation, the Census Bureau will not accept large
boundary corrections.

NOTE: There may be a few instances when large boundary corrections need to be made
because of incorrect digitizing or where the boundary appears in the incorrect location due to
other Census Bureau activities.

5.13 Including Required Attribute Information
It is important to review each change polygon and confirm that the correct attribute
information is included. Without the correct attribute information, the Census Bureau
will be unable to process and incorporate the changes into MAF/TIGER. See Section
5.7 for the required attribute information and corresponding change type codes.

5.14 Including Appropriate Metadata (Projection Information)
It is important that the appropriate projection information is included. Each update layer
submitted should contain a *.prj file so that the Census Bureau can convert the
projection back to GCS_NAD83. If the GIS being used cannot create a *.prj file, include
the projection information in metadata. This is critical for the Census Bureau to be able
to process the file and incorporate the updates into MAF/TIGER.

5.15 Linear Feature Updates
Please review linear feature changes to ensure that they align with the features
currently in MAF/TIGER.

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If linear feature changes do not align with current MAF/TIGER linear features, the
Census Bureau may not incorporate the submitted updates.

Example 17: The image on the left shows new road features added to the existing feature network,
but not connected to existing road features. The image on the right shows the correction
connecting the new roads to the existing road features.

Additional Review Information
The Census Bureau will not make any boundary change that affects adjacent legal
entities without the appropriate documentation. Please review any change polygons
that affect adjacent entities to determine if they are intentional, legal changes.
NOTE: Census Bureau will snap any annexation, deannexation, or boundary correction to a
MAF/TIGER feature when it exists within thirty feet of that feature. This helps maintain the
boundary-to-feature relationships in MAF/TIGER and will ensure correct housing tabulation
counts for entities.

5.16 Submitting Digital Data
If a participant is reporting changes to the BAS, the Census Bureau requires that each
participant submit at least one shapefile (change polygons). The total number of layers
submitted depends on what types of changes are reported. The following is a list of
change files that may need to be submitted:
1. Change Polygon Layers (County, Minor Civil Division, Incorporated Place, and
Consolidated City)


These layers consist of the changes that the Census Bureau needs to make to
entities.



A layer of change polygons should be created for each level of geography
(county, MCD, place, etc.) that changes are being submitted for.

2. Whole Modified Entity Layer (County, Minor Civil Division, Incorporated Place, and
Consolidated City)


These layers should only contain the complete and current boundary for the
entity being updated.

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

A whole entity layer should be created for each level of geography that change
polygons are being created for.

3. Local government feature network and boundary layers (optional)


These layers will help the Census Bureau resolve any questionable change
polygons and establish the correct boundary-to-feature relationships.

4. Feature Update Layer (only if there are feature (road, river, railroad, etc.) additions,
deletions, name changes, recodes, or address range updates)


Include a linear feature update layer with only feature segments
requiring a correction.

5. Area / Hydro Landmark Layer


Only if there are area and/or hydro landmark updates.

6. Point Landmark Layer


Only if there is point landmark updates.
o BAS Contact Text File (if the BAS point of contact (the person that
receives the BAS Annual Response Email) has changed)
o This can be updated online at:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_ar_form.html
o This update should include this information:


First Name:



Last Name:



Department:



Position:



Shipping Address:



City:



State:



ZIP Code:



Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx



FAX: xxx-xxx-xxxx



Email:



HEO Term Expires: xx/xxxx



HEO Term Length: x years

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7. Change Polygon Naming Conventions
The following table provides change polygon naming conventions for county
submissions, county subdivisions, incorporated places, and consolidated cities.
Change Polygons
Participant
County
County
County
Minor Civil
Division
Incorporated
Place
Consolidated City

Changes Submitted
For:
County
Minor Civil Division
Incorporated Place

Shape file Naming Conventions
bas16__changes_county
bas16__changes_cousub
bas16__changes_incplace

Minor Civil Division

bas16__changes_cousub

Incorporated Place

bas16__changes_incplace

Consolidated City

bas16__changes_concity

Table 14: The change polygon layer naming conventions:  represents your BAS entity ID,
found
on
the
BAS
Annual Response
Email or online
from this link:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_codes.html.

8. Whole Entity Polygon Naming Conventions
The following table provides the whole entity polygon naming conventions for
consolidated county submissions, county subdivisions, incorporated places, and
consolidated cities.
Whole Entity Polygons
Participant:

Changes Submitted
For:

Shapefile Naming Conventions

County

County

bas16__WholeEntity_county

County

Minor Civil Division

bas16__WholeEntity_cousub

County

Incorporated Place

bas16__WholeEntity_incplace

Minor Civil Division

bas16__WholeEntity_cousub

Incorporated Place

bas16__WholeEntity_incplace

Consolidated City

bas16__WholeEntity_concity

Minor Civil
Division
Incorporated
Place
Consolidated City

Table 15: The whole entity polygon layer naming conventions:  represents your BAS
entity ID, found on the BAS Annual Response Email or online from this link:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_codes .html.

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9. Linear Feature, Area Landmark/Hydro Area, and Point Landmark Updates
The following table provides the update layer naming conventions for the edges, area
landmark, and point landmark update layers (not required).
Optional Files
Participant:

Changes Submitted
For:

Shapefile Naming Conventions

All Participants

Edges

bas16__LN_Changes

All Participants

Area / Hydro
Landmarks

bas16__Alndk_Changes

All Participants

Point Landmarks

bas16__Plndk_Changes

Table 16: The naming conventions for the edges, area landmark, and point landmark update
layers:  represents your BAS entity ID found on the BAS Annual Response Email or
online from this link: http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_codes.htm.l

5.17 Compressing the Digital Files
Compress ALL update materials (including change polygon shapefiles, whole entity
shapefiles, linear feature updates, landmark updates, local government feature network
and boundary layers, and the text or other file with your updated BAS contact
information).
1. Navigate to the directory with the shapefiles.
NOTE: Centerline files or any additional information that may be helpful for Census to process
your file is optional. One example where this would be helpful is if a particular polygon was not
snapped to a river or road because the boundary does not follow the river or road.

2. Select all files and right click on the selection.
3. Select WinZip, and then Add to Zip file.

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Example 18: Selecting and zipping return files.

NOTE: Versions of WinZip may vary so the interface may be slightly different. Software other
than WinZip may be used to zip the return files.

a)

In the Add window, in the Add to archive field, type the filename in the
proper naming convention: bas__return and then click
Add.

NOTE: Look for the basID numbers on the BAS Annual Response Email or online from this link:
http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_codes.html.

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Example 19: Naming the Zip File.

b)

Check the folder where the zip file was saved to verify that it was
created properly. If the zip file is correct, then the return file is ready
for submission.

NOTE: If you require assistance in preparing or zipping the BAS return files, please call the
Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651.

5.18 Submitting Digital Files via SWIM
The SWIM is a new one-stop location for submitting your geographic program files to
the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau now requires that all BAS participants use the
Census Bureau’s SWIM for submitting update materials.
Do not send your submission as an email attachment, as we cannot accept them due to
the security policy at the Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau will email the BAS contact a SWIM registration token and digital
submission instructions five days after the BAS contact responds to the BAS Annual
Response indicating that they have changes to report. To respond online, please fill out
the online form at http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_ar_form.html. The
five-day waiting period will give the Census Bureau staff time to update the BAS contact
record if necessary so that the email reaches the right person.
This token is good for one personal account within the SWIM. Once you have
registered for an account in SWIM, you will no longer need the token to login into the
system. If you require additional individual SWIM accounts within your organization,
please contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or email geo.bas@census.gov.

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Moreover, if you are a participant for other Census Bureau geographic programs, you
only need one SWIM account to submit files for all geographic programs.
At this time, the SWIM only accepts ZIP files. Please zip all your update materials (e.g.,
spatial updates and other relevant update documents) into one ZIP file for your entity’s
submission, and follow the instructions listed below:
1. In a web browser, go to https://respond.census.gov/swim.
2. Login:
a. New Users: You must have a registration token to create a new account.
(Please see above.) Once you have your token, please sign-up by
clicking the ‘Register Account’ button. Registration is self-serve, but does
require the new user to enter a registration token to validate their rights to
the system
b. Existing Users: If you already have a registered account from a previous
BAS year, please login with your user credentials.

Example 20: SWIM Account Registration

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Example 21: SWIM Login Window

3. If you have submitted files before, the SWIM lists them on the startup screen
upon login. Click 'Start New Upload' to continue.

Example 22: Welcome Screen with Upload History.

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4. On the next screen, select the BAS option as the geographic partnership
program, and click ‘Next’ to continue.

Example 23: Geographic Partnership Program Selection Window .

5. On this screen, you will select a geographic level. This is the geography type of
your agency (e.g., if you are a county government submitting data, select county.
If an incorporated place, then select place...etc.). Click 'Next' to continue.

Example 24: Geographic Level Selection Window

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6. Use the drop-down selectors to find the name of your geographic entity. These
options dynamically update based on the geography type selected from the
previous screen. Click ‘Next’ to continue.

Example 25: Geographic Entity Selection Window.

7. On the file upload screen, please click on the ‘+ Add file', and a file browser
dialog will appear.

Example 26: File Upload Screen.

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8. In the file browser dialog box, select the ZIP file you would like to upload. Please
be aware that the SWIM website only accepts ZIP files. Click 'Open' to continue.

Example 27: File Browser Dialog Box.

9. At this time, you may enter any comments that you wish to include with your file.
Click 'Next' to upload your submission.

Example 28: Entering Comments into the File Upload Window.

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10. The final screen will be a ‘thank you’ screen confirming receipt of your file
submission. If you do not see this screen, or you encounter any issues during
this upload process, please contact the Census Bureau.

Example 29: Thank You Screen.

5.19 Additional Information
The Census Bureau recommends using Federal Information Processing Standards
(FIPS) codes to identify entities such as counties, minor civil divisions, and incorporated
places. Using a standard coding scheme facilitates the digital exchange of data.
The Census Bureau includes these codes are in the BAS shapefiles. Online, you can
find the codes at http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/download_data.htm. If there are
any questions or problems, contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or
geo.bas@census.gov.

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APPENDICES

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APPENDIX A Data Dictionary
County and Equivalent Areas Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE 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

FUNCSTAT

1

String

Functional status

CLASSFP

2

String

FIPS 55 class code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

1

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L –
Local Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

10

Double

Area of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage of the data

Table A-1: County and Equivalent Areas Shapefile .

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County Subdivisions Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS state code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS county code

COUSUBFP

5

String

FIPS 55 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

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

1

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L –
Local Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

10

Double

Area of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage of the data

Table A-2: County Subdivision Shapefile .

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Incorporated Place Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE 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 and entity

PARTFLG

1

String

Indicates if only part of a feature is represented

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

1

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L –
Local Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

10

Double

Area of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage of the data

Table A-3: Incorporated Place Shapefile .

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Page A-3

Consolidated City Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS state code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS county code

CONCITYFP

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

PARTFLG

1

String

Indicates if only part of a feature is represented

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

1

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L –
Local Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

4

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

10

Double

Acreage of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

2

String

Vintage of the data

Table A-4: Consolidated City Shapefile.

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Page A-4

Edges Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS state code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS county code

TLID

10

Double

Permanent edge ID

TFIDL

10

Double

Permanent face ID (left)

TFIDR

10

Double

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

40

String

Decoded feature name with abbreviated qualifier,
direction, and feature type

SMID

22

String

Spatial Theta ID

SMIDTYPE

1

String

SMIDTYPE code

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

BBSP_2020

1

String

New BBSP flag

CHNG_TYPE

4

String

Type of linear feature update

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

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

EXTTYP

1

Char

Extension type

MTUPDATE

10

Date

Date of last update to the edge

Table A-5: Edges Shapefile.

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Page A-5

Area Landmark Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE 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

Area landmark name

PARTFLG

1

String

Indicates if only part of a feature is represented

AREAID

22

String

Object ID

ANSICODE

8

String

ANSI code for area landmarks

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area landmark update

EFF_DATE

8

Date

Effective date or vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

BAG

3

String

Block area grouping

Table A-6: Area Landmark Shapefile.

Hydro Area Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS state code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS county code

ANSICODE

8

String

ANSI code for hydrography area

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Hydro landmark name

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of hydro area update

HYDROID

22

String

Object ID

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

Table A-7: Hydro Area Shapefile.

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Page A-6

Point Landmark Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS state code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS county code

POINTID

22

String

Object ID

ANSICODE

8

String

ANSI code for point landmarks

MTFCC

5

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Point landmark name

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of point landmark update

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

Table A-8: Point Landmark Shapefile.

Geographic Offset Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

20

Integer

Permanent Face ID

STATEFP

2

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

3

String

FIPS County Code

OFFSET

1

String

Geographic Offset / Corridor Flag

ADDEXCLUDE

1

String

Address Exclusion Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

2

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

8

Date

Effective date or vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

Table A-9: Geographic Offset Shapefile.

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APPENDIX B 2016 Digital Example Process 1
B1.

Required Census Bureau Shapefiles


When downloading shapefiles for the 2016 BAS, shapefiles will begin with
the prefix PVS (e.g., PVS_15_v2_edges_.shp).

NOTE: Contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or geo.bas@census.gov with any
questions.

Copy the data to a hard drive/server, and unzip the data to ensure that the
correct data was downloaded. For an incorporated place, these layers are
critical:


PVS_15_v2_place_.shp



PVS_15_v2_edges_.shp

NOTE:  represents the two-digit state code and three-digit county code.

The shapefiles should include the home county/counties as well as all adjacent
counties (if necessary).
NOTE: The Census Bureau suggests that participants make an extra copy of the data as an
emergency backup.

B2.

Local Data
The minimum data necessary is a jurisdiction polygon shapefile showing only the
outer boundary or boundaries. Local parcel files are not acceptable for this
method. If each jurisdiction’s boundaries are contiguous, the file should contain
only one polygon for each entity; if some of the entities within the jurisdiction are
non-contiguous, they may be saved as a multi-part polygon or consist of one
polygon for each disjointed part. Other local data layers that may be helpful if
available include centerline data, hydrological, railroad, or other linear feature
data, and imagery.

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B3.

Symbolizing Layers in ArcGIS
The following are suggestions for symbolizing Census data in ArcGIS.
For the Edges layer, symbolize the linear features by grouping like MTFCC
codes (codes sharing the same first character). See Table B-1:
Suggested MTFCC Symbolization
MTFCC 1st Character

Linear Feature Type

H

Hydrology

P

Non-Visible Feature
(boundary)

R

Railroad

S

Road

Symbol

Table B-1: MTFCC Types and Suggested Symbolization.

B.3.1

Symbolizing Geographic Areas
Symbolize the place layer using Fill Color of RGB (255,235,190) with no outline.

NOTE: County participants with many adjacent incorporated places may want to use different
colors to distinguish one place from another.

Example B-1: Suggested Map Symbolization.

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B4.

Extracting Incorporated Place or MCD Data from Census Shapefiles

NOTE: County participants submitting county boundary changes can skip this step. Use the
PVS_15_v2_county_ shapefile which only contains the county boundary.
Counties submitting for multiple incorporated places or MCDs skip ahead to Section
B.4.3.

B.4.1 Filtering the Data
1. In ArcMap, click Selection and then click Select by Attributes.
2. In the Select By Attributes window:


From the Layer dropdown, select PVS_15_v2_{place|mcd}_.



Double click “NAME”



Left click the = button



Click the Get Unique Values button



In the list, locate and double click the name of the entity. (It will appear in the
formula).



Click OK

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Example B-2: Filtering Data.

B.4.2 Exporting the Data to a New Shapefile
1. In the Table of Contents, right click the Incorporated Place or MCD layer,
select Data, and then click Export Data.
2. In the Export Data window:


From the Export dropdown, choose Selected Features.



In the Output feature class field, enter a location to save the shapefile.



Click OK.

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Example B-3: Export Data Window.

NOTE: If the incorporated place spans more than one county, it will need to be exported from
each county’s place shapefile and merged. Follow the instructions in Section B.5 if the
incorporated place needs to be merged, otherwise skip to Section B.6.

B.4.3 Merging Multipart Place Data
1. In ArcToolbox, double-click Data Management Tools, then double-click
General, and then double-click Merge.
2. In the Merge window:


Next to the Input Datasets field, click the arrow and select each layer. (Or
use the Browse button to the right of the field to find the layers.)



In the Output Dataset field, browse to and select a location to save the
shapefile.
o Name the shapefile Export_Output_Final or Merged, or anything
easy to find/remember.



Click OK.

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Example B-4: Finalizing the Merge Process.

B5.

Creating Change Polygons Using Symmetrical Difference

NOTE: If you do not have an ArcInfo license, you may have to use the Union operation rather
than the Symmetrical Difference operation. See Section 5 if this is the case.

1. In ArcToolbox, double-click Analysis Tools, then double-click Overlay, and
then double-click Symmetrical Difference.
2. In the Symmetrical Difference window:
 In the Input Features field, click the arrow (or browse) and select the layer
created in Section 3.
 In the Update Features field, click the arrow (or browse) and select the local
government boundary layer (your data).
 In the Output Feature Class field, browse to and select a location to save the
shapefile.
o Name the shapefile Differences_between_BAS_local,
Differences1, or anything easy to find/remember.
 Click OK.

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Example B-5: Finalizing the Symmetrical Difference Process.

NOTE: This process creates a layer that contains all of the differences between Census Bureau
and local boundaries. However, the Symmetrical Difference tool creates multipart
polygons that need to be broken up and individually coded.

3. Turn on Editing (using the Editing dropdown in the Editor toolbar). Select all of
the records in the layer that was created in the Symmetrical Difference step.
4. On the Advanced Editing toolbar, click the Explode tool
contain a separate record for each change.

. The layer will now

The created layer shows individual change polygons representing the differences
between the Census Bureau and local government entity boundaries. Please review
these differences and code them appropriately.
Skip to Section B.2.6, Reviewing and Attributing Change Polygons.
B6.

Creating Change Polygons Using Union

NOTE: Use this method if you are a county reporting for incorporated places or MCDs. Also,
use this method if you do not have an ArcInfo license.

1. In ArcToolbox, double-click Analysis Tools, then double-click Overlay, and
then double-click Union.
2. In the Union window:


In the Input Features field, click the arrow (or browse) and select
PVS_15_v2_{place|mcd}_, and the local incorporated place or
MCD layer.

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



In the Output Feature Class, browse to and select a location to save the
shapefile.
o Name the shapefile Export_Output_union, or Union, or anything easy
to find/remember.
Click OK.

Example B-6: Finalizing the Union Process.

The union operation will create records that contain differences as well as areas that are
in common between the Census Bureau and local government boundary layers.
The next step is selecting and deleting the areas in common between the Census
Bureau and local government boundary layers.
3. On the Editor toolbar, click Editor, and then click Start Editing.
4. If a Start Editing window opens, in the top pane, click to highlight the union
shapefile, and then click OK.

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Example B-7: Locating the Union Shapefile.

5. In ArcMap, in the Tools toolbar, click the Select Features

button.



Locate features on the map that the Census Bureau and the local government
layers have in common.



Select each feature individually, or click and hold the left mouse button and
drag a box to highlight the common features.



Press Delete.



Repeat these steps until only the features that have changed are left in the
map.

6. Once all of the areas in common have been removed from the union shapefile,
on the Editor toolbar, click Editor, and then click Save Edits.
7. Select all of the remaining records in the layer that was created in the Union step.
8. On the Advanced Editing toolbar, click the Explode tool
contain a separate record for each change.

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. The layer will now

Page B-9

The new layer shows individual change polygons representing the differences between
the Census Bureau and the local government’s representation of the boundaries.
Please review these differences make sure they are coded appropriately. Continue to
the next section for instructions on reviewing and coding change polygons.
B7.

Reviewing and Attributing Change Polygons

After the individual change polygons have been created, each must be reviewed and
appropriately coded. When reviewing the polygons, please refer to Section 5.6 in the
main part of this guide to look for polygons that should be deleted from your submission,
as well as those that should be snapped to nearby visible features to maintain
boundary-to-feature relationships.
B.7.1

Examples


These examples show very small sliver polygons that should be deleted
during review as they eliminate boundary-to-feature relationships with a river
(left) and a road (right). Furthermore, these boundary corrections also are not
located near legal changes or corridor/offset changes (type ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘C’, ‘F’), so
they should be removed from consideration.

Example B-8: Small Slivers That Should Be Deleted.

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Page B-10



These examples show polygons that should be snapped to roads (left) or
rivers (right)

Example B-9: Polygons That Should Be Snapped to Roads or Rivers.

B.7.2 Attribute Information
NOTE: All updates MUST be attributed.

To begin updating attributes


On the Editor Toolbar, click Editor, and then click Start Editing.

Annexations


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
annexation polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for an
annexation.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, AUTHTYPE, DOCU and EFF_DATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an annexation is A.

button and select the

Deannexations


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
deannexation polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a
deannexation.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, AUTHTYPE, DOCU and EFF_DATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an annexation is D.

button and select the

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Page B-11

Corridors


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a corridor.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for a corridor changes is C.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the change is adding corridor area to
the place or OUT if the change is removing corridor area.

button and select the corridor

Offsets


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for an offset.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an offset change is F.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the change is adding offset area to the
place or OUT if the change is removing offset area.

button and select the offset

o Boundary Corrections


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
boundary correction polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a boundary
correction:
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for a boundary correction is B.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the boundary correction is adding area
or OUT if the boundary correction is removing area.

button and select the

NOTE: If a county is reporting for adjacent incorporated places or MCDs, and a boundary
correction to one entity affects another, use RELATE = IN and NAME = . This is due to the fact that RELATE = OUT leaves a question as to whether
or not there should be a gap between the two entities.

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Page B-12

To finish updating attributes

B8.

Once all of the attribute changes have been made, in the ArcMap menu, click
Editor, and then click Stop Editing. (In the Save window, click Yes.)
Renaming and Finalizing Change Polygons

Renaming the shapefile
After creating and coding all change polygons, please rename the change polygon
layer prior to its submission to the Census Bureau. You must complete this
process for each level of geography (county, place, MCD) that has changes.

1. In ArcMap, open the ArcCatalog
tab.
2. In ArcCatalog, navigate to shapefile, right-click and select Rename.
3. Save the output shapefile in the proper naming convention:
bas16__changes_.
NOTE: You can find the basID numbers on the BAS Annual Response Email or online from this
link: http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_codes.html.
NOTE: See Section 5.7.4 for instructions on zipping updates.

Submitting the shapefile
The Census Bureau requires participants submit BAS return zip files using the
Census Bureau’s SWIM site. Please submit only the zip file. The SWIM is located
at https://respond.census.gov/swim. For instructions on how to use SWIM, you
can find them in Section 5.7.5 Submitting Digital Files via SWIM of the respondent
guide.

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Page B-13

APPENDIX C 2016 Digital Example Process 2
NOTE: This example uses an incorporated place. An MCD, county, or county reporting for
incorporated places and MCDs may use the same process.

C1. Required Census Bureau Shapefiles


When downloading shapefiles for the 2016 BAS, shapefiles will begin with the
prefix PVS (e.g., PVS_15_v2_edges_.shp).

NOTE: Contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or geo.bas@census.gov with any
questions.

Copy the data to a hard drive/server, and unzip the data to ensure that the
correct data was downloaded. For an incorporated place, these layers are
critical:


PVS_15_v2_place_.shp



PVS_15_v2_edges_.shp

NOTE:  represents the two-digit state code and three-digit county code.

The shapefiles should include the home county/counties as well as all adjacent
counties.
NOTE: Census suggests that participants make an extra copy of the data as an emergency
backup.

C2. Local Data
The minimum data necessary is a shapefile showing your jurisdiction boundary
or annexations and deannexations. Other local data layers that may be helpful (if
available) include centerline data, hydrological, railroad, or other linear feature
data, and imagery.

C3. Symbolizing Layers in ArcGIS
The following are suggestions for symbolizing Census Bureau data in ArcGIS.
For the Edges layer, symbolize the linear features by grouping like MTFCC codes
(codes sharing the same first character). See Table C-1:
Suggested MTFCC Symbolization

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Page C-1

MTFCC 1st
Character…

Linear Feature Type

H

Hydrology

P

Non-Visible Feature
(boundary)

R

Railroad

S

Road

Symbol

Table C-1: MTFCC Types and Suggested Symbolization.

C.3.1

Symbolizing Geographic Areas

Symbolize the place layer using Fill Color of RGB (255,235,190) with no outline.
NOTE: County participants with many adjacent incorporated places may want to use different
colors to distinguish one place from another.

Example C-1: Suggested Map Symbolization.

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Page C-2

C4. Creating and Splitting Linear Features
C.4.1 Creating new linear features
Some of the linear features needed to create change polygons may not exist in
MAF/TIGER. It may be necessary to create and split lines when forming changes. The
existing and newly created linear features will then be selected to define the boundary
changes.
1. In ArcMap, right click the edges layer in the Table of Contents, click Selection,
and then click Make This The Only Selectable Layer, so that the edges layer is
the only layer that can be selected while editing.
2. In the Editor toolbar, click Editor and then click Start Editing.
3. In the Create Features window, highlight a non-visible boundary symbolization
under the edges layer: PVS_15_v2_edges_.

Example C-2: Create Features Window.

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4. In the Editor toolbar, click Editor and then click Snapping, then Snapping
Toolbar.
5. On the snapping toolbar, ensure that Point, Vertex, Edge, and End Snapping
are all enabled. Drop down the Snapping menu, and ensure that Use Snapping
is checked. Snapping will ensure that newly created lines will follow existing
MAF/TIGER linear features.

Example C-3: Snapping Toolbar.

6. For any new boundary lines that do not follow existing edges, ensure that Line is
suggested in the Construction Tools pane (see Example A3B.3.1.1), and in the
Editor toolbar, click the Straight Segment Tool
button and draw new
features on the map by clicking to create a line. Single clicking will add vertexes
to the line, and double-clicking will end the line and create the new feature. Any
new feature(s) will be highlighted.

Example C-4: A Newly Created Linear Feature.

C.4.2 Adding Attribute Data To New Linear Features
After creating new linear features:
1. In the Editor toolbar, click the Attributes

button.

2. In the Attributes window, in the MTFCC field, add the appropriate MTFCC code
(it should default to P0001, but can be changed if necessary).


Use P0001 if the feature is a non-visible political boundary. 



If the feature is visible, see Appendix D for the appropriate codes. 

NOTE: Each new feature must have an MTFCC code. If larger scale linear feature changes
are going to be submitted, it is best to create those in a separate layer. It is not
necessary to submit linear feature changes for non-visible boundaries. 
NOTE: Click on Editor and then click Save Edits often so that work is not lost.

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Page C-4

3. Once all lines are added, in the Editor toolbar, click Editor and then click Stop
Editing (In the Save window, click Yes.)
C.4.3 Splitting Linear Features
1. In the Editor toolbar, click Editor and then click Start Editing.
2. In the Editor toolbar, click the Edit Tool
button and select a linear feature
that needs to be split. The line will be highlighted when it is selected.
3. In the Editor toolbar, click the Split Tool
needs to be split.

button. Click the line where it

The following examples display why it may be necessary to split lines when
creating change polygons.
The desired boundary change is indicated below. When selecting the lines to
form the boundary change, sections of the linear features that are not a part of
the boundary update are included (highlighted in blue).

Example C-5: Linear Feature Selection Before Being Split.

The existing linear features can be split to prevent unwanted line segments from
being selected as part of the boundary update.

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Example C-6: Linear Feature Selection After Being Split.

4. Once all necessary splits are made, in the Editor toolbar, click Editor and then
click Save Edits.
C.4.4 Selecting Lines and Creating Change Polygons
After creating and/ or splitting any necessary linear features, select those that will be
used to form change polygons. Each change polygon must be created and coded
separately.
Creating change polygons
1. If the Topology toolbar is not active, click the Customize menu, select
Toolbars, and then select Topology to activate it.
2. In the Editor toolbar, click Editor and then click Start Editing.
3. In the Create Features window, switch the highlighted feature to the place layer:
PVS_15_v2_place_.
4. In the Editor toolbar, click the Edit Tool
button and select the linear features
that comprise the boundary of a change polygon (i.e. an annexation,
deannexation, or incorrect area) by holding the Shift key while clicking each
linear feature segment.

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Page C-6

Example C-7: Selecting the Linear Features of a Change Polygon.

5. On the Topology toolbar, click the Construct Features


button.

In the Construct Features dialog box, click OK. (The default Cluster
Tolerance is acceptable.)

The polygon is now part of the incorporated place layer; however, it will not have any
associated attribute values (see the next section).

Example C-8: Newly Created Place Feature.

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Page C-7

C.4.5 Attributing Change Polygons
After creating the change polygons, each must be correctly attributed so that the
boundaries can be appropriately updated in MAF/TIGER. Another option is to update
the attributes for each change polygon after creating all boundary changes. The
following steps explain which attributes are mandated for each type of boundary
change.
NOTE: All updates MUST be attributed.

To begin updating attributes


In ArcMap, right click the place layer in the Table of Contents, click
Selection, and then click Make This The Only Selectable Layer, so that
the place layer is the only layer that can be selected while editing.



On the Editor Toolbar, click Editor, and then click Start Editing.

Annexations


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
annexation polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for an
annexation.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, AUTHTYPE, DOCU and EFF_DATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an annexation is A.

button and select the

Deannexations


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
deannexation polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a
deannexation.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, AUTHTYPE, DOCU and EFF_DATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an annexation is D.

button and select the

Corridors


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a corridor.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.

button and select the corridor

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Page C-8

o The CHNG_TYPE for a corridor changes is C.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the change is adding corridor area to
the place or OUT if the change is removing corridor area.
Offsets


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for an offset.
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an offset change is F.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the change is adding offset area to the
place or OUT if the change is removing offset area.

button and select the offset

Boundary Corrections


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
boundary correction polygon.




On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes
button.
In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a boundary
correction:
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for a boundary correction is B.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the boundary correction is adding area
or OUT if the boundary correction is removing area.

button and select the

NOTE: If a county is reporting for adjacent incorporated places or MCDs, and a boundary
correction to one entity affects another, use RELATE = IN and NAME = . This is due to the fact that RELATE = OUT leaves a question as to whether
or not there should be a gap between the two entities.

To finish updating attributes


Once all of the attribute changes have been made, on the Editor toolbar, click
Editor, and then click Stop Editing. (In the Save window, click Yes.)

C.4.6 Exporting Change Polygons
After creating and coding the change polygons, each level of geography (county, place,
MCD) that has changes must be exported to a separate change polygon layer.
1. In ArcMap, click Selection and then click Select by Attributes.
2. In the Select By Attributes window:

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Page C-9



Set the Layer dropdown to the incorporated place layer:
PVS_15_v2_place_.



Set the Method dropdown to Create a new selection.



In the Select * FROM box, type one of the following formulas:
o “CHNG_TYPE” < > ‘ ’ This equation would select all change polygons
that have any change type which have been created and coded.
o “CHNG_TYPE” = ‘A’ OR “CHNG_TYPE” = ‘B’ OR… (etc.) This
equation can be written to select each change type for polygons that
were created and coded.



Click OK

Example C-9: Select All Change Types Formula.

After clicking OK, each change polygon that that has been created and coded should be
highlighted on the map and in the attribute table.

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OPTIONAL: Open the attribute table and sort to verify that all change polygons with a change
type code were selected.

Exporting the selected change polygons
4. In the ArcMap Table of Contents, right-click on the incorporated place layer
(PVS_15_v2_place_), select Data, and then click Export Data.
5. In the Export Data window:


From the Export dropdown, choose Selected Features.



In the Output shapefile or feature class: field, browse to and select a
location to save the shapefile.



o Name the shapefile bas16__changes_incplace.shp.
Click OK.

Example C-10: Exporting Data.

NOTE: You can find the basID numbers on the BAS Annual Response Email or online from this
link: http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_codes.html.
NOTE: See Section 5.9.4 for instruction on zipping updates.

Submitting the shapefile
The Census Bureau requires participants submit BAS return zip files using the Census
Bureau’s SWIM site. Please submit only the zip file. The SWIM is located at
https://respond.census.gov/swim. For instructions on how to use SWIM, you can find
them in Section 5.7.5 Submitting Digital Files via SWIM.

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APPENDIX D MTFCC Codes
MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

C3022

A PROMINENT ELEVATION RISING ABOVE THE SURROUNDING
LEVEL OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE.
AN AREA OF DRY OR RELATIVELY DRY LAND SURROUNDED
BY WATER OR LOW WETLAND. [INCLUDING ARCHIPELAGO,
ATOLL, CAY, HAMMOCK, HUMMOCK, ISLA, ISLE, KEY, MOKU
AND ROCK]
AN EMBANKMENT FLANKING A STREAM OR OTHER FLOWING
WATER FEATURE TO PREVENT OVERFLOW.
AN AREA FROM WHICH COMMERCIAL MINERALS ARE OR
WERE REMOVED FROM THE EARTH; NOT INCLUDING AN
OILFIELD OR GAS FIELD.
A BARRIER BUILT ACROSS THE COURSE OF A STREAM TO
IMPOUND WATER AND/OR CONTROL WATER FLOW.
AN EXPANDED PAVED AREA AT THE END OF A STREET USED
BY VEHICLES FOR TURNING AROUND. FOR MAPPING
PURPOSES, THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU MAPS IT ONLY AS A
POINT FEATURE.
A CIRCULAR INTERSECTION ALLOWING FOR CONTINUOUS
MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC AT THE MEETING OF ROADWAYS.
A MOVABLE BARRIER ACROSS A ROAD.
A STRUCTURE OR BARRIER WHERE A FEE IS COLLECTED
FOR USING A ROAD.
A MANMADE STRUCTURE, HIGHER THAN ITS DIAMETER,
USED FOR OBSERVATION.
A MANMADE STRUCTURE, HIGHER THAN ITS DIAMETER,
USED FOR TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT AND POSSIBLY SOUND
GENERALLY TO AID IN NAVIGATION.
ONE OR MORE MANMADE STRUCTURES, EACH HIGHER THAN
ITS DIAMETER, USED FOR LIQUID (OTHER THAN WATER) OR
GAS STORAGE OR FOR DISTRIBUTION ACTIVITIES.
ONE OR MORE MANMADE STRUCTURES USED TO GENERATE
POWER FROM THE WIND.
ONE OR MORE MANMADE STRUCTURES USED TO GENERATE
POWER FROM THE SUN.
A MANMADE STRUCTURE TO EDUCATE, COMMEMORATE, OR
MEMORIALIZE AN EVENT, PERSON, OR FEATURE.
A MATERIAL OBJECT PLACED ON OR NEAR A BOUNDARY
LINE TO PRESERVE AND IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE
BOUNDARY LINE ON THE GROUND.
A POINT ON THE GROUND WHOSE POSITION (HORIZONTAL
OR VERTICAL) IS KNOWN AND CAN BE USED AS A BASE FOR
ADDITIONAL SURVEY WORK.
A POINT THAT IDENTIFIES THE LOCATION AND NAME OF AN
UNBOUNDED LOCALITY (E.G., CROSSROAD, COMMUNITY,
POPULATED PLACE OR LOCALE).

C3023

MOUNTAIN PEAK OR
SUMMIT
ISLAND

C3024

LEVEE

C3026

C3027

QUARRY (NOT WATERFILLED), OPEN PIT
MINE OR MINE
DAM

C3061

CUL-DE-SAC

C3062

TRAFFIC CIRCLE

C3066
C3067

GATE
TOLL BOOTH

C3071

LOOKOUT TOWER

C3074

LIGHTHOUSE BEACON

C3075

TANK/TANK FARM

C3076

WINDMILL FARM

C3077

SOLAR FARM

C3078

MONUMENT OR
MEMORIAL
BOUNDARY
MONUMENT POINT

C3079

C3080

SURVEY CONTROL
POINT

C3081

LOCALITY POINT

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

C3085

A POINT THAT SERVES AS THE CORE OF AN ALASKA NATIVE
VILLAGE AND IS USED IN DEFINING ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE
STATISTICAL AREAS.
A LEGALLY DEFINED STATE- OR FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
RESERVATION AND/OR OFF-RESERVATION TRUST LAND
(EXCLUDES STATISTICAL AMERICAN INDIAN AREAS).
A LEGAL AREA HELD IN TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF NATIVE
HAWAIIANS.
A STATISTICAL GEOGRAPHIC ENTITY THAT REPRESENTS THE
RESIDENCES, PERMANENT AND/OR SEASONAL, FOR ALASKA
NATIVES WHO ARE MEMBERS OF OR RECEIVING
GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES FROM THE DEFINING LEGAL
ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE CORPORATION.
A STATISTICAL ENTITY IDENTIFIED AND DELINEATED BY THE
CENSUS BUREAU IN CONSULTATION WITH FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES THAT HAVE NO
CURRENT RESERVATION, BUT HAD A FORMER RESERVATION
IN OKLAHOMA.
A STATISTICAL GEOGRAPHIC ENTITY IDENTIFIED AND
DELINEATED FOR THE CENSUS BUREAU BY A STATEAPPOINTED LIAISON FOR A STATE-RECOGNIZED AMERICAN
INDIAN TRIBE THAT DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A
RESERVATION AND/OR LANDS IN TRUST.
A STATISTICAL GEOGRAPHIC ENTITY IDENTIFIED AND
DELINEATED FOR THE CENSUS BUREAU BY A FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBE THAT DOES NOT
CURRENTLY HAVE A RESERVATION AND/OR OFFRESERVATION TRUST LAND.
AN AREA ADMINISTERED JOINTLY AND/OR CLAIMED BY TWO
OR MORE AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES.
CORPORATE ENTITIES ESTABLISHED TO CONDUCT BOTH
BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT AFFAIRS OF ALASKA NATIVES
PURSUANT TO THE ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT
ACT OF 1972 (PUBLIC LAW 92-203). THERE ARE TWELVE
GEOGRAPHICALLY DEFINED ANRCS AND THEY ARE ALL
WITHIN AND COVER MOST OF THE STATE OF ALASKA (THE
ANNETTE ISLAND RESERVE-AN AMERICAN INDIAN
RESERVATION-IS EXCLUDED FROM ANY ANRC). THE
BOUNDARIES OF ANRCS HAVE BEEN LEGALLY ESTABLISHED.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISIONS OF FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATIONS, OFFRESERVATION TRUST LANDS, OR OKLAHOMA TRIBAL
STATISTICAL AREAS (OTSAS). THESE ENTITIES ARE
INTERNAL UNITS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT OR
ADMINISTRATION THAT SERVE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND/OR
ECONOMIC PURPOSES FOR THE AMERICAN INDIANS ON THE
RESERVATIONS, OFF-RESERVATION TRUST LANDS, OR
OTSAS.
A RELATIVELY SMALL AND PERMANENT STATISTICAL
SUBDIVISION OF A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED AMERICAN

G2100

ALASKA NATIVE
VILLAGE OFFICIAL
POINT
AMERICAN INDIAN
AREA

G2120

HAWAIIAN HOME LAND

G2130

ALASKA NATIVE
VILLAGE STATISTICAL
AREA

G2140

OKLAHOMA TRIBAL
STATISTICAL AREA

G2150

STATE-DESIGNATED
TRIBAL STATISTICAL
AREA

G2160

TRIBAL DESIGNATED
STATISTICAL AREA

G2170
G2200

AMERICAN INDIAN
JOINT USE AREA
ALASKA NATIVE
REGIONAL
CORPORATION

G2300

TRIBAL SUBDIVISION

G2400

TRIBAL CENSUS
TRACT

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

G2410

TRIBAL BLOCK GROUP

G3100

COMBINED
STATISTICAL AREA

G3110

METROPOLITAN AND
MICROPOLITAN
STATISTICAL AREA

G3120

METROPOLITAN
DIVISION

G3200

COMBINED NEW
ENGLAND CITY AND
TOWN AREA
NEW ENGLAND CITY
AND TOWN
METROPOLITAN AND
MICROPOLITAN
STATISTICAL AREA

G3210

G3220

NEW ENGLAND CITY
AND TOWN DIVISION

G3500

URBAN AREA

G4000

STATE OR
EQUIVALENT FEATURE

G4020

COUNTY OR
EQUIVALENT FEATURE

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION
INDIAN RESERVATION AND/OR OFF-RESERVATION TRUST
LAND, DELINEATED BY AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL
PARTICIPANTS OR THE CENSUS BUREAU FOR THE PURPOSE
OF PRESENTING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.
A CLUSTER OF CENSUS BLOCKS WITHIN A SINGLE TRIBAL
CENSUS TRACT DELINEATED BY AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL
PARTICIPANTS OR THE CENSUS BUREAU FOR THE PURPOSE
OF PRESENTING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
A GROUPING OF ADJACENT METROPOLITAN AND/OR
MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS THAT HAVE A DEGREE
OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION, AS MEASURED BY
COMMUTING.
AN AREA CONTAINING A SUBSTANTIAL POPULATION
NUCLEUS TOGETHER WITH ADJACENT COMMUNITIES
HAVING A HIGH DEGREE OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
INTEGRATION WITH THAT CORE, AS MEASURED BY
COMMUTING. DEFINED USING WHOLE COUNTIES AND
EQUIVALENTS.
A COUNTY OR GROUPING OF COUNTIES THAT IS A
SUBDIVISION OF A METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA
CONTAINING AN URBANIZED AREA WITH A POPULATION OF
2.5 MILLION OR MORE.
A GROUPING OF ADJACENT NEW ENGLAND CITY AND TOWN
AREAS THAT HAVE A DEGREE OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
INTEGRATION, AS MEASURED BY COMMUTING.
AN AREA CONTAINING A SUBSTANTIAL POPULATION
NUCLEUS TOGETHER WITH ADJACENT COMMUNITIES
HAVING A HIGH DEGREE OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
INTEGRATION WITH THAT CORE, AS MEASURED BY
COMMUTING. DEFINED USING MINOR CIVIL DIVISIONS (MCDS)
IN NEW ENGLAND.
A GROUPING OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN NEW ENGLAND THAT
IS A SUBDIVISION OF A NEW ENGLAND CITY AND TOWN AREA
CONTAINING AN URBANIZED AREA WITH A POPULATION OF
2.5 MILLION OR MORE.
DENSELY SETTLED TERRITORY THAT CONTAINS AT LEAST
2,500 PEOPLE. THE SUBTYPES OF THIS FEATURE ARE
URBANIZED AREA (UA), WHICH CONSISTS OF 50,000 +
PEOPLE AND URBAN CLUSTER, WHICH RANGES BETWEEN
2,500 AND 49,999 PEOPLE.
THE PRIMARY GOVERNMENTAL DIVISIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IS TREATED AS A
STATISTICAL EQUIVALENT OF A STATE FOR CENSUS
PURPOSES, AS IS PUERTO RICO.
THE PRIMARY DIVISION OF A STATE OR STATE EQUIVALENT
AREA. THE PRIMARY DIVISIONS OF 48 STATES ARE TERMED
COUNTY, BUT OTHER TERMS ARE USED SUCH AS BOROUGH
IN ALASKA, PARISH IN LOUISIANA, AND MUNICIPIO IN PUERTO
RICO. THIS FEATURE INCLUDES INDEPENDENT CITIES,
WHICH ARE INCORPORATED PLACES THAT ARE NOT PART
OF ANY COUNTY.

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

G4040

COUNTY SUBDIVISION

G4050

ESTATE

G4060

SUBBARRIO
(SUBMINOR CIVIL
DIVISION)
INCORPORATED
PLACE

THE PRIMARY DIVISIONS OF COUNTIES AND EQUIVALENT
FEATURES FOR THE REPORTING OF CENSUS BUREAU DATA.
THE SUBTYPES OF THIS FEATURE ARE MINOR CIVIL
DIVISION, CENSUS COUNTY DIVISION/CENSUS SUBAREA,
AND UNORGANIZED TERRITORY. THIS FEATURE INCLUDES
INDEPENDENT PLACES, WHICH ARE INCORPORATED PLACES
THAT ARE NOT PART OF ANY COUNTY SUBDIVISION.
ESTATES ARE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE THREE MAJOR ISLANDS
IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS (USVI).
LEGALLY DEFINED DIVISIONS (SUBBARRIOS) OF MINOR CIVIL
DIVISIONS (BARRIOS-PUEBLO AND BARRIOS) IN PUERTO
RICO.
A LEGAL ENTITY INCORPORATED UNDER STATE LAW TO
PROVIDE GENERAL-PURPOSE GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES
TO A CONCENTRATION OF POPULATION. INCORPORATED
PLACES ARE GENERALLY DESIGNATED AS A CITY,
BOROUGH, MUNICIPALITY, TOWN, VILLAGE, OR, IN A FEW
INSTANCES, HAVE NO LEGAL DESCRIPTION.
AN INCORPORATED PLACE THAT HAS MERGED
GOVERNMENTALLY WITH A COUNTY OR MINOR CIVIL
DIVISION, BUT ONE OR MORE OF THE INCORPORATED
PLACES CONTINUES TO FUNCTION WITHIN THE
CONSOLIDATION. IT IS A PLACE THAT CONTAINS ADDITIONAL
SEPARATELY INCORPORATED PLACES.
A STATISTICAL AREA DEFINED FOR A NAMED
CONCENTRATION OF POPULATION AND THE STATISTICAL
COUNTERPART OF AN INCORPORATED PLACE.
THE LOWEST LEVEL OF GEOGRAPHIC AREA FOR
PRESENTATION OF SOME TYPES OF ECONOMIC CENSUS
DATA. IT INCLUDES INCORPORATED PLACES,
CONSOLIDATED CITIES, CENSUS DESIGNATED PLACES
(CDPS), MINOR CIVIL DIVISIONS (MCDS) IN SELECTED
STATES, AND BALANCES OF MCDS OR COUNTIES. AN
INCORPORATED PLACE, CDP, MCD, OR BALANCE OF MCD
QUALIFIES AS AN ECONOMIC CENSUS PLACE IF IT CONTAINS
5,000 OR MORE RESIDENTS, OR 5,000 OR MORE JOBS,
ACCORDING TO THE MOST CURRENT DATA AVAILABLE.
RELATIVELY PERMANENT STATISTICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF A
COUNTY OR EQUIVALENT FEATURE DELINEATED BY LOCAL
PARTICIPANTS AS PART OF THE CENSUS BUREAU'S
PARTICIPANT STATISTICAL AREAS PROGRAM.
A CLUSTER OF CENSUS BLOCKS HAVING THE SAME FIRST
DIGIT OF THEIR FOUR-DIGIT IDENTIFYING NUMBERS WITHIN A
CENSUS TRACT. FOR EXAMPLE, BLOCK GROUP 3 (BG 3)
WITHIN A CENSUS TRACT INCLUDES ALL BLOCKS NUMBERED
FROM 3000 TO 3999.
A USER-DEFINED GROUP OF ISLANDS FORMING A SINGLE
CENSUS TABULATION BLOCK. A BAG MUST: (1) CONSIST OF
TWO OR MORE ISLANDS, (2) HAVE A PERIMETER ENTIRELY
OVER WATER, (3) NOT OVERLAP, AND (4) NOT CROSS THE
BOUNDARY OF OTHER TABULATION GEOGRAPHIES, SUCH AS

G4110

G4120

CONSOLIDATED CITY

G4210

CENSUS DESIGNATED
PLACE

G4300

ECONOMIC CENSUS
PLACE

G5020

CENSUS TRACT

G5030

BLOCK GROUP

G5035

BLOCK AREA
GROUPING

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS
G5040

TABULATION BLOCK

G5200

CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT

G5210

STATE LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT (UPPER
CHAMBER

G5220

STATE LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT (LOWER
CHAMBER)

G5240

VOTING DISTRICT

G5400

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DISTRICT

G5410

SECONDARY SCHOOL
DISTRICT

G5420

UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT

G6120

PUBLIC-USE
MICRODATA AREA

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION
COUNTY OR INCORPORATED PLACE BOUNDARIES.
THE LOWEST-ORDER CENSUS DEFINED STATISTICAL AREA.
IT IS AN AREA, SUCH AS A CITY BLOCK, BOUNDED PRIMARILY
BY PHYSICAL FEATURES BUT SOMETIMES BY INVISIBLE CITY
OR PROPERTY BOUNDARIES. A TABULATION BLOCK
BOUNDARY DOES NOT CROSS THE BOUNDARY OF ANY
OTHER GEOGRAPHIC AREA FOR WHICH THE CENSUS
BUREAU TABULATES DATA. THE SUBTYPES OF THIS
FEATURE ARE COUNT QUESTION RESOLUTION (CQR),
CURRENT, AND CENSUS.
THE 435 AREAS FROM WHICH PEOPLE ARE ELECTED TO THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ADDITIONAL
EQUIVALENT FEATURES EXIST FOR STATE EQUIVALENTS
WITH NONVOTING DELEGATES OR NO REPRESENTATIVE.
THE SUBTYPES OF THIS FEATURE ARE 106TH, 107TH, 108TH,
109TH, AND 111TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, PLUS
SUBSEQUENT CONGRESSES.
AREAS ESTABLISHED BY A STATE OR EQUIVALENT
GOVERNMENT FROM WHICH MEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO
THE UPPER OR UNICAMERAL CHAMBER OF A STATE
GOVERNING BODY. UPPER CHAMBER IS THE SENATE IN A
BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE; UNICAMERAL CASE IS SINGLE
HOUSE LEGISLATURE (NEBRASKA).
AREAS ESTABLISHED BY A STATE OR EQUIVALENT
GOVERNMENT FROM WHICH MEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO
THE LOWER CHAMBER OF A STATE GOVERNING BODY. THE
LOWER CHAMBER IS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN A
BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE.
THE GENERIC NAME FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES,
SUCH AS PRECINCTS, WARDS, AND ELECTION DISTRICTS,
ESTABLISHED BY STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS.
A GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITHIN WHICH OFFICIALS PROVIDE
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY GRADE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS.
A GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITHIN WHICH OFFICIALS PROVIDE
PUBLIC SECONDARY GRADE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
FOR RESIDENTS.
A GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITHIN WHICH OFFICIALS PROVIDE
PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS
FOR RESIDENTS.
A DECENNIAL CENSUS AREA WITH A POPULATION OF AT
LEAST 100,000 OR MORE PERSONS FOR WHICH THE CENSUS
BUREAU PROVIDES SELECTED EXTRACTS OF HOUSEHOLDLEVEL DATA THAT ARE SCREENED TO PROTECT
CONFIDENTIALITY

Boundary and Annexation Survey Respondent Guide: Digital

Page D-5

MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

G6300

TRAFFIC ANALYSIS
DISTRICT

G6320

TRAFFIC ANALYSIS
ZONE

G6330

URBAN GROWTH AREA

G6350

ZIP CODE TABULATION
AREA (FIVE-DIGIT)

G6400

COMMERCIAL REGION

H1100

CONNECTOR

H2025

SWAMP/MARSH

H2030

LAKE/POND

H2040
H2041

RESERVOIR
TREATMENT POND

H2051

BAY/ESTUARY/GULF/S
OUND
OCEAN/SEA

AN AREA DELINEATED BY METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATIONS (MPOS) AND STATE DEPARTMENTS OF
TRANSPORTATION (DOTS) FOR TABULATING JOURNEY-TOWORK AND PLACE-OF-WORK DATA. A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS
DISTRICT (TAD) CONSISTS OF ONE OR MORE TRAFFIC
ANALYSIS ZONES (TAZS).
AN AREA DELINEATED BY METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATIONS (MPOS) AND STATE DEPARTMENTS OF
TRANSPORTATION (DOTS) FOR TABULATING JOURNEY-TOWORK AND PLACE-OF-WORK DATA.
AN AREA DEFINED UNDER STATE AUTHORITY TO MANAGE
URBANIZATION THAT THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU INCLUDES IN
THE MAF/TIGER® DATABASE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE
STATE.
AN APPROXIMATE STATISTICAL-AREA REPRESENTATION OF
A U.S. POSTAL SERVICE (USPS) 5-DIGIT ZIP CODE SERVICE
AREA.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESENTING ECONOMIC STATISTICAL
DATA, MUNICIPIOS IN PUERTO RICO ARE GROUPED INTO
COMMERCIAL REGIONS.
A KNOWN, BUT NONSPECIFIC, HYDROGRAPHIC CONNECTION
BETWEEN TWO NONADJACENT WATER FEATURES.
A POORLY DRAINED WETLAND, FRESH OR SALTWATER,
WOODED OR GRASSY, POSSIBLY COVERED WITH OPEN
WATER. [INCLUDES BOG, CIENEGA, MARAIS AND POCOSIN]
A STANDING BODY OF WATER THAT IS SURROUNDED BY
LAND.
AN ARTIFICIALLY IMPOUNDED BODY OF WATER.
AN ARTIFICIAL BODY OF WATER BUILT TO TREAT FOULED
WATER.
A BODY OF WATER PARTLY SURROUNDED BY LAND.
[INCLUDES ARM, BIGHT, COVE AND INLET]
THE GREAT BODY OF SALT WATER THAT COVERS MUCH OF
THE EARTH.
A BODY OF WATER IN A PLACE OR AREA FROM WHICH
COMMERCIAL MINERALS WERE REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.
A BODY OF ICE MOVING OUTWARD AND DOWN SLOPE FROM
AN AREA OF ACCUMULATION; AN AREA OF RELATIVELY
PERMANENT SNOW OR ICE ON THE TOP OR SIDE OF A
MOUNTAIN OR MOUNTAINOUS AREA. [INCLUDES ICE FIELD
AND ICE PATCH]
A NATURAL FLOWING WATERWAY. [INCLUDES ANABRANCH,
AWAWA, BRANCH, BROOK, CREEK, DISTRIBUTARY, FORK,
KILL, PUP, RIO, AND RUN]
A NATURAL FLOWING WATERWAY WITH AN INTRICATE
NETWORK OF INTERLACING CHANNELS.
AN ARTIFICIAL WATERWAY CONSTRUCTED TO TRANSPORT
WATER, TO IRRIGATE OR DRAIN LAND, TO CONNECT TWO OR
MORE BODIES OF WATER, OR TO SERVE AS A WATERWAY
FOR WATERCRAFT. [INCLUDES LATERAL]

H2053
H2060
H2081

GRAVEL PIT/QUARRY
FILLED WITH WATER
GLACIER

H3010

STREAM/RIVER

H3013

BRAIDED STREAM

H3020

CANAL, DITCH OR
AQUEDUCT

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Page D-6

MTFCC FEATURE CLASS
K1225

K1231

CREW-OF-VESSEL
LOCATION

A POINT OR AREA IN WHICH THE POPULATION OF MILITARY
OR MERCHANT MARINE VESSELS AT SEA ARE ASSIGNED,
USUALLY BEING AT OR NEAR THE HOME PORT PIER.
HOSPITAL/HOSPICE/UR ONE OR MORE STRUCTURES WHERE THE SICK OR INJURED
GENT CARE FACILITY
MAY RECEIVE MEDICAL OR SURGICAL ATTENTION.
[INCLUDING INFIRMARY]

K1235

JUVENILE INSTITUTION

K1236

LOCAL JAIL OR
DETENTION CENTER

K1237

FEDERAL
PENITENTIARY, STATE
PRISON, OR PRISON
FARM
OTHER
CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTION

K1238

K1239

K1246
K2110

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

CONVENT,
MONASTERY,
RECTORY, OTHER
RELIGIOUS GROUP
QUARTERS
COMMUNITY CENTER
MILITARY
INSTALLATION

K2165

GOVERNMENT
CENTER

K2167

CONVENTION CENTER

K2180

PARK

K2181

NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE LAND

K2182

NATIONAL FOREST OR
OTHER FEDERAL LAND

A FACILITY (CORRECTIONAL AND NON-CORRECTIONAL)
WHERE GROUPS OF JUVENILES RESIDE; THIS INCLUDES
TRAINING SCHOOLS, DETENTION CENTERS, RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT CENTERS AND ORPHANAGES.
ONE OR MORE STRUCTURES THAT SERVE AS A PLACE FOR
THE CONFINEMENT OF ADULT PERSONS IN LAWFUL
DETENTION, ADMINISTERED BY A LOCAL (COUNTY,
MUNICIPAL, ETC.) GOVERNMENT.
AN INSTITUTION THAT SERVES AS A PLACE FOR THE
CONFINEMENT OF ADULT PERSONS IN LAWFUL DETENTION,
ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR A STATE
GOVERNMENT.
ONE OR MORE STRUCTURES THAT SERVE AS A PLACE FOR
THE CONFINEMENT OF ADULT PERSONS IN LAWFUL
DETENTION, NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED OR
ADMINISTERED BY A GOVERNMENT OF UNKNOWN
JURISDICTION.
ONE OR MORE STRUCTURES INTENDED FOR USE AS A
RESIDENCE FOR THOSE HAVING A RELIGIOUS VOCATION.

COMMUNITY CENTER.
AN AREA OWNED AND/OR OCCUPIED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE FOR USE BY A BRANCH OF THE ARMED
FORCES (SUCH AS THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES,
OR COAST GUARD), OR A STATE OWNED AREA FOR THE USE
OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.
A PLACE USED BY MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT (EITHER
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL) FOR ADMINISTRATION
AND PUBLIC BUSINESS.
AN EXHIBITION HALL OR CONFERENCE CENTER WITH
ENOUGH OPEN SPACE TO HOST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
BUSINESS AND SOCIAL EVENTS.
PARKLAND DEFINED AND ADMINISTERED BY FEDERAL,
STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
AREA—NATIONAL PARKS, NATIONAL MONUMENTS, AND SO
FORTH—UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE.
LAND UNDER THE MANAGEMENT AND JURISDICTION OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING AREAS
DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL FOREST, AND EXCLUDING AREAS
UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

K2183

TRIBAL PARK, FOREST,
OR RECREATION AREA

K2184

STATE PARK, FOREST,
OR RECREATION AREA

K2185

REGIONAL PARK,
FOREST, OR
RECREATION AREA

K2186

COUNTY PARK,
FOREST, OR
RECREATION AREA

K2187

COUNTY SUBDIVISION
PARK, FOREST, OR
RECREATION AREA

K2188

INCORPORATED
PLACE PARK, FOREST,
OR RECREATION AREA

K2189

PRIVATE PARK,
FOREST, OR
RECREATION AREA
OTHER PARK, FOREST,
OR RECREATION AREA
(QUASI-PUBLIC,
INDEPENDENT PARK,
COMMISSION, ETC.)
POST OFFICE

A PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR RECREATION OR
PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR NATURAL RESOURCE
AND UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF AN AMERICAN INDIAN
TRIBE.
A PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR RECREATION OR
PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR NATURAL RESOURCE
AND UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF A STATE
GOVERNMENT.
A PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR RECREATION OR
PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR NATURAL RESOURCE
AND UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF A REGIONAL
GOVERNMENT.
A PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR RECREATION OR
PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR NATURAL RESOURCE
AND UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF A COUNTY
GOVERNMENT.
A PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR RECREATION OR
PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR NATURAL RESOURCE
AND UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF A MINOR CIVIL
DIVISION (TOWN/TOWNSHIP) GOVERNMENT.
A PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR RECREATION OR
PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR NATURAL RESOURCE
AND UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF A MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT.
A PRIVATELY OWNED PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR
RECREATION OR PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR
NATURAL RESOURCE.
A PLACE OR AREA SET ASIDE FOR RECREATION OR
PRESERVATION OF A CULTURAL OR NATURAL RESOURCE
AND UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF SOME OTHER TYPE OF
GOVERNMENT OR AGENCY SUCH AS AN INDEPENDENT PARK
AUTHORITY OR COMMISSION.
AN OFFICIAL FACILITY OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE USED
FOR PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL AND OTHER
POSTAL MATERIAL.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
POLICE STATION.
LIBRARY.
CITY/TOWN HALL.
A FACILITY WHERE ONE OR MORE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION CAN BE ACCESSED BY PEOPLE OR FOR
THE SHIPMENT OF GOODS; EXAMPLES OF SUCH A FACILITY
INCLUDE MARINE TERMINAL, BUS STATION, TRAIN STATION,
AIRPORT AND TRUCK WAREHOUSE.
A PLACE WHERE PRIVATELY OWNED, LIGHT-CRAFT ARE
MOORED.
A PLATFORM BUILT OUT FROM THE SHORE INTO THE WATER
AND SUPPORTED BY PILES. THIS PLATFORM MAY PROVIDE
ACCESS TO SHIPS AND BOATS, OR IT MAY BE USED FOR

K2190

K2191

K2193
K2194
K2195
K2196
K2400

FIRE DEPARTMENT
POLICE STATION
LIBRARY
CITY/TOWN HALL
TRANSPORTATION
TERMINAL

K2424

MARINA

K2432

PIER/DOCK

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS
K2451

AIRPORT OR AIRFIELD

K2452

K2453

TRAIN STATION,
TROLLEY OR MASS
TRANSIT RAIL STATION
BUS TERMINAL

K2454

MARINE TERMINAL

K2455

SEAPLANE
ANCHORAGE

K2456

AIRPORT—
INTERMODAL
TRANSPORTATION
HUB/TERMINAL
AIRPORT—
STATISTICAL
REPRESENTATION
PARK AND RIDE
FACILITY/PARKING LOT
RUNWAY/TAXIWAY

K2457

K2458
K2459
K2460
K2540

HELICOPTER LANDING
PAD
UNIVERSITY OR
COLLEGE

K2543

SCHOOL OR ACADEMY

K2545

K2561
K2582

MUSEUM, VISITOR
CENTER, CULTURAL
CENTER, OR TOURIST
ATTRACTION
GOLF COURSE
CEMETERY

K2586

ZOO

K3544

PLACE OF WORSHIP

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION
RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
A MANMADE FACILITY MAINTAINED FOR THE USE OF
AIRCRAFT. [INCLUDING AIRSTRIP, LANDING FIELD AND
LANDING STRIP]
A PLACE WHERE TRAVELERS CAN BOARD AND EXIT RAIL
TRANSIT LINES, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED TICKETING,
FREIGHT, AND OTHER COMMERCIAL OFFICES.
A PLACE WHERE TRAVELERS CAN BOARD AND EXIT MASS
MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSIT, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED
TICKETING, FREIGHT, AND OTHER COMMERCIAL OFFICES.
A PLACE WHERE TRAVELERS CAN BOARD AND EXIT WATER
TRANSIT OR WHERE CARGO IS HANDLED, INCLUDING
ASSOCIATED TICKETING, FREIGHT, AND OTHER
COMMERCIAL OFFICES.
A PLACE WHERE AN AIRPLANE EQUIPPED WITH FLOATS FOR
LANDING ON OR TAKING OFF FROM A BODY OF WATER CAN
DEBARK AND LOAD.
A MAJOR AIR TRANSPORTATION FACILITY WHERE
TRAVELERS CAN BOARD AND EXIT AIRPLANES AND
CONNECT WITH OTHER (I.E. NON-AIR) MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION.
THE AREA OF AN AIRPORT ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE WHOLE
2000 CENSUS BLOCKS USED FOR THE DELINEATION OF
URBAN AREAS
A PLACE WHERE MOTORISTS CAN PARK THEIR CARS AND
TRANSFER TO OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
A FAIRLY LEVEL AND USUALLY PAVED EXPANSE USED BY
AIRPLANES FOR TAKING OFF AND LANDING AT AN AIRPORT.
A FAIRLY LEVEL AND USUALLY PAVED EXPANSE USED BY
HELICOPTERS FOR TAKING OFF AND LANDING.
A BUILDING OR GROUP OF BUILDINGS USED AS AN
INSTITUTION FOR POST-SECONDARY STUDY, TEACHING, AND
LEARNING. [INCLUDING SEMINARY]
A BUILDING OR GROUP OF BUILDINGS USED AS AN
INSTITUTION FOR PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY OR
SECONDARY STUDY, TEACHING, AND LEARNING. [INCLUDING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL]
AN ATTRACTION OF HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL
OR OTHER INTEREST THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION OR
DISPLAYS ARTIFACTS.
A PLACE DESIGNED FOR PLAYING GOLF.
A PLACE OR AREA FOR BURYING THE DEAD. [INCLUDING
BURYING GROUND AND MEMORIAL GARDEN]
A FACILITY IN WHICH TERRESTRIAL AND/OR MARINE
ANIMALS ARE CONFINED WITHIN ENCLOSURES AND
DISPLAYED TO THE PUBLIC FOR EDUCATIONAL,
PRESERVATION, AND RESEARCH PURPOSES.
A SANCTIFIED PLACE OR STRUCTURE WHERE PEOPLE

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

L4010

L4020
L4031

L4110

L4121
L4125

L4130
L4140

L4150

L4165
P0001

P0002

P0003

P0004

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

GATHER FOR RELIGIOUS WORSHIP; EXAMPLES INCLUDE
CHURCH, SYNAGOGUE, TEMPLE, AND MOSQUE.
PIPELINE
A LONG TUBULAR CONDUIT OR SERIES OF PIPES, OFTEN
UNDERGROUND, WITH PUMPS AND VALVES FOR FLOW
CONTROL, USED TO TRANSPORT FLUID (E.G., CRUDE OIL,
NATURAL GAS), ESPECIALLY OVER GREAT DISTANCES.
POWERLINE
ONE OR MORE WIRES, OFTEN ON ELEVATED TOWERS, USED
FOR CONDUCTING HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC POWER.
AERIAL TRAMWAY/SKI
A CONVEYANCE THAT TRANSPORTS PASSENGERS OR
LIFT
FREIGHT IN CARRIERS SUSPENDED FROM CABLES AND
SUPPORTED BY A SERIES OF TOWERS.
FENCE LINE
A MAN-MADE BARRIER ENCLOSING OR BORDERING A FIELD,
YARD, ETC., USUALLY MADE OF POSTS AND WIRE OR WOOD,
USED TO PREVENT ENTRANCE, TO CONFINE, OR TO MARK A
BOUNDARY.
RIDGE LINE
THE LINE OF HIGHEST ELEVATION ALONG A RIDGE.
CLIFF/ESCARPMENT
A VERY STEEP OR VERTICAL SLOPE. [INCLUDING BLUFF,
CRAG, HEAD, HEADLAND, NOSE, PALISADES, PRECIPICE,
PROMONTORY, RIM AND RIMROCK]
POINT-TO-POINT LINE
A LINE DEFINED AS BEGINNING AT ONE LOCATION POINT
AND ENDING AT ANOTHER, BOTH OF WHICH ARE IN SIGHT.
PROPERTY/PARCEL
THIS FEATURE CLASS MAY DENOTE A NONVISIBLE
LINE (INCLUDING PLSS) BOUNDARY OF EITHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LANDS (E.G., A
PARK BOUNDARY) OR IT MAY DENOTE A PUBLIC LAND
SURVEY SYSTEM OR EQUIVALENT SURVEY LINE.
COASTLINE
THE LINE THAT SEPARATES EITHER LAND OR INLAND WATER
FROM COASTAL, TERRITORIAL OR GREAT LAKES WATER.
WHERE LAND DIRECTLY BORDERS COASTAL, TERRITORIAL
OR GREAT LAKES WATER, THE SHORELINE REPRESENTS
THE COASTLINE. WHERE INLAND WATER (SUCH AS A RIVER)
FLOWS INTO COASTAL, TERRITORIAL OR GREAT LAKES
WATER, THE CLOSURE LINE SEPARATING THE INLAND
WATER FROM THE OTHER CLASS OF WATER REPRESENTS
THE COASTLINE.
FERRY CROSSING
THE ROUTE USED TO CARRY OR CONVEY PEOPLE OR
CARGO BACK AND FORTH OVER A WATERBODY IN A BOAT.
NONVISIBLE LINEAR
A LEGAL/STATISTICAL BOUNDARY LINE THAT DOES NOT
LEGAL/STATISTICAL
CORRESPOND TO A SHORELINE OR OTHER VISIBLE FEATURE
BOUNDARY
ON THE GROUND.
PERENNIAL
THE MORE-OR-LESS PERMANENT BOUNDARY BETWEEN
SHORELINE
LAND AND WATER FOR A WATER FEATURE THAT EXISTS
YEAR-ROUND.
INTERMITTENT
THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN LAND AND WATER (WHEN WATER
SHORELINE
IS PRESENT) FOR A WATER FEATURE THAT DOES NOT EXIST
YEAR-ROUND.
OTHER NON-VISIBLE
A BOUNDING EDGE THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT A
BOUNDING EDGE (E.G., LEGAL/STATISTICAL BOUNDARY, AND DOES NOT
CENSUS WATER
CORRESPOND TO A SHORELINE OR OTHER VISIBLE FEATURE
BOUNDARY,
ON THE GROUND. MANY SUCH EDGES BOUND AREA

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS
BOUNDARY OF AN
AREAL FEATURE)
R1011

R1051

RAILROAD FEATURE
(MAIN, SPUR, OR
YARD)
CARLINE, STREETCAR
TRACK, MONORAIL,
OTHER MASS TRANSIT

R1052

COG RAIL LINE,
INCLINE RAIL LINE,
TRAM

S1100

PRIMARY ROAD

S1200

SECONDARY ROAD

S1400

LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOOD
ROAD, RURAL ROAD,
CITY STREET

S1500

VEHICULAR TRAIL
(4WD)

S1630

RAMP

S1640

SERVICE DRIVE
USUALLY ALONG A
LIMITED ACCESS
HIGHWAY

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION
LANDMARKS, WHILE MANY OTHERS SEPARATE WATER
FEATURES FROM EACH OTHER (E.G., WHERE A BAY MEETS
THE OCEAN).
A LINE OF FIXED RAILS OR TRACKS THAT CARRIES
MAINSTREAM RAILROAD TRAFFIC. SUCH A RAIL LINE CAN BE
A MAIN LINE OR SPUR LINE, OR PART OF A RAIL YARD.
MASS TRANSIT RAIL LINES (INCLUDING LINES FOR RAPID
TRANSIT, MONORAILS, STREETCARS, LIGHT RAIL, ETC.) THAT
ARE TYPICALLY INACCESSIBLE TO MAINSTREAM RAILROAD
TRAFFIC AND WHOSE TRACKS ARE NOT PART OF A ROAD
RIGHT-OF-WAY.
A SPECIAL PURPOSE RAIL LINE FOR CLIMBING STEEP
GRADES THAT IS TYPICALLY INACCESSIBLE TO MAINSTREAM
RAILROAD TRAFFIC. NOTE THAT AERIAL TRAMWAYS AND
STREETCARS (WHICH MAY ALSO BE CALLED “TRAMS”) ARE
ACCOUNTED FOR BY OTHER MTFCCS AND DO NOT BELONG
IN R1052
PRIMARY ROADS ARE GENERALLY DIVIDED, LIMITED-ACCESS
HIGHWAYS WITHIN THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM OR
UNDER STATE MANAGEMENT, AND ARE DISTINGUISHED BY
THE PRESENCE OF INTERCHANGES. THESE HIGHWAYS ARE
ACCESSIBLE BY RAMPS AND MAY INCLUDE SOME TOLL
HIGHWAYS.
SECONDARY ROADS ARE MAIN ARTERIES, USUALLY IN THE
U.S. HIGHWAY, STATE HIGHWAY OR COUNTY HIGHWAY
SYSTEM. THESE ROADS HAVE ONE OR MORE LANES OF
TRAFFIC IN EACH DIRECTION, MAY OR MAY NOT BE DIVIDED,
AND USUALLY HAVE AT-GRADE INTERSECTIONS WITH MANY
OTHER ROADS AND DRIVEWAYS. THEY OFTEN HAVE BOTH A
LOCAL NAME AND A ROUTE NUMBER.
GENERALLY A PAVED NON-ARTERIAL STREET, ROAD, OR
BYWAY THAT USUALLY HAS A SINGLE LANE OF TRAFFIC IN
EACH DIRECTION. ROADS IN THIS FEATURE CLASS MAY BE
PRIVATELY OR PUBLICLY MAINTAINED. SCENIC PARK ROADS
WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS FEATURE CLASS, AS WOULD
(DEPENDING ON THE REGION OF THE COUNTRY) SOME
UNPAVED ROADS.
AN UNPAVED DIRT TRAIL WHERE A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
VEHICLE IS REQUIRED. THESE VEHICULAR TRAILS ARE
FOUND ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN VERY RURAL AREAS.
MINOR, UNPAVED ROADS USABLE BY ORDINARY CARS AND
TRUCKS BELONG IN THE S1400 CATEGORY.
A ROAD THAT ALLOWS CONTROLLED ACCESS FROM
ADJACENT ROADS ONTO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY,
OFTEN IN THE FORM OF A CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGE.
THESE ROADS ARE UNADDRESSABLE AND DO NOT CARRY A
NAME IN MAF/TIGER.
A ROAD, USUALLY PARALLELING A LIMITED ACCESS
HIGHWAY, THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO STRUCTURES ALONG
THE HIGHWAY. THESE ROADS CAN BE NAMED AND MAY
INTERSECT WITH OTHER ROADS.

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MTFCC FEATURE CLASS

FEATURE CLASS DESCRIPTION

S1710

WALKWAY/PEDESTRIA
N TRAIL

S1720

STAIRWAY

S1730

ALLEY

S1740

PRIVATE ROAD FOR
SERVICE VEHICLES
(LOGGING, OIL FIELDS,
RANCHES, ETC.)
INTERNAL U.S.
CENSUS BUREAU USE
PARKING LOT ROAD

A PATH THAT IS USED FOR WALKING, BEING EITHER TOO
NARROW FOR OR LEGALLY RESTRICTED FROM VEHICULAR
TRAFFIC.
A PEDESTRIAN PASSAGEWAY FROM ONE LEVEL TO
ANOTHER BY A SERIES OF STEPS.
A SERVICE ROAD THAT DOES NOT GENERALLY HAVE
ASSOCIATED ADDRESSED STRUCTURES AND IS USUALLY
UNNAMED. IT IS LOCATED AT THE REAR OF BUILDINGS AND
PROPERTIES AND IS USED FOR DELIVERIES.
A ROAD WITHIN PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT IS PRIVATELY
MAINTAINED FOR SERVICE, EXTRACTIVE, OR OTHER
PURPOSES. THESE ROADS ARE OFTEN UNNAMED.

S1750
S1780

INTERNAL U.S. CENSUS BUREAU USE.

THE MAIN TRAVEL ROUTE FOR VEHICLES THROUGH A PAVED
PARKING AREA.
S1820
BIKE PATH OR TRAIL
A PATH THAT IS USED FOR MANUAL OR SMALL, MOTORIZED
BICYCLES, BEING EITHER TOO NARROW FOR OR LEGALLY
RESTRICTED FROM VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
S1830
BRIDLE PATH
A PATH THAT IS USED FOR HORSES, BEING EITHER TOO
NARROW FOR OR LEGALLY RESTRICTED FROM VEHICULAR
TRAFFIC.
S2000
ROAD MEDIAN
THE UNPAVED AREA OR BARRIER BETWEEN THE
CARRIAGEWAYS OF A DIVIDED ROAD.
Note: The information in this table was last updated in December 2015.

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File Typeapplication/pdf
File TitleBoundary and Annexation Survey Respondent Guide: Digital
AuthorU.S. Census Bureau
File Modified2015-12-16
File Created2015-12-15

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