CODEWITHSUNDEEP
mapsgisvisualizationzipcode
David Nelson
David Nelson

Reputation: 752

Developing visualization on zip code level data

I'm trying to use the zip code data from the census (any year that works). I have 5-digit zip code data that I need to match up to a map/shape file. The problem is that the zip code tabulation files from the Censsus ZCTA that can be found here http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles2010/layers.cgi have holes in them. I am assuming these are lakes, parks, and wilderness areas. However, every zip code map I've seen do not have these. Is there a resource or method of combining these to create a solid zip code area?

Also, are there any other alternatives to zip code tabulation areas? Google maps will not work for what I am doing unfortunately. :(

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Upvotes: 0

Views: 1261

Answers (1)

lreeder
lreeder

Reputation: 12206

Validating your assumption about the holes in your coverage, according to the Census Bureau information on Zip Code Tabulation Areas: For the 2010 Census, large water bodies and large unpopulated land areas do not have ZCTAs.

Although zip codes really aren't area features, just mail routing constructs, there are other zip code shapefiles that cover the contiguous US. See this GIS StackExchange post https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/2682/most-up-to-date-source-for-us-zip-code-boundaries for pointers to them.

Upvotes: 0

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