Census 2000 ZCTA.fh9 Tue Oct 30 10:31:54 2001 Page 1

Census 2000 ZCTA Example Obtaining ZCTAs

Census 2000 TIGER/Line® Files: Census 2000 ZCTAs™ Chautauqua ZCTAs for the entire United States and Puerto Rico will ZIP Code Tabulation Areas for County, NY be available in the Census 2000 TIGER/Line® files. Census Bureau Data Products 2000 ZCTAs are stored in Record Type S. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/

American FactFinder® Internet Site: Users are able to plot ZCTA maps and create tables showing Census 2000 data tabulated by ZCTAs. http://factfinder.census.gov/

Cartographic Boundary Files: Generalized ZCTA boundary files are available for download from the Census Bureau’s Internet site. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/

LandView® 5: LandView® 5 is a desktop mapping system that allows users to display and plot ZCTAs along with other map features. Comes with a cartographic database for the entire United States. http://landview.census.gov/

ZCTA Reference Maps: Maps showing ZCTA boundaries will be available in 1” Adobe Acrobat PDFs for download from the Census Bureau’s Internet site or as printed maps. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/

Summary Files 1 – 4 (SF 1 – 4): Population and housing characteristics from Census 2000 will be tallied by ZCTA. SF 1and SF 2 contain the 100 percent data from the short form. SF 3 and SF 4 contain the sample data from the long form. http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/2khome.htm

More Information on ZCTAs Ordering ZCTA Products

Products and Services Staff Customer Services

Phone: 301-457-1128 Phone: 301-763-INFO (4636) Fax: 301-457-4710 Fax: 888-249-7295 (fax orders only) E-mail: [email protected] Web: https://catalog.mso.census.gov/esales4boc/ Web: http://www.census.gov/geo/ZCTA/zcta.html

U.S. Department of Commerce Issued September 2001 Economics and Statistics Administration MSO/01-ZCTA U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Census 2000 ZCTA.fh9 Tue Oct 30 10:31:54 2001 Page 2

What Are ZCTAs™? How ZCTAs Are Created Extending ZCTAs Coverage

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs™) are a new statistical entity 1. Determine the majority Fill holes within a developed by the U.S. Census Bureau for tabulating summary stat- ZIP Code for each census ZCTA coverage istics from Census 2000. ZCTAs are generalized area represen- block with addresses. tations of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ZIP Code service areas. They “Holes” (census blocks represent either USPS five- or three-digit ZIP Code areas. ZCTAs ZIP Codes are verified to ensure with no addresses) are are created based on the following criteria: valid USPS values. The majority assigned code of ZIP Code reflects residential surrounding ZCTA. • ZCTAs follow census block boundaries. The ZCTA code for each and commercial addresses, Fill gaps between census block generally represents the majority ZIP Code of the including non-city-style ZCTAs addresses within that census block. addresses. Each ZCTA grows out- • ZCTAs are not exact representations of the USPS’s ZIP 2. Assign a ZCTA code ward to fill all gaps Code delivery areas. to every census block that between ZCTAs. contains addresses with • ZCTA codes cover all land and water areas. ZIP Codes. Assign ZCTAs to • ZCTAs include some dedicated post office box ZIP Codes in islands and water areas served only by post office boxes. features • ZCTAs representing post office box ZIP Codes generally have Islands are assigned to more than 10 addresses. a nearby land ZCTA. Larger water features • ZCTAs exclude unique, single delivery point ZIP Codes, such as get a special ZCTA code those for firms and organizations. 3. Extend ZCTA coverage to (three-digit ZIP Code + “HH”). • ZCTAs are distinct from other Census Bureau statistical areas, adjacent census blocks not assigned a ZCTA code. such as census tracts, because they are not stable over time and SMITHVILLE Assign ZCTAs to are computer-delineated based on the location of addresses at fringe areas the time of Census 2000 rather than manually delineated by local See “Extending ZCTA SMITHVILLE program participants or Census Bureau staff before the census. Coverage” for map examples. Unassigned blocks on a ZCTA edge are filled • ZCTAs are distinct from other representations of ZIP Codes with the adjacent ZCTA because they are based on address information and ZIP Codes code. Large undeveloped collected or verified during Census 2000 operations. areas are assigned the three-digit ZIP Code with • ZCTAs frequently cross county and place boundaries and may SMITH TWP SMITH TWP a “XX” suffix. occasionally cross from one state into another. 4. Run edits and review results of the process. Assign ZCTAs to ZCTA™ is a trademark of the U.S. Census Bureau. sparsely settled Edits set ZCTA codes assigned areas ZIP Code® is a registered trademark of the United States Postal to water blocks and ensure that SMALLVILLE SMALLVILLE Service. all Census 2000 tabulation “Windows” that include blocks have an appropriate the ZCTA “fragments” TIGER/Line® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Census Bureau. ZCTA code. are assigned to one ZCTA. The rest of the LandView® is a registered trademark of the National Oceanic and area is assigned the Atmospheric Administration. three-digit ZIP Code with a “XX” suffix. American FactFinder® is a trademark of the U.S. Census Bureau.