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State Boundaries of the United States
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Frequently-anticipated questions:
- Title: State Boundaries of the United States
- Abstract:
-
This map layer portrays the State boundaries of the United States, and the
boundaries of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The map layer was
created by extracting the State boundary polygons from the individual
1:2,000,000-scale State boundary Digital Line Graph (DLG) files produced
by the U.S. Geological Survey. These files were then merged into a single
coverage. This is an updated version of the June 2002 map layer; the
date when each State was admitted to the United States was added.
- How should this data set be cited?
National Atlas of the United States, 200506, State Boundaries of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- What geographic area does the data set cover?
- West_Bounding_Coordinate: 170
- East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64
- North_Bounding_Coordinate: 72
- South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17
- What does it look like?
- Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
- Beginning_Date: 1972
- Ending_Date: 2005
- Currentness_Reference: Ground condition
- What is the general form of this data set?
- How does the data set represent geographic features?
- How are geographic features stored in the data set?
- Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
-
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the
States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of the United
States, and Associated Areas (FIPS 5-2): Washington, DC, National
Institute of Standards and Technology.
This is a Vector data set.
It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
- GT-polygon composed of chains (2895)
- What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude.
Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000278.
Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000278.
Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.
The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
The ellipsoid used is GRS1980.
The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
- How does the data set describe geographic features?
- State (described by Statesp020.dbf)
- First order division of a nation, including States and State
equivalents.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
- Shape
- The representation of the entity in the data.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Value | Definition |
Polygon | 2-dimensional element
|
- Area
- The size of the shape in square coverage units. In the distributed
file, coverage units represent square decimal degrees.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Range of values |
Minimum: | 0.000 |
Maximum: | 267.357 |
- Perimeter
- The perimeter of shape in coverage units. In the distributed file,
coverage units represent decimal degrees.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Range of values |
Minimum: | 0.010 |
Maximum: | 374.768 |
- Statesp020
- Internal feature number.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Range of values |
Minimum: | 2 |
Maximum: | 2896 |
- State
- The name of the State or State equivalent.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Formal codeset |
Codeset Name: | Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of the United States, and Associated Areas, FIPS 5-2. |
Codeset Source: | U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology |
- State_fips
- The 2-digit FIPS code of the State or State equivalent.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Formal codeset |
Codeset Name: | Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of the United States, and Associated Areas, FIPS 5-2. |
Codeset Source: | U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology |
- Order_adm
- An ordinal value indicating the State's order of admission to the United
States.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Value | Definition |
0 | The area is not a State. Washington, DC is a district, Puerto Rico
is a commonwealth, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is a territory of the
United States.
|
Range of values |
Minimum: | 1 |
Maximum: | 50 |
- Month_adm
- The month when the State was admitted to the United States.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Value | Definition |
<blank> | The area is not a State. Washington, DC is a district, Puerto Rico
is a commonwealth, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is a territory of the
United States.
|
Range of values |
Minimum: | January |
Maximum: | December |
- Day_adm
- The day when the State was admitted to the United States.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Value | Definition |
0 | The area is not a State. Washington, DC is a district, Puerto Rico
is a commonwealth, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is a territory of the
United States.
|
Range of values |
Minimum: | 1 |
Maximum: | 31 |
- Year_adm
- The year when the State was admitted to the United States.
(Source: National Atlas of the United States)
Value | Definition |
0 | The area is not a State. Washington, DC is a district, Puerto Rico
is a commonwealth, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is a territory of the
United States.
|
Range of values |
Minimum: | 1787 |
Maximum: | 1959 |
- Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
- National Atlas of the United States
- Who also contributed to the data set?
- To whom should users address questions about the data?
Woodley Chu
National Atlas of the United States
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr
Reston, VA 20192
703-648-6375 (voice)
atlasmail@usgs.gov
These data are intended for geographic display and analysis at the
national level, and for large regional areas. The data should be
displayed and analyzed at scales appropriate for 1:2,000,000-scale data.
No responsibility is assumed by the National Atlas of the United States in
the use of these data.
- From what previous works were the data drawn?
- 2MILBD (source 1 of 11)
-
U.S. Geological Survey, 1995, 1:2,000,000-scale Digital Line Graph Data - Boundaries: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- ATLAS-HY98 (source 2 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 1998, Hydrography Features of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial information
- ATLAS-STATES98 (source 3 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 1998, State Boundaries of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- ATLAS-HY9903 (source 4 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 199903, Hydrography Features of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, Virginia.
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- ATLAS-STATES9903 (source 5 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 199903, State Boundaries of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- 1:100,000-scale base maps (source 6 of 11)
-
U.S. Geological Survey, Unknown, 1:100,000-scale USGS topographic maps: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: paper
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- ATLAS-STATES199911 (source 7 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 199911, State Boundaries of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- ATLAS-CNTY200206 (source 8 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 200206, County Boundaries of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- ATLAS-STATES200206 (source 9 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 200206, State Boundaries of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- STATEHOOD (source 10 of 11)
-
U.S. Government Printing Office, 20031104, Ben's Guide to U.S. Government: U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
Online Links:
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Contribution: Attribute information
- ATLAS-hydro (source 11 of 11)
-
National Atlas of the United States, 200301, Streams and Waterbodies of the United States: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- Type_of_Source_Media: Online
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 2000000
- Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
- How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
- Date: 1998 (process 1 of 5)
-
The 2MILBD data files were originally digitized by the National Mapping
Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), based on the sectional
maps contained in 'The National Atlas of the United States of America'
published by the USGS in 1970. The sectional maps were updated during
1978-1981 and digitized in the early 1980's. The data were updated
again in the early 1990's by the USGS and published on CD-ROM in 1995 as
State DLGs. These DLG files were updated in 1997. Using Arc/INFO
software, the DLG optional format files were converted to Arc/INFO
coverages using the DLGARC command. Only State political boundaries and
attribute information were extracted for inclusion. The file was
compared to ATLAS-HY98. State boundary lines that crossed open water
were excluded for graphic purposes, and polygons that represented
islands were attributed with the appropriate State information. The
individual State coverages were then merged together using the Arc/INFO
command MAPJOIN. 'Slivers' created during the MAPJOIN process were
identified and deleted using the ELIMINATE command.
Data sources used in this process:
Data sources produced in this process:
- Date: 1999 (process 2 of 5)
-
The spatial features in ATLAS-STATES98 were compared to ATLAS-HY9903 and
modified where necessary. Incorrect attributes were corrected. Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were added.
Data sources used in this process:
- ATLAS-STATES98
- ATLAS-HY9903
Data sources produced in this process:
- Date: 1999 (process 3 of 5)
-
A minor adjustment was made to the shoreline in Galveston Bay, Texas.
Data sources used in this process:
- ATLAS-STATES9903
- 1:100,000 scale base maps
Data sources produced in this process:
- Date: May-2002 (process 4 of 5)
-
Boundary adjustments of 1 square mile or greater were made between
the following:
1. Arkansas and Mississippi
2. Arkansas and Oklahoma
3. Arkansas and Tennessee
4. Idaho and Montana
5. Idaho and Oregon
6. Illinois and Missouri
7. Iowa and Nebraska
8. Louisiana and Mississippi
9. Missouri and Nebraska
10. Montana and Wyoming
11. Nebraska and South Dakota
12. Oklahoma and Texas
13. Tennessee and Virginia
14. Texas and Mexico (southern border of Texas)
In addition, some minor adjustments were made to other States.
Data sources used in this process:
- ATLAS-CNTY200206
- ATLAS-STATES199911
Data sources produced in this process:
- Date: May-2005 (process 5 of 5)
-
Attributes were added that provide, for each State, the month, day, and
year of admission to the United States. The order of admission was also
added. In addition, two line segments along the Texas/Mexico border
were modified to align to ATLAS-hydro.
Data sources used in this process:
- ATLAS-STATES200206
- STATEHOOD
- ATLAS-hydro
- What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
- How well have the observations been checked?
- How accurate are the geographic locations?
- How accurate are the heights or depths?
- Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
This map layer includes State boundaries for all 50 States, and boundaries
for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Data completeness generally
reflects the content of the original DLG files.
- How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
The map layer was checked for topological consistency using the Arc/INFO
command BUILD. No other checks for logical consistency were performed on
this map layer.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints:
-
None. Acknowledgment of the National Atlas of the United States of America
would be appreciated in products derived from these data.
- Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
Earth Science Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey
507 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) (voice)
- Contact_Instructions:
-
In addition to the address above there are other ESIC offices throughout
the country. A full list of these offices is at
<http://ask.usgs.gov/esic_index.html>.
- What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
- What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at
the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the
U.S. Geological Survey regarding the utility of the data on any other
system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. No
responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of these
data.
- How can I download or order the data?
- Availability in digital form:
- Cost to order the data: There is no charge for this map layer.
- Dates:
- Last modified: 06-Jun-2006
- Metadata author:
-
Peg Rawson
National Atlas of the United States
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr
Reston, VA 20192
703-648-4183 (voice)
atlasmail@usgs.gov
- Metadata standard:
- FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
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