FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2000
Decennial Media Relations CB00-CN.66
301-457-3691/301-457-3620 (fax)
301-457-1037 (TDD)
Cathy McCully
Marchall Turner
301-457-4039
Census Bureau Begins Releasing Census 2000
Geographic Files for Redistricting
The Commerce Department's Census Bureau began releasing on a
state-by-state basis the Redistricting Census 2000 TIGER/Line files,
designed to support the needs of state redistricting officials. The files
contain geographic data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico, and will be available within the next several weeks. It
should be noted that these files do not contain Census 2000 population
data but will allow state legislatures to begin preparation for the
analysis of the Census 2000 redistricting data scheduled for release no
later than April 1, 2000.
The TIGER/Line files are extracts of selected geographic and
cartographic information from the Census Bureau's TIGER (Topologically
Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) database. They are the
first release of the Census 2000 tabulation areas, including the census
tract and block numbers that are the foundation for the redistricting
process.
Documentation, including a list of which states are available, may be
obtained by clicking on the "TIGER" link on the Census Bureau's Internet
homepage http://www.census.gov.
Information about other products associated with the Census 2000
Public Law 94-171 Redistricting Data Program also may be obtained by
contacting the Census Redistricting Data Office via e-mail at
RDO@census.gov.
Editor's Note: The Redistricting Census 2000 TIGER/Line files do not
contain Census 2000 demographic data, boundary information for ZIP Code
Tabulation Areas (ZCTA) or updated Census 2000-based address ranges.
available free from Adobe.
