Keywords
Theme:
Cities, Towns, Populated places, County seat, State capital
Place:
United States, USA
Place:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
Temporal:
2000, 2004, 2007, 2008
Description
Abstract
This data set includes cities in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These cities were collected from the 1970 National Atlas of the United States. Where applicable, U.S. Census Bureau codes for named populated places were associated with each name to allow additional information to be attached. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was also used as a source for additional information. This is a revised version of the December, 2003, data set.
Purpose
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 U.S. Geological Survey in the use of these data.
_________________
Status of the data
Complete
Data update frequency: Irregular
Data update frequency: Irregular
Time period for which the data is relevant
Date and time:
2008
Description:
publication date
Publication Information
Who created the data: U.S. Geological Survey
Date and time:
2004
Publisher and place:
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA
_________________
Data storage and access information
File name: place
Type of data: vector digital data
<http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html>
Data processing environment: Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.1.0.722
Type of data: vector digital data
Location of the data:
Accessing the data
Data format: ESRI Shapefile
Size of the data: 0.946 MB
Data transfer size: 7.786 MB
How to decompress the file: No compression applied. However, if using digital transfer online option, note access instructions.
Size of the data: 0.946 MB
Data transfer size: 7.786 MB
How to decompress the file: No compression applied. However, if using digital transfer online option, note access instructions.
Access instructions: The NTAD DVD can be ordered from the online bookstore at www.bts.gov. NTAD can also be downloaded from the Geographic Information Program web sit at http://www.bts.gov/programs/geographic_information_services/.
Available media: DVDConstraints on accessing and using 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.
Details about this document
Contents last updated: 20080519
at time 08095100
Who completed this document
Geospatial Information Program
Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (RITA/BTS)
mailing address:
(202) 366-DATA (voice)
answers@bts.gov
Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (RITA/BTS)
mailing address:
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
(202) 366-DATA (voice)
answers@bts.gov
Standards used to create this document
Standard name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Standard version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Time convention used in this document: local time
Metadata profiles defining additonal information
ESRI Metadata Profile: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html
Standard version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Time convention used in this document: local time
Metadata profiles defining additonal information
Horizontal coordinate system
Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_WGS_1984
Details
Geographic Coordinate System
Latitude Resolution: 0.000001
Longitude Resolution: 0.000001
Geographic Coordinate Units: Decimal degrees
Geodetic Model
Horizontal Datum Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257224
_________________
Bounding coordinates
Horizontal
In decimal degrees
West:
-174.202942
East:
178.874603
North:
71.290138
South:
17.711706
In projected or local coordinates
Left: -174.202942
Right: 178.874603
Top: 71.290138
Bottom: 17.711706
_________________
Lineage
FGDC lineage
Process step 1
Process description: Digitized place names from the 1970 National Atlas of the United States were compared with U.S. Census Bureau place names from FIPS55-3_98. Where there were discrepancies, names from the GNIS were used. A small number of places could not be assigned FIPS55 codes and were removed from the data set. Minor positional corrections were also made.
Source used: 2MILMM
Source used: GNIS98
Source used: FIPS55-3_98
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES98
Process date: 1998
Source used: 2MILMM
Source used: GNIS98
Source used: FIPS55-3_98
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES98
Process date: 1998
Process step 2
Process description: No spatial data was changed in ATLAS-CITIES98. The following edits were made to the attribute data base file. In the Feature field, inconsistencies were removed and the population ranges were corrected as necessary to match the 1990 population information in the Pop field. Unnecessary fields were deleted (Idnum, Capcode, Stid). Fields were
added for State, State_Fips, and County. Lakewood Center, Washington
was changed to Lakewood, Washington with a population of 58412.
Incorrect population information for Lakewood, Snohomish County was
deleted. Boise City, Idaho was changed to Boise, Idaho.
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES98
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES00
Process date: 200002
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES98
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES00
Process date: 200002
Process step 3
Process description: Points generated from the GAZETTEER text file were added; points with duplicate FIPS55 codes were removed. County, State, and FIPS data were compared and corrected, if necessary, with data from FIPS55-3_99, and with POP_PL. Remaining incorporated and Census Designated Places (CDP's) from GNIS00 were added; all unincorporated and non-CDP places
were then removed. A few populated places in high density areas were
filtered out. Population data from the POP_ESTIMATE and GAZETTEER files
were added, and a population value of -99999 was used where population
data was not available. Some places were updated with new FIPS55 codes.
Minor positional corrections were made using ATLAS-HY and ATLAS-CNTY as
references. A display attribute, based on population size and distance
to nearest town, was added to determine which place names will be shown
at the most detailed scale on the National Atlas interactive map
browser.
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES00
Source used: GAZETTEER
Source used: FIPS55-3_99
Source used: POP_PL
Source used: GNIS00
Source used: POP_ESTIMATE
Source used: ATLAS-HY
Source used: ATLAS-CNTY
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES00A
Process date: 200011
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES00
Source used: GAZETTEER
Source used: FIPS55-3_99
Source used: POP_PL
Source used: GNIS00
Source used: POP_ESTIMATE
Source used: ATLAS-HY
Source used: ATLAS-CNTY
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES00A
Process date: 200011
Process step 4
Process description: 1990 and 1998 population figures for Newtown, Connecticut were updated.
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES00A
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES2002
Process date: 20021010
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES00A
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES2002
Process date: 20021010
Process step 5
Process description: County and county FIPS fields for the town of Bloomfield, CO were updated and it was listed as the county seat for Bloomfield county. County seats were added for counties where they were missing.
These include:
> Plumas County, CA-Quincy
> Towns County, GA-Hiawassee
> Kauai County, HI-Lihue
> Hardin County, IL-Elizabethtown
> Saginaw County, MI-Saginaw
> Koochiching County, MN-International Falls
> Holt County, NE-O'Neill
> Cass County, ND-Fargo
> Price County, WI-Phillips
Please note that Shannon County, SD; Todd County, SD; Kings, NY; Bronx, NY; Queens, NY; and Richmond, NY do not have official county seats.
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES2002
Source used: NACO
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES03
Process date: 20031215
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES2002
Source used: NACO
Source produced: ATLAS-CITIES03
Process date: 20031215
Process step 6
Process description: Incorporated place names in ATLAS-CITIES03 were compared with those from the GNIS database. GNIS names were used where there were discrepancies. New incorporated places were added; duplicate points and places no
longer incorporated were removed. Positions of all incorporated places were adjusted to match GNIS coordinates. Minor positional corrections of incorporated places were made using ATLAS-HY and ATLAS-CNTY as references. The population range values were adjusted to reflect 2000 population figures and the POP_2000 attribute was added; earlier population figures were dropped.
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES03
Source used: ATLAS-CNTY
Source used: ATLAS-HY
Source used: GNIS04
Process date: 200402
Source used: ATLAS-CITIES03
Source used: ATLAS-CNTY
Source used: ATLAS-HY
Source used: GNIS04
Process date: 200402
Sources
Source 1:
1:2,000,000-Scale Digital Line Graph Data - Manmade Features
(2MILMM)
Media: DVD
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
1994
Source 2:
Geographic Names Information System
(GNIS98)
Media: Online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
1998
Source 3:
FIPS 55-DC3 Index - Guideline: Codes for Named Populated Places,
Primary County Divisions, and Other Locational Entities of the
United States, Puerto Rico, and Outlying Areas
(FIPS55-3_98)
Media: Online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
1998
Source 4:
Cities and Towns of the United States
(ATLAS-CITIES98)
Media: online
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
1994
Source 5:
Cities and Towns of the United States
(ATLAS-CITIES00)
Media: Online
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
1994
Source 6:
U.S. Gazetteer Place File
(GAZETTEER)
Media: Online
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
1990
Source 7:
FIPS 55-DC3 Index - Guideline: Codes for Named Populated Places,
Primary County Divisions, and Other Locational Entities of the
United States, Puerto Rico, and Outlying Areas
(FIPS55-3_99)
Media: Online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
1999
Source 8:
Geographic Names Information System - Populated Places
(Pop_places_deci.zip)
(POP_PL)
Media: Online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
2000
Source 9:
Geographic Names Information System
(GNIS00)
Media: Online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
2000
Source 10:
Population Estimates for Places: July 1, 1998, and Population
Change: April 1, 1990 to July 1, 1998
(POP_ESTIMATE)
Media: Online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1990
Ending date and time:
1998
Source 11:
Hydrography Features of the United States
(ATLAS-HY)
Media: Online
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
1999
Source 12:
County Boundaries of the United States
(ATLAS-CNTY)
Media: Online
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
1999
Source 13:
Cities and Towns of the United States
(ATLAS-CITIES00A)
Media: Online
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
2000
Source 14:
Cities and Towns of the United States
(ATLAS-CITIES2002)
Media: Online
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
2000
Source 15:
United States Counties - Find a County
(NACO)
Media: Online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
2003
Source 16:
Cities and Towns of the United States
(ATLAS-CITIES2003)
Media: Online
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Scale denominator: 2000000
Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
Currentness of this source
Beginning date and time:
1972
Ending date and time:
2003
Source 17:
Geographic Names Information System
(GNIS04)
Media: online
Contribution: Attribute information
Contribution: Attribute information
Currentness of this source
Date and time:
2006
_________________
Spatial data description
Vector data information
ESRI description
place
ESRI feature type: Simple
Geometry type: Point
Topology: FALSE
Feature count: 35432
Spatial Index: TRUE
Linear referencing: FALSE
Geometry type: Point
Topology: FALSE
Feature count: 35432
Spatial Index: TRUE
Linear referencing: FALSE
SDTS description
place:
Entity point, 35432
Feature class: SDTS feature type, feature count
Details for place2000
Type of object: Feature Class
Number of records: 35432
Description
Populated places in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Attributes
FID
Definition:
Internal feature number.Definition Source:
ESRI
Shape
Definition:
Feature geometry.Definition Source:
ESRI
CITIESX020
Data type: Number
Width: 11
Definition:
Width: 11
Definition:
Unqiue IDDefinition Source:
RITA/BTS
FEATURE
Data type: String
Width: 27
Definition:
Width: 27
Definition:
The type of city or town.Definition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
NAME
Data type: String
Width: 48
Definition:
Width: 48
Definition:
The name of the city or town.Definition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
POP_RANGE
Data type: String
Width: 21
Definition:
Width: 21
Definition:
The population range of the city or town based on 2000 U.S. CensusDefinition Source:
U.S. Census Bureau
POP_2000
Data type: Number
Width: 8
Definition:
Width: 8
Definition:
The 2000 population of the city or town.Definition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
FIPS55
Data type: String
Width: 5
Definition:
Width: 5
Definition:
The 5-digit FIPS code of the named populated place, primary countyDefinition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
COUNTY
Data type: String
Width: 55
Definition:
Width: 55
Definition:
The name of the county or county equivalent.Definition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
FIPS
Data type: String
Width: 5
Definition:
Width: 5
Definition:
The 5-character FIPS code of the State-County.Definition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
STATE
Data type: String
Width: 2
Definition:
Width: 2
Definition:
The 2-digit Postal Abbreviation of the State or State equivalent.Definition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
STFIPS
Data type: String
Width: 2
Definition:
Width: 2
Definition:
The 2-character FIPS code of the State or State equivalentDefinition Source:
RITA/BTS
DISPLAY
Data type: String
Width: 2
Definition:
Width: 2
Definition:
A value used to specify whether a place name text label will be shown at the most detailed display scale in the National Atlas Map Maker. It is determined by a ratio based on population size and distance to nearest town and was set by the following steps: 1. Distance to the nearest neighbor was calculated for each populated place. Population density was calculated by adding the 1990 population values for each county and then dividing the total by the area of the county. The 1990 population values of -99999 were set to 1. 3. A display ratio was calculated using the formula 1990 Population x Distance / Population Density. 4. Display was set to 1 for all points with a minimum result of 15000, and set to 0 for the remainder of points. This attribute was not updated in the February, 2004, version of this data set.Definition Source:
U.S. Geological Survey
VERSION
Data type: String
Width: 2
Definition:
Width: 2
Definition:
The VERSION is a 2-digit number that will be incremented for all records in the database whenever a new release is distributed.Definition Source:
RITA/BTS