BAS NSC 2020 Respondent guides and letters

BAS Respondent Guides and letters NSC Nov 2019.pdf

The Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) & Boundary Validation Program (BVP)

BAS NSC 2020 Respondent guides and letters

OMB: 0607-0151

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 0607-0151 can be found here:

2023-10-24 - No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection
2022-10-14 - No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection

Document [pdf]

Download: pdf | pdf

Request for Non-Substantive Change to the
Boundary and Annexation Survey
OMB Control No. 0607-0151
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
Purpose
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) annually to collect
information about selected legally defined geographic areas. The BAS is used to update
information about the legal boundaries and names of all governmental units in the United
States. The Census Bureau uses the boundary information collected during the BAS to tabulate
data for the decennial and economic censuses, and for annual estimates and surveys such as
the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Population Estimates Program (PEP). The BAS is
authorized by Section 6 of Title 13 of the United States Code.
The Boundary Validation Program (BVP) is conducted every ten years, and runs in parallel with
the 2020 BAS. For the BVP, Tribal Chairs (TCs) and Highest Elected Officials (HEOs) are asked to
review and confirm their government’s boundary, legal name, and status information. The
TC/HEOs are instructed to work with their BAS contact to report any corrections through the
2020 BAS.
The BAS State Certification (BASSC) is an annual program that invites governor-appointed State
Certifying Officials (SCOs) to review legal boundary changes submitted to the annual BAS. This
program ensures the accuracy and completeness of the boundary information reported to the
Census Bureau through the BAS program.
This non-substantive change request is to update the 2020 BAS, BVP, and BASSC materials from
the currently approved collection. Refer to Table 1 for a list of the additions and changes made
to the materials submitted with this NSC.
Background
The current BAS OMB collection was approved on 10/30/2018 for three years, with an
expiration date of 11/30/2021. The Census Bureau has made changes to the BAS, BVP, and
BASSC materials to include new programmatic information, minimize duplication of
correspondence, and utilize plain language.
This Non-Substantive Change (NSC) is a request for BAS, BVP, and BASSC related materials in
the form of respondent guides, quick start guides, and a partnership toolbox overview
document. Participants will use these instructions and guidance to review their
BAS/BVP/BASSC materials. Refer to Table 2 for a list and brief description of the BAS/BVP
materials enclosed with this NSC.

Burden
The burden of the BAS is unchanged by this update.
Attachments
Table 1: BAS/BASSC/BVP Materials Additions and Changes
Changes as part of this NSC

Description

Initial BVP TIGERWeb Quick Start Guide
New Quick Start Guide for
BVP participants

•

Guides BVP participants through how to use TIGERweb.

BASSC-4L State Certifying Official (SCO) Letter (CCD States)

Date changes, minor text
changes

•
•
•
•
•

Changed all years from 2018 to 2019.
Changed the due date for SCO files to March 1, 2020.
Removed “the state of” from the first sentence.
Changed “BAS State Certification Respondent Guide” to
“BAS Respondent Guide: State Certification document.”
Changed “please notify my staff” to “please notify the
Census Bureau.”

BASSC-4L SCO Letter (MCD States)

Date changes, minor text
changes

•
•
•
•
•

Updated in all BAS documentation
•
Additional information
added to Key Dates section
Addition of What’s New for
the 2020 BAS information
section

•

Revised section provides updated verbiage under the Key
Dates section that is applicable for only the 2020 BAS cycle.
Removed ACS/PEP and changed to January 1, 2020 instead
of January 1; March 1, 2020 instead of March 1; and May
31, 2020 instead of May 31.
New section provides information about the 2020 Boundary
Validation Program, which is conducted in parallel to the
2020 BAS; 2020 BAS is the final opportunity to provide

Changes as part of this NSC

Description
updates before the 2020 Census data tabulation, and the
development of a BAS Partnership Toolbox for ArcGIS users.

Date changes

•

Changed years from 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020
throughout.

•

Replace the link to videos from
https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/library/videos/bas-intro.html>.to
https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/library/videos.html

•

Changed all Section references to format as Section #,
- using a comma to separate the paragraph number
from the paragraph title.

•

Made all instances of ZIP file, zipfile, and ZIP File, BAS ID and
BAS entity ID, Census and Census Bureau, and shapefile and
shape file consistent across all documents. (Used BASID, ZIP
and zip according to images they reference, and Census
Bureau.)
Changed from Area/Hydrographic Landmark Update Layer
to Area Landmarks/Hydrographic Areas.

Correct video link to website

Formatted reference links

Updated references for
consistency

Changed Area/Hydrographic
Landmark Update Layer
references

•

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Toolbox
Throughout the 2020 Digital
BAS Partnership Toolbox

•

Updated and added new screen shots for 2020.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital
Figure 2. Overlay of Four
Feature Classes
Replaced Info box in Section
5.5.2
Moved Section 5.3.1
Boundary Changes to Legal
Entities in Georgia and
Indiana

•

Changed image to graphically show an overlay of the four
different feature classes.

•

Info box was incorrect, changed to match one for the
Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide:
GUPS.
Added to Section 5.3.2.1 after the Boundary Corrections
section.

•

Changes as part of this NSC
Figure 40. polygons that
should be Snapped to Roads
or Rivers
Edit to Section 5.3.1

Description
•

Added new images to Figure 40 to show examples of a
before/after of a snapping.

•

Add subsection using the text from Section 4.2 of the
Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide:
GUPS.
Add text from Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: GUPS, Section 2.4.1 under Boundary
Changes as 5.3.1.

•
Section 5.3.1
Appendix B 2020 Digital BAS
Example Process 1
Chapter 5, Section 5.3
Boundary Changes
Section 5.4 Linear Feature
Updates
Caption under Figure 10
Section 5.7.8 FIPS Codes
Update references to BAS 19
Updated Shapefile Naming
Conventions
Appendix C 2020 Digital BAS
Example Process 2

•

Replace with updated 2020 BAS Partnership Toolbox stepby-step instructions.

•

Added more specifics on how tools are used to make change
files (Symmetrical Difference or Union) and when to use
them.
Updated this section to match the Boundary and Annexation
Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital.

•
•

Updated this section to match the Boundary and Annexation
Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital.

•

Updated title to include first usage spell out of acronym.

•

Replaced BAS 19 shapefile names with BAS 20 for
submissions.

•

Replaced outdated references of PVS_17 and PVS_18 to
current PVS_19_v2.

•

Updates throughout to match Boundary and Annexation
Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital.
Moved Section C10.5 to after C10.2.

•

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Digital Quick Start Guide
Update step 2 in Initial Steps
to add hyperlinks

•

Added the URL to the two bullets so if readers could not
click and link, they could copy the URL to connect to the
documents.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): GUPS Quick Start Guide.

Changes as part of this NSC
Update step 2 in Initial Steps
to add hyperlinks
Second page, Return
Updates Using the Secure
Web Incoming Module
(SWIM)
Forgot your Password? box

Description
•

•

Added the URL to the two bullets so if readers could not
click and link, they could copy the URL to connect to the
documents.
Changed formatting from bullets in step 3 to numbers.

Changed formatting to match Boundary and Annexation
Survey (BAS): Digital Quick Start.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Paper
Introduction, Section B,
Step 1
Throughout the document

•

Updated BVP website link.

•

Addressed acronyms that were not spelled out.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Tribal Respondent Guide: Digital
Chapter 3, first paragraph
Removed Section 5.4.2
Section 2.3 Reviewing Legal
Boundaries

Section 5.5.1 Area
Landmark/Hydrographic
Area Updates

Section 5.7.6 Compressing
the Digital Files
Appendix B 2020 Digital BAS
Example Process 1

•

Moved below Table 1.

•

Removed this section. It was replaced with the wording in
the main heading and is now redundant.

•

Added Table 1: Available Change Types by Entity Type.

• Placed Note from digital guide for consistency:
Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area Changes May Be Delayed
The Census Bureau prioritizes boundary changes to legal areas
to meet ACS, PEP, and BAS deadlines. Therefore, there may be
delays in incorporating area landmark and hydrographic area
changes to the MAF/TIGER System. Please do not resubmit any
changes that were sent during the previous year’s BAS. The
Census Bureau is working on incorporating those changes, and
they will be reflected in the next year’s BAS materials.
• Removed Step 4.
•

Replace with updated 2020 Digital BAS Partnership Toolbox
step-by-step instructions.

Changes as part of this NSC
Appendix C 2020 Digital BAS
Example Process 2
Chapter 5, Section 5.3
Boundary Changes

Description
•
•
•

Updates throughout to match Boundary and Annexation
Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital.
Moved Section C10.5 to after C10.2.
Added more specifics on how tools are used to make change
files (Symmetrical Difference or Union) and when to use
them.

Changes as part of this NSC

Description

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: GUPS
•

Replaced all instances of “GU” throughout the document
with “government” or “governments.”

Section 2.5 Reviewing Linear
Features

•

Deleted section, it appears elsewhere in the document.

Table 5: Install the GUPS
Application

•

Updated images based on newest version of software.

Table 6: Start a New Project
Using Shapefiles from the
BAS website

•
•

Renumbered Steps 18-23 to correct order.
Updated images to match current software version.

•

Updated images to match current web pages and software.

•

Updated image to match current version of software.

•

Explanation of expanding layers on the menu updated to
match current software.

Updates Appendix E GUPS
Tools

•

Updated images based on current version of software.

Section 5.5.2 Table of
Contents and Map View

•

Changed title to Layers Panel and Map View.

Throughout

Table 7 through Table 349
Figure 2, Figure 4, Figure 8,
Figure 9, Figure 12
Section 5.5.3.3

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Tribal GUPS
Introduction, Section A
Throughout
Section 2.3 Reviewing Legal
Boundaries
2.5 Legal Disputes
Section 3.2 Submitting Files
through SWIM
Table 5: Install the GUPS
Application

•

Updated text: Title 13, Section 6, United States Code
(U.S.C.).

•

Replaced all instances of “GU” throughout the document
with “government” or “governments.”

•

Renamed to Tribal Areas that can be submitted through
BAS.

•

Deleted, it appears in another part of the guide.

•
•

Defined the acronym SWIM.
Changed “Annual Response Form” to “BAS Annual Response
Form.”
Updated screen shots throughout the table.

•

Changes as part of this NSC

Description
•

All images updated where needed to match the Tribal BAS
Module in the latest version of GUPS.

•

Updated to Section 3.4.

Update websites and
references to BAS 19

•

Replaced BAS 19 shapefile names with BAS 20 for
submissions.

Updated Shapefile Naming
Conventions

•

Replaced out dated references of PVS 17 and PVS 18 to
current PVS 19v2.

Table 10: Menu Tabs and
Their Functions

•

Updated images to match current version of GUPS.

•

Added missing section on how to add a geographic corridor.

•

Updated images with past years to 2019 or 2020 where
appropriate.

•

Text corrected to show as part of Figures.

•

Table of Contents changed to Layers Panel.

•

Updated references of tools to match what the updated
software uses as the name of the tools.

Section 5.2 import Data
from the Census Bureau’s
BAS Website
QGIS Desktop version

Section 6.1.3
Table 43 and Table 44
Figures 13, 14, 15
References to Table of
contents on the layers Map
changed
Table 6: Start a New Project
Using Shapefiles from the
BAS Website

Table 2: BAS/BVP Materials Crosswalk
File Name
Initial BVP TIGERWeb
Quick Start Guide
2020 Digital BAS
Partnership Toolbox
2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: Digital
2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS):
Digital Quick Start Guide
2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS):
GUPS Quick Start Guide
2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: Paper
2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: Tribal
Digital
2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: GUPS

2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: Tribal
GUPS

Quick Description
BVP guide used to aid participants This is will aid TCs and HEOs
in using the TIGERweb without having to read the whole
TIGERweb guide. This document will be placed on the BVP
website.
Step-by-step instructions to using Census Bureau developed
tools for facilitating the boundary updating process for ArcGIS
users.
BAS Respondent Guide with instructions for participating in the
2020 BAS using a Geographic Information System (GIS).
A two page document outlining how to download and obtain
BAS Materials to digitally review boundaries and use the Secure
Web Incoming Module (SWIM) to submit documents.
A two page document outlining how to download, start a new
project or update using GUPS and how to use the Secure Web
Incoming Module (SWIM) to submit documents.
BAS Respondent Guide with instructions on using paper maps to
review and update boundaries.
BAS Respondent Guide with instructions for the Federal
American Indian Reservations, Federal Off-Reservation Trust
Lands, Tribal Subdivisions, and Hawaiian Homelands on
participating digitally in the 2020 survey.
BAS respondent guide to assist participants with directions for
how to use the digital tools available within the GUPS
application, as well as step-by-step instructions for how to carry
out specific shapefile updates (e.g., annexations and
deannexations, adding and deleting features and landmarks,
etc.) digitally. This document also contains instructions for using
the Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS).
BAS guide to assist participants in the review and update all
legal governments and boundaries within their
reservation/trust lands/tribal subdivisions, including the
additions and deletions of land area and boundary corrections.
This document also contains instructions for using GUPS.

BASSC-4(L)
(09-2018)

December 2, 2019

<Contact Salutation> <First Name> <Last Name>
<Position>
<Department>
<Address>
<City, State Zip-Zip+4>
Dear «CONTACT_SALUTATION» «LAST_NAME»:
The Governor's office notified the U.S. Census Bureau that you are serving as the State Certifying Official
(SCO) for «STATE_NAME». Through this program, the Census Bureau asks you to verify the accuracy of
the information received during the 2019 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The decennial census,
Population Estimates Program, and the American Community Survey use the information collected
through the BAS to tabulate and report data for communities in your state.
All information and materials for review, including the BAS State Certification listings and the BAS
Respondent Guide: State Certification document, are located on the BAS State Certification webpage at
the following address: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/information/state-certificationprogram.html>. Select your state name under the Download BAS State Certification Materials section to
be directed to a File Transfer Protocol site where you can find the materials for download. We are
providing you with the following information from the 2019 BAS:





List 1- governments that have disincorporated, become inactive, or otherwise ceased to exist;
List 2- legal boundary changes reported to the 2019 BAS; and
List 3- names and functional statuses of incorporated places.

A summary of the state laws for reporting legal boundary changes in the state of «STATE_NAME» is
attached for your reference. Please notify the Census Bureau if there are errors in the state law
summary or if there are any records in the provided data files that are in violation of state or county law.
Return the certified listings to the Census Bureau on or before March 1, 2020. Refer to the BAS
Respondent Guide: State Certification document located on the BAS State Certification webpage at the
link above for further information.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact the Census Bureau’s
Geography Division by telephone at 301-763-1099 or by email at <geo.bas@census.gov>.
Sincerely,

Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop
Chief, Geography Division
Attachment
By email

Attachment: State Law Summary

BASSC-4(L)
(09-2018)

December 2, 2019

<Contact Salutation> <First Name> <Last Name>
<Position>
<Department>
<Address>
<City, State Zip-Zip+4>
Dear <Contact Salutation> <Last Name>:
The Governor's office notified the U.S. Census Bureau that you are serving as the State Certifying Official
(SCO) for <State Name>. Through this program, the Census Bureau asks you to verify the accuracy of the
information received during the 2019 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The decennial census,
Population Estimates Program, and the American Community Survey use the information collected
through the BAS to tabulate and report data for communities in your state.
All information and materials for review, including the BAS State Certification listings and the BAS
Respondent Guide: State Certification guide, are located on the BAS State Certification webpage at the
following address: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/information/state-certificationprogram.html>. Select your state name under the Download BAS State Certification Materials section to
be directed to a File Transfer Protocol site where you can find the materials for download. We are
providing you with the following information from the 2019 BAS:






List 1- governments that have disincorporated, become inactive, or otherwise ceased to exist;
List 2- legal boundary changes reported to the 2019 BAS;
List 3- names and functional statuses of incorporated places; and
List 4- names and functional statuses of Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs).

A summary of the state laws for reporting legal boundary changes in <State> is attached for your
reference. Please notify the Census Bureau if there are errors in the state law summary or if there are
any records in the provided data files that are in violation of state or county law. Return the certified
listings to the Census Bureau on or before March 1, 2020. Refer to the BAS Respondent Guide: State
Certification guide located on the BAS State Certification webpage at the link above for further
information.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact the Census Bureau’s
Geography Division by telephone at 301-763-1099 or by email at <geo.bas@census.gov>.
Sincerely,

Deirdre Dalpiaz Bishop
Chief, Geography Division
Attachment
By email

Attachment: State Law Summary

Initial Boundary Validation Program (BVP) Quick
Guide
Use this Initial BVP Quick Guide to access TIGERweb and review the U.S. Census Bureau’s
depiction of your government’s boundary.
TIGERweb is a web-based system that allows users to visualize the Census Bureau’s TIGER
(Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) database, and provides a simple
way to view the TIGER data without geographic information system (GIS) software and without
downloading data.
Detailed instructions for using TIGERweb are on the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
website: <https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/partnerships/bas/TIGERwebforBAS.pdf>.
1. Access the TIGERweb Online Map Viewer at:
<https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerweb/>
a. When opening the webpage, you should
see a map in the center of the screen
and a menu on the left hand side.
2. Select a data vintage to view from the
dropdown.

TIGERweb website

a. On the left hand side of the screen, select
the data to view from the “Select Vintage”
dropdown.
b. Choose “BAS2020” from the “Select
Vintage” dropdown menu.

Vintage dropdown

3. Turn on the appropriate boundary layer for your
government.
a. Ensure the “Layers” tab is selected.
b. Click the empty box next to the layer name
of your government type to view the
boundary. Layers containing legal
boundaries include “American Indian,
Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas”,
“Places and County Subdivisions”, or
“States and Counties”. There should now
be a checkmark in the box.
c.

Layers tab

These layers include the legal boundaries
updated during the 2019 BAS.
Layer options

Connect with us
@uscensusbureau
For more information:
2020CENSUS.GOV

4. Use the Query tool to find your government
boundary.
a. Select the icon depicting a globe and magnifying
glass in the upper right hand corner to open the
“Query” tool.

Select Query Tool

b. Select the “Attribute” tab.
c.

Under the “Select Map” option, choose
“American Indian, Alaska Native, and
Native Hawaiian Areas”, “Places and
County Subdivisions” or “States and
Counties”.

d. Under the “Select Layers” option, choose
the type of government you represent to
review.
e. Enter the name of your government in the
“Enter Name of Feature” box.
f.

Query Tool Options

Click “Submit”.

5. Zoom to government and view boundary.
a. Go to the “Task Results” tab on the upper
right of the page and select the “Query
Results”. Select the name of your
government to zoom to the boundary.
b. Zoom and pan around the boundary to
review by left clicking and moving the
mouse.
c.

Query results

Change the map background to show
terrain, landmass, or satellite imagery by
clicking the background icon in the upper
right of the map.
Map background options

Please work with your BAS contact to submit boundary updates by March 01, 2020 if you determine
that the boundary for your government is incorrect.
For more information on Initial BVP, please visit the BVP website at
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/information/bvp.html>, or contact the Census Bureau
by email at <geo.bas@census.gov>, or by phone at 1-800-972-5651.

Connect with us
@uscensusbureau
For more information:
2020CENSUS.GOV

2020 DIGITAL BAS PARTNERSHIP TOOLBOX
The 2020 Digital BAS Partnership Toolbox provides step-by-step instructions to facilitate the
updating process. For best results, use the toolbox in ArcGIS 10.0 and higher.

1 How to Use the BAS Partnership Toolbox
In an effort to ease the burden of creating BAS updates, a toolbox was developed for ArcGIS.
This toolbox simplifies the updating process by automating the downloading of data, creating
changes, removing slivers, formatting and checking attribution, and preparing/exporting files
for submission. Before running these tools, users will need the following:





The BAS Partnership Toolbox, which can be downloaded at:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/geographies/map-tools/arcmap-tools.html>.
The BAS ID for the government being processed. This can be found on the BAS Annual Response
email or online at: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/technicaldocumentation/code-lists.html>.
A shapefile or feature class showing the legal boundary of the government.
o Data in this layer should have data including the name of the government being processed
formatted to agree with the Census Bureau’s naming convention for the same government
as found in the NAME field or the NAMELSAD field for Minor Civil Division (MCD) and
American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian (AIANNH).
The 2020 BAS Partnership Shapefiles located at:
<https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/2019/geo/bas/2019-bas-shapefiles.html>.

2 Toolbox Tools Setup
These Toolbox tools were designed primarily for use in ArcCatalog though they run in ArcMap
as well. The instructions for most steps are assuming use in ArcCatalog.
Unzip the Digital BAS Partnership Tools.zip to the C: drive or other preferred working folder.
The folder location does not matter as long as it can be accessed from ArcCatalog. Inside there
will be a folder called DBAS, containing all the files to work with for a government. Open
ArcCatalog and connect to the DBAS folder. When expanded, the following should be visible:

Figure 1. Partnership BAS Tools Menu

Note: To connect to a folder in ArcCatalog, click on the Connect to Folder button on the Standard
Toolbar, find the DBAS folder, and then click OK.
U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

3 Census Data Download Tool
The Census Data Download tool will gather all the partnership shapefile data needed to create
changes from the Census Bureau website. If the data is on a Census Bureau provided disc, this
tool will also work but only if the data is loaded to the computer before running the tool. This
tool can also use the ZIP files downloaded from the 2020 BAS Partnership Shapefiles site:
<https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/2020/geo/bas/2020-bas-shapefiles.html>
and outlined in Chapter 3 of the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide:
Digital. Please follow the steps below to run the Census Data Download tool.
Expand the DBAS folder and the setup subfolder. In the setup folder, find the Partnership
Toolbox. Expand the toolbox and double click on the 1) Census Data Download tool.

Figure 2. Partnership BAS Tools Menu with Census Data Download Selected

There are two ways to use this tool: one that downloads the data from the Census Bureau for
the user and one that takes in a folder with the Census Bureau data already downloaded.
Enter the 11-digit BAS ID in the User’s BAS ID field.
Select Yes or No under the Use Data Downloader? field. If you select No, you must enter a
path to the already downloaded partnership shapefiles in the next field.
Navigate or drag the folder into Path to ZIP files field. Make sure the folder only contains
the Census Bureau ZIP files to ensure there are no future data issues.

This example shows how a user would complete the fields to have data downloaded for them.

Figure 3. The Census Data Download Window with ‘Yes’ in the Use Data Downloader Field

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

This example shows how a user would complete the fields if they already have the partnership
shapefiles downloaded and saved on their computer.

Figure 4. The Census Data Download Window with ‘No’ in the Use Data Downloader Field

Click OK to run.
When this tool is complete, there should now be a folder for the BAS ID in the projects folder.
Inside that folder, there will be a geodatabase with reference data in it and an archive folder.

Figure 5. Partnership Tools Menu Showing a Folder for the BAS ID in the Projects Folder

Note: The archive folder contains other Census Bureau data that may be useful as well.

4 Create Changes Tool
Once the necessary Census Bureau data is obtained, run the 2) Create Changes tool to create
the change polygons. Before this tool can successfully complete, there must be an attribute
field in the local boundary layer that contains the name of the government or governments as
they appear in Census Bureau records (Figure 6). This includes matching capitalization, spacing,
and in the case of MCDs a descriptor of the geography (e.g. township, village, borough, etc.)
which can be found in the NAMELSAD field of the bas_cousub layer in the reference feature
dataset (Figure 7). If it is a new entity or the legal name is changing, it does not need to agree
though other attribution must be updated to reflect this change.

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

Figure 6. NAME Field in Census Data vs Local Boundary Data
The bas_place layer on the left shows how the Census Bureau NAME
field is populated for all the places in Butler County, PA while the local
places data shows how local data may need to be manipulated to agree
with the Census Bureau NAME field.

Figure 7. Appropriate Attribution for COUSUB or AIANNH Changes
The bas_cousub attribution on the left in the NAMELSAD field shows
how the local MUNICIPALI field on the right should be formatted to
ensure that the Create Changes tool works for the MCD changes in
Butler County, PA.

Double click on 2) Create Changes tool.

Figure 8. Partnership Tools Menu with Create Changes Tool Selected

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

In the Create Changes window:
In the Local Boundary File field, enter the path or navigate to the full boundary polygon.
Enter the 11-digit BAS ID in the BAS ID field.
Under Changes Being Processed, choose the type of changes to create from the dropdown
options:
a. Incplace (incorporated place).
b. County.
c. Cousub (MCDs).
d. AIANNH (Tribal areas).
For the Name Field in Local Data, the boundary file may need to be modified to agree with a
field in the Census Bureau’s data. Type the name of the field (as it appears in ArcCatalog)
containing the information matching the Census Bureau’s NAME field. If processing an MCD
or AIANNH file where the Census Bureau NAME field contains duplicates, match the Census
Bureau’s NAMELSAD.

Figure 9. Create Changes Window

Click OK to run the tool.
Once the tool is complete, the output will be placed in the geodatabase under the submission
feature dataset.

Figure 10. Partnership Tools Menu with Geodatabase

Repeat steps for any other levels of geography that need changes created.

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

5 Sliver Blaster Tool (Optional)
The Sliver Blaster tool is useful for governments that have numerous very small change
polygons that are time consuming to manually parse through for deletion. Since the Census
Bureau cannot guarantee inclusion of changes under 30 feet, use this tool to remove changes
that are lower than that threshold. Participants can also change the tolerance for slivers if they
know there are small changes that need to be included. This automated tool will vary in
processing time depending on the number of features in the entity.
Double click on the 3) Sliver Blaster tool.

Figure 11. Partnership Tools Menu with Sliver Blaster Selected

In the Sliver Blaster tool window:
The Changes File refers to the file created in the previous step, found in the submission
feature dataset.
The Census Edges feature class is found in the benchmark feature dataset and is called
bas_edges.
The Buffer Distance field is set to 30 feet by default, but this can be adjusted to
accommodate smaller changes.
Click OK to run.

Figure 12. Sliver Blaster Window

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

6 Format Working MXD Tool (Optional)
The intent of this tool is to create a map document (.mxd) for users containing their change file
and all of the reference layers they will need to finalize a submission. If users would prefer to
use their own .mxd, this step is not required.
Double click on the 4) Format Working MXD tool.

Figure 13. Partnership Tools Menu with Format Working MXD Selected

The only input for this tool is the Working Folder, which is the folder with the governments BAS
ID as its name.

Figure 14. Format Working MXD Window

Click OK to run the tool.
Open the new .mxd and begin working with the change polygons.

Figure 15. Projects Submenu with .mxd File Selected

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

7 Attribute Check Tool
This tool is used to verify that there are no inconsistencies with the data included in the
submission. Run this tool during or after change polygons have been reviewed for spatial
accuracy to produce a report of attribution errors (see Section 5.6 of the Boundary and
Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital for guidance on conducting a spatial
review). It may also run for all levels of geography that have changes since it is run on each
individual change file.
Double click on the 5) Attribute Check tool.

Figure 16. Partnership Tools Menu with Attribute Check Selected

In the Attribute Check window:
The Change File should be the change file created in tool 2) Create Changes for which to
generate a report.
In Geography Type, chose the type of geography being worked on from the dropdown. The
same options as the Create Changes tool are available here.
The last input is the optional check box for Includes Changes in Georgia. This box only needs
to be checked if responding in the state of Georgia.

Figure 17. Attribute Check Window

Click OK to run the tool.
There should now be a text file in the working folder called attribute_check_<geogtype>.txt
containing all the discrepancies identified in the change file that still need to be fixed.

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

Figure 18. Projects Submenu Showing an attribute_check Text File

8 Export Submission Tool
Upon review of the changes file and the attribute error report, the finalized changes can be
exported for submission to the Census Bureau. This tool can also be used to provide updated
contact information with the submission.
Double click on the 6) Export Submission Files tool.

Figure 19. Partnership Tools Menu with Export Submission Files Selected

In the Export Submission Files tool window:
Enter the 11-digit BAS ID in the BAS ID field.
Under Additional Files, drag in or navigate to any additional files to be included in the
submission. This can include parcel data, legal documentation, or any other helpful
supporting data. This is an option;’/[ field so it can also be left blank. There is no need to add
6\7the changes layers here as the tool will handle those already based on the BAS ID.
For BAS Contact, Entity Name, Contact Title or Department Name, Address, Email, and
Phone Number, please include any or all contact information updates that are to be sent to
the Census Bureau. These fields can be left blank if there are no updates, though if someone
other than the BAS Contact prepared the submission, include the contact information.

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

Figure 20. Export Submission Files Window

Click OK to run the tool.

9 Submitting Files through the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM)
The Census Bureau requires participants to submit updated BAS materials as ZIP files using the
Census Bureau’s SWIM site. Please submit only the ZIP file(s). SWIM is located at:
<https://respond.census.gov/swim>. For instructions on how to use SWIM, see Section 5.7.6,
Submitting Digital Files through SWIM of the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: Digital.

U.S. Census Bureau

2020 Digital BAS Partnership Tools

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: Digital
Instructions for Participating in the 2020 Boundary and Annexation Survey
Revised as of October 07, 2019

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U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ix
A.

The Boundary and Annexation Survey ............................................................................ ix

What’s New for the 2020 BAS? ....................................................................................... ix

Key Dates for BAS Respondents .......................................................................................x

BAS State Agreements ......................................................................................................x

Legal Disputes ...................................................................................................................x

Chapter 1 Digital BAS Requirements ....................................................................................... 1
1.1

Digital BAS Participation Requirements .......................................................................... 1

1.2

BAS Informational and Tutorial Videos ........................................................................... 1

Chapter 2 Topological Relationships and Spatial Accuracy ...................................................... 2
2.1

Topological Relationships in MAF/TIGER ......................................................................... 2

2.2

GIS and Spatial Accuracy.................................................................................................. 3

2.3

Census Bureau Topology Training Video ......................................................................... 5

Chapter 3 Census Bureau Provided Shapefiles ........................................................................ 6
3.1

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Codes ................................................. 6

Chapter 4 Census Bureau GeoCoding ...................................................................................... 7
4.1

MAF Structure Point (MSP) Geocoding ........................................................................... 7

4.2

Address Range Geocoding ............................................................................................... 8

Chapter 5 Updating the Census Bureau Shapefiles.................................................................. 9
5.1

General File Setup Guidelines .......................................................................................... 9

5.2

Changing the Map Projection .......................................................................................... 9

5.3

Boundary Changes ........................................................................................................... 9

5.3.1 Annexations and Deannexations .............................................................................. 10
5.3.2 Boundary Corrections ............................................................................................... 10
5.3.3 Boundary Changes to Legal Governments in Georgia and Indiana .......................... 11
5.3.4 New Incorporations ................................................................................................... 12
5.3.5 Disincorporations ...................................................................................................... 12
5.3.6 Geographic Corridors ................................................................................................ 12
5.3.7 Geographic Offsets .................................................................................................... 13
5.4

Linear Feature Updates ................................................................................................. 14

5.4.1 Adding, Deleting, Renaming, and Recoding Linear Features .................................... 15
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

5.4.2 Address Range Updates ............................................................................................ 15
5.5

Area Landmarks, Hydrographic Areas, and Point Landmarks ....................................... 15

5.5.1 Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area Updates ............................................................ 16
5.5.2 Point Landmark Updates ........................................................................................... 18
5.6

Reviewing Changes to the Census Bureau Shapefiles ................................................... 19

5.6.1 Boundary-to-Feature Relationships .......................................................................... 20
5.6.2 Large Boundary Corrections ...................................................................................... 22
5.6.3 Required Attribute Information ................................................................................ 23
5.6.4 Appropriate Projection Information ......................................................................... 23
5.6.5 Linear Feature Updates ............................................................................................. 23
5.7

Additional Information Review ...................................................................................... 24

5.7.1 Submitting Digital Data ............................................................................................. 24
5.7.2 Change Polygon Layer Naming Conventions ............................................................ 25
5.7.3 Whole Entity Polygon Layer Naming Conventions ................................................... 26
5.7.4 Linear Feature, Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area, and Point Landmark Updates 26
5.7.5 Compressing the Digital Files .................................................................................... 26
5.7.6 Submitting Digital Files through SWIM ..................................................................... 28
Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 33
Appendix A

Data Dictionary .............................................................................................. A-1

Appendix B

2020 Digital BAS Example Process 1 ............................................................... B-1

How to Use the BAS Partnership Toolbox .................................................................... B-1

Toolbox Tools Setup...................................................................................................... B-1

Census Data Download Tool ......................................................................................... B-2

Create Changes Tool ..................................................................................................... B-3

Sliver Blaster Tool (Optional) ........................................................................................ B-6

Format Working MXD Tool (Optional) .......................................................................... B-7

Attribute Check Tool ..................................................................................................... B-8

Export Submission Tool ................................................................................................ B-9

Submitting through the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM) ............................... B-10

Appendix C

2020 Digital BAS Example Process 2 ............................................................... C-1

Required Census Bureau Shapefiles ............................................................................. C-1

Local Data...................................................................................................................... C-1

Symbolizing Layers in ArcGIS ........................................................................................ C-1

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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

iii

Symbolizing Geographic Areas ..................................................................................... C-2

Extracting Incorporated Place or MCD Data from Census Shapefiles .......................... C-2

C5.1 Filtering the Data ...................................................................................................... C-3
C5.2 Exporting the Data to a New Shapefile .................................................................... C-3
C6

Merging Multipart Place Data ...................................................................................... C-4

Creating Change Polygons ............................................................................................ C-5

C7.1 Creating Change Polygons Using Symmetrical Difference ....................................... C-5
C7.2 Creating Change Polygons Using Union ................................................................... C-6
C8

Reviewing and Attributing Change Polygons................................................................ C-8

C8.1 Examples .................................................................................................................. C-9
C9

Attribute Information ................................................................................................... C-9

C9.1 To Begin Updating Attributes for Annexation.......................................................... C-9
C9.2 To Begin Updating Attributes for Deannexation ................................................... C-10
C9.3 To Begin Updating Attributes for Geographic Corridors ....................................... C-10
C9.4 To Begin Updating Attributes for Geographic Offsets ........................................... C-10
C9.5 To Finish Updating Attributes ................................................................................ C-10
C10 Renaming and Finalizing Change Polygons................................................................. C-10
C10.1 Renaming the Shapefile ......................................................................................... C-11
C10.2 Submitting the shapefile ........................................................................................ C-11
C10.3 To Begin Updating Attributes for Boundary Corrections ....................................... C-11
Appendix D

U.S. Census Bureau

MTFCC Descriptions ....................................................................................... D-1

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: BAS Shapefile Naming Conventions .................................................................................. 6
Table 2: Annexations and Deannexations .................................................................................... 10
Table 3: Boundary Corrections ..................................................................................................... 10
Table 4: New Incorporations......................................................................................................... 12
Table 5: Disincorporations ............................................................................................................ 12
Table 6: Geographic Corridors ...................................................................................................... 13
Table 7: Geographic Offsets .......................................................................................................... 14
Table 8: Linear Feature Updates ................................................................................................... 15
Table 9. Address Range Updates .................................................................................................. 15
Table 10: Landmarks and Hydrographic Areas ............................................................................. 16
Table 11: Acceptable MTFCCs for New Area Landmarks/Hydrographic Areas ............................ 17
Table 12: Point Landmark Updates ............................................................................................... 18
Table 13: Restricted Point Landmark MTFCC Codes..................................................................... 19
Table 14: Change Polygons ........................................................................................................... 25
Table 15: Whole Entity Polygon Layer Naming Conventions ....................................................... 26
Table 16: Optional Files................................................................................................................. 26
Table 17: County and Equivalent Areas Shapefile ....................................................................... A-1
Table 18: County Subdivisions Shapefile ..................................................................................... A-1
Table 19: Incorporated Place Shapefile ....................................................................................... A-2
Table 20: Consolidated City Shapefile ......................................................................................... A-2
Table 21: Edges Shapefile ............................................................................................................ A-3
Table 22: Area Landmark Shapefile ............................................................................................. A-4
Table 23: Hydrographic Area Shapefile ....................................................................................... A-4
Table 24: Point Landmark Shapefile ............................................................................................ A-5
Table 25: Geographic Offset Shapefile ........................................................................................ A-5
Table 26: Suggested MTFCC Symbolization ................................................................................. C-1

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Topological Integration of Four Classes ........................................................................... 3
Figure 2. Overlay of Four Feature Classes ...................................................................................... 4
Figure 3. GIS Place Boundary Does Not Follow Road Feature ........................................................ 4
Figure 4. GPS Method of Geocoding............................................................................................... 7
Figure 5. Address Range Method of Geocoding ............................................................................. 8
Figure 6. Geographic Corridor Created ......................................................................................... 13
Figure 7. Geographic Corridor Not Created .................................................................................. 13
Figure 8. Cadastral Data ................................................................................................................ 14
Figure 9. Same Data Edited to Census Requirements .................................................................. 14
Figure 10. A Boundary Correction to Park A ................................................................................. 16
Figure 11. Boundary Corrections Not Snapped to Existing Linear Features................................. 20
Figure 12. Annexation Created without Snapping to Centerlines ................................................ 21
Figure 13. Small Spatial Correction Not Incorporated .................................................................. 21
Figure 14. Small Spatial Correction Not Accepted ........................................................................ 22
Figure 15. Large Boundary Corrections ........................................................................................ 22
Figure 16. New Road Features, Not Added to Existing Road........................................................ 23
Figure 17. New Road Features, Correctly Added .......................................................................... 23
Figure 18. Selecting and Zipping Return Files ............................................................................... 27
Figure 19. Naming the ZIP File ...................................................................................................... 28
Figure 20. SWIM Account Registration ......................................................................................... 29
Figure 21. SWIM Login Window.................................................................................................... 30
Figure 22. Welcome Screen with Upload History ......................................................................... 30
Figure 23. Geographic Partnership Program Selection Window .................................................. 30
Figure 24. Geographic Level Selection Window ........................................................................... 31
Figure 25. Government Selection Window ................................................................................... 31
Figure 26. File Upload Screen ....................................................................................................... 31
Figure 27. File Browser Dialog Box ............................................................................................... 32
Figure 28. Entering Comments into the File Upload Window ...................................................... 32
Figure 29. Thank You Screen ......................................................................................................... 32
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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

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viii

INTRODUCTION
A.

The Boundary and Annexation Survey

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) annually to collect
information about selected legally defined geographic areas, such as counties (and equivalent
areas), incorporated places, minor civil divisions (MCDs), federally recognized American Indian
Areas (AIAs) — including reservations, off-reservation trust lands and tribal subdivisions, and
Hawaiian Homelands. BAS also provides an opportunity for participants to review the names
and geographic relationships for these areas. Title 13, Section 6, United States Code authorizes
this survey.
The Census Bureau uses the boundary information collected during BAS to tabulate data for the
decennial and economic censuses, and to support the yearly delivery of the Population
Estimates Program (PEP) and the American Community Survey (ACS) data. Maintaining correct
boundaries and boundary-to-feature relationships through BAS helps ensure that the Census
Bureau assigns the appropriate housing and population counts to each government.
In compliance with the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16, BAS supports the
Census Bureau’s spatial data steward responsibilities for the Federal Geographic Data
Committee (FGDC) and the Geospatial One-Stop by updating the inventory and boundaries of
governments.
In addition, BAS is the source of up-to-date information on changes to the boundaries, codes
and names of incorporated places, MCDs, counties (and equivalent areas), Hawaiian
Homelands, and federally recognized AIAs, which include reservations and off-reservation trust
lands used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Map, and the Geographic Names
Information System (GNIS).
Please visit the BAS program website at <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas.html>.
For more information on BAS, please view the BAS video series on the Census Bureau’s BAS
website at <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/library/videos.html>.

What’s New for the 2020 BAS?
1. The Boundary Validation Program (BVP) runs in parallel with the 2020 BAS. The BVP provides
Tribal Chairs (TCs) and Highest Elected Officials (HEOs), of tribal, state, and local governments,
the opportunity to review the Census Bureau’s boundary data to ensure the Census Bureau has
the correct legal boundary, name, and status information for eligible governments across the
United States. For more information on the BVP, please visit the BVP website at:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/information/bvp.html>.
2. The 2020 BAS is the final opportunity for tribal, state, and local governments to provide legal
boundary, name, and status information updates prior to 2020 Census data tabulation.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

3. The Census Bureau developed a BAS Partnership Toolbox for ArcGIS users. This toolbox is
designed to simplify and standardize the BAS updating process. The toolbox and additional
information can be found at <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/geographies/map-tools/arcmap-tools.html> or refer to Appendix B for a step-bystep guide to using this new tool.

Key Dates for BAS Respondents

January 1, 2020—Boundary changes must be legally in effect on or before this date to be
reported in the current survey year and to be used for the 2020 Census data tabulations.
Boundary updates effective after this date will be held until the following BAS cycle.
March 1, 2020— Boundary updates returned by this date will be reflected in the 2020 Census,
the Final BVP materials, and in next year’s BAS materials.
May 31, 2020—Boundary updates returned by this date will be reflected in the 2020 Census
and in next year’s BAS materials.

BAS State Agreements

The Census Bureau has established a number of agreements with states for reporting boundary
changes. Please visit the BAS State Agreements webpage within the BAS program website at
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/information/state-agreements.html> or call
1-800-972-5651 for information regarding state agreements.
Note: The Census Bureau can only establish BAS state agreements for states that require local
governments to report boundary changes to a state agency.

Legal Disputes

If the Census Bureau discovers that an area of land is in dispute between two or more
jurisdictions, the Census Bureau will not make any boundary corrections until the parties come
to a written agreement, or there is a documented final court decision regarding the dispute.
To learn more, please contact the Census Bureau Legal Office at 1-301-763-9844.
For disputes involving tribal areas, the Census Bureau must defer to the Office of the Solicitor at
the Department of the Interior for a legal opinion. Often complicated land issues require an
extended period of time for resolution, and in those cases, the Census Bureau will retain the
current boundary in the database until a legal opinion is issued by the Solicitor's office.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

CHAPTER 1
1.1

DIGITAL BAS REQUIREMENTS

Digital BAS Participation Requirements
1. All participants must create a new shapefile of boundary change polygons based off the current
Census Bureau boundary. Submissions containing only a whole entity boundary shapefile of the
current local data will not be accepted.
2. All participants must provide current information for the BAS point of contact, the person
updating the shapefiles, and the HEO for the government.
3. All participants must provide legal documentation numbers and effective dates for all legal
boundary changes (annexations and deannexations).
4. Each non-legal boundary correction must contain proper update documentation according to
boundary correction guidelines listed below, or the Census Bureau will not make the correction
for this BAS cycle.
5. All participants must use the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM) to submit their changes to
the Census Bureau. Due to security requirements, the Census Bureau cannot accept submissions
via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), email or any protocol other than the SWIM site. For details on
registering and using SWIM, please see Section 5.7.6, Submitting Digital Files via SWIM. To
access SWIM, enter the following URL in a new browser window:
<https://respond.census.gov/swim/>.

1.2

BAS Informational and Tutorial Videos

The Census Bureau created training videos to give BAS participants detailed instructions and
information on how to report and submit BAS changes. These videos are available on the BAS
website at: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/library/videos.html>.
If there are any questions or concerns about the participation requirements, contact the Census
Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or geo.bas@census.gov.
For participants already familiar with GIS and BAS updating procedures, Appendix B and
Appendix C provide step-by-step guidelines for making updates.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

CHAPTER 2

TOPOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SPATIAL ACCURACY

The Geography Division of the Census Bureau is responsible for developing geographic
applications and executing related activities needed to support the Census Bureau in collecting
and disseminating census data. For more than twenty years, the Census Bureau’s Master Address
File and Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Reference (MAF/TIGER) System has
been a critical resource for supporting the Census Bureau Geographic Partnership Programs.
The following section will describe how the Census Bureau uses a topologically integrated system
and how this differs from traditional GIS, which use separate layers of data.

2.1

Topological Relationships in the MAF/TIGER System

At the Census Bureau, topology is described as the spatial relationship between different levels of
geography. The MAF/TIGER system is a geographic database in which the topological structures
define the location, connection, and relationships of streets, rivers, railroads, and other features.
These topological structures help define the geographic areas for which the Census Bureau
tabulates data.
Instead of having a separate layer for each feature class (roads, boundaries, etc.), all MAF/TIGER
system information is stored in one layer or file. See Figure 1 for a sample of a topologically
integrated file in the MAF/TIGER system.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 1. Topological Integration of Four Classes
This example shows the topological integration of four different feature
classes into one layer. One road feature represents not only a road, but also a
block boundary, place boundary, and a school district boundary.

2.2

GIS and Spatial Accuracy

In a GIS, feature classes are often not topologically integrated; they are separated into individual
layers. When these layers are overlaid in a GIS, there may be boundary misalignments due to the
nature of the data. These non-topologically integrated layers could cause issues in the
MAF/TIGER system. Figure 2 and Figure 3 show how files that are not topologically integrated
might appear in a GIS when overlaid.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 2. Overlay of Four Feature Classes
This example shows an overlay of four different feature classes. Notice
how the topological relationship is compromised. The block, place, and
school district boundaries, which are supposed to follow the road
feature, are no longer aligned with the road in several locations.

Figure 3. GIS Place Boundary Does Not Follow Road Feature
This example shows a situation where a local GIS place boundary does
not follow a road feature. Assuming that the boundary follows the road
feature in the MAF/TIGER system, changing the Census Bureau place
boundary to match the local file exactly and become misaligned
(see arrows) would dissolve the topological relationship in the
MAF/TIGER system.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

The spatial differences between local GIS data and the Census Bureau’s topologically integrated
file are often very small (less than ten feet) and can create boundary-to-feature relationship
issues for the Census Bureau. Instructions on how to review digital submissions for small spatial
boundary corrections are given in Section 5.6: Reviewing Changes to the Census Bureau
Shapefiles. It also lists some of the potential consequences of making spatial boundary
corrections that dissolve the topological relationships present in the MAF/TIGER system.
To find step-by-step instructions of suggested methods for correctly making boundary changes,
please see Appendix B and Appendix C.

2.3

Census Bureau Topology Training Video

The Census Bureau created a video on the subject of topology and why topology is important to
BAS. For more information, please go to <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/library/videos.html> to watch the video.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

CHAPTER 3

CENSUS BUREAU PROVIDED SHAPEFILES

The Census Bureau provides data layers in Esri shapefile format for download on the BAS
website. Regardless of the number of geographic polygon-based shapefiles each participant
downloads and edits, there is only one shapefile for the linear feature network for each county.
See Table 1 for the names of the shapefiles.
Table 1: BAS Shapefile Naming Conventions
Government Type

Shapefile Naming Convention

County

PVS_19_v2_county_<ssccc>.shp

Minor Civil Division

PVS_19_v2_mcd_<ssccc>.shp

Incorporated Place

PVS_19_v2_place_<ssccc>.shp

Consolidated City

PVS_19_v2_concity_<ssccc>.shp

Edges (Roads, Rail, Hydro, etc.)

PVS_19_v2_edges_<ssccc>.shp

Area Landmarks

PVS_19_v2_arealm_<ssccc>.shp

Point Landmarks

PVS_19_v2_pointlm_<ssccc>.shp

Hydro Area

PVS_19_v2_water_<ssccc>.shp

Geographic Offsets / Corridors

PVS_19_v2_offset_<ssccc>.shp

Please download shapefiles from the BAS website at
<https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/2020/geo/bas/2020-bas-shapefiles.html>
in order to review the boundaries and submit changes.
Note: <ssccc> represents the two-digit state FIPS code and three-digit county FIPS code.

All shapefiles provided by the Census Bureau are in the following unprojected geographic-based
coordinate system:

3.1



Geographic Coordinate System – North American Datum 1983 (GCS NAD83).



Angular Unit: Degree (0.017453292519943299).



Prime Meridian: Greenwich (0.000000000000000000).



Datum: D_North_American_1983.



Spheroid: GRS_1980.



Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000000000000.



Semi-minor Axis: 6356752.314140356100000000.



Inverse Flattening: 298.257222101000020000.

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Codes

The Census Bureau recommends using FIPS codes to identify governments such as counties,
MCDs, and incorporated places. Using a standard coding scheme facilitates the digital exchange
of data. The Census Bureau includes these codes in the BAS shapefiles in the fields that end in
‘FP’. The codes can be found online at
<http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/download_data.htm>. If there are any questions or
problems, contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or geo.bas@census.gov.
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

CHAPTER 4

CENSUS BUREAU GEOCODING

Geocoding is how the Census Bureau codes the location of the population within the legal
boundaries of a geographic area. There are two primary methods of geocoding used by the
Census Bureau, and both of these involve coding an address to a spatial polygon. One uses
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to create a Master Address File (MAF) structure
point (MSP) and the other uses address ranges for geocoding.

4.1

MAF Structure Point (MSP) Geocoding

A field worker stands in front of a house or living quarters, and records the physical location
with a GPS device (Figure 4). Usually, the GPS point should fall very close to the front door of
the house. However, since GPS points were collected in the field, real-world obstacles like
locked fences, poor satellite reception, or even aggressive dogs might sometimes prevent the
worker from gaining access to the front door. In these circumstances, the worker may have to
take the GPS coordinate from the sidewalk or side of the road.

Figure 4. GPS Method of Geocoding
Notice that it is occasionally not possible for the field worker to go all the
way to the front door due to unforeseen circumstances, like the fence or the
dog shown above. Thus, the MSP (represented here by the red pins) can
sometimes fall within the road or the road right-of-way.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

4.2

Address Range Geocoding

When no MSP is available, the Census Bureau codes houses and living quarters according to a
potential range of addresses associated with the adjacent stretch of road (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Address Range Method of Geocoding
When it is not possible to collect an MSP, houses are geocoded according to
their placement along a range of potential addresses along that road. Since
the address has a relationship with the road, boundaries placed on frontlot-lines will lead to mis-geocoding unless an offset flag is used.

While the two methods of geocoding differ greatly, both rely heavily on the integrated nature
of the MAF/TIGER System. These geocoding methods are affected by the way streets and
boundaries are represented in relation to one another. This interdependence between streets,
boundaries, and geocoding means that Census Bureau representations of legal boundaries may
sometimes differ from other representations (e.g., in local or state GIS). This is especially true
regarding geographic corridors and offsets that follow road right of ways (or the front-lot-lines
of parcels). In both of the examples above, delineating a boundary along the front-lot-line will
tend to increase the risk of incorrect geocoding. As a result, using the road centerline as a
boundary is the safer method.
When completing a BAS submission in which a road or road right-of-way is owned or
maintained by a place but the adjacent housing is not, the respondent should use the centerline
of the road (not the front-lot-line) as the boundary whenever possible. If local or state law
requires the use of the front-lot-line boundary, the respondent must explicitly designate the
polygon(s) between the road centerline and the front-lot-boundary as a corridor or an offset
(see Section 5.8, Geographic Corridors and Section 5.9, Geographic Offsets of this document
for more details).
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

CHAPTER 5

UPDATING THE CENSUS BUREAU SHAPEFILES

Census Bureau shapefiles downloaded from the partnership verification shapefiles (PVS)
download page can be used to create new shapefiles for boundary and/or linear feature
changes that have occurred since the last BAS update. Step-by-step instructions for these
procedures can be found in Appendix B and Appendix C and in the videos at
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/library/videos.html>.
Note: If there are problems with the processing of returned files, the Census Bureau will email a
feedback document requesting clarification of any issues. If the problem cannot be resolved
before the project deadline, the changes in question will not be made during the current BAS.

5.1

General File Setup Guidelines

After downloading the shapefiles from the PVS download page, follow these procedures before
beginning actual updates:

5.2



Open the downloaded ZIP file to verify its contents.



Copy the shapefiles into a directory on a server/hard drive.



Open the shapefiles with GIS software.

Changing the Map Projection

Census Bureau files are in GCS NAD83 format and can be projected into any local coordinate
system/projection. Most GIS software packages will allow users to transform file coordinate
systems and projections. For example, if using ArcGIS, use its ‘Project tool’ in ArcToolbox.
Shapefile extracts contain defined projection information in the *.prj file. ArcGIS accesses the
*.prj file for projection information so there is no need to define these parameters before
changing the file coordinate systems.
When updates are complete, participants may submit the boundary change shapefile using any
local coordinate system/projection if the shapefile contains a *.prj file or spatial reference
materials such as metadata.

5.3

Boundary Changes

In order to update the MAF/TIGER system, participants must create a separate change polygon
layer for each updated government type (county, MCD, place). Please create change polygons
in relation to the current MAF/TIGER boundary.
Appendix B and Appendix C provide two examples for creating annexation and deannexation,
boundary correction, new incorporation, geographic corridor, and geographic offset change
polygons. See Appendix C for specific tools used to make changes to files.
Additionally, Appendix B covers the steps required to complete a submission using the new BAS
Partnership Toolbox. The toolbox includes tools to download Census Bureau data, use the
geoprocessing tool to create a changes layer containing all the differences between Census
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Bureau and local boundaries, and create a ZIP file for submission through SWIM. Please review
any boundary change polygons before submitting them (Section 5.7, Additional Information
Review).

5.3.1

Annexations and Deannexations

The Census Bureau will accept annexations and deannexations from counties, MCDs, and
incorporated places. For a boundary change to an existing legal government (or the new
incorporation or disincorporation of a legal government) to be processed as a legal change,
participants must provide the legal documentation number (e.g., law or ordinance number),
effective date, and authorization type. They are not required to submit paperwork
documenting the change.
Each annexation or deannexation change polygon must have the required attributes and
corresponding change type populated, as seen in Table 2. The Census Bureau will snap any
annexation or deannexation to a MAF/TIGER feature when it exists within thirty feet of that
feature.
Note: Enter the name of the jurisdiction annexing or deannexing the area in the NAME field.
Table 2: Annexations and Deannexations
NAME

CHNG_TYPE

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU
(Not Required
in GA)

AREA
(Required in
GA)

Annexation

X (‘A’)

* See Note

Deannexation

X (‘D’)

* See Note

RELATE

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

Note: Area in acres is required for Georgia, and requested for all other areas.

5.3.2

Boundary Corrections

The Census Bureau will also accept specific boundary corrections from counties, MCDs, and
incorporated places. As with annexations and deannexations, the participant must create
individual change polygons for each boundary correction. Each boundary correction must also
have the required attributes and corresponding change type populated, as seen in Table 3, or
the Census Bureau will reject them.
Note: Enter the name of the jurisdiction the boundary correction is for in the NAME field.
Table 3: Boundary Corrections

Boundary
Correction

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

X (‘B’)

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

AREA

RELATE
X (’IN’, ‘OUT’)

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

The Census Bureau uses a topologically integrated database. As a result, the Census Bureau
cannot process all types of boundary corrections for inclusion in the MAF/TIGER system. The
Census Bureau will accept and process properly documented boundary corrections during the
current BAS cycle that spatially interact with (abut) other BAS legal changes (annexation,
deannexation, corridor, offset) and meet both of the following two conditions:


In situations where the existing boundary has been digitized incorrectly or appears in the
incorrect location due to Census Bureau activities.



Where the overall shape of the geographic area is maintained and no feature-to-boundary
relationships are dissolved.

The Census Bureau will reject boundary corrections:


Along county boundaries unless there is a written agreement between the two counties that
documents the correct location of the boundary.



Between adjacent incorporated places or adjacent MCDs unless the county submitting the
changes is part of a Consolidated BAS (CBAS) agreement or there is a written agreement
between the two incorporated places or MCDs.



That dissolve boundary-to-feature relationships (roads, rivers, railroads, etc.) if the difference is
less than thirty feet.



Which are greater than one square mile, or not contiguous with the rest of the government
boundary. These boundary corrections may be part of annexations that were never reported to
the Census Bureau. If they are previously unreported boundary changes, please include effective
dates and legal documentation numbers for these changes; or



That have a width of less than thirty feet over the entire polygon.

Note: Remember that the Census Bureau will snap any boundary correction to a MAF/TIGER feature
when it exists within thirty feet of that feature.

5.3.3

Boundary Changes to Legal Governments in Georgia and Indiana

For questions about required documentation for a particular jurisdiction, contact the Census
Bureau by phone at 1-800 972-5651 or by email at geo.bas@census.gov.
Georgia: Any legal boundary change made to an incorporated place in the state of Georgia
must include: (1) the effective date and (2) the acreage of the legal change. In addition, before
entering the change, ensure that all annexation/deannexation information has been reported
to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The DCA provides the Census Bureau a list of
the governments that reported boundary changes each year. Any legal boundary changes to
incorporated places not on this list will not be placed in the MAF/TIGER System. For additional
information, see: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/technicaldocumentation/methodology/state-agreements.html>.
Indiana: Per Indiana state law, counties must provide the legal boundary updates for
townships. For more information, refer to Indiana Code 36-6 Government of Townships at
<http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2019/ic/titles/036>.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

5.3.4

New Incorporations

Participants may submit new incorporations for incorporated places and MCDs through Digital
BAS. As with other change types, an individual change polygon must be created for each new
incorporation and possess the required attributes and the corresponding change type field
must be populated (see Table 4). Participants should also provide the new incorporation
paperwork (which should include the date of incorporation) as well as information for the HEO
and BAS contact of the newly incorporated government.
Note: Enter the name of the new jurisdiction in the NAME field. For required documentation for new
incorporations, contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or geo.bas@census.gov.
Table 4: New Incorporations

New
Incorporation

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

X (‘E’)

AREA

RELATE

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

5.3.5

Disincorporations

Participants may submit disincorporations through Digital BAS. As with other change types, an
individual change polygon must be created for each disincorporation and must possess the
required attributes. The corresponding change type must be populated as shown in Table 5.
Participants should also provide the official disincorporation paperwork, which should include
the official date of disincorporation.
Table 5: Disincorporations

Disincorporation

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

X (‘X’)

AREA

RELATE

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

5.3.6

Geographic Corridors

The Census Bureau geocodes addresses based on the street centerline. If the geocoding of
these addresses would result in the assignment of population to the incorrect government,
participants should create a geographic corridor.
A geographic corridor is an area that includes only the road right-of-way and does not contain
any structures addressed to either side of the street. Figure 6 shows a corridor (shown in color)
created where the incorporated place owns the right-of-way but the housing units are not
included in the incorporated place. These are often used to connect two disconnected parts of
a geography when local law does not permit for discontinuous annexations.
Figure 7 shows that the right-of-way belongs in the unincorporated area, while the housing
units are included in the incorporated place (shown in color). This is important for some cities
because they are portraying that the city is not responsible for road maintenance.
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

This is not relevant for Census Bureau tabulations and is not easy to depict in the MAF/TIGER
system. This type of corridor should not be included in a BAS response.

Figure 6. Geographic Corridor Created
Figure 7. Geographic Corridor Not Created
The image on the left (Figure 6) shows that a geographic corridor should be
created to allow for proper geocoding of homes. The image on the right
(Figure 7) shows that the geographic corridor should not be created and
features should be snapped to the street centerline.

The Census Bureau will accept new geographic corridors. Please create individual change
polygons for each new geographic corridor. Each change polygon must have the required
attributes and corresponding change type populated, as seen in Table 6. In the NAME field,
enter the name of the jurisdiction gaining or losing the area associated with the corridor. In the
RELATE field, indicate whether the change is adding IN or taking OUT (removing) the corridor.
Table 6: Geographic Corridors

Geographic
Corridor

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

X (‘C’)

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

AREA

RELATE
X (’IN’, ‘OUT’)

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

5.3.7

Geographic Offsets

A geographic offset is an area claimed by a government that is only on one side of a road and
does not include structures addressed to that side of the road.
The Census Bureau is aware that many governments base their legal boundaries on cadastral
(parcel-based) right-of-way mapping. The Census Bureau bases their maps on spatial data that
is topologically integrated. This makes the maintenance of geographic offsets inefficient.
Snapping a government boundary to the centerline wherever applicable will help to establish
more accurate population counts. If a boundary is the front-lot-line, the Census Bureau strongly
prefers that the boundary be snapped to the road. If a boundary is at the rear of a lot, then
please depict it as such. Figure 8 depicts a cadastral (parcel-based) boundary map and Figure 9
shows how the boundary should be reported when sent to the Census Bureau.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 8. Cadastral Data
Figure 9. Same Data Edited to Census Requirements
On the left in Figure 8 is an example of cadastral data. Figure 9 on the right,
is the same area shown edited to conform to census requirements.

The Census Bureau will accept new geographic offsets. Please create individual change
polygons for each new geographic offset. Each change polygon must have the required
attributes and corresponding change type populated, as seen in Table 7. In the NAME field,
enter the name of the jurisdiction gaining or losing the area. In the RELATE field, indicate
whether the change is adding IN or taking OUT (removing) the area represented as an offset.
Table 7: Geographic Offsets

Geographic
Offset

NAME

CHNG_TYPE

X (‘F’)

EFF_DATE

AUTHTYPE

DOCU

AREA

RELATE
X (’IN’,
‘OUT’)

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

The Census Bureau has included an “offset” shapefile in the BAS materials
(PVS_19_v2_offset_<ssccc>.shp), so that participants’ jurisdiction can be checked for any
existing corridors or offsets. While the Census Bureau prefers that new offsets are not created,
(see above), this information can be helpful in determining if current boundaries are correct.

5.4

Linear Feature Updates

The Census Bureau will accept linear feature modifications when needed. The easiest method
of updating linear features is to edit the PVS_19_v2_edges_<stcou>.shp included in the
partnership shapefiles and export the modified or added records to a new separate linear
feature update layer. This will ensure all required fields are present and populated before
submission. The general guidelines for updating linear features are:


If a road, subdivision, etc. is missing from the Census Bureau’s feature network, add the
feature(s), enter ‘AL’ in the CHNG_TYPE field, and provide the name (FULLNAME) and MTFCC.



If a feature that does not exist is in the Census Bureau’s feature network, mark the feature for
deletion by entering ‘DL’ in the CHNG_TYPE field.



If a feature is in the incorrect location in the Census Bureau’s feature network, mark the feature
for deletion and re-add it in the correct location. Only do this if the feature is very far off or in
the wrong position relative to boundaries or other features.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Note: A video on updating linear features is available in the BAS video series at
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/library/videos.html>.

5.4.1

Adding, Deleting, Renaming, and Recoding Linear Features

Each linear feature update must have the required attributes and corresponding change type
populated, as seen in Table 8. Preserve the TIGER/Line ID (TLID) in the TLID field when
requesting to modify or delete features to ensure the correct features are affected. A TLID is
not required for any features being added though an MTFCC is required for new features.
Table 8: Linear Feature Updates
CHNG_TYPE

TLID

Add Feature

X (‘AL’)

Delete Feature

X (‘DL’)

Rename Feature

X (‘CA’)

Recode Feature
X (‘CA’)
(Note:
‘X’ = Required Field)

FULLNAME

MTFCC

X
X

Note: A list of MAF/TIGER Feature Classification Codes (MTFCC) can be found in Appendix D.

5.4.2

Address Range Updates

The Census Bureau accepts address range data as part of the linear feature update layer.
As with other linear feature updates, address ranges must have the required attributes and
corresponding change type populated. As existing address ranges cannot be shown in the
Census Bureau’s outgoing shapefiles, it is recommended that participants only add address
ranges to new features (see Table 9).
Table 9. Address Range Updates
CHNG_TYPE
Address
Ranges

X (‘CA’)

FULLNAME

MTFCC

LTOADD

RTOADD

LFROMADD

RFROMADD

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

5.5

Area Landmarks, Hydrographic Areas, and Point Landmarks

Area Landmarks (e.g., lakes) and point landmarks (e.g., mountain peaks) can be updated
through the BAS, but are not required.
Acceptable area landmark updates include water bodies, swamps, quarries, national parks and
forests. Airports, parks, schools, golf courses, museums, and cemeteries may be submitted as
area landmarks or point landmarks.
Acceptable point landmark feature updates include mountain peaks or summits, libraries, city
halls, community centers and police stations. Airports, parks, schools, golf courses, museums,
and cemeteries may be submitted as point landmarks or area landmarks.
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

5.5.1

Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area Updates

The Census Bureau accepts updates to area landmarks and hydrographic areas in a similar
manner to legal boundary changes. However, area landmarks and hydrographic areas are not
legal governments, so no documentation or effective dates are required.
In order to submit area landmark and hydrographic area updates, create a separate change
polygon layer. Updates to area landmarks and hydrographic areas include:





Boundary corrections (adding and removing area).
Creating a new area landmark or hydrographic area.
Removing an area landmark or hydrographic area.
Name changes.

Figure 10. A Boundary Correction to Park A

Each area landmark or hydrographic area update must have the required attributes and
corresponding change type populated. Preserve the AREAID in the AREAID field when
requesting to modify or delete landmarks to ensure the correct areas are affected. An AREAID is
not required for any areas being added though an MTFCC is required for new landmarks (refer
to Table 10).
Table 10: Landmarks and Hydrographic Areas
FULLNAME

CHNG_TYPE

RELATE

Boundary Correction
(Add Area)

X (‘B’)

X (‘IN’)

Boundary Correction
(Remove Area)

X (‘B’)

X (‘OUT’)

Delete Landmark

MTFCC

AREAID

X (‘D’)

X
X

Change Landmark Name

X (‘G’)

New Landmark

X (‘E’)

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

The steps in Appendix C provide information on how to create change polygons using ArcGIS.
While the sample processes are written for legal boundary changes, the same methods apply
for creating change polygons for area landmarks and hydrographic areas. When adding new
area landmarks or hydrographic areas, only add the following types of areas:







Water bodies.
Glaciers.
Airports.
Cemeteries.
Golf courses.
Parks.

Description

H2030*
Lake/Pond
H2040*
Reservoir
H2041*
Treatment Pond
H2051*
Bay/Estuary/Gulf/Sound
H2081*
Glacier
C3023
Island
K1231
Hospital/Hospice/Urgent Care Facility
K1235
Juvenile Institution
K1236
Local Jail or Detention Center
K1237
Federal Penitentiary, State Prison, or Prison Farm
K2110
Military Installation
K2180*
Park
K2181
National Park Service Land
K2182
National Forest or Other Federal Land
K2183
Tribal Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
K2184
State Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
K2185
Regional Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
K2186
County Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
K2187
County Subdivision Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
K2188
Incorporated Place Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
K2189
Private Park, Forest, or Recreation Area
K2190
Other Park, Forest, or Recreation Area (quasi-public, independent park, commission, etc.)
K2424
Marina
K2540
University or College
K2457*
Airport – Area Representation
K2561
Golf Course
K2582*
Cemetery
*May not be edited.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area Changes May Be Delayed
The Census Bureau prioritizes boundary changes to legal areas to meet ACS, PEP, and BAS deadlines.
Therefore, there may be delays in incorporating area landmark and hydrographic area changes to the
MAF/TIGER System. Please do not resubmit any changes that were sent during the previous year’s BAS.
The Census Bureau is working on incorporating those changes, and they will be reflected in the next
year’s BAS materials.

5.5.2

Point Landmark Updates

The Census Bureau accepts updates to point landmarks. Please submit point landmark updates
as a separate point landmark update layer. Updates to point landmarks include:




Adding a new point landmark.
Deleting an existing point landmark.
Renaming a point landmark.

The Census Bureau also cannot delete or modify any point landmarks imported from the USGS
GNIS database. Changes submitted for the following types of landmarks may be left unchanged:






K2451 (Airport).
K2582 (Cemetery).
C3022 (Summit or Pillar).
C3081 (Locale or Populated Place).
C3061 (Cul-de-sacs).

Each point landmark update must have the required attributes and corresponding change type
populated. Preserve the POINTID in the POINTID field when requesting to modify or delete
point landmarks to ensure the correct landmarks are affected. A POINTID is not required for
any landmarks being added though an MTFCC is required for new landmarks.
Table 12: Point Landmark Updates

New Point Landmark

FULLNAME

CHNG_TYPE

MTFCC

X (‘E’)

Delete Point Landmark
Change Name

POINTID

X (‘D’)

X (‘G’)

(Note: ‘X’ = Required Field)

Due to Title 13 privacy concerns, any landmark with an MTFCC shown in Table 13 below cannot
be added to the MAF/TIGER System as a point landmark. The MAF/TIGER System no longer
maintains any point landmarks with these MTFCCs. Landmarks with these codes could identify a
residence or private business. Thus, it is also important not to add any of the point landmark
types shown in the table using alternative MTFCCs.
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Table 13: Restricted Point Landmark MTFCC Codes
MTFCC

Description

K1100

Housing Unit Location

K1121

Apartment Building or Complex

K1122

Rooming or Boarding House

K1223

Trailer Court or Mobile Home Park

K1226

Housing Facility/Dormitory for Workers

K1227

Hotel, Motel, Resort, Spa, Hostel, YMCA, or YWCA

K1228

Campground

K1229

Shelter or Mission

K1232

Halfway House/Group Home

K1233

Nursing Home, Retirement Home, or Home for the Aged

K1234

County Home or Poor Farm

K1235

Juvenile Institution

K1241

Sorority, Fraternity, or College Dormitory

K1251

Military Group Quarters

K1299

Other Group Quarters Location

K2100

Governmental

K2197

Mixed Use/Other Non-residential

K2300

Commercial Workplace

K2361

Shopping Center or Major Retail Center

K2362

Industrial Building or Industrial Park

K2363

Office Building or Office Park

K2364

Farm/Vineyard/Winery/Orchard

K2366

Other Employment Center

K2464

Marina

K2500

Other Workplace

K2564

Amusement Center
Point Landmark Changes May Be Delayed

The Census Bureau prioritizes boundary changes to legal areas to meet ACS, PEP, and BAS deadlines.
Therefore, there may be delays in incorporating point landmark changes to the MAF/TIGER System.
Please do not resubmit any changes that were sent during the previous year’s BAS. The Census Bureau is
working on incorporating those changes, and they will be reflected in the next year’s BAS materials.

5.6

Reviewing Changes to the Census Bureau Shapefiles

Please review all changes to ensure that they are intentional and correct. The Census Bureau
has created videos with information on many of the topics below. Videos can be found on the
web at: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/library/videos.html>.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

5.6.1

Boundary-to-Feature Relationships

Please review all changes to ensure that the correct boundary-to-feature relationships are
being created or maintained. The Census Bureau is aware that many governments base their
legal boundaries on cadastral (parcel-based) right-of-way mapping; however, the Census
Bureau bases maps on spatial data that is topologically integrated (see Section 2.1, Topological
Relationships in the MAF/TIGER System). Therefore, snap boundaries to street centerlines (or
rivers, railroads, etc.) wherever applicable. This will help establish a more accurate population
count for governments.
Figure 11 and Figure 12 show situations where boundary changes should be snapped to existing
linear features. The Census Bureau will snap boundary changes to any linear feature that is
correctly located within thirty feet of the change.

Figure 11. Boundary Corrections Not Snapped to Existing Linear Features
These boundary corrections are not snapped to existing linear features in
the MAF/TIGER system. Both boundary corrections should be snapped to
centerlines or population may be assigned to incorrect governments.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 12. Annexation Created without Snapping to Centerlines
This is an example of an annexation created without snapping to existing
centerlines in the MAF/TIGER system. Unless the boundary is snapped to
centerlines, some of the population may be assigned to an incorrect
government.

The Census Bureau will not accept boundary corrections that dissolve the current relationship
between an existing boundary and linear feature without specific instruction that the
relationship is incorrect. The Census Bureau will not incorporate any boundary corrections that
create thirty feet or less of gap or overlap between the existing linear feature and boundary
into the MAF/TIGER system. Figure 13 and Figure 14 show examples of changes that will not be
accepted.

Figure 13. Small Spatial Correction Not Incorporated
Small spatial boundary corrections would dissolve the relationship with the
river. These boundary corrections will not be incorporated into the
MAF/TIGER system.
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 14. Small Spatial Correction Not Accepted
Small spatial boundary corrections would dissolve the boundary-to-feature
relationship with multiple streets. Incorporating these changes would affect
the population counts for the area. Therefore, the Census Bureau will not
accept these small boundary corrections.

5.6.2

Large Boundary Corrections

The Census Bureau will not accept large boundary corrections to a government without the
appropriate legal documentation numbers and effective dates. These large boundary
corrections (Figure 15) may be legal boundary changes that occurred in the past and were
never reported to the Census Bureau. Please submit the appropriate legal documentation
number and effective date so that the changes may be incorporated into the MAF/TIGER
system.

Figure 15. Large Boundary Corrections
Without the appropriate documentation, the Census Bureau will not accept
large boundary corrections.
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Note: There may be a few instances when large boundary corrections need to be made because of
incorrect digitizing or where the boundary appears in the incorrect location due to other Census
Bureau activities.

5.6.3

Required Attribute Information

It is important to review each change polygon and confirm that the correct attribute
information is included. Without the correct attribute information, the Census Bureau will be
unable to process and incorporate the changes into the MAF/TIGER system. See Section 5.3
Boundary Changes for the required attribute information and corresponding change type
codes.

5.6.4

Appropriate Projection Information

It is important that the appropriate projection information is included. Each update layer
submitted should contain a correct *.prj file so that the Census Bureau can convert the
projection back to GCS_NAD83. If the GIS being used cannot create a *.prj file, include the
projection information in metadata. This is critical for the Census Bureau to be able to process
the file and incorporate the updates into the MAF/TIGER system.

5.6.5

Linear Feature Updates

Please review linear feature changes to ensure that they align with the features currently in the
MAF/TIGER system. If linear feature changes do not align with current MAF/TIGER linear
features, the Census Bureau may not incorporate the submitted updates (Figure 16 and
Figure 17).

Figure 16. New Road Features, Not Added to Existing Road
Figure 17. New Road Features, Correctly Added
The image on the left (Figure 16) shows new road features added to the
existing feature network, but not connected to existing road features. The
image on the right (Figure 17) shows the correction connecting the new
roads to the existing road features.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

5.7

Additional Information Review

The Census Bureau will not make any boundary change that affect adjacent legal governments
without the appropriate documentation. Please review any change polygons that affect
adjacent governments to determine if they are intentional legal changes.
Note: The Census Bureau will snap any annexation, deannexation, or boundary correction to a
MAF/TIGER feature when it exists within thirty feet of that feature. This helps maintain the
boundary-to-feature relationships in the MAF/TIGER system and will ensure correct housing
tabulation counts for governments.

5.7.1

Submitting Digital Data

These layers consist of the changes that the Census Bureau needs to make.



A layer of change polygons should be created for each level of geography (county, MCD,
place, etc.) for which changes are being submitted.

2. Whole Modified Entity Layer (county, minor civil division, incorporated place, and
consolidated city)


These layers should only contain the complete and current boundary for the government
being updated.



A whole entity layer should be created for each level of geography for which change
polygons are being created.

3. Local Government Feature Network, Parcel, and Boundary Layers (optional)


These layers will help the Census Bureau resolve any questionable change polygons and
establish the correct boundary-to-feature relationships.

4. Feature Update Layer (only if there are feature (road, river, railroad, etc.) additions, deletions,
name changes, recodes, or address range updates)


Include a linear feature update layer with only feature segments requiring a correction.

5. Area Landmarks/Hydrographic Areas Update Layer


An area landmark/hydrographic area update layer should be submitted only if there are
area landmark and/or hydrographic area updates.

6. Point Landmark Update Layer


U.S. Census Bureau

A point landmark update layer should be submitted only if there are point landmark
updates.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

7. BAS Contact Text File (if the BAS point of contact (the person that receives the BAS Annual
Response Email) has changed).

5.7.2



This can be updated online at:
<http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_ar_form.html>.



This update should include the following information:
o

First Name.

Last Name.

Department.

Position.

Shipping Address.

City.

State.

Zip Code.

Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Fax: xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Email.

HEO Term Expires: mm/yyyy.

HEO Term Length: x years.

Change Polygon Layer Naming Conventions

The following table provides change polygon layer naming conventions for county submissions,
MCDs, incorporated places, and consolidated cities. The <basID> in the change polygon layer
naming conventions represents the participant’s BAS ID, found on the BAS Annual Response
email or online from this link: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/technicaldocumentation/code-lists.html>.
Table 14: Change Polygons
Participant

Submitting Changes For:

Shapefile Naming Conventions

County

bas20_<basID>_changes_county.shp

County

Minor Civil Division

bas20_<basID>_changes_cousub.shp

County

Incorporated Place

bas20_<basID>_changes_incplace.shp

Minor Civil Division

bas20_<basID>_changes_cousub.shp

Incorporated Place

bas20_<basID>_changes_incplace.shp

Consolidated City

bas20_<basID>_changes_concity.shp

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

5.7.3

Whole Entity Polygon Layer Naming Conventions

The following table provides the whole entity polygon layer naming conventions for county,
minor civil divisions, incorporated places, and consolidated cities. The <basID> in the whole
entity polygon layer naming conventions represents the participant’s BAS ID, found on the BAS
Annual Response email or online from this link: <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/technical-documentation/code-lists.html>.
Table 15: Whole Entity Polygon Layer Naming Conventions
Participant

5.7.4

Changes Submitted For:

Shapefile Naming Conventions

County

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_county.shp

County

Minor Civil Division

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_cousub.shp

County

Incorporated Place

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_incplace.shp

Minor Civil Division

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_cousub.shp

Incorporated Place

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_incplace.shp

Consolidated City

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_concity.shp

Linear Feature, Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area, and Point Landmark
Updates

The following table provides the update layer naming conventions for the edges, area
landmark, and point landmark update layers (not required). The <basID> in the naming
conventions for the edges, area landmark, and point landmark update layers represents the
participant’s BAS ID found on the BAS Annual Response email or online from this link:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/technical-documentation/code-lists.html>.
Table 16: Optional Files
Participant

5.7.5

Changes Submitted For:

Shapefile Naming Conventions

All Participants

Edges

bas20_<basID>_LN_Changes.shp

All Participants

Area Landmarks/
Hydrographic Areas

bas20_<basID>_Alndk_Changes.shp

All Participants

Point Landmarks

bas20_<basID>_Plndk_Changes.shp

Compressing the Digital Files

The Census Bureau requires participants to submit all BAS returns through SWIM as
compressed (zipped) files. Please compress ALL updated materials (including change polygon
shapefiles, whole entity shapefiles, linear feature updates, landmark updates, local government
feature network and boundary layers, any supporting documentation, and the text or other file
with the participant’s updated BAS contact information) as zipped files.
Note: Centerline files or any additional information that may be helpful for Census to process the
participant’s file are optional. One example where this would be helpful is if a particular polygon
was not snapped to a river or road because the boundary does not follow the river or road.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Refer to Figure 18 and the steps listed below to compress digital files:
1.

Navigate to the directory with the shapefiles.

1. Select all files and right click on the selection.
2. Select WinZip, and then Add to ZIP file.

Figure 18. Selecting and Zipping Return Files

Note: Versions of WinZip may vary so the interface may be slightly different. Software other than
WinZip (e.g., 7zip) may be used to zip the return files.
3. In the Add window, in the Add to archive field, type the filename in the proper naming
convention: bas20_<basID>_return and then click Add (Figure 19).
Note: Look for the BAS ID number on the BAS Annual Response email or online from this link:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/technical-documentation/code-lists.html>.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 19. Naming the ZIP File

4. Check the folder where the ZIP file was saved to verify that it was created properly. If the ZIP file
is correct, then the return file is ready for submission.
Note: If assistance is required in preparing or zipping the BAS return files, please call the Census
Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or email geo.bas@census.gov.

5.7.6

Submitting Digital Files through SWIM

SWIM is a one-stop location for submitting geographic program files to the Census Bureau. The
Census Bureau now requires that all BAS participants use the Census Bureau’s SWIM for
submitting update materials.
Do not send submissions as an email attachment, as the Census Bureau cannot accept them
due to security policy.
The Census Bureau will email the BAS contact a SWIM registration token and digital submission
instructions five days after the BAS contact responds to the BAS Annual Response indicating
that they have changes to report. To respond online, please fill out the online form at
<http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/bas/bas_ar_form.html>. The five-day waiting
period will give the Census Bureau staff time to update the BAS contact record if necessary so
that the email reaches the right person.
This token is good for one personal account within the SWIM. Once participants have registered
for an account in SWIM, they will no longer need the token to login into the system. If
participants require additional individual SWIM accounts within their organization, please
contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or email geo.bas@census.gov.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Current SWIM Users
If participants are participating in other Census Bureau partnership programs, or have participated in
previous BAS years, and already have SWIM accounts, they may use their current account to submit files
for BAS. They do not need to set up a new account.
Participants will not be able to upload a file larger than 250 MB.
SWIM blocks participants from uploading a ZIP file that contains another ZIP file.

Follow the instructions listed below:
1. In a web browser, navigate to <https://respond.census.gov/swim>.
2. Login:
a) New Users: Participants must have a registration token to create a new account (please see
above on how to obtain a SWIM token). Once participants have their token, they should
sign-up by clicking the ‘Register Account’ button. Registration is self-serve, but does require
the new user to enter a registration token to validate their rights to the system.

Figure 20. SWIM Account Registration

b) Existing Users: If participants already have a registered account from a previous BAS year,
they should login with their user credentials.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 21. SWIM Login Window

3. If participants have submitted files before, SWIM lists them on the startup screen upon login.
Click 'Start New Upload' to continue.

Figure 22. Welcome Screen with Upload History

4. On the next screen, select the “Boundary Annexation Survey (BAS)” option as the geographic
partnership program, and click ‘Next’ to continue.

Figure 23. Geographic Partnership Program Selection Window

5. On this screen, participants will select a geographic level. This is the geography type of their
agency (e.g., if submitting data for a county government, select county. If an incorporated place,
then select place...etc.). Click 'Next' to continue.
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 24. Geographic Level Selection Window

6. Participants will find the name of their government using the drop-down selectors. These
options dynamically update based on the geography type selected from the previous screen.
Click ‘Next’ to continue.

Figure 25. Government Selection Window

7. On the file upload screen, please click on the ‘+ Add file' button and a file browser dialog will
appear.

Figure 26. File Upload Screen

8. In the file browser dialog box, select the ZIP file that is to be uploaded. Please be aware that the
SWIM website only accepts ZIP files. Click 'Open' to continue.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Figure 27. File Browser Dialog Box

9. At this time, participants may enter any comments that they wish to include with their file. Click
'Next' to upload the submission.

Figure 28. Entering Comments into the File Upload Window

10. The final screen will be a ‘Thank You’ screen confirming receipt of the file submission. If this
screen does not appear, or if issues occur during this upload process, please contact the Census
Bureau at 1-800-972-5651 or <geo.bas@census.gov>.

Figure 29. Thank You Screen

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

APPENDICES

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U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

APPENDIX A

DATA DICTIONARY
Table 17: County and Equivalent Areas Shapefile

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

COUNTYNS

String

ANSI feature code for the county or equivalent feature

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD code

LSAD

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description code

FUNCSTAT

String

Functional status

CLASSFP

String

FIPS 55 class code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L –
Local Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

Double

Area of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

String

Vintage of the data

Table 18: County Subdivisions Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

COUSUBFP

String

FIPS 55 county subdivision code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

COUSUBNS

String

ANSI feature code for the county subdivision

LSAD

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

String

Functional status

CLASSFP

String

FIPS 55 class code describing an entity

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L – Local
Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

A-1

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

FORM_ID

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

Double

Area of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

String

Vintage of the data

Table 19: Incorporated Place Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

PLACEFP

String

FIPS 55 place code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

PLACENS

String

ANSI feature code for the place

LSAD

String

Legal / Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

String

Functional status

CLASSFP

String

FIPS 55 class code describing and entity

PARTFLG

String

Indicates if only part of a feature is represented

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L – Local
Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

Double

Area of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

String

Vintage of the data

Table 20: Consolidated City Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

CONCITYFP

String

FIPS 55 place code

NAMELSAD

100

String

Name with translated LSAD

PLACENS

String

ANSI feature code for the place

LSAD

String

Legal/Statistical Area Description

FUNCSTAT

String

Functional status

CLASSFP

String

FIPS 55 class code describing an entity

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

A-2

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

PARTFLG

String

Indicates if only part of a feature is represented

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

Date

Effective date or vintage

AUTHTYPE

String

Authorization type (O – Ordinance, R – Resolution, L – Local
Law, S – State Level Action, X – Other)

DOCU

120

String

Supporting documentation

FORM_ID

String

Record ID (GUPS only)

AREA

Double

Acreage of update

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

NAME

100

String

Entity name

VINTAGE

String

Vintage of the data

Table 21: Edges Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

TLID

Double

Permanent edge ID

TFIDL

Double

Permanent face ID (left)

TFIDR

Double

Permanent face ID (right)

MTFCC

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FIDELITY

String

Indication to a respondent when their entity boundary has
changed through spatial enhancement

FULLNAME

String

Decoded feature name with abbreviated qualifier, direction,
and feature type

SMID

String

Spatial Theta ID

SMIDTYPE

String

SMIDTYPE code

BBSPFLG

String

Redistricting data project participant’s submitted request of
an EDGE for selection as a block boundary

CBBFLG

String

Indicates the status of an EDGE for a selection as a block
boundary

BBSP_2020

String

New BBSP flag

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of linear feature update

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

LTOADD

String

Left To Address

RTOADD

String

Right To Address

LFROMADD

String

Left From Address

RFROMADD

String

Right From Address

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

A-3

ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

ZIPL

String

Left ZIP Code

ZIPR

String

Right ZIP Code

EXTTYP

Char

Extension type

MTUPDATE

Date

Date of last update to the edge

Table 22: Area Landmark Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

MTFCC

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Area landmark name

PARTFLG

String

Indicates if only part of a feature is represented

AREAID

String

Object ID

ANSICODE

String

ANSI code for area landmarks

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of area landmark update

EFF_DATE

Date

Effective date or vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

BAG

String

Block area grouping

Table 23: Hydrographic Area Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

ANSICODE

String

ANSI code for hydrography area

MTFCC

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Hydro landmark name

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of hydrographic area update

HYDROID

String

Object ID

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

A-4

Table 24: Point Landmark Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

POINTID

String

Object ID

ANSICODE

String

ANSI code for point landmarks

MTFCC

String

MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code

FULLNAME

120

String

Point landmark name

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of point landmark update

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

Table 25: Geographic Offset Shapefile
ATTRIBUTE FIELD

LENGTH

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

TFID

Integer

Permanent Face ID

STATEFP

String

FIPS State Code

COUNTYFP

String

FIPS County Code

OFFSET

String

Geographic Offset / Corridor Flag

ADDEXCLUDE

String

Address Exclusion Indicator

CHNG_TYPE

String

Type of area update

EFF_DATE

Date

Effective date or vintage

RELATE

120

String

Relationship description

JUSTIFY

150

String

Justification of change

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

A-5

APPENDIX B

2020 DIGITAL BAS EXAMPLE PROCESS 1

The 2020 Digital BAS Example Process 1 provides step-by-step instructions for using the BAS
Partnership Toolbox to facilitate the updating process. For best results, use the toolbox in
ArcGIS 10.0 and higher.

How to Use the BAS Partnership Toolbox

In an effort to ease the burden of creating BAS updates, a toolbox was developed for ArcGIS.
This toolbox simplifies the updating process by automating the downloading of data, creating
changes, removing slivers, formatting and checking attribution, and preparing/exporting files
for submission. Before running these tools, users will need the following:





The BAS Partnership Toolbox, which can be downloaded at:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/geographies/map-tools/arcmap-tools.html>.
The BAS ID for the government being processed. This can be found on the BAS Annual
Response email or online at: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/technicaldocumentation/code-lists.html>.
A shapefile or feature class showing the legal boundary of the government.
Data in this layer should have data including the name of the government being processed
formatted to agree with the Census Bureau’s naming convention for the same government
as found in the NAME field or the NAMELSAD field for Minor Civil Division (MCD) and
American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian (AIANNH).
The 2020 BAS Partnership Shapefiles located at:
<https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/2019/geo/bas/2019-bas-shapefiles.html>.

Toolbox Tools Setup

These Toolbox tools were designed primarily for use in ArcCatalog though they run in ArcMap
as well. The instructions for most steps are assuming use in ArcCatalog.
Unzip the Digital BAS Partnership Tools.zip to the C: drive or other preferred working folder.
The folder location does not matter as long as it can be accessed from ArcCatalog. Inside there
will be a folder called DBAS, containing all the files to work with for a government. Open
ArcCatalog and connect to the DBAS folder. When expanded, the following should be visible:

Figure 30. Partnership BAS Tools Menu

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-1

Note: To connect to a folder in ArcCatalog, click on the Connect to Folder button on the Standard
Toolbar, find the DBAS folder, and then click OK.

Census Data Download Tool

The Census Data Download tool will gather all the partnership shapefile data needed to create
changes from the Census Bureau website. If the data is on a Census Bureau provided disc, this
tool will also work but only if the data is loaded to the computer before running the tool. This
tool can also use the ZIP files downloaded from the 2020 BAS Partnership Shapefiles site:
<https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/2020/geo/bas/2020-bas-shapefiles.html>
and outlined in Chapter 3. Please follow the steps below to run the Census Data Download tool.
Expand the DBAS folder and the setup subfolder. In the setup folder, find the Partnership
Toolbox. Expand the toolbox and double click on the 1) Census Data Download tool.

Figure 31. Partnership BAS Tools Menu with Census Data Download Selected

There are two ways to use this tool: one that downloads the data from the Census Bureau for
the user and one that takes in a folder with the Census Bureau data already downloaded.
 Enter the 11-digit BAS ID in the User’s BAS ID field.
 Select Yes or No under the Use Data Downloader? field. If you select No, you must enter a
path to the already downloaded partnership shapefiles in the next field.
 Navigate or drag the folder into Path to ZIP files field. Make sure the folder only contains
the Census Bureau ZIP files to ensure there are no future data issues.

This example shows how a user would complete the fields to have data downloaded for them.

Figure 32. The Census Data Download Window with ‘Yes’ in the Use Data Downloader Field
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-2

This example shows how a user would complete the fields if they already have the partnership
shapefiles downloaded and saved on their computer.

Figure 33. The Census Data Download Window with ‘No’ in the Use Data Downloader Field

Figure 34. Partnership Tools Menu Showing a Folder for the BAS ID in the Projects Folder

Note: The archive folder contains other Census Bureau data that may be useful as well.

Create Changes Tool

Once the necessary Census Bureau data is obtained, run the 2) Create Changes tool to create
the change polygons. Before this tool can successfully complete, there must be an attribute
field in the local boundary layer that contains the name of the government or governments as
they appear in Census Bureau records (Figure 35). This includes matching capitalization,
spacing, and in the case of MCDs a descriptor of the geography (e.g. township, village, borough,
etc.) which can be found in the NAMELSAD field of the bas_cousub layer in the reference
feature dataset (Figure 36). If it is a new entity or the legal name is changing, it does not need
to agree though other attribution must be updated to reflect this change.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-3

Figure 35. NAME Field in Census Data vs Local Boundary Data
The bas_place layer on the left shows how the Census Bureau NAME
field is populated for all the places in Butler County, PA while the local
places data shows how local data may need to be manipulated to agree
with the Census Bureau NAME field.

Figure 36. Appropriate Attribution for COUSUB or AIANNH Changes
The bas_cousub attribution on the left in the NAMELSAD field shows
how the local MUNICIPALI field on the right should be formatted to
ensure that the Create Changes tool works for the MCD changes in
Butler County, PA.

Double click on 2) Create Changes tool.

Figure 37. Partnership Tools Menu with Create Changes Tool Selected

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-4

In the Create Changes window:
 In the Local Boundary File field, enter the path or navigate to the full boundary polygon.
 Enter the 11-digit BAS ID in the BAS ID field.
 Under Changes Being Processed, choose the type of changes to create from the dropdown
options:
a. Incplace (incorporated place).
b. County.
c. Cousub (MCDs).
d. AIANNH (Tribal areas).


For the Name Field in Local Data, the boundary file may need to be modified to agree with a
field in the Census Bureau’s data. Type the name of the field (as it appears in ArcCatalog)
containing the information matching the Census Bureau’s NAME field. If processing an MCD
or AIANNH file where the Census Bureau NAME field contains duplicates, match the Census
Bureau’s NAMELSAD.

Figure 38. Create Changes Window

Click OK to run the tool.
Once the tool is complete, the output will be placed in the geodatabase under the submission
feature dataset.

Figure 39. Partnership Tools Menu with Geodatabase

Repeat steps for any other levels of geography that need changes created.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-5

Sliver Blaster Tool (Optional)

The Sliver Blaster tool is useful for governments that have numerous very small change
polygons that are time consuming to manually parse through for deletion. Since the Census
Bureau cannot guarantee inclusion of changes under 30 feet, use this tool to remove changes
that are lower than that threshold. Participants can also change the tolerance for slivers if they
know there are small changes that need to be included. This automated tool will vary in
processing time depending on the number of features in the entity.
Double click on the 3) Sliver Blaster tool.

Figure 40. Partnership Tools Menu with Sliver Blaster Selected

In the Sliver Blaster tool window:
 The Changes File refers to the file created in the previous step, found in the submission
feature dataset.
 The Census Edges feature class is found in the benchmark feature dataset and is called
bas_edges.
 The Buffer Distance field is set to 30 feet by default, but this can be adjusted to
accommodate smaller changes.
Click OK to run.

Figure 41. Sliver Blaster Window

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-6

Format Working MXD Tool (Optional)

The intent of this tool is to create a map document (.mxd) for users containing their change file
and all of the reference layers they will need to finalize a submission. If users would prefer to
use their own .mxd, this step is not required.
Double click on the 4) Format Working MXD tool.

Figure 42. Partnership Tools Menu with Format Working MXD Selected

The only input for this tool is the Working Folder, which is the folder with the governments BAS
ID as its name.

Figure 43. Format Working MXD Window

Click OK to run the tool.
Open the new .mxd and begin working with the change polygons.

Figure 44. Projects Submenu with mxd file Selected

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-7

Attribute Check Tool

This tool is used to verify that there are no inconsistencies with the data included in the
submission. Run this tool during or after change polygons have been reviewed for spatial
accuracy to produce a report of attribution errors (see Section 5.6 for guidance on conducting a
spatial review). It may also run for all levels of geography that have changes since it is run on
each individual change file.
Double click on the 5) Attribute Check tool.

Figure 45. Partnership Tools Menu with Attribute Check Selected

In the Attribute Check window:
 The Change File should be the change file created in tool 2) Create Changes for which to
generate a report.
 In Geography Type, chose the type of geography being worked on from the dropdown. The
same options as the Create Changes tool are available here.
 The last input is the optional check box for Includes Changes in Georgia. This box only needs
to be checked if responding in the state of Georgia.

Figure 46. Attribute Check Window

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-8

Figure 47. Projects Submenu Showing an attribute_check Text File

Export Submission Tool

Upon review of the changes file and the attribute error report, the finalized changes can be
exported for submission to the Census Bureau. This tool can also be used to provide updated
contact information with the submission.
Double click on the 6) Export Submission Files tool.

Figure 48. Partnership Tools Menu with Export Submission Files Selected

In the Export Submission Files tool window:
 Enter the 11-digit BAS ID in the BAS ID field.
 Under Additional Files, drag in or navigate to any additional files to be included in the
submission. This can include parcel data, legal documentation, or any other helpful
supporting data. This is an optional field so it can also be left blank. There is no need to add
the changes layers here as the tool will handle those already based on the BAS ID.
 For BAS Contact, Entity Name, Contact Title or Department Name, Address, Email, and
Phone Number, please include any or all contact information updates that are to be sent to
the Census Bureau. These fields can be left blank if there are no updates, though if someone
other than the BAS Contact prepared the submission, include the contact information.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

B-9

Figure 49. Export Submission Files Window

Click OK to run the tool.

Submitting through the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM)

The Census Bureau requires participants to submit updated BAS materials as ZIP files using the
Census Bureau’s SWIM site. Please submit only the ZIP file(s). SWIM is located at
<https://respond.census.gov/swim>. For instructions on how to use SWIM, see Section 5.7.6,
Submitting Digital Files through SWIM.

U.S. Census Bureau
10

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B-

APPENDIX C

2020 DIGITAL BAS EXAMPLE PROCESS 2

The 2020 Digital BAS Example Process 2 provides step-by-step instructions for participants
creating their own change shapefiles using ArcGIS.

Required Census Bureau Shapefiles

When downloading shapefiles for the 2020 BAS, shapefiles will begin with the prefix PVS (e.g.,
PVS_19_v2_edges_<ssccc>.shp). Throughout this guide, Census Bureau uses the prefix of
bas_2020, but the PVS files are exactly the same.
Copy the data to a hard drive/server and unzip the data to ensure that the correct data was
downloaded. For an incorporated place, these layers are critical:


PVS_19_v2_place_<ssccc>.shp



PVS_19_v2_edges_<ssccc>.shp

Note: <ssccc> represents the two-digit state code and three-digit county code.

The shapefiles should include the home county/counties as well as all adjacent counties
(if necessary).
Note: The Census Bureau suggests that participants make an extra copy of the data as an emergency
backup.

Local Data

The minimum data necessary is a jurisdiction polygon shapefile showing only the outer
boundary or boundaries. Local parcel files are not acceptable for this method. If each
jurisdiction’s boundaries are contiguous, the file should contain only one polygon for each
government; if some of the governments within the jurisdiction are non-contiguous, they may
be saved as a multi-part polygon or consist of one polygon for each disjointed part. Other local
data layers that may be helpful, if available, include centerline data, hydrography, railroad or
other linear feature data, and imagery.

Symbolizing Layers in ArcGIS

The following are suggestions for symbolizing Census data in ArcGIS. For the Edges layer,
symbolize the linear features by grouping like MTFCC codes (codes sharing the same first
character). See Table 26.
Table 26: Suggested MTFCC Symbolization
MTFCC 1st Character

U.S. Census Bureau

Linear Feature Type

Hydrographic

Non-Visible Feature (boundary)

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

Symbol

C-1

MTFCC 1st Character

Linear Feature Type

Railroad

Road

Symbol

Symbolizing Geographic Areas

Symbolize the place layer using Fill Color of RGB (255, 235, 190) with no outline.
Note: County participants with many adjacent incorporated places may want to use different colors to
distinguish one place from another.

Figure 50. Suggested Map Symbolization

Extracting Incorporated Place or MCD Data from Census Shapefiles

Participants submitting for a single incorporated place or MCD will need to extract their
government from the appropriate data layer.
Note: County participants submitting county boundary changes can skip this step. Use the
PVS_19_v2_county_<ssccc> shapefile which only contains the county boundary. Counties
submitting for multiple incorporated places or MCDs skip ahead to Section C6, Merging
Multipart Place Data.

U.S. Census Bureau

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C5.1 Filtering the Data
1. In ArcMap, click Selection and then click Select by Attributes.
2. In the Select By Attributes window:
 From the Layer dropdown, select PVS_19_v2_{place|mcd}_<ssccc>.
 Double click “NAME.”
 Left click the = button.
 Click the Get Unique Values button.
 In the list, locate and double click the name of the government (It will appear in the
formula).
 Click OK.

Figure 51. Filtering Data

C5.2 Exporting the Data to a New Shapefile
1. In the Table of Contents, right click the Incorporated Place or MCD layer, select Data, and then
click Export Data.
2. In the Export Data window:
 From the Export dropdown, choose Selected Features.
 In the Output feature class field, enter a location to save the shapefile.
 Click OK.

U.S. Census Bureau

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C-3

Figure 52. Export Data Window

Note: If the incorporated place spans more than one county, it will need to be exported from each
county’s place shapefile and merged. Follow the instructions in Section C6, Merging Multipart
Place Data if the incorporated place needs to merge, otherwise skip to Section C7.2, Creating
Change Polygons Using Union.

Merging Multipart Place Data
1. In ArcToolbox, double-click Data Management Tools, then double-click General, and then
double-click Merge.
2. In the Merge window:


Next to the Input Datasets field, click the arrow and select each layer (or use the Browse
button to the right of the field to find the layers)



In the Output Dataset field, browse to and select a location to save the shapefile.
o



U.S. Census Bureau

Name the shapefile Export_Output_Final or Merged, or anything easy to
find/remember.

Click OK.

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Figure53. Finalizing the Merge Process

Creating Change Polygons

There are two methods used for creating change polygons. Symmetrical Difference is the
recommended method for single geographic areas and those with an appropriate ArcGIS
license. Steps for using a symmetrical difference are outlined in Section C7.1, Creating Change
Polygons Using Symmetrical Difference. Otherwise the Union method is acceptable and
outlined in Section C7.2, Creating Change Polygons Using Union.

C7.1 Creating Change Polygons Using Symmetrical Difference
1. In ArcToolbox, double-click Analysis Tools, then double-click Overlay, and then double-click
Symmetrical Difference.
2. In the Symmetrical Difference window:


In the Input Features field, click the arrow (or browse) and select the layer created in
Section C6, Merging Multipart Place Data if the Census Bureau data required merging.



In the Update Features field, click the arrow (or browse) and select the local government
boundary layer (the participant’s data).



In the Output Feature Class field, browse to and select a location to save the shapefile.
o



U.S. Census Bureau

Name the shapefile Differences_between_BAS_local, Differences1, or anything easy to
find/remember.

Click OK.

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Figure 54. Finalizing the Symmetrical Difference Process

Note: This process creates a layer that contains all of the differences between Census Bureau and local
boundaries. However, the Symmetrical Difference tool creates multipart polygons that need to
be broken up and individually coded.
3. Turn on Editing (using the Editing dropdown in the Editor toolbar). Select all of the records in
the layer that was created in the Symmetrical Difference step.
4. On the Advanced Editing toolbar, click the Explode tool
separate record for each change.

. The layer will now contain a

The created layer shows individual change polygons representing the differences between the
Census Bureau and local government boundaries. Please review these differences and code
them appropriately.
Skip to Section C8, Reviewing and Attributing Change Polygons.

C7.2 Creating Change Polygons Using Union
1. In ArcToolbox, double-click Analysis Tools, then double-click Overlay, and then double-click
Union.
2. In the Union window:


In the Input Features field, click the arrow (or browse) and select
PVS_19_v2_{place|mcd}_<ssccc>, and the local incorporated place or MCD layer.



In the Output Feature Class, browse to and select a location to save the shapefile.
o

U.S. Census Bureau

Name the shapefile Export_Output_union, or Union, or anything easy to
find/remember.
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C-6



Click OK.

Figure 55. Finalizing the Union Process

The union operation will create records that contain differences as well as areas that are in
common between the Census Bureau and local government boundary layers.
The next step is selecting and deleting the areas in common between the Census Bureau and
local government boundary layers.
1. On the Editor toolbar, click Editor, and then click Start Editing.
2. If a Start Editing window opens, in the top pane click to highlight the union shapefile, and then
click OK.

U.S. Census Bureau

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C-7

Figure 56. Locating the Union Shapefile

3. In ArcMap, in the Tools toolbar, click the Select Features

button.



Locate features on the map that the Census Bureau and the local government layers have in
common.



Select each feature individually, or click and hold the left mouse button and drag a box to
highlight the common features.



Press Delete.



Repeat these steps until only the features that have changed are left in the map.

4. Once all of the areas in common have been removed from the union shapefile, on the Editor
toolbar, click Editor, and then click Save Edits.
5. Select all of the remaining records in the layer that was created in the Union step.
6. On the Advanced Editing toolbar, click the Explode tool
separate record for each change.

. The layer will now contain a

The new layer shows individual change polygons representing the differences between the
Census Bureau and the local government’s representation of the boundaries. Please review
these differences make sure they are coded appropriately. Continue to the next section for
instructions on reviewing and coding change polygons.

Reviewing and Attributing Change Polygons

After the individual change polygons have been created, each must be reviewed and
appropriately coded. When reviewing the polygons, please refer to Section 5.3, Boundary
Changes in the main part of this guide to look for polygons that should be deleted from the
U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

C-8

submission, as well as those that should be snapped to nearby visible features to maintain
boundary-to-feature relationships.

C8.1 Examples
These examples show very small sliver polygons that should be deleted during review as they
eliminate boundary-to-feature relationships with a river (left) and a road (right). Furthermore,
these boundary corrections also are not located near legal changes or corridor/offset changes
(type ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘C’, ‘F’), so they should be removed from consideration.

Figure 57. Small Slivers That Should Be Deleted
The examples in Figure 57 show small slivers along rivers (left) or roads
(right) that should be deleted.

Figure 58. Polygons (Before and After) Snapped to Roads or Rivers
The two examples one the left show polygons that should be snapped to
rivers (left) or roads (right). The two examples on the right show how a
snapped area will look.

Attribute Information

Note: All updates MUST be attributed. Table 2, Table 3, and Table 4 in Section 5.3, Boundary Changes
cover the required attributes.

C9.1 To Begin Updating Attributes for Annexation


On the Editor Toolbar, click Editor, and then click Start Editing.



On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool



On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes

U.S. Census Bureau

button and select the annexation polygon.
button.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

C-9



In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for an annexation:
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, AUTHTYPE, DOCU and EFF_DATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an annexation is A.

C9.2 To Begin Updating Attributes for Deannexation


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool



On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes



In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a deannexation:
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, AUTHTYPE, DOCU and EFF_DATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an annexation is D.

button and select the deannexation polygon.
button.

C9.3 To Begin Updating Attributes for Geographic Corridors


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool



On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes



In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a corridor:
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for a corridor changes is C.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the change is adding corridor area to the place or OUT if the
change is removing corridor area.

button and select the corridor polygon.
button.

C9.4 To Begin Updating Attributes for Geographic Offsets


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool



On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes



In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for an offset:
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for an offset change is F.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the change is adding offset area to the place or OUT if the
change is removing offset area.

button and select the offset polygon.
button.

C9.5 To Finish Updating Attributes


C10

Once all of the attribute changes have been made, in the ArcMap menu, click Editor, and then
click Stop Editing. (In the Save window, click Yes.)

Renaming and Finalizing Change Polygons

After creating and coding all change polygons, please rename the change polygon layer prior to
its submission to the Census Bureau. This process must be completed for each level of
geography (county, place, MCD) that has changes.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

C-10

C10.1 Renaming the Shapefile

1. In ArcMap, open the ArcCatalog

tab.

2. In ArcCatalog, navigate to shapefile, right-click and select Rename.
3. Save the output shapefile in the proper naming convention:
bas20_<basID>_changes_<government_type>.
Note: The BAS ID numbers can be found on the BAS Annual Response Email or online from this link:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/technical-documentation/code-lists.html>
Note: See Section 5.7.5, Compressing the Digital Files for instructions on zipping updates.

C10.2 Submitting the shapefile
The Census Bureau requires participants submit BAS return ZIP files using the Census Bureau’s
SWIM site. Please submit only the ZIP file. The SWIM is located at
<https://respond.census.gov/swim>. For instructions on how to use SWIM, see Section 5.7.6,
Submitting Digital Files through SWIM of this respondent guide.

C10.3 To Begin Updating Attributes for Boundary Corrections


On the Editor Toolbar, click the Edit Tool
polygon.



On the Editor Toolbar, click the Attributes



In the Attributes window, fill out the mandatory fields required for a boundary correction:
o NAME, CHNG_TYPE, RELATE.
o The CHNG_TYPE for a boundary correction is B.
o In the RELATE field, enter IN if the boundary correction is adding area or OUT if the
boundary correction is removing area.

button and select the boundary correction

button.

Note: If a county is reporting for adjacent incorporated places or MCDs, and a boundary correction to
one government affect or takes land from another, use RELATE = IN and NAME = <government
being added to>. This is due to the fact that RELATE = OUT leaves a question as to whether or
not there should be a gap between the two governments.

U.S. Census Bureau

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C-11

APPENDIX D

MTFCC DESCRIPTIONS

The MAF/TIGER Feature Classification Code (MTFCC) is a 5-digit code assigned by the Census
Bureau to classify and describe geographic objects or features in Census Bureau MAF/TIGER
products.
MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

C3022

Mountain Peak or Summit

A prominent elevation rising above the surrounding level of the Earth’s
surface.

C3023

Island

An area of dry or relatively dry land surrounded by water or low
wetland [including archipelago, atoll, cay, hammock, hummock, isla,
isle, key, moku and rock].

C3024

Levee

An embankment flanking a stream or other flowing water feature to
prevent overflow.

C3026

Quarry (not water-filled),
Open Pit Mine or Mine

An area from which commercial minerals are or were removed from
the Earth; not including an oilfield or gas field.

C3027

Dam

A barrier built across the course of a stream to impound water and/or
control water flow.

C3061

Cul-de-sac

An expanded paved area at the end of a street used by vehicles for
turning around. For mapping purposes, the Census Bureau maps it only
as a point feature.

C3062

Traffic Circle

A circular intersection allowing for continuous movement of traffic at
the meeting of roadways.

C3066

Gate

A movable barrier across a road.

C3067

Toll Booth

A structure or barrier where a fee is collected for using a road.

C3071

Lookout Tower

A manmade structure, higher than its diameter, used for observation.

C3074

Lighthouse Beacon

A manmade structure, higher than its diameter, used for transmission
of light and possibly sound generally to aid in navigation.

C3075

Tank/Tank Farm

One or more manmade structures, each higher than its diameter, used
for liquid (other than water) or gas storage or for distribution activities.

C3076

Windmill Farm

One or more manmade structures used to generate power from the
wind.

C3077

Solar Farm

One or more manmade structures used to generate power from the
sun.

C3078

Monument or Memorial

A manmade structure to educate, commemorate, or memorialize an
event, person, or feature.

C3079

Boundary Monument
Point

A material object placed on or near a boundary line to preserve and
identify the location of the boundary line on the ground.

C3080

Survey Control Point

A point on the ground whose position (horizontal or vertical) is known
and can be used as a base for additional survey work.

C3081

Locality Point

A point that identifies the location and name of an unbounded locality
(e.g., crossroad, community, populated place or locale).

C3085

Alaska Native Village
Official Point

A point that serves as the core of an Alaska Native village and is used in
defining Alaska Native village statistical areas.

G2100

American Indian Area

A legally defined state- or federally recognized reservation and/or offreservation trust land (excludes statistical American Indian areas).

G2120

Hawaiian Home Land

A legal area held in trust for the benefit of Native Hawaiians.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-1

MTFCC

Feature Class

G2130

Alaska Native Village
Statistical Area

A statistical geographic entity that represents the residences,
permanent and/or seasonal, for Alaska Natives who are members of or
receiving governmental services from the defining legal Alaska Native
Village corporation.

G2140

Oklahoma Tribal Statistical
Area

G2150

State-designated Tribal
Statistical Area

A statistical geographic entity identified and delineated for the Census
Bureau by a state-appointed liaison for a state-recognized American
Indian tribe that does not currently have a reservation and/or lands in
trust.

G2160

Tribal Designated
Statistical Area

A statistical geographic entity identified and delineated for the Census
Bureau by a federally recognized American Indian tribe that does not
currently have a reservation and/or off-reservation trust land.

G2170

American Indian Joint Use
Area

An area administered jointly and/or claimed by two or more American
Indian tribes.

G2200

Alaska Native Regional
Corporation

Corporate entities established to conduct both business and nonprofit
affairs of Alaska Natives pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-203). There are twelve
geographically defined ANRCs and they are all within and cover most of
the State of Alaska (the Annette Island Reserve-an American Indian
reservation-is excluded from any ANRC). The boundaries of ANRCs
have been legally established.

G2300

Tribal Subdivision

Administrative subdivisions of federally recognized American Indian
reservations, off-reservation trust lands, or Oklahoma tribal statistical
areas (OTSAs). These entities are internal units of self-government or
administration that serve social, cultural, and/or economic purposes
for the American Indians on the reservations, off-reservation trust
lands, or OTSAs.

G2400

Tribal Census Tract

A relatively small and permanent statistical subdivision of a federally
recognized American Indian reservation and/or off-reservation trust
land, delineated by American Indian tribal participants or the Census
Bureau for the purpose of presenting demographic data.

G2410

Tribal Block Group

A cluster of census blocks within a single tribal census tract delineated
by American Indian tribal participants or the Census Bureau for the
purpose of presenting demographic data.

G3100

Combined Statistical Area

A grouping of adjacent metropolitan and/or micropolitan statistical
areas that have a degree of economic and social integration, as
measured by commuting.

G3110

Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical
Area

An area containing a substantial population nucleus together with
adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social
integration with that core, as measured by commuting. Defined using
whole counties and equivalents.

G3120

Metropolitan Division

A county or grouping of counties that is a subdivision of a Metropolitan
Statistical Area containing an urbanized area with a population of 2.5
million or more.

G3200

Combined New England
City and Town Area

A grouping of adjacent New England city and town areas that have a
degree of economic and social integration, as measured by commuting.

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-2

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

G3210

New England City and
Town Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical
Area

G3220

New England City and
Town Division

A grouping of cities and towns in New England that is a subdivision of a
New England City and Town Area containing an urbanized area with a
population of 2.5 million or more.

G3500

Urban Area

Densely settled territory that contains at least 2,500 people. The
subtypes of this feature are Urbanized Area (UA), which consists of
50,000 + people and Urban Cluster, which ranges between 2,500 and
49,999 people.

G4000

State or Equivalent
Feature

The primary governmental divisions of the United States. The District of
Columbia is treated as a statistical equivalent of a state for census
purposes, as is Puerto Rico.

G4020

County or Equivalent
Feature

The primary division of a state or state equivalent area. The primary
divisions of 48 states are termed County, but other terms are used such
as Borough in Alaska, Parish in Louisiana, and Municipio in Puerto Rico.
This feature includes independent cities, which are incorporated places
that are not part of any county.

G4040

County Subdivision

The primary divisions of counties and equivalent features for the
reporting of Census Bureau data. The subtypes of this feature are
Minor Civil Division, Census County Division/Census Subarea, and
Unorganized Territory. This feature includes independent places, which
are incorporated places that are not part of any county subdivision.

G4050

Estate

Estates are subdivisions of the three major islands in the United States
Virgin Islands (USVI).

G4060

Subbarrio (Subminor Civil
Division)

Legally defined divisions (subbarrios) of minor civil divisions (barriospueblo and barrios) in Puerto Rico.

G4110

Incorporated Place

A legal entity incorporated under state law to provide general-purpose
governmental services to a concentration of population. Incorporated
places are generally designated as a city, borough, municipality, town,
village, or, in a few instances, have no legal description.

G4120

Consolidated City

An incorporated place that has merged governmentally with a county
or minor civil division, but one or more of the incorporated places
continues to function within the consolidation. It is a place that
contains additional separately incorporated places.

G4210

Census Designated Place

A statistical area defined for a named concentration of population and
the statistical counterpart of an incorporated place.

G4300

Economic Census Place

The lowest level of geographic area for presentation of some types of
Economic Census data. It includes incorporated places, consolidated
cities, census designated places (CDPs), minor civil divisions (MCDs) in
selected states, and balances of MCDs or counties. An incorporated
place, CDP, MCD, or balance of MCD qualifies as an economic census
place if it contains 5,000 or more residents, or 5,000 or more jobs,
according to the most current data available.

G5020

Census Tract

Relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a County or equivalent
feature delineated by local participants as part of the Census Bureau’s
Participant Statistical Areas Program.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-3

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

G5030

Block Group

A cluster of census blocks having the same first digit of their four-digit
identifying numbers within a Census Tract. For example, block group 3
(BG 3) within a Census Tract includes all blocks numbered from 3000 to
3999.

G5035

Block Area Grouping

A user-defined group of islands forming a single census tabulation
block. A BAG must: (1) consist of two or more islands, (2) have a
perimeter entirely over water, (3) not overlap, and (4) not cross the
boundary of other tabulation geographies, such as county or
incorporated place boundaries.

G5040

Tabulation Block

The lowest-order census defined statistical area. It is an area, such as a
city block, bounded primarily by physical features but sometimes by
invisible city or property boundaries. A tabulation block boundary does
not cross the boundary of any other geographic area for which the
Census Bureau tabulates data. The subtypes of this feature are Count
Question Resolution (CQR), current, and census.

G5200

Congressional District

The 435 areas from which people are elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives. Additional equivalent features exist for state
equivalents with nonvoting delegates or no representative. The
subtypes of this feature are 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, and 111th
Congressional Districts, plus subsequent Congresses.

G5210

State Legislative District
(Upper Chamber

Areas established by a state or equivalent government from which
members are elected to the upper or unicameral chamber of a state
governing body. The upper chamber is the senate in a bicameral
legislature, and the unicameral case is a single house legislature
(Nebraska).

G5220

State Legislative District
(Lower Chamber)

Areas established by a state or equivalent government from which
members are elected to the lower chamber of a state governing body.
The lower chamber is the House of Representatives in a bicameral
legislature.

G5240

Voting District

The generic name for the geographic features, such as precincts,
wards, and election districts, established by state, local, and tribal
governments for the purpose of conducting elections.

G5400

Elementary School District

A geographic area within which officials provide public elementary
grade-level educational services for residents.

G5410

Secondary School District

A geographic area within which officials provide public secondary
grade-level educational services for residents.

G5420

Unified School District

A geographic area within which officials provide public educational
services for all grade levels for residents.

G6120

Public-Use Microdata Area

A decennial census area with a population of at least 100,000 or more
persons for which the Census Bureau provides selected extracts of
household-level data that are screened to protect confidentiality.

G6300

Traffic Analysis District

An area delineated by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for tabulating
journey-to-work and place-of-work data. A Traffic Analysis District
(TAD) consists of one or more Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs).

G6320

Traffic Analysis Zone

An area delineated by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for tabulating
journey-to-work and place-of-work data.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-4

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

G6330

Urban Growth Area

An area defined under state authority to manage urbanization that the
Census Bureau includes in the MAF/TIGER® System in agreement with
the state.

G6350

ZIP Code Tabulation Area
(Five-Digit)

An approximate statistical-area representation of a U.S. Postal Service
(USPS) 5-digit ZIP Code service area.

G6400

Commercial Region

For the purpose of presenting economic statistical data, municipios in
Puerto Rico are grouped into commercial regions.

H1100

Connector

A known, but nonspecific, hydrographic connection between two
nonadjacent water features.

H2025

Swamp/Marsh

A poorly drained wetland, fresh or saltwater, wooded or grassy,
possibly covered with open water [includes bog, cienega, marais and
pocosin].

H2030

Lake/Pond

A standing body of water that is surrounded by land.

H2040

Reservoir

An artificially impounded body of water.

H2041

Treatment Pond

An artificial body of water built to treat fouled water.

H2051

Bay/Estuary/Gulf/Sound

A body of water partly surrounded by land [includes arm, bight, cove
and inlet].

H2053

Ocean/Sea

The great body of salt water that covers much of the earth.

H2060

Gravel Pit/Quarry filled
with water

A body of water in a place or area from which commercial minerals
were removed from the Earth.

H2081

Glacier

A body of ice moving outward and down slope from an area of
accumulation; an area of relatively permanent snow or ice on the top
or side of a mountain or mountainous area [includes ice field and ice
patch].

H3010

Stream/River

A natural flowing waterway [includes anabranch, awawa, branch,
brook, creek, distributary, fork, kill, pup, rio, and run].

H3013

Braided Stream

A natural flowing waterway with an intricate network of interlacing
channels.

H3020

Canal, Ditch or Aqueduct

An artificial waterway constructed to transport water, to irrigate or
drain land, to connect two or more bodies of water, or to serve as a
waterway for watercraft [includes lateral].

K1225

Crew-of-Vessel Location

A point or area in which the population of military or merchant marine
vessels at sea are assigned, usually being at or near the home port pier.

K1231

Hospital/Hospice/Urgent
Care Facility

One or more structures where the sick or injured may receive medical
or surgical attention [including infirmary].

K1235

Juvenile Institution

A facility (correctional and non-correctional) where groups of juveniles
reside; this includes training schools, detention centers, residential
treatment centers and orphanages.

K1236

Local Jail or Detention
Center

One or more structures that serve as a place for the confinement of
adult persons in lawful detention, administered by a local (county,
municipal, etc.) government.

K1237

Federal Penitentiary, State
Prison, or Prison Farm

An institution that serves as a place for the confinement of adult
persons in lawful detention, administered by the federal government
or a state government.

K1238

Other Correctional
Institution

One or more structures that serve as a place for the confinement of
adult persons in lawful detention, not elsewhere classified or
administered by a government of unknown jurisdiction.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-5

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

K1239

Convent, Monastery,
Rectory, Other Religious
Group Quarters

One or more structures intended for use as a residence for those
having a religious vocation.

K1246

Community Center

Community Center.

K2110

Military Installation

An area owned and/or occupied by the Department of Defense for use
by a branch of the armed forces (such as the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marines, or Coast Guard), or a state owned area for the use of the
National Guard.

K2165

Government Center

A place used by members of government (either federal, state, local, or
tribal) for administration and public business.

K2167

Convention Center

An exhibition hall or conference center with enough open space to host
public and private business and social events.

K2180

Park

Parkland defined and administered by federal, state, and local
governments.

K2181

National Park Service Land

Area—National parks, National Monuments, and so forth—under the
jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

K2182

National Forest or Other
Federal Land

Land under the management and jurisdiction of the federal
government, specifically including areas designated as National Forest,
and excluding areas under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

K2183

Tribal Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of an American Indian
tribe.

K2184

State Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a state government.

K2185

Regional Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a regional
government.

K2186

County Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a county
government.

K2187

County Subdivision Park,
Forest, or Recreation Area

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a minor civil division
(town/township) government.

K2188

Incorporated Place Park,
Forest, or Recreation Area

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a municipal
government.

K2189

Private Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

A privately owned place or area set aside for recreation or preservation
of a cultural or natural resource.

K2190

Other Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area (quasipublic, independent park,
commission, etc.)

A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of some other type of
government or agency such as an independent park authority or
commission.

K2191

Post Office

An official facility of the U.S. Postal Service used for processing and
distributing mail and other postal material.

K2193

Fire Department

Fire Department.

K2194

Police Station

Police Station.

K2195

Library

Library.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-6

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

K2196

City/Town Hall

City/Town Hall.

K2400

Transportation Terminal

A facility where one or more modes of transportation can be accessed
by people or for the shipment of goods; examples of such a facility
include marine terminal, bus station, train station, airport and truck
warehouse.

K2424

Marina

A place where privately owned, light-craft are moored.

K2432

Pier/Dock

A platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by
piles. This platform may provide access to ships and boats, or it may be
used for recreational purposes.

K2451

Airport or Airfield

A manmade facility maintained for the use of aircraft [including
airstrip, landing field and landing strip].

K2452

Train Station, Trolley or
Mass Transit Rail Station

A place where travelers can board and exit rail transit lines, including
associated ticketing, freight, and other commercial offices.

K2453

Bus Terminal

A place where travelers can board and exit mass motor vehicle transit,
including associated ticketing, freight, and other commercial offices.

K2454

Marine Terminal

A place where travelers can board and exit water transit or where
cargo is handled, including associated ticketing, freight, and other
commercial offices.

K2455

Seaplane Anchorage

A place where an airplane equipped with floats for landing on or taking
off from a body of water can debark and load.

K2456

Airport—Intermodal
Transportation
Hub/Terminal

A major air transportation facility where travelers can board and exit
airplanes and connect with other (i.e. non-air) modes of transportation.

K2457

Airport—Statistical
Representation

The area of an airport adjusted to include whole 2000 census blocks
used for the delineation of urban areas.

K2458

Park and Ride
Facility/Parking Lot

A place where motorists can park their cars and transfer to other
modes of transportation.

K2459

Runway/Taxiway

A fairly level and usually paved expanse used by airplanes for taking off
and landing at an airport.

K2460

Helicopter Landing Pad

A fairly level and usually paved expanse used by helicopters for taking
off and landing.

K2540

University or College

A building or group of buildings used as an institution for postsecondary study, teaching, and learning [including seminary].

K2543

School or Academy

A building or group of buildings used as an institution for preschool,
elementary or secondary study, teaching, and learning [including
elementary school and high school].

K2545

Museum, Visitor Center,
Cultural Center, or Tourist
Attraction

An attraction of historical, cultural, educational or other interest that
provides information or displays artifacts.

K2561

Golf Course

A place designed for playing golf.

K2582

Cemetery

A place or area for burying the dead [including burying ground and
memorial garden].

K2586

Zoo

A facility in which terrestrial and/or marine animals are confined within
enclosures and displayed to the public for educational, preservation,
and research purposes.

K3544

Place of Worship

A sanctified place or structure where people gather for religious
worship; examples include church, synagogue, temple, and mosque.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-7

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description

L4010

Pipeline

A long tubular conduit or series of pipes, often underground, with
pumps and valves for flow control, used to transport fluid (e.g., crude
oil, natural gas), especially over great distances.

L4020

Powerline

One or more wires, often on elevated towers, used for conducting
high-voltage electric power.

L4031

Aerial Tramway/Ski Lift

A conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers
suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers.

L4110

Fence Line

A man-made barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually
made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance, to confine,
or to mark a boundary.

L4121

Ridge Line

The line of highest elevation along a ridge.

L4125

Cliff/Escarpment

A very steep or vertical slope [including bluff, crag, head, headland,
nose, palisades, precipice, promontory, rim and rimrock].

L4130

Point-to-Point Line

A line defined as beginning at one location point and ending at
another, both of which are in sight.

L4140

Property/Parcel Line
(Including PLSS)

This feature class may denote a nonvisible boundary of either public or
private lands (e.g., a park boundary) or it may denote a Public Land
Survey System or equivalent survey line.

L4150

Coastline

The line that separates either land or Inland water from Coastal,
Territorial or Great Lakes water. Where land directly borders Coastal,
Territorial or Great Lakes water, the shoreline represents the Coastline.
Where Inland water (such as a river) flows into Coastal, Territorial or
Great Lakes water, the closure line separating the Inland water from
the other class of water represents the Coastline.

L4165

Ferry Crossing

The route used to carry or convey people or cargo back and forth over
a waterbody in a boat.

P0001

Nonvisible Linear
Legal/Statistical Boundary

A legal/statistical boundary line that does not correspond to a
shoreline or other visible feature on the ground.

P0002

Perennial Shoreline

The more-or-less permanent boundary between land and water for a
water feature that exists year-round.

P0003

Intermittent Shoreline

The boundary between land and water (when water is present) for a
water feature that does not exist year-round.

P0004

Other non-visible
bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary,
boundary of an aerial
feature)

A bounding Edge that does not represent a legal/statistical boundary,
and does not correspond to a shoreline or other visible feature on the
ground. Many such Edges bound area landmarks, while many others
separate water features from each other (e.g., where a bay meets the
ocean).

R1011

Railroad Feature (Main,
Spur, or Yard)

A line of fixed rails or tracks that carries mainstream railroad traffic.
Such a rail line can be a main line or spur line, or part of a rail yard.

R1051

Carline, Streetcar Track,
Monorail, Other Mass
Transit

Mass transit rail lines (including lines for rapid transit, monorails,
streetcars, light rail, etc.) that are typically inaccessible to mainstream
railroad traffic and whose tracks are not part of a road right-of-way.

R1052

Cog Rail Line, Incline Rail
Line, Tram

A special purpose rail line for climbing steep grades that is typically
inaccessible to mainstream railroad traffic. Note that aerial tramways
and streetcars (which may also be called “trams”) are accounted for by
other MTFCCs and do not belong in R1052.

S1100

Primary Road

Primary roads are generally divided, limited-access highways within the
interstate highway system or under state management, and are

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-8

MTFCC

Feature Class

Feature Class Description
distinguished by the presence of interchanges. These highways are
accessible by ramps and may include some toll highways.

S1200

Secondary Road

Secondary roads are main arteries, usually in the U.S. Highway, State
Highway or County Highway system. These roads have one or more
lanes of traffic in each direction, may or may not be divided, and
usually have at-grade intersections with many other roads and
driveways. They often have both a local name and a route number.

S1400

Local Neighborhood Road,
Rural Road, City Street

Generally, a paved non-arterial street, road, or byway that usually has a
single lane of traffic in each direction. Roads in this feature class may
be privately or publicly maintained. Scenic park roads would be
included in this feature class, as would (depending on the region of the
country) some unpaved roads.

S1500

Vehicular Trail (4WD)

An unpaved dirt trail where a four-wheel drive vehicle is required.
These vehicular trails are found almost exclusively in very rural areas.
Minor, unpaved roads usable by ordinary cars and trucks belong in the
S1400 category.

S1630

Ramp

A road that allows controlled access from adjacent roads onto a limited
access highway, often in the form of a cloverleaf interchange. These
roads are unaddressable and do not carry a name in the MAF/TIGER
System.

S1640

Service Drive usually along
a limited access highway

A road, usually paralleling a limited access highway, that provides
access to structures along the highway. These roads can be named and
may intersect with other roads.

S1710

Walkway/Pedestrian Trail

A path that is used for walking, being either too narrow for or legally
restricted from vehicular traffic.

S1720

Stairway

A pedestrian passageway from one level to another by a series of
steps.

S1730

Alley

A service road that does not generally have associated addressed
structures and is usually unnamed. It is located at the rear of buildings
and properties and is used for deliveries.

S1740

Private Road for service
vehicles (logging, oil fields,
ranches, etc.)

A road within private property that is privately maintained for service,
extractive, or other purposes. These roads are often unnamed.

S1750

Internal U.S. Census
Bureau use

Internal U.S. Census Bureau use.

S1780

Parking Lot Road

The main travel route for vehicles through a paved parking area.

S1820

Bike Path or Trail

A path that is used for manual or small, motorized bicycles, being
either too narrow for or legally restricted from vehicular traffic.

S1830

Bridle Path

A path that is used for horses, being either too narrow for or legally
restricted from vehicular traffic.

S2000

Road Median

The unpaved area or barrier between the carriageways of a divided
road.

Note: The information in this table was last updated in November 2017.

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital

D-9

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Digital Quick Start Guide
Initial Steps
1) Report if making updates by one of the following methods:
 Complete the Annual Response Form on the BAS website: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas.html>.
 Call: 1-800-972-5651.
 Email: <geo.bas@census.gov>.
2) Obtain the following materials from the BAS website, BAS annual response email, or DVD (if requested):
 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: Digital: <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/information/respondent-guides.html>.
 BAS Partnership Toolbox and BAS Partnership Toolbox Overview: <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/geographies/map-tools/arcmap-tools.html>.
 BAS ID: Refer to the subject line in the BAS annual response email. It includes the BAS ID.
 BAS Partnership Shapefiles: <https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/2020/geo/bas/2020-basshapefiles.html>.
3) Review respondent guide and training videos.
 Review the BAS Respondent Guide: Digital along with the training videos on the BAS website before beginning any
boundary or linear feature updates.
Boundary Review
Geographic Area Changes CHNG_TYPE
1) Compare the Census Bureau’s representation of the participating government’s
Disincorporation
X
boundary to the local representation of the boundary, and extract the
differences (change polygons). The differences can be extracted using one of the
New Incorporation
E
sample methods in the BAS Respondent Guide: Digital or using the
Annexation
A
geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS. The BAS Partnership Toolbox, Create Changes
tool, does this for the BAS participant.
Boundary Correction
B
2) Populate the applicable mandatory fields for each change polygon. The Census
Geographic Corridor
C
Bureau will not be able to accept changes without the appropriate attribution or
documentation. The following are mandatory fields:
Deannexation
D
 NAME: Government name (all changes).
 CHNG_TYPE: Type of area update; see tables (all changes).
Geographic Offset
F
 AUTHTYPE: Authorization type; see tables (all legal changes – annexations,
Authorization Types
AUTHTYPE
deannexations, new incorporations, disincorporations).
 DOCU: Supporting documentation (all legal changes).
Ordinance
O
 EFF_DATE: Effective date; if after January 1, 2020, legal changes will not be
Resolution
R
included in the 2020 Census.
 RELATE: Relationship description; IN or OUT (all boundary corrections).
Local Law
L
3) BAS participants have the option to return linear feature (road, railroad,
State Level Action
S
hydrology) and landmark updates. Review the BAS Respondent Guide: Digital for
more information on these types of changes.
Other
X

Boundary Review – Quality Control
1)
2)
3)
4)

Verify that all mandatory fields are populated.
Verify that all legal changes have appropriate legal documentation, authorization types, and effective dates.
Verify that all boundary changes are greater than thirty feet, unless they include housing units.
Verify that all boundary corrections less than thirty feet do not dissolve boundary to feature relationships with roads, railroads,
hydrography, etc. (Example: road right of ways.)

File Naming Conventions and Submission Preparation
Note: The BAS Partnership Toolbox will complete these requirements for BAS participants. For participants not using the Toolbox,
please follow the steps below.
1) Name all return files (change polygons, linear feature updates, whole entity files, etc.) using the file naming conventions
outlined in the BAS Respondent Guide: Digital. Table 1 contains examples of the file naming conventions.
2) Include important metadata information. It is critical that all return files have correct *.prj files.
3) Include a text file with the BAS and Highest Elected Official contact information, or update the contact information using the
online Annual Response Form. (See Initial Steps section for link).
4) Zip all return files together and name the file bas20_<BASID>_return.zip. <BASID> should be replaced with the eleven-digit BAS
ID code (e.g. bas20_20100100000_return.zip).

Table 1: File Naming Conventions
Changes Submitted For

Change Shapefile Naming Conventions

Whole Entity Shapefile Naming Conventions

County

bas20_<basID>_changes_county

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_county

Minor Civil Division

bas20_<basID>_changes_cousub

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_cousub

Incorporated Place

bas20_<basID>_changes_incplace

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_incplace

Consolidated City

bas20_<basID>_changes_concity

bas20_<basID>_WholeEntity_concity

Edges

bas20_<basID>_LN_Changes

N/A

Area/Hydrographic
Landmarks

bas20_<basID>_Alndk_Changes

N/A

Point Landmarks

bas20_<basID>_Plndk_Changes

N/A

Return Updates Using the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM)
1) Open a web browser window and enter the SWIM URL: <https://respond.census.gov/swim/>.
2) Participants who already have a SWIM account should skip to Step 4 and enter their email address and password to login.
3) Participants who do not have a SWIM account click ‘Register Account’:
 Enter the 12-digit token provided by the Census Bureau.
 Create a password following the five criteria below:
Note: SWIM email addresses and
1) It must be at least eight characters in length.
passwords are case sensitive.
2) It must have at least one upper case character.
3) It must have at least one lower case character.
Forgot your password?
4) It must have at least one number.
Participants may reset their password using
5) It must have at least one special character (valid characters are:
the “Forgot your password?” link on the
#, !, $, &, ?, ~). Do not use commas since they are for spacing
login page. Follow the prompts to enter the
purposes only.
case-sensitive email address and provide
 Complete the registration information form.
the security answer. If the security answer
4) Login into SWIM.
is correct, the SWIM system sends a
5) Upload BAS submission:
password reset link to the email account for
 Select the Start New Upload button.
use in resetting the password. Once logged
 Select the BAS radio button.
into SWIM, users can modify their password
 Select the Entity Type (State, Place, County, Minor Civil Division
and security answer by selecting the
(MCD), Tribal Area, or Consolidated City).
‘Change Security’ link at the top, right-hand
 Select the State and County.
side of the page.
 Click the + Add File button.
 Double-click on the .ZIP file to upload. Add additional files in the
same manner.
 Add any additional information to the Comments field.
 Click Next. A Thank You screen will appear.
6) Logout of SWIM.

BAS Schedule and Deadlines





January 1, 2020 – Boundary changes must be legally in effect on or
before this date to be reported in the current survey year and to be
used for the 2020 Census data tabulations. Boundary updates
effective after this date will be held until the following BAS cycle.
March 1, 2020 – Boundary updates returned by this date will be
reflected in the 2020 Census, in the Final BVP materials, and in next
year’s BAS materials.
May 31, 2020 – Boundary updates returned by this date will be
reflected in the 2020 Census and in next year’s BAS materials.

Contact Information
Please contact the Census Bureau for questions:
 Email: <geo.bas@census.gov>.
 Phone: 1-800-972-5651.
 Fax: 1-800-972-5652.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS):
Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) Quick Start Guide
Initial Steps
1) Report if making updates by one of the following methods:
 Complete the Annual Response Form on the BAS website: <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas.html>.
 Call: 1-800-972-5651.
 Email: <geo.bas@census.gov>.
2) Obtain the following materials from the BAS website or DVD (if requested):
 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) Respondent Guide: GUPS: <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/information/respondent-guides.html>.
 GUPS: <https://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/gups/>.
Note: Those requesting the GUPS and data on DVD will receive the software and data disc in the mail.
3) Review respondent guide and training videos.
 Review the BAS Respondent Guide: GUPS along with the training videos on the BAS website before beginning any boundary
or linear feature updates.

Download and Install GUPS
1) Download the GUPS tool from the BAS website to the computer.
2) Unzip the file and extract all contents of the unzipped package to a folder on
the computer.
3) Click the Setup-x.x.x batch file to start the installation.
4) When the installer opens, the Welcome to the QGIS GUPS Setup Wizard
screen will appear. Follow the instructions on the Wizard and click the Next
button.
5) The License Agreement screen will appear. Review the License Agreement
and click the I Agree button to continue the install process.
6) The Choose Install Location screen will appear. Click the Browse button to
choose the location where GUPS will be installed. It is recommended to
install the application at the default location shown (C:\Program Files\QGIS
GUPS). Click Next to continue the install process.
7) The Choose Components screen will appear. The Select Components to
Install box will be grayed out as it is the default. Click Install to continue.
8) The software should take five to ten minutes to complete the install. When the install is complete, the Completing the QGIS
GUPS Setup Wizard screen will appear. To complete the install, click the Finish button at the bottom of the screen.
Note: The software should run automatically for those requesting a DVD. If it does not, please navigate to the DVD drive and
begin with Step 3, above).

Start New BAS Project
1) Double-click the QGIS icon on the desktop. [QGIS splash screen appears].
2) Click Close (X) on QGIS Tips screen. [Map Management dialog page opens].
3) Use the Program and Sub-program dropdown boxes to select Boundary and Annexation Survey and 2020 Boundary and
Annexation Survey respectively.
4) Use the State dropdown box to select the state to update.
5) Use the Working County dropdown box to select the county to update.
6) Use the Select Data Folder, Directory or Location dropdown box to select the location from which to pull the county’s
shapefiles. (Options: Census Web (suggested), Census-provided CD/DVD, or My Computer).
7) Use the Entity Type dropdown box to select the entity represented (County, Minor Civil Division, Place, or State).
8) Once selected, a list of adjacent counties will appear highlighted. (Uncheck any counties not wanted on the Map View).
 If adjacent counties are selected, load their shapefiles from the Select Data Folder, Directory or Location dropdown box.
 Files load and GUPS is ready to make BAS updates.

Perform Geographic Review/Updates
1) Use the BAS Module in GUPS to:
 Add, delete, and modify legal governments (Counties [and equivalent areas], MCDs, Incorporated Places, and Consolidated
Cities).
 Add, delete, and modify linear features (roads, railroads, and hydrography).
 Add, delete, and modify area landmarks and hydrographic areas.
 Add, delete, and modify point landmarks.
 Provide address data for newly annexed areas.

Perform Quality Control
1) Use the validation tools provided in GUPS to review changes before returning updates to the Census Bureau:
 Review Change Polygon Tool.
 Geography Review Tool.

Create Return ZIP Files
1) Select Export to Zip icon on the BAS Toolbar.
2) From the Select Output Type dialog box, select Export for Census button to create a file to return to the Census Bureau. Click
the Share with Another Participant button if preferred.
3) Click OK.
4) A window opens showing the location of the of the output file on the local system. This is the file to be returned to the Census
Bureau in the next steps.

Return Updates Using the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM)
1) Open a browser window and enter the SWIM URL: <https://respond.census.gov/swim/>.
2) Participants who already have a SWIM account should skip to Step 4 and enter their email address and password to login.
3) Participants who do not have a SWIM account click ‘Register Account’:
 Enter the 12-digit token provided by the Census Bureau.
 Create a password following the five criteria below:
1) It must be at least eight characters in length.
2) It must have at least one upper case character.
Note: SWIM email addresses and
3) It must have at least one lower case character.
passwords are case sensitive.
4) It must have at least one number.
5) It must have at least one special character (valid characters are:
Forgot your password?
#, !, $, &, ?, ~). Do not use commas since they are for spacing
Participants may reset their password using
purposes only.
the “Forgot your password?” link on the
 Complete the registration information form.
login page. Follow the prompts to enter the
4) Login into SWIM:
case-sensitive email address and provide
5) Upload a BAS submission:
the security answer. If the security answer
 Select Start New Upload button.
is correct, the SWIM system sends a
 Select BAS radio button
password reset link to the email account for
 Select the Entity type (State, Place, County, MCD, Tribal Area, or
use in resetting the password. Once logged
Consolidated City).
into SWIM, users can modify their password
 Select the State and County.
and security answer by selecting the
 Click the + Add File button.
‘Change Security’ link at the top, right-hand
 Select the .ZIP file to upload.
side of the page.
 Double-click on the file to upload. Add additional files in the same
manner.
 Add any additional information to the Comments field.
 Click Next. A Thank You screen will appear.
6) Logout of SWIM.

BAS Schedule and Deadlines





January 1, 2020 – Boundary changes must be legally in effect on or
before this date to be reported in the current survey year and to be
used for the 2020 Census data tabulations. Boundary updates effective
after this date will be held until the following BAS cycle.
March 1, 2020 – Boundary updates returned by this date will be
reflected in the 2020 Census, in the Final BVP materials, and in next
year’s BAS materials.
May 31, 2020 – Boundary updates returned by this date will be
reflected in the 2020 Census and in next year’s BAS materials.

Contact Information
Please contact the Census Bureau for questions:
 Email: <geo.bas@census.gov>.
 Phone: 1-800-972-5651.
 Fax: 1-800-972-5652.

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
Respondent Guide: Paper
Instructions for Participating in the 2020 Boundary and Annexation Survey
Revised as of October 07, 2019

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U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey Respondent Guide: Paper

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ v
A.

The Boundary and Annexation Survey ................................................................................................................ v

What’s New for the 2020 BAS? ........................................................................................................................... v

Key Dates for BAS Respondents ......................................................................................................................... vi

BAS State Agreements ....................................................................................................................................... vi

Legal Disputes .................................................................................................................................................... vi

Part 1: Completing the BAS Forms ......................................................................................... 1
1.1

Forms Included in the BAS Package ....................................................................................................................1

1.2

Name or Type Changes .......................................................................................................................................1

1.3

Contact Information............................................................................................................................................1

1.4

Legal Boundary Changes .....................................................................................................................................1

1.5

Other Changes ....................................................................................................................................................1

Part 2: Census Bureau Geocoding .......................................................................................... 2
2.1

MAF Structure Point (MSP) Geocoding ...............................................................................................................2

2.2

Address Range Geocoding ..................................................................................................................................2

Part 3: Reviewing and Updating BAS Maps ............................................................................ 4
3.1

Maps Included in the BAS Package .....................................................................................................................4

3.2

Requesting Additional Maps ...............................................................................................................................4

3.3

Reviewing Boundaries with Imagery in TIGERweb .............................................................................................4

3.4

General Guidelines for Reviewing and Updating BAS Maps ...............................................................................4

3.5

Legal Boundary Changes .....................................................................................................................................5

3.5.1 How to Draw Legal Boundary Changes ...............................................................................................................5
3.5.2 Boundary Changes Involving Coincident Features ..............................................................................................6
3.5.3 Boundary Corrections .........................................................................................................................................7
3.5.4 Geographic Corridors and Offsets.......................................................................................................................8
Geographic Corridors ....................................................................................................................................8
Geographic Offsets ......................................................................................................................................10
3.5.5 New Incorporations ..........................................................................................................................................11
3.5.6 Disincorporations ..............................................................................................................................................11
3.5.7 Tribal Subdivisions ............................................................................................................................................11
3.5.7.1

Tribal Subdivision Program Procedures.......................................................................................................12

3.5.7.2

Updating Existing Tribal Subdivisions ..........................................................................................................13

3.5.7.3

Tribal Subdivision Documentation ..............................................................................................................13

3.5.8 County Review and Consolidations...................................................................................................................14
3.5.9 Public Land Survey System................................................................................................................................14
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Part 4: Feature Modifications............................................................................................... 15
4.1

Modifying Locations of Streets .........................................................................................................................15

4.1.1 Adding Streets...................................................................................................................................................16
4.1.2 Adding Street Names in a Congested Area .......................................................................................................16
4.1.3 Correcting Street Names...................................................................................................................................17
4.1.4 Deleting Streets ................................................................................................................................................17
4.1.5 Labeling Unnamed Streets ................................................................................................................................17
4.1.6 Adding Cul-De-Sacs or Circles ...........................................................................................................................18
4.2

Annotating Address Range................................................................................................................................18

4.2.1 When Adding Address Ranges ..........................................................................................................................18
4.3

Point Landmarks ...............................................................................................................................................19

4.4

Area Landmarks ................................................................................................................................................19

Part 5: Signing Updated Maps and Returning BAS Materials ................................................ 20
Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 21
Appendix A.

Additional Documentation of Changes Forms.............................................. A-1

A.1

Places............................................................................................................................................... A-1

A.2

Counties and Equivalent Areas ....................................................................................................... A-2

A.3

Minor Civil Divisions ........................................................................................................................ A-3

A.4

Reservations and Off-Reservation Trust Land................................................................................. A-4

Appendix B.

MTFCC Descriptions..................................................................................... B-1

Appendix C.

Reading a Map ............................................................................................ C-1

C.1

Index Maps .......................................................................................................................................C-1

C.2

Parent Maps .....................................................................................................................................C-2

C.3

Inset Maps ........................................................................................................................................C-3

C.4

Scales ................................................................................................................................................C-4

C.5

Compass Rose ..................................................................................................................................C-5

C.6

Legend ..............................................................................................................................................C-5

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. GPS Method of Geocoding............................................................................................... 2
Figure 2. Address Range Method of Geocoding ............................................................................. 3
Figure 3. Shared Boundary.............................................................................................................. 5
Figure 4. Correctly Annotating a Legal Boundary Change .............................................................. 5
Figure 5. Correctly Annotating an AIA Trust Land .......................................................................... 6
Figure 6. Annotating a Legal Boundary Change .............................................................................. 7
Figure 7. Annotating a Legal Change to an Incorporated Place ..................................................... 7
Figure 8. Annotating a Boundary Correction to an Incorporated Place Boundary ....................... 8
Figure 9. Geographic Corridor and Geographic Offset ................................................................... 8
Figure 10. Where the Right-of-way Belongs in the Unincorporated Area ..................................... 9
Figure 11. Housing Units in the Unincorporated Area ................................................................... 9
Figure 12. Indicating a Geographic Corridor by Using a Red Pencil ............................................... 9
Figure 13. (Left) The Place Boundary is Along the Front-lot-line ................................................. 10
Figure 14. (Right) The Place Boundary is on the Rear-lot-line ...................................................... 10
Figure 15. Depicting a Geographic Offset on a Paper Submission ............................................... 11
Figure 16. Recording New Tribal Subdivision Information ........................................................... 13
Figure 17. Modifying a Street Feature, No Boundary Movement ................................................ 15
Figure 18. Modifying a Street Feature with Boundary Movement .............................................. 15
Figure 19. Adding an MTFCC Code When Adding a New Street ................................................... 16
Figure 20. Adding Street Name Features in a Congested Area When Adding Streets ................. 16
Figure 21. Correcting a Street Name ............................................................................................ 17
Figure 22. Deleting a Street Feature ............................................................................................. 17
Figure 23. Adding Unnamed Road Features ................................................................................. 17
Figure 24. Adding Cul-de-sac and Circle Features ........................................................................ 18
Figure 25. Adding Street Feature/Annotating with Name and Address Breaks .......................... 18
Figure 26. Adding a Point Landmark ............................................................................................. 19
Figure 27. Adding an Area Landmark............................................................................................ 19
Figure 28. BAS Paper Map Signature Box ..................................................................................... 20
Figure 29. Index Map ................................................................................................................... C-1

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Figure 30. The Parent Map .......................................................................................................... C-2
Figure 31. The Key to Adjacent Sheets ........................................................................................ C-2
Figure 32. The Sheet Location within Entity key ......................................................................... C-3
Figure 33. An Inset Map as it is Displayed on the Index Map...................................................... C-3
Figure 34. Inset Maps................................................................................................................... C-4
Figure 35. Bar Scale ...................................................................................................................... C-4
Figure 36. Large Scale Map .......................................................................................................... C-5
Figure 37. Compass Rose ............................................................................................................. C-5
Figure 38. Legend Describing What Each Symbol Means ............................................................ C-6
Figure 39. Map Depicting Multiple Features Concurrently ......................................................... C-6

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INTRODUCTION
A.

The Boundary and Annexation Survey

What’s New for the 2020 BAS?
The Boundary Validation Program (BVP) runs in parallel with the 2020 BAS. The BVP provides
Tribal Chairs (TCs) and Highest Elected Officials (HEOs), of tribal, state, and local governments,
the opportunity to review the Census Bureau’s boundary data to ensure the Census Bureau has
the correct legal boundary, name, and status information for eligible governments across the
United States. For more information on the BVP, please visit the BVP website at:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas/information/bvp.html>.
The 2020 BAS is the final opportunity for tribal, state, and local governments to provide legal
boundary, name, and status information updates prior to 2020 Census data tabulation.
The Census Bureau developed a BAS Partnership Toolbox for ArcGIS users. This toolbox is
designed to simplify and standardize the BAS updating process. The toolbox and additional
information can be found at <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/geographies/map-tools/arcmap-tools.html>.

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Key Dates for BAS Respondents

BAS State Agreements

Legal Disputes

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PART 1: COMPLETING THE BAS FORMS
1.1

Forms Included in the BAS Package

The forms in the BAS package should be used to verify legal names, legal status, contact
information, previous legal boundary changes submitted to the Census Bureau, and to
document any recent or missing legal boundary changes. There are four types of forms:
BAS-1 for Incorporated Places.
BAS-2 for Counties and Equivalent Areas.
BAS-3 for Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs).
BAS-5 for American Indian Reservations and Off-Reservation Trust Land.

1.2

Name or Type Changes

Please verify that the legal name and legal status of the government or AIA are accurate. Make
any necessary corrections by crossing out the error and clearly printing the correct information.
Provide an effective date for name, type, or status changes. County participants should verify
the list of active and inactive entities within their counties.

1.3

Contact Information

Please verify that the Census Bureau has the most recent BAS, HEO, or TC contact information
for the government or AIA. Fill in any missing or incorrect information, especially blank email
addresses. If the primary address of the BAS contact, HEO, or TC is a PO Box, provide the Census
Bureau with a physical address that can be used for the delivery of maps. Contact changes or
updates may also be provided to the Census Bureau throughout the year by email to
geo.bas@census.gov.

1.4

Legal Boundary Changes

Please record all legal boundary changes in the Documentation of Changes section of the BAS
form. Include legal boundary changes that occurred prior to January 1 of the current survey
year if they do not appear on the current BAS maps. Please include legal authorization, such as
a local ordinance or resolution number, and the effective date of the legal action. If additional
pages are needed to record legal changes, a copy of the Documentation of Changes is provided
in the appendix.

1.5

Other Changes

Please indicate if there are any boundary corrections or feature updates that need to be made
on the BAS maps. This will assist the Census Bureau in identifying and accounting for any
updates made to the maps.

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PART 2: CENSUS BUREAU GEOCODING
Geocoding is how the Census Bureau codes the location of the population within the legal
boundaries of a geographic area. There are two primary methods of geocoding used by the
Census Bureau, and both of these involve coding an address to a spatial polygon. One uses
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to create a Master Address File (MAF) structure
point (MSP) and the other uses address ranges for geocoding.

2.1

MAF Structure Point (MSP) Geocoding

A field worker stands in front of a house or living quarters, and records the physical location
with a GPS device (Figure 1). Usually, the GPS point should fall very close to the front door of
the house. However, since GPS points are collected in the field, real-world obstacles like locked
fences, poor satellite reception, or even aggressive dogs might sometimes prevent the worker
from gaining access to the front door. In these circumstances, the worker may have to take the
GPS coordinate from the sidewalk or side of the road.

Figure 1. GPS Method of Geocoding
Notice that it is occasionally not possible for the field worker to go all
the way to the front door, due to unforeseen circumstances, like the
fence or the dog shown above. Thus, the MSP (represented by the red
pins) can sometimes fall within the road or the road right-of-way.

2.2

Address Range Geocoding

When no MSP is available, the Census Bureau codes houses and living quarters according to a
potential range of addresses associated with the adjacent stretch of road (Figure 2).

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Figure 2. Address Range Method of Geocoding
When it is not possible to collect an MSP, houses are geocoded according
to their placement along a range of potential addresses along that road.
Since the address has a relationship with the road, boundaries placed on
front-lot-lines will lead to mis-geocoding unless an offset flag is used.

While the two methods of geocoding differ greatly, both rely heavily on the integrated nature
of the Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing
(MAF/TIGER) System. These geocoding methods are affected by the way streets and boundaries
are represented in relation to one another. This interdependence between streets, boundaries,
and geocoding means that Census Bureau representations of legal boundaries may sometimes
differ from other representations (e.g., in local or state GIS). This is especially true regarding
geographic corridors and offsets that follow road right of ways (or the front-lot-lines of parcels).
In both of the examples above, delineating a boundary along the front-lot-line will tend to
increase the risk of incorrect geocoding. As a result, using the road centerline as a boundary is
the safer method.
When completing a BAS submission in which a road or road right-of-way is owned or
maintained by a place or AIA but the adjacent housing is not, the respondent should use the
centerline of the road (not the front-lot-line) as the boundary whenever possible. If local or
state law requires the use of the front-lot-line boundary, the respondent must explicitly
designate the polygon(s) between the road centerline and the front-lot-boundary as a corridor
or an offset (see Section 3.5.4, Geographic Corridors and Offsets of this document for more
details).

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PART 3: REVIEWING AND UPDATING BAS MAPS
3.1

Maps Included in the BAS Package

The Census Bureau mails an index map showing the entire government or AIA, along with more
detailed individual map sheets. Index maps are provided as a reference to help locate a map
sheet. Governments and AIAs with more than 30 map sheets receive only an index map and the
map sheets that show the boundary ring. Governments that require more than 30 boundary
ring map sheets receive only the index map. Please review Appendix C. for a further description
of the map types.

3.2

Requesting Additional Maps

If an individual map sheet or full set of maps was not provided for a county, incorporated
place, MCD, or AIA where boundary changes or feature updates need to be made, please call
1-800-972-5651 or email geo.bas@census.gov to request the additional materials. Do not make
updates on the index map.

3.3

Reviewing Boundaries with Imagery in TIGERweb

Governments that have requested paper maps can use TIGERweb
<https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerwebmain/TIGERweb_main.html> for a more detailed
version of their boundaries with imagery before annotating the paper maps. Instructions for
using TIGERweb for BAS can be found on the BAS website at
<https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/partnerships/bas/TIGERwebforBAS.pdf>.

3.4

General Guidelines for Reviewing and Updating BAS Maps
Colored pencils are provided in the package. The red pencil should be used to indicate legal
boundary changes and non-legal boundary corrections for all counties, places, MCDs, and AIAs.
The purple pencil should be used to indicate feature changes or corrections. The blue pencil
should be used by AIAs to add or modify tribal subdivisions.
Compare the BAS maps to a local source for a government (e.g., a local plat map, or a county
assessor’s dataset). Update the map(s) if the boundaries shown do not correctly depict the
boundaries in effect as of January 1 of the current survey year.
Annexations and deannexations from previous years may be provided in addition to updates in
effect as of January 1; however, the Census Bureau does require legal documentation when
submitting these legal updates.
The maps show boundaries for multiple legal and statistical boundaries. If a government’s legal
boundaries are coextensive with another boundary, the symbols on the map will alternate. In
Figure 3 the county shares a boundary with an incorporated place and Census Designated Place
(CDP); therefore, the symbols on the map alternate between county, incorporated place, and
CDP.

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Figure 3. Shared Boundary
The combined line represents a county, incorporated place, and CDP
boundary.

3.5

Legal Boundary Changes

Legal boundary changes are the result of legal actions (e.g., annexations), and documenting
such changes is the primary goal of the BAS. AIA legal documentation (e.g., statute, federal
court decision, trust deed) must accompany all AIA legal boundary changes, while legal
boundary change submissions from incorporated places, MCDs, and counties must provide an
authorization number, such as a resolution or ordinance number1, and the effective date.

3.5.1

How to Draw Legal Boundary Changes

Figure 4 and Figure 5 illustrate the correct way to draw legal boundary changes on BAS maps.





Using the red pencil provided, cross out the portion of the boundary that is no longer
current with a string of “Xs”.
Draw the new boundary line(s) ensuring the boundary is closed.
Add the ordinance number or other legal identifier of the action authorizing the change,
along with the effective date of each annexation or deannexation that is drawn on the map.
Record all legal changes in the Documentation of Changes section of the BAS form.

Figure 4. Correctly Annotating a Legal Boundary Change
Draw “Xs” with the red pencil and record the changes in the
Documentation of Changes section of the BAS form.

Legal boundary changes from the State of Georgia are the exception: a state statute requires participants to include acreage, and
the Census Bureau requests that the respondent includes an authorization number.
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Figure 5. Correctly Annotating an AIA Trust Land
Correctly annotate an AIA trust land and record the change in the
Documentation of Changes section of the BAS form. The original
reservation is not deleted and therefore does not require a string of
“Xs”.

3.5.2

Boundary Changes Involving Coincident Features

Figure 6 and Figure 7 illustrate how to adjust a boundary that is coincident with
(i.e., follows exactly) a feature, such as a river or street. In this case, the feature location is
correct, but the boundary location is incorrect.





Using the red pencil, cross out the portion of the boundary that is no longer current using a
string of “Xs” inside circles.
Draw the updated boundary.
Add the authorization number or other identifier of the action authorizing the change along
with the effective date of each addition or deletion.
Record all legal changes in the Documentation of Changes section of the BAS form.

If both the boundary and feature need to be moved, cross out the incorrect boundary with a
string of red “Xs” and then draw a red line representing the new location of the boundary and
road.
Figure 6 shows a change to the boundary where only the boundary moves as well as the
accompanying Documentation of Changes form excerpt. Similarly, the left image of Figure 7
illustrates a change where only the boundary moves, but the right image shows a boundary
change where the associated feature moves along with the boundary. If these changes are the
result of an annexation or deannexation, include the authorization number and effective date.

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Figure 6. Annotating a Legal Boundary Change
Annotating a legal boundary change coincident with a river feature,
where the river location does not change, but the boundary does. The
legal change is also recorded in the Documentation of Changes.

Figure 7. Annotating a Legal Change to an Incorporated Place
Annotating a legal change to an incorporated place boundary
coincident with a road feature. The legal change is recorded in the
Documentation of Changes. Left: Only the boundary moves to the new
location. The street feature location is correct, but the boundary
location is incorrect. Right: Both the boundary and the street feature
move to a new location. Both the boundary and the street feature
location are incorrect.

3.5.3

Boundary Corrections

A boundary correction is the adjustment of a boundary to correct an error in how the Census
Bureau depicts an existing boundary. Boundary corrections should follow the general shape of
the existing boundary. Legal documentation is not required when submitting a boundary
correction to the Census Bureau. Boundary corrections also do not need to be reported on the
Documentation of Changes BAS form.
Figure 8 illustrates how to complete a boundary correction.




U.S. Census Bureau

Using the red pencil, cross out the incorrect boundary with a string of “Xs”.
Add a line showing the correct boundary.
Print the letters BC inside the change to identify the update as a boundary correction rather
than a legal change.

Boundary and Annexation Survey Respondent Guide: Paper

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Figure 8. Annotating a Boundary Correction to an
Incorporated Place Boundary

3.5.4

Geographic Corridors and Offsets
Geographic Corridors

Figure 9 shows a corridor that has been created where the incorporated place or AIA owns the
right-of-way, and wishes for that ownership to be displayed on the Census Bureau’s maps, but
the housing units are not included in the incorporated place or AIA (shown in color). Without a
corridor, the housing units along this road would be incorrectly geocoded into the incorporated
place or AIA. Thus, if it is important to the place or AIA that its ownership and/or maintenance
of the road and/or its right-of-ways be displayed on Census Bureaus’ maps, a geographic
corridor should be created. However, the Census Bureau does not require places and AIAs to
report right-of-ways; maintaining geographic corridors in a nationwide database is not essential
to the mission of the Census Bureau and the right-of-way should only be included if it is crucial
to the place or AIA, or if state or local laws require it.

Figure 9. Geographic Corridor and Geographic Offset
The image on the left illustrates a geographic corridor (Co Rd, south of Samples Rd) and
a geographic offset (Co Rd, north of Samples Rd). The geographic corridor and offset
are both part of the incorporated place (yellow area), but dwelling units are not. The
image on the right illustrates a geographic offset, designated by red diagonal lines. The
offset is part of the incorporated place (green area). However, the dwelling units are
counted outside of the incorporated place.
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Figure 10 below shows a case where the right-of-way belongs in the unincorporated area, while
the housing units in Figure 11 are included in the incorporated place (shown in color). While
depicting this corridor may be important for local purposes, it is not relevant for Census Bureau
tabulations because no house can be built in a road right-of-way. This type of corridor should
not be included in a BAS response.
Please note that the Census Bureau does not require places or AIAs to display right-of-ways or
road maintenance corridors that do not contain or potentially contain housing or population. If
local or state law does not require depiction of these geographic features, the Census Bureau
prefers that they be left off BAS submissions. If it is necessary for the place or AIA to depict
them, they must be submitted as a geographic corridor.

Figure 10. Where the Right-of-way Belongs in the Unincorporated Area
Figure 11. Housing Units in the Unincorporated Area

Geographic corridors can be provided to the Census Bureau if the centerline representation
results in addresses being assigned to the wrong government. However, geographic corridors
should only be created if the addresses along the street do not belong to the participant’s
government. To indicate a geographic corridor on the map, use the red pencil to draw a line on
each side of the road. Mark the beginning and end of each line with perpendicular hatch (//)
marks. Write the letters “GC” beside each line (Figure 12). To remove a geographic corridor or
offset, use the red pencil to mark the beginning and end of the corridor or offset with
perpendicular hatch (//) marks and write “remove GC.”

Figure 12. Indicating a Geographic Corridor by Using a Red Pencil
To indicate a geographic corridor on the BAS return, use the red pencil
to draw a line on each side of the road. Mark the beginning and end of
each line with perpendicular hatch (//) marks. Write the letters “GC”
beside each line.
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Geographic Offsets
The Census Bureau is aware that many governments base their legal boundaries on cadastral
(parcel-based) right-of-way mapping. The Census Bureau bases its maps on spatial data that is
topologically integrated. This makes the maintenance of geographic offsets inefficient.
Delineating a government boundary on the centerline wherever applicable will help to establish
more accurate population counts. If a boundary is on the front-lot-line adjacent to a road on
the map, the Census Bureau strongly prefers that the boundary be delineated on the road
centerline already shown on the map. If a boundary is on the rear or side lot line, then it should
be depicted as such. If it is unclear whether a particular line is a front-lot-line or something else,
please contact the Census Bureau for assistance. Generally, if a house or other building could
not conceivably be built in the area between the potential line and the centerline of the road,
then the line can be considered a front-lot-line.
Figure 13 shows a situation in which the place boundary is along the front-lot-line. In this
example, the respondent must either delineate the boundary on the road centerline, or create
an offset. In Figure 14, the place boundary is on the rear-lot-line, so the respondent should not
delineate it on the road centerline or create an offset; instead, the respondent should delineate
a new edge that actually follows the rear-lot-line.

Figure 13. (Left) The Place Boundary is Along the Front-lot-line
Figure 14. (Right) The Place Boundary is on the Rear-lot-line

To indicate a geographic offset on the map, use the red pencil to draw a line parallel to the
road, along which the offset will be created. Mark the beginning and end of the line with
perpendicular hatch (//) marks. Write the letters “OFF” on the side of the road where the
geographic offset exists (Figure 15).

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Figure 15. Depicting a Geographic Offset on a Paper Submission

3.5.5

New Incorporations

Newly incorporated places should provide the Census Bureau with:




3.5.6

A copy of the official new incorporation papers, including date of incorporation.
A map indicating the boundaries of the new incorporation.
Contact information for the HEO and a contact for the BAS.

Disincorporations

Disincorporated governments should provide the Census Bureau with a copy of the official
papers of disincorporation, including the effective date.

3.5.7

Tribal Subdivisions

The Census Bureau considers any type of unit of self-government or administration in tribal
areas as a tribal subdivision. A tribe may submit only one type of subdivision, even if it has
more than one type of distinct administrative area that could qualify as a tribal subdivision
(e.g., tribal election districts, tribal water districts, or health service areas with different
boundaries). The Census Bureau recognizes two types of tribal subdivisions - active (A) or
inactive (I):


Active subdivisions are defined as having a functioning government, with elected officials,
that provides programs and services.
 Inactive subdivisions have no functioning government or elected officials and receive
services solely from the tribe.
a) Some examples of areas submitted as tribal subdivisions are:
 Areas used by a tribe for the election of tribal government officials (e.g., districts or
precincts used for the election of tribal council members).
 Areas used by a tribal government for tax purposes.
 Areas used by a tribal government for the provision of general services or specified
services, such as:
Water districts.
Health service areas.
Emergency service delivery areas (911, fire, and/or police).
Grazing districts or range units.
 Historical or traditional areas recognized by a tribal government.
 Sub-reservation tribal community governments.
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b) Keep the following criteria in mind when defining tribal subdivisions:
 Tribal subdivisions should cover all, or most, of a tribe’s land base.
 The delineation of tribal subdivisions is restricted to the area contained within
reservations and/or associated off-reservation trust lands.
 There is no minimum population threshold for a tribal subdivision.
 A tribal subdivision may be noncontiguous.
 Tribes may designate only one type of tribal subdivision. If a tribe has more than one
level of tribal subdivision within its land base, the Census Bureau recommends
delineating subdivisions corresponding to the lowest geographic level (those geographic
areas containing the smallest area) of the tribe’s administrative hierarchy.
 Tribal subdivisions should not be based solely on land ownership or other cadastral
areas, nor should they consist of divisions based on the U.S. Public Land Survey System
(PLSS) of townships, ranges, and sections, if these areas have no governmental or
administrative function for a tribe.
 The following descriptions can be appended to chosen subdivision names (e.g., Red
Rock Community):
District.
Community.
Area.
Chapter.
Segment.
Administrative Area.
Addition.
County District.

3.5.7.1 Tribal Subdivision Program Procedures
If this is the first time that tribal subdivisions are being provided to the Census Bureau
(Figure 16):





Using the blue pencil, please add the boundaries on the BAS map(s).
Please note: each tribal subdivision must be labeled on each map sheet with its name (e.g.,
“District 3,” “Arlee District,” “White Rock Chapter,” “Parmelee Community”).
Record the name, type, and status of each subdivision in the Tribal Names and Status
Documentation section of the BAS-5 form.
If a tribal subdivision boundary follows a visible feature such as a stream, road, or fence line,
please be sure to indicate that on the BAS map. Add the visible feature the boundary follows
if it is not already shown on the map.

Note: If a full set of BAS maps has not been sent, please request them by calling the Census Bureau at
1-800-972-5651.

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Figure 16. Recording New Tribal Subdivision Information
Depicting a new tribal subdivision and recording the information in the
Tribal Names and Status Documentation section of the BAS form.

3.5.7.2 Updating Existing Tribal Subdivisions
If tribal subdivisions were delineated during a prior survey, they are symbolized on the enclosed
BAS maps by a dashed pentagon-shaped gold line.
Before adding or revising tribal subdivision boundaries on the enclosed map(s):



Using the red pencil, please note any changes to the boundary of the land base on the
map(s).
Using the blue pencil, please add and/or revise the boundaries of the tribal subdivisions on
the enclosed BAS map(s).

Note: The names and types (active or inactive) of tribal subdivisions are listed in the Tribal Names and
Status Documentation section of the BAS-5 form. This information should be reviewed and
updated.

3.5.7.3 Tribal Subdivision Documentation
New tribal subdivisions and name changes to existing tribal subdivisions require
documentation, regardless of whether they are being delineated for the first time, or being
added to those previously reported. This documentation should be in the form of a tribal
resolution or a tribal constitution. Include a copy of this documentation with the BAS maps and
BAS-5 form when returning these materials to the Census Bureau.
Corrections to the Census Bureau’s depiction of tribal subdivision boundaries or names do not
require documentation. If there are any questions or if additional maps are needed, please
contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-972-5651.

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3.5.8

County Review and Consolidations

Counties receive boundary information from the Census Bureau for all governments within
their county boundary. Counties should review the names and legal status of active and inactive
incorporated places and MCDs found on page 3 of the BAS-2 form.


Active governments are defined as having a functioning government, with elected officials,
that provides programs and services.
Inactive governments have no functioning government or elected officials, receive services
solely from the county, and should be reviewed by the county during BAS.



Although it is not required, counties may update boundaries for incorporated places and MCDs
on the county BAS maps. The Census Bureau encourages counties to establish Consolidated BAS
(CBAS) agreements with local governments in order to consolidate resources, reduce the
burden on local governments, and avoid duplication of work. Under a CBAS agreement, the
county is responsible for reporting boundary changes to the Census Bureau. Participating local
governments would no longer receive an annual BAS package. One hundred percent
participation is not required and governments may opt out of the agreement at any time.
Contact the Census Bureau at geo.bas@census.gov for more information on participating in a
CBAS agreement or visit the CBAS webpage at <https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/bas/information/consolidated-bas.html>.

3.5.9

Public Land Survey System

Boundaries are often based on nonvisible features, such as Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
lines (i.e. township, section, range lines, etc.). The Census Bureau is currently working on a
program through which PLSS lines can be incorporated into the MAF/TIGER System. If any of
the government’s existing or new boundaries are known to follow PLSS lines, this should be
designated on the BAS submission by writing “PLSS” in red pencil next to (and parallel to) the
appropriate boundary segments. In areas where the Census Bureau has obtained accurate PLSS
shapefiles, the Census Bureau will then be able to compare these lines to those shapefiles and
ensure accurate placement of the boundary.

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PART 4: FEATURE MODIFICATIONS
The primary purpose of the BAS is to collect legal boundary information. However, please also
submit feature (e.g. streets, rivers) updates and modifications occurring near or coincident with
a legal boundary through the BAS. Feature modifications that are internal to the boundary of an
incorporated place, county or MCD will be accepted, but are not required as part of the BAS.

4.1

Modifying Locations of Streets

The following figures illustrate how to correct the location of a street feature:




Using the purple pencil, please cross out the incorrect feature location with “Xs”.
Please draw the feature in the correct location.
Please print the name of the feature along the length of the feature as shown in
Figure 17 and Figure 18.

Figure 17. Modifying a Street Feature, No Boundary Movement
In this example, the street location moves, but the boundary does not.

Figure 18. Modifying a Street Feature with Boundary Movement
In this example, both the street location and the boundary move.

The Census Bureau recently completed a nationwide program to improve the positional
accuracy of all streets and other features that appear in the Census Bureau’s MAF/TIGER
System. It is not necessary to make small positional corrections on the BAS maps; correct only
those streets that are incorrectly located, mislabeled or distorted. Additionally, new streets
may be added, and nonexistent streets may be deleted.

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4.1.1 Adding Streets





Using the purple pencil, please draw the feature and its name on the map.
Where possible, please provide the address range for any new streets.
Please provide the MAF/TIGER Feature Class Code (MTFCC) (See Appendix B) for all new
streets (Figure 19).
Alternate street names may be written in parentheses below the primary street name.

Figure 19. Adding an MTFCC Code When Adding a New Street

Note: Due to the difficulty of showing multiple names for a street, only the primary street name is
shown on BAS maps. Please note that, even though alternate street names are not shown on the
maps, they do exist in our database. For example, US Hwy 30 may be locally known as Main St.,
but on the BAS map, only US Hwy 30 will be displayed; however, within our MAF/TIGER System,
both names are listed. If an alternate street name has been reported in the past, it does not need
to be reported to the Census Bureau again.

4.1.2 Adding Street Names in a Congested Area




If an area of the map is too congested to add all feature names, using the purple pencil,
please number each feature and list this number and the corresponding feature name in the
map margin or in an uncongested spot close to the feature’s actual location (Figure 20).
Do not repeat numbers on a map sheet.

Figure 20. Adding Street Name Features in a Congested Area When Adding Streets

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4.1.3 Correcting Street Names



Using the purple pencil, please draw a line through the incorrect street name.
Please print the correct street name along the feature.

Figure 21. Correcting a Street Name

4.1.4 Deleting Streets




Delete street features only if they are nonexistent, or impassable. Do not delete a street
because the local jurisdiction is not responsible for maintaining it.
Using the purple pencil, please mark the beginning and end of the base feature to be
deleted with hatch (//) marks perpendicular to the feature as shown below.
Cross-out the nonexistent street feature using a string of “Xs”.

Figure 22. Deleting a Street Feature

4.1.5 Labeling Unnamed Streets



Using the purple pencil, please label any unnamed streets on the maps.
Label any unnamed private roads with “PR”. Examples of private roads are driveways and
unnamed roads in commercial or industrial parks.

Figure 23. Adding Unnamed Road Features

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Page 17

4.1.6 Adding Cul-De-Sacs or Circles




Using the purple pencil, please draw the feature as follows:
Cul-de-sacs are entirely paved, and should be drawn as a solid dot.
Circles have an area of unpaved ground within them, and should be drawn as an
unfilled circle.
Print the name of the associated street leading to the cul-de-sac or circle.

Figure 24. Adding Cul-de-sac and Circle Features

4.2

Annotating Address Range

Addresses are stored in the Census Bureau spatial database as potential address ranges. The
BAS maps show the break in the potential address range created where a street is bisected by a
boundary. These address range breaks are shown because it is important that the Census
Bureau assign the correct addresses to each government.
Note: Some streets on the BAS maps do not display address breaks due to space considerations.

Add address ranges on both ends of the street only if one of the following circumstances exists:
A road where house numbers, street names, and/or addresses were added or deleted.
A street was added that crosses a boundary.
The address ranges created by a boundary are incorrect on the map.

4.2.1 When Adding Address Ranges
Using the purple pencil, please add in the address ranges, providing the lowest and/or highest
possible addresses where the road intersects a boundary.

Figure 25. Adding Street Feature/Annotating with
Name and Address Breaks
U.S. Census Bureau

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Page 18

4.3

Point Landmarks

BAS maps display a select number of point landmarks (e.g., mountain peaks). Point landmarks
can be updated through BAS, but are not required.
Acceptable point landmark feature updates include mountain peaks or summits, libraries, city
halls, community centers and police stations. Airports, parks, schools, golf courses, museums,
and cemeteries may be submitted as point landmarks or area landmarks.
Features that contain residences or private business should not be added as point landmarks or
area features (e.g. hotels, campgrounds, retirement homes, farms).
The BAS maps also include select point landmarks (e.g. airports, cemeteries, summits) taken
from USGS topography maps and the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
These landmarks represent the official federally recognized name and will not be removed or
updated without USGS verification.
When adding a point landmark:



Using the purple pencil, place a solid dot at the location of the point landmark.
Print the name of the landmark next to the dot.

Figure 26. Adding a Point Landmark

4.4

Area Landmarks

The BAS maps display a select number of area landmarks (e.g., lakes). Like point landmarks,
area landmarks can be updated through the BAS, but are not required.
Acceptable area landmark updates include water bodies, swamps, quarries, national parks and
forests. Airports, parks, schools, golf courses, museums, and cemeteries may be submitted as
area landmarks or point landmarks.
Features that contain residences or private business should not be added as point landmarks or
area features (e.g. hotels, campgrounds, retirement homes, farms).
When adding an area landmark:



Using the purple pencil, draw the area landmark boundary in the correct location.
Print the name of the landmark inside or next to the feature.

Figure 27. Adding an Area Landmark
U.S. Census Bureau

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Page 19

PART 5: SIGNING UPDATED MAPS AND RETURNING BAS
MATERIALS
For each map sheet that has changes, fill in the Signature Box on one copy of the map:

Figure 28. BAS Paper Map Signature Box

Return the set of signed maps and the BAS form to the Census Bureau by using the postagepaid envelope.

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APPENDICES

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APPENDIX A. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION OF CHANGES FORMS
A.1

PLACES

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A.2

COUNTIES AND EQUIVALENT AREAS

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A.3

MINOR CIVIL DIVISIONS

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A.4

RESERVATIONS AND OFF-RESERVATION TRUST LAND

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APPENDIX B. MTFCC DESCRIPTIONS
The MAF/TIGER Feature Classification Code (MTFCC) is a 5-digit code assigned by the Census
Bureau to classify and describe geographic objects or features in Census Bureau MAF/TIGER
products.
MTFCC
C3022

Feature Class
Mountain Peak or Summit

C3023

Island

C3024

Levee

C3026
C3027

Quarry (not water-filled),
Open Pit Mine or Mine
Dam

C3061

Cul-de-sac

C3062

Traffic Circle

C3066
C3067
C3071
C3074

Gate
Toll Booth
Lookout Tower
Lighthouse Beacon

C3075

Tank/Tank Farm

C3076

Windmill Farm

C3077

Solar Farm

C3078

Monument or Memorial

C3079
C3080

Boundary Monument
Point
Survey Control Point

C3081

Locality Point

C3085

Alaska Native Village
Official Point
American Indian Area

G2100
G2120
G2130

U.S. Census Bureau

Hawaiian Home Land
Alaska Native Village
Statistical Area

Feature Class Description
A prominent elevation rising above the surrounding level of the Earth’s
surface.
An area of dry or relatively dry land surrounded by water or low
wetland [including archipelago, atoll, cay, hammock, hummock, isla,
isle, key, moku and rock].
An embankment flanking a stream or other flowing water feature to
prevent overflow.
An area from which commercial minerals are or were removed from
the Earth; not including an oilfield or gas field.
A barrier built across the course of a stream to impound water and/or
control water flow.
An expanded paved area at the end of a street used by vehicles for
turning around. For mapping purposes, the Census Bureau maps it only
as a point feature.
A circular intersection allowing for continuous movement of traffic at
the meeting of roadways.
A movable barrier across a road.
A structure or barrier where a fee is collected for using a road.
A manmade structure, higher than its diameter, used for observation.
A manmade structure, higher than its diameter, used for transmission
of light and possibly sound generally to aid in navigation.
One or more manmade structures, each higher than its diameter, used
for liquid (other than water) or gas storage or for distribution activities.
One or more manmade structures used to generate power from the
wind.
One or more manmade structures used to generate power from the
sun.
A manmade structure to educate, commemorate, or memorialize an
event, person, or feature.
A material object placed on or near a boundary line to preserve and
identify the location of the boundary line on the ground.
A point on the ground whose position (horizontal or vertical) is known
and can be used as a base for additional survey work.
A point that identifies the location and name of an unbounded locality
(e.g., crossroad, community, populated place or locale).
A point that serves as the core of an Alaska Native village and is used in
defining Alaska Native village statistical areas.
A legally defined state- or federally recognized reservation and/or offreservation trust land (excludes statistical American Indian areas).
A legal area held in trust for the benefit of Native Hawaiians.
A statistical geographic entity that represents the residences,
permanent and/or seasonal, for Alaska Natives who are members of or
receiving governmental services from the defining legal Alaska Native
Village corporation.

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MTFCC
G2140

Feature Class
Oklahoma Tribal Statistical
Area

G2150

State-designated Tribal
Statistical Area

G2160

Tribal Designated
Statistical Area

G2170

American Indian Joint Use
Area
Alaska Native Regional
Corporation

G2200

G2300

Tribal Subdivision

G2400

Tribal Census Tract

G2410

Tribal Block Group

G3100

Combined Statistical Area

G3110

Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical
Area

G3120

Metropolitan Division

G3200

Combined New England
City and Town Area
New England City and
Town Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical
Area
New England City and
Town Division

G3210

G3220

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description
A statistical entity identified and delineated by the Census Bureau in
consultation with federally recognized American Indian tribes that have
no current reservation, but had a former reservation in Oklahoma.
A statistical geographic entity identified and delineated for the Census
Bureau by a state-appointed liaison for a state-recognized American
Indian tribe that does not currently have a reservation and/or lands in
trust.
A statistical geographic entity identified and delineated for the Census
Bureau by a federally recognized American Indian tribe that does not
currently have a reservation and/or off-reservation trust land.
An area administered jointly and/or claimed by two or more American
Indian tribes.
Corporate entities established to conduct both business and nonprofit
affairs of Alaska Natives pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-203). There are twelve
geographically defined ANRCs and they are all within and cover most of
the State of Alaska (the Annette Island Reserve-an American Indian
reservation-is excluded from any ANRC). The boundaries of ANRCs
have been legally established.
Administrative subdivisions of federally recognized American Indian
reservations, off-reservation trust lands, or Oklahoma tribal statistical
areas (OTSAs). These entities are internal units of self-government or
administration that serve social, cultural, and/or economic purposes
for the American Indians on the reservations, off-reservation trust
lands, or OTSAs.
A relatively small and permanent statistical subdivision of a federally
recognized American Indian reservation and/or off-reservation trust
land, delineated by American Indian tribal participants or the Census
Bureau for the purpose of presenting demographic data.
A cluster of census blocks within a single tribal census tract delineated
by American Indian tribal participants or the Census Bureau for the
purpose of presenting demographic data.
A grouping of adjacent metropolitan and/or micropolitan statistical
areas that have a degree of economic and social integration, as
measured by commuting.
An area containing a substantial population nucleus together with
adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social
integration with that core, as measured by commuting. Defined using
whole counties and equivalents.
A county or grouping of counties that is a subdivision of a Metropolitan
Statistical Area containing an urbanized area with a population of 2.5
million or more.
A grouping of adjacent New England city and town areas that have a
degree of economic and social integration, as measured by commuting.
An area containing a substantial population nucleus together with
adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social
integration with that core, as measured by commuting. Defined using
Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs) in New England.
A grouping of cities and towns in New England that is a subdivision of a
New England City and Town Area containing an urbanized area with a
population of 2.5 million or more.

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MTFCC
G3500

Feature Class
Urban Area

G4000

State or Equivalent
Feature

G4020

County or Equivalent
Feature

G4040

County Subdivision

G4050

Estate

G4060
G4110

Subbarrio (Subminor Civil
Division)
Incorporated Place

G4120

Consolidated City

G4210

Census Designated Place

G4300

Economic Census Place

G5020

Census Tract

G5030

Block Group

G5035

Block Area Grouping

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description
Densely settled territory that contains at least 2,500 people. The
subtypes of this feature are Urbanized Area (UA), which consists of
50,000 + people and Urban Cluster, which ranges between 2,500 and
49,999 people.
The primary governmental divisions of the United States. The District of
Columbia is treated as a statistical equivalent of a state for census
purposes, as is Puerto Rico.
The primary division of a state or state equivalent area. The primary
divisions of 48 states are termed County, but other terms are used such
as Borough in Alaska, Parish in Louisiana, and Municipio in Puerto Rico.
This feature includes independent cities, which are incorporated places
that are not part of any county.
The primary divisions of counties and equivalent features for the
reporting of Census Bureau data. The subtypes of this feature are
Minor Civil Division, Census County Division/Census Subarea, and
Unorganized Territory. This feature includes independent places, which
are incorporated places that are not part of any county subdivision.
Estates are subdivisions of the three major islands in the United States
Virgin Islands (USVI).
Legally defined divisions (subbarrios) of minor civil divisions (barriospueblo and barrios) in Puerto Rico.
A legal entity incorporated under state law to provide general-purpose
governmental services to a concentration of population. Incorporated
places are generally designated as a city, borough, municipality, town,
village, or, in a few instances, have no legal description.
An incorporated place that has merged governmentally with a county
or minor civil division, but one or more of the incorporated places
continues to function within the consolidation. It is a place that
contains additional separately incorporated places.
A statistical area defined for a named concentration of population and
the statistical counterpart of an incorporated place.
The lowest level of geographic area for presentation of some types of
Economic Census data. It includes incorporated places, consolidated
cities, census designated places (CDPs), minor civil divisions (MCDs) in
selected states, and balances of MCDs or counties. An incorporated
place, CDP, MCD, or balance of MCD qualifies as an economic census
place if it contains 5,000 or more residents, or 5,000 or more jobs,
according to the most current data available.
Relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a County or equivalent
feature delineated by local participants as part of the Census Bureau’s
Participant Statistical Areas Program.
A cluster of census blocks having the same first digit of their four-digit
identifying numbers within a Census Tract. For example, block group 3
(BG 3) within a Census Tract includes all blocks numbered from 3000 to
3999.
A user-defined group of islands forming a single census tabulation
block. A BAG must: (1) consist of two or more islands, (2) have a
perimeter entirely over water, (3) not overlap, and (4) not cross the
boundary of other tabulation geographies, such as county or
incorporated place boundaries.

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MTFCC
G5040

Feature Class
Tabulation Block

G5200

Congressional District

G5210

State Legislative District
(Upper Chamber

G5220

State Legislative District
(Lower Chamber)

G5240

Voting District

G5400

Elementary School District

G5410

Secondary School District

G5420

Unified School District

G6120

Public-Use Microdata Area

G6300

Traffic Analysis District

G6320

Traffic Analysis Zone

G6330

Urban Growth Area

G6350
G6400

ZIP Code Tabulation Area
(Five-Digit)
Commercial Region

H1100

Connector

H2025

Swamp/Marsh

H2030
H2040

Lake/Pond
Reservoir

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description
The lowest-order census defined statistical area. It is an area, such as a
city block, bounded primarily by physical features but sometimes by
invisible city or property boundaries. A tabulation block boundary does
not cross the boundary of any other geographic area for which the
Census Bureau tabulates data. The subtypes of this feature are Count
Question Resolution (CQR), current, and census.
The 435 areas from which people are elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives. Additional equivalent features exist for state
equivalents with nonvoting delegates or no representative. The
subtypes of this feature are 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, and 111th
Congressional Districts, plus subsequent Congresses.
Areas established by a state or equivalent government from which
members are elected to the upper or unicameral chamber of a state
governing body. The upper chamber is the senate in a bicameral
legislature, and the unicameral case is a single house legislature
(Nebraska).
Areas established by a state or equivalent government from which
members are elected to the lower chamber of a state governing body.
The lower chamber is the House of Representatives in a bicameral
legislature.
The generic name for the geographic features, such as precincts,
wards, and election districts, established by state, local, and tribal
governments for the purpose of conducting elections.
A geographic area within which officials provide public elementary
grade-level educational services for residents.
A geographic area within which officials provide public secondary
grade-level educational services for residents.
A geographic area within which officials provide public educational
services for all grade levels for residents.
A decennial census area with a population of at least 100,000 or more
persons for which the Census Bureau provides selected extracts of
household-level data that are screened to protect confidentiality.
An area delineated by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for tabulating
journey-to-work and place-of-work data. A Traffic Analysis District
(TAD) consists of one or more Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs).
An area delineated by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for tabulating
journey-to-work and place-of-work data.
An area defined under state authority to manage urbanization that the
Census Bureau includes in the MAF/TIGER® System in agreement with
the state.
An approximate statistical-area representation of a U.S. Postal Service
(USPS) 5-digit ZIP Code service area.
For the purpose of presenting economic statistical data, municipios in
Puerto Rico are grouped into commercial regions.
A known, but nonspecific, hydrographic connection between two
nonadjacent water features.
A poorly drained wetland, fresh or saltwater, wooded or grassy,
possibly covered with open water [includes bog, cienega, marais and
pocosin].
A standing body of water that is surrounded by land.
An artificially impounded body of water.

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MTFCC
H2041
H2051

Feature Class
Treatment Pond
Bay/Estuary/Gulf/Sound

H2053
H2060
H2081

Ocean/Sea
Gravel Pit/Quarry filled
with water
Glacier

H3010

Stream/River

H3013

Braided Stream

H3020

Canal, Ditch or Aqueduct

K1225

Crew-of-Vessel Location

K1231

Hospital/Hospice/Urgent
Care Facility
Juvenile Institution

K1235

K1236

Local Jail or Detention
Center

K1237

Federal Penitentiary, State
Prison, or Prison Farm

K1238

Other Correctional
Institution

K1239

K1246
K2110

Convent, Monastery,
Rectory, Other Religious
Group Quarters
Community Center
Military Installation

K2165

Government Center

K2167

Convention Center

K2180

Park

K2181

National Park Service Land

K2182

National Forest or Other
Federal Land

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description
An artificial body of water built to treat fouled water.
A body of water partly surrounded by land [includes arm, bight, cove
and inlet].
The great body of salt water that covers much of the earth.
A body of water in a place or area from which commercial minerals
were removed from the Earth.
A body of ice moving outward and down slope from an area of
accumulation; an area of relatively permanent snow or ice on the top
or side of a mountain or mountainous area [includes ice field and ice
patch].
A natural flowing waterway [includes anabranch, awawa, branch,
brook, creek, distributary, fork, kill, pup, rio, and run].
A natural flowing waterway with an intricate network of interlacing
channels.
An artificial waterway constructed to transport water, to irrigate or
drain land, to connect two or more bodies of water, or to serve as a
waterway for watercraft [includes lateral].
A point or area in which the population of military or merchant marine
vessels at sea are assigned, usually being at or near the home port pier.
One or more structures where the sick or injured may receive medical
or surgical attention [including infirmary].
A facility (correctional and non-correctional) where groups of juveniles
reside; this includes training schools, detention centers, residential
treatment centers and orphanages.
One or more structures that serve as a place for the confinement of
adult persons in lawful detention, administered by a local (county,
municipal, etc.) government.
An institution that serves as a place for the confinement of adult
persons in lawful detention, administered by the federal government
or a state government.
One or more structures that serve as a place for the confinement of
adult persons in lawful detention, not elsewhere classified or
administered by a government of unknown jurisdiction.
One or more structures intended for use as a residence for those
having a religious vocation.
Community Center.
An area owned and/or occupied by the Department of Defense for use
by a branch of the armed forces (such as the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marines, or Coast Guard), or a state owned area for the use of the
National Guard.
A place used by members of government (either federal, state, local, or
tribal) for administration and public business.
An exhibition hall or conference center with enough open space to host
public and private business and social events.
Parkland defined and administered by federal, state, and local
governments.
Area—National parks, National Monuments, and so forth—under the
jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
Land under the management and jurisdiction of the federal
government, specifically including areas designated as National Forest,
and excluding areas under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

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MTFCC
K2183

Feature Class
Tribal Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

K2184

State Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area
Regional Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

K2185

K2186

County Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area

K2187

County Subdivision Park,
Forest, or Recreation Area

K2188

Incorporated Place Park,
Forest, or Recreation Area

K2189

K2191

Private Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area
Other Park, Forest, or
Recreation Area (quasipublic, independent park,
commission, etc.)
Post Office

K2193
K2194
K2195
K2196
K2400

Fire Department
Police Station
Library
City/Town Hall
Transportation Terminal

K2424
K2432

Marina
Pier/Dock

K2451

Airport or Airfield

K2452
K2453

Train Station, Trolley or
Mass Transit Rail Station
Bus Terminal

K2454

Marine Terminal

K2455

Seaplane Anchorage

K2456

Airport—Intermodal
Transportation
Hub/Terminal
Airport—Statistical
Representation

K2190

K2457

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of an American Indian
tribe.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a state government.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a regional
government.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a county
government.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a minor civil division
(town/township) government.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of a municipal
government.
A privately owned place or area set aside for recreation or preservation
of a cultural or natural resource.
A place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or
natural resource and under the administration of some other type of
government or agency such as an independent park authority or
commission.
An official facility of the U.S. Postal Service used for processing and
distributing mail and other postal material.
Fire Department.
Police Station.
Library.
City/Town Hall.
A facility where one or more modes of transportation can be accessed
by people or for the shipment of goods; examples of such a facility
include marine terminal, bus station, train station, airport and truck
warehouse.
A place where privately owned, light-craft are moored.
A platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by
piles. This platform may provide access to ships and boats, or it may be
used for recreational purposes.
A manmade facility maintained for the use of aircraft [including
airstrip, landing field and landing strip].
A place where travelers can board and exit rail transit lines, including
associated ticketing, freight, and other commercial offices.
A place where travelers can board and exit mass motor vehicle transit,
including associated ticketing, freight, and other commercial offices.
A place where travelers can board and exit water transit or where
cargo is handled, including associated ticketing, freight, and other
commercial offices.
A place where an airplane equipped with floats for landing on or taking
off from a body of water can debark and load.
A major air transportation facility where travelers can board and exit
airplanes and connect with other (i.e. non-air) modes of transportation.
The area of an airport adjusted to include whole 2000 census blocks
used for the delineation of urban areas.

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MTFCC
K2458
K2459

Feature Class
Park and Ride
Facility/Parking Lot
Runway/Taxiway

K2460

Helicopter Landing Pad

K2540

University or College

K2543

School or Academy

K2545

K2561
K2582

Museum, Visitor Center,
Cultural Center, or Tourist
Attraction
Golf Course
Cemetery

K2586

Zoo

K3544

Place of Worship

L4010

Pipeline

L4020

Powerline

L4031

Aerial Tramway/Ski Lift

L4110

Fence Line

L4121
L4125

Ridge Line
Cliff/Escarpment

L4130

Point-to-Point Line

L4140

Property/Parcel Line
(Including PLSS)

L4150

Coastline

L4165

Ferry Crossing

P0001

Nonvisible Linear
Legal/Statistical Boundary
Perennial Shoreline

P0002

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description
A place where motorists can park their cars and transfer to other
modes of transportation.
A fairly level and usually paved expanse used by airplanes for taking off
and landing at an airport.
A fairly level and usually paved expanse used by helicopters for taking
off and landing.
A building or group of buildings used as an institution for postsecondary study, teaching, and learning [including seminary].
A building or group of buildings used as an institution for preschool,
elementary or secondary study, teaching, and learning [including
elementary school and high school].
An attraction of historical, cultural, educational or other interest that
provides information or displays artifacts.
A place designed for playing golf.
A place or area for burying the dead [including burying ground and
memorial garden].
A facility in which terrestrial and/or marine animals are confined within
enclosures and displayed to the public for educational, preservation,
and research purposes.
A sanctified place or structure where people gather for religious
worship; examples include church, synagogue, temple, and mosque.
A long tubular conduit or series of pipes, often underground, with
pumps and valves for flow control, used to transport fluid (e.g., crude
oil, natural gas), especially over great distances.
One or more wires, often on elevated towers, used for conducting
high-voltage electric power.
A conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers
suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers.
A man-made barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually
made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance, to confine,
or to mark a boundary.
The line of highest elevation along a ridge.
A very steep or vertical slope [including bluff, crag, head, headland,
nose, palisades, precipice, promontory, rim and rimrock].
A line defined as beginning at one location point and ending at
another, both of which are in sight.
This feature class may denote a nonvisible boundary of either public or
private lands (e.g., a park boundary) or it may denote a Public Land
Survey System or equivalent survey line.
The line that separates either land or Inland water from Coastal,
Territorial or Great Lakes water. Where land directly borders Coastal,
Territorial or Great Lakes water, the shoreline represents the Coastline.
Where Inland water (such as a river) flows into Coastal, Territorial or
Great Lakes water, the closure line separating the Inland water from
the other class of water represents the Coastline.
The route used to carry or convey people or cargo back and forth over
a waterbody in a boat.
A legal/statistical boundary line that does not correspond to a
shoreline or other visible feature on the ground.
The more-or-less permanent boundary between land and water for a
water feature that exists year-round.

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MTFCC
P0003

Feature Class
Intermittent Shoreline

P0004

Other non-visible
bounding Edge (e.g.,
Census water boundary,
boundary of an aerial
feature)
Railroad Feature (Main,
Spur, or Yard)
Carline, Streetcar Track,
Monorail, Other Mass
Transit
Cog Rail Line, Incline Rail
Line, Tram

R1011
R1051

R1052

S1100

Primary Road

S1200

Secondary Road

S1400

Local Neighborhood Road,
Rural Road, City Street

S1500

Vehicular Trail (4WD)

S1630

Ramp

S1640

Service Drive usually along
a limited access highway

S1710

Walkway/Pedestrian Trail

S1720

Stairway

S1730

Alley

S1740

Private Road for service
vehicles (logging, oil fields,
ranches, etc.)
Internal U.S. Census
Bureau use

S1750

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class Description
The boundary between land and water (when water is present) for a
water feature that does not exist year-round.
A bounding Edge that does not represent a legal/statistical boundary,
and does not correspond to a shoreline or other visible feature on the
ground. Many such Edges bound area landmarks, while many others
separate water features from each other (e.g., where a bay meets the
ocean).
A line of fixed rails or tracks that carries mainstream railroad traffic.
Such a rail line can be a main line or spur line, or part of a rail yard.
Mass transit rail lines (including lines for rapid transit, monorails,
streetcars, light rail, etc.) that are typically inaccessible to mainstream
railroad traffic and whose tracks are not part of a road right-of-way.
A special purpose rail line for climbing steep grades that is typically
inaccessible to mainstream railroad traffic. Note that aerial tramways
and streetcars (which may also be called “trams”) are accounted for by
other MTFCCs and do not belong in R1052.
Primary roads are generally divided, limited-access highways within the
interstate highway system or under state management, and are
distinguished by the presence of interchanges. These highways are
accessible by ramps and may include some toll highways.
Secondary roads are main arteries, usually in the U.S. Highway, State
Highway or County Highway system. These roads have one or more
lanes of traffic in each direction, may or may not be divided, and
usually have at-grade intersections with many other roads and
driveways. They often have both a local name and a route number.
Generally, a paved non-arterial street, road, or byway that usually has a
single lane of traffic in each direction. Roads in this feature class may
be privately or publicly maintained. Scenic park roads would be
included in this feature class, as would (depending on the region of the
country) some unpaved roads.
An unpaved dirt trail where a four-wheel drive vehicle is required.
These vehicular trails are found almost exclusively in very rural areas.
Minor, unpaved roads usable by ordinary cars and trucks belong in the
S1400 category.
A road that allows controlled access from adjacent roads onto a limited
access highway, often in the form of a cloverleaf interchange. These
roads are unaddressable and do not carry a name in the MAF/TIGER
System.
A road, usually paralleling a limited access highway, that provides
access to structures along the highway. These roads can be named and
may intersect with other roads.
A path that is used for walking, being either too narrow for or legally
restricted from vehicular traffic.
A pedestrian passageway from one level to another by a series of
steps.
A service road that does not generally have associated addressed
structures and is usually unnamed. It is located at the rear of buildings
and properties and is used for deliveries.
A road within private property that is privately maintained for service,
extractive, or other purposes. These roads are often unnamed.
Internal U.S. Census Bureau use.

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MTFCC
S1780
S1820

Feature Class Description
The main travel route for vehicles through a paved parking area.
A path that is used for manual or small, motorized bicycles, being
either too narrow for or legally restricted from vehicular traffic.
S1830
Bridle Path
A path that is used for horses, being either too narrow for or legally
restricted from vehicular traffic.
S2000
Road Median
The unpaved area or barrier between the carriageways of a divided
road.
Note: The information in this table was last updated in November 2017.

U.S. Census Bureau

Feature Class
Parking Lot Road
Bike Path or Trail

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APPENDIX C. READING A MAP
C.1

Index Maps

In order to decide what map to use for the BAS submission, it is necessary to view the
government as a whole, and choose the correct parent map sheet based on its location within
the government. Do this by referring to the index map (Figure 29), a relatively small-scale map
that shows the entire government, and the location and number of all parent map sheets
within that government. Each parent map sheet has a numerical locator which differentiates it
from the other parent map sheets associated with that government. The numbering begins
with the northern and western-most parent map sheets, and continues left-to-right, in much
the same pattern as words in a book. By referring to the index map, determine which parent
map sheet(s) to use for the BAS submission, and then access it based on its number on the
index map.

Figure 29. Index Map
The Index Map sheet shows the location of all parent map sheets and
inset map sheets within a government.

The index map is not appropriate for BAS submissions. Its purpose is as a reference or index of
parent maps, and it will not be accepted as a BAS submission.
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C.2

Parent Maps

Many governments, such as incorporated places and counties, are too large to be shown on a
single map; that is, the scale is too small to allow the necessary details for BAS updates. Thus, it
is necessary to separate the government into sections, each of which has its own map, called
the parent map sheet2 (Figure 30). Thus, a single government is often represented with
numerous map sheets, with each parent map sheet showing a small section of the government.
Each parent map is assigned a number, beginning with the number one and increasing
progressively for each additional parent map sheet (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). In this way, viewing and
editing map sheets becomes more manageable, and it becomes possible to depict an area with
the level of detail necessary to make changes or challenges. In most instances, the parent map
is the one that should be used for BAS submissions.

Figure 30. The Parent Map
The parent map sheet shows a section of a government at a relatively
large scale.

In the bottom right-hand corner of the parent map sheet, there is a key to the parent map
sheet’s location in relation to adjacent map sheets as shown in Figure 30 above. A larger
example of this key is shown in Figure 31. This key helps the user quickly determine which
adjacent map sheet to use.

Figure 31. The Key to Adjacent Sheets
The key to adjacent sheets shows where the parent map sheet lies in
relation to adjacent sheets.

Within the scope of BAS, the terms ‘map’ and ‘map sheet’ have the same meaning, and they are used interchangeably throughout
this document.
2

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Next to the key to adjacent sheets, there is a small outline of the entire government (the inside
of which is colored yellow), and a blue outline of the parent map sheet. This key displays the
location of the map sheet in relation to the government as a whole as is shown in Figure 32.

Figure 32. The Sheet Location within Government key
The sheet location within government key shows where the parent map
sheet is located within the government to which it belongs.

C.3

Inset Maps

In some instances, in highly congested areas, even a parent map sheet provides insufficient
detail for BAS purposes. In such cases, rather than using a parent map, the area is depicted
within an inset map (Figure 33). This refers to a map with a very large scale, so that it displays a
smaller area than the parent map sheet, but with greater detail. On the index map, an inset
map is represented by a green outline, and is assigned a number preceded by a letter (i.e. A1,
A2, B1, etc.), as shown in Figure 34Error! Reference source not found.. Inset maps are only
found in areas with a large number of features, and as such are used less often than parent
maps.

Figure 33. An Inset Map as it is Displayed on the Index Map

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Figure 34. Inset Maps
Inset maps show areas of relative congestion at a large scale, allowing a
greater amount of detail.

C.4

Scales

A map is a paper or digital representation of an area. Naturally, the map is always smaller than
the area it represents, so nearly all maps are equipped with a scale, which depicts the ratio of
distance on the map to the actual distance on land. The scale can be designed any number of
ways, but two of the most common scales are ratio scales (Figure 35), which describe a ratio
between the map and the real world (e.g., 1: 24,000), and bar scales, which depict that
relationship graphically by displaying how much a certain distance on the map represents in the
real world (Figure 35). In other words, if a map has a ratio scale of 1: 24,000, it means that one
inch on the map represents 24,000 inches on the ground. (This works with any unit of
measurement, so long as the unit being used on the map is the same as – or properly converted
from – the unit being depicted on the ground.) Often a map will have both types of scale.

Figure 35. Bar Scale
The map from which this scale was taken has a ratio scale of 1:12,500.
The bar scale shows distances in kilometers and miles.

A bar scale will often be a set length (e.g., one inch), and/or represent a set distance (e.g., one
mile). The bar scale is used to determine distance on the map by using a ruler. Simply place the
ruler on the map to determine the distance on the map; then place the ruler along the bar
scale, which will show how much that distance represents on the ground.
Maps that display a small area, but with a relatively large amount of detail, are considered
large-scale maps (see Figure 36). A map that displays a large area, but shows less detail,
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is called a small-scale map. This is because the representative fraction of a large-scale map
(e.g., 1/7,500 or 1:7,500) is a larger fraction than that of a small-scale map (e.g., 1/250,000 or
1:250,000).

Figure 36. Large Scale Map
A large-scale map shows a greater amount of detail; this example
displays streets, parks, churches and restaurants.

C.5

Compass Rose

All maps should have some sort of diagram depicting at least one – but sometimes all – of the
cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west) that the map reader can use to orient the
map. This diagram is called a compass rose (see Figure 37). A compass rose can have any
number of designs, and north can be shown in any direction on the map, but most maps are
oriented with north at the top of the map. It is important to check the compass rose when
beginning to read a map, in order to determine the direction in which the map is oriented
(i.e., which direction is at the top of the map).

Figure 37. Compass Rose

C.6

Legend

Because a map is a graphic representation of a real-world area, it is necessary, and convenient,
to symbolize real world features with representative symbols. These symbols can take any
form, so long as they are consistent within any individual map. In order to describe what each
symbol means, most maps have a legend (see Figure 38). The legend is typically located on the
side or bottom of the map, although they can be anywhere so long as they do not obstruct the
integral parts of the map. Typically, the legend will have a small example of each symbol (e.g. a
line, or a picture of a tent), and next to the symbol, in text, a brief description of what is being
depicted (e.g. “road”, or “campground”).

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Figure 38. Legend Describing What Each Symbol Means

Sometimes a map needs to depict multiple features concurrently. This is because some lines are
the boundaries of multiple geographies at the same time (i.e. a county boundary can also be a
city boundary, a voting district boundary, and even a highway or river). Such instances can be
depicted in various ways, but Census Bureau maps depict coincident lines by alternating the
symbols for each type of line as shown in Figure 39 below. In other words, if a line is both a
county boundary (symbolized by a series of squares) and a city boundary (a series of circles),
that boundary will be depicted as a series of alternating squares and circles for the length of the
concurrency.

Figure 39. Map Depicting Multiple Features Concurrently
In this case, the city and the county boundaries are coincident, and run
through the middle of the river.

In situations where higher-level geographies (e.g. national, state, county, or county
subdivisions) coincide, the Census Bureau’s maps display only the symbol of the highest-ranking
of these boundaries. In other words, if a particular boundary is shared by both a state and
county, only the symbol representing the state boundary will be displayed.
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Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
Tribal Respondent Guide: Digital
Instructions for Participating in the 2020 Boundary and Annexation Survey
Revised as of October 07, 2019

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U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey Tribal Respondent Guide: Digital

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ..........................................................................................................................viii
A.

The Boundary and Annexation Survey .......................................................................... viii

What’s New for the 2020 BAS? ..................................................................................... viii

Key Dates for BAS Respondents ...................................................................................... ix

BAS State Agreements ..................................................................................................... ix

Legal Disputes .................................................................................................................. ix

Chapter 1 Digital BAS Requirements ....................................................................................... 1
1.1

Digital BAS Participation Requirements .......................................................................... 1

1.2

Tribal Areas that can be Submitted through BAS ............................................................ 1

1.3

BAS Informational and Tutorial Videos ........................................................................... 2

Chapter 2 Topological Relationships and Spatial Accuracy ...................................................... 3
2.1

Topological Relationships in the MAF/TIGER System ...................................................... 3

2.2

GIS and Spatial Accuracy.................................................................................................. 4

2.3

Census Bureau Topology Training Video ......................................................................... 6

Chapter 3 Census Bureau Provided Shapefiles ........................................................................ 7
3.1

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Codes ................................................. 7

Chapter 4 Census Bureau GEOCODING ................................................................................... 8
4.1

MAF Structure Point (MSP) Geocoding ........................................................................... 8

4.2

Address Range Geocoding ............................................................................................... 9

Chapter 5 Updating the Census Bureau Shapefiles................................................................ 10
5.1

General File Setup Guidelines ........................................................................................ 10

5.2

Changing the Map Projection ........................................................................................ 10

5.3

Boundary Changes ......................................................................................................... 10

5.3.1 Additions and Deletions ........................................................................................................ 11
5.3.2 Boundary Corrections ............................................................................................................ 11
5.3.3 Tribal Subdivisions ................................................................................................................. 12
5.3.3.1 New Tribal Subdivisions ..................................................................................................................12
5.3.3.2 Criteria for Defining Tribal Subdivisions ..........................................................................................13
5.3.3.3 Updating Tribal Subdivisions ...........................................................................................................13

5.3.4 Geographic Corridors............................................................................................................. 14
5.3.5 Geographic Offsets ................................................................................................................ 15

5.4

Linear Feature Updates ................................................................................................. 16

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey Tribal Respondent Guide: Digital

5.4.1 Adding, Deleting, Renaming, and Recoding Linear Features ................................................ 16
5.4.2 Address Range Updates ......................................................................................................... 16

5.5

Area Landmarks, Hydrographic Areas, and Point Landmarks ....................................... 17

5.5.1 Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area Updates ........................................................................ 17
5.5.2 Point Landmark Updates ....................................................................................................... 19

5.6

Reviewing Changes to the Census Bureau Shapefiles ................................................... 21

5.6.1 Boundary-to-Feature Relationships ...................................................................................... 21
5.6.2 Large Boundary Corrections .................................................................................................. 23
5.6.3 Required Attribute Information ............................................................................................ 24
5.6.4 Appropriate Projection Information ...................................................................................... 24
5.6.5 Linear Feature Updates ......................................................................................................... 24

5.7

Additional Information Review ...................................................................................... 25

5.7.1 Submitting Acceptable Documentation ................................................................................ 25
5.7.2 Submitting Digital Data .......................................................................................................... 26
5.7.3 Change Polygon Layer Naming Conventions ......................................................................... 27
5.7.4 Whole Entity Polygon Layer Naming Conventions ................................................................ 27
5.7.5 Linear Feature, Area Landmark/Hydrographic Area, and Point Landmark Updates............. 27
5.7.6 Compressing the Digital Files................................................................................................. 28
5.7.7 Submitting Digital Files through SWIM ................................................................................. 29

Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 34
Appendix A