Sources of TIGER/Line and TIGER Spatial Data

What is TIGER/Line?

"The TIGER/Line files are a digital database of geographic features, such as roads, railroads, rivers, lakes, political boundaries, census statistical boundaries, etc. covering the entire United States. The data base contains information about these features such as their location in latitude and longitude, the name, the type of feature, address ranges for most streets, the geographic relationship to other features, and other related information. They are the public product created from the Census Bureau's TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) data base of geographic information. TIGER was developed at the Census Bureau to support the mapping and related geographic activities required by the decennial census and sample survey programs.

"These files are not graphic images of maps, but rather digital data describing geographic features. To make use of these data, a user must have mapping or Geographic Information System (GIS) software that can import TIGER/Line data. The Census Bureau does NOT provide these data in any vendor-specific format. With the appropriate software a user can produce maps ranging in detail from a neighborhood street map to a map of the United States. To date, many local governments have used the TIGER data in applications requiring digital street maps. Software companies have created products for the personal computer that allow consumers to produce their own detailed maps. There are many other possibilities. THE TIGER/LINE PRODUCT DOES NOT INCLUDE DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS." (Source: TIGER overview.)

Many commercial vendors have republished the original TIGER/Line data, sometimes adding considerable value to the datasets. These enhanced TIGER/Line datasets are often called "TIGER".

It is important to keep in mind that TIGER/Line data was created by the Census Bureau for the purpose of supporting the mapping needs of the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau's needs do not require high spatial accuracy. TIGER/Line data is not recommended for projects that require high spatial accuracy.

Davis Library CD-ROMs

In Davis Library, UNC-Chapel Hill, we have the following TIGER/Line and TIGER CD-ROMs:

• TIGER/Line 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998 (i.e. all the editions available on CD-ROM) down to the census block, from the Census Bureau.
• CensusCD+Maps, from GeoLytics, which includes data from the 1990 census for U.S. down to block group via a relatively easy to use software interface. It includes statistical data, simple thematic mapping capabilities, and the ability to export files in formats that ArcView and MapInfo can read. These datasets are licensed. Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.
• CensusCD Blocks, from GeoLytics, which includes data from the 1990 census for U.S. for blocks only via a relatively easy to use software interface. It includes statistical data, simple thematic mapping capabilities, and the ability to export files in formats that ArcView and MapInfo can read. These datasets are licensed. Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.
• CensusCD 1980, from GeoLytics, which includes data from the 1980 census down to census tract via a relatively easy to use software interface. It includes statistical data, simple thematic mapping capabilities, and the ability to export files in formats that ArcView and MapInfo can read. These datasets are licensed. Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.
• ESRI Data and Maps, based on TIGER/Line 1999, for ArcView, from ESRI (on CD-ROM). It includes spatial data down to census block group. ATN has information on how UNC-Chapel Hill affiliates can get this dataset. Due to license restrictions, software and data available via the ESRI campus site license are available in Davis Library for use only by UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and staff and for teaching and research use only. Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.
• Streets v. 5.0, for ArcView, from Wessex. These datasets are licensed. Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.
• TIGER 1992, 1994, and 1995, for ArcView, from Wessex, down to census block group. These datasets are licensed. Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.
• U.S. Street, for ArcView, from ESRI. ATN has information on how UNC-Chapel Hill affiliates can get this dataset. Due to license restrictions, software and data available via the ESRI campus site license are available in Davis Library for use only by UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and staff and for teaching and research use only. Davis Library Reference Electronic Resource.

On the web

TIGER/Line and TIGER are also available on the web. In reverse chronological order of TIGER/Line version, when known:

• Census 2000 TIGER/Line via Census Bureau. Raw (unconverted), zipped. This page also describes differences between Census 2000 TIGER/Line and Redistricting TIGER/Line 2000.
• Redistricting TIGER/Line 2000 via Census Bureau. Raw (unconverted), zipped.
• Census 2000 TIGER/Line Data in shapefile format from ESRI.
• Map Files from Census 2000 TIGER Files in shapefile format from Proximity.
• TIGER/Line 1999 via Census Bureau. Raw (unconverted), zipped.
• TIGER/Line 1997 via UC Berkeley. Raw (unconverted).
• Archive of Census Related Products: Boundary Files. SEDAC/CIESIN (Center for International Earth Science Network). "The boundary files contain census geographic entities extracted from the TIGER/Line Files, 1992. These data have been processed to create the following: [1] State boundary files for county, county subdivision (mcd), place, 1990 tract/block numbering area, blockgroup; and 1980 tract and mcd's (if available). The tract and blockgroup files are grouped by MSA (metropolitan statistical area) and CMSA (consolidated metropolitan statistical area). [2] County boundary files for all census blocks. Each census block is identified by a unique polygon identification field (POLID) which matches the POLID in the STF data." "Format: Boundary ASCII Format (BNA) [...] BNA file format can be directly imported into ATLAS GIS (SMI). It can also be converted for other desktop packages, like MAPINFO, ARC/INFO, SAS, etc."
• Technical documentation and other information (but not the spatial data) for TIGER/Line 1992 files via Census Bureau. "TIGER/Line 1992 files serve as a link between 1980 and 1990 Census Geography."
• TIGER files down to census blocks via SEDAC's Demographic Data Cartogram Service, DDCarto in Atlas GIS, ARC/INFO, and MapInfo formats.
• TIGER files from the U.S. Census Bureau's Cartographic Boundary Files web site. These are "selected generalized extracts from the Census Bureau's TIGER geographic database designed for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS) or similar mapping system. They have been developed for various internal Census Bureau projects and have been made available here to the general public on an "as is" basis." Files may be from earlier editions of TIGER/Line. Files are available in the following formats: ARC/INFO Export (.e00), Arcview Shapefile, ARC/INFO Ungenerate (ASCII).

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For more GIS assistance,
Please contact Amanda C. Henley, GIS Librarian
amanda.henley@unc.edu
(919) 962-1151

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