Zip Source U.S.
File Description
Zip Source contains the following geographic codes cross-referenced by ZIP code:
GSA City Codes. (Base File)
- GSA city codes are city location codes that are created by the General Services Administration, Office of Finance.
FIPS State and County Codes. (Base File)
- FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) state and county codes are established by the National Bureau of Standards, U.S. Department of Commerce.
- Zip Source carries multiple identification where applicable.
FIPS City Codes. (Base File)
- FIPS city codes are 5-digit identifiers and are created by the U.S. Department of Commerce. When used in conjunction with a 2-character state code, the FIPS city code uniquely identifies any named populated place or entity in the nation.
SMSA Codes. (MSA File Option)
- As announced in June 1983, the old Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas have been redefined to reflect updated standards applied to demographic data from the 1980 census. No longer maintained by the Federal government, the old SMSA codes are carried on Zip Source records for historical cross-reference purposes.
MSA Codes. (MSA File Option)
These Metropolitan Statistical Areas have been redefined to reflect updated standards from the 2000 census. The Federal government no longer maintains them. These codes are carried on the ZipSource file for historical cross-reference purposes.
- The U.S. now recognizes over 250 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in addition to 23 densely populated Consolidated MSAs (CMSAs), each of which comprises multiple regions recognized as Primary MSAs (PMSAs). In addition, Zip Source carries any current exceptions such as the New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs).
Population Level Codes. (MSA File Option)
Population codes have been discontinued and are no longer used. These codes are carried on the ZipSource file for historical cross-reference purposes.
- MSAs, NECMAs and PMSAs have been categorized according to their 1990 population. A one-character population code of A, B, C or D denotes a population range for the designated statistical area.
MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA CODE (MSA FILE Option)
- This field represents a new set of areas. These were added to the Zipsource file in 2005.According to the Office of Management and Budget, this field has the following criteria:
It must have a least 1 urban cluster with a population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000. It must also have an adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties. This field is defined in terms of whole counties (or equivalents) including the New England States. There are 565 Micropolitan Codes.
METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA CODE (MSA FILE option)
- According to the Office of Management and Budget, this field has the following criteria:
It must have a least 1 urban cluster with a population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000. It must also have an adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties.This field is defined in terms of whole counties (or equivalents) including the New England States. There are 370 Metropolitan Codes.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION CODE ( MSA FILE option)
- This code represents subdivisions of Metropolitan Statistical Areas. If the Metropolitan Statistical Area contains a single core with a population of 2.5 million then it can be subdivided. 11 Metropolitan Statistical Areas are broken down into divisions. There are 29 Metropolitan Division Codes.
COMBINED STATISTICAL AREA CODE (MSA FILE option)
- This area comprises two or more metropolitan and or micropolitan areas. According to the Office of Management and Budget, these combinations exist for adjacent areas with an employment interchange of 25 or more. If the employment interchange is at least 15 but less then 25, it is based on the local opinions as expressed by Congressional delegations. There are 116 Combined Statistical Areas.
Latitude/Longitude Coordinates. (Lat/Long File Option)
- Latitude and longitude are listed to the nearest tenth of a minute. For most locations on the file, degree and minute values and directional designations are given from the Equator and the meridian of Greenwich, England. Sources include the national Atlas and over 1,000 maps published by the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and industry sources.
Picadad Arithmetic Distance Coordinates. (Lat/Long File Option)
- Within the continental United States, the latitude and longitude coordinates have also been converted to simple North and West picadad arithmetic coordinates (as if the nation were on a flat plane). The Pythagorean Theorem can be used here to compute the mileage from one ZIP code or place name to another.
Telephone Area Codes. (Telephone Area Code File Option)
- Three-digit area codes, as originally established by American Telephone and Telegraph, are included on the file. Up to 3 telephone area codes may appear.
Zip Source contains the following record types:
County Record.
- The County record contains the standard 5-digit Federal Information Processing standards (FIPS) county code, county or parish name, state abbreviation, estimated population, and approximate number of households within county lines as determined by the 1990 Census.
Post Office City Record.
- The Post Office City Record identifies a city's main post office, its abbreviation, 5-digit ZIP code and FIPS state and county codes and GSA code where applicable.
Post Office Branch or Station Record.
- The Post Office Branch or Station record identifies a branch post office and its parent city, 5-digit ZIP code and FIPS state and county codes and GSA code where applicable.
Place Name Record.
- The Place Name Record contains the official place name for a populated area without a post office destination. This record also includes the place name's General Services Administration (GSA) code, 5-digit ZIP code, state abbreviation, and FIPS state and county codes and GSA code where applicable.
Unique ZIP Code Record.
- The Unique ZIP Code Record contains all relevant data for unique ZIP codes, including the post office city name, state abbreviation, and FIPS state and county codes. A Unique ZIP code is one that is assigned to a specific university, company, or building.