2007 Census of Agriculture State-Level Boundaries, (StUS_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StAK_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StHI_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StPR_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj)

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
2007 Census of Agriculture State-Level Boundaries, (StUS_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StAK_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StHI_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StPR_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj)
Abstract:
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducted an Agricultural Census in 2002. The statistical census data are summarized at the state, county, and U.S. levels and are available in a digital format. The Research and Development Division of NASS modified generalized state boundaries to show geographic areas for which the 2007 Agricultural Census statistics are reported at the state level. These state-level boundary files were used in the production of the 2007 Census of Agriculture, Agricultural Atlas of the United States. The boundary files can be employed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) with the 2007 Agricultural Census statistical data by using the Agricultural Census state codes to associate the state-level spatial entities with the state-level statistical data.
Supplemental_Information:
These Agricultural Census state-level boundary files may be used with statistical data in the 2007 Census of Agriculture, Volume 1, Geographic Area Series, Parts 1 - 52.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Research and Development Division, Geospatial Information Branch, Spatial Analysis Research Se, 2009, 2007 Census of Agriculture State-Level Boundaries, (StUS_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StAK_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StHI_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj, StPR_GCS07.shp -.shx, -.dbf, -.sbn, -.sbx, -.prj): U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Fairfax, Virginia.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -178.873
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.244
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 71.3653
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.946

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar_Date: 2009
    Currentness_Reference:
    2009: Publication of state-level boundaries and land areas. 2008: Update of state-level boundaries with land areas.

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
      American National Standards Institute, INCITS 31:200x, (Formerly FIPS 6-4) Codes for the identification of Counties and Equivalent Entities of the United States, its Possessions, and Insular Areas. <http://www.census.gov/geo/www/ansi/ansi.html>
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • G-Polygon (51)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest .000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest .000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    StUS_GCS07/StAK_GCS07/StHI_GCS07/StPR_GCS07
    State-level boundaries of geographic areas for which 2007 Agricultural Census statistics are reported. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.)

    FID
    Internal feature identification number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers automatically generated.

    SHAPE
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    ATLAS_ST
    State equivalent FIPS code. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

    Formal codeset
    Codeset Name:U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of The United States, and Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    Codeset Source:U.S. Bureau of the Census

    ST_ABBREV
    State equivalent abbreviation. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

    Formal codeset
    Codeset Name:U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of The United States, and Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    Codeset Source:U.S. Bureau of the Census

    ATLAS_NAME
    Lowercase state equivalent name. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

    Formal codeset
    Codeset Name:U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of The United States, and Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    Codeset Source:U.S. Bureau of the Census

    ATLAS_CAPS
    Uppercase state equivalent name. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

    Formal codeset
    Codeset Name:U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of The United States, and Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    Codeset Source:U.S. Bureau of the Census

    ATLAS_AREA
    Land area in square miles of a state equivalent. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1033.79218 (actual value, not min. range value)
    Maximum:571895.5526 (actual value, not max. range value)
    Units:Square mile

    ATLAS_ACRE
    Land area in acres of a state equivalent. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

    Range of values
    Minimum:661626.99264 (actual value, not min. range value)
    Maximum:366013153.664 (actual value, not max. range value)
    Units:Acre

    ENTITY
    Type of state-level entity. (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

    ValueDefinition
    State, State EquivalentType of state-level entity.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Research and Development Division staff

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Spatial Analysis Resection Section staff
    USDA/NASS/RDD/GIB/SARS
    3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 305
    Fairfax, VA 22030

    703-877-8000 (voice)
    703-877-8044 (FAX)
    HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov

Why was the data set created?

The boundaries are intended for geographic display and analysis at the state level. The boundary data are designed for small scale thematic mapping applications at a scale of 1:20,000,000 or smaller (e.g., 1:50,000,000, etc.). The state-level boundaries are provided "as is". The USDA/NASS does not warrant the results you may obtain using the Agricultural Census state-level boundary data.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    StGenAll_D02 (source 1 of 5)
    USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2003, Finalized 2002 file of Agricultural Census state-level boundaries: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington, DC.

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 20000000
    Source_Contribution: spatial and attribute information

    USCOAREA07 (source 2 of 5)
    U.S. Bureau of the Census, Geography Division, 2008, counties_area_perim.xls (2007 U.S. county land area, perimeter data): U.S. Bureau of the Census, Geography Division, Suitland, MD.

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Contribution: attribute information

    SQMIACREUSST07 (source 3 of 5)
    USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2008, Calculated 2007 Agricultural Census state-level land area values: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington, DC.

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Contribution: attribute information

    AREAUSSTBDY07 (source 4 of 5)
    USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2008, 2007 Agricultural Census state-level boundary files updated with 2007 state land areas: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington, DC.

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 20000000
    Source_Contribution: spatial and attribute information

    StUS_GCS07 (source 5 of 5)
    USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2008, Final unprojected 2007 Agricultural Census state-level boundary files: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington, DC.

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 20000000
    Source_Contribution: spatial and attribute information

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 2008 (process 1 of 4)
    1 - Procurement of attribute data. A county area-perimeter data file was obtained by special request from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Geography Division. The area data file format is Microsoft Excel.

    Data sources used in this process:

    • USCOAREA07

    Date: 2008 (process 2 of 4)
    2 - Calculation of state land area. A state land area file was made from the county area-perimeter file. The state area in square miles was populated by summing the county land area values (in square miles) for each state. The state land area values for Maryland and D.C. were added together. The land area values (in acres) were calculated by multiplying the state land area (in square miles) by 640 (1 square mile contains 640 acres).

    Data sources used in this process:

    • USCOAREA07

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • SQMIACREUSST07

    Date: 2008 (process 3 of 4)
    3 - Update of state-level boundary file. The 2002 Agricultural Census state boundary files were updated with the 2007 calculated state land area values.

    Data sources used in this process:

    • StGenAll_D02
    • SQMIACREUSST07

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • AREAUSSTBDY07

    Date: 2008 (process 4 of 4)
    4 - Unproject state-level boundary files. Unprojected the state-level boundary files to GCS, NAD83 datum.

    Data sources used in this process:

    • AREAUSSTBDY07

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • StUS_GCS07

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Unmodified entities have entity codes and names which conform to the Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2. Area values in square miles are derived from land polygon area values from the U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER database.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    The state-level boundary data are highly generalized and suitable for use in small scale (1:20,000,000) thematic mapping applications. No accuracy tests were performed.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    The generalized data do NOT include 1) boundaries for the Aleutian Islands in the Eastern Hemisphere, 2) boundaries for Hawaiian Islands west of -160.25 degrees longitude, 3) very small polygons because of coordinate thinning, and 4) water polygons. This data set provides the land area in square miles and number of acres for each state equivalent. The land area values are based on the area of land polygons from the U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER database. If a state is composed of several polygons, the area value assigned to each polygon is the land area value of the entire state (for the purpose of choropleth mapping). The state-level boundary for Maryland was modified to include the District of Columbia (D.C.), because Agricultural Census data for D.C. are not reported separately. State-level Federal Information Processing (FIPS) codes are used to identify states. Because Maryland and D.C. state boundaries were aggregated, Maryland's FIPS code 24 represents Maryland (24) and D.C. (11).

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    No topological checks were performed on the data.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
None. Acknowledgment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service would be appreciated in products derived from these data files.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    USDA, NASS Customer service
    1400 Independence Avenue
    Washington, District of Columbia 20250
    USA

    1-800-727-9540 (voice)
    202-690-2090 (FAX)
    nass@nass.usda.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    United States: 2007 Census of Agriculture downloadable state-level boundary files.

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Users of the Agricultural Census state-level boundary data are solely responsible for interpretations made from the product. The boundary data are provided "as is". USDA/NASS does not warrant results you may obtain by using the boundary data. Feel free to contact our staff at (HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov) if technical questions arise in the use of the state-level boundary data.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 14-Jan-2009
Metadata author:
USDA/NASS/RDD/GIB/SARS
3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 305
Fairfax, VA 22030
USA

703-877-8000 (voice)
703-877-8044 (FAX)
HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Generated by mp version 2.9.10 on Thu Mar 25 09:18:12 2010