The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are decennial census areas that permit the tabulation and dissemination of Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and data from other census and surveys. For the 2020 Census, the State Data Centers (SDCs) in each state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had the opportunity to delineate PUMAS within their state or statistically equivalent entity. All PUMAs must nest within states and have a minimum population threshold of 100,000 persons. 2020 PUMAs consist of census tracts and cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not contain any 2020 PUMAs because the population is less than the minimum population requirement. Each PUMA is identified by a 5-character numeric census code that may contain leading zeros and a descriptive name.

The 2020 cartographic boundary shapefiles are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are decennial census areas that permit the tabulation and dissemination of Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and data from other census and surveys. For the 2020 Census, the State Data Centers (SDCs) in each state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had the opportunity to delineate PUMAS within their state or statistically equivalent entity. All PUMAs must nest within states and have a minimum population threshold of 100,000 persons. 2020 PUMAs consist of census tracts and cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not contain any 2020 PUMAs because the population is less than the minimum population requirement. Each PUMA is identified by a 5-character numeric census code that may contain leading zeros and a descriptive name.

The 2020 cartographic boundary shapefiles are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are decennial census areas that permit the tabulation and dissemination of Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and data from other census and surveys. For the 2020 Census, the State Data Centers (SDCs) in each state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had the opportunity to delineate PUMAS within their state or statistically equivalent entity. All PUMAs must nest within states and have a minimum population threshold of 100,000 persons. 2020 PUMAs consist of census tracts and cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not contain any 2020 PUMAs because the population is less than the minimum population requirement. Each PUMA is identified by a 5-character numeric census code that may contain leading zeros and a descriptive name.

The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. County subdivisions are the primary divisions of counties and their equivalent entities for the reporting of Census Bureau data. They include legally-recognized minor civil divisions (MCDs) and statistical census county divisions (CCDs), and unorganized territories. In MCD states where no MCD exists or no MCD is defined, the Census Bureau creates statistical unorganized territories to complete coverage. The entire area of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas are covered by county subdivisions. The generalized boundaries of legal MCDs are based on those as of January 1, 2020 as reported through the Census Bureau's Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The generalized boundaries of all CCDs, delineated in 21 states, are those as reported as part of the Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) for the 2020 Census.

The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. Voting district is the generic name for geographic entities such as precincts, wards, and election districts established by State governments for the purpose of conducting elections. States participating in the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program as part of Public Law 94-171 (1975) provided the Census Bureau with boundaries, codes, and names for their VTDs. Each VTD is identified by a 1- to 6-character alphanumeric census code that is unique within county.

The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. The cartographic boundary files include both incorporated places (legal entities) and census designated places or CDPs (statistical entities). An incorporated place is established to provide governmental functions for a concentration of people as opposed to a minor civil division (MCD), which generally is created to provide services or administer an area without regard, necessarily, to population. Places always nest within a state, but may extend across county and county subdivision boundaries. An incorporated place usually is a city, town, village, or borough, but can have other legal descriptions. CDPs are delineated for the decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places. CDPs are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name, but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located. The boundaries for CDPs often are defined in partnership with state, local, and/or tribal officials and usually coincide with visible features or the boundary of an adjacent incorporated place or another legal entity. CDP boundaries often change from one decennial census to the next with changes in the settlement pattern and development; a CDP with the same name as in an earlier census does not necessarily have the same boundary. The only population/housing size requirement for CDPs is that they must contain some housing and population. The generalized boundaries of most incorporated places in this file are based on those as of January 1, 2020, as reported through the Census Bureau's Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The generalized boundaries of all CDPs based on those delineated as part of the Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) for the 2020 Census.

The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are decennial census areas that permit the tabulation and dissemination of Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and data from other census and surveys. For the 2020 Census, the State Data Centers (SDCs) in each state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had the opportunity to delineate PUMAS within their state or statistically equivalent entity. All PUMAs must nest within states and have a minimum population threshold of 100,000 persons. 2020 PUMAs consist of census tracts and cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not contain any 2020 PUMAs because the population is less than the minimum population requirement. Each PUMA is identified by a 5-character numeric census code that may contain leading zeros and a descriptive name.

The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are decennial census areas that permit the tabulation and dissemination of Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and data from other census and surveys. For the 2020 Census, the State Data Centers (SDCs) in each state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had the opportunity to delineate PUMAS within their state or statistically equivalent entity. All PUMAs must nest within states and have a minimum population threshold of 100,000 persons. 2020 PUMAs consist of census tracts and cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not contain any 2020 PUMAs because the population is less than the minimum population requirement. Each PUMA is identified by a 5-character numeric census code that may contain leading zeros and a descriptive name.

The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. State Legislative Districts (SLDs) are the areas from which members are elected to State legislatures. The SLDs embody the upper (senate) and lower (house) chambers of the state legislature. Nebraska has a unicameral legislature and the District of Columbia has a single council, both of which the Census Bureau treats as upper-chamber legislative areas for the purpose of data presentation; there are no data by SLDL for either Nebraska or the District of Columbia. A unique three-character census code, identified by State participants, is assigned to each SLD within a state. In Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Puerto Rico, the Redistricting Data Program (RDP) participant did not define the SLDs to cover all of the state or state equivalent area. In these areas with no SLDs defined, the code "ZZZ" has been assigned, which is treated as a single SLD for purposes of data presentation. The generalized boundaries in this file are based on the most recent state legislative district boundaries collected by the Census Bureau for the 2018 election year and provided by state-level participants through the RDP.

The 2020 cartographic boundary KMLs are simplified representations of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File / Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). These boundary files are specifically designed for small-scale thematic mapping. When possible, generalization is performed with the intent to maintain the hierarchical relationships among geographies and to maintain the alignment of geographies within a file set for a given year. Geographic areas may not align with the same areas from another year. Some geographies are available as nation-based files while others are available only as state-based files. Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) are decennial census areas that permit the tabulation and dissemination of Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and data from other census and surveys. For the 2020 Census, the State Data Centers (SDCs) in each state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had the opportunity to delineate PUMAS within their state or statistically equivalent entity. All PUMAs must nest within states and have a minimum population threshold of 100,000 persons. 2020 PUMAs consist of census tracts and cover the entirety of the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not contain any 2020 PUMAs because the population is less than the minimum population requirement. Each PUMA is identified by a 5-character numeric census code that may contain leading zeros and a descriptive name.