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WSDOT GeoData Distribution Catalog


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Links to other Washington State GIS data sites

  

 

  

 

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Geographic Reference Data

  

  

  

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County-Based Data


   

 

Populated Places of Washington State



Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information


Identification Information

Section Index

    Citation:
      Citation Information:
        Originator: Data Management Services, Washington State Department of Transportation
        Publication Date: 5/21/2001
        Title: Populated Places of Washington State
        Geospatial Data Presentation Form: map
        Publication Information:
          Publication Place: Olympia, Washington, USA
          Publisher: Washington State Department of Transportation
    Description:
      Abstract:
        Points depict Washington State's populated places. This data reflects information provided by the US Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Federal Information Processing Standards, and the Washington State Office of Financial Management's list of incorporated entities.
      Purpose: This data set is used as a reference layer for geographic information systems at the Washington State Department of Transportation.
      Supplemental Information:
        This data set can be queried to display types of populated places: incorporated entities, unincorporated entities, named places within incorporated entities, and so forth. Associated county information is also provided.
        Please refer to http://geonames.usgs.gov/gnisftp.html for more information on the Geographic Names Information System and to http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip55-3.htm for more information on the Federal Information Processing Standards codes.
    Time Period of Content:
      Time Period Information:
        Range of Dates/Times:
          Beginning Date: 1998
          Ending Date: 2/28/2001
      Currentness Reference: ground condition
    Status:
      Progress: Complete
      Maintenance and Update Frequency: Quarterly
    Spatial Domain:
      Bounding Coordinates:
        West Bounding Coordinate: -124.418862762269
        East Bounding Coordinate: -117.022261200133
        North Bounding Coordinate: 49.0034880064098
        South Bounding Coordinate: 45.5578408815296
    Keywords:
      Theme:
        Theme Keyword Thesaurus: None
        Theme Keyword: cities
        Theme Keyword: incorporated places
        Theme Keyword: fips
        Theme Keyword: unincorporated
        Theme Keyword: GNIS
        Theme Keyword: populated places
      Place:
        Place Keyword Thesaurus: None
        Place Keyword: Pacific Northwest
        Place Keyword: United States
        Place Keyword: USA
        Place Keyword: WA
        Place Keyword: Washington
    Access Constraints: none
    Use Constraints: none
    Point of Contact:
      Contact Information:
        Contact Organization Primary:
          Contact Organization: Washington State Department of Transportation
          Contact Person: Michelle Blake
        Contact Position: GIS Data Administrator
        Contact Address:
          Address Type: mailing address
          Address: PO Box 47430
          City: Olympia
          State or Province: WA
          Postal Code: 98504-7430
          Country: USA
        Contact Address:
          Address Type: physical address
          Address: 809 Legion Way SE
          City: Olympia
          State or Province: WA
          Postal Code: 98501
          Country: USA
        Contact Voice Telephone: 360-705-7797
        Contact Facsimile Telephone: 360-705-6817
        Contact Electronic Mail Address: blakem@wsdot.wa.gov
        Contact Instructions: Call, email or write with requests for geo-spatial data sets.
    Browse Graphic:
      Browse Graphic File Name: pop_placesjpg.htm
      Browse Graphic File Description:
        The graphic represents the data as projected on the Washington State Plane Coordinate System, South Zone.
      Browse Graphic File Type: JPEG
    Native Data Set Environment: ESRI shape file
    Cross Reference:
      Citation Information:
        Originator: GIS Implementation Team, Washington State Department of Transportation
        Publication Date: 19960501
        Title: Major Cities of Washington State
        Geospatial Data Presentation Form: map
        Publication Information:
          Publication Place: Olympia, Washington, USA
          Publisher: Washington State Department of Transportation

Data Quality Information

Section Index

    Attribute Accuracy:
      Attribute Accuracy Report:
        City names' spellings are as specified by the Washington State Office of Financial Management. Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes are as provided by download from the National Institute of Standards and Technology web site. Populated Place names for nonincorporated places are as provided by the Geographic Names Information System.
    Completeness Report:
      The data represent every city known to be incorporated in the State of Washington as of the date of currency. The data set includes all populated places provided by the United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System for Washington State.
    Lineage:
      Source Information:
        Source Citation:
          Citation Information:
            Originator: National Institute of Standards and Technology
            Publication Date: 1998
            Title: WAFIPS55-DC3
            Publication Information:
              Publication Place: Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
              Publisher: National Institute of Standards and Technology
            Online Linkage: http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/55new/nav-top-fr.htm
        Source Time Period of Content:
          Time Period Information:
            Single Date/Time:
              Calendar Date: 1998
              Time of Day: Unknown
          Source Currentness Reference: publication date
        Source Citation Abbreviation: WAFIPS55
        Source Contribution: The Federal Information Processing Standard codes for and the types of Washington State's populated places.
      Source Information:
        Source Citation:
          Citation Information:
            Originator: United States Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System
            Publication Date: 2/24/2000
            Title: Geographic Names Information System - Washington
            Geospatial Data Presentation Form: table
            Publication Information:
              Publication Place: United States Geological Survey
              Publisher: Reston, Virginia USA
        Source Time Period of Content:
          Time Period Information:
            Single Date/Time:
              Calendar Date: 2/24/2000
              Time of Day: Unknown
          Source Currentness Reference: publication date
        Source Citation Abbreviation: GNIS_WA
        Source Contribution: The Populated Place Names for Washington State.
      Source Information:
        Source Citation:
          Citation Information:
            Originator: GIS/Cartography Section, Washington State Department of Transportation
            Publication Date: 3/13/2002
            Title: City Limits of Washington State, February 2001
            Geospatial Data Presentation Form: map
            Publication Information:
              Publication Place: Olympia, Washington, USA
              Publisher: Washington State Department of Transportation
        Source Scale Denominator: 24000
        Type of Source Media: online
        Source Time Period of Content:
          Time Period Information:
            Single Date/Time:
              Calendar Date: 2/28/2001
              Time of Day: Unknown
          Source Currentness Reference: ground condition
        Source Citation Abbreviation: city.shp
        Source Contribution: The Washington State Office of Financial Management's list of Washington State's incorporated entities.
      Process Step:
        Process Description:
          The Geographic Names Information System extract for Washington State was downloaded from the USGS' FTP Site (http://geonames.usgs.gov/gnisftp.html). The Latitude and Longitude information were converted to decimal degrees for use in GIS. The table was queried as to geographic type to extract all "ppl" (populated places). A composite key was formed, concatenating the populated place and its county. This table was then joined to a similarly created field in a table originally downloaded from the National Institue of Standards and Technology which contained Federal Information Processing Standards codes for Washington State. The resultant table was then compared to the Washington State Office of Financial Management's list of incorporated entities to ensure that all incorporated entities were coded as such and that all city names corresponded to those recognized by the State of Washington. The table was then placed as an event theme in ArcView and converted to an ESRI shape file.
        Source Used Citation Abbreviation: WAFIPS55
        Source Used Citation Abbreviation: GNIS_WA
        Source Used Citation Abbreviation: city.shp
        Process Date: 3/19/2002
        Process Contact:
          Contact Information:
            Contact Organization Primary:
              Contact Organization: Washington State Department of Transportation
              Contact Person: Michelle Blake
            Contact Position: GIS Data Administrator
            Contact Address:
              Address Type: mailing address
              Address: PO Box 47430
              City: Olympia
              State or Province: WA
              Postal Code: 98504-7430
              Country: USA
            Contact Address:
              Address Type: physical address
              Address: 809 Legion Way SE
              City: Olympia
              State or Province: WA
              Postal Code: 98501
              Country: USA
            Contact Voice Telephone: 360-705-7797
            Contact Facsimile Telephone: 360-705-6817
            Contact Electronic Mail Address: blakem@wsdot.wa.gov
            Contact Instructions: Call, email or write with requests for geo-spatial data sets.
    Cloud Cover: 0

Spatial Data Organization Information

Section Index

    Direct Spatial Reference Method: Point

Spatial Reference Information

Section Index

    Horizontal Coordinate System Definition:
      Geographic:
        Geographic Coordinate Units: Decimal degrees
      Geodetic Model:
        Horizontal Datum Name: North American Datum of 1983 HARN
        Ellipsoid Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
        Semi-major Axis: 6378137
        Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257222101

Entity and Attribute Information

Section Index

    Detailed Description:
      Entity Type:
        Entity Type Label: Populated Places
        Entity Type Definition: Entities included in the US Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System as the feature type "ppl."
        Entity Type Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Cell
        Attribute Definition: The cell in which the Populated Place can be found.
        Attribute Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 2/24/2000
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Co
        Attribute Definition: The county in which the Populated Place resides.
        Attribute Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 2/24/2000
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Co_fips
        Attribute Definition:
          The county Federal Information Processing Standards code - a three-digit place code, which when preceded by the two digit state code (53 for Washington) and "99", uniquely identifies each listed entity.
        Attribute Definition Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 1998
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Corp
        Attribute Definition: Populated Place Type as defined by the Federal Information Processing Standards with updates to reflect recent incorporations in Washington State.
        Attribute Definition Source:
          National Institute of Standards and Technology and Legal documents of incorporation, annexation and divestment at the Washington State Office of Financial Management
        Attribute Domain Values:
          Enumerated Domain:
            Enumerated Domain Value: C1
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
              C1:Identifies an active incorporated place that is not also recognized as an Alaska Native Village statistical area, and does not also serve as a primary county division; that is, it is included in and is part of a primary county division.
            Enumerated Domain Value: C4
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
              C4:Identifies an alternate authoritative common name of any member of the other subclasses of Class C. The entity code of the legal name is referenced in the ``Other Name Code'' of the record, and in the entry for the legal name, the Other Name Code references the alternate.
            Enumerated Domain Value: U1
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition: U1:Identifies a census designated place (CDP) with a name identical to the authoritative common name that describes essentially the same population. Also see subclass M2.
            Enumerated Domain Value: U2
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition: U2:Identifies a CDP (Census Designated Place) with a name not identical to an authoritative common name of essentially the same area.
            Enumerated Domain Value: U3
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
              U3:Identifies (a) an alternate, authoritative common name of a population essentially described by a specific CDP with a different name (the Other Name Code references the CDP), or (b) a community wholly or substantially within the boundaries of a CDP with a different name (the Part of Code references the CDP).
            Enumerated Domain Value: U4
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition: U4:Identifies a populated place wholly or substantially within the boundaries of an incorporated place with a different name
            Enumerated Domain Value: U6
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition: U6:Identifies a populated place located wholly or substantially outside the boundaries of any incorporated place or CDP with an authoritative common name recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey.
            Enumerated Domain Value: U8
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
              U8:Identifies a populated place located wholly or substantially outside the boundaries of an incorporated place or CDP but whose name has not been verified as authoritative by the U.S. Geological Survey.
            Enumerated Domain Value: B
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
              B:Post Offices Not Corresponding to Other Locational Entities Post office names identified in this class are only those that do not identify entities included in another class
            Enumerated Domain Value: X2
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition: X2:Identifies entities whose names have been changed and are not appropriate in any other subclass; the new name is referenced by the Other Name Code.
            Enumerated Domain Value: X3
            Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
              X3:Identifies entities whose names are incorrect or less preferred, and are not appropriate in any other (sub)class, or entities for which more specific information that would permit assignment to an appropriate (sub)class is not available; the correct or preferred name, where known, is referenced by the Other Name Code.
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 1998
        Ending Date of Attribute Values: 2/28/2001
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Elev
        Attribute Definition: The Elevation of the Populated Place in feet.
        Attribute Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: F_name
        Attribute Definition: The name of the populated place.
        Attribute Definition Source:
          Legal documents of incorporation, annexation and divestment at the Washington State Office of Financial Management and the United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
        Attribute Domain Values:
          Unrepresentable Domain: Names used for cities are words or phrases accepted by the Washington State Office of Financial Management.
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 2/24/2000
        Ending Date of Attribute Values: 2/28/2001
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: F_Type
        Attribute Definition: Feature type. "PPL" is the code for Populated Place in the Geographic Names Information System.
        Attribute Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 2/24/2000
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Fips
        Attribute Definition:
          The populated place's Federal Information Processing Standards code - a five-digit place code, which when preceded by the two digit state code (53 for Washington), uniquely identifies each listed entity.
        Attribute Definition Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 1998
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Lat_dd
        Attribute Definition: The point's latitude in decimal degrees.
        Attribute Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System and Data Management Services, Washington State Department of Transportation
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 2/24/2000
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: Long_dd
        Attribute Definition: The point's longitude in decimal degrees.
        Attribute Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System and Data Management Services, Washington State Department of Transportation
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 2/24/2000
      Attribute:
        Attribute Label: St
        Attribute Definition: Abbreviation for the State of Washington - "WA."
        Attribute Definition Source: United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
        Beginning Date of Attribute Values: 2/24/2000
    Overview Description:
      Entity and Attribute Overview:
        Points depict Populated Places in the State of Washington. Each point is attributed with the populated place's name, county, Federal Information Processing Standards code, elevation, type, and locational information.

Distribution Information

Section Index

    Distributor:
      Contact Information:
        Contact Organization Primary:
          Contact Organization: Washington State Department of Transportation
          Contact Person: Michelle Blake
        Contact Position: GIS Data Administrator
        Contact Address:
          Address Type: mailing address
          Address: PO Box 47430
          City: Olympia
          State or Province: WA
          Postal Code: 98504-7430
          Country: USA
        Contact Address:
          Address Type: physical address
          Address: 809 Legion Way SE
          City: Olympia
          State or Province: WA
          Postal Code: 98501
          Country: USA
        Contact Voice Telephone: 360-705-7797
        Contact Facsimile Telephone: 360-705-6817
        Contact Electronic Mail Address: blakem@wsdot.wa.gov
        Contact Instructions: Call, email or write with requests for geo-spatial data sets.
    Resource Description: \gisosc\geodata\maps\noscale\dot_cartog\pop_places\pop_places.shp
    Distribution Liability:
      The Washington State Department of Transportation shall not be liable for any activity involving these data with regard to lost profits or savings or any other consequential damages; or the fitness for use of the data for a particular purpose; or the installation of the data, its use, or the results obtained.
    Standard Order Process:
      Digital Form:
        Digital Transfer Information:
          Format Specification: Various formats are used: ESRI coverages and shapefiles, and data tables for placement as ArcView "events."
          Format Information Content:
            The standard distribution compact disc contains all geospatial data sets created by the Washington State Dept. of Transportation. Refer to the included Geodata.txt text file for a brief description of the directory structure. Data formats vary--most data are stored as ESRI shape files, but some data models require coverages. There are also dbf-format tables of data located by geographic coordinates or State Route Accumulated Route Mileage.
        Digital Transfer Option:
          Offline Option:
            Offline Media: CD-ROM
      Fees: none
      Ordering Instructions: Call, email or write the Distributor with requests for geo-spatial data sets.
      Turnaround: Generally, the standard compact disc containing all distributed data can be sent within one week of receiving a data request.
    Standard Order Process:
      Digital Form:
        Digital Transfer Information:
          Format Name: self-extracting zip file
          Format Version Number: 6.3 SR-1 (926) 32-bit
          Format Specification: WinZip
          Format Information Content:
            Depends on the data set. Arc/Info coverage or shape file; metadata report in html and text files; and, in some cases, a data dictionary text file. Some data sets in the standard distribution are tabular data for placement as ArcView "events."
          File Decompression Technique: Run the "exe" file under Windows NT.
        Digital Transfer Option:
      Fees: none
      Ordering Instructions: Download individual data sets from ftp://ftp.wsdot.wa.gov/gis/GeoDataDistribution
    Standard Order Process:
      Non-digital Form: The Cartography/GIS Section can plot maps of most geospatial data sets.
      Fees: depend on plotting costs.
      Ordering Instructions: Contact the Point of Contact listed under the Identification Section to determine the availability of this data set in a non-digital representation.
    Available Time Period:
      Time Period Information:
        Single Date/Time:
          Calendar Date:

Metadata Reference Information

Section Index

    Metadata Date: 6/21/2004
    Metadata Review Date:
    Metadata Future Review Date:
    Metadata Contact:
      Contact Information:
        Contact Organization Primary:
          Contact Organization: Washington State Department of Transportation
          Contact Person: Michelle Blake
        Contact Position: GIS Data Administrator
        Contact Address:
          Address Type: mailing address
          Address: PO Box 47430
          City: Olympia
          State or Province: WA
          Postal Code: 98504-7430
          Country: USA
        Contact Address:
          Address Type: physical address
          Address: 809 Legion Way SE
          City: Olympia
          State or Province: WA
          Postal Code: 98501
          Country: USA
        Contact Voice Telephone: 360-705-7797
        Contact Facsimile Telephone: 360-705-6817
        Contact Electronic Mail Address: blakem@wsdot.wa.gov
        Contact Instructions: Call, email or write with requests for geo-spatial data sets.
    Metadata Standard Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
    Metadata Standard Version: June1998
    Metadata Time Convention: local time
    Metadata Access Constraints: none
    Metadata Use Constraints: none

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