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Good points, Orlando. All completely true. The concept of ZIP codes as a boundary is completely foreign to the USPS (and in their view probably missing the point.) ZIP codes are used to route mail to the right post office and then to deliver to the right location (house, building, etc.) There are plenty of ZIP codes (+10,000) that have no geographic representation as they might represent a P.O. Box, an individual building, or even a specific business in a building. Locations are assigned a ZIP code (which could change.) It is a nice side effect that you can draw a boundary around locations with the same postal code and get a contiguous area - hence ZCTAs. The question, as always, is how will the data be used and what level of accuracy will be good enough. On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Rodriguez , Orlando < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Several years ago I was looking for ZIP Code polygons and learned the > following: > > > > * Census ZIP Code polygons are inaccurate. Check the Census Bureau > documentation. > > * The USPS does not maintain up to date ZIP Code boundaries. > > * In rural areas, neighboring post offices often decide among themselves > where the boundary is and don’t tell anyone about changes. > > > > The best solution at the time was to buy a ZIP Code boundary file from a > reputable vendor. > > > > Orlando > > > > PS. Check the source of the ESRI data. Just because it’s free doesn’t > make it accurate. > > > > > > > > *From:* Northeast Arc Users Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On > Behalf Of *Olivares, Miriam > *Sent:* Wednesday, March 16, 2016 1:19 PM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Postal Zip Code Layer > > > > Daniel, > > > > Do you have access to Esri Data and Maps as part of your license (if your > organization holds one)? I believe there are point and polygon zipcode data > available > > http://www.esri.com/data/data-maps > > > > Miriam > > > > ----- > > *Miriam Olivares, GISP* > > GIS Librarian > > Center for Science and Social Science Information <http://csssi.yale.edu/> > > Yale University > > > > 219 Prospect Street | New Haven, CT 06511 > > Voicemail 203.436.5891 | [log in to unmask] > > GIS LibGuide <http://guides.library.yale.edu/gis> | Get an appointment! > <http://guides.library.yale.edu/gis> > > > > *Let's work together to transform your project through the geospatial lens* > > > > Hi gang... > > > > I have been tasked with finding a zip code layer specifically for the > state of RI (yes we have more than one zip code) but I'll expand the range > if thats whats available. Where might I ?look to find just such a > thing??? Does the postal service have such data available? > > > > > > Daniel Bradley > > GIS Coordinator > > Warwick Fire Department > > Lieutenant Engine Co 3 > > Station 3 - Oakland Beach > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This list (NEARC-L) is an unmoderated discussion list for all NEARC Users. > > > > If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from this list, you can remove > yourself by going to > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__s.uconn.edu_nearcsubscribe&d=AwIFAw&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=bhblLezUALewsVbFIqDuVnM2TN8YMu5_WQW8JTconw8&m=-E4HW30H39SFNpQpZ2pHltspSwcGm28lFRuFdS7chBw&s=iCGufSBbdgVlrQd4qs4dRkCfm2XXxv6m7uzeoOK3L0s&e= > . > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This list (NEARC-L) is an unmoderated discussion list for all NEARC Users. > > If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from this list, you can remove > yourself by going to http://s.uconn.edu/nearcsubscribe. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This list (NEARC-L) is an unmoderated discussion list for all NEARC Users. > > If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from this list, you can remove > yourself by going to http://s.uconn.edu/nearcsubscribe. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This list (NEARC-L) is an unmoderated discussion list for all NEARC Users. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from this list, you can remove yourself by going to http://s.uconn.edu/nearcsubscribe.