Scientific Data Documentation
County Cross Reference File (FIPS/ZIP4)
Datasets:
zipctyA.zip
zipctyB.zip
ABSTRACT
Background
The County Cross Reference File is a product which provides a
relationship between ZIP+4 codes and Federal Information
Processing Standard (FIPS) county codes. The file allows users
who have assigned ZIP+4 codes to their address files to obtain
county data at the ZIP+4 level.
The County Cross Reference File was originally available on tape or cartridge.
The data are now available as a series of 10 simple-text fixed-format records,
compressed into 2 "zip" files.
The copyright on the 1st file indicates these data are are from September, 1988.
Benefits
The County CrossReference File can help you define the precise
location of a county associated with a range of ZIP+4 codes, and
that portion associated with another range of ZIP+4 codes within a
single five-digit ZIP area.
FILE DESCRIPTION
Header Record
The first record is a copyright record, consisting of five spaces
in the ZIP Code field, a file date, the copyright statement, and
the tape volume sequence number. These record components are
illustrated below:
8815 (C)USPS 001
I I I I
SPACES YYMM Date COPYRIGHT TAPE VOLUME SEQUENCE NO.
Sort Sequence
The County Cross-Reference File is sorted according to the EBCDIC
collating sequence, in ascending order, on the following data
fields:
ZIP CODE
4 DIGIT ADD-ON (mange in ascending order)
RECORD LAYOUT
Field Description
FIELD
SEQUENCE RELATIVE
FIELD LOGICAL POSITION
NUMBER DESCRIPTION LENGTH FROM THRU CONTENT NOTES
1 ZIP CODE 05 01 as
2 UPDATE KEY NO 10 06 15
3 ZIP ADD ON LOW NO
ZIP SECTOR NO 02 16 17
ZIP SEGMENT NO 02 18 19
4 ZIP ADD ON HIGH NO
ZIP SECTOR NO 02 20 21
ZIP SEGMENT NO 02 22 23
5 STATE ABBREV 02 24 25
6 COUNTY NO 03 26 28
7 COUNTY NAME 25 29 53
COUNTY CROSS-REFERENCE FILE - COBOL EXAMPLE
BLOCK CONTAINS 0 RECORDS
LABEL RECORDS ARE STANDARD
RECORD CONTAINS 53 CHARACTERS
RECORDING MODE IS F
DATA RECORDS ARE
COUNTY-CROSS-REFERENCE-RECORD.
01 COUNTY-CROSS-REFERENCE-RECORD.
05 ZIP-CODE PlC X(05).
05 UPDATE-KEY-NO PlC X(10).
05 ZIP-ADD-ON-RANGE.
05 10 ZIP-ADD-ON-LOW-NO.
15 ZIP-SECTOR-NO PlC X+02).
15 ZIP-SEGMENT-NO PlC X(02).
10 ZIP-ADD-ON-HIGH-NO.
15 ZIP-SECTOR-NO PlC X(02).
15 ZIP-SEGMENT-NO PlC X(02).
05 STATE-ABBREV PLC X(02).
05 COUNTY-NO PLC X(03).
05 COUNTY-NAME PLC X(25).
COPYRIGHT HEADER RECORD
FIELD RELATIVE
SEQUENCE FIELD LOGICAL POSITION
NUMBER DESCRIPTION LENGTH FROM THRU CONTENT NOTES
1 FILLER 05 01 05 SPACES
2 FILE VERSION YEAR 02 06 07 00 THROUGH 99
3 FILE VERSION MONTH 02 08 09 01 THROUGH 31
4 COPYRIGHT SYMBOL 11 10 20 (C)USPS
5 TAPE SEQUENCE NO 03 21 23 001 THROUGH 2
6 FILLER 30 24 53 SPACES
COPYRIGHT HEADER RECORD - COBOL EXAMPLE
BLOCK CONTAINS 0 RECORDS
LABEL RECORDS ARE STANDARD
RECORD CONTAINS 53 CHARACTERS
RECORDING MODE IS F
DATA RECORDS ARE
COPYRIGHT HEADER RECORD.
O1 COPYRIGHT HEADER-RECORD.
05 FILLER PlC X(O5).
05 FILE-VERSION-YEAR PlC X(02).
05 FILE-VERSION-MONTH PlC X(02).
05 COPYRIGHT-SYMBOL PlC X(11).
05 TAPE-SEQUENCE-NO PlC X(03).
05 FILLER PlC X(30).
DATA ELEMENT DEFINITIONS
Copyright Symbol
Description:
This element contains a copyright symbol.
COBOL Picture:
X(11)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
~(C)USPS
Comments:
This first record of each tape, cartridge or reel, is a
copyright record. See the copyright header record examples
for field descriptions.
County Name
Description:
The name of the county, principal county, or parish in which
the ZIP+4 Code resides.
COBOL Picture:
X(25)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
Alphanumeric
Comments:
If the ZIP Code crosses county lines, this field will contain
the name of the county in which the greatest portion of that
ZIP Code lies
County No
Description:
The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code
assigned to a given county within a state.
COBOL Picture:
X(O3)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
Numeric or spaces.
Comments:
File Version Month
Description:
This field represents the month of the year for this edition
of the file.
COBOL Picture:
X(02)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
01 through 12
Comments:
File Version Year
Description:
This field contains the last 2-digits of the year for this
edition of the file.
COBOL Picture:
X(02)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
00 through 99
Comments:
State-Abbreviation
Description:
USPS standard state or territory abbreviation.
COBOL Picture:
X(O2)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
See APPENDIX A
Comments:
Tape Sequence No
Description:
For multi-reel files, this field contains a sequence number
representing the position of any given reel within the entire
set of tapes that make up the file.
COBOL Picture:
X(O3)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
001 through 255
Comments:
Note that if only "selected" areas are ordered, that TAPE
SEQUENCE NOs will be in ascending sequence, hut will not
necessarily be consecutive, e . g. , 1,4,5,8, etc.
Update Key No
Description:
This field contains a number that uniquely identifies a record
on the County Cross-Reference File.
COBOL Picture:
X(10)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible Values:
Numeric
Comments:
Zip Add On High No
Description:
A ZIP ADD-ON describes the last four positions of a ZIP+4
Code. ZIP ADD ON HIGH NO is the high-end ZIP ADD ON in a
range of ZIP+4 Code ADD-ONs. Most delivery addresses are
assigned a single ZIP+4 Code. However, large companies may be
given a range of ZIP+4 Codes that can be used to route mail to
specific departments. A range of ZIP+4 Codes can also be
assigned to a corresponding range of post office boxes, where
each box is mapped, one-to-one, with a ZIP+4 Code in the
range. A single PO Box can also be assigned a range of ZIP+4
Codes. In these examples, the ZIP ADD ON HIGH NO represents
the ADD ON of the last ZIP+4 Code, in a consecutive series of
ZIP+4 Codes, assigned to the delivery address.
COBOL Picture:
X(O4)
Subordinate Items:
ZIP SECTOR NO
ZIP SEGMENT NO
Possible values
Numeric or spaces
ZIP+4 Code range example:
12345-0001 thru 12345-0009 ZIP ADD ON HIGH NO 0009
Comments:
ZIP+4 codes associated with non-delivery areas are composed of
valid ZIP SECTOR codes and blank ZIP SEGMENT codes. The edit
for a ZIP ADD ON HIGH NO or a ZIP ADD ON LOW NO must,
therefore, allow for either an all numeric field, or for a
field which is all numeric except for the last two bytes (ZIP
SEG CODE), which must be spaces. Non-deliverable areas
include vacant lots and land which borders railroad tracks,
areas to which the USPS does not deliver mail.
Zip Add On Low No
Description:
A ZIP ADD-ON describes the last four positions of a ZIP+4
Code. ZIP ADD ON LOW NO is the low-end ZIP ADD ON in a range
of ZIP+4 Code ADD-ONs. Most delivery addresses are assigned a
single ZIP+4 Code. However, large companies may be given a
range of ZIP+4 Codes that can be used to route mail to
specific departments. A range of ZIP+4 Codes can also be
assigned to a corresponding range of post office boxes, where
each box is mapped, one-to-one, with a ZIP+4 Code in the
range. A single Pa Box can also be assigned a range of ZIP+4
Codes. In these examples, the ZIP ADD ON LOW NO represents
the ADD ON of the first ZIP+4 Code, in a consecutive series of
ZIP+4 Codes, assigned to the delivery address.
COBOL Picture:
X(04)
Subordinate Items:
ZIP SECTOR NO
ZIP SEGMENT NO
Possible values
Numeric or spaces
ZIP+4 Code range example:
12345-0001 thru 12345-0009 ZIP ADD ON LOW NO = 0001
Comments:
ZIP+4 codes associated with non-delivery areas are composed of
valid ZIP SECTOR codes and blank ZIP SEGMENT codes. The edit
for a ZIP ADD ON HIGH or a ZIP ADD ON LOW NO must, therefore,
allow for either an all numeric field, or for a field which is
all numeric except for the last two bytes (ZIP SEG CODE),
which must be spaces. Non-deliverable areas include vacant
lots and land which borders railroad tracks, areas to which
the USPS does not deliver mail.
Zip Add On Code Range
Description:
A range of ZIP+4 Codes assigned to a delivery area or delivery
point. Most delivery addresses are assigned a single ZIP+4
Code. In this case, the low and high ends of the ZIP add on
range description would be equal. However, large companies
may be given a range of ZIP~4 Codes that can be used to route
mail to specific departments. A range of ZIP+4 Codes can also
be assigned to a corresponding range of post office boxes,
where each box is mapped, one-to-one, with a ZIP~4 Code in the
range. A single PO box can also be assigned a range of ZIP+4
Codes. See subordinate element definitions for further
information.
COBOL Picture:
X(08)
Subordinate Items:
ZIP ADD ON LOW NO
ZIP ADD ON HIGH NO
Possible Values:
Comments:
Zip Code
Description:
A code which identifies a specific geographic delivery area.
ZIP CODEs can represent an area within a state, an area which
crosses state boundaries (unusual condition) or a single
building or company which has a very high mail volume. ZIP is
an acronym for "Zone Improvement Plan."
COBOL Picture:
X(05)
Subordinate items:
N/A
Possible values:
Numeric
ZIP+4 Code example:
12345-6789 ZIP CODE = 12345
Comments:
Zip Sector No
Descriptions
The ZIP sector number forms the first two digits of the ZIP
add-on Code . Geographically, a ZIP sector is a subdivision of
a 5-digit ZIP Code area. ZIP sector boundaries are
established such that they do not cross state or county lines.
COBOL Picture:
X(02)
Subordinate Items:
N/A
Possible values:
Numeric
ZIP SECTOR NO example:
12345-6789 ====> ZIP SECTOR NO = 67
Comments:
Zip Segment No
Description:
The ZIP segment number forms the last two digits of the ZIP
add-on Code. The ZIP segment is a subdivision of a ZIP
sector. Geographically, ZIP segments represent areas such as
one side of a city block between intersections; both sides of
a street, including cul-de-sacs; a company or building; a
floor or group of floors within a building; a cluster of
mailboxes; sections of post office boxes; or other similar
delivery groups.
COBOL Picture:
X(02)
Subordinate Items:
N/A
Possible Values:
Numeric or blank
ZIP SEGMENT NO example:
12345-6789 ====> ZIP SEGMENT NO = 89
Comments:
RECORD EXAMPLES
ZIP UPDATE KEY ZIP ADD ON RANGE STATE COUNTY C
CODE NUMBER LOW ADD ON/HIGH ADD ON ABBREV NO
- - - -
47302 0001817021 3140 3140 IN 035 D
47302 0006473233 6911 6911 IN 035 D
73949 0000148394 1622 1622 OK 025 C
84106 0002743695 4615 4615 UT 035 S
95922 0001097492 2151 2199 CA 115 Y
APPENDIX
State And Territory Abbreviations
STATE / TERRITORY ABBREVIATION
ALABAMA.......................................................AL
ALASKA........................................................AK
ARIZONA.......................................................AZ
ARKANSAS......................................................AR
AMERICAN SAMOA................................................AS
CALIFORNIA....................................................CA
COLORADO......................................................CO
CONNECTICUT...................................................CT
DELAWARE......................................................DE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA..........................................DC
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA................................FM
FLORIDA.......................................................FL
GEORGIA.......................................................GA
GUAM..........................................................GU
HAWAII........................................................HI
IDAHO.........................................................ID
ILLINOIS......................................................IL
INDIANA.......................................................IN
IOWA..........................................................IA
KANSAS........................................................KS
KENTUCKY......................................................KY
LOUISIANA.....................................................LA
MAINE.........................................................ME
MARSHALL ISLANDS..............................................MH
MARYLAND......................................................MD
MASSACHUSETTS.................................................MA
MICHIGAN......................................................MI
MINNESOTA.....................................................MN
MISSISSIPPI...................................................MS
MISSOURI......................................................MO
MONTANA.......................................................MT
NEBRASKA......................................................NE
NEVADA........................................................NV
NEW HAMPSHIRE.................................................NH
NEW JERSEY....................................................NJ
NEW MEXICO....................................................NM
NEW YORK......................................................NY
NORTH CAROLINA................................................NC
NORTH DAKOTA..................................................ND
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS......................................CM
OHIO..........................................................OH
OKLAHOMA......................................................OK
OREGON........................................................OR
PALAU.........................................................PW
PENNSYLVANIA..................................................PA
PUERTO RICO...................................................PR
RHODE ISLAND..................................................RI
SOUTH CAROLINA................................................SC
SOUTH DAKOTA..................................................SD
TENNESSEE.....................................................TN
TEXAS.........................................................TX
UTAH..........................................................UT
VERMONT.......................................................VT
VIRGINIA......................................................VA
VIRGIN ISLANDS................................................VI
WASHINGTON....................................................WA
WEST VIRGINIA.................................................WV
WISCONSIN.....................................................WI
WYOMING.......................................................WY
