2024 Cartographic Boundary File (KML), Census Tract for Alaska, 1:500,000
type: Dataset
description: The 2024 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. Census tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county or equivalent entity, and were defined by local participants as part of the 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program. The Census Bureau delineated the census tracts in situations where no local participant existed or where all the potential participants declined to participate. The primary purpose of census tracts is to provide a stable set of geographic units for the presentation of census data and comparison back to previous decennial censuses. Census tracts generally have a population size between 1,200 and 8,000 people, with an optimum size of 4,000 people. When first delineated, census tracts were designed to be homogeneous with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions. The spatial size of census tracts varies widely depending on the density of settlement. Physical changes in street patterns caused by highway construction, new development, and so forth, may require boundary revisions. In addition, census tracts occasionally are split due to population growth, or combined as a result of substantial population decline. Census tract boundaries generally follow visible and identifiable features. They may follow legal boundaries such as minor civil divisio…
keyword: 2024
keyword: AmeriGEO
keyword: AmeriGEOSS
keyword: CKAN
keyword: GEO
keyword: GEOSS
keyword: National
keyword: North America
keyword: United States
keyword: ak
keyword: alaska
keyword: cartographic boundary
keyword: census tract
keyword: county
keyword: generalized
keyword: kml
issued: 2025-09-24T23:27:19.024946
modified: 2025-09-24T23:27:19.024956
spatial: Location

US Migrating
type: Agent

cb_2024_02_tract_500k.zip
type: Distribution
description: The cartographic boundary files are simplified representations of selected geographic areas specifically designed for small scale thematic mapping. These files contain simplified extracts of selected geographic areas from the U.S. Census Bureau's Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) database.
format: ZIP
access URL: https://www2.census.gov/geo/tiger/GENZ2024/kml/cb_2024_02_tract_500k.zip
issued: 2025-08-11T20:22:15.927006
modified: 2025-09-24T23:27:18.999507

cb_2024_02_tract_500k.kml.ea.iso.xml
type: Distribution
description: Entity and attribute file
format: XML
access URL: https://meta.geo.census.gov/data/existing/decennial/GEO/CPMB/boundary/2024/19110/kml/cb_2024_02_tract_500k.kml.ea.iso.xml
issued: 2025-08-11T20:22:15.927010
modified: 2025-09-24T23:27:19.000964

2024_file_name_def.pdf
type: Distribution
description: The file naming convention for the cartographic boundary files.
format: PDF
access URL: https://www2.census.gov/geo/tiger/GENZ2024/2024_file_name_def.pdf
issued: 2025-08-11T20:22:15.927011
modified: 2025-09-24T23:27:19.002257

description.pdf
type: Distribution
description: General description of the cartographic boundary files and their appropriate use.
format: PDF
access URL: https://www2.census.gov/geo/tiger/GENZ2024/description.pdf
issued: 2025-08-11T20:22:15.927013
modified: 2025-09-24T23:27:19.003480