Redistricting Data Program
Redistricting Data Program for the 2020 Census
Timeline for Releasing Redistricting Data
The Basics
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that it will deliver the Public Law 94-171 redistricting data to all states by September 30, 2021. COVID-19-related delays and prioritizing the delivery of the apportionment results delayed the Census Bureau’s original plan to deliver the redistricting data to the states by March 31, 2021.
The redistricting data includes counts of population by race, ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino origin), voting age, housing occupancy status, and group quarters population, all at the census block level. This is the information that states need to redraw or “redistrict” their legislative boundaries.
Delivering by September 30
Different from previous censuses, the Census Bureau will deliver the data for all states at once, instead of on a flow basis. This change has been made because of COVID-19-related shifts in data collection and in the data processing schedule and it enables the Census Bureau to deliver complete and accurate redistricting data in a more timely fashion overall for the states. In preparation for the delivery of redistricting data products, the Census Bureau has been in close coordination with each states’ official nonpartisan liaisons to understand the impacts of the delayed delivery on individual states.
Redistricting Data Summary Files
Redistricting Data Summary Files expected by September 30, 2021.
Technical Documentation
The national documentation is only for the limited set of geographic entities which cross state boundaries.
Geographic Support Products
The Basics
The US Census Bureau has delivered the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Geographic Support Products to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. As of February 12, 2021, the Census Bureau published the final sets of geographic data to census.gov for the public as well.
State and local governments use these products in their redistricting efforts. The products contain newly created 2020 Census blocks and updated block groups, census tracts, voting districts, and current boundaries for legal governments and school districts referenced to January 1, 2020. The law (Public Law 94-171) that governs the Census Bureau's work on producing redistricting data directs the agency to allow the states the opportunity to identify the small area geography and tabulations they need to do their redistricting work.
Using the information that each state provided, the Census Bureau has now delivered geographic information in formats that will help them plug in the actual 2020 Census data and do their work of redrawing district boundaries. And as we announced today, we will provide those quality data to the states by September 30, 2021.
TIGER/Line Shapefiles
Use the 2020 Tab of the linked page below.
Map Suite (2020 Census)
There are four reference map types that support the 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data Program. The large format maps are produced in Adobe’s portable document format (PDF) and are georeferencedThese maps utilize complex symbology, such as wave pattern fill for water bodies. They are designed to be viewed with Adobe Reader (version 6 or later).
The maps can be downloaded by state and/or county on the Census Bureau FTP subsites linked below.
County Block Map
These large-scale maps show and label all census blocks within a county (or county equivalent). In addition to state (or state equivalent) and county, these maps show the boundaries, names, and codes for American Indian/Alaska Native areas, Hawaiian home lands, county subdivisions, consolidated cities, places, and census tracts. These maps show and label state legislative districts (SLDs) and voting districts (VTDs)–the geographic entities that the states submitted during their participation in the early phases of the Census Redistricting Data Program.
State Legislative District with Voting Districts Reference Map
These state legislative district-based reference maps show and label the state legislative districts (SLDs) and voting districts (VTDs)–the geographic entities that states submitted during their participation in the early phases of the Census Redistricting Data Program. Two separate map types make up this series: one that displays State Legislative Districts – Upper Chamber (SLDUs) and one that displays the State Legislative Districts – Lower Chamber (SLDLs).
Census Tract Reference Map
These county (or county equivalent)-based reference maps show and label the census tracts as delineated to support 2020 Census data dissemination. These maps also show and label federal and state American Indian reservations, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, states (or state equivalents), counties, county subdivisions, consolidated cities, and places. Additionally, these maps display a base feature network including roads, railroads, and water bodies.
School District Reference Map
These county (or county equivalent)-based reference maps show and label the unified, secondary, and elementary school districts as delineated by the state participants of the School District Review Program. These maps also show and label federal and state American Indian reservations, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, states (or state equivalents), counties, county subdivisions (in states where they function as governmental units), and places. Additionally, these maps display a base feature network including roads, railroads, and water bodies.