Official Census 2020 P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data Released for Use with Maptitude for Redistricting 2021

Caliper Corporation has made the first 2020 Census data available for download to its Maptitude for Redistricting users.

Maptitude for Redistricting users are the first in the country to receive the official redistricting Census data in a form that they can use directly without considerable further processing. The data were made available to Maptitude for Redistricting users on August 16th, within just a few days of the August 12th release by the Census Bureau.

The data provided are from the early release in legacy format from the Census Bureau. A second release will come in late September in what the Census Bureau has said will be an easier format to use. However, Caliper customers can start redrawing the lines right away using the August 12th PL94-171 data release because the Census Bureau has stated that:

“The data included in the August and September deliveries will be identical. States can use either the August delivery or the September delivery as appropriate, taking their own statutes and constitutional requirements into account. The Census Bureau considers both releases to be official and fit for use.”

The full PL94-171 data set contains block level information on the U.S. population from the 2020 Census. Included are data on people's race and whether they are of Hispanic origin, for both the total and the voting age (18+) population. The Maptitude for Redistricting PL94-171 dataset is exhaustive and includes the combinations of the six racial categories.

Uniquely, the data provided for Maptitude for Redistricting includes additional fields derived from the PL94-171 data, so that it is straightforward to follow the OMB “Guidance on Aggregation and Allocation of Data on Race for Use in Civil Rights Monitoring and Enforcement” regarding multiracial identity.

Maptitude for Redistricting comes with all of the demographics for all geographic areas relevant for redistricting, allowing organizations to start line drawing immediately. The areas include:

• 116th Congressional Districts
• Census Blocks
• Census Block Groups
• Census Tracts
• Census Places
• Counties
• County Subdivisions
• Elementary School Districts
• Indian Reservations
• Secondary School Districts
• State Legislative Districts (Lower and Upper Chambers)
• Unified School Districts
• Voting Districts (precincts, wards, etc.)

Additional commercial and government data are also provided for use in Maptitude for Redistricting. These data include landmarks, railroads, rivers, streets, and water from Census TIGER geography and nationwide streets and landmarks from HERE.

The combination of comprehensive data, maps, and tools, all available immediately, in a ready-to-use package, makes Maptitude for Redistricting the most effective application for redistricting.

For more information, please visit www.redistricting.com or contact Caliper (+1 617-527-4700; sales@caliper.com).

About Maptitude for Redistricting

Used by a majority of state legislatures, expert redistricting consultants, independent commissions, public interest and civil rights groups, both major political parties, and court-appointed masters, Maptitude for Redistricting is the leading software for political redistricting. Maptitude for Redistricting together with its online companion, Maptitude for Online Redistricting, provide unique measures and tools that support the creation of fair districts and facilitate public participation in the redistricting process.

Caliper

Caliper, headquartered in Newton, MA, is a privately-held corporation and is a leading developer of mapping, redistricting, transportation, and GIS software.