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Frequently Ask Questions


Do you make maps?
Do you have Census Data?
What type of data do you have?
How can I get data?
Do I need a special program to read the data?
Where do you get your data?
How much do you charge?
Do you draw district lines?
Where is the Statewide Database?
Can I visit the Statewide Database?
Why can't I open the MapInfo files I just downloaded?
What are FIPS codes?
Where was the new 2001 California congressional seat created?

Do you make maps?
Yes, but we are not exactly a map making organization. We encourage people to make their own maps with our data, either with their own GIS (Geographic Information System) or our computers. We will assist you as much as possible and we will take orders for customized maps. You can create Statewide, County, Senate, Assembly, and Congressional District levels filled with various data such as blocks and street labels, census, and/or registration information. With regret, we cannot provide maps with precinct information. Basic Assembly, Senate, and Congressional District maps are available online in the "Maps" section of this website. All other maps need to be requested by e-mail or phone.

Do you have Census Data?
Yes, we do store Census data. While the only Census Data specified for Redistricting and the Reapportionment come from a file called PL94-171, it includes total population, race and ethnicity, and housing units.

What type of data do you have?
The Statewide Database consists of the Statements of Vote (SOV) and the Statements of Registration (SOR) from California's 58 counties for each statewide election since 1992, merged to data from the decennial census.

How can I get data?
While we collect information from the SOV, we only receive funding to process statewide races. This means that we do not have results of local races like city council and so forth.

Do I need a special program to read the data?
The Census, SOR, and SOV data are available for download from the Statewide Database website in the "Data" link. Data are available on various levels like census block, tract, and precinct. All downloadable files are in *.dbf format, which can be read by most spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Data is also available in *.txt format, which can be read by most word-processing programs such as MS Word, MS Works, and WordPerfect.

Where do you get your data?
Census data are collected by the Bureau of the Census under the Department of Commerce. Registration and Voting data are collected by the Registrar of Voters or County Clerks in each of the 58 California Counties.

How much do you charge?
The Statewide Database is a free public resource. Our data and services are available to anyone who wishes to use them. All items ready for download on the website are free. Specific requests for data on CD-ROM's are available at cost. The charge for plotting a basic map is currently $50.00 plus shipping and handling (approx. $7.00).

Do you draw district lines?
While we are the State of California's "Redistricting Database" we do NOT draw lines. Our purpose is to provide data readily to ALL who wish to use them. While some of our users may intend to use our data to draw their own plans, we do NOT provide instruction on drawing lines, nor will we draw them for anyone.

Where is the Statewide Database?
The Statewide Database's offices are located in Moses Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus.

Can I visit the Statewide Database?
Sure! You can make an appointment and visit. Contact Information

Why can't I open the MapInfo files I just downloaded?
The files on our server are so-called "Mapinfo Interchange" files. They are a special kind of format designed for easy interchange between software types, but whose "native" format is a Mapinfo map. For Mapinfo 4.12, select table/import, and choose the files that you have download from the website and unzipped. This will create a map from the MIF file.

What are FIPS codes?
Below is a table of County numbers, County names in alphabetical order and FIPS codes. FIPS codes are calculated by taking the county number, multiplied by 2 and subtract 1.

County 1 Alameda FIPS 001 County 30 Orange FIPS 059
County 2 Alpine FIPS 003 County 31 Placer FIPS 061
County 3 Amador FIPS 005 County 32 Plumas FIPS 063
County 4 Butte FIPS 007 County 33 Riverside FIPS 065
County 5 Calaveras FIPS 009 County 34 Sacramento FIPS 067
County 6 Colusa FIPS 011 County 35 San Benito FIPS 069
County 7 Contra Costa FIPS 013 County 36 San Bernardino FIPS 071
County 8 Del Norte FIPS 015 County 37 San Diego FIPS 073
County 9 El Dorado FIPS 017 County 38 San Francisco FIPS 075
County 10 Fresno FIPS 019 County 39 San Joaquin FIPS 077
County 11 Glenn FIPS 021 County 40 San Luis Obispo FIPS 079
County 12 Humboldt FIPS 023 County 41 San Mateo FIPS 081
County 13 Imperial FIPS 025 County 42 Santa Barbara FIPS 083
County 14 Inyo FIPS 027 County 43 Santa Clara FIPS 085
County 15 Kern FIPS 029 County 44 Santa Cruz FIPS 087
County 16 Kings FIPS 031 County 45 Shasta FIPS 089
County 17 Lake FIPS 033 County 46 Sierra FIPS 091
County 18 Lassen FIPS 035 County 47 Siskiyou FIPS 093
County 19 Los Angeles FIPS 037 County 48 Solano FIPS 095
County 20 Madera FIPS 039 County 49 Sonoma FIPS 097
County 21 Marin FIPS 041 County 50 Stanislaus FIPS 099
County 22 Mariposa FIPS 043 County 51 Sutter FIPS 101
County 23 Mendecino FIPS 045 County 52 Tehama FIPS 103
County 24 Merced FIPS 047 County 53 Trinity FIPS 105
County 25 Modoc FIPS 049 County 54 Tulare FIPS 107
County 26 Mono FIPS 051 County 55 Tuolumne FIPS 109
County 27 Monterey FIPS 053 County 56 Ventura FIPS 111
County 28 Napa FIPS 055 County 57 Yolo FIPS 113
County 29 Nevada FIPS 057 County 58 Yuba FIPS 115

Where was the new 2001 California congressional seat created?
The new congressional seat is the 46th district. Located in Orange county, it encompasses the cities of Anaheim (west and north-south Anaheim Stadium-Disneyland corridor), Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Santa Ana, Stanton, Tustin, and Westminster (north of San Diego Freeway). Dana Rohrabacher (R) currently represents the 46th district.