World-wide city database and other (free) geospatial data

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency is one of my favorite data sources – it’s also one of my favorite names for any government agency. The agency provides a database of world-wide features which I use as a data source for Geojoey.com’s landmark search feature (top right of the screen).

These guys are selling the equivalent data for over $300.

For an up to date ZIP code database, you should contact USPS.gov and order it from them – which may take a while – government companies grumble grumble. Or just buy it from one of the many online sellers for about $50. Census.gov doesn’t do ZIP codes anymore, but if you don’t care about it being current, there’s an old ZIP code database available for download.

Census.gov’s TIGER database is definitely THE source for US geospatial data. My favorite page is the cartographic boundary files they’ve extracted from the database. It has things like ZCTA’s (ZIP borders), County boundaries, etc. If you’re handy with a graphics app, you can do all kinds of fun stuff with this data.

This was written by mark. Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007, at 9:27 pm. Filed under Code, Technology. Bookmark the permalink. Follow comments here with the RSS feed. Please read the disclaimer in the site footer. Post a comment or leave a trackback.

7 Comments

tillman wrote:

Checking all.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 1:16 am | Permalink
valter wrote:

How can I convert the “database of world-wide features” to mysql?

The datas are separated by spaces.
I knows, hot to convert datas separeted by other character like #, commas, etc.

Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 8:09 am | Permalink
Tim wrote:

The database is also available at http://www.geodatasource.com

Friday, November 14, 2008 at 11:30 pm | Permalink
mark wrote:

I usually don’t approve spam on my blog, but “Tim” you’re a funny guy. GeoDataSource is selling the free data I’ve linked to above for over $1000 for a 1 year subscription.

What a scam!

Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 12:23 am | Permalink
Ross Siegel wrote:

Hey guys,

I’m looking for a simple CCSV or Excel document with EVERY city/state/country on the planet. Anyone know where I can get a free one? This is for school and I’d rather not pay.

Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 2:43 pm | Permalink
jamil wrote:

hi, i wonder if you found your db of worlwide cities Ross as i’m looking for the same thing. let us know.
Thanks

Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 10:46 am | Permalink
Walter wrote:

Not sure, but check out this website http://www.worldcitiesdatabase.com for the mysql city database

Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 10:23 pm | Permalink

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