September, 2025
Abstract
The U.S. Zip Code Boundaries and Centroids product will have some important updates for the February 2025 Release.
Overview of Features and Functionality
ZIP Code Centroids will move away from Geographic Centroids to Zip+4 Weighted Centroids.
In the next version of Zip Code Boundaries and Centroids, we are updating our process to incorporate ZIP+4 weighted centroids. The LAT and LON coordinates used for the ZIP_Centroids layer will no longer be calculated using the geographic center of the corresponding ZIP Code Boundary should that ZIP code have a corresponding boundary. Instead, the process will now use a weighted centroid based on our ZIP +4 Postal Delivery locations. This will help ensure the point location in our centroids file is located in an area of concentrated postal delivery and will help reduce points located in remote areas of larger ZIP codes. This change will result in a more accurate and realistic location associated with that ZIP Code. Steps are taken to ensure the revised centroid location still falls in its respective ZIP code boundary.
Please note for those who wish to continue to access geographic centroids for ZIP Code Polygons, the LAT and LON coordinates in the ZIP_Boundaries layer will continue to contain geographic centroids calculated from the boundary, ideal for boundary labeling and map display.
Availability
The centroid placement updates detailed above will first appear in the 2025.02 (February) release. The change will be present in all available formats and USA and State level files.
Contact Information
If you would like technical assistance, please contact the Precisely Global Support team at Contact Support – Precisely Support
Any questions relating to this announcement can be directed to:
John Tagliaferro
Product Management Director
john.tagliaferro@precisely.com
www.precisely.com
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