National Atlas of the United States

National Atlas thumbnail image

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Atlas of the United States of America(This link is broken. We're working on fixing it) includes four distinct product components: hard copy maps, GIS data sets, geostatistical data sets, and web-based mapping capability. Each of these National Atlas components are free and available to the public. The GIS data is Public Domain, and can be freely downloaded and shared.

NC State University Archived Data

NC State University Libraries has archives of National Atlas data, accessible on the Geodata Server in the /natatlas(This link is broken. We're working on fixing it) folder. All National Atlas data layers were downloaded in December 2008, December 2004, and at various times prior to and including 2002. Archived file names generally match the existing file names for data layers - more info.

Available Data Layers

Downloading Data

The National Atlas data are downloadable from the Map Layers(This link is broken. We're working on fixing it) tab by choosing the "View Map Layer Description" link for a particular layer, and then choose the "Raw Data Download" lin. Alternatively, the direct link to the download page is https://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html(This link is broken. We're working on fixing it).

Data download files are in tar.gz and SDTS formats. NC State University Libraries recommends to download the tar.gz file, and decompress it with a decompression software app, such as 7-zip, WinRAR, WinZip, etc. You'll need to decompress the file twice: the first time to remove the gz compression, and the second time to "un-tar" the "tarball" which will reveal the data shapefile component files. Additional Help is provided on the National Atlas website.

What's There?

All National Atlas data category records in GIS Lookup

Agriculture Data

Agriculture Census, 2002

Biology Data

  • Amphibian Distributions
  • Bat Ranges
  • Breeding Bird Survey Route Locations
  • Butterfly Occurrence
  • Ecoregions - Bailey
  • Ecoregions - Omernik
  • Forest Cover Types
  • Forest Fragmentation - Causes 1 Kilometer Resolution
  • Forest Fragmentation - Causes 270 Meter Resolution
  • Forest Fragmentation - Causes 540 Meter Resolution
  • Forest Fragmentation - Classification
  • Invasive Species - Africanized Honey Bees
  • Invasive Species - Chinese Privet, Ligustrum sinense
  • Invasive Species - Common Gorse, Ulex europaeus
  • Invasive Species - Leafy Spurge, Euphorbia esula
  • Invasive Species - Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria
  • Invasive Species - Tallowtree, Triadica sebifera
  • Invasive Species - Zebra Mussel Distribution
  • Land Cover 1 Kilometer Resolution
  • Land Cover 200 Meter Resolution
  • Land Cover Diversity
  • Moth Occurrence
  • National Fire Plan - Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program 2004
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1990
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1991
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1992
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1993
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1994
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1995
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1996
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1997
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1998
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 1999
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 2000
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 2001
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 2002
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 2003
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 2004
  • Vegetation Growth - Average: 2005
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1990
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1991
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1992
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1993
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1994
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1995
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1996
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1997
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1998
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 1999
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 2000
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 2001
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 2002
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 2003
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 2004
  • Vegetation Growth - Peak: 2005
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2000 - Mosquito Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2000 - Sentinel Flock Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2000 - Veterinary Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2000 - Wild Bird Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2001 - Mosquito Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2001 - Sentinel Flock Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2001 - Veterinary Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2001 - Wild Bird Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2002-2004
  • Wildlife Mortality: Avian Botulism
  • Wildlife Mortality: Avian Cholera
  • Wildlife Mortality: Avian Lead Poisoning
  • Wildlife Mortality: Frequency Data
  • Wildlife Mortality: Organophosphate / Carbamate Poisoning

Boundaries Data

  • Congressional Districts of the United States - 106th Congress
  • Congressional Districts of the United States - 107th Congress
  • Congressional Districts of the United States - 108th Congress
  • Congressional Districts of the United States - 109th Congress
  • Congressional Districts of the United States - 110th Congress
  • County Boundaries, 1980
  • County Boundaries, 1990
  • County Boundaries, 2000
  • County Boundaries, 2001
  • Federal Lands
  • Indian Lands
  • North American Atlas - Political Boundaries
  • Official Protraction Diagrams and Leasing Map Boundaries
  • Public Land Survey System
  • State Boundaries
  • Time Zones
  • Wilderness Preservation System Areas

Climate Data

  • Average Annual Precipitation, 1961-1990
  • Seasonal Sea Surface Temperature Averages, 1985-2001
  • Spatial Hazard Events and Losses for the United States, 1995-2000
  • Tornadoes 1950-2004
  • Tropical Cyclones - Atlantic Tropical Cyclones
  • Tropical Cyclones - Major Landfalling Atlantic Hurricanes
  • Tropical Cyclones - Pacific Tropical Cyclones

Environment Data

  • EPA Envirofacts Data - Air Releases
  • EPA Envirofacts Data - Hazardous Waste Handlers
  • EPA Envirofacts Data - Superfund National Priorities List Sites
  • EPA Envirofacts Data - Toxics Release Inventory
  • EPA Envirofacts Data - Water Discharge Permits

Geology Data

  • Coal Fields
  • Continental Divide
  • Earthquakes, 1568-2004
  • Geologic Map - Conterminous United States
  • Geologic Map - Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Karst, Engineering Aspects
  • Landslide Incidence and Susceptibility
  • Landslides - Costly Events
  • Landslides - Costly Regional Events
  • Magnetic Field - Declination Component
  • Magnetic Field - Declination Secular Variation Component
  • Magnetic Field - Horizontal Intensity
  • Magnetic Field - Horizontal Intensity Secular Variation
  • Magnetic Field - Inclination Component
  • Magnetic Field - Inclination Component Secular Variation
  • Magnetic Field - Total Field Intensity
  • Magnetic Field - Total Field Intensity Secular Variation
  • Magnetic Field - Vertical Intensity
  • Magnetic Field - Vertical Intensity Secular Variation
  • Mineral Operations - Agricultural
  • Mineral Operations - Construction
  • Mineral Operations - Ferrous Metal Mines
  • Mineral Operations - Ferrous Metal Processing Plants
  • Mineral Operations - Miscellaneous Industrial
  • Mineral Operations - Nonferrous Metal Mines
  • Mineral Operations - Nonferrous Metal Processing Plants
  • Mineral Operations - Refractory, Abrasive and Other Industrial Minerals
  • Mineral Operations - Sand and Gravel
  • Mineral Operations - Stone, Crushed
  • North American Atlas - Bathymetry
  • Ocean Depth - Bathymetry
  • Quaternary Faults
  • Satellite View - Alaska
  • Satellite View - Conterminous United States
  • Satellite View - Hawaii
  • Satellite View with Shaded Relief - Alaska
  • Satellite View with Shaded Relief - Conterminous United States
  • Satellite View with Shaded Relief - Hawaii
  • Seismic Hazard
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - 1 Kilometer Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Conterminous United States 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Conterminous United States 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Alaska 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Alaska 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Hawaii 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Hawaii 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Color - Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - North America 1 Kilometer Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Conterminous United States 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Conterminous United States 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Alaska 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Alaska 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Hawaii 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Hawaii 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands 200 Meter Resolution
  • Shaded Relief Land - Gray - Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands 200 Meter Resolution Albers Projection
  • Shaded Relief Land and Ocean
  • Shaded Relief Ocean
  • Surficial Deposits and Materials
  • Volcanoes

History Data

  • Presidential General Election, State Results, 2000
  • Presidential General Election, County Results, 2000
  • Territorial Acquisitions

Map Reference Data

  • Cities and Towns
  • Index to Digital Aerial Photographs
  • Index to Topographic Maps - 1:24,000 and Other Large Scales
  • Index to Topographic Maps - 1:100,000 Scale
  • Index to Topographic Maps - 1:250,000 Scale
  • Latitude/Longitude
  • North American Atlas - Populated Places
  • Urban Areas

People Data

  • Census, 1980
  • Census, 1990
  • Census, 2000
  • Crimes, 1994-2000
  • Crimes, 2001-2002
  • Energy Consumption - Total Estimated Energy per Capita, 1960-2001
  • Food Stamp Recipients
  • Income and Employment, 1979-1981
  • Income and Employment, 1982
  • Income and Employment, 1983-1987
  • Income and Employment, 1988
  • Income and Employment, 1989-1990
  • Income and Employment, 1991-1992
  • Income and Employment, 1993-2001
  • Income and Employment, 2002-2003
  • Labor Statistics - Annual Averages for 2000 and 2001
  • Labor Statistics - Annual Averages for 2002 to 2004
  • Mortality, Cancer, 1970-1994
  • Mortality, Various Causes, 1988-1992
  • Nighttime Lights
  • Poverty and Median Income 1998-2000
  • Poverty and Median Income 2001-2002
  • Reproductive Health: Fetal and Infant Mortality, 1995-1999
  • Reproductive Health: Infant Health - Preterm Delivery, 1995-1999
  • Reproductive Health: Live Births (Fertility), 1995-1999
  • Reproductive Health: Maternal Risks - Multiple Gestation, 1995-1999
  • Reproductive Health: Maternal Risks - Smoking, 1995-1999
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance 2000 - Human Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance 2001 - Human Cases
  • West Nile Virus Surveillance, 2002-2004

Transportation Data

  • Airports
  • Amtrak Stations
  • North American Atlas - Railroads
  • North American Atlas - Roads
  • Parkways and Scenic Rivers
  • Railroads
  • Roads

Water Data

  • Aquifers
  • Aquifers of Alluvial and Glacial Origin
  • Arsenic in Ground Water
  • Dams
  • Ground Water Climate Response Network
  • Hydrologic Units (Watersheds)
  • NAWQA Surface Water Sampling Sites
  • North American Atlas - Glaciers
  • North American Atlas - Hydrography
  • North American Atlas - Sea Ice
  • Realtime Streamflow Stations
  • Streams and Waterbodies
  • Water Use 1985
  • Water Use 1990
  • Water Use 1995
  • Water Use 2000