GIS Data

An abundant amount of GIS data (in the form of shapefiles and/or .e00 files) is available via the web for free. Below are some useful websites where one can download GIS data. Please note that all links will open in the same external window.

MINNESOTA & THE TWIN CITIES

LMIC: Minnesota Geographic Data Clearinghouse, Data

MetroGIS DataFinder (local Twin Cities data)

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Data Deli

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT)

Minnesota Legislative Geographic Information Services

NATIONAL DATASETS

GIS Data Depot (must create username/password to download)

National Atlas

TIGER/Line Files - 2000

US Census Cartographic Boundary Files (US Census 1990 and 2000)

USGS National Map Viewer

US Census Bureau's Cartographic Boundary Files

INTERNATIONAL DATASETS

GIS Data Depot (must create username/password to download)

USGS Global GIS Databases

Additional sources of data can be found on the GlobalMapper website.

FINDING LATITUDE/LONGITUDE

Find latitude/longitude with Google Maps (find with addesses or on the map itself)

USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) (US locations only)

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) GEOnet Names Server (GNS) (foreign locations)

Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names Online

Macalester College · 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105 USA · 651-696-6000
Comments and questions to kigin@macalester.edu