Editorial and Corrections Policy

Our standards for source selection, geographic accuracy, updates, corrections, advertising independence, and transparent limitations.

Source standards

We prefer primary public sources for boundaries and geographic identifiers, especially the U.S. Census Bureau. Each data-driven page states the source and vintage needed to interpret it.

Accuracy and scope

We distinguish general reference maps from legal, parcel, postal, and operational maps. We do not claim first-hand field verification or surveying. When a term such as county-equivalent has a specific statistical meaning, we explain it rather than treating every local government as identical.

Updates

Boundary data is reviewed when the Census Bureau publishes a new cartographic vintage. Guides are reviewed when underlying geography, official terminology, or cited sources change materially.

Corrections

Reports should include the page URL, the item believed to be wrong, and a primary source when available. We verify material corrections against the source data, update the page, and adjust the visible updated date where the change affects interpretation.

Advertising independence

Display advertising may support the site. Advertisers do not approve, review, or influence maps and editorial content. We do not disguise ads as map controls, download buttons, or editorial recommendations.

Generated and assisted work

Code may help transform public datasets and check page consistency. Published geographic claims remain tied to inspectable sources; automation is not treated as a source.