GIS Data Standards

Clay County Coordinates

All data is in Clay County coordinates are in feet.

Data Schemas

Data schemas used in our primary feature data sets are available below:

• Address Point Schema (PDF): Address Points
• Emergency Service Zone (PDF): Emergency Service Zones
• Highway Shields (PDF): Highway Shields
• Precinct Schema (PDF): Precincts
• PSAP Schema (PDF): PSAP
• Region Schema (PDF): Regions
• Road Centerline Schema (PDF): Road Centerlines
• Parcels (PDF): Field descriptions of tax parcel data
• Tax Parcel Data (PDF): Field descriptions of tax system data

Minnesota Geospatial Standards are followed when possible for data schemas.

Layering Scheme

Clay County uses the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) layering scheme for all AutoCAD® files.

• MetroCOG's layering scheme (PDF)
• AutoCAD® drawing file that contains all the appropriate layers

File Naming

Files are named with a description of the project and an 8 digit date within the file name. (Example: Courthouse 3rd Addition 20230715.dwg - submitted on 15 July 2023)

File Format

Files are in either AutoDesk's AutoCAD® format, ESRI shape file format, or in an ESRI file geodatabase.

GEOgraphic Data Exchange Consortium (GEODEC)

Metropolitan Data Specifications

Clay County is a member of the GEODEC. View the GEODEC Metropolitan Data Specifications Handbook (PDF).

The GEODEC has put together specifications for data creation. These specifications cover 3 subjects:

• Abbreviations (PDF)
• AutoCAD® Layering Scheme (PDF)
• Quarter Section Numbering (PDF)

Resolution Regarding Free and Open GIS Data

Free and Open GIS Data Resolution (PDF)

Street Addressing Standards

Clay County has adopted standards for use with addresses. View the Clay County addressing standards webpage for details.