Create Polygon Map with Zip code

[violet_zeng_CIAI]

Hi all,

I have a US zip code (USPS) csv/excel file and want to create a polygon map using API for JavaScript or API for Python. I know US Census Bureau has ZCTAs shapefiles available to merge data, but my zip code file is USPS zip code, which has some differences with ZCTAs.

What would be best way to convert my csv/excel file into a shapefile and present as polygons on map?

Thanks in advance

[Sage_Wall]

Hi @violet_zeng_CIAI ,

USPS zip codes are really a collection of delivery routes (lines) and are impossible to represent with polygons, that's why the ZCTA representation was created.  There is a lot more information about how any why the ZCTAs were created on the census webpage.  https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/zctas.html

Another source for the zip code polygons is available on the Living Atlas, you might check and see if it is more accurate in your study area, but any aggregation of the postal service zip code routes into polygons has issues. https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=8d2012a2016e484dafaac0451f9aea24