Question 1

How do I join population data to tigris shapes?

Accepted Answer

Use the tidycensus package to fetch demographic data as sf objects, then perform a spatial join with sf::st_join(). tigris only provides boundaries, so integration requires this extra step.

Question 2

tigris vs tidycensus: which one should I use?

Accepted Answer

Use tigris for accessing only geographic boundaries; tidycensus is for Census demographic data, optionally with pre-joined geometries. For full analysis, you often need both packages together.

Question 3

How to change the coordinate system in tigris output?

Accepted Answer

After loading data, use sf::st_transform() to convert to your desired CRS. The crsuggest package can help recommend an appropriate projection for your specific mapping project.

Question 4

Can I get data for years before 1990 with tigris?

Accepted Answer

No, tigris supports data from 1990 onwards only. For earlier years, you must source shapefiles manually from the Census Bureau or other historical archives.

Question 5

Is tigris available for Python or do I need a different package?

Accepted Answer

Python users should use pygris, a separate port of tigris for Python. It offers similar functionality but is maintained as a distinct package for the Python ecosystem.

Question 6

How to download all roads for a state using tigris?

Accepted Answer

Use the roads() function with state and county parameters, e.g., roads('CA', 'Los Angeles') for specifics, or omit county for statewide data. It returns an sf object ready for mapping.

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