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Geocoding standards

Use this page to create an address database. Below is described what we need to map your addresses, how you should enter it in a spreadsheet, what abbreviations you should use, and a list of all streets in New Orleans for spell-checking.

Elements of a street address

In order for us to geocode your address data, we need the data to be organized a certain way. The elements that make up an address and what they should look like are described below.

1. Address line 1 components
   • Street number (3186 Pilot Knob Rd)
     The street number is typically an integer value, but it may also include alpha characters, (e.g., 142A or 216 1/2).
   • Prefix direction (156 E 18th St)
     Use standard abbreviations for the prefix direction: N, S, E, W, NE, SE, NW, SW
   • Street name (3334 Cedar Ave)
     Care should be taken to insure that street names are not abbreviated or misspelled. In some cases streets may be known by more than one name. In these cases an alias or cross-reference may be needed. Streets with numeric names should be entered as 1st St rather than First St. Please consult spreadsheet of street names for New Orleans for help.
     New Orleans street names
   • Street type (3334 Cedar Ave)
     Street types need to be entered using USPS abbreviations—these are listed below.
   • Suffix direction (1200 34th St W)
     Use standard abbreviations for the suffix direction: N, S, E, W, NE, SE, NW, SW
2. Address line 2 components
   • Unit Designator (14955 Galaxie Ave Ste 300)
     Unit designators need to be entered using USPS abbreviations—these are listed below.
   • Unit Number (14955 Galaxie Ave Ste 300)
     The unit number may be a number, letter or mixture (2, A, 2A)
3. City (New Orleans LA 70115)
   Please spell the entire city name.
4. State (New Orleans LA 70115)
   Use 2 letter USPS State Abbreviations.
5. 5 digit Zip Code (New Orleans LA 70115)
   First five digits of Zip Code

How to enter addresses in a spreadsheet

When you are entering address data in Excel or a similar program, please give one column to each of the 5 sections described above. The first and second sections, which have more than one component, should have all their components in the same column.

For any abbreviations (i.e. Ave or N), please do not use any periods.

Please use capital letters in accordance with proper grammar. For instance, capitalize the first letter of street names and cities (Cedar, New Orleans) or parts that should be capitalized, such as McCarthy. Capitalize all directions (N, S, etc.) and state abbreviations (LA).

For example:

Address line 1	Address line 2	City	State	Zipcode
3334 W Cedar Ave N	Apt 2	New Orleans	LA	70115

A note about Address line1
The trickiest part of address data is Address line 1. Unfortunately, street names are often difficult to spell, and people do not always use the correct street type (using Cedar St, when it's Cedar Ave).

It's even more complicated when the same street name uses different street types along it's route. For instance, in New Orleans there is an

• English Turn Dr
• English Turn Ct
• English Turn Ln, and
• English Turn Pky.

Another common difficulty is a change in the prefix or suffix direction. For instance, there is both a N Carrollton and a S Carrollton.

When you're entering in your address data, you will not be able to catch every one of these errors. But you should keep them in mind as you collect the address data.

If you have a question about a specific street, we've enclosed a spreadsheet that lists all the streets in New Orleans, along with any variations of prefix direction, street type, and suffix direction. New Orleans street names

Abbreviations for common street types and unit designators

Below are listed some of the U.S. Postal Service's standard abbreviations for common street types and unit designators. Please use these when entering your addresses. Please do not use periods at the end of abbreviations.

If the abbreviation that you need is not listed, please visit the full list of USPS abbreviations for states, street suffixes, and secondary units
zip4.usps.com/ncsc/lookups/usps_abbreviations.html

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