Snyder County: Geographic Information Systems

New! Snyder County's GIS and Parcel data is available through our On-Line Map.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a software tool for mapping and analyzing just about any object or location on earth, from buildings to soils and from cell towers to water lines.

GIS is a combination of computer hardware, software, data and personnel to combine and analyze layers of information tied to a geographic location.

A GIS combines layers of information about a location to help better understand that location.

Its analysis can be used in a wide range of public and private enterprises, help in planning, cost reduction and better-informed decision making.

Snyder County's GIS Department was established in 2002 with a first focus on the county's readdressing project. This project, for the establishment of effective Enhanced 911 will save valuable time for responding emergency services to the population throughout the county. The readdressing was administered in four phases with the final addresses mailed early March 2006.

Homes and businesses already having street addresses were allowed to keep their previously assigned addresses if the addresses were assigned in a way that the numbers worked with the new addressing. All rural addresses have been assigned new street addresses. Most new addresses were assigned according to a national addressing standard (NENA) using 1000 theoredical addresses per mile. From the starting point, odd numbers are to the left and even numbers are to the right. East-west roads are numbered from the east and north-south roads are numbered from a Route 522 dividing line. Those roads north of Route 522 have the low numbers at the south end and those roads south of Route 522 have the low numbers at the north end. Main exceptions to these rules are Park Road, Routes 11, 15, 104 and 235.

Customers building new houses and businesses requiring new addresses are required to contact the GIS Department for an address. Other customers not receiving physical addresses may also call the GIS Department for their address. All homes and businesses, including those receiving mail at a post office box, should have and post their physical address.

Most municipalities require 4" numbers to be posted on the house or business or as a sign to identify the address. Signs with white reflective numbers and green background on aluminium may be ordered at a resonable cost from several area fire companies. Signs of various types are also available from area fire departments, hardware stores and from sign makers. Residents and home owners should check with their township or borough for specifics on types and placement of numbers and signs.

Snyder County's GIS Department produces maps of county information with additional layers of information to be made available in the future. Snyder County GIS maps are not presently available on the internet; however, some of the most requested layers of informaton are available online at PASDA. Among the many layers of information available at PASDA are the 2005 Color Othophotography (aerial photos) and the 2004 Soils Survey of Snyer County.

Prices for digital information viewable on ESRI ArcView 9 or similar product, vary by use. Generally, the prices are:

Approximately 30 layers of county information, including assessment shapefile $ 150.00

A signed interim agreement, available from the GIS office, is required for purchase of digital information.

The Snyder County GIS Department is located off Route 522, approximatley 2 miles west of Selinsgrove at 44 Universal Road, Selinsgrove, Pa. 17870.