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in reply to Re^2: Need an intelligent join algorithm for matching coordinates to shapefiles (.shp)
in thread Need an intelligent join algorithm for matching coordinates to shapefiles (.shp)

I think you've got that backwards. They should be rectangular in rural areas, like the underlying townships. I know they're certainly irregular in this urban area.

UPDATE: Doh, sorry, I was thinking of tracts. Blocks are broken by natural boundaries, so you'd have to be in the desert to be square. OTOH, none of the divisions of census data in Boston are rectilinear.

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In Bob We Trust, All Others Bring Data.