How to query for addresses
To query for an address at least one of the three fields, Street, Town or Zip must
have a field selected. Address range is an optional field, however if a range is
used as part of the query then both a beginning and ending value must be entered.
To help in the speed of the query it is best not to query on just a town or zip.
If using only a town or zip in the query it is best to use a somewhat narrow address
range, such as 100 to 300 Valley Falls. However the use of just a street will return
values fairly quickly.
General address information
Jefferson County addresses conform to both the State of Kansas, NENA (National Emergency
Number Association) and URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association)
recommended guidelines. The formal document can be found at the
Kansas Geospatial Community Commons and download the pdf file, Kansas GIS
Addressing Standard.
An address consists of the following individual parts, which may include some or
all of the following:
Address Number*
Directional Prefix
Street Name*
Street Type*
Directional suffix
Unit Type:
Unit Number
City Name*
State*
5 digit Zip*
+4 Digit Zip
*Required Field
Some of the fields are self-explanatory. Listed below are a few of the fields with
brief descriptions.
Address Numbers
Where possible, address numbers shall consist entirely of numbers. Where that is
not possible, an alpha-character added to the address as a subnumber is preferable
to a fraction. Characters other than letters and whole numbers shall be avoided
in all parts of the address number. Hyphens shall also be avoided in the address
number.
Example: 2456 A is preferable to 2456 1/2
Directional Prefixes & Suffixes
Standard directional prefix and suffix shall always be abbreviated and capitalized,
and shall not include periods. Standard directional prefix and suffix abbreviations
include the following:
Example Abbreviation
North N
South S
East E
West W
Northwest NW
Northeast NE
Southwest SW
Southeast SE
Street Name
Numeric street names shall be written using numbers rather than spelled out. For
example, "1ST" is to be used rather than "FIRST". In addition, numeric street names
shall include the "TH", "RD", "ST" or "ND" characters as part of the street name.
For example, 12TH shall be used rather than 12.
Street names will be thirty (30) characters or less. Cities, counties, and designated
address assignment reviewers should be aware that this length, when coupled with
prefix and type, may cause safety problems due to smaller letters on a sign, or
an increase in costs when producing larger street signs. Names should be easy to
read and pronounce so that the public, and children in particular, can handle the
name in an emergency situation.
Alpha street names shall be capitalized. Elements of an alpha street name should
not be abbreviated unless it is common practice to do so. For example, DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. is acceptable and preferable to DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR.
Note: The latter example well exceeds the standard length of the street name field.
Highway abbreviations shall be input as shown below, using no spaces:
Example Abbreviation
Interstate Highway 135 I-135
US Highway 50 US-50
State Highway 96 K-96
Street Type
Standard street type shall always be abbreviated and capitalized, and shall not
include periods. Acceptable street type abbreviations can be found in Appendix C
of the Postal Addressing Standards, Pub. 28, August, 1995.
Every street shall be assigned one, and only one, street type.
Below are a few of the more common street types:
Example Abbreviation
Alley ALY
Avenue AVE
Boulevard BLVD
Circle CIR
Court CT
Highway HWY
Lane LN
Parkway PKWY
Place PL
Plaza PLZ
Road RD
Street ST
Terrace TER
Unit Type
Standard unit types shall always be abbreviated and capitalized, and shall not include
periods. Acceptable unit type abbreviations can be found in Appendix G of the Postal
Addressing Standards, Pub. 28, August, 1995.
Below are a few of the more common unit types:
Example Abbreviation
Apartment APT
Basement BSMT
Building BLDG
Department DEPT
Floor FL
Lobby LBBY
Office OFC
Suite STE
Unit UNIT