countyfips.sthlp

{smcl}
{* *! Version 1.0 20221107}
{title:Title}

{p 4 8}{cmd:countyfips} {hline 2} Stata program for merging U.S. county identifiers

{title:Syntax}

{p 8 16 2}
{opt countyfips} [{cmd:,} {it:options}] {opt nogen:erate}

{title:Description}

{pstd}
{cmd:countyfips} is a simple Stata crosswalk program for adding various county-level
identifiers (name, FIPS, Census codes) that may be missing from your dataset.
The purpose of this program is to facilitate merging datasets that do not share
a common identifier.

{pstd}
{cmd:countyfips} is compatible with Stata version 12.1+. It may be compatible
with previous versions, but it has not been tested in those environments.

{title:Options}

One of the following {cmd:arguments} is required.

{phang}
{opt n:ame(string)} Use this option to merge using county name string. (string)
specifies the variable name in the master dataset. {cmd:statefips} or {cmd:statecode} is required
for this option.

{phang}
{opt s:tatefips(string)} Use this option to merge using the two-digit state FIPS code.
(string) specifies the variable name in the master dataset. {cmd:countyfips} is required
for this option.

{phang}
{opt c:ountyfips(string)} Use this option to merge using the three-digit county FIPS code.
(string) specifies the variable name in the master dataset. {cmd:statefips} is required
for this option.

{phang}
{opt f:ips(string)} Use this option to merge using the five-digit county-level FIPS code.
(string) specifies the variable name in the master dataset.

{phang}
{opt s:tatecode(string)} Use this option to merge using the two-digit state-level Census code.
(string) specifies the variable name in the master dataset. {cmd:countycode} is required
for this option.

{phang}
{opt c:ountycode(string)} Use this option to merge using the three-digit county-level Census code.
(string) specifies the variable name in the master dataset. {cmd:statecode} is required
for this option.

Optional

{phang}
{opt nogen:erate} Use this option if you do not want to mark merge results with
the new variable, {cmd:_merge}. This option will also limit your dataset to matched
observations and unmatched master observations.

{title:Examples}

{pstd}{cmd:countyfips} offers three methods of merging using either county names,
five-digit county FIPS codes, or the combination of two-digit state FIPS and three-digit
county FIPS codes.{p_end}

{pstd}Merging with {cmd:name},  where {it:county} is the name of variable containing county name as a string requires either {cmd:statefips} or {cmd:statecode} to be specified{p_end}

{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, name(}{it:county}{cmd:) statefips(}{it:stfips}{cmd:)}{p_end}
{pstd}or{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, name(}{it:county}{cmd:) statecode(}{it:stcode}{cmd:)}{p_end}

{pstd}Merging with {cmd:fips}, where {it:countyfips} is the name of the variable containing the 5-digit FIPS code{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, fips(}{it:countyfips}{cmd:)}{p_end}

{pstd}Merging with {cmd:statefips} and {cmd:countyfips}, where {it:stfips} and {it:cofips} are the names of the variables containing the 2-digit state FIPS and 3-digit county FIPS codes{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, statefips(}{it:stfips}{cmd:) countyfips(}{it:cofips}{cmd:)}{p_end}

{pstd}Merging with {cmd:statecode} and {cmd:countycode}, where {it:stcode} and {it:cocode} are the names of the variables containing the U.S. Census Bureau Census of Governments state and county codes{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, statecode(}{it:stcode}{cmd:) countcode(}{it:cocode}{cmd:)}{p_end}

{pstd}By default, {cmd:countyfips} will generate a new variable, {cmd:_merge}, to indicate
the merged results.  If you do not want to create this variable, specify {cmd:nogenerate}.
This will keep matched observations and unmatched master observations.{p_end}

{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, fips(}{it:county}{cmd:) nogenerate}{p_end}

{title:Data Examples:}

{pstd}Merging with 5-digit FIPS codes{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. webuse texas_ue.dta}{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, fips(fips)}{p_end}

{pstd}Merging with 2-digit state FIPS and 3-digit county FIPS codes{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. webuse homicide1990.dta}{p_end}
{phang2}{cmd:. countyfips, countyfips(cfips) statefips(sfips)}{p_end}

{title:Common Issues}

{pstd}
The first time you run {cmd:countyfips} it creates a data file that lives in your personal ado directory 
(by default, Windows: "c:\ado\"; macOS: "~/Documents/Stata/ado"). In versions of OSX 10.7 and newer, 
this folder may be protected, lacking sufficient read-write permissions for {cmd:countyfips} to 
create the necessary file. If you are receiving an error, please check your permissions. 
See {browse "https://github.com/cbgoodman/countyfips#Common-Issues":here} for more information.

{title:Limitations}

{pstd}
Using {cmd:countyfips} with the {cmd:name} option requires specific
formatting of the {cmd:name} variable. County names must {it:not} include
"county" after the name. County names beginning with "Saint" such as
Saint Louis must be abbreviated to "St" (no period). County names with 
apostrophes are included ("PRINCE GEORGE'S" County, MD) {p_end}

{pstd}
FIPS codes are available for U.S counties, county equivalents, and territories.
Census codes are only available for counties or county equivalents (such as independent cities).{p_end}

{pstd}
FIPS codes for Virginia independent cities as well as merged county and
independent cities (as is the practice for some areas in BEA data) are
included. Using {cmd:countyfips} with the {cmd:name} option will require extremely
particular formatting. Additionally, only the {cmd:statefips} option will work
when merging with {cmd:name}.

{pstd}
{cmd:countyfips} uses the more recent FIPS code for Miami-Dade county
(12086) rather than the FIPS code for Dade county (12025). The Census state
(10) and county (13) codes remain unchanged.

{title:Author}

{pstd}Christopher B. Goodman, School of Public and Global Affairs,
Northern Illinois University {p_end}
{pstd}{browse "mailto:cgoodman@niu.edu":cgoodman@niu.edu}{break} {p_end}

{title:Also see}

{pstd} {help statastates} (if installed)