I know that. I’m not taking actual data. But having two maps to look at is good for spotting differences. The actual data though is coming from GIS sites. For Fairview it’s here: https://webmap.hayward-ca.gov/

For Canonsburg it’s the Washington County, PA Parcel & GIS Viewer.

Thanks. It’s fun to work on while watching TV.

I know. I’m following them.

I have one window open for the county’s GIS for property boundaries. I have another open to Google Maps. I also have my own knowledge from living here for 20 years. If I don’t know for sure I can pretty easily get to most of the properties.

I am mapping houses, other buildings if the county has included them in their recent assessment or I know what they are. I am including swimming pools, fire hydrants, fences and property boundaries. We live in an area that goes from urban/suburban to rural in surprising ways, so it’s important to have those property lines on the map.

I am also having to remove an old bus line that was discontinued (grrr!) in 2020.

The thing that surprises me most is how many old farm houses there are, buildings and properties that haven’t changed much in 100+ years. I knew of a few but now I’ve mapped around fifty or so. I pass by the entrances to these tiny country tracks that are between otherwise suburban looking homes that I’ve never noticed before.

Also… so many chicken coops. Chickens are allowed here (being country run/ not in a city) but again I didn’t appreciate how many there were.

I’m doing a similar mapping project farther north in Fairview, California —— which until this year was known as Unincorporated Hayward. I am having to do everything as most buildings aren’t even mapped.

I only tag driveways as private if there is a gate, a posted sign, or it’s a very long driveway that serves as a private road.

I happen to live in an area where the “city” name has changed. I live in an unincorporated area of Alameda County that shares services with the city of Hayward. Earlier this year the post office renamed our area to match what it is locally called. There’s an example of needing to change a city name.