Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how CountyMap ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and shares information about you when you use our website located at countymap.us (the "Service"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner.

This policy applies to information we collect when you use our Service, including:

• Data collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies

• Location information used for map functionality

• Analytics data about how you interact with our Service

• Information from third-party services integrated with our platform

Information Collected Automatically:

When you access our Service, we automatically collect certain information about your device and usage patterns:

Device Information:

• Browser type and version

• Operating system and platform

• Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)

• Screen resolution and color depth

• Language preferences

• Time zone settings

Usage Information:

• Pages and features you view or interact with

• Time and date of your visits

• Time spent on each page

• County searches and comparisons performed

• Map interactions and zoom levels

• Referring and exit pages

• Click patterns and navigation paths

Location Information:

• Approximate location based on IP address

• Location data provided by your browser (if permitted)

• Map viewport and areas of interest

This location data is used solely to enhance your map experience and provide relevant county information.

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities. Here's how:

Essential Cookies:

• Session management

• Remembering your preferences

• Ensuring website functionality

Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics):

• Understanding how visitors use our site

• Measuring site performance

• Identifying popular counties and features

• Tracking user journeys and conversions

Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense):

• Delivering relevant advertisements

• Measuring ad performance

• Preventing repeated ad displays

• Personalizing ad content based on interests

Managing Cookies:

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

• Block all cookies

• Block only third-party cookies

• Clear cookies when you close your browser

• Receive notifications when cookies are set

Note: Disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our Service.

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Service Provision and Improvement:

• Displaying relevant county information

• Personalizing your map experience

• Improving site performance and features

• Developing new functionalities

• Fixing bugs and technical issues

Analytics and Research:

• Understanding user behavior and preferences

• Analyzing county search trends

• Measuring feature effectiveness

• Conducting demographic analysis

• Planning future enhancements

Advertising and Monetization:

• Displaying relevant advertisements

• Supporting our free service model

• Measuring advertising effectiveness

Legal and Security:

• Complying with legal obligations

• Protecting against fraud and abuse

• Enforcing our terms of service

• Maintaining system security

We work with third-party services that may collect information about you:

Google Services:

Google Analytics:

• Collects usage data and behavior patterns

• Uses cookies and device identifiers

• May use data for Google's own purposes

• Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Google AdSense:

• Displays targeted advertisements

• Uses cookies for ad personalization

• Collects data across websites

• Ad Settings: https://adssettings.google.com

Mapbox:

• Provides mapping functionality

• Collects map interaction data

• Uses location information for map tiles

• Privacy Policy: https://www.mapbox.com/privacy

Government Data Sources:

We retrieve public data from various government agencies including:

• U.S. Census Bureau

• Bureau of Labor Statistics

• National Weather Service

These agencies may log data requests but do not receive your personal information from us.

Data Sharing Practices:

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share data only in these circumstances:

• With service providers who assist in operating our Service

• When required by law or legal process

• To protect our rights or property

• With your explicit consent

Security Measures:

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmissions

• Regular security audits and updates

• Limited access to data on a need-to-know basis

• Secure hosting infrastructure

However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention:

• Analytics data: Retained for 26 months

• Server logs: Retained for 90 days

• Cookie data: Varies by cookie type (session to 2 years)

We retain data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law.

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your information:

Access and Portability:

• Request information about data we hold about you

• Receive a copy of your data in a structured format

Correction and Deletion:

• Request correction of inaccurate information

• Request deletion of your information

Opt-Out Options:

• Personalized advertising: Use Google Ad Settings

• Google Analytics: Install the opt-out browser extension

• Cookies: Adjust your browser settings

• Marketing communications: Use unsubscribe links

Do Not Track:

Some browsers transmit "Do Not Track" signals. While we don't currently respond to these signals, you can use the opt-out methods above.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA):

California residents have additional rights including:

• Right to know what personal information is collected

• Right to delete personal information

• Right to opt-out of data sales (we do not sell data)

• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

European Privacy Rights (GDPR):

If you're in the European Economic Area, you have rights including:

• Right to access and portability

• Right to rectification and erasure

• Right to restrict processing

• Right to object to processing

• Right to lodge a complaint with authorities

CountyMap is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete that information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete the information.

For users between 13 and 18:

• We recommend parental guidance when using our Service

• Educational use is encouraged with appropriate supervision

• We do not target advertising to users we know are under 18

Our Service is operated in the United States. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that information we collect will be transferred to and processed in the United States.

By using our Service, you consent to this transfer, processing, and storage of your information in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.

We utilize standard contractual clauses and other appropriate safeguards to protect your information during international transfers.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons.

Notification of Changes:

• Material changes will be notified on our homepage

• The "Last Updated" date will be revised

• Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

CountyMap Privacy Team

• Website: countymap.us

• Email: Use the contact form on our website

• Response Time: Within 48 business hours

Data Protection Officer:

For privacy-specific concerns, you may contact our Data Protection Officer through the same channels.

Complaints:

If you're not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.