Thank you @curran
This is the starting point I was looking for! Im getting started in front end and data analytics so this is amazing!

Now to find data that shows town boundaries to continue on!

Excellent! Yeah I'm not sure where to find "town boundaries" specifically, but there's the notion of "Census tract" that is kind of similar but perhaps too fine grained.

In any case, this is probably the best data source for boundaries in the US:

https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php

If you download a shapefile from there you can use https://mapshaper.org/ to get it into a simplified TOPOJSON format and use it with D3. Good luck!

Nice answer from ChatGPT with search enabled:

If you're seeking U.S. town boundaries data, several authoritative sources provide downloadable shapefiles and GIS-compatible datasets. Here's a guide to help you access the data you need:

🗺️ National-Level Town and City Boundaries

1. U.S. Census Bureau – TIGER/Line Shapefiles

The Census Bureau's TIGER/Line Shapefiles include detailed geographic data for incorporated places (cities, towns, villages) and census-designated places (CDPs). These files are updated annually and are available for each state. You can access them here:
👉 [TIGER/Line Shapefiles](https://www.[census.gov](https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/tiger-line-file.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/tiger-line-file.html)([census.gov][1])

2. Cartographic Boundary Files (CBF)

For simplified boundary representations suitable for small-scale mapping, the Census Bureau offers Cartographic Boundary Files. These are ideal for thematic maps and general reference. Explore them here:
👉 [Cartographic Boundary Files - Shapefile](https://www.[census.gov](https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/carto-boundary-file.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/carto-boundary-file.html)([census.gov][2], [catalog.data.gov]3)

🗺️ State-Level Data – New York Example

Since you're in New York, the New York State GIS Clearinghouse provides detailed civil boundary datasets, including cities, towns, and villages. These datasets are available in shapefile and geodatabase formats:
👉 [NYS GIS Clearinghouse – Civil Boundaries](https://gis.ny.gov/civil-boundaries)(gis.ny.gov)

🗺️ Additional Resources

• Data.gov: A comprehensive catalog of U.S. government datasets, including city boundaries. For example, the 2020 consolidated city boundaries can be found here:
  👉 [2020 Cartographic Boundary File – Consolidated City](https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/2020-cartographic-boundary-file-shp-current-consolidated-city-for-united-states-1-500000)(catalog.data.gov)

• CDC’s 500 Cities Project: Provides city boundary data for public health analysis:
  👉 [500 Cities: City Boundaries](https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/500-cities-city-boundaries)([[arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.02198?utm_source=chatgpt.com)][6])

📌 Tips for Accessing and Using the Data

• Format: Most datasets are available in Shapefile (.shp) format, compatible with GIS software like QGIS or ArcGIS.([en.wikipedia.org]7)

• State-Based Files: For TIGER/Line Shapefiles, data is often organized by state. Ensure you download the correct state's data for your area of interest.([census.gov]1)

• Projection and Coordinate Systems: Be mindful of the coordinate reference system (CRS) used in the datasets to ensure compatibility with your GIS projects.

If you need assistance with a specific state or have questions about integrating these datasets into your GIS projects, feel free to ask!