An internal point is a set of geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) that is located within a specified geographic entity. A single point is identified for each entity; for many entities, this point represents the approximate geographic center of that entity. If the shape of the entity causes this point to be located outside the boundary of the entity or in a water body, it is relocated to land area within the entity. In computer-readable products, internal points are shown to six decimal places; the decimal point is implied.
The first character of the latitude or longitude is a plus (+) or a minus () sign. A plus sign in the latitude identifies the point as being in the Northern Hemisphere, while a minus sign identifies a location in the Southern Hemisphere. For longitude, a plus sign identifies the point as being in the Eastern Hemisphere, while a minus sign identifies a location in the Western Hemisphere.
The term Internal Point is Census terminology. EASI uses the term Centroid for the same entity.