County Freedom Index

Maintenance runbook

Data Refresh Runbook

The operating checklist for keeping County Freedom Index current after launch. Use this as the repeatable rhythm for live-state land market updates, source reviews, annual data refreshes, and launch-readiness checks.

Runbook tracks5
Live statesCO + WY
Quarterly cycleRules
Annual cycleSources
Latest changelogJun 5, 2026
Latest data changelogNew Mexico Ranking Metadata And Due-Diligence Prompts Improved

Made New Mexico ranking pages more specific for search and more actionable for rural land research.

Refresh workflow

Maintenance Tracks

MonthlyDataset refresh

Land Market Refresh

Before a major content push, ranking update, or buyer-focused launch cycle.

Actions

  • Refresh county-level LandSearch snapshots for active listings and average price per acre.
  • Update the land market snapshot file in data/raw.
  • Regenerate the county dataset and export the review CSVs.
  • Spot-check the cheapest land ranking and top county profiles for obvious price shifts.

Checks

  • Land market coverage remains complete across live states.
  • Cheapest land rankings still look plausible.
  • County profile land sections use the refreshed snapshot date.
QuarterlyEditorial review

County Rule Research Review

Any time county pages are being promoted, or before publishing new alternative housing guides.

Actions

  • Recheck planning, zoning, building, RV/camping, water, and septic links for top-ranking counties.
  • Update red flags, housing notes, best-fit tags, pros, and cons where county guidance changed.
  • Keep the parcel-level verification language visible on county, ranking, and comparison pages.

Checks

  • Research status still shows Colorado and Wyoming verified, with New Mexico sourced until deeper editorial review upgrades the state.
  • Top county citation links open and match the profile notes in each live state.
  • No page implies legal approval for a specific parcel.
AnnualCensus update

Population And Broadband Update

After new Census county estimates or ACS broadband tables are available.

Actions

  • Refresh county population, density, and broadband source snapshots.
  • Regenerate the county dataset and review changed ranking inputs.
  • Check rural counties where broadband changes may shift the Freedom Score.

Checks

  • Demographic coverage remains complete across live states.
  • Broadband source coverage remains complete across live states.
  • Freedom Score changes are expected and explainable.
Annual or source-changeData pipeline

Climate, Snowfall, Solar, And Public Land Refresh

After source datasets update, methods change, or county-boundary logic changes.

Actions

  • Refresh climate, snowfall, solar, and public land source snapshots.
  • Regenerate derived recreation access and solar potential scores.
  • Spot-check mountain, plains, and San Luis Valley counties for outliers.

Checks

  • Climate, snowfall, solar, and public land coverage remain complete across live states.
  • Region pages still summarize county groups accurately.
  • Public land and solar ranking pages still reflect the refreshed values.
Next data upgradeResearch backlog

Utility Accessibility Upgrade

When sourced utility, road, service-territory, or parcel-access data becomes available.

Actions

  • Replace the draft editorial utility score with sourced infrastructure inputs.
  • Document the new source method in methodology and data status.
  • Recalculate affected scores and review county pages where accessibility changes meaningfully.

Checks

  • Utility accessibility is no longer marked as a draft layer.
  • Methodology explains the new source and limitations.
  • County pages avoid parcel-level utility promises.

Every refresh

Final Review Checklist

Regenerate the affected state dataset after raw data changes.

Export review CSVs before editorial review.

Run dataset validation, route audit, typecheck, and production build.

Review /data-status, /research-status, /land-market-status, and /launch-readiness after each refresh.

Confirm state-specific pages still reflect the right status for every live state.

Keep source notes and parcel-level disclaimers visible anywhere rankings or county recommendations appear.