1. A server that provides geographic data for client computing platforms comprising: a repository for geographic data, wherein the repository contains data that represent geographic features located in a serviced geographic region, wherein the geographic region is divided into a plurality of pre-determined smaller sub-areas, wherein the data contained in the repository are organized into a plurality of uniform-sized parcels of data, wherein each of said uniform-sized parcels includes data that represent the geographic features located in a separate respective one of the plurality of smaller sub-areas; and a data downloading application run on said server that downloads one or more of said whole uniform-sized parcels of data from said repository to said client computing platforms, as needed, for use therein.