A data storage system has data storage devices dispersed over a geographic area such that any two of the data storage devices are separated by a distance measured in miles or kilometers. A processing system coupled to the data storage devices performs several functions that culminate in the generation of a data package for each data bit of a data file that is to be stored. Each such data package includes a value of the data bit, a bit storage location, identification of the data file with which the data bit is associated, and an ordered-position bit number associated with the data bit. The data processing system distributes data packages associated with a data file approximately evenly amongst the data storage devices for storage thereat.