Miscellaneous Information

Various Identification Codes ...

GNIS Codes ...

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) was created to address the problems caused by spelling and naming variations. The BGN will usually recognize an existing name or, when necessary, establish a new name for a geographic feature (such as a mountain, lake, river, stream, city, town, village, dam, bridge, etc).

The BGN names are kept in a database called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and it is the official Federal repository. The GNIS is operated and maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

A unique and permanent number has been assigned for each name in the GNIS database. These names and identifiers are definitive and it is intended that they are to be used by all departments of the Federal Government:

GNIS ID for Twin: 2424942

GNIS ID for Marion County: 161573

GNIS ID for Alabama: 1779775

FIPS Codes ...

In a past effort, various federal agencies created a set of codes with a purpose similar to the GNIS codes. These codes are called the Federal Information Processing Standard (or the FIPS 55 codes). Although they are still used by some organizations, the FIPS codes are obsolete and will ultimately be replaced by the GNIS codes.

The following FIPS codes apply to Twin:

Place (Community) Code:	77352
State Code:	01 (Alabama)
County Code:	093 (Marion County)

Since the Place and County FIPS codes are not unique and can be repeated in other States, it's necessary to combine the State code with the Place and County FIPS codes to uniquely identify them - for example:

State/Place Code:	01/77352
State/County Code:	01/093

As already mentioned, the FIPS codes are to be replaced by the GNIS codes. The following reflect those changes:

	FIPS Code	translates to	GNIS Code
State of Alabama:	01		1779775
Marion County:	01/093		161573
Twin:	01/77352		2424942

GPS Location - GNIS vs Census ...

An important aspect of the GNIS code is that it assigns a GPS location (the latitude/longitude) to the geographic feature. This location is simply a point on the map and does not represent the size or shape of the feature. In the case of Twin, it is a point within Twin that might be a post office, the city hall or simply an intersection - the point should really be considered arbitrary and only indicating a general location.

For Twin, the GNIS GPS location is given as:

Lat:   34° 0' 31"   (or 34.01°)

Lon:   -87° 51' 11"   (or -87.85°)  

Determined by its statistical needs, the Census Bureau has defined a sampling area for Twin - this area also contains a map point. As with the GNIS code, the location of the Census point should be considered as being arbitrary within the sampling area.

For Twin, the Census 2010 GPS location is given as:

Lat:   33° 59' 32"   (or 33.99°)

Lon:   -87° 51' 8"   (or -87.85°)  

The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 6,017 feet to the south<1> of the point given by the GNIS (see above).

Regional Codes ...

For statistical purposes, the US Census Bureau has divided the country into four Regions. Twin is located in Region #3 (the South Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. Twin is located in Division #6 (the East South-Central Division).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. Twin is located in Region IV (Region 4).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. Twin is located in Region IV (Region 4).

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #2380589   (Name of Record: Twin)

Class: populated place

A place or area having clustered or scattered buildings and a permanent population (such as a city, settlement, town or village). The boundaries may or may not coincide with the perceived population.

A 'populated place' record may have a corresponding 'census' or 'civil' record. The information contained in the 'populated place' record applies only to the class and should not be confused with either the 'census' and 'civil' classes.

County: Marion

Map Name: Brilliant

Lat: 34.0077778       Lon: -87.8575  

Elev: 166 ft.

GNIS ID #2424938   (Name of Record: Town of Twin)

Class: civil

A political division formed for administrative purposes (such as a borough, county, incorporated place, parish, town or township).

A 'civil' record may have a corresponding 'census' or 'populated place' record. The information contained in the 'civil' record applies only to the class and should not be confused with either the 'census' and 'populated place' classes.

County: Marion

Map Name: Brilliant

Lat: 34.0000972       Lon: -87.8606458  

Elev: 160 ft.

GNIS ID #2424942   (Name of Record: Twin)

Class: populated place

County: Marion

Map Name: Brilliant

Lat: 34.0087993       Lon: -87.8532836  

Elev: 181 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 01/77352   (Place Name: Twin)

County: Marion     (FIPS State/County: 01/093)

Class: U8

Identifies a populated place (in this case, Twin) located wholly or substantially outside the boundaries of an incorporated place or CDP (Census Designated Place) but whose name has not been verified as authoritative by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Off-the-Road Links ...

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Twin. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Marion County: www.sonet.net/marioncounty/

The official website for State of Alabama: https://www.alabama.gov/

The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau

The official website of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The official website of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)