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, chose a 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 code 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 West Wendover: 2412232

GNIS ID for Elko County: 857664

GNIS ID for Nevada: 1779793

FIPS Codes ...

In a past effort, various federal agencies worked together to create 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 West Wendover:

Place (Community) Code:	83730
State Code:	32 (Nevada)
County Code:	007 (Elko 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:	32/83730
State/County Code:	32/007

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 Nevada:	32		1779793
Elko County:	32/007		857664
West Wendover:	32/83730		2412232

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 West Wendover, it is a point within West Wendover 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 West Wendover, the GNIS GPS location is given as:

Lat:   40° 44' 26"   (or 40.74°)

Lon:   -114° 4' 42"   (or -114.08°)  

Determined by its statistical needs, the Census Bureau has defined a sampling area for West Wendover - 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 West Wendover, the Census 2010 GPS location is given as:

Lat:   40° 44' 24"   (or 40.74°)

Lon:   -114° 4' 43"   (or -114.08°)  

The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 172.9 feet to the southwest<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. West Wendover is located in Region #4 (the West Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. West Wendover is located in Division #8 (the Mountain Division).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. West Wendover is located in Region IX (Region 9).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. West Wendover is located in Region IX (Region 9).

ZIP Codes ...

While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like West Wendover, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) West Wendover. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code are defined by the needs of the USPS and can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.

The ZIP code for West Wendover: 89883<2>

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #1669583   (Name of Record: West Wendover)

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: Elko

Map Name: Wendover

Lat: 40.739097       Lon: -114.073345  

Elev: 1360 ft.

GNIS ID #2412232   (Name of Record: City of West Wendover)

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: Elko

Map Name: Wendover

Lat: 40.7406718       Lon: -114.07834  

Elev: 1380 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 32/83730   (Place Name: West Wendover)

County: Elko     (FIPS State/County: 32/007)

Class: C1

Identifies an incorporated place (ie- West Wendover) that does not serve as a primary county division - or in other words, it is included in and is part of a primary county division (ie- Elko County).

MRF Code: 122

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for West Wendover: www.westwendovercity.com/

The official website for Elko County: www.elkocountynv.net/

The official website for State of Nevada: nv.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)