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The Commemorative Quarter for California







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 numeric identifier 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 Cherokee Strip: 1660475

GNIS ID for Kern County: 2054176

GNIS ID for California: 1779778

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 Cherokee Strip:

Place (Community) Code:  12860
State Code:  06 (California)
County Code:  029 (Kern 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:  06/12860
State/County Code:  06/029

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 California:    06   1779778
Kern County:    06/029   2054176
Cherokee Strip:    06/12860   1660475

GPS Location - GNIS Coordinates ...

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 Cherokee Strip, it is a point within Cherokee Strip 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 Cherokee Strip, the GNIS GPS location is given as:

Lat:   35° 28' 1"   (or 35.47°)

Lon:   -119° 15' 38"   (or -119.26°)  

Regional Codes ...

For statistical purposes, the US Census Bureau has divided the country into four Regions. Cherokee Strip is located in Region #4 (the West Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. Cherokee Strip is located in Division #9 (the Pacific Division).

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

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

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #1660475   (Name of Record: Cherokee Strip)

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: Kern

Map Name: Rio Bravo

Lat: 35.4671811       Lon: -119.2606647  

Elev: 101 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 06/12860   (Place Name: Cherokee Strip)

County: Kern     (FIPS State/County: 06/029)

Class: U6

Identifies a populated place (ie- Cherokee Strip) that is wholly or substantially located outside the boundaries of any incorporated place or CDP (Census Designated Place) that has an authoritative common name recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

MSA Code: 680