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 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 Mansfield City: 212498

GNIS ID for Tolland County: 212668

GNIS ID for Connecticut: 1779780

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 Mansfield City:

Place (Community) Code:	45190
State Code:	09 (Connecticut)
County Code:	013 (Tolland 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:	09/45190
State/County Code:	09/013

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 Connecticut:	09		1779780
Tolland County:	09/013		212668
Mansfield City:	09/45190		212498

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 Mansfield City, it is a point within Mansfield City 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 Mansfield City, the GNIS GPS location is given as:

Lat: 41° 45' 57" (or 41.77°)

Lon: -72° 14' 1" (or -72.23°)

Regional Codes ...

For statistical purposes, the US Census Bureau has divided the country into four Regions. Mansfield City is located in Region #1 (the Northeast Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. Mansfield City is located in Division #1 (the New England Division).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. Mansfield City is located in Region I (Region 1).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. Mansfield City is located in Region I (Region 1).

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #212498 (Name of Record: Mansfield City)

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: Tolland

Map Name: Spring Hill

Lat: 41.7659319 Lon: -72.2336896

Elev: 151 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 09/44980 (Place Name: Mansfield (Town name for Mansfield Center))

County: Tolland (FIPS State/County: 09/013)

Class: X3

MSA Code: 3280

FIPS Code: 09/45190 (Place Name: Mansfield City)

County: Tolland (FIPS State/County: 09/013)

Class: U6

Identifies a populated place (ie- Mansfield City) 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: 3280

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Mansfield City: www.mansfieldct.org/

The official website for State of Connecticut: https://portal.ct.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)