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 Thomaston: 211445

GNIS ID for Litchfield County: 212796

GNIS ID for Connecticut: 1779780

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 Thomaston:

Place (Community) Code:	75660
State Code:	09 (Connecticut)
County Code:	005 (Litchfield 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:	09/75660
State/County Code:	09/005

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
Litchfield County:	09/005		212796
Thomaston:	09/75660		211445

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

Lat:   41° 40' 26"   (or 41.67°)

Lon:   -73° 4' 23"   (or -73.07°)  

Regional Codes ...

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

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

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

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

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 community like Thomaston, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Thomaston. 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 Thomaston: 06787<1>

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #211445   (Name of Record: Thomaston)

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: Litchfield

Map Name: Thomaston

Lat: 41.6739862       Lon: -73.073164  

Elev: 124 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 09/75660   (Place Name: Thomaston)

County: Litchfield     (FIPS State/County: 09/005)

Class: U6

Identifies a populated place (ie- Thomaston) 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).

GSA Code: 740

MSA Code: 8880

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Thomaston: www.thomastonct.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)