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 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 McRae - Helena: 2405056

GNIS ID for Telfair County: 356958

GNIS ID for Georgia: 1705317

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 McRae - Helena:

Place (Community) Code:	49100
State Code:	13 (Georgia)
County Code:	271 (Telfair 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:	13/49100
State/County Code:	13/271

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 Georgia:	13		1705317
Telfair County:	13/271		356958
McRae - Helena:	13/49100		2405056

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 McRae - Helena, it is a point within McRae - Helena 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 McRae - Helena, the GNIS GPS location is given as:

Lat:   32° 3' 15"   (or 32.05°)

Lon:   -82° 53' 7"   (or -82.89°)  

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

Lat:   32° 3' 22"   (or 32.06°)

Lon:   -82° 53' 12"   (or -82.89°)  

The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 774 feet to the northwest<1> of the point given by the GNIS (see above).

You might note that the GPS location given for the 2010 Census is different than the location that was specified by the 2000 Census:

Lat:   32° 3' 52"   (or 32.06°)

Lon:   -82° 53' 53"   (or -82.9°)  

The GPS location given for the 2000 Census lies 4,650 feet to the northwest<2> of the point given by the 2010 Census.

Regional Codes ...

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

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. McRae - Helena is located in Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).

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

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

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 McRae - Helena, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) McRae - Helena. 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 McRae - Helena: 31055<3>

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #315302   (Name of Record: Helena)

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: Telfair

Map Name: McRae

Lat: 32.0737872       Lon: -82.9145885  

Elev: 73 ft.

GNIS ID #317973   (Name of Record: McRae)

Class: populated place

County: Telfair

Map Name: McRae

Lat: 32.0679541       Lon: -82.9006993  

Elev: 75 ft.

GNIS ID #332360   (Name of Record: McTier)

Class: populated place

County: Appling

Map Name: Altamaha SW

Lat: 31.8060326       Lon: -82.2459579  

Elev: 48 ft.

GNIS ID #2404678   (Name of Record: City of Helena)

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: Telfair

Map Name: McRae

Lat: 32.0788124       Lon: -82.910169  

Elev: 66 ft.

GNIS ID #2405056   (Name of Record: City of McRae)

Class: civil

County: Telfair

Map Name: McRae

Lat: 32.0543875       Lon: -82.885518  

Elev: 57 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 13/37816   (Place Name: Helena)

County: Telfair     (FIPS State/County: 13/271      Count/Seq: 02/01)

Class: C1

Identifies an incorporated place (ie- McRae - Helena) 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- Telfair County).

GSA Code: 2660

MRF Code: 1350

FIPS Code: 13/49084   (Place Name: McRae)

County: Telfair     (FIPS State/County: 13/271)

Class: C1

GSA Code: 3380

MRF Code: 1727

Off-the-Road Links ...

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

The official website for State of Georgia: https://georgia.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)