Miscellaneous Information

So far, we found very little information about Bethel. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Bethel to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bethel, please Contact Us.

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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 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 identification 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 Bethel: 1747712

GNIS ID for Clay County: 424214

GNIS ID for Illinois: 1779784

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 Bethel:

Place (Community) Code:	05625
State Code:	17 (Illinois)
County Code:	025 (Clay 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:	17/05625
State/County Code:	17/025

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 Illinois:	17		1779784
Clay County:	17/025		424214
Bethel:	17/05625		1747712

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

Lat:   38° 42' 15"   (or 38.7°)

Lon:   -88° 41' 17"   (or -88.69°)  

Regional Codes ...

For statistical purposes, the US Census Bureau has divided the country into four Regions. Bethel would have been located in Region #2 (the Midwest Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. Bethel would have been located in Division #3 (the East North-Central Division).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. Bethel would have been located in Region V (Region 5).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. Bethel would have been located in Region V (Region 5).

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #1747712   (Name of Record: Bethel (historical))

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: Clay

Map Name: Xenia

Lat: 38.7042139       Lon: -88.6881082  

Elev: 157 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 17/05625   (Place Name: Bethel)

County: Clay     (FIPS State/County: 17/025)

Class: U8

Identifies a populated place (in this case, Bethel) located wholly or substantially outside the boundaries of an incorporated place or CDP (Census Designated Place) but whose name has not been verified as authoritative by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for State of Illinois: https://illinois.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)