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 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 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 Elk River: 2394650

GNIS ID for Sherburne County: 659515

GNIS ID for Minnesota: 662849

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 Elk River:

Place (Community) Code:	18674
State Code:	27 (Minnesota)
County Code:	141 (Sherburne 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:	27/18674
State/County Code:	27/141

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 Minnesota:	27		662849
Sherburne County:	27/141		659515
Elk River:	27/18674		2394650

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

Lat:   45° 19' 52"   (or 45.33°)

Lon:   -93° 34' 0"   (or -93.57°)  

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

Lat:   45° 19' 55"   (or 45.33°)

Lon:   -93° 33' 59"   (or -93.57°)  

The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 341.9 feet to the north<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:   45° 19' 1"   (or 45.32°)

Lon:   -93° 34' 52"   (or -93.58°)  

The GPS location given for the 2000 Census lies 6,652 feet to the southwest<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. Elk River is located in Region #2 (the Midwest Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. Elk River is located in Division #4 (the West North-Central Division).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. Elk River is located in Region V (Region 5).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. Elk River is located in Region V (Region 5).

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 Elk River, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Elk River. 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 Elk River: 55330<3>

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #643266   (Name of Record: Elk River)

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: Sherburne

Map Name: Elk River

Lat: 45.3038538       Lon: -93.5671825  

Elev: 273 ft.

GNIS ID #2394650   (Name of Record: City of Elk River)

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: Sherburne

Map Name: Elk River

Lat: 45.3313186       Lon: -93.566935  

Elev: 317 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 27/18674   (Place Name: Elk River)

County: Sherburne     (FIPS State/County: 27/141)

Class: C5

GSA Code: 2110

MRF Code: 1145

MSA Code: 5120

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Elk River: www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/

The official website for Sherburne County: www.co.sherburne.mn.us/

The official website for State of Minnesota: https://mn.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)