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 Sunset Beach: 2406693
GNIS ID for Brunswick County: 1026340
GNIS ID for North Carolina: 1027616
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 Sunset Beach:
| Place (Community) Code: | 65900 |
| State Code: | 37 (North Carolina) |
| County Code: | 019 (Brunswick 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: | 37/65900 |
| State/County Code: | 37/019 |
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 North Carolina: | 37 | 1027616 | |
| Brunswick County: | 37/019 | 1026340 | |
| Sunset Beach: | 37/65900 | 2406693 |
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 Sunset Beach, it is a point within Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach, the GNIS GPS location is given as:
Lat: 33° 53' 10" (or 33.89°)
Lon: -78° 30' 34" (or -78.51°)
Determined by its statistical needs, the Census Bureau has defined a sampling area for Sunset Beach - 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 Sunset Beach, the Census 2010 GPS location is given as:
Lat: 33° 53' 35" (or 33.89°)
Lon: -78° 30' 37" (or -78.51°)
The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 2,585 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: 33° 53' 7" (or 33.89°)
Lon: -78° 30' 27" (or -78.51°)
The GPS location given for the 2000 Census lies 2,999 feet to the south<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. Sunset Beach is located in Region #3 (the South Region).
In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. Sunset Beach is located in Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. Sunset Beach is located in Region IV (Region 4).
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. Sunset Beach is located in Region IV (Region 4).
Referenced GNIS Records ...
GNIS ID #1004755 (Name of Record: Sunset Beach)
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: Brunswick
Map Name: Calabash
Lat: 33.880728 Lon: -78.5122311
Elev: 0 ft.
GNIS ID #2406693 (Name of Record: Town of Sunset Beach)
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: Brunswick
Map Name: Calabash
Lat: 33.8861652 Lon: -78.509534
Elev: 3 ft.
Referenced FIPS Records ...
FIPS Code: 37/65900 (Place Name: Sunset Beach)
County: Brunswick (FIPS State/County: 37/019)
Class: C1
Identifies an incorporated place (ie- Sunset Beach) 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- Brunswick County).
MRF Code: 2466
MSA Code: 9200
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Sunset Beach. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Brunswick County: www.brunsco.net/
The official website for State of North Carolina: https://www.nc.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)