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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 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 South Nyack: 2391150

GNIS ID for Rockland County: 974142

GNIS ID for New York: 1779796

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 South Nyack:

Place (Community) Code:  69441
State Code:  36 (New York)
County Code:  087 (Rockland 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:  36/69441
State/County Code:  36/087

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 New York:    36   1779796
Rockland County:    36/087   974142
South Nyack:    36/69441   2391150

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

Lat:   41° 4' 47"   (or 41.08°)

Lon:   -73° 54' 45"   (or -73.91°)  

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

Lat:   41° 4' 38"   (or 41.08°)

Lon:   -73° 54' 59"   (or -73.92°)  

The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 1,416 feet to the southwest<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:   41° 5' 1"   (or 41.08°)

Lon:   -73° 55' 23"   (or -73.92°)  

The GPS location given for the 2000 Census lies 2,993 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. South Nyack is located in Region #1 (the Northeast Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. South Nyack is located in Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. South Nyack is located in Region II (Region 2).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. South Nyack is located in Region II (Region 2).

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #965828   (Name of Record: South Nyack)

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: Rockland

Map Name: Nyack

Lat: 41.083152       Lon: -73.9201369  

Elev: 22 ft.


GNIS ID #2391150   (Name of Record: Village of South Nyack)

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: Rockland

Map Name: Nyack

Lat: 41.0797459       Lon: -73.912629  

Elev: 0 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 36/69441   (Place Name: South Nyack)

County: Rockland     (FIPS State/County: 36/087)

Class: C1

Identifies an incorporated place (ie- South Nyack) 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- Rockland County).

GSA Code: 5890

MRF Code: 3485

MSA Code: 5600

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

The official website for Rockland County: www.co.rockland.ny.us/

The official website for State of New York: https://www.ny.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)

Footnotes ...

<1>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS-supplied location is 129 degrees and a distance of 1,416 feet.
<2>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2000 Census location is 37 degrees and a distance of 2,993 feet.









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 20 Mar 2025