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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 numeric code 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 Cherry Tree: 1215284

GNIS ID for Indiana County: 1213673

GNIS ID for Pennsylvania: 1779798

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 Cherry Tree:

Place (Community) Code:  13120
State Code:  42 (Pennsylvania)
County Code:  063 (Indiana 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:  42/13120
State/County Code:  42/063

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 Pennsylvania:    42   1779798
Indiana County:    42/063   1213673
Cherry Tree:    42/13120   1215284

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

Lat:   40° 43' 34"   (or 40.73°)

Lon:   -78° 51' 5"   (or -78.85°)  

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

Lat:   40° 43' 32"   (or 40.73°)

Lon:   -78° 48' 44"   (or -78.81°)  

The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 2 miles to the east<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:   40° 43' 35"   (or 40.73°)

Lon:   -78° 48' 27"   (or -78.81°)  

The GPS location given for the 2000 Census lies 1,385 feet to the east<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. Cherry Tree is located in Region #1 (the Northeast Region).

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

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created ten Federal Regions. Cherry Tree is located in Region III (Region 3).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created ten Management Regions. Cherry Tree is located in Region III (Region 3).

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #1171677   (Name of Record: Cherry Tree)

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: Indiana

Map Name: Barnesboro

Lat: 40.7264546       Lon: -78.8066961  

Elev: 422 ft.


GNIS ID #1215284   (Name of Record: Borough of Cherry Tree)

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: Indiana

Map Name: Barnesboro

Lat: 40.7261765       Lon: -78.8514191  

Elev: 468 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 42/13120   (Place Name: Cherry Tree)

County: Indiana     (FIPS State/County: 42/063)

Class: C5

GSA Code: 1260

MRF Code: 1830

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

The official website for Indiana County: www.countyofindiana.org/

The official website for State of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.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 269 degrees and a distance of 2 miles.
<2>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2000 Census location is 280 degrees and a distance of 1,385 feet.









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 10 Mar 2024