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 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 Ford Cliff: 1214850

GNIS ID for Armstrong County: 1213658

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 Ford Cliff:

Place (Community) Code:	26520
State Code:	42 (Pennsylvania)
County Code:	005 (Armstrong 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:	42/26520
State/County Code:	42/005

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
Armstrong County:	42/005		1213658
Ford Cliff:	42/26520		1214850

Regional Codes ...

For statistical purposes, the US Census Bureau has divided the country into four Regions. Ford Cliff is located in Region #1 (the Northeast Region).

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

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

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

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #1214850 (Name of Record: Borough of Ford Cliff)

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: Armstrong

Map Name: Kittanning

Lat: 40.7581199 Lon: -79.5411565

Elev: 286 ft.