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 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 McKees Rocks: 1214808

GNIS ID for Allegheny County: 1213657

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 McKees Rocks:

Place (Community) Code:	46264
State Code:	42 (Pennsylvania)
County Code:	003 (Allegheny 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:	42/46264
State/County Code:	42/003

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
Allegheny County:	42/003		1213657
McKees Rocks:	42/46264		1214808

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 McKees Rocks, it is a point within McKees Rocks 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 McKees Rocks, the GNIS GPS location is given as:

Lat:   40° 28' 9"   (or 40.47°)

Lon:   -80° 3' 55"   (or -80.07°)  

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

Lat:   40° 28' 8"   (or 40.47°)

Lon:   -80° 3' 47"   (or -80.06°)  

The map point defined by the Census Bureau lies 561 feet 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° 28' 12"   (or 40.47°)

Lon:   -80° 3' 49"   (or -80.06°)  

The GPS location given for the 2000 Census lies 447.5 feet to the north<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. McKees Rocks is located in Region #1 (the Northeast Region).

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

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

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

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 community like McKees Rocks, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) McKees Rocks. 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 McKees Rocks: 15136<3>

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #1213986   (Name of Record: McKees Rocks)

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: Allegheny

Map Name: Pittsburgh West

Lat: 40.4656244       Lon: -80.0656106  

Elev: 229 ft.

GNIS ID #1214808   (Name of Record: Borough of McKees Rocks)

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: Allegheny

Map Name: Pittsburgh West

Lat: 40.4692355       Lon: -80.0653329  

Elev: 269 ft.

Referenced FIPS Records ...

FIPS Code: 42/46264   (Place Name: McKees Rocks)

County: Allegheny     (FIPS State/County: 42/003)

Class: C5

GSA Code: 4720

MRF Code: 6161

MSA Code: 6280

Off-the-Road Links ...

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

The official website for Allegheny County: www.county.allegheny.pa.us/

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)