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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, chose 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 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 Hattons Ferry: 1501541

GNIS ID for Buckingham County: 1501502

GNIS ID for Virginia: 1779803

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.

While FIPS codes have been assigned to all counties and states, a specific code has not been assigned to Hattons Ferry. The following FIPS codes apply to the State and County:

State Code:  51 (Virginia)
County Code:  029 (Buckingham County)

GPS Location - GNIS Coordinates ...

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 Hattons Ferry, it is a point within Hattons Ferry 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 Hattons Ferry, the GNIS GPS location is given as:

Lat:   37° 45' 27"   (or 37.76°)

Lon:   -78° 30' 44"   (or -78.51°)  

Regional Codes ...

For statistical purposes, the US Census Bureau has divided the country into four Regions. Hattons Ferry is located in Region #3 (the South Region).

In turn, the US Census Bureau has further divided each Region into Divisions. Hattons Ferry is located in Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).

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

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

Referenced GNIS Records ...

GNIS ID #1501541   (Name of Record: Hattons Ferry)

Class: crossing

County: Buckingham

Map Name: Esmont

Lat: 37.7576434       Lon: -78.5122315  

Elev: 82 ft.