Early USGS Bench Mark Codes Compiled by Jerry Penry Last Updated: December 1, 2016 This is not an official list of early USGS bench mark codes and it is unknown if one ever existed. When USGS performed the early topographic mapping, it was decided to utilize individual datums with unknown certainty to true sea level elevations. Each datum was used within its own area, so codes had to be stamped on the bench marks. It would therefore be known that bench marks having the same code would be on the same datum, but finding ones with a different code could not be interchanged since the origin of the datum was different. The codes can be confusing. Individual letters such as A could be from the following cities which were each on their own individual datum: Anniston, AL; Alexandria, MO; Albany, NY; Asheville, NC; Athens, OH; and Astoria, OR. These datums could cross over into adjoining states as well. Datums with the same letter, but with a different year date are separate datums. For instance, the B datum that originated at Benicia, CA, is different than the B 1901 datum in that same area. As elevations became adjusted, it was decided to used the same datum origin, but add the year the leveling was done with an adjusted elevation. Some different names might be the result of sloppy work of the various field crews. For instance, WP, WILLETS, and WILLETS PT, might all be for the same datum originating at Willets Point, NY. For the most part, the bench marks are stamped with the elevation rounded to the nearest foot. While this provided some individuality to the various bench marks within each datum, it was also possible that one or more bench marks within that datum could have the same stamping if the elevation was rounded to the same nearest whole foot. There are also many bench marks on individual datums that only have the elevation stamped on the cap and no code. In most of these instances, USGS felt they were sure that the elevation of origin was true sea level and therefore it did not have to be on its own individual datum or have a specific code name. These unnamed datums occur frequently in states where USGS utilized bench marks already in place by USC&GS as the origin for the levels in that area. Since USC&GS elevations were sea-level based, it was felt that a code for the bench marks in that particular area being mapped was unnecessary. The codes ADJ 1903, ADJ 1905, etc., were frequently used in various states. This occurred in areas where USGS believed the starting elevations were good, but because of a nationwide adjustment by USC&GS, they felt it was necessary to designate the new bench marks with the ADJ code. This list is to be used only as a guide and is not intended to be inclusive or correct. This code list was developed by going through the various USGS bulletins that were published and extracting the codes that were used. A list of those bulletins is provided at the end of this list.
Alabama A = Anniston, AL ADJ Adjustment 1906 ADJ Adjustment 1907 ANNISTON = Anniston, AL NASHVILLE 1899 = Nashville, TN R = Rome, GA Alaska Arizona CANYON = Grand Canyon, AZ H H PHNX = Phoenix, AZ PRSCT = Prescott, AZ NOGLS = Nogales, AZ NOGALES = Nogales, AZ SB = Y= Yuma, AZ Arkansas FTVL = Fayetteville, AR FS = HS = Hot Springs, AR California B = Benicia, CA B 1901 = B 1902 = B 1905 = B Barstow, CA B Barstow, CA B B 1908 B = B 1908 CAL = BB BB BN CAL CAL 1909 G = F = G = Goshen, CA G 1905 = G G 1908 CAL = J = Johannesburg, CA KEELER = Keeler, CA LA = Los Angeles, CA O = Oakland, CA R = Redding, CA SB = San Bernardino, CA SD = San Diego, CA SF = San Francisco, CA SF T = Temecula, CA VA = Vertical Angle VA O = Vertical Angle - Oakland, CA Y = Yuma, AZ Colorado 1909 = 1911 = CC = Cripple Creek, CO COLO SP = Colorado Springs, CO D = DENVER = Denver, CO DENV = Denver, CO DENV DENVER Denver, CO DENVER Denver, CO DUR = Durango, CO LARAMIE = Laramie, WY OURAY = Ouray, CO SIDNEY = Sidney, NE Connecticut Delaware BALTO = HARRISBURG = HARRISBURG 1900 = Florida
Georgia A = Anniston, AL ADJ Adjustment 1906 ADJ Adjustment 1907 ATLANTA = Atlanta, GA ATLANTA 1903 = Atlanta, GA MC = Morehead City, NC MOREHEAD 1898 = Morehead City, NC MOREHEAD 1899 = Morehead City, NC R = Rome, GA Hawaii 1910 = Idaho 1911 = 1912 = 1914 = Bannock County, ID B 1911 = H = Huntington, OR PR = Priest River, ID S = Spokane, WA T = Tacoma, WA W = Weiser, ID Illinois Elgin, IL 1910 = ADJ 1905 = Adjustment 1905 CHGO = Chicago, IL DAN = DNVL = Danville, IL ILL = ILL 1909 = ILL 1910 = ILL 1912 = Ill 1913 = ILL 1915 = ILLINOIS = ILLINOIS 1905 = Bartlett, IL ILLINOIS ILLINOIS 1909 = PEORIA = Peoria, IL ST LOUIS = St. Louis, MO VIN = Vincennes, IN Indiana CHGO = Chicago, IL DNVL = Danville, IL VIN = Vincennes, IN Iowa A = Alexandria, MO DBQ = Dubuque, IA DUBQ = Dubuque, IA IOWA = IOWA 1913 = YNKTN = Yankton, SD Kansas CRTHG = Carthage, MO GC = Garden City, KS INDEPENDENCE = Independence, MO IOLA = Iola, KS Kentucky 1912 = 1913 = CIN = Cincinnati, OH K = Kenova, WV KENTUCKY = KY = LEX = LEXINGTON = LOUISVILLE = VIN = Vincennes, IN Louisiana BR = Baton Rouge, LA LA = Lafayette, LA LA 1909 =
Maine AUGUSTA = Augusta, ME B 1901 = Bangor, ME BANGOR = Bangor, ME BANGOR 1899 = Bangor, ME BANGOR 1901 = Bangor, ME ME = ME 1914 S = Maryland 1904 = ADJ 1904 = Adjustment 1904 BALTIMORE 1900 = BALTO = Baltimore, MD C = Cumberland, MD MARYLAND = MARYLAND BALTO = Baltimore, MD MARYLAND ADJ = MARYLAND C = Cumberland, MD MD = MD 1911 = Massachusetts Michigan ADJ = ADJ 1905 = GIBRALTAR = Gibraltar, MI IM = Iron Mountain, MI MICH = MICH 1916 = MICH 1917 = MICH 1919 = MICH 1921 = Minnesota MINN = MINNESOTA = ST P = St. Paul, MN TF = Taylor Falls, MN W = Wahpeton, ND Mississippi ADJ 1905 = Missouri A = Alexandria, MO ADJ 1905 = CRTHG = Carthage, MO MO = Q = West Quincy STL = St. Louis, MO ST LOUIS = VRSLS = Versailles Montana BUTTE = Butte, MT GN = Great Northern Railway HAVRE = Havre, MT MALTA = Malta, MT MLT = MSLA = Missoula, MT NP = Northern Pacific Railroad RHC = RHC 1904 = T = Nebraska OMAHA = Omaha, NE SIDNEY = Sidney, NE YNKTN = Yankton, SD Nevada 1913 = 1915 = B = B 1905 = B 1905 H = B BF = CC = Candelaria, NV (Carson & Colorado RR) O = New Hampshire CONCORD = P = Peterboro, NH W = Whitefield, NH New Jersey
New Mexico B 1905 = C H PHNX = Phoenix, AZ PHNX 1902 = PHNX 1903 = SOCR = Socorro, NM SOCR 1904 = SOCR 1905 = New York A = Albany, NY ALBANY 1899 = ALBANY 1900 = ALBANY 1901 = ALBANY 1903 = ALBANY 1904 = ALBANY 1905 = ALBANY ALBANY = Albany, NY ALBANY 1899 = Albany, NY B = Brockport, NY CAPE VINCENT = Cape Vincent, NY D = Dunkirk, NY D 1898 = DUNKIRK = DUNKIRK 1898 = DUNKIRK 1899 = DUNKIRK 1902 = FORT COVINGTON = FORT COVINGTON 1901 = FORT COVINGTON 1903 = FT COVINGTON = NY = NY 1909 = OSWG = OSWGO = OSWEGO = Oswego, NY OSWEGO 1899 = Oswego, NY R = Rome, NY ROCHESTER = ROCHESTER 1901 = ROCHESTER 1902 = S = Salamanca, NY S = Syracuse, NY WP = Willets Point, NY WILLETS = WILLETS PT = WILLETS PT 1901 = North Carolina A = Asheville, NC ASH = Asheville, NC ASH 1901 = Asheville, NC COLUMBIA = Columbia, SC COLUMBIA 1900 = Columbia, SC NC = MC = Morehead City, NC RALEIGH = Raleigh, NC RALEIGH 1903 = Raleigh, NC North Dakota W = Wahpeton, ND JMTN = Jamestown, ND Ohio A = Athens, OH ADJ 1904 = ADJ 1905 = Adjusted 1905 C = CANTON = CANTON 1900 = CANTON 1901 = CANTON CIN = Cincinnati, OH CINN = CLEVE = CLEVELAND = CLEVELAND 1901 = CLEVELAND 1902 = CLEVELAND 1903 = CLEVELAND 1904 = COL = COLS = COLUMBUS = Columbus, OH COLUMBUS 1899 = Columbus, OH COLUMBUS 1903 = GRAFTON = GRAFTON 1902 = I = Ironton, OH OHIO = STBNVL = STEUBENVILLE = Steubenville, OH TOL = TOLEDO = Toledo, OH
Oklahoma Adjusted 1903 OKLA = Oklahoma City, OK Oregon 1911 = A = Astoria, OR A B 1903 = Benicia, CA B 1904 = B BC = Baker City, OR G = Glendale, OR H = Huntington, OR MP = Myrtle Point, OR ORE = ORE 1910 = ORE 1911 = ORE 1913 = OREGON = W = Pennsylvania ALBANY 1900 = DUNKIRK 1899 = ERIE = Erie, PA HARRISBURG = Harrisburg, PA HARRISBURG 1899 = HARRISBURG 1900 = HARRISBURG 1901 = HARRISBURG 1903 = HBG = HGB = Harrisburg, OR PITTS = PITTSBURG = Pittsburg, PA PITTSBURG 1899 = PITTSBURG 1902 = STBNVL = Steubenville South Carolina ADJ 1905 = Adjustment 1905 ATLANTA = Atlanta, GA COLUMBIA = Columbia, SC COLUMBIA 1900 = Columbia, SC COLUMBIA 1901 = Columbia, SC RALEIGH = Raleigh, NC South Dakota DW = Deadwood, SD DW 1903 = Deadwood, SD YNKTN = Yankton, SD Tennessee ASH= Asheville, NC NASHVILLE = Nashville, TN NASHVILLE 1899 = Nashville, TN NASH 1901 = Nashville, TN NASHVILLE 1901 = Nashville, TN NASHVILLE 1902 = Nashville, TN NASHVILLE 1903 = Nashville, TN LEXINGTON = MC = Morehead City, NC Texas 1909 = 1913 = B 1905 = GAINSV = GAINV = Gainesville, TX MARFA = Marfa, TX MARFA 1903 = PARIS = Paris, TX S 1913 = SA = San Antonio, TX SE = San Elizario, TX VAN HN = Van Horn, TX VAN HN 1903 = VAN HN 1905 = Rhode Island Utah EVAN = Evanston, WY RLUND = Lund SLAK = Salt Lake City, UT
Vermont ALBANY = Albany, NY BC = MAC = MONTPELIER = Montpelier, VT MR = VT = W = Whitefield, NH Virginia Adjusted 1903 ADJ 1904 = B 1912 = B VA = BALTI = BALTO = LEXINGTON = MARYLAND ADJ = MD ADJ = VA = VA 1909 = Washington 1915 = 1917 = B = Blaine, WA E = Ellensburg, WA MC = S = Spokane, WA SVA = T = Tacoma, WA TUL = Tulalip, WA WA 1911 = West Aberdeen, WA WASH = WASH 1909 = WASH 1913 = WASH 1915 = WASH 1916 = KNWA = Kanawha Falls, WV MARYLAND = PITTSBURG = PITTSBURG 1899 = STBNVL = Steubenville VA 1909 = W VA 1909 = Wisconsin B = Baraboo, WI B 1912 = PRTG = Portage, WI DBQ = DUBQ = Dubuque, IA EC = Eau Claire, WI MIL = MILWAUKEE = MILWAUKEE 1903 = TF = Taylor Falls, MN W = Wausau, WI Wyoming 1911 = Adjusted 1903 B&M = Burlington & Missouri River Railroad St. Anthony, ID CHYN = Cheyenne, WY DENVER = Denver, CO DW = Deadwood, SD EVAN = Evanston, WY LARAMIE = Laramie, WY RL = Red Lodge, MT RDLG = Red Lodge, MT SHER = Sheridan, WY West Virginia 1909 = ADJ = B 1912 = C = Charleston, WV CIN = GRAFTON = Grafton, WV GRAFTON 1901 = GRAFTON 1902 = GRAFTON 1903 = KANAWHA =
Reference Sources: Bulletin 175 Results of Triangulation & Spirit Leveling in Indian Territory. 1900. Bulletin 185 Results of Spirit Leveling Fiscal Year 1900-01. 1901. Bulletin 281 Results of Spirit Leveling in New York. 1896-1905, Inclusive. 1906. Bulletin 399 Results of Spirit Leveling in West Virginia. 1896-1908, Inclusive. 1909. Bulletin 411 Results of Spirit Leveling in Ohio. 1898-1908, Inclusive. 1909. Bulletin 288 Results of Spirit Leveling in Pennsylvania. 1899-1905. 1906. Bulletin 342 Results of Spirit Leveling in California. 1896-1907, Inclusive. 1908. Bulletin 421 Results of Spirit Leveling in Illinois. 1896-1908, Inclusive. 1910. Bulletin 434 Results of Spirit Leveling in Delaware, District of Columbia, Massachusetts and Virginia. 1896-1909, Inclusive. 1910. Bulletin 437 Results of Spirit Leveling in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. 1896-1909, Inclusive. 1910. Bulletin 441 - Results of Spirit Leveling in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, 1896 to 1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 453 Results of Spirit Leveling in Minnesota. 1897-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 457 Results of Spirit Leveling in Washington. 1896-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 458 Results of Spirit Leveling in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. 1896-1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 459 Results of Spirit Leveling in Missouri. 1896-1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 460 Results of Spirit Leveling in Iowa. 1896-1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 461 Results of Spirit Leveling in Michigan and Wisconsin. 1897-1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 462 Results of Spirit Leveling in Oregon. 1896-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 463 - Results of Spirit Leveling in Arizona. 1899-1909. 1911. Bulletin 464 Results of Spirit Leveling in New Mexico. 1902-1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 468 Results of Spirit Leveling in Texas. 1896-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 469 Results of Spirit Leveling in North Dakota. 1897-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 472 - Results of Spirit Leveling in South Dakota. 1896-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 473 Results of Spirit Leveling in Kansas & Nebraska. 1896-1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 476 Results of Spirit Leveling in Ohio. 1909 & 1910. 1911. Bulletin 477 Results of Spirit Leveling in West Virginia. 1909 & 1910. 1911. Bulletin 481 Results of Spirit Leveling in California. 1907-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 482 Results of Spirit Leveling in Montana. 1896-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 486 Results of Spirit Leveling in Colorado. 1896-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 487 Results of Spirit Leveling in Idaho. 1896-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 488 Results of Spirit Leveling in Nevada. 1897-1909, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 489 Results of Spirit Leveling in Utah. 1897-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 493 Results of Spirit Leveling in Illinois. 1909-1910, Inclusive. 1911. Bulletin 514 Results of Spirit Leveling in New York. 1906-1911. 1912. Bulletin 515 Results of Spirit Leveling in Pennsylvania. 1899-1911. 1912. Bulletin 516 Results of Spirit Leveling in Florida. 1911. 1912. Bulletin 517 Results of Spirit Leveling in Alabama. 1911. 1912. Bulletin 518 Results of Spirit Leveling in Ohio. 1911. 1912. Bulletin 519 Results of Spirit Leveling in Tennessee. 1910-1911. 1912. Bulletin 553 Results of Spirit Leveling in Illinois. 1911-1913, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 554 Results of Spirit Leveling in Kentucky. 1898-1913, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 555 Results of Spirit Leveling in Indiana. 1897-1911, Inclusive. 1913. Bulletin 556 Results of Spirit Leveling in Oregon. 1896 & 1913, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 557 Results of Spirit Leveling in Washington. 1896 & 1913. 1914. Bulletin 558 Results of Spirit Leveling in Wyoming. 1896-1912, Inclusive. 1914.
Bulletin 559 Results of Spirit Leveling in Michigan. 1911 & 1913. 1914. Bulletin 560 Results of Spirit Leveling in Minnesota. 1897-1914, Inclusive. 1915. Bulletin 561 Results of Spirit Leveling in Hawaii. 1910-1913, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 562 Results of Spirit Leveling in Virginia. 1900-1913, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 563 Results of Spirit Leveling in Maryland. 1896-1911, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 564 Results of Spirit Leveling in Oklahoma. 1895-1912, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 565 Results of Spirit Leveling in Colorado. 1896-1914, Inclusive. 1915. Bulletin 566 Results of Spirit Leveling in Utah. 1897-1914, Inclusive. 1915. Bulletin 567 Results of Spirit Leveling in Idaho. 1896-1914, Inclusive. 1915. Bulletin 568 Results of Spirit Leveling in Missouri. 1896-1914, Inclusive. 1915. Bulletin 569 Results of Spirit Leveling in Iowa. 1896-1913, Inclusive. 1915. Bulletin 570 Results of Spirit Leveling in Wisconsin. 1897-1914, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 571 Results of Spirit Leveling in Kansas. 1896-1913, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 572 Results of Spirit Leveling in Nebraska. 1896-1913, Inclusive. 1914. Bulletin 573 Results of Spirit Leveling in Arizona. 1899-1915, Inclusive. 1915. Bulletin 632 Results of Spirit Leveling in West Virginia. 1896-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 633 Results of Spirit Leveling in Maine. 1899-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 634 Spirit Leveling in Louisiana. 1903-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 635 Spirit Leveling in Georgia. 1896-1914. 1916. Bulletin 636 Spirit Leveling in Arkansas. 1896-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 637 Spirit Leveling in Texas. 1896-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 638 Spirit Leveling in New Mexico. 1902-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 639 Spirit Leveling in Mississippi. 1901-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 643 Spirit Leveling in South Dakota. 1896-1915, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 646 Spirit Leveling in North Carolina. 1896-1914, Inclusive. 1916. Bulletin 651 Spirit Leveling in Ohio. 1898-1916, Inclusive. 1917. Bulletin 654 Spirit Leveling in Nevada. 1897-1916, Inclusive. 1917. Bulletin 671 Spirit Leveling in New York. 1896-1905 & 1912-1916. 1918. Bulletin 672 Spirit Leveling in Illinois. 1914-1917, Inclusive. 1918. Bulletin 673 Spirit Leveling in Kentucky. 1914-1916. 1918. Bulletin 674 Spirit Leveling in Washington. 1896-1917, Inclusive. 1918. Bulletin 919 Spirit Leveling in Michigan. 1896-1938. 1941.