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I would like to create the authority record for Alliance, N.C. which has not yet been established in the authority file.  My piece refers to "Alliance" in Pamlico County, N.C.  When I search for Alliance in North Carolina in GNIS there are two applicable entries, one is in the class Populated place and one is in the class Civil.

Feature name: Alliance
ID: 1018801
Class: Populated place
Entry date: 17-Jun-1980
Class Code Description:

Populated Place that is also an incorporated place with the same name and the same Census Code.


Census code: 01000
Census class code: P1
GSA code: 0073
Latitude: 350842N
Longitude: 0764808W



Feature name: Town of Alliance
ID: 2405137
Class: Civil
Entry date: 10-Mar-2008
Class Code Description:

Incorporated Places. An active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent.

Census code: 01000
Census class code: C1
Latitude: 350818N
Longitude: 0764743W

Populated place definition: "Place or area with clustered or scattered buildings and a permanent human population (city, settlement, town, village). A populated place is usually not incorporated and by definition has no legal boundaries. However, a populated place may have a corresponding "civil" record, the legal boundaries of which may or may not coincide with the perceived populated place. Distinct from Census and Civil classes."

Civil definition: "A political division formed for administrative purposes (borough, county, incorporated place, municipio, parish, town, township). Distinct from Census and Populated Place."


Could someone please explain the difference between Populated place and Civil classes when creating authority records for places?  Does this mean that for authority record purposes these are two distinct places and I need to first decide if my piece is referring to the populated place or to the civil place and then create an authority record which would reflect my usage and distinguish it from the other use?  Or am I making this much too difficult for myself?

The only guidance I seemed to find in RDA is in LC-PCC PS for 16.2.2.12 Places with the same name under the section, U.S. Townships:
"Before May 2007 as the result of differing instructions, some towns or townships that were coextensive with the populated place were subsumed under the authorized access point for the populated place. As these civil jurisdictions are encountered, establish them separately."

I appreciate any explanation someone may have because I have reasoned myself in circles,
Vicki Brueck


Vicki Brueck
Senior Cataloger
Resource Management Services Branch
State Library of North Carolina
4641 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, N.C.  27699-4641
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Office: (919) 807-7451  Fax: (919) 733-1843

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