Why focus on COGs/Regional Councils in the U.S.? "the substate district is essentially an administrative tool of states"


The prior three posts which demonstrate the levels of the global geocode will raise the question, "Why focus on COGs/Regional Councils in the U.S.? The following excerpt from the paper: "Prototype Global Geocoding of Political Geographies for Library and Data Management - Wikipedia Example," a paper to be presented at the Applied Geography Conference, October 31, 2013 in Annapolis, Maryland. 

4.  SUBNATIONAL GEOCODING OF POLITICAL GEOGRAPHIES FOR REGIONS
"The historic primary substate political region of States is the county or its equivalent. It is for these areas that Census data is collected and maintained. Four states have independent cities for which census data is collected.  Virginia has 39, while Maryland, Missouri and Nevada each have one.  Though Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have eliminated some or all counties, census data is compiled for historic counties which have no current governance function.  State data is collected on the same geography and is a resource.

"As previously noted, though Federal programs have encouraged and funded multi-jurisdictional regional approaches, the substate district is essentially an administrative tool of states.  Generally there are a variety of agency based multi-jurisdictional substate district systems used by departments and agencies for program administration.  While they may interface with localities and local officials for planning and programming, there is rarely a representative organizational structure.  The Federal Metropolitan Planning Organization process is an exception, but it is confined to the defined urbanized areas and is for transportation planning only.  Regional councils are, or can be, multi-issue in their planning.

"The prototype uses the state based COG/regional council alignments as the substate region.  Most states have complete systems.For Delaware and Hawaii, the county is the substate region.  Compared to other systems of substate regions, the COG/regional councils have the advantage of local government representation appointed by the member local governments, the responsibility for a variety of planning processes which include local government planners, and, in many cases, the ability to implement or promote the implementation of regional programs.  Having worked together for over 40 years in some regions, there is some “regional community” social capital.  Staffs work with communities and their data, in effect cultivating “regional intelligence.”  Multi-state councils enable coordination across state lines, while operating consistent with regional council requirements of each state.  A national, single-layer of substate regions is the base product. If substate region boundaries are renegotiated, as is underway in Connecticut, the codes can be changed to match new alignments.  Multi-state regions are the sum of substate components.

Sub-State Region Maps for the U.S.

In 2011, two posts were made showing substate region maps for COGs/Regional Councils and alternatives for those with incomplete systems by state. Part 1 - Maine to Texas and Part 2 - Michigan to Hawaii

If you are interested in more information, send me an email for the current paper and related information. Tom.Christoffel (at) gmail.com

Global Geocode Library Organizes U.S. Sub-state and Multi-state Region Wikipedia Pages Geographically

The Global Geocodes were designed to support analysis of sub-national political geographies. In the case of the United States, there are sub-state regions – counties or their equivalent, and multi-jurisdictional regions of these political entities, within a state or multi-state and, including municipalities within those units.

For this level, the nation code 5140 with its two digit decimal number, has a two digit field for multi-county regions and a two digit field  for counties or county equivalents within that region. Within regions, codes are assigned using the directional path North to South, then East to West (NSEW). 

In this example, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia are shown. The District is at the center of several multi-state regions. The components in Maryland and Virginia are, for the most part, also in organized regional groupings.
  
For the purpose of this work, the County or equivalent is considered the original sub-state region. Delaware, with three counties, has no multi-state regions, but the coding accomplishes putting them in geographic order north to south. 

A map follows of the Mid-Atlantic States showing multi-jurisdiction regions. It includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia which have different approaches to multi-county regions.  


Subnational Geocode County/ Independent City/Former City             State/Sub-state Region/Multi-State Geocode Library Use Organizes Sub-state Region and Multi-State Wikipedia and Web Pages Geographically
5140.100000 Delaware http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware
5140.100010 New Castle County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Castle_County,_Delaware
5140.100020 Kent County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_County,_Delaware
5140.100030 Sussex County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sussex_County,_Delaware
5140.110000 Maryland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland
5140.111010 Garrett County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_County,_Maryland
5140.111020 Allegany County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegany_County,_Maryland
5140.111030 Washington County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Maryland
5140.111099 Tri-County Council for Western Maryland http://www.tccwmd.org/
5140.112010 Frederick County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_County,_Maryland
5140.112020 Montgomery County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_County,_Maryland
5140.112030 Prince Georges County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_George%27s_County,_Maryland
5140.112099 Suburban Washington Region http://www.mwcog.org/
5140.113010 Charles County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_County,_Maryland
5140.113020 St. Marys County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mary%27s_County,_Maryland
5140.113030 Calvert County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvert_County,_Maryland
5140.113099 Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland http://www.tccsmd.org/index.cfm?content=55&Menu=27
5140.114010 Harford County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harford_County,_Maryland
5140.114020 Baltimore County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_County,_Maryland
5140.114030 City of Baltimore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore
5140.114040 Carroll County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroll_County,_Maryland
5140.114050 Howard County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_County,_Maryland
5140.114060 Anne Arundel County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Arundel_County,_Maryland
5140.114099 Baltimore Metropolitan Council http://www.baltometro.org/
5140.115010 Cecil County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_County,_Maryland
5140.115020 Kent County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_County,_Maryland
5140.115030 Queen Annes County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Anne%27s_County,_Maryland
5140.115099 Upper Shore Regional Council http://www.uppershoreregionalcouncil.org/
5140.116010 Caroline County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_County,_Maryland
5140.116020 Talbot County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talbot_County,_Maryland
5140.116030 Dorchester County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorchester_County,_Maryland
5140.116099 Mid-Shore Regional Council http://www.midshore.org/index.html
5140.117010 Worcester County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_County,_Maryland
5140.117020 Wicomico County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicomico_County,_Maryland
5140.117030 Somerset County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_County,_Maryland
5140.117099 Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore http://www.lowershore.org/
5140.120000 Washington District of Columbia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.
5140.121099 Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments  http://www.mwcog.org/about/jurisdiction/
5140.122099 National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board http://www.mwcog.org/transportation/tpb/jurisdictions.asp
5140.123099 National Capital Region - Homeland Security  http://www.capitalregionupdates.gov/go/doc/4063/1130963/
5140.124099 Washington Metropolitan Area http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Metropolitan_Area#Political_subdivisions
5140.130000 Virginia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia
5140.130310 Wise County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wise_County,_Virginia
5140.130320 City of Norton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton,_Virginia
5140.130330 Lee County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_County,_Virginia
5140.130340 Scott County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_County,_Virginia
5140.130399 LENOWISCO Planning District Commission http://www.lenowisco.org/
5140.130610 Buchanan County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchanan_County,_Virginia
5140.130620 Tazewell County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tazewell_County,_Virginia
5140.130630 Russell County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_County,_Virginia
5140.130640 Dickenson County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickenson_County,_Virginia
5140.130699 Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission http://www.cppdc.com/
5140.130910 Bland County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bland_County,_Virginia
5140.130920 Wythe County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wythe_County,_Virginia
5140.130930 Carroll County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroll_County,_Virginia
5140.130940 City of Galax http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galax,_Virginia
5140.130950 Grayson County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayson_County,_Virginia
5140.130960 Smyth County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smyth_County,_Virginia
5140.130970 Washington County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Virginia
5140.130980 City of Bristol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol,_Virginia
5140.130999 Mount Rogers Planning District Commission http://www.mrpdc.org/
5140.131210 Giles County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_County,_Virginia
5140.131220 Montgomery County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_County,_Virginia
5140.131230 City of Radford http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radford,_Virginia
5140.131240 Pulaski County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulaski_County,_Virginia
5140.131250 Floyd County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_County,_Virginia
5140.131299 New River Valley Planning District Commission http://www.nrvpdc.org/
5140.131510 Alleghany County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alleghany_County,_Virginia
5140.131520 City of Covington http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covington,_Virginia
5140.131530 Town of Clifton Forge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Forge,_Virginia
5140.131540 Botetourt County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botetourt_County,_Virginia
5140.131550 Roanoke County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_County,_Virginia
5140.131560 City of Roanoke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke,_Virginia
5140.131570 City of Salem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem,_Virginia
5140.131580 Craig County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_County,_Virginia
5140.131599 Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_Valley-Alleghany_Regional_Commission
5140.131805 Rockingham County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockingham_County,_Virginia
5140.131810 City of Harrisonburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrisonburg,_Virginia
5140.131815 Augusta County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusta_County,_Virginia
5140.131820 City of Staunton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staunton,_Virginia
5140.131825 City of Waynesboro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waynesboro,_Virginia
5140.131830 Rockbridge County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockbridge_County,_Virginia
5140.131835 City of Lexington http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Virginia
5140.131840 City of Buena Vista http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista,_Virginia
5140.131845 Bath County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_County,_Virginia
5140.131850 Highland County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_County,_Virginia
5140.131899 Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission http://www.cspdc.org/
5140.132110 Frederick County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_County,_Virginia
5140.132120 City of Winchester http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester,_Virginia
5140.132130 Clarke County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarke_County,_Virginia
5140.132140 Warren County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_County,_Virginia
5140.132150 Shenandoah County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_County,_Virginia
5140.132160 Page County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_County,_Virginia
5140.132199 Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission http://www.nsvregion.org/
5140.132410 Arlington County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_County,_Virginia
5140.132420 City of Alexandria http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria,_Virginia
5140.132430 Fairfax County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfax_County,_Virginia
5140.132440 City of Falls Church http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_Church,_Virginia
5140.132450 City of Fairfax http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfax,_Virginia
5140.132460 Loudoun County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudoun_County,_Virginia
5140.132470 Prince William County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_William_County,_Virginia
5140.132480 City of Manassas Park http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manassas_Park,_Virginia
5140.132490 City of Manassas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manassas,_Virginia
5140.132499 Northern Virginia Regional Commission http://www.novaregion.org/
5140.132710 Fauquier County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauquier_County,_Virginia
5140.132720 Rappahannock County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rappahannock_County,_Virginia
5140.132730 Culpeper County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culpeper_County,_Virginia
5140.132740 Madison County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_County,_Virginia
5140.132750 Orange County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_Virginia
5140.132799 Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rappahannock-Rapidan_Regional_Commission
5140.133010 Greene County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greene_County,_Virginia
5140.133020 Albemarle County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albemarle_County,_Virginia
5140.133030 City of Charlottesville http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlottesville,_Virginia
5140.133040 Louisa County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_County,_Virginia
5140.133050 Fluvanna County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluvanna_County,_Virginia
5140.133060 Nelson County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_County,_Virginia
5140.133099 Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission http://www.tjpdc.org/
5140.133310 Amherst County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amherst_County,_Virginia
5140.133320 Bedford County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_County,_Virginia
5140.133330 City of Bedford http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford,_Virginia
5140.133340 City of Lynchburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynchburg,_Virginia
5140.133350 Campbell County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_County,_Virginia
5140.133360 Appomattox County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appomattox_County,_Virginia
5140.133399 Region 2000 (Central Virginia) http://www.region2000.org/
5140.133610 Franklin County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_County,_Virginia
5140.133620 Patrick County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_County,_Virginia
5140.133630 Henry County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_County,_Virginia
5140.133640 City of Martinsville http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martinsville,_Virginia
5140.133650 Pittsylvania County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsylvania_County,_Virginia
5140.133660 City of Danville http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danville,_Virginia
5140.133699 West Piedmont Planning District Commission http://www.wppdc.org/
5140.133910 Halifax County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_County,_Virginia
5140.133920 Town of South Boston http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Boston,_Virginia
5140.133930 Mecklenburg County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecklenburg_County,_Virginia
5140.133940 Brunswick County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_County,_Virginia
5140.133999 Southside Planning District Commission http://www.southsidepdc.org/
5140.134210 Buckingham County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_County,_Virginia
5140.134220 Cumberland County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_County,_Virginia
5140.134230 Amelia County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_County,_Virginia
5140.134240 Nottoway County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottoway_County,_Virginia
5140.134250 Prince Edward County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_County,_Virginia
5140.134260 Charlotte County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_County,_Virginia
5140.134270 Lunenburg County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunenburg_County,_Virginia
5140.134299 Commonwealth Regional Council http://www.virginiasheartland.org/
5140.134510 Hanover County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover_County,_Virginia
5140.134520 New Kent County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Kent_County,_Virginia
5140.134530 Charles City County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_City_County,_Virginia
5140.134540 Henrico County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrico_County,_Virginia
5140.134550 City of Richmond http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia
5140.134560 Chesterfield County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesterfield_County,_Virginia
5140.134570 Powhatan County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powhatan_County,_Virginia
5140.134580 Goochland County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goochland_County,_Virginia
5140.134599 Richmond Regional Planning District Commission http://www.richmondregional.org/
5140.134810 Spotsylvania County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotsylvania_County,_Virginia
5140.134820 City of Fredericksburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredericksburg,_Virginia
5140.134830 Stafford County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_County,_Virginia
5140.134840 King George County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_George_County,_Virginia
5140.134850 Caroline County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_County,_Virginia
5140.134899 George Washington Regional Commission http://www.gwregion.org/
5140.135110 Westmoreland County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmoreland_County,_Virginia
5140.135120 Richmond County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_County,_Virginia
5140.135130 Northumberland County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northumberland_County,_Virginia
5140.135140 Lancaster County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster_County,_Virginia
5140.135199 Northern Neck Planning District Commission http://www.nnpdc17.state.va.us/
5140.135410 Essex County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_County,_Virginia
5140.135420 King and Queen County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_and_Queen_County,_Virginia
5140.135430 Middlesex County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesex_County,_Virginia
5140.135440 Gloucester County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucester_County,_Virginia
5140.135450 Mathews County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathews_County,_Virginia
5140.135499 King William County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_William_County,_Virginia
5140.135499 Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission http://www.mppdc.com/
5140.135710 Surry County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surry_County,_Virginia
5140.135720 Prince George County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_George_County,_Virginia
5140.135730 City of Hopewell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Virginia
5140.135740 City of Colonial Heights http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Heights,_Virginia
5140.135750 City of Petersburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petersburg,_Virginia
5140.135760 Dinwiddie County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinwiddie_County,_Virginia
5140.135770 Sussex County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sussex_County,_Virginia
5140.135780 Greensville County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensville_County,_Virginia
5140.135790 City of Emporia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emporia,_Virginia
5140.135799 Crater Planning District Commission http://www.craterpdc.org/
5140.136005 City of Poquoson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poquoson,_Virginia
5140.136010 York County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_County,_Virginia
5140.136015 James City County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_City_County,_Virginia
5140.136020 City of Williamsburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg,_Virginia
5140.136025 City of Newport News http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia
5140.136030 City of Hampton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton,_Virginia
5140.136040 Southampton County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_County,_Virginia
5140.136045 City of Franklin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin,_Virginia
5140.136050 Isle of Wight County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Wight_County,_Virginia
5140.136055 City of Suffolk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk,_Virginia
5140.136060 City of Chesapeake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake,_Virginia
5140.136065 City of Portsmouth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_Virginia
5140.136070 City of Norfolk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia
5140.136075 City of Virginia Beach http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia
5140.136099 Hampton Roads Planning District Commission http://www.hrpdc.org/
5140.136310 Accomack County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accomack_County,_Virginia
5140.136320 Northampton County http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northampton_County,_Virginia
5140.136399 Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission http://a-npdc.org/

Some information is in the "Geocode Introduction" sidebar. If you are interested in more information, send me an email for the current paper and related information. Tom.Christoffel (at) gmail.com