The Anderson Classification System:

The Anderson et al. 1976 (modified 1999) classification system is a hierarchical system based on four digits. The four digits represent one to four levels of classification: Level I, general, Level II descriptive, Level III, detailed, and Level IV, most detailed. Therefore the first digit in the code is the Level I general classification. The first two digits reveal the Level II descriptive code, the first three digits a more detailed description, while all four digits represent the most detailed level of classification.

For example the code 4311 represents:

4--- Forestland

43-- Forestland, Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

431. 431-- Forestland, Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous, Coniferous Prevalent (>50% Coniferous)

4311 Forestland, Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous, Coniferous Prevalent (> 50% Coniferous), 10% - 50% Crown Closure

The baseline LU/LC layer was originally compiled using a modified Anderson classification at level II with some level III detail. For the 1995/97 LU/LC project, III and IV level detail was added to the 1100 and 4000 land use categories. For specific details regarding these classes, please refer to ANDERSON.HTML, found at:

Note that some land use codes and labels will appear only in the 1986 attribute fields. These codes are identified by a single asterisk (*) in the list below. These codes were general land use categories that were broken down into more detailed levels for the update. However, where a polygon completely changed from one land use category to another, the detailed code could not be retroactively applied to the 1986 category. There are also several codes that appear only in the 1995 attribute fields, since these categories were not applicable to the 1986 data. These codes are indicated by a double asterisk (**) in the list below. All other codes may appear in either the 1986 data or the 1995/97 data.

URBAN LANDS: 1000 SERIES

1100 *

"Residential"

1110

"Residential (High Density or Multiple Dwelling)"

1120

"Residential (Single Unit, Medium Density)"

1130

"Residential (Single Unit, Low Density)"

1140

"Residential (Rural, Single Unit)"

1150

"Mixed Residential"

1200

"Commercial and Services"

1211

"Military Reservations"

1214 **

"Former Military; Indeterminate Use"

1300

"Industrial"

1400

"Transportation/Communication/Utilities"

1461

"Wetland Rights-of-Way (Modified)"

1500

"Industrial and Commercial Complexes"

1600

"Mixed Urban or Built-up Land"

1700

"Other Urban or Built-up Land"

1750

"Managed Wetland, in Maintained Lawn Greenspace"

1800

"Recreational Land"

1804

"Athletic Fields (Schools)"

1850

"Managed Wetland, in Built-up Maintained Rec Area"

AGRICULTURE: 2000 SERIES

2100

"Cropland and Pastureland"

2200

"Orchards, Vineyards, Nurseries, Horticultural Areas"

2140

"Agricultural Wetlands (Modified)"

2150 **

"Former Agricultural Wetlands- Becoming Shrubby not Built-up"

2300

"Confined Feeding Operations"

2400

"Other Agriculture"

FOREST: 4000 SERIES

4100 *

"Deciduous Forest"

4110

"Deciduous Forest (10-50% Crown Closure)"

4120

"Deciduous Forest (>50% Crown Closure)"

4200 *

"Coniferous Forest"

4210

"Coniferous Forest (10-50% Crown Closure)"

4220

"Coniferous Forest (>50% Crown Closure)"

4230

"Plantation"

4300 *

"Mixed Forest"

4311

"Mixed Forest (>50% Coniferous with 10-50% Crown Closure)"

4312

"Mixed Forest (>50% Coniferous with >50% Crown Closure)"

4321

"Mixed Forest (>50% Deciduous with 10-50% Crown Closure)"

4322

"Mixed Forest (>50% Deciduous with >50% Crown Closure)"

4400 *

"Brushland/Shrubland"

4410

"Old Field"

4420

"Deciduous Brush/Shrubland"

4430

"Coniferous Brush/Shrubland"

4440

"Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous Brush/Shrubland"

4500 **

"Severe Burned Upland Vegetation"

WATER: 5000 SERIES

5100

"Streams and Canals"

5200

"Natural Lakes"

5300

"Artificial Lakes and Reservoirs"

5410

"Tidal Rivers, Inland Bays and Other Tidal Waters"

5411

"Open Tidal Bays"

5420

"Dredged Lagoon"

5430

"Atlantic Ocean"

WETLANDS: 6000 SERIES

6110

"Saline Marshes"

6120

"Freshwater Tidal Marshes"

6130

"Vegetated Dune Communities"

6210

"Deciduous Wooded Wetlands"

6220

"Coniferous Wooded Wetlands"

6221

"Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands"

6231

"Deciduous Scrub/Shrub Wetlands"

6232

"Coniferous Scrub/Shrub Wetlands"

6233

"Mixed Scrub/Shrub Wetlands (Deciduous Dom.)"

6234

"Mixed Scrub/Shrub Wetlands (Coniferous Dom.)"

6240

"Herbaceous Wetlands"

6251

"Mixed Forested Wetlands (Deciduous Dom.)"

6252

"Mixed Forested Wetlands (Coniferous Dom.)"

6500 **

"Severe Burned Wetlands"

BARREN LANDS: 7000 SERIES

7100

"Beaches"

7200

"Bare Exposed Rock, Rock Slides, etc."

7300

"Extractive Mining"

7400

"Altered Lands"

7430

"Disturbed Wetlands (Modified)"

7500

"Transitional Areas"

7600

"Undifferentiated Barren Lands"

8000 *

"Managed Wetlands (Modified)"