Northampton Coordinate System

About the System

The Northampton Coordinate System (NCS) is an old, local horizontal control datum no longer in use. It is convertible to Mass State Plane (MSP) NAD27 as follows:

  • NCS Northing + 469,700 = MSP NAD27
  • NCS Easting + 264,000 = MSP NAD27

Conversions

  • MSP NAD27 must then be converted to MSP NAD83 using software like NADCON/CORPSCON, available from National Geodetic Survey.
  • NAD27 is less accurate than NAD83 and should be avoided whenever possible. Even a careful conversion may produce serious errors since the control itself contains error.