Why are my find counts in some states different from GC.com?

Question

For example, gc.com shows I have 99 caches in Kansas, but project-gc.com shows I have 100.

There are a couple other states that are off by 1, also.

Answer 1

Very probably because of different models for determining where a cache is. geocaching.com lets the CO enter a state where the cache is and considers the cache to be in that state whether that's true or not. project-gc.com uses map data to determine in what state the cache coordinates are actually located.

For some caches the CO has simply entered the wrong state. For others, the CO has entered what they think is the right state but haven't known where the actual border is. State border signs aren't necessarily placed exactly on the state border, for instance. Thus, just because you placed the cache a few meters behind the state border sign that doesn't mean the cache is in the state supposed to be on the back side of the sign.

The bottom line: if you are travelling and want to log caches in different states, make sure to pick caches that are not just a few meters from the border.

Comments

I believe I agree with your answer.  I found a virtual cache on the Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado border.  The GC state is listed as OK, but when I input the coordinates in Google Earth, the pin is about two feet into Kansas, given the GE boundaries are accurate.  Thank you, pinkunicorn.