Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for identifying one or more locations in a selected geographic region of interest. In certain cases a processor-executed method for generating location identification codes is provided. The method includes receiving information about a selected geographic region, a standard areal unit, and a predetermined set of characters, and then generating one or more location identification codes after determining the total number of areal units in the region and the number of character positions in the code. An interactive mapping system includes inputs/outputs, memory, and a processor programmed to receive a location identification code, retrieve and display a location description for verification, and retrieve and display map data corresponding to the location identification code.