to make a list instance in a 2010 SharePoint project...

In Visual Studio, I first, in the global Elements.xml, added a ContentType called "LocationTypes" which had just one FieldRef referencing a Text type Field called "TypeOfLocation." I then followed these steps:

1. At the Solution Explorer, the right-clicked and picked: Add > New Item...
    
2. I picked "List Definition From Content Type" from the menu that popped up. This will create BOTH a List which is sort of a template/definition for an instantiation AND an actual instantiation called a List Instance.
    
3. I went through a brief wizard. I picked a content type and gave a friendly name for the list. The list was created with a list instance nested inside of it.
    
4. The Elements.xml inside of the instance looks like the following. Some of this was generated, but some of this I doctored up. I manually added the four rows and I manually changed the Title value to something easy on the eye.
   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
   <Elements xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/">
      <ListInstance Title="Location Types"
                           OnQuickLaunch="TRUE"
                           TemplateType="10000"
                           Url="Lists/SharePoint.FSC.AOPC-ListInstance1"
                           Description="My List Instance">
         <Data>
            <Rows>
               <Row>
                  <Field Name="TypeOfLocation">Area</Field>
               </Row>
               <Row>
                  <Field Name="TypeOfLocation">MSN</Field>
               </Row>
               <Row>
                  <Field Name="TypeOfLocation">Office#</Field>
               </Row>
               <Row>
                  <Field Name="TypeOfLocation">VISN</Field>
               </Row>
            </Rows>
         </Data>
      </ListInstance>
   </Elements>
    
5. In Schema.xml for the list itself I changed this...
   <ViewFields>
      <FieldRef Name="Attachments">
      </FieldRef>
      <FieldRef Name="LinkTitle">
      </FieldRef>
   </ViewFields>
   ...to this...
   <ViewFields>
      <FieldRef Name="TypeOfLocation">
      </FieldRef>
   </ViewFields>
   ...in order to ensure that my column was unhidden at the list instance and not the default columns.