Geographic Names Information System

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The logo of the United States Geological Survey

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer. GNIS was developed by the United States Geological Survey in cooperation with the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) to promote the standardization of feature names.

The database is part of a system that includes topographic map names and bibliographic references. The names of books and historic maps that confirm the feature or place name are cited. Variant names, alternatives to official federal names for a feature, are also recorded. Each feature receives a permanent, unique feature record identifier, sometimes called the GNIS identifier.[1] The database never removes an entry, "except in cases of obvious duplication."[2]

Name changes

The GNIS accepts proposals for new or changed names for U.S. geographical features. The general public can make proposals at the GNIS web site and can review the justifications and supporters of the proposals.

Other authorities

See also

References

  1. "US Census County Based TIGER/Line® 2009 Data Dictionary: Entity, Joins, Attributes, and Domains". Archived from the original on 27 June 2014.
  2. Cartographic Users Advisory Council (CUAC) (April 26–27, 2007). 2007 Agency Presentation Minutes. Reston, VA: US Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.

Further reading

External links

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