Geographic Names Information System

Geographic Names Information System, or GNIS is a database that contains name and location information of almost two million geographic features in the United States and dependent territories. GNIS was built by the United States Geological Survey in cooperation with the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN ) to promote the standardization of naming geographical objects.

The database contains the names of geographical objects and references to topographic maps, including information on the geographical location and bibliographic references. Books and historical maps, by which the existence of a geographic object is confirmed, are listed in the database, including differing historical or alternative, unofficial names.

Other authorities on behalf determining geographical locations

• The Bureau of the Census defines Census-designated places, which may consist of several listed in the GNIS locations.
• The U.S. Postal Service Publication 28 sets standards for addressing mail. Two -letter codes are determined by the Postal Service determined that designating the State, as well as solid abbreviations for streets, such as boulevard ( BLVD ) and street (ST ) or downstream distinguishing features, such as suite ( STE).
• The name of the post office was formerly used for the determination of place names.

Name Changes

Proposals for amendment of names of geographical objects can be addressed to the GNIS, the evidence must be provided that the proposal is justified; the submission of endorser lists is required.

Publications on the subject

• U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, National Mapping Division, Digital gazeteer: Users Manual, ( Reston, Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey, 1994).
• Heat Moon, William Least, Blue Highways: A Journey Into America, ( Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1982).
• Jouris, David, All Over The Map, (Berkeley, California: Ten Speed ​​Press, 1994. ).
• Report: "Countries, Dependencies, Areas Of Special Sovereignty, And Their Principal Administrative Divisions, " Federal Information Processing Standards, FIPS 10-4.
• Report: "Principles, Policies, and Procedures: Domestic Geographic Names, " U.S. Board of Geographic Names, 1997.
• U.S. Postal Service Publication 28, November 2000.