USGS National Map Geographic Names Downloadable Data Collection
Dates
Publication Date
2022
Summary
In support of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN), the USGS maintains the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) which is the Federal authoritative repository for official geographic names and locations for the United States, Territories, Associated Areas, and Antarctica. Information from GNIS is used on Federal products including The National Map Viewer and USGS topographic maps. GNIS contains natural and administrative geographic names for features such as mountains, lakes, streams, valleys, populated places, schools, cemeteries, and hospitals but does not contain the names of roads and highways. The GNIS does not define the extent of a feature; rather it provides attributes to determine the relative extent. Information [...]
Summary
In support of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN), the USGS maintains the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) which is the Federal authoritative repository for official geographic names and locations for the United States, Territories, Associated Areas, and Antarctica. Information from GNIS is used on Federal products including The National Map Viewer and USGS topographic maps. GNIS contains natural and administrative geographic names for features such as mountains, lakes, streams, valleys, populated places, schools, cemeteries, and hospitals but does not contain the names of roads and highways. The GNIS does not define the extent of a feature; rather it provides attributes to determine the relative extent. Information about the BGN may be found at https://usgs.gov/geonames and information about GNIS may be found at https://usgs.gov/geonames/domestic-names. To search the GNIS database, click Search Domestic Names. The GNIS Feature ID, Official Feature Name, and Official Feature Location are American National Standards Institute standards as specified in ANSI INCITS 446-2008 (Identifying Attributes for Named Physical and Cultural Geographic Features (Except Roads and Highways) of the United States, Its Territories, Outlying Areas, and Freely Associated Areas, and the Waters of the Same to the Limit of the Twelve-Mile Statutory Zone.)
