The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), contains information about physical and cultural geographic features in the United States and associated areas, both current and historical, but not including roads and highways. The database also contains geographic names in Antarctica. The database holds the Federally recognized name of each feature and defines the location of the feature by state, county, USGS topographic map, and geographic coordinates. Other feature attributes include names or spellings other than the official name, feature designations, feature class, historical and descriptive information, and for some categories of features the geometric boundaries. The database assigns a unique feature identifier, a random number, that is a key for accessing, integrating, or reconciling GNIS data with other data sets. The GNIS is our Nation's official repository of domestic geographic feature names information.
The GNIS is the official vehicle for geographic names use by the Federal Government and the source for applying geographic names to Federal maps & other products. The GNIS supports the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), a Federal body created in 1890 and established in its present form by Public Law in 1947. The Board serves the Federal Government, other government agencies, and the public as the central authority to which name inquiries, name issues, and new name proposals can be directed. The GNIS provides the data to government agencies and to the public. The GNIS also supports the U.S. Geological Survey National Map (http://nationalmap.usgs.gov/) as the source for the gazetteer search in The National Map viewer and as an active layer in The National Map for Federal boundaries and geographic features not available from state or local sources.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names Comprised of representatives of Federal agencies, appointed for 2-year terms, the Board is authorized to establish and maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government. Sharing its responsibilities with the Secretary of the Interior, the Board has developed principles, policies, and procedures governing the use of both domestic and foreign geographic names as well as undersea and Antarctic feature names.
The Geographic Names Information System was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
523 National Center
ground condition
None
None. Acknowledgement of the U.S. Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from these data.
The National Map, is a seamless, continuously maintained set of public domain geographic base information that serves as a foundation for integrating, sharing, and using other data easily and consistently. The National Map viewer is a Web-enabled portal to all of the geospatial information contained in The National Map. This portal not only supports on-line access to the geospatial information, but also allows the download of digital data and creation of cartographic products. The GNIS supports The National Map as the source for the gazetteer search in The National Map viewer and as an active layer in The National Map for Federal boundaries and other geographic features not available from state or local sources.
The National Atlas summarizes national-scale geographical information and delivers easy to use, map-like views of America's natural and sociocultural landscapes. This digital version revises a large bound collection of paper maps that was published in 1970. The Atlas serves a diverse populace as an essential reference, a framework for information discovery, an instrument of education, an aid in research, and a reliable source of government information. It includes stimulating products and services for children and adults to understand complex relationships among environments, places, and people. It contributes to our knowledge of the environmental, resource, demographic, economic, social, political, and historical dimensions of American life. Though it cannot display detailed map information, the Atlas directs users to other sources for this information. The GNIS provides geographic feature, location, and attribute data to the National Atlas.
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is a comprehensive set of digital spatial data that contains information about surface water features such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, springs and wells. Within the NHD, surface water features are combined to form "reaches," which provide the framework for linking water-related data to the NHD surface water drainage network. These linkages enable the analysis and display of these water-related data in upstream and downstream order. The GNIS provides geographic feature name data to the National Hydrography Dataset.
The GEOnet Names Server (GNS) provides access to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency's (NIMA) database of foreign geographic feature names. The database is the official repository of foreign place-name decisions approved by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (US BGN). Approximately 20,000 of the database's features are updated monthly.
LandView is a desktop mapping system that searches and maps selected information from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Census Bureau, and the U.S. Geological Survey. LandView contains a large subset of GNIS feature, location, and attribute data for the United States. It is available on DVD. See the LandView web site for information concerning the latest edition and ordering.
| Boundary | Coordinate |
|---|---|
| Left | 686860.765000 (survey feet) |
| Right | 1320780.193000 (survey feet) |
| Top | 967008.870000 (survey feet) |
| Bottom | 555518.328000 (survey feet) |
| Boundary | Coordinate |
|---|---|
| West | -73.903983 (longitude) |
| East | -71.567862 (longitude) |
| North | 42.114983 (latitude) |
| South | 40.979788 (latitude) |
A geographic feature is any relatively permanent part of the natural or manmade landscape or seascape that has recognizable identity within a particular cultural context. The primary attributes of a geographic feature are name and location.
Principles, Policies, and Procedures: Domestic Geographic Names, By Donald J. Orth, Executive Secretary, Domestic Geographic Names (emeritus) and Roger L. Payne, Executive Secretary, United States Board on Geographic Names and Domestic Geographic Names, Third printing (revised) and Preliminary Online Edition, 1997 (http://geonames.usgs.gov/pppdgn.html).
Internal feature number.
ESRI
Feature Identification- A random unique identifying number for a geographic feature. This number is assigned by the Geographic Names Information System and used as a relational key for uniquely identifying, indexing, and searching geographic features and for integrating or reconciling GNIS data with other data sets. The number has no information content.
| Range | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 1 |
| Maximum | 9,999,999,999 |
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
Feature Name - A geographic feature name and its written form and application approved or recognized as official by the United States Board on Geographic Names for use throughout the Federal Government. The official name is established either by policy or by decision of the Board on Geographic Names. A geographic feature may have only one official name.
| Codeset | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Principles, Policies, and Procedures: Domestic Geographic Names |
| Source |
Principles, Policies, and Procedures: Domestic Geographic Names, By Donald J. Orth, Executive Secretary, Domestic Geographic Names (emeritus) and Roger L. Payne, Executive Secretary, United States Board on Geographic Names and Domestic Geographic Names, Third printing (revised) and Preliminary Online Edition, 1997 (http://geonames.usgs.gov/pppdgn.html). |
Principles, Policies, and Procedures: Domestic Geographic Names, By Donald J. Orth, Executive Secretary, Domestic Geographic Names (emeritus) and Roger L. Payne, Executive Secretary, United States Board on Geographic Names and Domestic Geographic Names, Third printing (revised) and Preliminary Online Edition, 1997 (http://geonames.usgs.gov/pppdgn.html).
Feature Class - A feature class is a designation for a group of features in a broadly defined descriptive category. All features are assigned to one and only one class. They do not individually classify all kinds of cultural and natural features. By design, there are no Federal or industry standards or guidelines for feature classification. These classifications originally were developed for mainframe file structure search purposes. Although the terms are generally consistent with dictionary definitions, they may not conform exactly and are not always intuitive. Feature class values and definitions for the Geographic Names Information System from Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523 (gnis_manager@usgs.gov).
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| airport |
Manmade facility maintained for the use of aircraft (airfield, airstrip, landing field, landing strip). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| arch |
Natural arch-like opening in a rock mass (bridge, natural bridge, sea arch). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| area |
Any one of several areally extensive natural features not included in other categories (badlands, barren, delta, fan, garden). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| arroyo |
Watercourse or channel through which water may occasionally flow (coulee, draw, gully, wash). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| bar |
Natural accumulation of sand, gravel, or alluvium forming an underwater or exposed embankment (ledge, reef, sandbar, shoal, spit). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| basin |
Natural depression or relatively low area enclosed by higher land (amphitheater, cirque, pit, sink). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| bay |
Indentation of a coastline or shoreline enclosing a part of a body of water; a body of water partly surrounded by land (arm, bight, cove, estuary, gulf, inlet, sound). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| beach |
The sloping shore along a body of water that is washed by waves or tides and is usually covered by sand or gravel (coast, shore, strand). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| bench |
Area of relatively level land on the flank of an elevation such as a hill, ridge, or mountain where the slope of the land rises on one side and descends on the opposite side (level). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| bend |
Curve in the course of a stream and (or) the land within the curve; a curve in a linear body of water (bottom, loop, meander). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| bridge |
Manmade structure carrying a trail, road, or other transportation system across a body of water or depression (causeway, overpass, trestle). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| building |
A manmade structure with walls and a roof for protection of people and (or) materials, but not including church, hospital, or school. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| canal |
Manmade waterway used by watercraft or for drainage, irrigation, mining, or water power (ditch, lateral). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| cape |
Projection of land extending into a body of water (lea, neck, peninsula, point). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| cemetery |
A place or area for burying the dead (burial, burying ground, grave, memorial garden). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| channel |
Linear deep part of a body of water through which the main volume of water flows and is frequently used as aroute for watercraft (passage, reach, strait, thoroughfare, throughfare). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| church |
A building used for religious worship (chapel, mosque, synagogue, tabernacle, temple). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| civil |
A political division formed for administrative purposes (borough, county, municipio, parish, town, township). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| crater |
Circular-shaped depression at the summit of a volcanic cone or one on the surface of the land caused by the impact of a meteorite; a manmade depression caused by an explosion (caldera, lua). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| crossing |
A place where two or more routes of transportation form a junction or intersection (overpass, underpass). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| dam |
Water barrier or embankment built across the course of a stream or into a body of water to control and (or) impound the flow of water (breakwater, dike, jetty) |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| falls |
Perpendicular or very steep fall of water in the course of a stream (cascade, cataract, waterfall). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| flat |
Relative level area within a region of greater relief (clearing, glade, playa). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| forest |
Bounded area of woods, forest, or grassland under the administration of a political agency (see "woods") (national forest, national grasslands, State forest). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| gap |
Low point or opening between hills or mountains or in a ridge or mountain range (col, notch, pass, saddle, water gap, wind gap). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| geyser |
Eruptive spring from which hot water and (or) steam and in some cases mud are periodically thrown. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| glacier |
Body or stream of ice moving outward and downslope from an area of accumulation; an area of relatively permanent snow or ice on the top or side of a mountain or mountainous area (icefield, ice patch, snow patch). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| gut |
Relatively small coastal waterway connecting larger bodies of water or other waterways (creek, inlet, slough). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| harbor |
Sheltered area of water where ships or other watercraft can anchor or dock (hono, port, roads, roadstead). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| hospital |
Building where the sick or injured may receive medical or surgical attention (infirmary). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| island |
Area of dry or relatively dry land surrounded by water or low wetland (archipelago, atoll, cay, hammock, hummock, isla, isle, key, moku, rock). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| isthmus |
Narrow section of land in a body of water connecting two larger land areas. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| lake |
Natural body of inland water (backwater, lac, lagoon, laguna, pond, pool, resaca, waterhole). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| lava |
Formations resulting from the consolidation of molten rock on the surface of the Earth (kepula, lava flow). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| levee |
Natural or manmade embankment flanking a stream (bank, berm). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| locale |
Place at which there is or was human activity; it does not include populated places, mines, and dams (battlefield, crossroad, camp, farm, ghost town, landing, railroad siding, ranch, ruins, site, station, windmill). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| mine |
Place or area from which commercial minerals are or were removed from the Earth; not including oilfield (pit, quarry, shaft). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| military (historical) |
Place or facility formerly used for various aspects of or relating to military activity. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| oilfield |
Area where petroleum is or was removed from the Earth. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| other |
Category for miscellaneous named entities that cannot readily be placed in the other feature classes listed here. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| park |
Place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or natural resource and under some form of government administration; not including National or State forests or Reserves (national historical landmark, national park, State park, wilderness area). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| pillar |
Vertical, standing, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation (chimney, monument, pinnacle, pohaku, rock tower). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| plain |
A region of general uniform slope, comparatively level and of considerable extent (grassland, highland, kula, plateau, upland). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| Post Office |
(Formerly abbreviated as PO) an official facility of the U.S. Postal Service used for processing and distributing mail and other postal material. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| Populated Place |
(Formerly abbreviated as ppl) place or area with clustered or scattered buildings and a permanent human population (city, settlement, town, village). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| range |
Chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| rapids |
Fast-flowing section of a stream, often shallow and with exposed rock or boulders (riffle, ripple). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| reserve |
A tract of land set aside for a specific use (does not include forests, civil divisions, parks). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| reservoir |
Artificially impounded body of water (lake, tank). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| ridge |
Elevation with a narrow, elongated crest which can be part of a hill or mountain (crest, cuesta, escarpment, hogback, lae, rim, spur). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| school |
Building or group of buildings used as an institution for study, teaching, and learning (academy, college, high school, university). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| sea |
Large body of salt water (gulf, ocean). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| spring |
Place where underground water flows naturally to the surface of the Earth (seep). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| stream |
Linear body of water flowing on the Earth's surface (anabranch, awawa, bayou, branch, brook, creek, distributary, fork, kill, pup, rio, river, run, slough). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| summit |
Prominent elevation rising above the surrounding level of the Earth's surface; does not include pillars, ridges, or ranges (ahu, berg, bald, butte, cerro, colina, cone, cumbre, dome, head, hill, horn, knob, knoll, mauna, mesa, mesita, mound, mount, mountain, peak, puu, rock, sugarloaf, table, volcano). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| swamp |
Poorly drained wetland, fresh or saltwater, wooded or grassy, possibly covered with open water (bog, cienega, marais, marsh, pocosin). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| tower |
A manmade structure, higher than its diameter, generally used for observation, storage, or electronic transmission. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| trail |
Route for passage from one point to another; does not include roads or highways (jeep trail, path, ski trail). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| tunnel |
Linear underground passageway open at both ends. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| valley |
Linear depression in the Earth's surface that generally slopes from one end to the other (barranca, canyon, chasm, cove, draw, glen, gorge, gulch, gulf, hollow, ravine). |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| well |
Manmade shaft or hole in the Earth's surface used to obtain fluid or gaseous materials. |
Definition Source: USGS | |
| woods |
Small area covered with a dense growth of trees; does not include an area of trees under the administration of a political agency (see "forest"). |
Definition Source: USGS |
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523 (gnis_manager@usgs.gov).
State - The state or states or state equivalents containing the geographic feature. This dataset contains features in States of the United States, the District of Columbia, territories, outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas. This is relational data, not spatial data. The data owner specifies the value(s) associated with each geographic feature. Values are represented by state name, state numeric code, and state alpha code. This data may be particularly helpful for features having no known, recognized, standard, or available boundary data.
| Codeset | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Codes For The Identification Of The States, The District Of Columbia And The Outlying Areas Of The United States, And Associated Areas. |
| Source |
Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 5-2, Codes For The Identification Of The States, The District Of Columbia And The Outlying Areas Of The United States, And Associated Areas. |
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
State Number - The state or states or state equivalents containing the geographic feature. This dataset contains features in States of the United States, the District of Columbia, territories, outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas. This is relational data, not spatial data. The data owner specifies the value(s) associated with each geographic feature. Values are represented by state name, state numeric code, and state alpha code. This data may be particularly helpful for features having no known, recognized, standard, or available boundary data.
| Codeset | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Codes For The Identification Of The States, The District Of Columbia And The Outlying Areas Of The United States, And Associated Areas. |
| Source |
Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 5-2, Codes For The Identification Of The States, The District Of Columbia And The Outlying Areas Of The United States, And Associated Areas. |
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
County - The county or counties or county equivalents containing the geographic feature. This dataset contains features in counties or county equivalents of the states of the United States, the District of Columbia, territories, outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas. This is relational data, not spatial data. The data owner specifies the value(s) associated with each geographic feature. Values are represented by county name and county numeric code. This data applies particularly to features for which there is no known, recognized, standard, or available boundary data.
| Codeset | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Counties And Equivalent Entities Of The United States, Its Possessions, And Associated Areas. |
| Source |
Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 6-4, Counties And Equivalent Entities Of The United States, Its Possessions, And Associated Areas. |
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
County Number - The county or counties or county equivalents containing the geographic feature. This dataset contains features in counties or county equivalents of the states of the United States, the District of Columbia, territories, outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas. This is relational data, not spatial data. The data owner specifies the value(s) associated with each geographic feature. Values are represented by county name and county numeric code. This data applies particularly to features for which there is no known, recognized, standard, or available boundary data.
| Codeset | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Counties And Equivalent Entities Of The United States, Its Possessions, And Associated Areas. |
| Source |
Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 6-4, Counties And Equivalent Entities Of The United States, Its Possessions, And Associated Areas. |
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
Primary Point Latitude - The latitude of a point locating a geographic feature, also termed the feature application. Along with the feature name, the application is approved or recognized as official either by policy or by decision of the United States Board on Geographic Names for use throughout the Federal Government. A geographic feature may have only one primary point regardless of size or extent. A point feature is defined by this single set of coordinates on the USGS National Base Map series at a scale of 1:24000 or 1:25000. The primary point of a linear feature depends on the feature class. If feature class equals stream, valley or arroyo, the primary point is the mouth. The primary point of a canal, channel, or trail is the center. The primary point of a ridge is the highest point. The primary point of an areal feature is the approximate geographic center with the following exceptions: The primary point of a populated place is the center of original place such as the city or town hall, main post office, or town square regardless of changes over time. The primary point of a reservoir is the center of the dam. The primary point of a summit, range, ridge, or pillar is the highest point. The primary point has a sequence number of 1. These points do not represent boundaries or geometries and should not be confused with them. An application may be displayed as latitude and longitude data or as a point in a geographic information system, and may be applied as label points.
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
Primary Point Longitude - The longitude of a point locating a geographic feature, also termed the feature "application." Along with the feature name, the application is approved or recognized as official either by policy or by decision of the United States Board on Geographic Names for use throughout the Federal Government. A geographic feature may have only one primary point regardless of size or extent. A point feature is defined by this single set of coordinates on the USGS National Base Map series at a scale of 1:24000 or 1:25000. The primary point of a linear feature depends on the feature class. If feature class equals stream, valley or arroyo, the primary point is the mouth. The primary point of a canal, channel, or trail is the center. The primary point of a ridge is the highest point. The primary point of an areal feature is the approximate geographic center with the following exceptions: The primary point of a populated place is the center of original place such as the city or town hall, main post office, or town square regardless of changes over time. The primary point of a reservoir is the center of the dam. The primary point of a summit, range, ridge, or pillar is the highest point. The primary point has a sequence number of 1. These points do not represent boundaries or geometries and should not be confused with them. An application may be displayed as latitude and longitude data or as a point in a geographic information system, and may be applied as label points.
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
Primary Point Latitude (decimal degrees) - The latitude of a point locating a geographic feature, also termed the feature application. Along with the feature name, the application is approved or recognized as official either by policy or by decision of the United States Board on Geographic Names for use throughout the Federal Government. A geographic feature may have only one primary point regardless of size or extent. A point feature is defined by this single set of coordinates on the USGS National Base Map series at a scale of 1:24000 or 1:25000. The primary point of a linear feature depends on the feature class. If feature class equals stream, valley or arroyo, the primary point is the mouth. The primary point of a canal, channel, or trail is the center. The primary point of a ridge is the highest point. The primary point of an areal feature is the approximate geographic center with the following exceptions: The primary point of a populated place is the center of original place such as the city or town hall, main post office, or town square regardless of changes over time. The primary point of a reservoir is the center of the dam. The primary point of a summit, range, ridge, or pillar is the highest point. The primary point has a sequence number of 1. These points do not represent boundaries or geometries and should not be confused with them. An application may be displayed as latitude and longitude data or as a point in a geographic information system, and may be applied as label points.
| Range | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum | -90.00000 latitude |
| Maximum | 72.00000 latitude |
| Attribute units of measurement | Decimal degrees |
| Attribute measurement resolution | 0.00001 |
Geographic Names Office, USGS, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-0523.
Primary Point Longitude (decimal degrees) - The longitude of a point locating a geographic feature, also termed the feature "application." Along with the feature name, the application is approved or recognized as official either by policy or by decision of the United States Board on Geographic Names for use throughout the Federal Government. A geographic feature may have only one primary point regardless of size or extent. A point feature is defined by this single set of coordinates on the USGS National Base Map series at a scale of 1:24000 or 1:25000. The primary point of a linear feature depends on the feature class. If feature class equals stream, valley or arroyo, the primary point is the mouth. The primary point of a canal, channel, or trail is the center. The primary point of a ridge is the highest point. The primary point of an areal feature is the approximate geographic center with the following exceptions: The primary point of a populated place is the center of original place such as the city or town hall, main post office, or town square regardless of changes over time. The primary point of a reservoir is the center of the dam. The primary point of a summit, range, ridge, or pillar is the highest point. The primary point has a sequence number of 1. These points do not represent boundaries or geometries and should not be confused with them. An application may be displayed as latitude and longitude data or as a point in a geographic information system, and may be applied as label points.