USGS DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHIC DATA STANDARDS 

USGS Circular 895-A: Overview and USGS Activities 

B: Digital Elevation Models 

C: Digital Line Graphs from 1:24,000-Scale Maps 

D· Digital Line Graphs from 1:2,000,000-Scale Maps 

E: Land Use and Land Cover Digital Data 

F: Geographic Names Information System 

G: Digital Line Graph Attribute Coding Standards 

Questions regarding availability and ordering of US GeoData (all 

types of digital cartographic and geographic data produced and 

distributed by the u.s. Geological Survey) should be addressed to: 

User Services Section 

National Cartographic Information Center 

u.s. Geological Survey 

507 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

Technical questions and comments should be addressed to: 

Chief, National Mapping Division 

u.s. Geological Survey 

516 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

Any use of trade names and trademarks in this publication is for 

identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the 

u.s. Geological Survey. 
GEOGRAPHIC NAMES INFORMATION SYSTEM 

By Roger L. Payne 

USGS Digital Cartographic Data Standards 

Edited by Robert B. McEwen, Richard E. Witmer, and Benjamin s. Ramey 

Geological Survey Circular 895-F 

1983 
United States Department of the Interior 

JAMES G. WATT, Secretary 

Geological Survey 

Dallas L. Peck, Director 

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 

Payne, Roger L., 1946-

USGS digital cartographic data standards. The 

Geographic Names Information System. 

(u.s. Geological Survey circular ; 895-F) 

Bibliography: p. 

Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.4/2:895-F, 

1. Names, Geographical--United States--Data processing. 

2. Digital mapping--Standards. I. Title. II. Title: 

U.S.G.S. digital cartographic data standards. The 

Geographic Names Information System. III. Series. 

El55.P39 1983 025'.0691 83-600187 

Free on application to Distribution Branch, Text Products Section, 

U. S. Geological Survey, 604 South Pickett Street, Alexandria, VA 22304 
FOREWORD 

In recent years, the disciplines of cartography and geography have undergone a rapid and striking reorientation as the 

techniques for digital collection and manipulation of data have 

evolved from fledgling laboratory procedures into dominant and 

driving forces that now pervade the disciplines. Digital tech-

~-have provided a variety of new and powerful capabilities 

to collect, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial data. 

However, this evolution also has introduced a number of new and 

complex problems. One of the most pressing problems, and one 

which is receiving particular attention at present, is the issue 

of digital cartographic data standards. 

The u.s. Geological Survey (USGS) has been actively 

developing digital cartographic and geographic techniques for 

over a decade and has taken significant steps to develop and 

define in-house standards governing the various types of 

digital cartographic data that are being collected and archived 

in a national digital cartographic data base. The in-house 

standards are expressed in the form of specifications documents 

that were prepared to govern collection of the data and in the 

form of user guides that were prepared for distribution with 

the data. 

In an effort to fulfill lead agency requirements for 

promulgation of Federal standards in the earth sciences, the 

documents have been assembled with explanatory text into this 

USGS Circular consisting of separately bound chapters. This 

Circular describes some of the pertinent issues relating to 

digital cartographic data standards, documents the digital 

cartographic data standards currently in use within the USGS 

National Mapping Division, and details USGS efforts to define 

national digital cartographic data standards. 

Chapter A is an overview in which the major issues involved 

in developing digital cartographic data standards are discussed 

and the activities of the USGS related to digital cartographic 

data production and standards development are described in 

detail. Succeeding chapters comprise the pertinent documents 

that establish USGS in-house standards for the various types of 

digital cartographic data currently produced by the National 

Mapping Division--that is, digital elevation data, digital 

planimetric data, digital land use and land cover data, and 

digital geographic names data. 

This compendium of relevant material is prepared to serve 

as a benchmark and to assist ongoing efforts to establish 

acceptable standards and conventions for both Federal agencies 

and the public. 

Dallas L. Peck 

Director, 

u.s. Geological Survey 

Department of the Interior 

iii 

R. B. Southard 

Chief, 

National Mapping Division 

u.s. Geological Survey 
PREFACE 

This Circular is the result of the efforts of numerous individuals who have contributed to the research, development, and 

preparation of various digital cartographic and geographic standards for the National Mapping Division of the u.s. Geological 

Survey. The individuals named as chapter authors represent both 

the originators of the various concepts as well as the writers 

who expanded and clarified these ideas. Their contributions, 

either to the concepts or the writing, are of such magnitude as 

to warrant crediting as authors. 

Atef A. Elassal was largely responsible for the original 

data structures and computer file formats that are used for the 

digital line graphs and digital elevation models. The attribute 

coding scheme was first developed by members of the Digital 

Applications Team under the direction of Robert B. McEwen. The 

Geographic Names Information System was conceived and developed 

by Sam Stulberg and Roger L. Payne. The Geographic Information 

Retrieval and Analysis System was developed by Robin G. Fegeas, 

K. Eric Anderson, Stephen c. Guptill, Cheryl A. Hallam, and 

William B. Mitchell. The small-scale digital line graph data 

structure and attribute coding scheme was developed by Warren E. 

Schmidt and Michael A. Domaratz. 

The Circular was compiled in part from various user guides 

and technical instructions of the National Mapping Division. 

These documents were originally prepared by several individuals; 

credit is acknowledged to G. Michael Callahan, A. Joan Szeide, 

William R. Allder, Vincent M. Caruso, Hugh w. Calkins, Donna 

Cedar-Southworth, and Cheryl A. Hallam. The compilation of the 

various guides, instructions, and other material into the 

Circular format was performed with major assistance by Clark H. 

Cramer, Eloise R. Byrd, and Cynthia L. Cunningham. 

We acknowledge these substantial contributions that have led 

to this publication. 

iv 
CONTENTS 

Foreword ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • 

Preface ••••.••••.•.••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Abstract •..•••••.•......•••••••••..•••.•......•..•••.•.•••. 

Introduction 

System development ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Products •.••••.•.•••.•••.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Maintenance ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • 

Description of the 

Record content 

Data elements 

data bases •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

National Geographic Names Data Base ••••••••••••••• 

USGS Topographic Map Names Data Base •••••••••••••• 

Generic Data Base ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

National Atlas Data Base •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Board on Geographic Names Data Base ••••••••••••••• 

Appendix A. categories of named features not yet included 

in the Geographic Names Information System •••• 

Appendix B. Geographic Names Information System feature 

Appendix c. 

Appendix D. 

class definitions ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Parenthetical descriptors used with names ••••• 

Sample records from the National Geographic 

Page 

iii 

iv 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

3 

3 

3 

3 

8 

11 

12 

13 

17 

18 

22 

Names Data Base ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 23 

Table 1. 

s. 

TABLES 

Labels and data elements from the National 

Geographic Names Data Base ••••••••••••••••••••• 

Labels and data elements from the USGS 

Topographic Map Names Data Base •••••••••••••••• 

Labels and data elements from the Generic 

Data Base •••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Labels and data elements from the National Atlas 

Data Base ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • 

Labels and data elements from the Board on 

Page 

4 

9 

11 

12 

Geographic Names Data Base ••••••••••••••••••••• 13 

v 

USGS Digital Cartographic Data Standards 

GEOGRAPHIC NAMES INFORMATION SYSTEM 

By Roger L. Payne 

Abstract 

The discipline of cartography is 

undergoing a number of profound changes 

that center on the emerging influence of 

digital manipulation and analysis of 

data for the preparation of cartographic 

materials and for use in geographic information systems. Operational requirements have led to the development by the 

USGS National Mapping Division of several 

documents that establish in-house digital 

cartographic standards. 

In an effort to fulfill lead agency 

requirements for promulgation of Federal 

standards in the earth sciences, the 

documents have been edited and assembled 

with explanatory text into a USGS 

Circular. This Circular describes some 

of the pertinent issues relative to 

digital cartographic data standards, 

documents the digital cartographic data 

standards currently in use within the 

USGS, and details the efforts of the USGS 

related to the definition of national 

digital cartographic data standards. It 

consists of several chapters; the first 

is a general overview, and each succeeding chapter is made up from documents 

that establish in-house standards for one 

of the various types of digital cartographic data currently produced. This 

chapter 895-F, describes the Geographic 

Names Information System used to manage 

names and related information that have 

been digitized from maps and records of 

the USGS and from other sources. 

INTRODUCTION 

The Geographic Names Information 

System (GNIS) was developed by the u.s. 

Geological Survey (USGS) to meet major 

national needs regarding geographic names 

and their standardization and dissemination. Information in the system can be 

retrieved, manipulated, arranged, and 

analyzed to meet the needs of a wide 

variety of users for either research or 

application. Primarily, GNIS was 

designed to: 

1. Assist in establishing uniform geographic name usage throughout the 

Federal Government in cooperation 

with the u.s. Board on Geographic 

Names; 

2. Provide an index of names found on 

Federal, State, and other maps; 

3. Eliminate duplication in time and 

money spent by GovE-rnment agencies, 

industry, and institutions to 

organize similar data files for 

specific needs; 

4. Provide an interface for integrating 

data from other systems for multidisciplinary use; 

5. Provide for standardization of data 

elements and their coded representation for use within the information 

processing community; and 

6. Meet Federal public information 

requirements prescribed by law. 

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 

The GNIS is currently composed of 

five data bases: 

1. National Geographic Names Data Base, 

2. USGS Topographic Map Names Data Base, 

3. Generic Data Base, 

4. National Atlas Data Base, and 

5. Board on Geographic Names Data Base. 
Research and initial compilation of 

data for the GNIS was begun in 1968, and 

test data were collected and completed 

for Massachusetts. In 1976, geographic 

names data for Kansas and Colorado were 

collected as a pilot project to determine 

the feasibility of compilation on a 

national scale. After analysis and favorable evaluation of this pilot project, 

geographic names data for the remaining 

States and territories were compiled from 

1978 through 1981. The initial compilation, or Phase I, is now complete, and 

the system includes most named features 

on all of the maps in the USGS topographic map series except roads and highways, communication towers, and triangulation stations. As maps with the 

largest scale available were used during 

the initial compilation, the majority of 

the names were compiled from 1:24,000-

scale, 7.5-minute topographic maps. When 

there were no published 7. 5-minute maps 

or advance copies with names available, 

15-minute maps were used; when there was 

no coverage by either series of maps, 

1:250,000-scale maps were used. 

After the initial compilatio~ the 

geograp~c names in each State were 

edited• by comparing the, computer file 

with the accumulated records of the u.s. 

Board on Geographic Names (BGN). This 

edit was a comparison of names on a 

one-to-one basis, which is a precise 

method of finding and correcting errors. 

When the initial edit of the geographic 

names in a State was completed, the corrections were made, and other information 

such as variant names and BGN data were 

added. 

Optimum use and effectiveness of the 

automated names system requires that the 

names of features not recorded on topographic maps be added, together with 

specific types of features excluded from 

compilation during Phase I (see Appendix 

A) and other names of importance to researchers and users, such as historical 

and variant names. The systematic 

collection of names from other sources, 

including maps, charts, and texts, as 

well as historical sources, is termed 

Phase II. 

2 

PRODUCTS 

A standard format product is available with each name listed as a 132-

character line of information designed to 

provide at least some information from 

most of the locative data elements. This 

format is also an alphabetized listing of 

all of the names in a particular State or 

territory and is available in the form 

of spiral-bound alphabetical listings, 

microfiche, and magnetic tapes. Specialized searches may be tailored to the 

individual needs of the user. Results of 

specialized searches are usually provided 

as computer printouts or magnetic tapes 

but may also be obtained as spiral-bound 

books or microfiche. An interactive or 

online version to retrieve, arrange, 

manipulate, and analyze information is 

available for use at the Geological 

Survey headquarters and its regional 

mapping centers. A special, more formal 

publication is The National Gazetteer of 

the United States of America, published 

as u.s. Geological Survey Professional 

Paper 1200. The geographic names in each 

State and territory will be published as 

separate volumes in the gazetteer series 

when Phase I I compilation and edit have 

been completed. 

MAINTENANCE 

The GNIS is maintained by the USGS 

National Mapping Division. Each regional 

mapping center compiles and formats new 

name data and minor corrections, which 

are electronically transmitted to the 

GNIS staff for a final check before the 

data are entered. The u.s. Board on 

Geographic Names transmits information 

directly to the system concerning the 

resolution of geographic names found to 

be in conflict on Federal sources. A 

series of checks and balances assures 

integrity and security so that all users 

can retrieve and use data with 

confidence. 

The maintenance schedule is on a 

continual basis, and flexibility is 

built into the system for any needed 
maintenance adjustment. All users have 

retrieval capability, but only the GNIS 

staff has the capability to alter, add, 

or remove information. GNIS is maintained at the USGS National Center by 

the Branch of Geographic Names, and the 

system resides and operates on an Amdahl 

V7 computer. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA BASES 

A record consists of a name and its 

associated data, but, because names may 

be duplicated, each record is given a 

unique eight-digit number. The first 

two digits of this number identify the 

data base, and the rernaJ.nJ.ng six digits 

identify the specific record within the 

data base. 

RECORD CONTENT 

One of the most important concepts in 

GNIS is the nature of the data or what 

kind of data are present. The following 

tables list an abbreviated form (label) 

of the data elements in each of the five 

data bases and their meaning, followed by 

a detailed explanation of each data 

element. Sample records from one of the 

data bases, the National Geographic Names 

Data Base, are given in Appendix D. To 

properly search and retrieve information, 

the user must be thoroughly familiar with 

the contents of the system, as well as 

the commands. 

DATA ELEMENTS 

National Geographic Names Data Base 

The National Geographic Names Data 

Base is the primary and largest data base 

in GNIS and contains 57 files representing each State, territory, and the 

District of Columbia. Ea~h State file 

contains, as a minimum, the names cornpiled from the USGS topographic map 

series, but many State files contain information from other source materials. 

Eventually, all State and territory 

files will contain information from 

other sources. Each file name consists 

3 

of seven letters using the first four 

letters of the State or territory name 

followed by the letters GAZ. States or 

territories having two or more words use 

the first letter of the first word, followed by the first three letters of the 

last word. For example, the file name 

for New York is NYORGAZ. One exception 

is the file name for Missouri, which is 

MOSSGAZ, to avoid conflict with the file 

name for Mississippi (MISSGAZ). There 

are presently two files for the State of 

Alaska--ALASDIC and ALASGAZ. ALASDIC is 

the automated version of the Dictionary 

of Alaska Place Names, published as u.s. 

Geological Survey Professional Paper 567 

in 1967, and includes descriptions and 

historical notes. ALASGAZ is the newer 

version digitized from the latest maps. 

Eventually, these two versions will be 

combined into one Alaska file. 

The following data element descriptions are designed to provide the necessary information for understanding and 

retrieving data. Table 1 lists each 

data element and the appropriate abbreviation used when retrieving data. 

BIBLIO - A variable length alphanumeric coded entry that references the 

exact source for each name in the State 

or territory that was not compiled from 

the USGS topographic map series in the 

initial compilation. The first two characters of the code are the alphabetical 

State Federal Information Processing 

Standards (FIPS) code, followed by a 

hyphen and an M or a T corresponding to 

Map or Text respectively. The M or T is 

followed by one or more digits that are a 

specific reference to a fully documented 

and annotated bibliographic entry describing the source material and relative 

worth of the source from which that name 

was obtained. If the source used is an 

atlas or text, the code will be followed 

by a slash (/) and a specific reference 

to a map or page in the source. The 

complete bibliographic entry is located 

in the Generic Data Base. The absence of 

a code indicates that the name waP cornpiled during Phase I (1978-1981) from the 

most current largest scale USGS topographic map. Information in this element 

will be added as each volume of the gazetteer series (Professional Paper 1200) 

is published. 
Table 1.--Labels and data elements from 

~he National Geographic Names 

Data Base 

Label 

(Abbreviation) 

BIBLIO 

BGN 

COUNTY 

DATE 

DESCR 

DESIG 

DRAIN 

ELEV 

GENRE 

HEADS 

HIST 

LATLONG 

LOC 

MAP 

MAP NAME 

NAME 

NUMBER 

POP 

PRIMARY 

QUAD 

SIZE 

SPDESIG 

SPEC 

STATE 

STATUS 

TAG 

TR 

VAR 

ZIP 

Data Element 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC CODE 

BGN DECISION 

COUNTY NAME 

YEAR OF NAME ORIGIN 

DESCRIPTION 

TYPE OF FEATURE 

RIVER BASIN CODE 

ELEVATION (FT) 

GENERIC 

SOURCE OF FEATURE (LATLONG) 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES 

STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE 

GNIS MAP NUMBER 

MAP OR CHART NAME 

FEATURE NAME 

ID NUMBER 

POPULATION (1980) 

CENTER OF AREAL FEATURES/ 

MOUTH OF LINEAR FEATURES 

USGS QUADRANGLE CODE 

SIZE 

SPECIAL DESIGNATOR (DETAILED) 

SPECIAL CODES 

NAME OF STATE (FIPS) 

FEDERAL STATUS 

SORT ACCORDING 70 BGN RULES 

TOWNSHIP, RANGE, AND SECTION 

VARIANT NAME(S) 

POSTAL ZIP CODE 

BGN - A variable length alphanumeric 

field that represents, if present, the 

year a decision was rendered by the u.s. 

Board on Geographic Names (BGN) because 

the name was found to have conflicting 

usage on Federal sources and required 

special research. A special entry is the 

word •statutory• followed by a space and 

the year, which represents a name approved by an act of Congress. There may 

be multiple dates for the same name, 

with each entry separated by a blank. 

Multiple dates mean that the BGN had to 

revise a former ruling because the name 

changed or the application of the name 

to the feature changed. 

COUNTY - The variable length upperand lower-case name that represents the 

primary civil division (county level) in 

which the primary coordinate of the feature is located. Unlike the data element 

4 

LOC, which indicates all counties in 

which a feature is located, this element 

contains only the county in which ·the 

primary coordinate (center or mouth) is 

located. 

DATE - The year or approximate year 

(if known) that the feature name came 

into being. This data element may contain some text describing the circumstances of the naming. The element is 

not actively used in any file at this 

time. 

DESCR - Upper- and lower-case text 

that defines the situation, or relative 

position, to nearby features and to at 

least one close, well-known feature, 

usually a major town or city. Distances 

are provided, as well as the name of all 

major and minor civil divisions associated with the feature. The data 

element is active only in ALASDIC and 

MASSGAZ at this time. 

DESIG A variable length totally 

lower-case alphabetical element that is 

designed to group similar features into 

broadly designated categories to facilitate search and retrieval. Appendix B 

contains a list of categories and their 

definitions. These categories can be 

altered only by approval from the GNIS 

data base manager. The Generic Data Base 

contains a cross-reference for every 

generic thus far encountered in the 

compilation of the National Geographic 

Names Data Base. 

DRAIN - An entry that represents the 

drainage basins of fluvial systems as 

coded by the USGS Water Resources 

Division. These codes are available only 

in MASSGAZ and are outdated. They have 

been superseded by a new coding system 

which will be added to all files at a 

later date. 

ELEV - A variable length field containing up to five characters that give 

the height above or depth below sea 

level, in feet, of the highest point or 

lowest point respectively. The entry is 

present only if a published elevation was 

directly associated with the feature. 

Generally no interpolation was made, and 

metric conversion will be accomplished 

at a later date. The ALASDIC file contains some ranges of elevations separated 

by a hyphen, in addition to the single 

elevation entry. States and territories 

that have been completed through Phase II 
contain interpolated elevations for populated places, locales, and summits; some 

other features compiled during Phase II 

may have interpolated elevations. Data 

in this field are left justified and 

therefore must be treated as decimal data 

when sorting. 

GENRE - Refers to the generic portion 

of a name that usually identifies the 

kind of feature and usually follows the 

substantive part of the name. In some 

cases, the generic may be in the first 

position, followed by the specific or 

substantive part of the name. Some names 

contain false generics, as in the case of 

Big River, which is a populated place and 

not a river. The generic may indicate 

very subtle differences in feature types, 

but care should be taken because the 

naming process includes a great deal of 

subjectivity, including whimsical and 

direct misnaming. Currently, this data 

element is active only in MASSGAZ and the 

Board on Geographic Names Data Base; however, most generic searches may be accomplished by using the NAME data element. 

HEADS - A fixed alphanumeric field 

provided to indicate the source of linear 

features. The format is identical to 

that of the geographic coordinates in 

LATLONG; however, there can be only one 

source coordinate. The source coordinate 

corresponds to the last entry in the data 

element MAP unless the source coordinate 

is not within the State, in which case no 

corresponding map number is provided. 

The source of a linear feature is not 

always indicated by the name placement on 

the map; therefore, the guideline applied 

was that the source of linear features 

not properly identified by name placement, textual description, or any other 

indicative variable should be taken to 

the source of the longest, straightest 

drain. This guideline is in accordance 

with the policies of the U.S. Board on 

Geographic Names. 

HIST - A variable length upper- and 

lower-case text that provides as much 

information as is available from all 

known reputable sources about the 

physical and cultural history of a named 

feature. Additionally, special attention 

is given to name origin, if known, and 

detail is provided for background 

research. At present, the element is 

active only in ALASDIC and MASSGAZ. 

5 

LATLONG - An entry that contains the 

official geographic coordinates in a 

variable length alphanumeric field with 

each coordinate compressed and fixed at 

15 characters. Latitude and longitude 

are to degrees, minutes, and seconds, 

and each is followed by a one-character 

letter directional. If the degrees of 

longitude are less than 100, a leading 

zero is required. The first coordinate 

in this element is termed the primary 

coordinate. In the case of areal features, this coordinate represents the 

approximate center of the feature, while 

the primary coordinate of linear features 

represents the mouth. The mouth is where 

the feature joins another feature, ends 

in a delta or is an alluvial fan, or no 

longer has a discernable channel or 

trough-like characteristics. All subsequent coordinates in this element are 

termed secondary coordinates and are 

designed to associate the feature with 

each 7.5-minute topographic map on which 

it is located. The required location of 

the secondary coordinate is simply anywhere on the feature and on the topographic map with which it is associated. 

Strict guidelines were established as to 

the point where each kind of feature is 

digitized (see the Generic Data Base), 

and the geographic coordinates are 

accurate to within .±. 5 seconds of latitude or longitude. An. exception occurs 

with large populated places or cities. 

The guideline for digitizing areal features requires the coordinate to be taken 

in the center, but the location of the 

center of a large city is somewhat subjective. Additional guidelines were suggested for determining the center of 

large populated places, such as the location of the city hall or town hall, main 

post office, main library, central business district, or main intersection. The 

primary coordinate corresponds to the 

first number in the data element MAP and 

the entry for the data elements QUAD and 

MAPNAME. All subsequent coordinates 

correspond on a one-to-one basis with the 

entries in the data element MAP. An exception occurs if the primary coordinate 

is outside the State, in which case no 

corresponding map number is provided. 

Also, multiple coordinates for linear 

features are in order from mouth to 

source while multiple coordinates for 
areal features are generally from the 

center outward. 

LOC - A variable length alphanumeric 

field that contains one or more fivedigit FIPS codes referring to the State 

and county. The first two digits refer 

to the State or terri tory and the last 

three refer to the county, parish, municipio, or other civil division. Codes 

for all counties in which a feature is 

located are present with multiple entries 

separated by a blank. Multiple county 

codes are ordered from mouth to source 

for linear features and generally from 

the center outward for areal features. 

All codes are numeric except where the 

State or territory borders a foreign 

country, where the appropriate twocharacter alphabetical FIPS code is used; 

for example, CA for Canada, MX for 

Mexico, UR for the Soviet Union, UK for 

the United Kingdom, and WS for Western 

Samoa. 

MAP A variable length fourcharacter alphanumeric entry with leading 

zeros, if appropriate, that refers to 

each USGS topographic map (published or 

planned). This data element includes all 

topographic maps associated with the feature and multiple entries are separated 

by a blank. If Phase I I has been completed, it is possible that the feature 

may be shown but not named on the topographic map. Entries found outside the 

bounds of topographic map coverage are 

properly coded with the map series from 

which they were taken; for example, 

entries from National Ocean Service 

charts outside the border of any topographic map are coded NOS CHART 12345 

(using the appropriate five-digit 

number). The GNIS four-digit numbering 

system begins in the northwest corner of 

each State or territory and continues 

from west to east while progressing 

latitudinally southward. Note that no 

map number is provided for the primary 

coordinate, secondary coordinate, or the 

source coordinate, if they are not within 

the State. The final entry in this element is the map on which the source 

coordinate is located. The first entry 

corresponds to the first entry in LATLONG 

and the entries in MAPNAME and QUAD, with 

subsequent entries corresponding on a 

one-to-one basis to the subsequent coordinates in LATLONG. 

6 

MAPNAME - The variable length upperand lower-case entry that represents the 

map name exactly as it appears on the 

USGS topographic map. The element contains only one map name or the map name 

on which the primary coordinate is 

located and differs from the data element 

MAP, which contains all topographic map 

numbers on which the feature is located. 

As in the data element MAP, if the feature falls completely outside the bounds 

of USGS topographic map coverage, a reference to the source map is present. The 

entry in this data element corresponds to 

the coded entry in QUAD and to the first 

entry in LATLONG and MAP. If the primary 

coordinate is located outside the State 

or terri tory, the name of the map followed by a blank and the two-character 

alphabetical State FIPS code are 

recorded. 

NAME - A variable length upper- and 

lower-case alphanumeric entry that indicates the official geographic name and, 

in many cases, the generic or type of 

feature. Some entries are followed by a 

space and an asterisk which indicate that 

there is a diacritical mark somewhere in 

the name. This arrangement is temporary 

and will soon be replaced by the appropriate diacritical mark and the removal 

of the asterisk. In some cases the 

generic may be in the first position, 

and followed by the specific name. In 

this case, if the feature is a physical 

feature the generic is reversed; for 

example; Mount Saint Helens becomes Saint 

Helens, Mount. Names with a false 

generic are not reversed; for example, 

Mount Olive, which is a populated place 

and not a mountain, remains Mount Olive. 

Some names are followed by a parerathetical entry which provides addi tiona! information about the name: for example, 

Gold Town (historical site), Seven 

Springs (flowing), Big Flat (mud). 

Appendix c contains a complete listing 

of parenthetical entries encountered 

thus far. Unedited geographic names may 

have a number symbol ( #) or some other 

special character preceding the name, 

which indicates a problem with the name 

that will be resolved during the first 

edit. Also, the ALASGAZ file contains 

some names with a blank preceding the 

name. This indicates that the longitude 

is East even though a W is present. The 
proper directional will be applied during 

the first edit. A special entry for a 

name is •12345• representing an entry 

used only by the GNIS staff; it should 

not be selected when searching the data 

base or when formulating the logic 

statement. 

NUMBER - A fixed eight-digit number 

that is _the unique identifier of each 

feature and its associated information. 

The first two digits correspond to the 

State numeric FIPS code. This is the 

only data element that must exist for 

each record and is for GNIS internal use. 

POP - The population of all named 

features in the feature class category 

of populated place and, if applicable, 

locale. The data element is inactive at 

this time but will be activated with the 

addition of the 1980 census data. The 

data element will also be expanded to 

include ranking of populated places. 

PRIMARY - A fixed alphanumeric field 

of 15 characters which represents only 

the primary coordinate or the first coordinate in the LATLONG data element. It 

indicates the center of areal features 

and the mouth of linear features. This 

element, while somewhat redundant, allows 

more efficient coordinate searches and 

selective printing when only the primary 

coordinate is desired. Caution should be 

used with this element because complete 

coordinate searches require the use of 

the data element LATLONG. 

QUAD A fixed alphanumeric field 

that contains eight characters of the 

USGS topographic map coding system. The 

first five digits represent the degrees 

of latitude and longitude of the particular 1° latitude x 1° longitude square in 

which the map is located, followed by a 

hyphen and a specific alphanumeric code 

identifying one of the 64 7.5-minute 

cells in the 1° x 1° square. The rows of 

the square are coded A through H, and the 

columns are coded 1 through 8, each 

beginning in the southeast corner of the 

1° x 1° area. The only entry is the code 

for the 7.5-minute topographic map on 

which the primary coordinate of a feature 

is located. If the primary coordinate is 

located outside the State or territory, 

the coded entry will be for the first map 

in the State or territory on which the 

feature is located. 

7 

SIZE - A short variable length phrase 

that gives the length of linear features 

and the width of areal features in 

English units. This element is active in 

ALASDIC and MASSGAZ, and the element is 

being utilized in the compilation of 

Phase II data. 

SPDESIG - A variable length data element that is a further refinement of the 

broad categories in DESIG. Special 

information is provided allowing more 

sophisticated search and retrieval of information based upon categories and subcategories of information relating to 

types of features. For example, all 

places where airplanes and helicopters 

land are coded •airport.• Privately 

owned airports have special information 

to allow search and retrieval on a subcategory. Another example is the differentiation of public and private 

recreation facilities. This element is 

active in States and territories that 

have completed Phase II compilation. 

SPEC - A special numeric reference 

code that relates to specific characteristics of the named feature such as 

source material; language of origin; 

unusual characteristics; number of words 

in the name; whether descriptive, associative, or comparative; or any other 

known characteristic of the name. This 

data element is currently available in 

MASSGAZ only. 

STATE - A fixed alphabetical element 

that contains the two-character FIPS code 

for States and territories. The element 

is not active at this time, but will be 

activated when a merged master file is 

created. 

STATUS - An entry that provides the 

Federal standing of each name in the data 

base. Entries indicate whether the name 

is official according to the policies of 

the u.s. Board on Geographic Names (BGN); 

has had special research and consideration by the Board (BGN YEAR); is official 

by an act of Congress (US YEAR); is administrative according to Federal, State, 

or local organizations (ADMIN); or is 

unofficial (UNOFF) and not within the 

purview of the BGN or any other administrative body. 

STR - A data element that identifies 

the appropriate township, range, and section in which the feature occurs. The 
township and range system was established 

in the late 18th century to systematically divide Federal lands. The original 

13 States and Vermont, Tennessee, 

Kentucky, West Virginia, Maine, Texas, 

Hawaii, part of Ohio, and all territories 

are not included in the township and 

range system. The element is not active 

at this time but has a high priority for 

early consideration. 

TAG - A special fixed numeric code 

that consists of the first two digits of 

the FIPS code for the State or territory 

followed by consecutive numbers in increments of one hundred to facilitate sorting. These special codes enable the 

sorting rules of the BGN to be applied. 

Data from this element should be used 

only with the SORT command. The element 

is active only in States or territories 

that have been completed through Phase 

II. 

VAR - A variable length upper- and 

lower-case field containing any other 

current name, former name, or former 

spellings of the current official name. 

If more than one variant is present, they 

are arranged alphabetically and separated 

by a comma and a blank. Additionally, if 

BGN rendered a formal decision for what 

is now a variant, the year of that decision is given in parentheses following 

the variant name with which it is associated. A variant obtained from a source 

other than the BGN is followed by a code 

in parentheses that is a reference to a 

complete annotated bibliography of the 

source. The code may also be followed by 

a map or page number, if the variant was 

obtained from an atlas or a text. All 

complete annotated bibliographies reside 

in the Generic Data Base. 

ZIP - Contain the five-digit postal 

zip code associated with names within 

populated places and, if applicable, 

locales. The data element may be expanded to include the zip codes of all 

feature names. This element is inactive 

at this time. 

USGS Topographic Map Names Data Base 

The USGS Topographic Map Names Data 

Base contains 57 separate files; the 

1:24,000-scale topographic map names for 

each State and territory represent 56 of 

8 

the files and a separate file contains 

information about 1:100,000- and 

1:250,000-scale quadrangle maps. 

The file naming convention for this 

data base is similar to that of the 

National Geographic Names Data Base. 

Each State and territory is a separate 

file, and each file name consists of 

seven letters, using the first four 

letters of the State or terri tory name 

followed by the letters QUA. States or 

territories having two or more words use 

the first letter of the first word and 

the first three letters of the last word 

to form the file name. One exception is 

the file name for Missouri, which is 

MOSSQUA, to avoid conflict with the 

Missisippi file name, MISSQUA. Additionally, the file named QUADNAM contains the 1:100,000- and 1:250,000-scale 

quadrangle maps. 

There are two separate versions of 

this data base. One version is online 

and therefore accessible through interactive retrieval. The other version is 

offline and is accessible only by batch 

processing. The online version contains 

assigned names for each published or 

planned 7.5-minute, 1:24,000-scale map. 

The offline version contains the actual 

map name only if the map is published. 

If the 7.5-minute area is not a published 

map, then the name field contains the 

word •sEE• followed by the name of the 

appropriate 15-minute, 1:62,500-scale 

map, or the 1:250,000- scale map name if 

no 15-minute coverage is available. 

Information in all other data elements is 

the same for each version; only the name 

field will differ depending upon whether 

or not the map is published. 

The following data element descriptions are designed to provide the necessary information for understanding and 

retrieving data. Table 2 lists each data 

element and the appropriate abbreviation 

used when retrieving data. 

COORD - Contains a fixed 11-character 

code that represents the latitude and 

longitude of the southeast corner of the 

cell, or the northeast corner of the cell 

in American Samoa and the southwest 

corner of the cell in Guam. The coordinates are to degrees and minutes followed by the appropriate directional, 

with quadrangles ending in 30 seconds 

rounded down to the next minute as shown 
Table 2.--Labels and data elements from 

the USGS Topographic Map Names 

Data Base 

Label 

(Abbreviation) 

COORD 

FIPS 

HIST 

MAP 

NAME 

NUMBER 

OTHER 

QUAD 

SCALE 

STATE 

X NAME 

250 

Data Element 

LAT/LONG (SE CORNER) -

QUAD SIZE (MINUTES) 

STATE ALPHA FIPS CODE 

FORMER QUADRANGLE NAME(S) 

GNIS MAP NO 

QUADRANGLE NAME 

ID NUMBER 

OTHER PROPOSED NAME(S) 

USGS QUADRANGLE CODE 

QUADRANGLE SCALE 

QUADRANGLE STATE(S) 

7.5 X 15 MINUTE MAP NAME 

QUADRANTS 250000 SERIES 

on each topographic map. Also, longitude 

of less than 100° is preceded by a leading zero. The QUADNAM file differs somewhat in that the directional precedes the 

coordinate, and the coordinate is followed by a slash and the dimension of the 

mapped area in minutes; for example, 

•;60x120• follows the coordinate. The 

coordinate that identifies the map is the 

corner coordinate closest to 0° latitude 

and 0° longitude. Note that while the 

format of the State and territory coordinates is fixed, the QUADNAM format is 

variable because the dimension in minutes 

of latitude and longitude may vary. 

FIPS - A fixed alphabetical element 

that contains the two-character FIPS code 

for States and territories. This element 

is active only in the QUADNAM file. 

HIST - The data presented are variable length and include any information 

of historical significance regarding the 

map, especially former names. 

MAP - A fixed four-digit number assigned to each 7. 5-minute cell in each 

State and territory. Over edge maps are 

divided into two complete 7.5-minute maps 

with valid numbers, and 7.5-minute cells 

totally in water are also assigned valid 

numbers. The numbering system begins 

with the number 1 in the northwest corner 

of each State and territory and increases 

consecutively by moving from west to east 

while progressing latitudinally southward. This numbering system was designed 

specifically to code geographic names to 

9 

individual topographic maps. Since the 

geographic names were compiled on a 

State-by-State basis, each State's 

numbering system begins with number 1, 

thereby creating controlled redundancy in 

the numbering system. Some 15-minute 

maps and 1:250,000-scale maps have 

numbers depending upon whether a State 

was completely covered by 7.5-minute published topographic maps at the time of 

Phase I compilation of the National Geographic Names Data Base. The beginning 

number for 15-minute maps and 1:250,000-

scale maps varies from State to State. 

Maps in the 15-minute and 1:250,000-scale 

topographic map series are present only 

if they were needed for geographic name 

compilation. Complete coverage of the 

1:250,000-scale maps may be found only in 

the QUADNAM file; however, complete 

1:62,500-scale coverage does not exist in 

any GNIS file. 

NAME - A variable length upper-case 

entry that represents the full name of 

the 7.5-minute cell exactly as it appears 

on the published topographic map. Some 

7. 5-minute cell names are followed by a 

space and an asterisk which indicates 

that the name has a diacritical mark 

somewhere in the name. The appropirate 

diacritic will be added at a later date. 

Some entries will contain the word •sEE• 

followed by a 7.5-minute cell name. This 

is necessary because each State or territory is divided into equal 7.5-minute 

cells (except Alaska), and many 7.5-

minute maps are published as overedge 

maps which means that small portions of 

land outside the normal 7.5-minute bounds 

of the map are included. Overedge areas 

are treated as a separate 7.5-minute 

cell, with no approved name, and must be 

referenced to the main 7.5-minute map 

which portrays the overedge area. Additionally, some special 1:24, 000-scale 

maps are designed to show oddly shaped 

areas, such as Isle Royal in Michigan. 

These areas have also been divided into 

as many 7.5-minute cells as necessary 

with each cell name a reference to the 

main map, except the southeast corner 

7. 5-minute cell which bears the actual 

name of the main map. Also, some entries 

contain the reference •(ALL WATER)• which 

indicates that the particular 7.5-minute 

cell is completely water. In the offline 

version, map names may not have been 
approved for 7. 5-minute areas in which 

case the word "SEE" is present followed 

by the name of the appropriate 15-minute 

published quadrangle and the indicator 

"15 • • are present. In the absence of a 

published 15-minute quadrangle, the reference will read SEE followed by the name 

of the appropriate 1:250,000-scale quadrangle and the indicator 250K. 

Note that in the individual State and 

territory files, all available 15-minute 

or 1:250, 000-scale quadrangles are not 

present. Those that are present are 

there only because there was no larger 

scale coverage at the time Phase I of the 

National Geographic Names Data Base was 

compiled. A complete listing of the 

names of 1 :100, 000-scale and 1:250,000-

scale quadrangles may be retrieved from 

the QUADNAM file, but there is no complete coverage of the 15-minute series in 

any GNIS file. 

NUMBER - A fixed eight-digit number 

that is the unique identifier of each 

entry (quadrangle name) and its associated information. The first two digits 

correspond to the State numeric FIPS 

code. This is the only data element that 

must exist for each record in each file. 

The first two digits of the eight-digit 

entries for the QUADNAM file are 00. 

This element is for use by GNIS staff. 

OTHER A variable length element 

limited to only the 1:100,000-scale 

entries in the QUADNAM file. It contains 

secondary and tertiary choices for a 

1:100,000-scale map name if the proposed 

name was not acceptable. All 1:100,000-

scale maps have now been named and most 

of the information in this element will 

be moved to the HIST element. 

QUAD - Contains the first eight characters of the USGS code for each 7. 5-

minute quadrangle in the United States. 

The entire United States (except Alaska 

and outlying areas) is divided into areas 

of 1° latitude x 1° longitude each containing 64 7. 5-minute quadrangles. The 

rows within each area are coded A through 

H, and the columns are coded 1 through 8 

each beginning in the southeast corner of 

the 1 o x 1° area. The first five characters are the same for each of the 64 

quadrangles within the area and are 

determined by the geographic coordinates 

(degrees) representing the southeast 

corner of the 1° x 1° area. These five 

10 

digits are followed by a hyphen and the 

appropriate row-column designation. This 

is not the complete quadrangle code but 

it is sufficient to identify the 7. 5-

minute topographic map. These entries 

are not present in the QUADNAM file. 

SCALE - The scale indicates the ratio 

of units on the map to units on the 

Earth, and identifies the particular 

series to which the map belongs. In the 

State and territory files the entry is 

fixed at two numbers. Seven entries are 

possible: 20, 24, 25, 62, 63, 88, and 

99. The 20 represents metric topographic 

maps in Puerto Rico. The 24 represents 

7.5-minute 1:24,000-scale maps in English 

units, and the 25 represents either 7.5-

minute or 7.5- x 15-minute maps in metric 

units at a scale of 1:25,000. The 62 

represents 15-minute maps at a scale of 

1:62,500, and 63 is used (mostly) for 

1:63, 360-scale maps in Alaska. The 88 

identifies maps in the 1:250,0u0-scale 

series in the State and terri tory files 

and was used because the fiel~ was 

limited to two characters. The 99 indicates records for GNIS staff use. The 

scales in the QUADNAM file are six 

digits, either 100000 or 250000. 

STATE - The entries in this element 

are of two types. One type is used in 

the State and territory files and is the 

two-character alphabetical FIPS code. 

The other type, used in the QUADNAM file, 

is 'the State abbreviation from the 

Government Printing Office Style Manual 

as shown on topographic maps. The style 

manual abbreviations contain periods, and 

multiple State entries are separated by a 

hyphen. 

XNAME - A variable length element for 

the names of maps in the USGS 7.5- x ISminute map series. Since the 7.5- x 

15-minute map generally spans the same 

area as two 7. 5- x 7. 5-minute maps, the 

east half containing the southeast corner 

coordinate contains the name of the 7.5-

x 15-minute map, while the west half contains the word "SEE", followed by the 

name of the 7.5- x 15-minute map. 

250 - The entries are variable length 

and are limited to the 1:100,000-scale 

maps in the QUADNAM file. The information contained in this element associates 

the 1:100,000-scale map name to the 

appropriate quadrant of the 1:250,000-

scale map. The entry consists of the 
1:250,000-scale map name followed by the 

appropriate directional; NE, SE, NW, or 

sw. 

Generic Data Base 

The Generic Data Base is designed for 

use as a research and reference tool as 

well as a depository of reference information for GNIS. It contains the 62 

broad feature categories of the National 

Geographic Names Data Base, definitions 

of those categories, and their crossreferences to all generics or types of 

features found on topographic maps and 

other sources. The data base also contains detailed information concerning 

unusual generics, such as specifically 

where they are found, how they are used, 

and if possible, why they were applied 

in such an unusual manner. Other information includes a reference to abbreviations used on topographic maps and definitions of cartographic, geographic, and 

linguistic terms. Also included is the 

complete bibliography of all source material (in addition to USGS topographic 

maps) used in the compilation of the 

National Geographic Names Data Base. 

The following data element descriptions are designed to provide the necessary information for understanding and 

retrieving data. Table 3 lists each data 

element and the appropriate abbreviation 

used when retrieving data. 

Table 3.--Labels and data elements from 

the Generic Data Base 

Label 

(Abbreviation) 

ABBREV 

BIBLIO 

DEF 

DESIG 

HIS'!' 

NUMBER 

PRIME 

SOURCE 

WORD 

Data Element 

STANDARD ABBREVIATION 

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 

SOURCE MATERIALS 

FEATURE CLASS DEFINITION 

GNIS FEATURE CLASS 

GENERIC SOURCE, TYPE, ~ND USE 

ID NUMBER 

PRIMARY COORDINATE LOCATION 

SOURCE COORDINATE NECESSARY 

GENERIC SHOWN ON MAP 

11 

ABBREV - Contains the standard abbreviations used on USGS topographic maps, 

and includes all valid geographic, cartographic, and linguistic terms and definitions necessary in researching geographic 

names. 

BIBLIO - Contains the complete annotated bibliographic entry for all source 

material other than USGS topographic maps 

used in geographic names compilation. 

Also, contains the code for the bibliographic entry which is used in the data 

element BIBLIO in the National Geographic 

Names Data Base. 

DEF - Provides the GNIS definition of 

each of the broad feature class categories contained in the data element 

DESIG. It provides the basis for classifying broad categories of features. 

DESIG - A variable length, lower-case 

element that is designed to group similar 

features into broadly designated categories to facilitate search and retrieval 

of feature types. The entries in this 

data element correspond to the same 

entries throughout the system. 

HIST - Contains unusual generics or 

words. Each entry lists the map on which 

the generic is used, how it is used, to 

what it refers specifically, the general 

category in which it is located, reason 

for use (if discernable), and other pertinent information that would aid in research or application. The same generic 

may refer to different types of features 

throughout the country. All unusual references to the same generics are listed 

together no matter how diverse the 

feature types. 

NUMBER - A fixed eight-digit number 

that is the unique identifier of each 

feature and its associated information. 

This data is for internal use and is the 

only data element that must exist for 

each record in each file. 

PRIME - Contains lower-case entries 

that specifically state where the primary 

coordinates of features in the National 

Geographic Names Data Base are to be 

digitized. 

SOURCE 

•yes • if 

indicates 

requiring 

digitized. 

- Contains the lower-case word 

the generic or feature class 

a linear feature, thereby 

that a source coordinate be 

WORD - A variable length, upper- and 

lower-case entry that represents the 
generic or type of feature. It identifies a specific type of feature and may 

precede or follow the substantive or 

proper part of the name. This data 

element serves multiple purposes because 

it provides a relationship and reference 

from a feature type to the broad category 

of terms used to classify names in the 

National Geographic Names Data Base. It 

is also a record of all generic or unusual words encountered on all source 

material used in the compilation of other 

data bases. This data element provides 

a means of discovering and researching 

subtle differences in feature types. 

National Atlas Data Base 

The National Atlas Data Base is designed to be the basis of an abridged 

version of the entire National Geographic 

Names Data Base. Currently it consists 

of only those entries found in the index 

of the USGS National Altas of the United 

States of America and the data and data 

elements differ from those found in the 

National Geographic Names Data Base. 

The following data element descriptions are designed to provide the necessary information for understanding and 

retrieving data. Table 4 lists each data 

element and the appropriate abbreviations 

used when retrieving data. 

DESIG - Uses the standard GNIS feature classes for grouping like features 

into broad categories. Currently this 

element is incomplete and only the feature classes, designated populated place 

and civil division, are in the data base. 

KEY - An alphanumeric code that indicates the appro~riate location where the 

place is named on the maps in the 

National Atlas; for example, A-3, B-5, or 

C-4. The code scheme consists of imaginary rows and columns that intersect 

roughly at the point where the feature is 

located. This means of locating features 

is similar to that used on most highway 

maps. 

LATLONG Contains the geographic 

coordinates of the feature in degrees, 

minutes, and seconds. The entry is compressed with all digits together and the 

latitude, as well as the longitude, are 

followed by a one-character, letter 

directional. The coordinates are those 

12 

Table 4.--Labels and data elements from 

the National Atlas Data Base 

Label 

(Abbreviation) Data Element 

DESIG TYPE OF FEATURE 

KEY NATIONAL ATLAS MAP KEY 

LATLONG GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATE 

LOC STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE 

NAME FEATURE NAME 

NUMBER ID NUMBER 

PAGE NATIONAL ATLAS PAGE NUMBER 

PCODE POSTAL CODE (ALPHA) 

POP POPULATION (1980) 

QUAD MAP NAME 

STATE STATE OR COUNTRY 

published in the National Atlas with 

tenths of minutes converted to seconds; 

therefore, all seconds are in increments 

of six. There are no coordinates for 

foreign cities. 

LOC - A numeric field that contains 

the five-digit State and county FIPS 

code. The first two digits refer to the 

State or territory, and the last three 

digits refer to the county, parish, municipio, or other civil division. This 

element is currently inactive. 

NAME - An entry that gives the proper 

name and generic type of a named feature. 

The element currently contains only names 

found in the National Atlas index. 

NUMBER - A fixed eight-digit number 

that is the unique identifier of each 

record and its associated data. This is 

the only data element that must exist for 

each record in the data base. 

PAGE - Contains a reference to the 

page number in the National Atlas on 

which the feature is named. 

PCODE - The u.s. Postal Service twocharacter alphabetical State code is 

indicated in this element. This element 

is inactive. 

POP - The cur rent decennial census 

figures for all populated places in the 

data base except foreign entries. These 

entries are updated to reflect the most 

accurate population figures available 

from u.s. Bureau of the Census. 

QUAD - The name of the topographic 

map on which the geographic name is 

shown. This element is inactive at this 

time. 
STATE - Contains the State or States 

in which the feature is located. State 

names are abbreviated as shown on the 

USGS topographic map series (GPO Style 

Manual). Multiple entries are separated 

by hyphens, and periods appear with the 

abbreviations. The element also contains 

some foreign countries published in the 

National Atlas index. 

Board on Geographic Names Data Base 

This data base contains information 

representing the investigations and 

decisions of the Domestic Names Committee 

of the u.s Board on Geographic Names. 

The Board was created in 1890 and established in its present form by Public Law 

in 1947. The Board is authorized to establish and maintain uniform geographic 

name usage throughout the Federal government, and the Board also currently maintains a close working relationship with 

about 30 States. The staff of the Board 

researches the background of geographic 

names that are determined to be in conflict on Federal sources or are controversial in nature. The results of the 

research are promulgated in a quarterly 

report, and these decisions are binding 

for Federal usage. Most State and local 

usage follows the recommendations of the 

Board. 

Each entry in this data base may also 

be found in the National Geographic Names 

Data Base; however, the entries contain 

the reference and associated detailed information researched and promulgated by 

the u.s. Board on Geographic Names. The 

data base contains all of the activity of 

the Board from 1890 through the first 

quarter of 1959. The remainder of the 

data base is scheduled for completion by 

mid-1984. 

The following data element descriptions are designed to provide the necessary information for understanding and 

retrieving data. Table 5 lists each 

data element and the appropriate abbreviations used when retrieving data. 

BGN - A variable length alphanumeric 

field that represents the year a decision 

was rendered by the BGN because the name 

required special research and action. A 

special entry is the word "Statutory,• 

13 

Table 5.--Labels and data elements from 

the Board on Geographic Names 

Data Base 

Label 

(Abbreviation) 

BGN 

DESCR 

DESIG 

ELEV 

GENRE 

HEADS 

HIST 

LATLONG 

LOC 

NAME 

NUMBER 

SIZE 

STATE 

VAR 

Data Element 

BGN DECISION 

DESCRIPTION 

TYPE OF FEATURE 

ELEVATION (FT) 

GENERIC 

SOURCE OR FEATURE (LATLONG) 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES 

STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE 

FEATURE NAME 

ID NUMBER 

SIZE 

NAME OF STATE (FIPS) 

VARIANT NAME(S) 

followed by a space and the year a name 

was designated by an act of Congress. 

Another special entry is the word 

"Vacated", followed by a space and a 

year. This indicates that the feature or 

name no longer exists or is no longer in 

use. There may be multiple dates for the 

same name with multiple data entries separated by a semicolon. 

DESCR - Provides upper- and lowercase text that defines the situation or 

relative position to nearby features and 

to at least one close well-known feature, 

usually a major town or city. Distances 

are provided as well as all major and 

minor civil division names associated 

with the feature. Information prior to 

1950 is sketchy and in many cases nonexistent. 

DESIG - A totally lower-case variable 

length alphabetical element that is designed to group similar features into 

broadly designated categories to facilitate search and retrieval. The GENERIC 

Data Base contains a cross-reference for 

every generic thus far encountered in 

the compilation of the data base. 

ELEV - A variable length field containing up to five characters that gives 

the height above or depth below sea 

level, in feet, of the highest or lowest 

point respectively of the feature. Negative elevations are preceded by a minus 
sign. Metric conversion will be accomplished at a later date. Some elevations 

indicate a range; for example, 1000-5000 

feet. 

GENRE - This element refers to the 

generic portion of a name that usually 

identifies the kind of feature. However, 

it may be a false generic that is 

directly related to subjectivity in the 

naming process: for example; Big River, 

which is a populated place and not a 

river. The generic may indicate very 

subtle differences in feature types, but 

care should be taken because the naming 

process includes a great deal of subjectivity including whimsical and direct 

misnaming. 

HEADS - A fixed alphanumeric field 

provided to indicate the source of linear 

features. The format is identical to the 

geographic coordinates in LATLONG. The 

source of a linear feature is not always 

indicated by the name placement on the 

map; therefore, the guideline applied 

was that the source of linear features 

not properly identified by name placement 

or textual description should be taken 

to the source of the longest, straightest 

drain in accordance with BGN policy. 

HIST - A variable length upper- and 

lower-case text that provides as much information as is available from reputable 

sources about the physical and cultural 

history of a named feature. Additionally, special attention is given to 

name origin if known and information is 

provided for background research. 

Information prior to 1950 is sketchy and 

in most cases nonexistent. 

LATLONG The official geographic 

coordinate of the feature compressed and 

fixed at 15 characters. Latitude and 

longitude are to degrees, minutes, and 

seconds with each followed by a onecharacter alpha directional. If the 

degrees of longitude are less than 100, a 

leading zero is required. In the case of 

areal features, the coordinate is the 

approximate center of the feature, while 

linear features are represented at the 

mouth. The mouth is where the feature 

joins another feature, ends in a delta or 

is an alluvial fan, or no longer has a 

discernible channel or trough-like characteristic. The guideline for areal features requires the coordinate to be taken 

in the center, but the location of the 

14 

center of a large city is somewhat subjective. Guidelines for determining the 

center of large populated places are the 

location of the city hall or town hall, 

main post office, main library, central 

business district, or main intersection. 

LOC - A variable length alphanumeric 

field that contains one or more fivedigit FIPS codes referring to the State 

and county. The first two digits refer 

to the State or territory and the last 

three refer to the county, parish, municipio, or other civil division. Codes 

for all counties in which a feature is 

located are present with multiple entries 

separated by a semicolon. All codes are 

numeric except where the State or territory borders a foreign country in which 

case the appropriate two-character, 

alphabetical FIPS code is used; for 

example, CA for Canada, MX for Mexico, UR 

for the Soviet Union, UK for the United 

Kingdom, and WS for Western Samoa. 

NAME - A variable length upper- and 

lower-case alphanumeric entry that indicates the official name and, in most 

cases, the generic or type of feature. 

Some entries are followed by a space and 

an asterisk which indicate that there is 

a diacritical mark somewhere in the name. 

This arrangement is temporary and will 

soon be replaced by the appropriate diacritical mark and the removal of the 

asterisk. In some cases the generic may 

be in the first position, followed by the 

specific name. In this case, the generic 

is reversed; for example, Mount Saint 

Helens becomes Saint Helens, Mount. 

Names with a false generic are not reversed: for example, Mount Olive, which 

is a populated place and not a mountain, 

remains Mount Olive. 

NUMBER - A fixed eight-digit number 

that is the unique identifier of each 

feature and its associated information. 

This is the only data element that must 

exist for each record and is for GNIS 

staff use. 

SIZE - A short variable length phrase 

that gives the length of linear features 

and the width of areal features in 

English units. 

STATE - A fixed alphabetical element 

containing the two-character FIPS code 

for States and territories. Multiple 

data items are not present. If the BGN 

decision for the geographic name is 
located in more that one State, the code 

is that of the State where the center or 

mouth is located. 

VAR - A variable length upper- and 

lower-case field containing any other 

known names or other spellings of the 

current official name. If more than one 

15 

variant is present, they are arranged 

alphabetically and separated by a comma 

and a blank. Additionally, if the BGN 

rendered a formal decision for what is 

now a variant, the year of that decision 

is given in parentheses following the 

variant name with which it is associated. 

APPENDIXES 

17 
APPENDIX A.--Categories of Named Features not yet included in 

the Geographic Names Information System 

Phase I 

Generally, all named features on the most current largest 

scale USGS topographic maps were included for Phase I compilation. Some categories of named features, however, were omitted 

from Phase I because more complete lists of these categories 

were available from other sources. If a State or territory has 

only been completed through Phase I, the following categories 

of named features will not be present: 

airports, 

radio and television station towers, 

federally administered areas greater than 30 square miles, 

major and minor civil divi$ions, 

some major features that are too large to be named on 

7.5-minute, 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, 

regional names, 

historical names, 

most building names, 

roads and highways, 

triangulation station names. 

Phase II 

Available information from the categories not compiled 

during Phase I, as well as geographic names from other sources, 

are added during Phase II. If a State or territory has been 

completed through Phase II compilation, information for all 

known, named features should be present except for: 

roads and highways, 

triangulation stations. 

18 
APPENDIX B.--Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) 

Feature Class Definitions 

The feature class terms and abbreviations currently consist 

of nine or less letters and were chosen for computer search and 

retrieval purposes. They do not necessarily represent terminology for the identification of all kinds of cultural and 

natural features. Although some of the terms may agree with 

dictionary definitions, they represent more generalized categories. Some commonly used generic names are listed at the end 

of each entry to assist in understanding the range of cultural 

and natural entities represented by the term. Refer to the 

Generic Data Base to retrieve all generics thus far encountered 

in geographic names compilation. In most instances a plural 

form is listed as if it were singular; for example, archipelago 

or islands would be categorized as island. The terms and the 

definitions are as follows: 

airport - manmade facility maintained for the use of aircraft 

(airfield, airstrip, landing field, landing strip). 

arch - natural arch-like opening in a rock mass (bridge, natural 

bridge, sea arch). 

are~ - any one of several areally extensive natural features not 

included in other categories (badlands, barren, delta, fan, 

garden). 

arroyo - watercourse or channel through which water may occasionally flow (coulee, draw, gully, wash). 

bar - natural accumulation of sand, gravel, or alluvium forming 

an underwater or exposed embankment (ledge, reef, sandbar, 

shoal, spit). 

basin - natural depression or relatively low area enclosed by 

higher land (amphitheater, cirque, pit, sink). 

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). 

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). 

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). 

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). 

bridge - manmade structure carrying a trail, road, or other 

transportation system across a body of water or depression 

(causeway, overpass, trestle). 

building - a manmade structure with walls and a roof for protection of people and (or) materials, but not including 

church, hospital, or school. 

canal - manmade waterway used by watercraft or for drainage, 

irrigation, mining, or water power (ditch, lateral). 

19 
APPENDIX B.--Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) 

Feature Class Definitions--continued 

cape-- projection of land extending into a body of water (lea, 

neck, peninsula, point). 

cave - natural underground passageway or chamber, or a hollowed 

out cavity in the side of a cliff (cavern, grotto). 

cemetery - a place or area for burying the dead (burial, burying 

ground, grave, memorial garden). 

channel - linear deep part of a body of water through which the 

main volume of water flows and is frequently used as a 

route for watercraft: {passage, reach, strait, 

thoroughfare, throughfare). 

church - building used for religious worship (chapel, mosque, 

synagogue, tabernacle, temple). 

civil - a political division formed for administrative purposes 

(borough, county, municipio, parish, town, township). 

cliff - very steep or vertical slope {bluff, crag, head, headland, nose, palisades, precipice, promontory, rim, rimrock). 

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). 

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). 

falls - perpendicular or very steep fall of water in the course 

of a stream {cataract, cascade, waterfall). 

flat - relative level area within a region of greater relief 

(clearing, glade, playa). 

forest - bounded area of woods, forest, or grassland under the 

administration of a political agency (see woods) {national 

forest, national grasslands, State forest). 

gap - low point or opening between hills or mountains or in a 

ridge or mountain range (col, notch, pass, saddle, water 

gap, wind gap). 

geyser - eruptive spring from which hot water and (or) steam and 

in some cases mud are periodically thrown. 

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). 

gut - relatively small coastal waterway connecting larger bodies 

of water or other waterways {creek, inlet, slough). 

harbor - sheltered area of water where ships or other watercraft 

can anchor or dock (hono, port, roads,· roadstead). 

hospital - building where the sick or injured may receive medical or surgical attention {infirmary). 

island - area of dry or relatively dry land surrounded by water 

or low wetland {archipelago, atoll, cay, hammock, hummock, 

isla, isle, key, moku, rock). 

isthmus - narrow section of land in a body of water connecting 

two larger land areas. 

20 
APPENDIX B.--Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) 

Feature Class Definitions--continued 

lake - natural body of inland water (backwater, lac, lagoon, 

laguna, pond, pool, resaca, waterhole). 

lava - formations resulting from the consolidation of molten 

rock on the surface of the Earth (kepula, lava flow). 

levee - natural or manmade embankment flanking a stream (bank, 

berm). 

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, junction, landing, 

railroad siding, ranch, ruins, site, station, windmill). 

mine - place or area from which commercial minerals are or were 

removed from the Earth; not including oilfield (pit, 

quarry, shaft). 

oilfield - area where petroleum is or was removed from the 

Earth. 

other - category for miscellaneous named manmade entities that 

cannot readily be placed in the other feature classes 

listed here. 

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). 

pillar - vertical, standing, often spire-shaped, natural rock 

formation (chimney, monument, pinnacle, pohaku, rock tower). 

plain - a region of general uniform slope, comparatively level 

and of considerable extent (grassland, highland, kula, 

plateau, upland). 

ppl (populated place) - place or area with clustered or scattered buildings and a permanent human population (city, 

settlement, town, village). 

range - chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex 

mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra). 

rapids - fast-flowing section of a stream, often shallow and 

with exposed rock or boulders (riffle, ripple). 

reserve - a tract of land set aside for a specific use (does not 

include forests, civil divisions, parks). 

reservoir- artificially impounded body of water (lake, tank). 

ridge - elevation with a narrow, elongated crest which can be 

part of a hill or mountain (crest, cuesta, escarpment, 

hogback, lae, rim, spur). 

school - building or group of buildings used as an institution 

for study, teaching, and learning (academy, college, high 

school, university). 

sea- large body of salt water (gulf, ocean). 

slope - a gently inclined part of the Earth's surface (grade, 

pitch). 

spring - place where underground water flows naturally to the 

surface of the Earth (seep). 

21 
APPENDIX B.--Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) 

Feature Class Definitions--continued 

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). 

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). 

swamp - poorly drained wetland, fresh or saltwater, wooded or 

grass, possibly covered with open water (bog, cienega, 

marais, marsh, pocosin). 

trail - route for passage from one point to another; does not 

include roads or highways (jeep trail, path, ski trail). 

tower - a manmade structure, higher than its diameter, generally 

used for observation, storage, or electronic transmission. 

tunnel - linear underground passageway open at both ends. 

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). 

well - manmade shaft or hole in the Earth's surface used to 

obtain fluid or gaseous materials. 

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). 

22 
APPENDIX c.--Parenthetical Descriptors used with Names 

The following terms have been used on USGS topographic maps 

and other sources to provide additional information or clarity 

about the name or the feature to which the name refers. 

Abandoned 

Active Mine 

Alkali 

Archaeological Site 

BLM - refers to Bureau 

of Land Management 

Campground 

Cemetery 

Diabase Dike 

Dry Spring 

Flowing Well 

Foot Bridge 

Ghost Town 

Historic 

Historical 

Historic~! Monument 

Historical Ruins 

Historic Site 

Inactive mine 

Jeep Trail 

Mud Springs 

Natural Arch 

Oil Field 

Old Channel 

Old Stage Station 

Oxbow 

P.O. - refers to Post Office 

Pack Trail 

Placer - refers to mining activities 

Polluted Spring 

Post Office 

Private 

Rock Formation 

Ruins 

Salt Lake 

Secondary name - refers to alternate 

or a prior name; for example: 

Lake Mary (Old River Lake) 

Siding 

Site 

Station 

Submerged Rock 

Sulphur Spring 

USDA - refers to u.s. Department of 

Agriculture 

USFS - refers to u.s. Forest Service 

USGS - refers to u.s. Geological Survey 

1941 - refers to year of occurrence 

23 
APPENDIX D.--sample Records from the National Geographic 

Names Data Base 

Sample 1 

ID NUMBER - 34003474 

NAME - Jersey City 

TYPE OF FEATURE - ppl 

FEDERAL STATUS - BGN 1931 

COUNTY NAME - Hudson 

STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE- 34017 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES - 404341N0740441W 404508N0740225W 

MAP OR CHART NAME - Jersey City 

GNIS MAP NO - 0053 0042 

USGS QUADRANGLE CODE - 40074-Fl 

ELEVATION (FT) - 83 

VARIANT NAME(S) - Hudson, Paulus Hook, Powles Hook 

STATE - NJ 

Sample 2 

ID NUMBER - 34003631 

NAME - Kittatinny Mountain 

TYPE OF FEATURE - summit 

FEDERAL STATUS - BGN 1938 

COUNTY NAME - Warren 

STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE - 34041 34037 42089 36071 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES - 411915N0743943W 410106N0750159W 

410435N0745605W 410741N0745241W 

411010N0744758W 411355N0744202W 

MAP OR CHART NAME - Portland 

GNIS MAP NO - 0023 0012 0016 0005 0006 0007 

USGS QUADRANGLE CODE - 40075-Hl 

ELEVATION (FT) - 1549 

VARIANT NAME(S) - Blue Mountains, Kittatinny Mountain Range, 

Kittatinny Mountains 

STATE - NJ 

Sample 3 

ID NUMBER - 34009173 

NAME - Franklin Park 

TYPE OF FEATURE - locale 

FEDERAL STATUS - BGN 

COUNTY NAME - Burlington 

STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE - 34005 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES - 400130N074543W 

MAP OR CHART NAME - Beverly 

GNIS MAP NO - 0090 

USGS QUADRANGLE CODE - 40074-A8 

ELEVATION (FT) - 40 

VARIANT NAME(S) - Strawberry Hill 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC CODE - NJ-M2 

STATE - NJ 

24 
APPENDIX D.--sample Records from the National Geographic 

Names Data Base--continued. 

Sample 4 

ID NUMBER - 34009182 

NAME - Pisgah, Mount 

TYPE OF FEATURE - summit 

FEDERAL STATUS - BGN 

COUNTY NAME - Burlington 

STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE - 34005 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES - 400038N0744024W 

MAP OR CHART NAME - Columbus 

GNIS MAP NO - 0092 

USGS QUADRANGLE CODE - 40074-A6 

ELEVATION (FT) - 186 

VARIANT NAME(S) - The Old Weavers Hill 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC CODE - NJ-T3/p. 34 

Sample 5 

ID NUMBER - 34001385 

NAME - Cohansey River 

TYPE OF FEATURE - stream 

FEDERAL STATUS - BGN 1954 

COUNTY NAME - Cumberland 

STATE/COUNTY FIPS CODE - 34011 34033 

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES 392039N0752127W 

392237N0751500W 

SOURCE OF FEATURE (LATLONG) - 393356N0751613W 

MAP OR CHART NAME - Ben Davis Point 

GNIS MAP NO- 0157, 0147, 0148, 0135 

USGS QUADRANGLE CODE - 39075-C3 

392230N0752057W 

VARIANT NAME(S) - Cohansey Creek, Cohanzey Creek, Cohanzy Creek 

STATE - NJ 

25 


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