United States Board on Geographic Names

The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN)BGN is an acronym.  BGN stands for Board on Geographic Names". is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the government of the United States.US Board on Geographic Names (BGN),  "BGN Home" retrieved 2012-6-18.

The Board's purpose is to standardize -- not regulate -- US and foreign geographic names, including the names of geographical features underseas and in Antarctica.

History
The Board was created in 1890 by executive order of President Benjamin Harrison. The Board was given authority to resolve questions about geographic names.

In 1947, the Board was recreated by Congress in Public Law 80-242.

The Geographic Names Information System includes topographic map names and bibliographic references. The names of books and historic maps which confirm the feature or place name are cited. Variant names, alternatives to official federal names for a feature, are also recorded.BGN,  "Domestic names"; retrieved 2012-6-18.  

Processes for standardizing non-US geographic names,BGN,  "Foreign names"; retrieved 2012-6-18. Antarctic namesBGN,  "Antarctic names"; retrieved 2012-6-18. and undersea featuresBGN,  'Undersea features"; retrieved 2012-6-18. were developed.

Related pages
 Geographic Names Information System
 Permanent Committee on Geographical Names
 Geographical Names Board of Canada

References

Other websites
US Board on Geographic Names website
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) website


Board on Geographic Names
Board on Geographic Names
Category:1890 establishments in the United States