Identification Information

Title GNIS: Geographic Names Information Systems - All features

Date 2009-03-11

Date Type Publication

Cited Responsible Party

Organization Name U.S. Geological Survey

Role identify

Presentation Form vector digital data

Abstract The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) actively seeks data from and partnerships with Government agencies at all levels and other interested organizations. The GNIS is the Federal standard for geographic nomenclature. The U.S. Geological Survey developed the GNIS for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, a Federal inter-agency body chartered by public law to maintain uniform feature name usage throughout the Government and to promulgate standard names to the public. The GNIS is the official repository of domestic geographic names data; the official vehicle for geographic names use by all departments of the Federal Government; and the source for applying geographic names to Federal electronic and printed products of all types. See http://geonames.usgs.gov for additional information.

Purpose The Geographic Names Information System contains information about physical and cultural geographic features of all types in the United States, associated areas, and Antarctica, current and historical, but not including roads and highways. The database holds the Federally recognized name of each feature and defines the feature location by state, county, USGS topographic map, and geographic coordinates. Other attributes include names or spellings other than the official name, feature designations, feature classification, historical and descriptive information, and for some categories the geometric boundaries. The database assigns a unique, permanent feature identifier, the Feature ID, as a standard Federal key for accessing, integrating, or reconciling feature data from multiple data sets. The GNIS collects data from a broad program of partnerships with Federal, State, and local government agencies and other authorized contributors. The GNIS provides data to all levels of government and to the public, as well as to numerous applications through a web query site, web map and feature services, file download services, and customized files upon request.

Supplemental Information The U.S. Board on Geographic Names was created in 1890 and established in its present form by Public Law in 1947 to establish and maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government. The Board serves all government agencies and the public as the central authority to which name inquiries, name issues, and new name proposals can be directed. It is comprised of representatives of Federal agencies associated with land management and cartography. Sharing its responsibilities with the Secretary of the Interior, the Board develops principles, policies, and procedures governing the use of both domestic and foreign geographic names as well as undersea and Antarctic feature names.

Data Set Credit The Geographic Names Information System was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Status In work

Point of Contact

Individual Name Roger L. Payne

Organization Name

Position Name Chief, Geographic Names Project

Role Point of contact

Voice 703 648 4544

Facsimile

Address

Delivery Point 523 National Center
City Reston
Administrative Area Virginia
Postal Code 20192
Country USA

Electronic Mail Address gnis_manager@usgs.gov

Maintenance and Update Frequency As needed

Descriptive Keywords location, environment, imageryBaseMapsEarthCover, transportation, Feature identification, Geographic feature, Geographical feature, Geographic name, Geographical name, Feature name, Official feature name, Place name, Variant name, Feature coordinates, Feature state, Feature county, Feature class, Feature history, Feature description, Feature designation, building

Access Constraints None

Use Constraints None. Acknowledgement of the U.S. Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

Language English

Topic Category location

Extent

Geographic Bounding Box

West Bound -109.2517611
East Bound -102.7699397
North Bound 37.2530738
South Bound 31.3326055

Temporal Extent

Beginning Position 1974
Ending Position 2008-12-31

Data Quality Information

Attribute Accuracy Report

Report During Phase I data compilation, a random sample of 10% of the entries in the system were visually verified against the compilation source data (large-scale USGS topographic maps) to ensure an accuracy rate of at least 95%. Subsequent data compilation and input processes ensure accuracy with programmed validation checks for format and content, visual examination, and spot checks of data.

Quantitative Attribute Accuracy Assessment

Attribute Accuracy Value
Attribute Accuracy Explanation

Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report

Report Accuracy of these digital data is based upon the use of printed or electronic source graphics which are compiled to meet National Map Accuracy Standards. Comparison to the graphic source is used as control to assess digital positional accuracy.

Quantitative Horizontal Positional Accuracy Assessment

Horizontal Positional Accuracy Value
Horizontal Positional Accuracy Explanation

Logical Consistency Report During Phase I data compilation, a random sample of 10% of the entries in the system were visually verified against the compilation source data (large-scale USGS topographic maps) to ensure logical consistency of locative references (geographic coordinates, topographic map, and county. Subsequent data compilation and input processes include programmed validation checks for logical consistency, visual examination, and spot checks of data.

Completeness Report This dataset contains information about United States physical and cultural geographic features of all types and classes, with the exception of most roads and highways. Subsequent to the original data compilation process, which was taken primarily from Federal maps, the GNIS has become dependent on input from Federal, State, county, and local government agencies and other approved sources. The completeness, currency, and accuracy of the data varies by area depending on the quality and timeliness of that input. Accordingly, the Geographic Names Project actively seeks to expand partnerships with Government agencies at all levels and other interested organizations. The latest tools and methodologies are being applied, including web map and feature services, and joint or linked web applications, to ensure that local data are properly represented in the GNIS and through the GNIS to all Federal agencies and to the public. Feature additions or corrections are accepted for consideration from any source, and when validated by appropriate agencies, will be entered into the database. Local and State agencies are encouraged to submit data and to participate in the GNIS partnership program. Non-government organizations with valuable data are considered on a case basis. Authorized partners have access to web based transaction entry and edit forms, which submit data directly to the GNIS for review and inclusion in the database. Partners also submit batch files in most standard formats, and coordinate with the Geographic Names Project to develop joint services, processes, and applications for greatest efficiency. Data entered into the GNIS immediately is available to all web services and applications dependent on it. For additional information or to request user accounts for entry and edit of production data and web seminar training, contact gnis_manager@usgs.gov.

Lineage

Source Information

Source Citation

Source Scale Denominator 24000

Type of Source Media paper

Source Time Period of Content

Beginning Position Unknown
Ending Position Present
Source Currentness Reference publication date

Source Citation Abbreviation USGS

Source Contribution Feature names and attribute data.

Source Information

Source Citation

Source Scale Denominator

Type of Source Media card, paper, and electronic files

Source Time Period of Content

Beginning Position 1890
Ending Position Present
Source Currentness Reference Creation date

Source Citation Abbreviation USBGN

Source Contribution Feature names and attribute information

Source Information

Source Citation

Source Scale Denominator 24000

Type of Source Media paper

Source Time Period of Content

Beginning Position Unknown
Ending Position Present
Source Currentness Reference Publication date

Source Citation Abbreviation USFS

Source Contribution Feature names and attribute information

Source Information

Source Citation

Source Scale Denominator

Type of Source Media paper

Source Time Period of Content

Beginning Position Unknown
Ending Position Present
Source Currentness Reference Publication date

Source Citation Abbreviation NOAA/NOS

Source Contribution Feature names and attribute information

Source Information

Source Citation

Source Scale Denominator

Type of Source Media Multiple electronic or text media types.

Source Time Period of Content

Beginning Position Unknown
Ending Position Unknown
Source Currentness Reference Unknown

Source Citation Abbreviation Various

Source Contribution Feature names and attribute information

Process Step

Process Description GNIS Phase I data compilation and edit - Feature name and attribute data were collected from the largest-scale USGS topographic maps available. These data are compared to the records of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Source Used Citation Abbreviation USGS

Source Used Citation Abbreviation USBGN

Process Date 1981-05

Process Time

Process Contact

Individual Name Roger L. Payne

Organization Name

Position Name Chief, Geographic Names Project

Role Point of contact

Voice 703 648 4544

Facsimile

Address

Delivery Point 523 National Center
City Reston
Administrative Area Virginia
Postal Code 20192
Country USA

Electronic Mail Address gnis_manager@usgs.gov

Process Step

Process Description GNIS Phase II data compilation and edit - Feature name and attribute data are collected from official state and local sources and other approved sources including historical maps and documents.

Source Used Citation Abbreviation USGS

Source Used Citation Abbreviation USBGN

Process Date Not complete

Process Time

Process Contact

Individual Name Roger L. Payne

Organization Name

Position Name Chief, Geographic Names Project

Role Point of contact

Voice 703 648 4544

Facsimile

Address

Delivery Point 523 National Center
City Reston
Administrative Area Virginia
Postal Code 20192
Country USA

Electronic Mail Address gnis_manager@usgs.gov

Process Step

Process Description GNIS Maintenance program - Federal and state maintenance cooperators submit new and corrected data in conjunction with their mapping and geographical information system data maintenance programs. The GNIS has an active data gathering and maintenance program. A web-based data date entry and edit application allows authorized users to submit transaction data directly for validation and entry into the database, where it immediately becomes available to all web services and applications. A test and demonstration site with no connection to production data is available for review, training, and familiarization. Batch files will be accepted in most standard formats. Government agencies at all levels are encouraged to join this program. Other organizations and individuals will be considered on a case basis. For additional information or to request user accounts for entry and edit of production data and web seminar training, contact gnis_manager@usgs.gov or the individual below.

Source Used Citation Abbreviation USGS

Source Used Citation Abbreviation USBGN

Source Used Citation Abbreviation USFS

Source Used Citation Abbreviation Various

Source Used Citation Abbreviation NOAA/NOS

Process Date Not complete

Process Time

Process Contact

Individual Name Louis A. Yost

Organization Name

Position Name Chief, Geographic Names Information Section

Role Point of contact

Voice 703 648 4552

Facsimile

Address

Delivery Point 523 National Center
City Reston
Administrative Area Virginia
Postal Code 20192
Country

Electronic Mail Address lyost@usgs.gov

Process Step

Process Description Partnerships - the Geographic Names Project enters into partnerships with State names authorities and State and local GIS agencies to integrate name, location, and attribute data in the GNIS with State and local datasets. These partnerships utilize GIS and web technology to automate and simplify data maintenance, ensure data consistency, integrity, and accuracy, and meet the requirements of the Board on Geographic Names for national names standardization. Government agencies at all levels are encouraged to join this program. Other organizations and individuals will be considered on a case basis. For additional information contact the individual below.

Process Date Not complete

Process Time

Process Contact

Individual Name Roger L. Payne

Organization Name

Position Name Chief, Geographic Names Project

Role Point of contact

Voice 703 648 4544

Facsimile

Address

Delivery Point 523 National Center
City Reston
Administrative Area Virginia
Postal Code 20192
Country USA

Electronic Mail Address gnis_manager@usgs.gov

Process Step

Process Description The New Mexico data was downloaded from the GNIS website, and was created into a shapefile. Points that had no geographic information were deleted from the file.
Process Date 2008-12-10
Process Time
Process Contact

GNIS: Geographic Names Information Systems - All features

Metadata from the RGIS Metadata Repository

Identification Information

Distribution Information

Spatial Reference Information

Data Quality Information

Metadata Reference Information