Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Data
Maintenance Forms
Users Guide
Query
Tab, Uncommitted New/Edited Features
Enter
New Official Name or Add Variant
Add/Edit
Reference (Authorized Personnel Only)
Rollback
(Reverse) Names Changes
Add
Decision (Authorized Personnel Only)
Delete
Decision (Authorized Personnel Only)
Rollback
(Reverse) County Changes
Rollback
Edited Counties (Record status = Edited)
Rollback
(Reverse) Coordinates Changes
Rollback
Edited Coordinates (Record status = Edited)
Rollback
(Reattach) Designation
Welcome to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Data Maintenance Program. Your contribution is truly appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions. We would be pleased to walk through the forms at any time or set up a web seminar at your convenience. The following are instructions for using the Data Maintenance forms.
System questions or problems: gnis_sysadmin@usgs.gov
Data questions or problems: gnis_manager@usgs.gov
Maintenance forms: http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/apex/f?p=gnis
Maintaining user account and password: https://geonames.usgs.gov/oiddas/
Note: These URLs are altered by the system during access so the address visible in the browser window after you enter will not be the same as the above. If you add to favorites, bookmark, or copy/paste either URL directly from the browser, it will not be correct. The application will not function correctly or might not connect at all. Please ensure the URLs in all favorites, bookmarks, and links are exactly as shown above.
The system enforces password security policies, complexity rules, and periodic expiration. It also provides the capability for users to manage account information and passwords on line.
Log in: Access the URL http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/apex/f?p=gnis. Enter assigned user ID and password and click Login button. The user ID is not case sensitive but the password is. For the password, make sure Caps Lock is off and that upper and lower case characters, numbers, and special characters are correct.
Failed log in: If login fails three times, the account will lock. Wait at least fifteen minutes and try again or contact gnis_sysadmin@usgs.gov to unlock the account.
New Users: New users will be provided a temporary password. Please change the temporary password to one of your own choosing as soon as possible. See instructions below.
Password Change and Expiration: You may change the password at any time. See instructions below. Passwords expire automatically every ninety days. When logging on with an expired password, you will be required to enter a new password.
Password Complexity: Passwords must contain a minimum of eight characters including at least one upper case letter, one lower case letter, one number, and one special character.
To Change password and edit account profile:
-
Avoid browser
back and forward arrows unless necessary.
-
Click again to
switch between ascending and descending sort order.
- Click on the calendar icon to select date.
- Manual entry format is dd-mmm-yyyy, example: 01-jan-2000. Other formats may not work.
- Dates earlier than 1920 are not in the calendar and must be entered manually.
-
If browser tab
only is closed and window is still open, the session and log in information are
retained. If you re-activate the URL, it will not be necessary to re-enter ID
and password.
-
Use browser back
arrow and try again.
-
Report error
messages to gnis_sysadmin@ugsg.gov with
as much detail as possible. Screen shots of message are helpful.
-
Clears session
information.
-
Unsaved data are
lost, but saved data are recovered.
Check out existing feature from the production database for editing with one or more of the following parameters.
Note: If the feature record has been checked out by another user for editing (Edit status), you may view it but not edit it. This query will return the edited version of a feature in Edit status, not the current public, unedited, version. To view the current version, use the public query form.
-
Fastest query for
single feature. Ignores all other fields.
-
This field
must be blank for other queries to work.
-
Assumes Boolean
and search.
-
Does not search
imbedded letters or ends of words.
-
Select from
either the code pick list or the name pick list.
-
Typing a letter
moves the list to the next value beginning with that letter.
-
State list includes
U.S. territories and associated areas.
-
Typing a letter
moves the list to the next value beginning with that letter.
-
If Feature Code
is selected, Class will be provided automatically and cannot be selected.
-
Typing a letter
moves the list to the next value beginning with that letter.
-
Enter Cell Name.
(Not case sensitive.) Click Check Cell State. (The same cell name may be used
in more than one State.)
-
List of States
containing cells with that name appears. (The Cell State is the primary State
for the cell.)
▪
Do not
select a feature State from the State list above. (The feature State and cell
State are not necessarily the same.)
-
Click down arrow.
Select Primary State of the desired cell.
-
Select Decision Authority.
Values are:
▪
Board Decision: A
formal decision by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
▪
Congress: The
decision is official by authority of an act or law of Congress.
▪
Executive: The
decision is official by authority of a Presidential Executive Order.
-
Select Decision
Type. Values are:
▪
Official: A
decision to recognize the sole official name and its location for Federal
usage.
▪
Not Official: A
decision to declare a name not official a name approved by a State that may
be on State maps, but has no Federal recognition as official and shall not be
used in Federal products. Not a variant. (Only 20 records exist.)
▪
Vacated: A decision to remove official status of a
name previously recognized as official. May be a variant. Seldom exercised.
(Distinct from Not Official.)
-
Enter single
Decision Date or enter date range by selecting Before, After,
or Between.
▪
Date(s) may be
manually entered or selected from calendar(s).
▪
Manual entry
format is dd-mmm-yyyy. Example: 01-jan-2000.
▪
Dates earlier
than 1920 are not in the calendar and must be entered manually.
-
Enter single date
or enter date range by selecting Before, After, or
Between.
▪
Date(s) may be
manually entered or selected from calendar(s).
▪
Manual entry
format is dd-mmm-yyyy. Example: 01-jan-2000.
▪
Dates earlier
than 1920 are not in the calendar and must be entered manually.
-
Enter single Code
value or enter code range by selecting Greater Than, Less than, or Between.
-
Note: Not
all combinations are allowed. You may query 1) Census Code and/or Class Code,
or 2) OPM Code, or 3) GSA Code, but may not query combinations of Census and
OPM and GSA codes.
-
20 Second suggestion: If it runs longer than twenty seconds, kill it and
try another.
This form queries and returns feature records that have been checked out for editing (Edit status) and new features that have been entered (New status) but not committed. Features in Edit and New status may be edited as many times as desired before being committed, but only by the user who initiated the action or by designated data specialists. Other users may view but not edit these features.
Note: You also may query a feature in Edit status using the Check Out form above. (The Check Out form will not return new, uncommitted records.) The Check Out form will return the edited version of a feature in Edit status, not the current public, unedited, version. To view the current version, use the public query form.
-
Fastest query for
single feature. Ignores all other fields.
-
This field
must be clear for other queries to work.
-
Enter single date
or enter date range by selecting Before, After, or
Between.
▪
Date(s) may be
manually entered or selected from calendar(s).
▪
Manual entry
format is dd-mmm-yyyy. Example: 01-jan-2000.
▪
Dates earlier
than 1920 are not in the calendar and must be entered manually.
Displays a list of the features meeting the query parameters with their primary attribute values.
-
Click again to
switch between ascending and descending sort order.
-
(blank) = No
status. Ready for check out. Click the name to check out.
-
Edited = This feature has been edited. If you edited the feature, you
may edit it again until the record is reviewed, validated and committed by the
data specialist. If someone else edited the feature, you may view it only, not
edit it.
-
New = This is a newly entered feature. If you entered the feature,
you may edit it as many times as necessary until the record is reviewed,
validated and committed by the data specialist. If someone else entered the
feature, you may view it only, not edit it.
-
Reviewed = This feature has been edited and reviewed by data
specialists and is ready to commit to the production database. No additional
edits may be made.
-
Conflated Yes:
The feature is represented spatially by a point or points, lines, or polygons
as appropriate. Changes submitted through these forms will be reflected in all
associated gazetteer and vector products and services in The National Map.
▪
For features
represented by lines or polygons:
Feature Code (FCode) and Feature Class on the Detail
tab are set through vector processes and are viewable but not editable in these
forms. Counties/States and Coordinates are derived automatically through
spatial processes and are viewable but not editable in these forms. Other
attributes are editable.
▪
For features
represented by points (primarily
structures): All attributes are editable in these forms for conflated features.
-
Conflated No:
The feature is represented by the traditional GNIS points. Changes submitted
through these forms will be reflected in gazetteer products and services only and
not in vector layers and services. All attributes are editable in these forms.
-
New Features:
Newly entered features are not conflated by definition and must be fully
entered for all required attributes.
-
Ongoing Conflation: Unconflated features will be conflated
eventually through separate processes, but the timing depends on the type of
feature, resources, and priorities.
-
If you click the
Enter New tab, the query results will be lost. Click the Query tab to reenter
the query.
See second tab bar at top for the feature detail pages. Click on the tab to go to that page. Each page contains the following:
-
Status (no
value) = This feature is available to be edited (if
you checked it out).
-
Status Edited = This
feature has been edited. If you edited the feature, you may edit it repeatedly
as needed until the feature is reviewed, validated and committed by the data
specialist. If someone else edited the feature, you may view it only, not edit
it. The edit status is set the first time a save action is executed from any of
the detail pages.
-
Status New = This is
a newly entered feature. If you entered the feature, you may edit it repeatedly
as needed until the feature is reviewed, validated and committed by the data speciali. If someone else entered the feature, you may view
it only, not edit it. The new status is set the first time a save action is
executed from the Enter New page.
-
Conflated Yes:
This gazetteer record has been merged with a vector record. Changes entered
through these forms will be reflected in all associated gazetteer and vector
products and services in The National Map.
▪
For features
represented by lines or polygons: Feature Code (FCode)
and Feature Class on the Detail tab are set through vector processes and are
viewable but not editable in these forms. Counties/States and Coordinates are
derived automatically through spatial processes and are viewable but not
editable in these forms. Other attributes are editable.
▪
For features
represented by points (primarily structures): All attributes are editable in
these forms for conflated features.
-
Conflated No: This gazetteer record has not been merged with a
vector record. Changes entered
through these will be reflected in gazetteer products and services only and not
in vector products and services. All attributes are editable in these forms.
Newly entered features are not conflated by definition.
-
Edited = One
or more fields on that page have been edited or entered.
-
New = One or
more fields on that page have been entered for a new feature.
-
Reviewed = The
page has been reviewed by data specialist and is ready to commit. No further
edits are allowed.
-
Click on the page
link to go directly to that page.
Click the Detail tab.
Enter or edit data as follows:
-
If no secondary
codes apply, select None of these. (Not available in all categories.)
-
Or set primary
list to blank (top line in list) and entire secondary code list appears. Select
from secondary list; corresponding primary code displays.
-
All features are
assigned to one and only one Feature Code (primary plus secondary).
*Required Field
The following are examples of history entries:
Chronological history
Name origin
When in doubt, enter whatever information you have in whatever form seems best to convey that information to the public.
The following are examples of description entries:
Location of feature relative to
other features
Informational
Notes concerning data and data
compilation, usually incomplete records
When in doubt, enter whatever information you have in whatever form seems best to convey that information to the public.
Click the Detail tab. Scroll down. Enter or edit data as follows:
-
Enter only the
core five digits; do not include State FIPS code. Some sources
concatenate state codes with the Census code for seven digits. When necessary,
the system concatenates the codes for products and services.
-
Enter only the
core four digits. Some sources concatenate state and county FIPS codes with the
GSA code. Do not include state and/or county FIPS codes. When necessary,
the system concatenates the codes for products and services.
-
Enter only the
core four digits. Some sources concatenate state and county FIPS codes with the
OPM code. Do not include state and/or county FIPS codes. When necessary,
the system concatenates the codes for products and services.
Click the Names tab. This page contains the following fields:
-
New = New
name record.
-
Edited =
Edited name record.
Or,
-
Ensure correct
word order, spelling, capitalization, diacritic marks, special characters,
generics, articles.
-
Hint: copy/paste
diacritic marks and special characters from the character map (Windows Start, Programs,
Accessories, Systems Tools, Character Map. Versions
may differ.) The character map font does not matter; Times New Roman or Courier
New display marks well.
-
Note for Official
name only: If the feature is historic (no longer exists), type the word (historic)
in parentheses after the name in the Name field.
Example: George Washington School (historic). Assign designation of Historic.
See Designations tab.
-
New name or
variant displays with status = New.
-
Former official
name becomes a variant with status = Edited.
-
Page status
changes to Edited (if first edit).
*Required Field
· Click Edit icon next to the name to be edited. The Edit Name/Variant page displays.
-
Page status
changes to Edited (if first edit).
*Required Field
· Click Edit next to the variant to be become official. The Edit Name/Variant page displays.
-
Former official
name becomes a variant with status = Edited.
· Click Edit next to the variant to be deleted. The Edit Name/Variant page displays.
Make the following selections only in the order presented, as each one is dependent on the previous selections.
-
List includes
only those states that have references.
-
List includes
only those types available for the selected reference. If the desired type does
not appear, see View References:Add/Edit Reference.
-
List includes
only those originators available for the selected reference and type. If the
desired originator does not appear, see View References:Add/Edit Reference.
-
*Select Title
from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Select Source URL from pick list. (May be
blank)
-
Select Edition from pick list. (May be blank)
-
*Select Title
from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Select Edition from pick list. (May be blank)
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
-
*Select Series
Name from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Select Series Issue from pick list. (May be
blank)
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
-
*Select Source
URL from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
-
*Select Interview
Date from pick list.
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
-
New name or
variant displays with status = New.
-
(Enter New
Official Name only) Former official name becomes a variant with status =
Edited.
-
Page status
changes to Edited (if first edit).
*Required Field
From Enter New, Add Variant, or Edit Name/Variant page,
· Click View References.
- For authorized users, add/edit buttons will be visible.
· Select desired values from each field in the order presented; a list of requested references displays.
Authorized personnel may enter new references and edit existing ones.
· Click Add Reference
Or,
· Click Edit next to reference to be edited
· * (Add Reference only) Select Reference (US or state alpha code).
- (This field not editable in Edit Reference.)
· * (Add Reference only) Select Reference Type.
- (This field not editable in Edit Reference.)
· *(Add Reference only) Select or enter Source Originator: The name of the agency, organization, or individual producing the reference.
-
Click list icon
at right of field, search for and select from existing sources or,
- Enter new source only
if originator does not already exist in list. Note that the originator can be used for multiple references.
- (This field not editable in Edit Reference.)
-
*Select or edit Title.
-
*Enter or edit Publication
Date.
-
*Enter or edit Source
URL.
-
Enter or edit Edition. (optional)
-
*Select or edit Title.
-
*Enter or edit Publication
Date.
-
Enter or edit Edition. (optional)
-
Enter or edit Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
-
*Select or edit Series
Name.
-
*Enter or edit Publication
Date.
-
Enter or edit Series Issue. (optional)
-
Enter or edit Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
-
*Enter or edit Source
URL.
-
*Enter or edit Publication
Date.
-
Enter or edit Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
-
* Enter or Edit Interview
Date.
-
Enter or edit Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
-
New or edited
reference is available for selection. See Select
Reference.
*Required Field
From Enter New, Add Variant, or Edit Name/Variant page,
· Click Search Old References.
· Select desired values from each field in the order presented; a list of requested references displays, or
· Enter key words in any order in the Citation field and click Search Citation; a list of requested references displays.
-
When a single
reference is selected, the Go to Convert
button displays. See Convert Old Reference below.
These data are for information only and are not editable.
· If desired reference not listed, see View References:Add/Edit Reference
Old references must be converted to new references. Copy/paste/edit from old citation and reference detail. Be as precise and specific as possible using existing similar values as examples. The converted reference will be available for selection in the Enter New, Add Variant, or Edit Name/Variant pages.
From Search Old Feature References page, or
From Edit Name/Variant page where old reference displays:
· Click Convert or Go To Convert. The Convert Feature Reference page displays.
· * Select Reference (US or state alpha code). Defaults to selected value from previous page or to US.
· * Select Reference Type. Defaults to selected value from previous page.
· *Select or enter Source Originator: The name of the agency, organization, or individual that produced the reference. Defaults to selected value from previous page.
-
Click list icon
at right of field, search for and select from existing sources or,
- Enter new source only
if originator does not already exist in list. Note that the originator can be used for multiple references.
-
*Select from pick list or enter Title.
▪
Click list icon
at right of field, search for and select from existing titles or,
▪
Enter new title only if title does not already
exist in list.
-
*Enter Publication
Date from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
*Enter Source
URL from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
Enter Edition from information in old
reference citation or detail or from other source. (optional)
-
*Select from pick list or enter Title.
▪
Click list icon
at right of field, search for and select from existing titles or,
▪
Enter new title only if title does not already
exist in list.
-
*Enter Publication
Date from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
Enter Edition from information in old reference
citation or detail or from other source.
-
Enter Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
-
*Select from pick list or enter Series Name.
▪
Click list icon
at right of field, search for and select from existing series names or,
▪
Enter new series
name only if series name does
not already exist in list.
-
*Enter Publication
Date from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
*Enter Series
Issue from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
Enter Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
-
*Enter Source
URL from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
*Enter Publication
Date from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
Enter or edit Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
-
* Enter Interview
Date from information in old reference citation or detail or from other
source.
-
Enter or edit Notes. Details not applicable in the
above fields. (optional)
*Required Field
A rollback reverts to current production values. All saved changes are lost.
When a new official name is entered, the original official name is saved as a variant. To roll back a new official name, click on the edit icon next to the variant that is the original name.
· Click Edit next old official name (now a variant). Edit Name/Variant page displays.
- Page and name status returns to (no value) if there
are no other edits.
If a new variant has been added and then needs to be deleted:
· Click Edit next variant. Edit Name/Variant page displays.
- Page and name status returns to (no value) if there
are no other edits.
(Note: There is no rollback button in this case, because the Delete button serves the same purpose.)
To rollback a newly selected reference to the original reference:
· Click Edit next name or variant. Edit Name/Variant page displays.
· Click small triangle at left to view original values.
- Page and name status returns to (no value) if there
are no other edits.
Click the Decisions tab. This page displays the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) decision(s). Add and delete functions are available for authorized personnel only.
- Board Decision: A formal decision by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
- Congress: The decision is official by authority of an act or law of Congress.
- Executive: The decision is official by authority of a Presidential Executive Order.
- Official: A decision to recognize the sole official name and its location for Federal usage.
- Not Official: A decision to declare a name not official a name approved by a State that may be on State maps, but has no Federal recognition as official and shall not be used in Federal products. Not a variant. (Only 20 records exist.)
- Vacated: A decision to remove official status of a name previously recognized as official without specifying a replacement. May be a variant. Seldom exercised. (Distinct from Not Official.)
-
Date(s) may be
manually entered or selected from calendar.
-
Manual entry
format is dd-mmm-yyyy. Example: 01-jan-2000.
-
Dates earlier
than 1920 are not in the calendar and must be entered manually.
- Board Decision: A formal decision by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
- Congress: The decision is official by authority of an act or law of Congress.
- Executive: The decision is official by authority of a Presidential Executive Order.
- Official: A decision to recognize the sole official name and its location for Federal usage.
- Not Official: A decision to declare a name not official a name approved by a State that may be on State maps, but has no Federal recognition as official and shall not be used in Federal products. Not a variant. (Only 20 records exist.)
- Vacated: A decision to remove official status of a name previously recognized as official without specifying a replacement. May be a variant. Seldom exercised. (Distinct from Not Official.)
Click the Counties/States tab. This page contains the following fields:
-
State and county
numeric codes are displayed before each name.
- The Primary
County and State always contain the primary point
(see Coordinates Tab) and are always sequence number 1.
- Secondary
Counties are other counties
containing the feature.
-
New = New
county record.
-
Edited =
Edited county record.
Or,
- Canada and Mexico are listed to account for features crossing the U.S. boarder.
-
Select from
either the code pick list or the name pick list.
-
Lists include current
and former U.S. territories and associated areas. The Federated States of
Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau are treated as states for
data purposes but officially are independent nations.
-
Select from
either the code pick list or the name pick list.
-
Lists include
U.S. territories and associated areas.
-
(County
equivalents are not included for Canada and Mexico.)
-
The new or edited
county inserts at the recorded sequence with status = New or Edited.
-
Higher numbers resequence to +1.
-
Any number >
the highest number defaults to the highest number +1.
-
Page status
changes to Edited (If first edit).
*Required Field
-
The deleted
county displays in Deleted Counties/States section.
-
Exception: If record status = New (added but not committed),
the county disappears from list.
A rollback reverts to current production values. All saved changes are lost.
· Click small triangle at left to view production values.
- Page and county status return to (no value).
Retains other edits.
-
Page and county status
returns to (no value) if no other edits.
All coordinates are NAD83.
Click the Coordinates tab. This page contains the following fields:
Ÿ Seq = Sequence of multiple points for features in more than one USGS standard topographic map (cell). See Coordinates Sequence Rules.
-
The Primary Point is always sequence number
1 and determines the primary county and State.
-
Secondary Points are points in or on the feature and in maps (cells) other than the one
containing the primary point, one per map.
Ÿ Cell = The name of the standard USGS cell (Map) containing the point.
Ÿ Elevation = the elevation from the National Elevation Dataset (NED) for the primary point only.
Ÿ Status of record. Values are:
-
New = New
point record.
-
Edited =
Edited point record.
Ÿ Click View Decimal Degrees or View Deg/Min/Sec (degrees/minutes/seconds) to change the display.
-
Add and Edit forms
use the selected format.
All coordinates are NAD83.
Or,
-
DMS format: DDMMSS(N or S), e.g., 382908N.
-
DEC format: nn.nnnnnnn (7 decimal places), e.g., 38.4827865.
(no sign) = north, minus sign = south.
If 7 decimal places are not available from source data, enter what is
available. Zeros are assumed for the remainder.
-
DMS format: DDDMMSS(E or W), e.g., 0780358W.
-
DEC format: nnn.nnnnnnn (7 decimal places), e.g., -078.0661354
(no sign) = east, minus sign = west.
If 7 decimal places not available from source data, enter what is available.
Zeros are assumed for the remainder.
-
If list contains
more than one cell name, select correct one. List appears with States
containing that cell.
-
If list contains
more than one State name, select correct State.
-
If no cell name
is correct, revise coordinates and verify again.
-
If the list
contains no cells, the coordinates are outside the cell grid. This is possible
if the point is off shore of U.S., in the Pacific, or in Canada or Mexico, but
is very rare. Check coordinates and verify again.
- Occasionally the NED will not return a valid value due to issues with the data or with the service. If that happens, try again a few times, or try later, and/or modify the coordinates slightly. If no response is received, save without the elevation. Procedures are run periodically to resolve unrecorded elevations.
-
The new or edited
coordinates insert at the recorded sequence with status = New or Edited.
-
Higher numbers resequence to +1.
-
Any number >
the highest number defaults to the highest +1.
-
Page status
changes to Edited (If first edit).
*Required Field
-
The deleted
coordinates display in Deleted Coordinates section.
-
Exception: If record status = New (added but not committed),
the coordinates disappear from list.
A rollback reverts to current production values. All saved changes are lost.
· Click small triangle at left to view production values.
- Page and coordinates status return to (no value).
Retains other edits.
-
Page status
returns to (no value) if no other edits.
Designations are attribute values that may be associated with (assigned to) a feature. A feature may have more than one designation and a designation may be assigned to more than one feature. This page contains the following fields:
Ÿ Designation = The title of designation
Ÿ Status of record. Values are:
-
(No value): The
designation is currently assigned to the feature.
-
New: The
designation has been newly assigned, but not validated and committed.
-
Detached =
Detached or unassigned designation. The designation has been declared no longer
applicable.
Ÿ
Note: If
designation = Historic, type the word (historic) in parentheses after the
name in the Name field.
Example: George Washington School (historic). See Names
tab.
-
Record status =
New.
-
Record status =
Detached.
-
Exception: If record status = New, the record disappears from
list.
-
Record status
reverts to (no value).
Click Report tab to view a report of all feature data with status.
-
Print using the browser
print function.
-
Click browser
back button to return to the Report tab.
Click the Enter New tab. Enter new features here. This page contains the following fields:
Ÿ *Feature Name
Ÿ *Feature Code
Ÿ
*
Ÿ *Name Reference
Ÿ *Primary Coordinates
Ÿ Elevation
Ÿ Source Coordinates of liner (Stream, Valley, Arroyo) feature (if known)
Other datavariant names, secondary states, secondary counties, secondary coordinates, history, description, etc.are entered from the detail pages. See Submit & Add Detail.
* = Required Fields
-
Ensure correct
word order, spelling, capitalization, diacritic marks, special characters,
generics, articles.
-
Hint: copy/paste
diacritic marks and special characters from the character map (Windows Start,
Programs, Accessories, Systems Tools, Character Map.
Versions may differ.) The character map font does not matter; Times New Roman
or Courier New display marks well.
A historic feature is one that no longer exists. A new historic feature may be entered with sufficient documentary evidence.
-
In the History
field, enter additional information concerning the history of the feature
(optional). See History Examples.
-
The designation Historic
is assigned automatically. See Designations tab.
-
If no secondary
codes apply, select None of these. (Not available in all categories.)
-
All features are
assigned to one and only one Feature Code.
-
Source Lat/Long
fields appear. See Enter
Coordinates.
-
Select an
administering authority. Leave blank if unknown.
-
Lists include
U.S. territories and associated areas. The Federated States of Micronesia,
Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau are treated as states for data purposes
but officially are independent nations.
-
See County Sequence
Rules for more information.
-
Very rarely used, primarily features between
three and twelve miles off shore and in unincorporated areas of Alaska.
-
In all other cases, the county must be provided.
Make the following selections only in the order presented, as each one is dependent on the previous selections.
-
List includes
only those states that have references.
-
List includes
only those types available for the selected reference. If the desired type does
not appear, see View References:Add/Edit Reference.
-
List includes
only those originators available for the selected reference and type. If the
desired originator does not appear, see View References:Add/Edit Reference.
-
*Select Title
from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Select Source URL from pick list. (May be
blank)
-
Select Edition from pick list. (May be blank)
-
*Select Title
from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Select Edition from pick list. (May be blank)
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
-
*Select Series
Name from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Select Series Issue from pick list. (May be
blank)
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
-
*Select Source
URL from pick list.
-
*Select Publication
Date from pick list.
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
-
*Select Interview
Date from pick list.
-
Notes will
display for information upon selection of previous fields. (May be blank)
*All coordinates in NAD83. If the feature is linear, enter both primary and source coordinates.
-
Latitude DMS
format: DDMMSS(N or S), e.g., 382908N.
-
Longitude DMS
format: DDDMMSS(E or W), e.g., 0780358W.
-
Latitude DEC
format: nn.nnnnnnn (7 decimal places), e.g.,
38.4827865.
(no sign) = north, minus sign = south.
If 7 decimal places are not available from source data, enter what is
available. Zeros are assumed for the remainder.
-
Longitude DEC
format: nnn.nnnnnnn (7 decimal places), e.g.,
-078.0661354
(no sign) = east, minus sign = west.
If 7 decimal places not available from source data, enter what is available.
Zeros are assumed for the remainder.
See Primary Coordinates Rules and Source Coordinates Rules.
-
If list contains more
than one cell name, select correct one. List appears with States containing
that cell.
-
If list contains
more than one State name, select correct State.
-
If no cell name
is correct, revise coordinates and verify again.
-
If the list
contains no cells, the coordinates are outside the cell grid. This is possible
if the point is off shore of U.S., in the Pacific, or in Canada or Mexico, but
is very rare. Check coordinates and verify again.
Use only as a last resort if primary coordinates are unknown (usually applied to features classified as historic).
-
List of names for
standard cells in that State appear.
Note: If coordinates are determined later, return to this feature and enter them.
- Occasionally the NED will not return a valid value due to issues with the data or with the service. If that happens, try again a few times, or try later, and/or modify the coordinates slightly. If no response is received, save without the elevation. Procedures are run periodically to resolve unrecorded elevations.
Remarks:
-
Will be deleted
when the new or edited record is committed to production.
Example: You believe the feature name should be changed, but it has a governing Board decision and need advice.
*Required Fields
For a simple feature (All data can be entered on this page).
-
Key field values
are retained to facilitate entry of multiple similar features.
Complex feature Requires additional detail, variants, multiple counties, multiple States, designations.
The Feature ID:
-
Assigned
automatically when a new feature is entered.
-
Contains no
information.
-
Assigned to one
and only one feature.
-
Permanent.
-
-
Determine one
official name.
-
All others are
variants.
-
Historical name
that is no longer official.
-
Name less used
than the official name but recognized locally.
-
Name incorrectly
recorded on a map or in a document but in the public domain.
-
Misspelling of an
official name.
Note: An abbreviation of the official name is NOT to be recorded as
a variant.
-
(Historical)
See Designate Historical Feature.
-
(Not Official) a
name approved by a State that may be on State maps, but has no Federal
recognition as official and shall not be used in Federal products. Not a
variant. (Only 20 records exist.)
-
New name or name
change usually requires Board on Geographic Names decision.
-
Note:
Feature names with a Board decision cannot be changed. See Decisions tab.
-
Except
abbreviated features specified in law.
-
-
J C
-
-
-
-
Mount Pleasant
(The word Mount is part of the name, not a generic in this case.)
-
Examples: with,
for, the, our,
-
Woods,
-
Use only for
administrative (not natural) features.
-
Remove genitive
or possessive apostrophes from names of natural features.
Ÿ Sequence the counties 1 through n for each county into which the feature extends or through which it passes.
Ÿ County sequence number 1 is always the primary county and contains the primary coordinates.
Ÿ Point features (features with a single set of coordinates) have only one county.
Ÿ Sequence counties for linear features (streams, valleys, arroyos) from mouth to source.
-
Each county is
entered only once even if the feature enters, exits, and reenters the county.
Ÿ Ensure complete coverage of areal features in more than one county (parks, national forests, populated places, etc.).
Ÿ Sequence counties for areal features generally from the primary county outward in the most convenient sequence. There are no set rules.
Ÿ Counties other than the primary county are secondary counties.
Ÿ One set of coordinates per standard USGS cell (map) at a scale of 1:24,000 into which the feature extends or through which it passes.
-
Exception: Source coordinates for a linear feature may be in
the same map as the primary coordinates.
Ÿ Point sequence number 1 is always the primary point and determines the primary State and county.
Ÿ Point features have a single set of coordinates.
Ÿ Sequence points for linear features (streams, valleys, arroyos) from mouth to source.
-
Each map (cell)
is represented by only one point even if the feature enters, exits, and
reenters the map.
-
Exception: Source coordinates for a linear feature may be in
the same map as the primary coordinates.
-
The highest
sequence number (if known) is the source of a linear feature.
Ÿ Ensure complete coverage of areal features in more than one map (parks, national forests, populated places, etc.).
-
Sequence points
for areal features generally from the primary map outward in the most
convenient sequence. There are no set rules.
Ÿ Points other than the primary point are secondary points.
Primary coordinates:
|
For Feature types |
The Primary point is
located at |
|
Stream, Valley, Arroyo |
The mouth |
|
|
The highest point |
|
Populated Place |
Older data might reflect the
center of original settlement, major intersection. Otherwise, center or
centroid. |
|
Other Areal Features |
The center or centroid |
Source coordinates: