Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Data Maintenance Forms
User’s Guide
Edit
Detail – Edit Text Fields
Section/Township/Range
Examples
Rollback
(Reverse) Names Changes
Rollback
(Reverse) County Changes
Rollback
(Reverse) Coordinates Changes
There are two URLs: a test instance and a production instance.
The Test Instance is for testing, training, and familiarization. It is entirely separate from the production instance. No data changes or additions will be reflected in production data or in the public web site. Log on and perform any functions desired. The data is a copy of the production data, but might not be current and might not be fully accurate since users will be making random changes. Test data will be cleared from the tables periodically. Please use the test instance as needed to become familiar with the application. Use the Feedback form to submit questions, suggestions, or problems.
The Production Instance is for real business. All entries will be reviewed, validated, and committed to production by the Geographic Names Office. Submit issues using the Feedback form in the Production Instance. Both Feedback lists will be continuously reviewed and answered.
The Single Sign On enforces required password security policies, complexity rules, and periodic expiration. It also provides the capability for users to manage passwords.
Enter User ID and Password. Click Yes on Security Alert redirect message.
If login fails three times, the account will be locked for 15 minutes. Contact systems administrator to unlock the account. If you are a new user, you will be provided a temporary password. You must change the temporary password as soon as possible. See instructions below.
Password Expiration: The password will expire automatically every ninety days. When logging on with an expired password, a form will appear requiring you to enter a new password.
Password Complexity: Passwords must contain a minimum of 8 characters including at least one upper case letter, one lower case letter, one number, and one special character.
Change Password: Change the password and edit your Oracle Internet Directory profile at any time as follows:
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In Internet
Explorer go to View, Text Size, Smallest.
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Use browser b a sparingly.
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Click again to switch
between ascending and descending sort order.
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Session
information is retained in browser window if you log back in.
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Session
information is cleared.
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Complex logic
with many conditions. You may encounter Oracle error messages.
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Use browser b and try again
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Clears session
information.
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Does not lose
saved data.
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Report software
questions, suggestions, problems in Feedback Tab.
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We will review,
respond, fix. This is a dynamic upgrade process with new versions anytime.
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Note: Report
data issues in Remarks field, not
Feedback.
Query for features with one or more of the following parameters:
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Fastest query for
single feature. Ignores all other fields.
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Assumes Boolean
“and” search.
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Note: Does
not search imbedded letters or ends of words.
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State list
includes
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Enter whole key
words only.
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Note: Does
not search embedded letters or parts of words.
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Enter exact Cell
Name. Click “
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List of States
containing cells with that name appears.
-
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Note: The
same cell name may be used in more than one State.
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Select Decision
Authority. See Decision Authority
Values.
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Select Decision
Type. See Decision Type Values.
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Select date or
date range from Decision Date.
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Select US or
State alpha code from first list.
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Select Reference
Type (Interview, Map, Text, Web).
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Select Reference
Code.
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Citation appears.
Review and validate citation.
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20 Second guide: If it runs longer, kill it and try another.
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Use Feedback Tab for questions or problems.
Displays a list of the features meeting the query parameters and their primary attributes.
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Click again to
switch between ascending and descending sort order.
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(no value) = This
feature is available to be edited.
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Edited = This
feature has been edited. If you edited the feature, you may edit it again until
the feature is reviewed, validated and committed by the Geographic Names
Office. If someone else edited the feature, you may view it only, not edit it.
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New = This
is a newly entered feature. If you entered the feature, you may edit it until
the feature is reviewed, validated and committed by the Geographic Names
Office. If someone else entered the feature, you may view it only, not edit it.
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Reviewed =
This feature has been edited and reviewed by Geographic Names Office. It is
ready to commit to the production database.
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:
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(no value) = This
feature is available to be edited.
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Edited =
This feature has been edited. If you edited the feature, you may edit it again
until the feature is reviewed, validated and committed by the Geographic Names
Office. If someone else edited the feature, you may view it only, not edit it.
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New = This
is a newly entered feature. If you entered the feature, you may edit it until
the feature is reviewed, validated and committed by the Geographic Names
Office. If someone else entered the feature, you may view it only, not edit it.
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Edited = One
or more fields on that page have been edited or added.
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New = One or
more fields on that page have been entered for a new feature.
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Reviewed = The
page has been reviewed by Geographic Names Office and is ready to commit.
Note: Click on the page link to go directly to that page.
This tab contains the following fields:
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All features are
assigned to one and only one class.
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See Edit Detail – Change Class.
The following are text fields with no content rules. Two minute rule: Enter whatever information you can in 2 minutes. See Edit Detail – Edit Text Fields.
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When known,
record distances in metric units with English units in parentheses.
Change class
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Click Reset
button for original value (before Save).
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Class field shows
red background indicating a change.
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Page status
changes to Edited (If this is the first edit).
Rollback (Reverse the change).
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All fields return
to original entries or blank
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Red disappears
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Page status
returns to (no value)
Note: This command rolls back all fields in the Detail page, not just the
Class field.
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Click Reset to return
to original entries (before Save)
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Changed fields
show red background
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Page status
changes to Edited (If this is first edit)
Rollback (Reverse the changes)
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All fields return to original entries or blank
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Red disappears
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Page status
returns to (no value)
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The designation
Subdivision is automatically assigned. Click the Designations tab to verify.
Rollback (Reverse the changes)
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All fields return to original entries or blank
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Red disappears
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Page status
returns to (no value)
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. There are no set rules.
The following are examples of section/township/range entries:
Note: Most spaces are removed
When in doubt, enter whatever information you have in whatever form seems best to convey that information to the public. There are no set rules.
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. There are no set rules.
This page contains the following fields:
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Values are “US”
or a State alpha code.
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Values are “Map,”
“Text,” “Interview,” “Web.”
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New = New
name record.
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Edited =
Edited name record.
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The Change
Official Name page appears.
Or,
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The Add Variant
page appears.
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Ensure correct
word order, spelling, capitalization, diacritic marks, generics, articles.
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Copy and paste
diacritic marks from the character map. In Windows, go to Start, Programs,
Accessories, Systems Tools, Character Map. (Versions may differ.)
Note: The font you choose in the character map does not matter, but Times
New Roman or Courier New display the marks well.
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See Enter Known Reference or Search Citation.
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Additional information
concerning the feature in the reference, i.e., page number, section, plate.
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Display returns
to Names page.
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New name or
variant displays with status = New.
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For Change
Official Name, Former name becomes a variant
with status = Edited.
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Page status
changes to Edited (If this is first edit).
Or,
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Display returns
to Names page with no change.
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Edit Name/Variant
page appears.
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Previous edits,
if any, appear with red background.
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See Enter Known Reference or Search Citation.
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Additional
information concerning the feature in the reference, i.e., page number,
section, plate.
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Display returns
to Names page.
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Edited name or
variant displays with status = Edited.
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Page status
changes to Edited (If this is first edit).
Or,
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Display returns
to Names page with no change.
Note: Name and variant fields cannot be edited.
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Edit Name/Variant
page appears.
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Display returns
to Names page.
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If record status
= (no value, i.e., a previously existing variant), the deleted variant displays
at bottom of page.
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If record status
= New (one you added but has not been committed), the variant disappears from
list.
Or,
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Display returns
to Names page with no change.
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Edit Name/Variant
page appears.
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Display returns
to Names page.
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Variant becomes
official name with status = Edited.
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Official name
becomes variant with status = Edited.
Or,
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Display returns
to Names page with no change.
Edited Variants (Record status = Edited)
Ÿ Click icon for the proper row in Edit column.
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Edit Name/Variant
page appears.
Ÿ Click Production Data triangle at left.
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View original
settings.
Ÿ Click Rollback button.
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Display returns
to Names page with original values.
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Page status
returns to (no value) if there are no other edits.
Deleted Variants
Ÿ Click icon for the proper row in Back column.
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Rollback Deleted
Name? page appears.
Ÿ Click Rollback button.
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Display returns to
Names page with restored values.
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Page status
returns to (no value) if no other edits.
This page displays the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) decision concerning the feature name or application.
Note: The Geographic Names Offices manages decision information. Users may view decisions only.
The following are the possible values for Decision Authority:
The following are the possible values for Decision Type:
This page contains the following fields:
Ÿ County or counties containing the feature or part of the feature.
Ÿ Seq = Sequence of multiple counties for features in more than one county.
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The Primary County and State always contain
the primary point (see Coordinates Tab) and are
always sequence number 1.
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Secondary Counties are other counties containing the feature.
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See County Sequence Rules.
Ÿ Status of record. Values are:
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New = New
county record.
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Edited =
Edited county record.
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The
Or,
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The
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The new or edited
county inserts at the recorded sequence.
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Higher numbers
resequence to +1.
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Any number >
the highest number defaults to the highest +1.
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See County Sequence
Rules.
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Note: The
State list includes
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The list of
counties for that State appears.
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Display returns to
Counties/States page.
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New county
displays in correct sequence with status = New.
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Page status
changes to Edited (If this is first edit).
Or,
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Display returns
to Counties/States page with no change.
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Edit County/State
page appears
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Display returns
to Counties/States page.
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If record status
= (no value, i.e., a previously existing county), the deleted county displays
at bottom of page.
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If record status
= New (one you added but has not been committed), the county disappears from
list.
Or,
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Returns to
Counties/States page with no change.
Edited Counties (Record status = Edited).
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Edit County/State
page appears.
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View original
setting.
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Display returns
to Counties/States page with original values.
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Page status
returns to (no value) if no other edits.
Deleted Counties
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Rollback Deleted
County/State? page appears.
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Display returns
to Counties/States page with restored values.
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Page status
returns to (no value) if no other edits.
This page contains the following fields:
Ÿ Latitude and Longitude of points in or on the feature.
Ÿ Seq = Sequence of multiple points for features in more than one USGS standard topographic map (cell).
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The Primary Point is always sequence number
1 and determines the primary county and State.
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Secondary Points are points in or on the feature and in maps (cells) other than the one
containing the primary point, one per map.
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See Coordinates Sequence Rules.
Ÿ Cell = The name of the standard USGS cell (Map) containing the point.
Ÿ Status of record. Values are:
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New = New
point record.
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Edited =
Edited point record.
Ÿ Click View Decimal Degrees or View Deg/Min/Sec to change the display between decimal degrees and degrees/minutes/seconds.
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Add and Edit
forms will use the selected format.
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The Add
Coordinates page appears.
Or,
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The Edit Coordinates
page appears.
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The new or edited
coordinates insert at the recorded sequence.
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Higher numbers
resequence to +1.
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Any number >
the highest number defaults to the highest +1.
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See Coordinates
Sequence Rules.
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DMS format:
DDMMSS(N or S), e.g., 382958N
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DEC format:
nn.nnnnnnn, e.g., 38.4827865
(no sign) = north, minus sign = south
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DMS format:
DDDMMSS(E or W), e.g., 0780358W
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DEC format:
nnn.nnnnnnn, e.g., -078.0661354
(no sign) = east, minus sign = west
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List appears with
the names of cells containing the coordinates. Standard cells are 7.5° x 7.5°
except
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If list contains more
than one cell name, select correct one. List appears with States containing
that cell.
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If list contains
more than one State name, select correct State.
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If no cell name
is correct, revise coordinates and verify again.
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Measured =
You can confidently determine from the data source (map, image, GPS, etc.) that
the coordinates are within 2 seconds of the actual position.
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Approximate
= The above criterion does not apply.
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Geocoded coordinates
are considered approximate.
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Display returns
to Coordinates page.
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New coordinates
display in correct sequence with status = New.
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Page status
changes to Edited (If this is first edit).
Or,
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Display returns
to Coordinates page with no change.
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Edit Coordinates
page appears
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Display returns
to Coordinates page.
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If record status
= (no value, i.e., a previously existing county), the deleted coordinates
display at bottom of page.
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If record status
= New (A point you added but has not been committed), the coordinates disappear
from list.
Or,
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Returns to
Coordinates page with no change.
Edited Coordinates (Record status = Edited).
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Edit Coordinates
page appears.
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View original
settings.
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Display returns
to Coordinates page with original values.
-
Page status returns
to (no value) if no other edits.
Deleted
Coordinates
-
Rollback Deleted
Coordinates? page appears.
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Display returns
to Coordinates page with restored values.
-
Page status
returns to (no value) if no other edits.
Designations are attributes assigned to the feature. They could be almost anything not otherwise defined in the data. A feature may have more than one designation and a designation may be assigned to more than one feature.
Examples: State Capitol, County Seat, Concise, Administered Federal, Historical, Known Source.
Designations are defined, added, edited, and deleted by the Geographic Names Office. You may assign designations to features as appropriate, meaning that the designation applies to the feature, or you may detach such designations from features if the designation no longer applies or was mistakenly applied in the first place.
This page contains the following fields:
Ÿ Designation = The title of designation
Ÿ Description = A textual description of designation.
Ÿ Status of record. Values are:
-
(No value) means
the designation is currently assigned to the feature.
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New means
the designation has been newly assigned, but not validated and committed by the
Geographic Names Office
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Detached
means the designation has been declared no longer applicable, but has not been
validated and committed by the Geographic Names Office.
To assign a designation to a feature:
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The Assign
Designation page appears.
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The designation
description appears. Validate the description.
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The Assign button
appears.
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The display
returns to Designations page.
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The value New
appears in the Status column.
Or,
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The display
returns to Designations page with no change.
This function detaches an assigned designation or reattaches a designation that has been detached.
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Display returns
to Designations page.
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Value Detached
appears in Status column.
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Or, if the Record
Status was New, the record disappears.
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The display
returns to Designations page.
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Record Status
reverts (no value).
Or,
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The display
returns to Designations page with no change.
Click the Record Status tab to view:
Ÿ Feature Status: Same as all detail pages.
Ÿ Page Status: Same as all detail pages.
Ÿ Edit & Review Status (Visible only if edits have been made).
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Date and User ID
of the edit (or entry of new record).
-
Date and User ID
of 1st & 2nd Geographic Names Office reviews.
Ÿ
Enter
Remarks
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Information or questions
for the Geographic Names Office.
-
Not data. Deleted
when data committed.
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See Enter Remarks.
Click Report tab to view a report of all feature data with current status.
Enter new features here.
Minimum required data
Ÿ Feature Name
Ÿ Feature Class
Ÿ
Ÿ Primary Coordinates
Ÿ
Source Coordinates of liner feature (if known)
(Stream, Valley, Arroyo)
Ÿ Feature Reference
Other Applicable Data
Ÿ Variants
Ÿ Size
Ÿ History
Ÿ Description
Ÿ
Ÿ Map Addendum
Ÿ Secondary counties
Ÿ Secondary coordinates
Ÿ Designations
Enter the exact official name approved by appropriate authority.
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In Windows, go to
Start, Programs, Accessories, Systems Tools, Character Map (Other browsers or
versions may differ).
-
Font does not
matter. The field defaults to the font in the application.
-
(However, Times
New Roman and Courier New display the marks well in the character map).
*Required Field
See Names Rules.
A historic feature is one that no longer exists. Features are never deleted. They just become historic.
-
The designation Historic
is automatically assigned. See Designations
tab.
-
Same as History
field in Edit
Detail tab.
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Enter additional
information concerning the disposition. Examples:
-
“Abandoned” –
such as schools or churches
-
“Destroyed by
fire”
-
“Inundated by
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Other terms or
phrases may be used
Click the list arrows, select values.
-
Counties for that
State appear in county list.
See Primary Coordinates Rules for more information.
*Required Fields
-
Enter Source
Coordinates, if known. See Source
Coordinates Rules.
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If Source
Coordinates are unknown, click Unknown Source
-
Source
Coordinates fields disappear.
-
Feature is
assigned a designation of “Unknown Source.” See Designations
tab.
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DMS format:
DDMMSS(N or S). Example: 382958N
·
Numbers plus N or
S only.
·
No spaces, special
characters, or punctuation.
-
DEC format:
nn.nnnnnnn. Example: -38.4827865
·
Numbers only.
·
No spaces, special
characters, or punctuation other than minus sign and decimal point.
·
Carry to seven
decimal places. (Following zeros are not necessary.)
·
(no sign) = north,
minus sign = south.
-
DMS format:
DDDMMSS(E or W), e.g., 0780358W
·
Numbers plus N or
S only.
·
No spaces, special
characters, or punctuation.
-
DEC format: nnn.nnnnnnn, e.g., -078.0661354
·
Numbers only.
·
No spaces, special
characters, or punctuation other than minus sign and decimal point.
·
Carry to seven
decimal places. (Following zeros are not necessary.)
·
(no sign) = east, minus sign = west.
*Required Fields. Error messages appear for incorrect format.
Use only as a last resort if Primary Coordinates are unknown (usually applied to features classified as historical).
-
-
List of names for
standard cells in that State appear.
Note: If coordinates are determined later, return to this feature and enter them.
Make sure the coordinates are on the correct cell (map).
Ÿ After coordinates entered, click Verify Cell Name?
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List appears with
names of cells containing the coordinates.
-
Standard cells
are 7.5° x 7.5°.
-
Except
Ÿ Verify cell name against the source map.
-
If list contains
more than one cell name, select the correct one.
-
If cell name(s)
are not correct, revise coordinates and verify again.
Click list arrow to see values, select value (63 classes).
-
Source Lat/Long
fields appear. See Enter Coordinates.)
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If the feature is
a subdivision of an incorporated place, Click Subdivision of.
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Enter the Feature
ID of the incorporated place of which the feature is a subdivision, if known.
-
Select an administering
authority or Unknown.
*Required Field
If the reference code is known: (If not, see Search Citation.)
-
List shows types
only for the above selection.
-
Possible values:
Interview, Map, Text, Web.
-
List shows values
only for the selections above.
-
Citation appears.
*Required Fields.
Note: Reference codes are maintained by the Geographic Names Office.
-
Contact
Geographic Names Office to request a new code. Supply a complete citation.
If the reference code is not known: (see Enter Known Reference.)
-
The search
assumes a Boolean “and” condition.
-
Note: Does
not search imbedded letters or ends of words.
-
Returns all codes
containing key words in citation.
*Required Fields.
Remarks:
-
Will be deleted when
the new or edited record is committed to production.
Note: Use Feedback form, not Remarks, for questions, suggestions, and problems concerning the system and the software.
For a simple feature (All data can be entered on this page).
-
Form clears
except for key fields.
-
You do not have
to retype repeating fields in a group of features.
Complex feature – Requires additional detail, variants, multiple counties, multiple States, designations.
-
Detail pages
appear same as in edit mode.
-
Same format as
Query Results.
The Geographic Names Office will:
-
The page and
record status changes to Reviewed.
-
See Record Status tab for status of review and
remarks.
-
The Remarks
section of Record Status page.
-
Email, phone,
etc.
-
New and edited
features will appear at GNIS web site and in The National Map.
-
All Edit and New
flags are cleared.
Please use the feedback forms to submit questions, suggestions, problems concerning the operation and functions of these forms. Do not use the Feedback form for submitting data questions. Data issues should be recorded in the Remarks field of the Record Status page. See Enter Remarks.
Any user may enter items, and any user may respond to existing items with new information or questions. The Geographic Names Office will reply to all items and track them to resolution. A new item has a status of Open. An item considered resolved will be assigned a status of Soft Close. The user originating the item should verify the resolution and then assign a status of Closed. Closed items will be deleted from the list periodically.
Post New item:
Search Items:
- If you enter no selections, the search will return all items.
Search Result tab displays:
View Item Detail:
- View item and all replies in descending date order.
Reply to Item:
The Feature ID:
-
Assigned
automatically when a new feature is entered.
-
Contains no
information.
-
Assigned to one
and only one feature.
-
Permanent.
Note: A few features have two or more records with different IDs.
-
Primarily linear
features that cross State and county boundaries.
-
They are old data
and are being corrected as time permits.
-
If seen, report
the Feature IDs to Geographic Names Office.
-
-
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.
-
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)” – Geographic Names Office use
only. Only 20 records to date.
-
New name or name
change usually requires Board on Geographic Names decision.
-
See
/
-
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.)
-
“
-
“Canada de las Latas” a “Latas, Canada de las”
(diacritic??)
-
“Lake Mead” = “
-
“The
Thoroughfare” a “Thoroughfare, The”
-
“
-
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 at 1/24,000 scale) 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 at 1/24,000 scale.
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 |
|
Canal, Tunnel, Trail |
– The center |
|
Dam, Reservoir |
– The center of the dam |
|
Populated Place |
– The center of original
settlement, major intersection |
|
Other Areal Features |
– The center |
Source coordinates: