Council of Geographic Names Authorities Authorities

Council of Geographic Names Authorities
in the United States

This page contains links to a representative for each of the recognized state geographic names authorities in the United States, including two U.S. Territories. These boards, committees, and advisers cooperate with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in the national standardization process. In states with no official board or committee an adviser has agreed to provide expertise and information about names in their state to assist in the standardization process. In addition, there are links to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the Geographical Names Board of Canada, and to the American Name Society.

Many states have official geographic names boards while other states have only an expert adviser assigned or voluntarily reviewing name proposals for their states. One mission of COGNA is to encourage all state governments to take an active role in the geographic name decision process by maintaining their own name authorities who, in turn, recommend names to the federal board using official naming and policies. In addition, COGNA encourages use of the official names in GNIS at all levels of government and the public. COGNA recommends that State names authorities promote throughout state government and the citizenry an awareness of the importance of and procedures for geographic name standardization.

Alabama Geographic Names Authority Dr. Sandy Ebersole, Chairman Geological Survey of Alabama Geographic Names Committee 420 Hackberry Lane P.O. Box 869999 Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-2852 Telephone: (205) 247-3613 Fax: (205) 349-2861 E-mail: sebersole@gsa.state.al.us	Alaska Board on Geographic Names Ms. Judith Bittner Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks Office of History & Archaeology 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1310 Anchorage, AK 99501-3565 Telephone: (907) 269-8715 Fax: (907 269-8908  E-mail: oha@alaska.net E-mail: judy.bitner@alaska.gov	Arizona State Board on Geographic  & Historic Names Mr. Ryan Ehrfurth Digital History and Maps Librarian Arizona Memory Project: Special Maps Collection Researt Support, Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names State of Arizona Research Library Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records 1919 W. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85009 Telephone: (602) 926-3367 Fax: E-mail: rehrfurth@azlibrary.gov
Arkansas Geographic Names Authority Ms. Bekki White, Director & State Geologist Arkansas Geological Commission Vardelle Parham Geology Center 3815 West Roosevelt Road Little Rock, AR 72204 Telephone: (501) 296-1880 Fax: (501) 663-7360 E-mail: bekki.white@arkansas.gov	California Advisory Committee  on Geographic Names The purpose of the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names is to provide recommendations to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names Mr. Solomon McCrea, Chairperson California Geological Survey  801 K Street, MS 13-40 Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone: (916) 323-9284  Fax: (916) 323-9264 Email: solomon.mccrea@conserevation.ca.gov	Colorado Board on Geographic Names Vacant Contact the Governor's office
Connecticut Geographic Names Authority Ms. Margaret A. Thomas, State Geologist Connecticut Geological Survey Office of Information Management Dept. of Environmental Protection 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106 Telephone: (860) 424-3583 Fax: (860) 424-4058 E-mail: Margaret.Thomas@ct.gov	Delaware Geographic Names Authority Mr. William S. Schenck Delaware Geological Survey University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716-7501 Telephone: (302) 831-8262 Fax: (302) 831-3579 E-mail: rockman@udel.edu	Florida State Board on Geographic Names The main purpose of the Florida State Board on Geographic Names is to assist the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and offer advice to citizens and governmental entities on name related issues. Mr. Stephen Hodge, Director Technical Assistance Program Florida Resources & Environmental Analysis Center (FREAC) Florida State Univerity C2200 University Center Tallahasssee, FL 32306 Telephone: (850) 644-2882 E-mail: shodge@fsu.edu
Georgia Geographic Names Authority Kayla Barrett, Assistant Director for Archival Services Georgia Archives Telephone: (678) 364-3756 Fax: (678) 364-3781 E-mail: Kayla.Barrett@usg.edu	Guam Geographic Names Authority Office of the Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo 424 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515-5301 Telephone: (202) 225-1188 Fax: (202 226-0341 E mail:	Hawaii Board on Geographic Names Mr. Leo Asuncion , Director, Office of Planning Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Attn: Arthur J. Buto GIS Program Manager Hawaii Statewide GIS Program State of Hawaii, Office of Planning 235 S. Beretania Street, 6th Floor Honolulu, HI 96813 Telephone / fax: (808) 587-2894 / (808) 587-2899 E-mail: arthur.j.buto@hawaii.gov
Idaho Geographic Names Advisory Council Vacant Telephone: Fax:  E-mail:	Illinois Geographic Names Authority Dr. Edward Callary Northern Illinois University, Emeritus 3004 Whiteway Dr. Austin, TX 78757 Telephone: (737) 443-7502 E-mail: onomast1@gmail.com	Indiana Geographic Names Ms. Megan R.L. Compton, MPA Indiana Geographic Information Officer Indiana Office of Technology 100 North Senate Ave. Suite N551 Indianapolis, IN 46221 Telephone: (317) 234-5889 E-mail: mcompton@iot.in.gov
Iowa Geographic Names Authority www.iowadnr.gov Kathryne Clark, GIS Section Supervisor Iowa Department of Natural Resources 502 E. 9th Street Des Moines, IA 50319 Telephone: (515) 725-8354 Fax: (515) 725-8202 E-mail: kathryne.clark@dnr.iowa.gov	Kansas Geographic Names Authority Mr. Ivan Weichert Kansas Geographic Names Authority 1932 SW Collins AVE Topeka, KS 66604-3223 Telephone: Fax: E-mail: ivan.weichert@gmail.com	Kentucky Geographic Names Committee Scott Dobler, GISP Geography & GIS Instructor KGA Coordinator Mesonet Manager Kentucky Geographic Names Committee Chair Department of Geography and Geology Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University © 2016 1906 College Heights Blvd. Bowling Green, KY 42101 Telephone: (270) 745-4555 E-mail: scott.dobler@wku.edu
Louisiana Geographic Names Authority Mr. Darryl W. Mack GIS & Mapping, Office of Planning Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development P.O. Box 94245 1201Capitol Access Rd. baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245 Telephone: (225) 379-1283 Fax: (225) 242-4552 Email: Darryl.Mack@la.gov	Maine Geographic Names Authority Brian Guerrette, Director of Applications State of Maine Office of Geographic Information Technology 24 Child Street, SHS 16 Augusta, ME 04333-0016 Telephone: (207) 624-3335 E-mail: Brian.Guerrette@Maine.gov	Maryland Geographic Names Authority Ms. Jennifer Chadwick-Moore Historic Preservation Information Systems Specialist Maryland Historic Trust 100 Community Place, 3rd Floor Crownsville, MD 21032-2023 Telephone: (410) 697-9539 E-mail: jen.chadwick-moore@maryland.gov
Massachusetts Geographic Names Authority Dr. Stephen Mabee, State Geologist Massachusetts Geological Survey Department of Geosciences 269 Morrill Science Center University of Massachusetts 611 North Pleasant Street Amherst, MA 01003-9297 E-mail: sbmabee@geo.umass.edu	Michigan Geographic Names Authority Mr. Anthony C. Olkowski Center for Shared Solutions Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget Telephone: (517) 373-7910 Fax: (517) 373-2939 E-mail: olkowskit@michigan.gov	Minnesota Geographic Names Authority Mr. Kent Lokkesmoe,  Director Division of Waters Telephone: (651) 259-5700 Minnesota Department of Natural Resource Attn: Mr. Peter Boulay 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4032 Telephone: (651) 296-4214 Fax: (612) 225-2208 E-mail: pboulay@umn.edu
Mississippi Geographic Names Authority Dr. David T. Dockery III, State Geologist Office of Geology, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 2279 Jackson, MS 39225  Telephone: (601) 961-5544 Fax: (601) 961-5521  E-mail: ddockery@mdeq.ms.gov	Missouri Geographic Names Authority Mr. John Dougan, Chairman Designee Missouri State Archives Telephone: (573) 751-4236 Fax: E-mail: john.dougan@sos.mo.gov	Montana Geographic Names Adviser Erin Fashoway, GIS Coordinator Telephone: (406) 444-9013 E-mail: efashoway@mt.gov
Nebraska Geographic Names Authority Trevor Jones, Director and SHPO Nebraska State Historical Society 1500 R Street, P.O. Box 82554 Lincoln, NE 68501-2554 Telephone: (402) 471-4745 Fax: (402) 471-3100 E-mail: trevor.jones@nebraska.gov	Nevada State Board on Geographic Names In March of 1985, Senate Bill 265, amended Chapter 327 of Nevada Revised Statutes and created a Board to "coordinate and approve geographic names within the State for official recommendation to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names." Jack Hursh, Chairman Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology University of Nevada, Reno, MS 178 1664 North Virginia Street Reno, NV 89557 Telephone: (775) 682-8760 Fax: E-mail: Dr. Christine Johnson, Executive Secretary Nevada Historical Society 1650 North Virginia Street Reno, NV 89503 Telephone: (775) 688-1191 x 231 Fax: E-mail: ckjohnson@nevadaculture.org	New Hampshire Geographic Names Authority Mr. Ken Gallager New Hampshire Office of Energy & Planning 4 Chenell Drive Concord, NH 03301 Telephone: (603) 271-2155 Fax: (603) 271-1728 E-mail: ken.gallager@nh.gov
New Jersey Geographic Names Authority Mr. Ron Pristas, GIS Specialist 1 Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water Supply and Geoscience Geoscience Evaluation & Information Section New Jersey Geological and Water Survey P.O. Box 427 Mail Code 29-01 Trenton, NJ 08625  Telephone: 609-292-2576 or 609-984-6587 Fax: (609) 633-1004 E-mail: Ron.Pristas@dep.nj.gov	New Mexico Geographic Names Subcommittee Zachary L. Stauber GIS Coordinator Enterprise GIS Section Office of Information Technology New Mexico Environment Department PO Box 5469 Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469 Mobile: 505-795-4181 Main: 800-219-6157 Fax: 505-827-2765 E-mail: zachary.stauber@state.nm.us	New York State Committee  on Geographic Names Mr. Brad L. Utter, Senior Historian/Curator New York State Committee on Geographic Names New York State Museum 3021 Cultural Education Center Albany, New York 12230 Telephone: (518) 473-0028 Fax: (518) 486-2149 E mail: Brad.Utter@nysed.gov
North Carolina Geographic Names Authority Mr. Tim Johnson, GISP (acting NCBGN Chair) Director Center for Geographic Information and Analysis North Carolina Department of Information Technology Telephone: Fax: E-mail: tim.johnson@nc.gov	North Dakota Geographic Names Authority Claudia J. Berg, Director State Historical Society of North Dakota 612 East Boulevard  Ave. Bismarck, ND 58505 Telephone: (701) 328-2666 Fax: E-mail: cberg@nd.gov	Ohio Geographic Names Authority Mr. David Blackstone, Executive Director Ohio Geographical Referenced Program Ohio Department of Administrative Services GIS Support Center 77 South High Street, 19th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Telephone: (614) 466-4747 Fax: E-mail: David.Blackstone@das.ohio.gov
Oklahoma Board on Geographic Names Note: the Oklahoma Board on Geographic Names can be found under General Interest. The link is at the bottom of the list. The Board was created by Oklahoma statutes in 1965 the purpose of the Oklahoma Board on Geographic Names is to make recommendations to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names [HB 810, sec. 310 (b), (4)]. Ms. Stacey Evans, Chair Oklahoma Geological Survey Sarkeys Energy Center 100 E. Boyd St., Suite N131 Norman, OK 73019 Telephone: (405) 325-8898  Fax: E-mail: stacey.evans@ou.edu	Oregon Geographic Names Board The purpose of the Oregon Geographic Names Board is to supervise the naming of geographic features within the state of Oregon and to make recommendations to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Mr. Kerry Tymchuk, Secretary Oregon Geographic Names Board Oregon Historical Society 1200 S.W. Park Avenue Portland, OR 97205-2483  Telephone: (503) 306-5239 Fax: (503) 221-2035 E-mail: kerry.tymchuk@ohs.org Mr. Bruce Fisher, President Oregon Geographic Names Board 5062 SE Alii Court Milwaukie, OR 97267-1709 Telephone: (503) 653-5359 E-mail: bruce.j.fisher@gmail.com Mr. Champ Vaughan, Vice President & Interim Committee Chair Oregon Geographic Names Board 17400 Holy Names Drive, Unit 519 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Telephone: (503) 387-3204 E-mail: vaughan1843@comcast.net	Pennsylvania Geographic Names Authority Ms. Karen Galle Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Bureau of Historic Preservation Commonwealth Keystone Building 400 North Street, 2nd Floor Harrisburg, PA 17120-0093 Telephone: (717) 705-4266 Fax: (717) 772-0920 E-mail: kgalle@pa.gov
Puerto Rico Geographic Names Authority Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration Office of the Governor 1100 17th St., N.W., Suite 800  Washington, D.C. 20036 Telephone: (202) 778-0710 Fax: (202) 778-0721  E-mail:	Rhode Island Geographic Names Authority Ms. Meredith E. Brady, Associate Director Department of Administration Division of Statewide Planning One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor Providence, RI 02908-6496 Telephone: (401) 222-5772 Fax: (401) 277-2083 E-mail: meredith.brady@doa.ri.gov	South Carolina Geographic Names Authority Brad Sauls State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) SC Department of Archives & History 8301 Parklane Road Columbia, SC 29223 Telephone: (803) 896-6172 E-mail: BSauls@scdah.sc.gov
South Dakota Geographic Names Authority Ms. June D. Hansen, Chair SD Board on Geographic Names 700 East Broadway Pierre, SD 57501 Telephone: (605) 773-3540  Fax: (605) 773-4442 or (605) 773-3921 E-mail: june.hansen@state.sd.us	Tennessee Committee on Geographic Names Gregory H. March Map/GIS Librarian University of Tennessee Map Services G21A Hodges Library Knoxville, TN 37996 Telephone: (865) 974-3878 Fax: (865) 974-3925 E-mail: gmarch@utk.edu	Texas Geographic Names Authority Mr. Richard Wade Geographic Names Coordinator Texas Natural Resources Information System P.O. Box 13231 Austin, TX 78711-3231 Telephone: (512) 463-4010 Fax:  E-mail: Richard.Wade@twdb.texas.gov
Utah Committee on Geographic Names Mr. Arie Leeflang, Secretary Utah State Committee on Geographic Names Division of State History 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake City, Utah 84101  Telephone: (801) 533-3528 Fax: (801) 533-3504 E-mail: aleeflang@utah.gov	Vermont State Names Authority Vermont State Board of Libraries Vermont Department of Libraries 60 Washington Street, Suite 2 Barre, VT 05641 Telephone: (802) 636-0040 Attn: Geographic Naming, Lauren Wallace E-mail: lauren.wallace@vermont.gov	Virginia Geographic Names Authority Sandra Treadway Librarian of Virginia/State Archivist Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone: (804) 692-3535 Fax: (804) 692-3603  E-mail: sandra.treadway@lva.virginia.gov
Washington State Board  on Geographic Names Mr. Caleb A. Maki, Executive Secretary Washington State Board on Geographic Names Department of Natural Resources 1111 Washington Street SE P.O. Box 47030 Olympia, WA 98504-7030 Telephone: (360) 902-1280 Fax: (360) 902-1778 E-mail: caleb.maki@dnr.wa.gov	West Virginia Geographic Names Authority Mr. Paul Liston West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey 1 Mont Chateau Road Morgantown, WV 26508 Telephone: (304) 594-2331 Fax: (304) 594-2575 E-mail: liston@geosrv.wvnet.edu	Wisconsin State  Geographic Names Council Mr. Carroll Schaal, Section Chief, WGNC Chair Water Quality Bureau / Division of Water Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Telephone: (608) 261-6423 Email: Carroll.Schaal@Wisconsin.gov
Wyoming Board of Geographic Names Ms. Shelley Messer State Engineer's Office, Surface Water Division Herschler Building, 1-W 125 W 25th St Cheyenne, WY 82002 Telephone: (307) 777-5801 Fax: E-mail: Shelley.Messer@wyo.gov

STATE AUTHORITIES