Boards & Authorities

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. In addition, there are links to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the Geographical Names Board of Canada, and to the Toponymy Interest Group of the American Names Society.

Select from the list

State Geographic Names Authorities
Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas	California
Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware	Florida	Georgia
Hawaii	Idaho	Illinois	Indiana	Iowa
Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine	Maryland
Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi	Missouri
Montana	Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire	New Jersey
New Mexico	New York	North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio
Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina
South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah	Vermont
Virginia	Washington	West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming
Geographic Names Authorities, United States Territories
Guam	Puerto Rico

Alabama	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Lewis S. Dean Geological Survey of Alabama/State Oil & Gas Board P.O. Box 869999, University Station Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35486-6999 Telephone: (205) 349-2852 Fax: (205) 349-2861 E-mail: library@gsa.state.al.us Return to Top
Alaska	Geographic Names Authority
	Ms. Judith Bittner Alaska Department of Natural Resources/Division of Parks Office of History & Archaeology Attn: Ms. Joan (Jo) M. Antonson 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1310 Anchorage, AK 99501-3565 Telephone: (907) 269-8714 Fax: (907 269-8908 E-mail: oha@alaska.net E-mail for Jo: jo.antonson@alaska.gov Return to Top
Arizona	Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names
	Mr. Eugene Trobia, Chair Arizona State State Board on Geographic and Historic Names Arizona State Land Department 1616 W. Adams Phoenix, AZ 85007-2606 Telephone: (602) 542-4060 Fax: (602) 542-2600 E-mail: gtrobia@land.az.gov Arizona State State Board on Geographic and Historic Names Attn: Julie Hoff Arizona State Capitol 1700 W. Washington, Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Telephone: (602) 542-4343 In Arizona: (800) 255-5841 Fax: (602) 542-4400 E-mail: aznames@lists.lib.az.us Return to Top
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 Return to Top
California	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. James Spero, Chairman California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 1300 “U” Street P.O. Box 944246 Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 Telephone: (916) 324-7185 Fax: (916) 324-1180 Email: james.spero@fire.ca.gov Return to Top
Colorado	Colorado Geographical Names Board
	Mr. Terry Ketelsen, State Archivist Colorado State Archives 1313 Sherman Street, Room 1B20 Denver, CO 80203 Telephone: (303) 866-2055 Fax: (303) 866-2257 E-mail: terry.ketelsen@state.co.us Return to Top
Connecticut	Geographic Names Authority
	Vacant: update pending Return to Top
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 Return to Top
Florida	Florida State Board on Geographic Names
The Florida State Board on Geographic Names' main purpose is to assist the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and offer advice to citizens and governmental entities on name related issues.	Mr. James R. Anderson Florida State Board on Geographic Names FREAC, UCC 2200 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-2641 Telephone: (850) 644-2883 Fax: (850) 644-7360 E-mail: JAnderson@admin.fsu.edu Return to Top
Georgia	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. David W. Carmicheal, Director Georgia State Archives and History Archives and Records Building 5800 Jonesboro Road Morrow, GA 30260 Telephone: (678) 364-3714 Fax: (678) 364-3859 E-mail: dcarmicheal@sos.state.ga.us Return to Top
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: Return to Top
Hawaii	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. David Blane, Director Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Office of Planning Attn: Mr. Craig Tasaka P.O. Box 2359 Honolulu, HI 96804 Telephone: (808) 587-2894 Fax: (808) 587-2899 E-mail: ctasaka@dbedt.hawaii.gov Return to Top
Idaho	Idaho Geographic Names Advisory Council
	Ms. Suzi Pengilly Idaho State Historical Society 210 Main St. Boise, ID 83702 Telephone: (208) 334-3847 Ext. 107 Fax: E-mail: suzi.pengilly@ishs.idaho.gov Return to Top
Illinois	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Robert A. Sinclair Sinclair and Associates 312 South Fair Street Champaign, IL 61821 Telephone: (217) 356-9285 Fax: E-mail: rsinclai@uiuc.edu Dr. Edward Callary English Department Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115 Telephone: (815) 753-6627 Fax: (815) 753-0606 E-mail: ecallary@niu.edu Dr. David L. Gross Senior Geologist & Ass't. Chief Illinois State Geological Survey Natural Resources Building 615 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 Telephone: (217) 333-0150 Fax: (217) 244-7004 E-mail: gross@isgs.uiuc.edu Return to Top
Indiana	Geographic Names Authority
	Bob Wilkinson Indiana Information Technology Oversight Commission IGCN Room 551 100 N. Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: (317) 232-1103 Fax: (317)234-0917 E-mail: bwilkinson@dnr.in.gov Indiana Board on Geographic Names: history, 1961-1971 Return to Top
Iowa	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. James D. Giglierano Iowa Geological Survey Bureau Department of Natural Resources 109 Trowbridge Hall Iowa City, IA 52242-1319 Telephone: (319) 335-1594 Fax: (319) 335-2754 E-mail: james.giglierano@dnr.iowa.gov Return to Top
Kansas	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Ivan L. Weichert, GIS Director Kansas Information Technology Office 900 SW Jackson ST, Rm 751-S Topeka, KS 66612-1275 Telephone: (785) 296-0257 Fax: (785) 296-1168 E-mail: ivan.weichert@da.ks.gov Return to Top
Kentucky	Kentucky Committee on Geographic Names
	Mr. Robert M. Rennick, Chairman Kentucky Committee on Geographic Names 586 Riverside Drive Prestonsburg, KY 41653-7744 Telephone: (606) 886-2204 Fax: E-mail: Send e-mails to Demetrio.Zourarakis@ky.gov Return to Top
Louisiana	Geographic Names Authority
	Dr. Randall A. Detro, Director Placename Survey of Louisiana 202 Windsor East Thibodaux, LA 70301 Telephone: (985) 446-7629 Fax: E-mail: radetro@aol.com
Maine	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Bob Marvinney Natural Resources Information and Mapping Center Maine Geological Survey 22 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0022 Telephone: (207) 287-2804 Fax: (207) 287-2353 E-mail: Robert.G.Marvinney@maine.gov Return to Top
Maryland	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Ed Schmidbauer Maryland State Highway Administration 707 North Calvert St., MS 607-C Baltimore, MD 21202 Telephone: (410) 545-8739 Fax: (410) 209-5033 E-mail: eschmidbauer@sha.state.md.us Mr. Kevin T. Boone, Chief Geographic Information Services Section Maryland Department of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Building, Floor: E-2 P.O. Box/Mail Stop: E-2 580 Taylor Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 Telephone: (410) 260-8753 Fax: (410) 260-8759 E-mail: kboone@dnr.state.md.us Return to Top
Massachusetts	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Dennis Swartwout Earth Science Information Office Blaizdell House University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 Telephone: (413) 545-0359 Fax: (413) 545-2304 E-mail: esic@tei.umass.edu Return to Top
Michigan	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Daniel Metzger, Geographic Specialist Michigan Information Center George Romney Building 111 South Capitol, 10th Floor P.O. Box 30026 Lansing, MI 48909 Telephone: (517) 373-7910 Fax: (517) 373-2939 E-mail: metzgerd@michigan.gov Return to Top
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 Return to Top
Mississippi	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Michael B. E. Bograd, RPG Director & State Geologist Office of Geology P.O. Box 20307 Jackson, MS 39289-1307 Telephone: (601) 961-5528 Fax: (601) 961-5521 E-mail: Michael_Bograd@deq.state.ms.us Return to Top
Missouri	Geographic Names Authority
	Ms. Jane Messenger USGS, Mid-Continent Mapping Center 1400 Independence Road, MS 918 Rolla, MO 65401 Telephone: (573) 308-5803 Fax: (573) 308-3652 E-mail: jmessenger@usgs.gov Return to Top
Montana	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Gerry Daumiller Montana State Library Natural Resource Information System P.O. Box 201800 Helena, MT 59620-1800 Telephone: 406-444-5358 Fax: 406-444-0581 E-mail: gdaumiller@mt.gov Return to Top
Nebraska	Geographic Names Authority
	Michael J. Smith, Director/CEO 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: msmith@nebraskahistory.org or: nshs@nebraskahistory.org Return to Top
Nevada	Nevada State Board on Geographic Names
	Ms. Susan Tingley, Chairman Mr. Joseph Tingley, Ex. Sec. Nevada State Board on Geographic Names Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology University of Nevada Reno, NV 89557-0088 Telephone: (775) 784-6691 ext.142 Fax: (775) 784-1709 E-mail Susan: stingley@unr.edu E-mail Joe: jtingley@unr.edu Return to Top
New Hampshire	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Ken Gallager New Hampshire Office of Energy & Planning 57 Regional Drive Concord, NH 03301 Telephone: (603) 271-2155 Fax: (603) 271-1728 E-mail: ken.gallager@nh.gov Note: New address effective February 29 4 Chenell Drive Concord, NH 03301 Return to Top
New Jersey	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. William P. Graff Supervising Topographic Engineer New Jersey Geological Survey P.O. Box 427 Trenton, NJ 08625 Telephone: (609) 292-2576 Fax: (609) 633-1004 E-mail: Bill.Graff@dep.state.nj.us Return to Top
New Mexico	New Mexico State Geographic Names Subcommittee
	Mr. Robert Julyan, Chairman New Mexico State Geographic Names Committee New Mexico Geographic Information Council 31 Avenida Almendro NE Albuquerque, NM 87123-9648 Telephone: (505) 298-8420 Fax: (505) 298-8420 E-mail: rjulyan@comcast.net Return to Top
New York	New York State Committee on Geographic Names
	Dr. Ren Vasiliev, Secretary New York State Committee on Geographic Names PO Box 247 Bloomfield, NY 14469-0247 Telephone: Fax: E-mail: geographer@frontiernet.net Return to Top
North Carolina	Geographic Names Authority
	Dr. Wayne Walcott Senior Associate Provost UNC Charlotte 9201 University City Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28223-0001 Telephone: (704) 687-2090 Fax: (704) 687-6912 E-mail: wawalcot@email.uncc.edu Return to Top
North Dakota	Geographic Names Authority
	Edward C. Murphy, Acting Director & State Geologist North Dakota Geological Survey 600 East Boulevard Bismarck, ND 58505-0840 Telephone: (701) 328-8000 Fax: (701-328-8010 E-mail: emurphy@state.nd.us Return to Top
Ohio	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. David Blackstone, GIS Manager Office of Technical Services Ohio Department of Transportation 1980 West Broad Street Columbus, OH 43223 Telephone: (614) 466-2594 Fax: E-mail: Dave.Blackstone@dot.state.oh.us Return to Top
Oklahoma	Oklahoma Board on Geographic Names
The purpose of the Oklahoma Board on Geographic Names is to make recommendations to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names	Mr. T. Wayne Furr, Executive Secretary Oklahoma Board on Geographic Names Oklahoma Geological Survey The University of Oklahoma 2020 Industrial Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Telephone: (405) 325-1299 (leave message) Telephone: (405) 830-9848 (Wayne's mobile phone) Fax: (405) 366-2882 Office E-mail: twfurr@ou.edu Return to Top
Oregon	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.	Dr. George L. Vogt, Secretary Oregon Geographic Names Board Oregon Historical Society 1200 S.W. Park Avenue Portland, OR 97205-2483 Telephone: (503) 306-5225 Fax: (503) 221-2035 E-mail: georgev@ohs.org Mr. Champ C. Vaughan, President Oregon Geographic Names Board 14900 S. Macksburg Road Molalla, OR 97038-8410 Telephone: (503) 829-4216 Fax: E-mail: vaughan@molalla.net Return to Top
Pennsylvania	Geographic Names Authority
	Ms. Barbara Franco, Executive Director Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The State Museum Building 300 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17120-0024 Telephone: (717) 783-9886 Fax: E-mail: bfranco@state.pa.us Dr. Kenneth Wolensky Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Commonwealth Keystone Building Plaza Level 400 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17120-0053 Telephone: (717) 772-0921 Fax: (717) 214-2989 E-mail: kwolensky@state.pa.us Thomas L Denslinger, P.E. Chief, Water Use Management Section Division of Water Use Planning PA Department of Environmental Protection P.O. Box 8555 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8555 Telephone: (717) 772-5679 Fax: (717) 787-9549 E-mail: tdenslinge@state.pa.us Richard C. Keen, Librarian Pennsylvania Geological Survey PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources 3240 Schoolhouse Road Middletown, PA 17057 Telephone: (717) 702-2020 Fax: (717) 702-2065 E-mail: rkeen@state.pa.us Return to Top
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: Return to Top
Rhode Island	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Jared L. Rhodes II, Chief Statewide Planning Program Rhode Island Department of Administration One Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908-5872 Telephone: (401) 222-5772 Fax: (401) 277-2083 E-mail: jrhodes@admin.ri.gov Return to Top
South Carolina	Geographic Names Authority
	Dr. Rodger E. Stroup, Director South Carolina Department of Archives and History 8301 Parklane Road Columbia, SC 29223-4905 Telephone: (803) 896-6187 Fax: (803) 896-6186 E-mail: stroup@scdah.state.sc.us Mr. Thomas C. Vose, Mapping Supervisor South Carolina Department of Transportation P.O. Box 191 Columbia, SC 29202-0191 Telephone: (803) 737-1464 Fax: (803) 737-1858 E-mail: vosetc@dot.state.sc.us Return to Top
South Dakota	Geographic Names Authority
	Vacant: update pending Return to Top
Tennessee	Geographic Names Authority
	Dr. James O. Minton 7408 Bennington Dr. Knoxville, TN 37909 Telephone: (865) 690-0870 Home Fax: E-mail: mexicojm@bellsouth.net Return to Top
Texas	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. David Pimentel Geographic Names Coordinator Texas Natural Resources Information system P.O. Box 13231 Austin, TX 78711-3231 Telephone: (512) 475-4635 Fax: E-mail: David.Pimentel@twdb.state.tx.us Ms. Claire DeVaughan U.S. Geological Survey 8027 Exchange Drive Austin, TX 78754-4733 Telephone: (512) 927-3583 Fax: (512) 927-3590 E-mail: cdevaugh@usgs.gov Return to Top
Utah	Utah State Committee on Geographic Names
	Ms. Susan Whetstone, Executive Secretary Utah State Committee on Geographic Names Division of State History 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 Telephone: (801) 533-3543 Fax: (801) 533-3504 E-mail: swhetsto@utah.gov Return to Top
Vermont	Geographic Names Authority
	Ms. Sybil Brigham McShane, State Librarian Department of Libraries 109 State Street Montpelier, VT 05609-0601 Telephone: (802) 828-3265 Fax: (802) 828-2199 E-mail: Sybil.mcshane@dol.state.vt.us Return to Top
Virginia	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Conley L. Edwards, State Archivist The Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone: (804) 692-3554 Fax: (804) 692-3603 E-mail: conley.edwards@lva.virgina.gov Return to Top
Washington	Washington State Board on Geographic Names
	Mr. Caleb Maki, Administrative Assistant Washington Board on Geographic Names Washington Department of Natural Resources 1111 Washington St. SE P.O. Box 47030 Olympia, WA 98504-7030 (360) 902-1280 Fax (360) 902-1778 caleb.maki@dnr.wa.gov Mr. Tim Gregg, Executive Secretary Washington State Board on Geographic Names Department of Natural Resources 1111 Washington St., SE P.O. Box 47032 Olympia, WA 98504-7032 Telephone: (360) 902-1231 Fax: (360) 902-1778 E-mail: tim.gregg@wadnr.gov Return to Top
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 Return to Top
Wisconsin	Wisconsin State Geographic Names Council
	Ms. Kathryn Fitzgerald Wisconsin State Geographic Names Council Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 Telephone: (608) 267-2764Fax: (608) 267-2750 E-mail: Kathryn.Fitzgerald@dnr.state.wi.us Return to Top
Wyoming	Wyoming Board of Geographic Names
	Mr. Patrick T. Tyrrell Wyoming State Engineer's Office Attention: Mr. Jason Feltner, Executive Director Wyoming Board of Geographic Names Herschler Building, 4-E Cheyenne, WY 82002 Telephone: (307) 777-8789 Fax: (307) 777-5451 E-mail: ptyrre@seo.wyo.gov or jfeltn@seo.wyo.gov Return to Top
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
	Mr. Louis Yost, Executive Secretary U.S. Board on Geographic Names U.S. Geological Survey 523 National Center Reston, VA 20192-0523 Telephone: (703) 648-4552 Fax: (703) 648-2449 E-mail: lyost@usgs.gov Return to Top
Geographical Names Board of Canada
	Ms. Jocelyne Revie Senior Advisor-Toponymy Natural Resources Canada 615 Booth Street, 6th Floor, Room 634A Ottawa, ON Canada K1A 0E9 Telephone: (613) 992-4100 Fax : (613) 995-2000 E-mail: jrevie@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca Return to Top

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Last updated: 09/15/06.