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. Paul Veisze, Chairman Department of Parks and Recreation 1416 9th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone: (916) 949-3327 Fax: Email: paul.veisze@parks.ca.gov Click on this text for a complete list of the California Advisory Committee members, advisors, and contacts. Return to Top
Colorado	Colorado Geographical Names Board
	Mr. George Orlowski, Acting State Archivist Colorado State Archives 1313 Sherman Street, Room 1B20 Denver, CO 80203 Telephone: (303) 866-2329 Fax: (303) 866-2257 E-mail: george.orlowski@state.co.us Return to Top
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 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. Steven W. Engerrand, Archives Assistant Director Archival Section, Georgia Archives Telephone: (678) 364-3756 Fax: (678) 364-3860 E-mail: sengerrand@sos.ga.gov 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. Jesse K. Souki Director, Office of Planning Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Attn: Joan Delos Santos P.O. Box 2359 Honolulu, HI 96804-2359 Telephone: (808) 587-2895 Fax: (808) 587-2899 E-mail: jdelos_santos@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	Board on Geographic Names
	Bob Wilkinson, LS Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Section Head, Surveying & Mapping Section 402 W. Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: (317) 232-1130 Fax: (317)233-4579 E-mail: bwilkinson@dnr.IN.gov Jim Sparks Indiana Geographic Information Officer Indiana Office of Technology 100 North Senate Ave. N551 Government Central North Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: (317) 232-5889 Cell phone: (317)517-1879 E-mail: gio@iot.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 Send e-mails to Demetrio.Zourarakis@ky.gov
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Louisiana	Geographic Names Authority
	James E. Mitchell, Ph. D., IT GIS Manager Louisiana Dept. of Transportation & Development Computer Center 1201 Capitol Access Rd Baton Rouge, LA 70802-4438 Telephone: (225) 379-1881 FAX: (225) 379-1850 Email: mailto:Jim.Mitchell@la.gov 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 Mr. Michael Smith State GIS Manager Maine Office of GIS State House Station 174 264 Civic Center Drive Augusta, ME 04333-0174 Telephone: (207) 215-5530 E-mail: Michael.Smith@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 Return to Top
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 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
	Gerry Daumiller, GIS Analyst Montana State Libary P.O. Box 201800 Helena, MT 59620-1800 Telephone: (406) 444-5358 Fax: (406) 444-0581 E-mail: gdaumiller@mt.gov For information about geographic names in Montana click on one of the following links: http://mtplacenames.org http://www.his.state.mt.us/pub/press/PlaceNames.asp 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@nebraska.gov Return to Top
Nevada	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."	Linda Newman, Chairman Nevada State Board on Geographic Names MLS, Geoscience and Map Librarian DeLaMare Library / MS 262 University of Nevada, Reno Reno, NV 89557-0262 Telephone: (775) 682-7384 Fax: (775) 784-6949 E-mail: lnewman@unr.edu Jordan Hastings, Vice Chairman Nevada State Board on Geographic Names Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology University of Nevada / MS 178 Reno, NV 89557-0088 Telephone: (775) 682-6352 Fax: (775) 784-1709 E-mail: hastings@unr.edu Jack Hursh, Executive Secretary Nevada State Board on Geographic Names Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology University of Nevada / MS 178 Reno, NV 89557-0088 Telephone: (775) 682-8760 Fax: (775) 784-1709 E-mail: jhursh@unr.edu Return to Top
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 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. Christina Rieth New York State Museum Division of Research and Collection Cultural Education Center 3118 Empire State Plaza Albany, New York 12230 Phone: (518) 473-1503 Fax: (518) 486-2149 E-mail: crieth@mail.nysed.gov Return to Top
North Carolina	Geographic Names Authority
	Dr. Tyrel Moore Department of Geography & Earth Science UNC Charlotte 9201 University City Blvd., McEniry Bldg. Charlotte, NC 28223-0001 Telephone: (704) 687-5975 Fax: E-mail: tgmoore@uncc.edu Return to Top
North Dakota	Geographic Names Authority
	Edward C. Murphy 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
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)].	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) 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.	Mr. Kerry Tymchuck, 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 Ms. Sharon Nesbit, President Oregon Geographic Names Board 623 Buxton Troutdale, OR 97060 Telephone: (503) 665-0423 Fax: E-mail: snesbit@aol.com Ms. Mary McArthur, Vice-President Oregon Geographic Names Board 4336 S.W. Condor Portland, OR 97239-4007 Telephone: (503) 970-3336 E-mail: mbmcarthur@comcast.net Return to Top
Pennsylvania	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. David W. Shoff, Chief State Archives Division Pennsylvania State Archives Telephone: (717) 783-5796 Fax: E-mail: dshoff@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. Tracy Power, Director South Carolina Department of Archives and History 8301 Parklane Road Columbia, SC 29223-4905 Telephone: (803) 896-6182 Fax: (803) 896-6167 E-mail: power@scdah.state.sc.us Mr. Donald E. McElveen South Carolina Department of Transportation P.O. Box 191 Columbia, SC 29202-0191 Telephone: (803) 737-1677 Fax: (808) 737-5033 E-mail: McElveenDE@dot.state.sc.us Mr. Richard L. Abbot South Carolina Department of Transportation P.O. Box 191 Columbia, SC 29202-0191 Telephone: (803)737-3103 Fax: (803) 737-5033 E-mail: abbotrl@scdot.org Mr. Alan-Jon W. Zupan South Carolina Geodetic Survey 5 Geology Road Columbia, SC 29202-4089 Telephone: (803) 896-7713 Fax: (803)896-7695 E-mail: Alan-Jon.Zupan@scgs.gov Mr. Gary Merrill U.S. Geological Survey 720 Gracern Rd. Columbia, SC 29210-7651 Telephone: (803 750-6124 Fax: (803)750-6181 E-mail: glmerrill@usgs.gov Return to Top
South Dakota	Geographic Names Authority
	Mr. Leroy "J.R." LaPlante, Secretary Department of Tribal Affairs Capitol Lake Plaza 711 East Wells, Suite 250 Pierre, SD 57501 Telephone: (605) 773-3415 Fax: (605) 773-6592 E-mail: JR.LaPlante@state.sd.us Return to Top
Tennessee	Geographic Names Authority
	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 Return to Top
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.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
	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 Mr. Dan White, Cartographer, R4 R0 U.S. Forest Service 324 25th St. Ogden, UT 84401 Telephone: (801) 625-5183 E-mail: dwhite02@fs.fed.us Return to Top
Vermont	Geographic Names Authority
	Ms. Martha Reid, State Librarian Department of Libraries 109 State Street Montpelier, VT 05609-0601 Telephone: (802) 828-3265 Fax: (802) 828-2199 E-mail: martha.reid@state.vt.us Return to Top
Virginia	Geographic Names Authority
	Ms. Sandra Gioia 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 Return to Top
Washington	Washington State Board on Geographic Names
	The Washington State Board on Geographic Names has been reinstated by State Legislation. Board members are being determined. For information contact Caleb Maki, Washington Department of Natural Resources. E-mail: caleb.maki@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) 648-4549 E-mail: lyost@usgs.gov Return to Top
Geographical Names Board of Canada
	Senior Advisor-Toponymy Natural Resources Canada 615 Booth Street Canada K1A 0E9 Telephone: (613) 992-4100 Fax : (613) 995-2000 E-mail: Return to Top

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