Geographically (and as a general reference), the United States of America includes all areas considered to be under the sovereignty of the United States, but does not include leased areas.
On May 14, 1959, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names issued the following definitions based partially on the Alaska Omnibus Bill, which defined the Continental United States as "the 49 States on the North American Continent and the District of Columbia..." The Board reaffirmed these definitions on May 13, 1999.
United States: The 50 States and the District of Columbia.
Continental United States: The 49 States (including Alaska, excluding Hawaii) located on the continent of North America, and the District of Columbia.
Conterminous United States: The 48 States and the District of Columbia; that is, the United States prior to January 3, 1959 (Alaska Statehood), wholly filling an unbroken block of territory and excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Although the official reference applies the term "conterminous," many use the word "contiguous," which is almost synonymous and better known.
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What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with state names authorities to standardize geographic names. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the District of Columbia...
How are U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths designated in the Geographic Names Information System?
Several categories with different meanings and requirements fall under the jurisdiction of the United States and are contained in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data. States and DC 50 States plus the Federal District known as District of Columbia Commonwealths Puerto Rico (Caribbean) Northern Marianas Islands (Pacific) (former Trust Territory of the United Nations elected by...
What is the most common city/town name in the United States?
There are no official definitions of city, town, village, hamlet, neighborhood, etc. All named entities with human habitation are classified as Populated Place, including incorporated places (20 percent of the Nation's communities), unincorporated places (the majority), housing developments not yet incorporated, and neighborhoods within incorporated places. The most frequently occurring community...
What are the official definitions of regions in the United States like "the Midwest," "the South," or the “East Coast”?
No level of government has official designations for regions. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is responsible by law for standardizing geographic name usage throughout the Federal government, is often asked for official names and boundaries of regions, but does not and cannot provide them. Regions are application-driven and highly susceptible to perception. Individuals might agree on the...
Can I add new entries to the Geographic Names Information System for manmade and administrative features, such as churches, cemeteries, schools, shopping centers, etc.?
The short answer is no, not through the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). In 2020, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the archival of all administrative features in GNIS. Effective October 1, 2014: As a result of reprioritized budgets and resources, the decision has been made to suspend the maintenance of some administrative (i.e. cultural or manmade) feature names in The...
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) actively seeks names of features that no longer exist. The term "historical" as used in the GNIS specifically means that the feature no longer exists on the landscape. An abandoned ghost town, for example, still exists so it is not historical. Historical features have no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any...
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- FAQ
What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with state names authorities to standardize geographic names. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the District of Columbia...
How are U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths designated in the Geographic Names Information System?
Several categories with different meanings and requirements fall under the jurisdiction of the United States and are contained in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data. States and DC 50 States plus the Federal District known as District of Columbia Commonwealths Puerto Rico (Caribbean) Northern Marianas Islands (Pacific) (former Trust Territory of the United Nations elected by...
What is the most common city/town name in the United States?
There are no official definitions of city, town, village, hamlet, neighborhood, etc. All named entities with human habitation are classified as Populated Place, including incorporated places (20 percent of the Nation's communities), unincorporated places (the majority), housing developments not yet incorporated, and neighborhoods within incorporated places. The most frequently occurring community...
What are the official definitions of regions in the United States like "the Midwest," "the South," or the “East Coast”?
No level of government has official designations for regions. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is responsible by law for standardizing geographic name usage throughout the Federal government, is often asked for official names and boundaries of regions, but does not and cannot provide them. Regions are application-driven and highly susceptible to perception. Individuals might agree on the...
Can I add new entries to the Geographic Names Information System for manmade and administrative features, such as churches, cemeteries, schools, shopping centers, etc.?
The short answer is no, not through the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). In 2020, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the archival of all administrative features in GNIS. Effective October 1, 2014: As a result of reprioritized budgets and resources, the decision has been made to suspend the maintenance of some administrative (i.e. cultural or manmade) feature names in The...
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) actively seeks names of features that no longer exist. The term "historical" as used in the GNIS specifically means that the feature no longer exists on the landscape. An abandoned ghost town, for example, still exists so it is not historical. Historical features have no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any...
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