Geographic Names, Minnesota

The source data for the Minnesota Geographic Names point file is the USGS-GNIS data base, 'National Geographic Names Database', maintained by the United States Geological Survey for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. State extracts are available from the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) as ascii text files, and converted locally to GIS format. According to USGS metadata: 'A geographic feature is any relatively permanent part of the natural or manmade landscape or seascape that has recognizable identity within a particular cultural context. The primary attributes of a geographic feature are name and location.'<br/><br/>The Geographic Names Information System file contains all geographic names in the Minnesota state extract. Layer files have also been created to represent the 'Populated Places' feature, and the 'Dams' feature, from GNIS. A 'Populated Place' is defined by USGS as a 'Place or area with clustered or scattered buildings and a permanent human population (city, settlement, town, village)'. A 'Populated Place' may or may not be legally incorporated. Incorporated places also appear as separate features with a feature code of 'Civil'. <br/><br/>For more information see: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/board-on-geographic-names

Additional Info

Field Value
dsAccessConst None
dsCurrentRef Date on latest ASCII text state file downloaded from U.S. Board on Geographic Names website.

Further updates to specific points are as follows:
-Updated July 22, 2022 to add a lake name change approved June 9, 2022.
-Updated October 18, 2022 to reflect a name change mandated by the Department of the Interior.
-Update November 8, 2022 to reflect two decisions made by the BGN on October 13, 2022.

Currently, bimonthly updates to the ASCII text files are stalled while the U.S. Board on Geographic Names moves the GNIS data to a new system. For the most current GNIS data, please use the self-service site for queries: https://www.usgs.gov/us-board-on-geographic-names/domestic-names.
dsMetadataUrl https://resources.gisdata.mn.gov/pub/gdrs/data/pub/us_mn_state_mngeo/loc_geographic_names_usgs_gnis/metadata/metadata.html
dsModifiedDate 2022-11-10 00:25:32
dsOriginator United States Geological Survey
dsPeriodOfContent 8/27/2021
dsPurpose The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the Federal standard for geographic nomenclature. The U.S. Geological Survey developed the GNIS for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, a Federal inter-agency body chartered by public law to maintain uniform feature name usage throughout the Government and to promulgate standard names to the public. The GNIS is the official repository of domestic geographic names data, the official vehicle for geographic names use by all departments of the Federal Government, and the source for applying geographic names to Federal electronic and printed products of all types.
gdrsDsGuid {915befc9-85f6-4097-82ca-510930d4cf77}
spatial {"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-98.9, 29.1],[-98.9, 50.4], [-76.0, 50.4], [-76.0, 29.1], [-98.9, 29.1]]]}

Dataset extent

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