U.S. Board on Geographic Names Principles, Policies, & Procedures - Domestic Geographic Names

On September 4, 1890, President Harrison signed Executive Order 28, establishing the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN was given authority to resolve all unsettled questions concerning geographic names. Decisions of the BGN were accepted as binding by all departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

The current period in the BGN’s history began in 1947 when the United States Congress reorganized the BGN by Public Law 80−242, codified at 43 U.S.C. 364¬–364f. The BGN, conjointly with the Secretary of the Interior, is directed to establish and maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government. This includes solving name discrepancies, approving new names, validating and recording existing names, and promulgating all official names.

Since 1947, domestic names standardization has been carried out for the BGN by the Domestic Names Committee (DNC). The DNC is responsible for standardizing the names of places, features, and areas within the 50 States and in other areas under the sovereignty of the United States. The DNC consists of members and deputies representing the Departments of the Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, Defense, and Homeland Security, as well as the United States Postal Service, Government Publishing Office, and Library of Congress. The Executive Secretary and staff support for BGN’s domestic names activities and the maintenance of names of Antarctic features are provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, an agency of the Department of the Interior. The DNC meets monthly to decide on geographic names issues. Information about the DNC can be found at https://www.usgs.gov/us-board-on-geographic-names/domestic-names.