State Geographic Names 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. These boards, committees, and advisers cooperate with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in the national standardization process. In states with no official board or committee an adviser has agreed to provide expertise and information about names in their state to assist in the standardization process. In addition, here are links to the 
U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the Geographical Names Board of Canada, and to the American Name Society.
Many states have official geographic names boards while other states have only an expert adviser assigned or voluntarily reviewing name proposals for their states. One mission of CoGNA is to encourage all state governments to take an active role in the geographic name decision process by maintaining their own name authorities who, in turn, recommend names to the federal board using official naming and policies. In addition, CoGNA encourages use of the official names in GNIS at all levels of government and the public. CoGNA recommends that State names authorities promote throughout state government and the citizenry an awareness of the importance of and procedures for geographic name standardization.
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STATE GEOGRAPHIC NAMES AUTHORITIES
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sebersole@gsa.state.al.us| |
Alaska Board on Geographic Names
judy.bittner@alaska.gov
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Arizona State Board on Geographic & Historic Names
Jane Cadwalader, Secretary/Staff Support
Reference Archivist/Archives Support
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
1901 W. Madison St.
Phoenix, AZ 85009
E-mail: Jcadwalader@azlibrary.gov
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Arkansas Geographic Names Authority
Scott M. Ausbrooks, 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: scott.ausbrooks@arkansas.gov
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California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names
Ms. Tiffany Meyer, Chairperson
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
1300 U Street
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
Telephone: (916) 445-5397
Email: tiffany.meyer@fire.ca.gov
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Phone: (303) 866-3311 Ext. 8670
Email: dnr_cgnab@state.co.us
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Connecticut Geographic Names Authority
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
E-mail: Margaret.Thomas@ct.gov
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Delaware Geographic Names Authority
Dr. David Wunsch
Delaware State Geologist and Director
Delaware Geological Survey
257 Academy Street
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
Telephone: 302-831-8258
E-mail: dwunsch@udel.edu
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Florida State Board on Geographic Names
shodge@fsu.edu
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Georgia Geographic Names Authority
Kayla Barrett, Assistant Director for Archival Services
Georgia Archives
Telephone: (678) 364-3756
Fax: (678) 364-3781
E-mail: Kayla.Barrett@usg.edu
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Hawaii Board on Geographic Names
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Idaho Geographic Names Advisory Council
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Illinois Geographic Names Authority
onomast1@gmail.com
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Megan R.L. Compton, MPA
Indiana Geographic Information Officer
Indiana Office of Technology
100 North Senate Ave. Suite N551
Indianapolis, IN 46221
Telephone: (317) 234-5889
E-mail: mcompton@iot.in.gov
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Iowa Geographic Names Authority
kathryne.clark@dnr.iowa.gov
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Kansas Geographic Names Authority
Mr. Ken Nelson
Director of the Kansas Data Access and Support Center
Telephone: 785-864-2164
E-mail: Nelson@kgs.ku.edu
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Kentucky Geographic Names Committee
scott.dobler@wku.edu
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Louisiana Geographic Names Authority
Darryl W. Mack
GIS & Mapping, Office of Planning
Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development
P.O. Box 94245
1201Capitol Access Rd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245
Telephone: (225) 379-1283
Fax: (225) 242-4552
Email: Darryl.Mack@la.gov
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Maine Geographic Names Authority
Emily Pettit, GIS Coordinator
State of Maine Office of GIS
24 Child Street, SHS 16
Augusta, ME 04333-0016
Telephone: 207-624-9539
Email: Emily.Pettit@maine.gov
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Maryland Geographic Names Authority
Jennifer Chadwick-Moore
Historic Preservation Information Systems Specialist
Maryland Historic Trust
100 Community Place, 3rd Floor
Crownsville, MD 21032-2023
Telephone: (410) 697-9539
E-mail: jen.chadwick-moore@maryland.gov
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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
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Michigan Geographic Names Authority
Anthony C. Olkowski
Center for Shared Solutions
Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget
Telephone: (517) 373-7910
Fax: (517) 373-2939
E-mail: olkowskit@michigan.gov
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Minnesota Geographic Names Authority
Mr. Kent Lokkesmoe, Director
Division of Waters
Telephone: (651) 259-5700
Minnesota Department of Natural Resource
Attn: Peter Boulay
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4032
Telephone: (651) 296-4214
Fax: (612) 225-2208
E-mail: pboulay@umn.edu
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Mississippi Geographic Names Authority
Dr. David T. Dockery III, State Geologist
Office of Geology, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 2279
Jackson, MS 39225
Telephone: (601) 961-5544
Fax: (601) 961-5521
E-mail: ddockery@mdeq.ms.gov
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Missouri Geographic Names Authority
Brian Rogers, Executive Secretary
E-mail: brian.rogers@sos.mo.gov
John Dougan, Chairman Designee
Missouri State Archives
Telephone: (573) 751-4236
E-mail: john.dougan@sos.mo.gov
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Montana Geographic Names Adviser
For Geographic Information Requests: geoinfo@mt.gov
Telephone: (406) 444-5354
Erin Fashoway, GIS Coordinator
Telephone: (406) 444-9013
E-mail: efashoway@mt.gov
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Nebraska Geographic Names Authority
Jill Dolberg, Deputy SHPO
1500 R Street, P.O. Box 82554
Lincoln, NE 68501-1651
Telephone: (402) 471-4773
E-mail:
jill.dolberg@nebraska.gov
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Nevada State Board on Geographic NamesIn 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."
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New Hampshire Geographic Names Authority
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
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New Jersey Geographic Names Authority
Ron Pristas, GIS Specialist 1
Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Water Supply and Geoscience
Geoscience Evaluation & Information Section
New Jersey Geological and Water Survey
E-mail: Ron.Pristas@dep.nj.gov
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New Mexico Geographic Names Subcommittee
Zachary L. Stauber, GIS Coordinator
New Mexico Environment Department
Office of Information Technology
121 Tijeras Ave NE, Ste 1000
Albuquerque, NM 87102-3400
Telephone: (505) 222-9500
Mobile: 1 (505) 372-8476
Fax: 1 (505) 222-9510
E-mail: Zachary.Stauber@state.nm.us
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New York State Committee on Geographic Names
Brad L. Utter, Senior Historian/Curator
New York State Committee on Geographic Names
New York State Museum
3021 Cultural Education Center
Albany, New York 122
E-mail: Brad.Utter@nysed.gov
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North Carolina Geographic Names Authority
Cam McNutt
NCDEQ DWR Planning Modeling and Assessment Branch
1611 Mail Center
Raleigh NC 27699-1611
E-mail: cam.mcnutt@ncdenr.gov
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North Dakota Geographic Names Authority
TBD
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Ohio Geographic Names Authority
TBD
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Oklahoma Board on Geographic Names
The Board was 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)].
Nicholas W. Hayman, Director & State Geologist
Oklahoma Geological Survey
Sarkeys Energy Center
100 E. Boyd St., Suite N131
Norman, OK 73019
Telephone: (405) 325-7968
E-mail: hayman@ou.edu
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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.
Kerry Tymchuk, 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
Bruce Fisher, President
Oregon Geographic Names Board
5062 SE Alii Court
Milwaukie, OR 97267-1709
Telephone: (503) 653-5359
E-mail: bruce.j.fisher@gmail.com
Champ Vaughan, Vice President & Interim Committee Chair
Oregon Geographic Names Board
17400 Holy Names Drive, Unit 519
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Telephone: (503) 387-3204
E-mail: vaughan1843@comcast.net
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Pennsylvania Geographic Names Authority
Jennifer Staub, Executive Secretary
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Bureau of Historic Preservation
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street, 2nd Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0093
Telephone: (717)787-7498
E-mail: jstaub@pa.gov
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Rhode Island Geographic Names Authority
Meredith E. Brady, Associate Director
Department of Administration
Division of Statewide Planning
One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor
Providence, RI 02908-6496
Telephone: (401) 222-5772
Fax: (401) 277-2083
E-mail: meredith.brady@doa.ri.gov
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South Carolina Geographic Names Authority
Dr. Edwin Breeden, Staff Historian/Historical Markers
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
SC Department of Archives & History
8301 Parklane Road
Columbia, SC 29223
Telephone: (803) 896-6182
E-mail: ebreeden@scdah.sc.gov
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South Dakota Geographic Names Authority
June D. Hansen, Chair
SD Board on Geographic Names 700 East Broadway
Pierre, SD 57501
Telephone: (605) 773-3540
Fax: (605) 773-4442 or (605) 773-3921
E-mail: june.hansen@state.sd.us
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Tennessee Committee on Geographic Names
Peter Lemiszki, Chair
Tennessee Division of Geology
Knoxville Environmental Field Office
3711 Middlebrook Pike
Knoxville, TN 37921
Telephone: (865) 594-5596
E-mail: peter.lemiszki@tn.gov
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Texas Geographic Names Authority
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.texas.gov
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Geographic Names Committee | Utah Division of State History
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Vermont State Names Authority
State of Vermont State Board of Libraries
Department of Libraries
April Shaw; Librarian, Government Services
Vermont Department of Libraries
60 Washington Street, Suite 2
Barre, VT 05641
Telephone: (802) 318-7889
E-mail: april.shaw@vermont.gov
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Virginia Geographic Names Authority
Ms. Cassandra Farrell
Map Specialist and Senior Research Archivist
Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-692-3617
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Committee on Geographic Names | WA - DNR
Caleb A. Maki, Executive Secretary
Washington State Board on Geographic Names
Department of Natural Resources
1111 Washington Street SE
P.O. Box 47030
Olympia, WA 98504-7030
Telephone: (360) 902-1280
Fax: (360) 902-1778
E-mail: caleb.maki@dnr.wa.gov
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West Virginia Geographic Names Authority
Ken Ashton, Geologist
West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey
1 Mont Chateau Road
Morgantown, WV 26508
Telephone: (304) 594-2331
Fax:
E-mail: ashton@wvgs.wvnet.edu
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Wyoming Board of Geographic Names
Shelley Messer
State Engineer's Office, Surface Water Division
Herschler Building, 1-W
125 W 25th St
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Telephone: (307) 777-5801
E-mail: Shelley.Messer@wyo.gov
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Guam Place Names Commission
Contact: kumisionchamoru@gmail.com
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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