View source for Help:GNIS data for U.S. infoboxes

{{Wikipedia how-to}}
This is a guide to using [[Geographic Names Information System|Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)]] data in Wikipedia geography articles for the [[United States]], and specifically for geographic infoboxes.

The [[United States Geological Survey|United States Geological Survey (USGS)]] maintains the Geographic Names Information System for millions of natural geographic places, populated places, and census designated areas in the [[United States]], the [[U.S territories]], and [[Antarctica]]. The accuracy of this geographic data is generally excellent, and should be added to Wikipedia articles about locations in the United States and its territories wherever applicable.

==Populated places==
The [[Geographic Names Information System|Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)]] contains data for four types of populated places in the United States:
#All [[Local_government_in_the_United_States#Municipal_governments|incorporated municipalities]] ([[City|cities]], [[town]]s, [[borough]]s, and [[village]]s),{{efn|name=municipality|In the [[United States]], an [[Local_government_in_the_United_States#Municipal_governments|incorporated municipality]] may be designated a [[city]], a [[town]] (except in New England, New York, and Wisconsin), a [[borough]] (except in Alaska and New York), or a [[village]]. Some municipalities may have one of these designations incorporated in their place name, which may or may not indicate their status, i.e. the [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma|City of Oklahoma City]], the [[Cherry Hills Village, Colorado|City of Cherry Hills Village]], and the [[Snowmass Village, Colorado|Town of Snowmass Village]].}}
#Some [[neighborhood]]s in incorporated municipalities,
#All [[United States Census Bureau]] [[Census-designated places|designated places (CDP)]] and [[Census area|areas (CA)]],{{efn|name=census area|The [[United States Census Bureau]] has designated [[census areas]] for the [[Unorganized Borough, Alaska|Unorganized Borough of Alaska]].}} and
#Some other [[unincorporated communities]].

===Municipality===
Most municipalities will have two GNIS records: one '''populated place record''' and one '''civil subdivision record'''. If the municipality has more than one populated place record, use the primary populated place for the municipality. The populated place record will provide most of data for the infobox. If populated place record has more than one set of coordinates, the first set will point to the historic center of the municipality. Coordinates are displayed to seven decimal digits but should normally be rounded to four decimal digits, or alternatively to the nearest second.

The civil subdivision record provides government and census data. If the civil subdivision record has more than one set of coordinates, the first set will point to the geographic center of the municipality. Since most municipalities are not arrayed symmetrically, the geographic center of a municipality may be some distance from the historic municipal center. The civil subdivision record will provide the GNIS civil ID and the FIPS code. The FIPS code is the combination of the two-digit State Code and the five-digit Census Code.

====Example====
A portion of [[Template:Infobox settlement]] for the [[Climax, Georgia|City of Climax, Georgia]], using data from:
*{{GNIS|355192|ID-355192 Climax, Georgia, populated place}} and
*{{GNIS|2404075|ID-2404075 City of Climax, Georgia, civil}}
<blockquote><span style="font:80% monospace;">
<nowiki>{{infobox settlement</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Location --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates             = {{coord|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">30.8760</span><nowiki>|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">-84.4313</span><nowiki>|type:city_region:US-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">GA</span><nowiki>_source:GNIS-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">355192</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Climax, Georgia</span><nowiki>|display=it}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">355192</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Climax, Georgia</span><nowiki>|access-date=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">{{date|2=MDY}}</span><nowiki>}}</ref></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_ft            = </nowiki><span style="color:red;">285</span><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|unit_pref               = US</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Government --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name        = [[United States]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name1       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">List of counties in Georgia|County</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Decatur County, Georgia|Decatur County</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Links --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">355192</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS </nowiki><span style="color:red;">city</span><nowiki> ID]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">2404075</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">13</span><nowiki>|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">16908</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
</span></blockquote>

===Municipal neighborhood===
As a municipality expands, it may annex adjacent communities. The adjacent communities may then become neighborhoods of the municipality. A municipal neighborhood may have a '''populated place record''' and its municipality will have a separate '''civil subdivision record'''. The neighborhood populated place record will provide most of data for the infobox. If populated place record has more than one set of coordinates, the first set will point to the historic center of the neighborhood. Coordinates are displayed to seven decimal digits but should normally be rounded to four decimal digits, or alternatively to the nearest second. (Any inline [[Template:Coord]] use must not include a "display=it" parameter.)

You must search for the civil subdivision record for the municipality. The municipal civil subdivision record will provide the name of the municipality, the municipality GNIS ID, and the municipality FIPS code. The FIPS code is the combination of the two-digit State Code and the five-digit Census Code.

====Example====
A portion of [[Template:Infobox settlement]] for the [[Broadmoor, Colorado|Broadmoor neighborhood]] of the [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|City of Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]], using data from:
*{{GNIS|193527|ID-193527 Broadmoor, Colorado, populated place}} and
*{{GNIS|2410198|ID-2410198 City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, civil}}
<blockquote><span style="font:80% monospace;">
<nowiki>{{infobox settlement</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Location --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates             = {{coord|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">38.7955</span><nowiki>|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">-104.8414</span><nowiki>|type:city_region:US-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">CO</span><nowiki>_source:GNIS-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">193527</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado</span><nowiki>|display=it}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">193527</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado</span><nowiki>|access-date=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">{{date|2=MDY}}</span><nowiki>}}</ref></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_ft            = </nowiki><span style="color:red;">6162</span><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|unit_pref               = US</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Government --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name        = [[United States]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name1       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Colorado</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">List of counties in Colorado|County</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">El Paso County, Colorado|El Paso County</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><span style="color:red;"><nowiki><ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=</nowiki>{{date|2=MDY}}<nowiki>}}</ref></nowiki></span><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type3       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">[[List of municipalities in Colorado|City</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name3       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Colorado Springs, Colorado|City of Colorado Springs</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><span style="color:red;"><nowiki><ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=</nowiki>{{date|2=MDY}}<nowiki>}}</ref></nowiki></span><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Links --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS neighborhood ID]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">193527</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS </nowiki><span style="color:red;">city</span><nowiki> ID]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">2410198</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">08</span><nowiki>|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">16000</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
</span></blockquote>

===Census designated place or area===
Most census designated places or areas will have two GNIS records: one '''populated place record''' and one '''census record'''. If the census area has more than one populated place record, use the primary populated place for the census area. The populated place record will provide most of data for the infobox, but if the census area has no populated place record, the census record must provide all of the infobox data. If populated place record has more than one set of coordinates, the first set will point to the geographic center of the census area. Coordinates are displayed to seven decimal digits but should normally be rounded to four decimal digits, or alternatively to the nearest second.

The census record provides data from the [[United States Census Bureau]]. If census record has more than one set of coordinates, the first set will point to the geographic center of the census area. The geographic center of a census area may be at some distance from the primary populated place. The census record will provide the GNIS civil ID and the FIPS code. The FIPS code is the combination of the two-digit State Code and the five-digit Census Code.

====Example====
A portion of [[Template:Infobox settlement]] for the [[Acme, Washington|Acme, Washington, Census Designated Place]], using data from:
*{{GNIS|1515719|ID-1515719 Acme, Washington, populated place}} and
*{{GNIS|2407694|ID-2407694 Acme, Washington, census}}
<blockquote><span style="font:80% monospace;">
<nowiki>{{infobox settlement</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Location --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates             = {{coord|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">48.7171</span><nowiki>|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">-122.2052</span><nowiki>|type:city_region:US-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">WA</span><nowiki>_source:GNIS-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">1515719</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Acme, Washington</span><nowiki>|display=it}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">1515719</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Acme, Washington</span><nowiki>|access-date=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">{{date|2=MDY}}</span><nowiki>}}</ref></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_ft            = </nowiki><span style="color:red;">305</span><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|unit_pref               = US</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Government --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name        = [[United States]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name1       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Washington (state)|Washington</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">List of counties in Washington|County</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Whatcom County, Washington|Whatcom County</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Links --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">1515719</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS </nowiki><span style="color:red;">CDP</span><nowiki> ID]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">2407694</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">53</span><nowiki>|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">00275</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
</span></blockquote>

===Unincorporated community===
[[Unincorporated communities]] that are not a census designated place or area may have a single GNIS '''populated place record'''. If the populated place record has more than one set of coordinates, the first set will point to the historic center of the community. Coordinates are displayed to seven decimal digits but should normally be rounded to four decimal digits, or alternatively to the nearest second. If the coordinates are used elsewhere in the article, the inline [[Template:Coord]] display parameter must be changed to inline. The FIPS code for an unincorporated community pertains to the entire county, parish, borough, or township, and thus should not be included in the infobox.

If there is no GNIS populated place record, infobox data must be gleaned from maps and historical data.

====Example====
A portion of [[Template:Infobox settlement]] for the [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] of [[Zenith, Kansas]], using data from
*{{GNIS|473601|ID-473601 Zenith, Kansas, populated place}}.
<blockquote><span style="font:80% monospace;">
<nowiki>{{infobox settlement</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Location --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates             = {{coord|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">37.9572</span><nowiki>|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">-98.4920</span><nowiki>|type:city_region:US-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">KS</span><nowiki>_source:GNIS-</nowiki><span style="color:red;">473601</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Zenith, Kansas</span><nowiki>|display=it}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">473601</span><nowiki>|name=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Zenith, Kansas</span><nowiki>|access-date=</nowiki><span style="color:red;">{{date|2=MDY}}</span><nowiki>}}</ref></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_ft            = </nowiki><span style="color:red;">1805</span><br/>
<nowiki>|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|unit_pref               = US</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Government --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name        = [[United States]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name1       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Kansas</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_type2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">List of counties in Kansas</span><nowiki>|County]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|subdivision_name2       = [[</nowiki><span style="color:red;">Stafford County, Kansas|Stafford County</span><nowiki>]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki><!-- Links --></nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|</nowiki><span style="color:red;">473601</span><nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>...</nowiki><br/>
<nowiki>}}</nowiki><br/>
</span></blockquote>

==Natural features==
The following natural feature infoboxes can use data from the [[Geographic Names Information System|Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)]]:
*[[Template:Infobox body of water]]
**GNIS feature classes: Lake, Reservoir, Sea, Bay, Bend, Canal, Channel, Crossing, Gut, Rapids, and Swamp
***Use [[Template:Coord]] type:waterbody
*[[Template:Infobox forest]]
**GNIS feature class: Woods 
***Use Template:Coord type:forest
*[[Template:Infobox glacier]]
**GNIS feature class: Glacier 
***Use Template:Coord type:glacier
*[[Template:Infobox islands]]
**GNIS feature class: Island
***Use Template:Coord type:isle
*[[Template:Infobox landform]]
**GNIS feature class: Arch, Area, Bar, Beach, Bench, Cape, Cliff, Flat, Isthmus, Lava, Levee, Pillar, Plain, and Slope
***Use Template:Coord type:landmark
*[[Template:Infobox mountain]]
**GNIS feature class: Summit, Range, and Ridge
***Use Template:Coord type:mountain
*[[Template:Infobox mountain pass]]
**GNIS feature class: Gap
***Use Template:Coord type:pass
*[[Template:Infobox river]]
**GNIS feature class: Stream
***Use Template:Coord type:river
*[[Template:Infobox spring]]
**GNIS feature class: Spring
***Use Template:Coord type:waterbody
*[[Template:Infobox valley]]
**GNIS feature class: Valley, Arroyo, Basin, and Crater
***Use Template:Coord type:landmark
*[[Template:Infobox waterfall]]
**GNIS feature class: Falls
***Use Template:Coord type:waterbody

==Man-made features==
In 2021, the [[United States Geological Survey|United States Geological Survey (USGS)]] removed cultural or man-made feature classes from the [[Geographic Names Information System|Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)]]. GNIS cultural feature classes Airport, Bridge, Building, Cemetery, Church, Dam, Forest, Harbor, Hospital, Mine, Oilfield, Park, Post office, Reserve, School, Tower, Trail, Tunnel, and Well were removed and archived. The feature classes Canal, Military, and Reservoir were not affected. The reason for these removals was that these cultural feature classes often contained obsolete information. Many cultural features are shown on current or historic maps, and these can be used to garner infobox data.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
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