Data extracts from the Geographic Names Information System for download as pipe-delimited text (.txt) files within
a compressed (.zip) format. These files contain primary feature attributes, but not all attributes. See the File Format links and
GNIS Metadata for additional information.
Questions: gnis_manager@usgs.gov
All files last revised April 1, 2009 except if noted otherwise.
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The GNIS Feature ID,
Official Feature Name, and Official Feature Location are American National Standards Institute standards (ANSI INCITS
446-2008) available at the ANSI Web Store.
States, Territories, Associated Areas
of the United States -- File
Format
Note: The NationalFile and AllStates .zip files contain: 1) Alaska and Hawaii in Unicode text format to accommodate native special characters, and 2) all others in text format.
Topical Gazetteers -- File
Format
- Populated Places – Named features with human habitation—cities, towns, villages, etc.
- Historical Features – Features that no longer exist on the landscape.
- Concise Features – Large features that should be labeled on maps with a scale of 1:250,000.
- All Names – All names, both official and nonofficial (variant), for all features in the nation.
- Antarctica Features – Features in Antarctica approved for use by the US government.
- Government Units – Official names, alphabetic, and numeric codes of States
(NCITS 31:200x Formerly FIPS 6-4) and counties (NCITS 38:200x Formerly FIPS 5-2)
Note: The All Names .zip file contains: 1) Alaska and Hawaii in Unicode text format to accommodate native special characters, and 2) all others in text format. All other files noted above, except for Government Units, are in Unicode text format to accommodate native special characters found in some names. Government Units is in text format.
State Files with Federal Codes -- File
Format
Important Notice: These files contain features with Federal location codes as follows: 1) Census Code (formerly FIPS55 Place Code), 2) Census Class Code (formerly FIPS55 Class Code), 3) GSA Geolocation Code, and 4) OPM Duty Station Code.
The FIPS 55-3 standard has been withdrawn and superseded by ANSI standard INCITS 446-2008. Former FIPS 55 data have been incorporated into the GNIS. The GNIS Feature ID superseded the FIPS55 Place Code (now the Census Code) as the Federal and national standard geographic feature record identifier. The Census Bureau continues to assign five digit Census Codes for internal purposes (Class Code Definitions). The Census and Class codes will be available in these files and in the GNIS Federal Codes search site. Legacy systems are highly encouraged to convert to the Feature ID as soon as possible.
Note: NCITS 38:200x (Formerly FIPS 5-2) State codes and NCITS 31:200x (Formerly FIPS 6-4) county codes are separate standards and are NOT affected by this change. See Census ANSI Codes for additional information.
Note: The NationalFedCodes and AllStatesFedCodes .zip files contain: 1) Alaska and Hawaii in Unicode text format to accommodate native special characters, and 2) all others in text format.
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