PCGS Monthly Meeting (Virtual Only):
Saturday, June 15th

When: Saturday, June 15, 2024, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Where:  Virtually via Zoom Only

SKILL BUILDING CLASS & SPEAKER:

Amy Urman

Topic To Be Determined

MAIN PROGRAM & SPEAKER: 

Jennifer Runyon

"Geographic Names on the Landscape"

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), staffed by the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia, is responsible for standardizing place names for use on Federal maps. The BGN receives and processes proposals from organizations; local, state, federal and tribal governments; and the general public to name unnamed geographic features and to change existing names, spellings, and locations. The BGN also maintains the national geographic names database, which provides the official names and locations of over one million natural features and communities, including many that no longer exist, as well as former names. The presentation will also describe how the collection of USGS historic topographic maps can be used to find historical locations.

Jennifer Runyon received a B.A. in Geography from George Mason University in 1982, and was employed 1981-1992 at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/National Agricultural Statistical Service as a land use analyst, and 1992-94 at NOAA/National Geodetic Survey/Nautical Charting Division. Since joining USGS in 1994, she has been on the research staff for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which was established by Executive Order in 1890 to standardize geographic names for all departments and agencies of the Federal Government.