## Montana State Library
GIS Data Dictionary
Metadata for Montana names from the Geographic Names Information System
Table of Contents

Identification Information
Data Quality Information
Spatial Data Organization Information
Spatial Reference Information
Entity and Attribute Information
Distribution Information
Metadata Reference Information
Full FGDC-compliant Metadata

### Browse Graphic

### Identification_Information:

      Citation
        Originator:        U.S. Geological Survey
        Publication_Date:  2002
        Title:             Montana names from the Geographic Names Information System
        Online_Linkage:    http://nris.state.mt.us/nsdi/nris/e00/gn3.zip
        Online_Linkage:    http://nris.state.mt.us/nsdi/nris/shape/gn3.zip
        Online_Linkage:    http://geonames.usgs.gov/gnisftp.html
      Description
        Abstract:
          An automated inventory of the names and locations of physical and
          cultural geographic features located throughout the United States.

          Contains the location of all names on all U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS)
          maps of Montana and all federal and local maps inventoried by the USGS.
          Includes populated places, mountain peaks, rivers and streams, schools,
          farms, glaciers, railroad sidings, etc.

          The GNIS contains two coordinates for linear features such as streams.
          In this data set, the data point is located at the primary coordinate.
          For streams, this is usually the mouth of the stream, which may be
          outside of Montana.

          The most current GNIS can be downloaded from the USGS web site at
          http://geonames.usgs.gov/gnisftp.html.  This version was downloaded
          on September 24, 2002, converted to ESRI format, and the coordinates
          were converted to Montana State Plane Coordinates.  The GNIS contains
          a list of over 23,000 un-named wells and springs and 2,000 places with
          unknown coordinates, which have been deleted from this copy.
        Purpose:
          Inventory and location of place names, to promote geographic feature
          name standardization and to serve as the Federal Government's repository
          of information regarding feature name spellings and applications for
          features in U.S.  The names listed in the inventory can be published on
          Federal maps, charts, and in other documents.  The feature locative
          information has been used in emergency preparedness, marketing,
          site-selection and analysis, genealogical and historical research, and
          transportation routing applications.
      Time_Period_of_Content
        Calendar_Date:  2002
      Access_Constraints:
        None
      Use_Constraints:
        None

### Data_Quality_Information:

      Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
        The attributes were copied directly from the GNIS files.  The State
        Library has not performed any quality checking on this data.

        At the USGS, a random sample of 10% of the entries in the system were
        visually verified against the compilation source data (large-scale USGS
        topographic maps) to ensure an accuracy rate of at least 95%.
      Completeness_Report:
        This dataset contains information about physical and cultural geographic
        features identified by a proper name, with the exception of most roads
        and highways.
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
        Unknown.  Most of the locations were digitized from 1:24,000 scale maps
        and should be within 12 meters of their correct location.
      Lineage
        Source_Information:
          Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
          Publication_Date: 2002
          Title: 1:24,000-scale topographic maps
          Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
          Beginning_Date: 1920
          Ending_Date: 2002
          Source_Contribution: Feature names and attribute information
        Source_Information:
          Originator: U.S. Board on Geographic Names
          Publication_Date: Unpublished material
          Title: Records of the U.S. BGN
          Beginning_Date: 1932
          Ending_Date: 2002
          Source_Contribution: Feature names and attribute information
        Source_Information:
          Originator: U.S. Forest Service
          Publication_Date: 2002
          Title: U.S. Forest Service 1:24,000-scale topographic maps
          Beginning_Date: 1970
          Ending_Date: 2002
          Source_Contribution: Feature names and attribute information
        Source_Information:
          Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
          Publication_Date:  200209
          Title:  Geographic Names Information System
          Source_Scale_Denominator:  24000
          Type_of_Source_Media:  electronic file
          Source_Contribution: The records in this data set were selected from this source.
        Process_Step:
          Process_Description:
            GNIS Phase I data compilation and edit--Feature name and attribute
            data are collected from the largest-scale USGS topographic maps
            available.  These data are compared to the records of the U.S. Board
            on Geographic Names and U.S. Forest Service maps, Office of Coast
            Survey charts, Federal Aviation Administration files, Federal
            Communications Commission files, and files of the Army Corps of
            Engineers.
          Process_Date: 1981
        Process_Step:
          Process_Description:
            GNIS Phase II data compilation and edit--Feature name and attribute
            data are collected from State, locally, and privately published
            current and historical maps, charts, and texts.
          Process_Date: 2002
          Process_Contact:
            Contact_Person: Robin D. Worcester
            Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
            Contact_Position: Chief, Geographic Names Information Section
            Address: 523 National Center
            City: Reston
            State_or_Province: Virginia
            Postal_Code: 20192
            Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1 703 648 4551
            Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: rworcest@usgs.gov
        Process_Step:
          Process_Description:
            GNIS Maintenance program--Maintenance cooperators feed GNIS new names
            and corrections discovered in the course of new mapping and revision
            activities and implementation of the national geographic names
            standarization program.
          Process_Date: 2002
        Process_Step
          Process_Description:
            Convert the GNIS file to ESRI format and Montana State Plane
            Coordinates, remove un-named wells and springs.
          Process_Date:  20020924

### Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

      Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method:  Point
      Point_and_Vector_Object_Information
        Number of Points:  51714

### Spatial_Reference_Information:

      Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition
        Grid_Coordinate_System_Name:  State Plane Coordinate System 1983
          SPCS_Zone_Identifier:  2500
          Map_Projection_Name:  Lambert Conformal Conic
          Standard_Parallel:  45
          Standard_Parallel:  49
          Longitude_of_Central_Meridian:  -109.5
          Latitude_of_Projection_Origin:  44.25
          False_Easting:   600000
          False_Northing:  0
        Planar_Distance_Units:  meters
        Geodetic_Model
          Horizontal_Datum_Name:  North American Datum of 1983
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition
        Altitude_Datum_Name:  NGVD29
        Altitude_Distance_Units:  FEET
        Altitude_Encoding_Method:  Attribute values

### Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

      Entity_Type_Definition:  Point Attribute Table

        Attribute_Label:  NAME
          Attribute_Definition:  Name of feature

        Attribute_Label:  CLASS
          Attribute_Definition:  Type of feature
              Examples are stream, peak, locale, lake, ppl, etcetera.
              The abbreviation 'ppl' means 'populated place'.

        Attribute_Label:  COUNTY
          Attribute_Definition:  Name of County the point is in.

        Attribute_Label:  LATITUDE
          Attribute_Definition:  Latitude
              Latitude of the point.  If the feature is a stream, this
              is usually the coordinate of the mouth.
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure:  decimal degrees

        Attribute_Label:  LONGITUDE
          Attribute_Definition:  Longitude
              Longitude of the point.  If the feature is a stream, this
              is usually the coordinate of the mouth.
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure:  decimal degrees

        Attribute_Label:  LATITUDE2
          Attribute_Definition:  Latitude of feature source.
              This is the second latitude of linear features.  This is
              usually the location of the source of a stream.
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure:  decimal degrees

        Attribute_Label:  LONGITUDE2
          Attribute_Definition:  Longitude of feature source
              This is the second longitude of linear features.  This is
              usually the location of the source of a stream.
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure:  decimal degrees

        Attribute_Label:  ELEV
          Attribute_Definition:  Elevation
              This attribute is NOT filled out for most of the points.
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure:  Feet

        Attribute_Label:  QUADNAME
          Attribute_Definition:  USGS quadrangle name

### Distribution_Information:

      Distributor
        Contact_Organization:  Montana State Library
        Contact_Person:        Gerry Daumiller
        Contact_Position:      Senior GIS Programmer
        Address:            P.O. Box 201800
        City:               Helena
        State_or_Province:  Montana
        Postal_Code:        59620-1800
        Contact_Voice_Telephone:          (406) 444-5358
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:  nris@state.mt.us
        Distribution_Liability:
          Users must assume responsibility to determine the
          usability of this data for their purposes.
        Standard_Order_Process
          Digital_Form
            Format_Name:            Arc/Info Export
            Digital_Transfer_Option
              Network_Resource_Name:
                http://nris.state.mt.us/nsdi/nris/e00/gn3.zip
          Digital_Form
            Format_Name:     ESRI Shapefile
            Digital_Transfer_Option
               Network_Resource_Name:
                 http://nris.state.mt.us/nsdi/nris/shape/gn3.zip
      Distributor
        Contact_Organization:
          Earth Science Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey
        Address:            507 National Center
        City:               Reston
        State_or_Province:  Virginia
        Postal_Code:        20192
        Contact_Voice_Telephone:          (888) ASK USGS
        Distribution_Liability:
          Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system
          at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made by
          the USGS regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall
          the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The Geological
          Survey will warrant the delivery of this product in computer-readable
          format, and will offer appropriate adjustment of credit when the product
          is determined unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input peripherals,
          or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition.  Requests
          for adjustment of credit must be made within 90 day from the date of this
          shipment from the ordering site.
        Standard_Order_Process
          Digital_Form
            Format_Name:            ASCII Text
            Digital_Transfer_Option
              Network_Resource_Name:
                http://geonames.usgs.gov/geonames/stategaz/index.html

### Metadata_Reference_Information:

      Metadata_Date:  09/24/2002
      Metadata_Contact:  Gerry Daumiller