Kentucky Geographic Names Committee
HISTORY
The Kentucky Geographic Names Committee (KGNC) was organized in 1985 as the state's liaison with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the Federal agency that considers proposals from persons and groups throughout the United States to (1) give names to unnamed places and geographic features, (2) change names that appear on government maps, and (3) correct errors of spelling or location on these maps.
PROCEDURES
Kentuckians who would like to name unnamed places or features, change names, or correct errors in our state may choose one of two courses of action:
1- Requests for new names, changes, or corrections of any feature in the Commonwealth of Kentucky may be directed to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names using the Online Form for New Name or Name Change; and/or
2- Bring these requests to the attention of the Kentucky Geographic Names Committee (please see contact information below).
These requests must be justified by those making them on the basis of their own research. Such justification includes ensuring that the feature or place does not already have a name, and that the proposed name or correction is agreeable to residents and property owners as well as public officials of the communities and counties in which the place or feature is located.
Controversies should be handled and decided locally by the applicants and are not the concern of the committee. All of this should be done before the requests are submitted.
In short, the Kentucky Geographic Names Committee is set up only to review and recommend these requests in consultation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which alone can give final approval.
Specific, comprehensive Guidelines for naming may be found at the U.S. Board on Geographic Names' website.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Scott Dobler
Instructor of Geography
KGA Co-Director
Western Kentucky University
Department of Geography and Geology
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-745-7078
[email protected]
KENTUCKY GEOGRAPHIC NAMES COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Scott Dobler, Chairman – Western Kentucky University
Dr. Peggy Gripshover, Ph.D. – Western Kentucky University
H. Scott Hankla - Kentucky Division of Water - Retired
Bill Hieronymus, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Amy Nemon – Western Kentucky University
Dr. Steven Parkansky, Ph.D. – Morehead State University
James Seay – Kentucky Division of Water
Demetrio P. Zourarakis, Ph.D. – Kentucky Division of Geographic Information
FORMER MEMBERS
Dr. Christine Eleana Emrich, Ph.D. – Morehead State University - past member
Robert M. Rennick, Ph.D., past Chairman – Deceased
Cecelia Armstrong, Morehead State University - past Technical Lead
Dr. Albert Petersen, Ph.D., Western Kentucky University - past member – Retired
Reid Webb – past member
Dr. William Withington, Ph.D., University of Kentucky – past member - Deceased
The Kentucky Geographic Names Committee (KGNC) was organized in 1985 as the state's liaison with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the Federal agency that considers proposals from persons and groups throughout the United States to (1) give names to unnamed places and geographic features, (2) change names that appear on government maps, and (3) correct errors of spelling or location on these maps.
PROCEDURES
Kentuckians who would like to name unnamed places or features, change names, or correct errors in our state may choose one of two courses of action:
1- Requests for new names, changes, or corrections of any feature in the Commonwealth of Kentucky may be directed to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names using the Online Form for New Name or Name Change; and/or
2- Bring these requests to the attention of the Kentucky Geographic Names Committee (please see contact information below).
These requests must be justified by those making them on the basis of their own research. Such justification includes ensuring that the feature or place does not already have a name, and that the proposed name or correction is agreeable to residents and property owners as well as public officials of the communities and counties in which the place or feature is located.
Controversies should be handled and decided locally by the applicants and are not the concern of the committee. All of this should be done before the requests are submitted.
In short, the Kentucky Geographic Names Committee is set up only to review and recommend these requests in consultation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which alone can give final approval.
Specific, comprehensive Guidelines for naming may be found at the U.S. Board on Geographic Names' website.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Scott Dobler
Instructor of Geography
KGA Co-Director
Western Kentucky University
Department of Geography and Geology
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-745-7078
[email protected]
KENTUCKY GEOGRAPHIC NAMES COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Scott Dobler, Chairman – Western Kentucky University
Dr. Peggy Gripshover, Ph.D. – Western Kentucky University
H. Scott Hankla - Kentucky Division of Water - Retired
Bill Hieronymus, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Amy Nemon – Western Kentucky University
Dr. Steven Parkansky, Ph.D. – Morehead State University
James Seay – Kentucky Division of Water
Demetrio P. Zourarakis, Ph.D. – Kentucky Division of Geographic Information
FORMER MEMBERS
Dr. Christine Eleana Emrich, Ph.D. – Morehead State University - past member
Robert M. Rennick, Ph.D., past Chairman – Deceased
Cecelia Armstrong, Morehead State University - past Technical Lead
Dr. Albert Petersen, Ph.D., Western Kentucky University - past member – Retired
Reid Webb – past member
Dr. William Withington, Ph.D., University of Kentucky – past member - Deceased