Kumisión i Fino’ CHamoru yan i Fina’nå’guen
i Historia yan i Lina’la’ i Taotao Tåno’
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Guam Place Names
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US Geological Survey
Guam Hydrologic Survey
The US Board of Geographic Names‭ (‬BGN‭) ‬was first established in 1890‭ ‬and formed by Public Law‭ (‬80-242‭) ‬in 1947‭. ‬The main purpose is to maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government‭. ‬The BGN is under the United States Geological Survey‭, ‬Department of Interior‭. ‬In carrying out its functions‭, ‬the Geographic Names Information System‭ (‬GNIS‭) ‬maintains the list of geographic names‭. ‬Geographic names generally apply to rivers‭, ‬coastlines‭, ‬traditional places‭,‬ mountains‭, ‬and other geographic features‭. ‬They do not apply to political jurisdictions unless there is specific political action via legislation‭. ‬Geographic names do not apply to official designations for buildings‭, ‬parks‭, ‬or facilities‭.

‬As agreed in a meeting on July 27‭, ‬2022‭, ‬the Kumisión i Fino’ CHamoru is now officially recognized as the body from which the BGN will receive information regarding geographic names for Guam‭. ‬Historically‭, ‬they received input from a‭ ‬variety of sources including the Department of Defense and the Department of Interior‭. ‬Any information regarding official changes and future geographic changes will be accepted by the BGN Census Bureau‭ / ‬Civil Division if they come from the Kumisión‭.‬

Political jurisdictions like the municipalities‭ (‬or villages‭) ‬or the island itself‭ (‬Guam‭, ‬not Guåhan‭) ‬will only change if accompanied by legal action from the Government of Guam‭. ‬The recent changes to five village names have been submitted in accordance with Guam Public Law‭. ‬The name change to Hagåtña will automatically change to Hagåtña River‭, ‬but will not affect Agana Heights‭. ‬The river is a geograph‭ical feature whereas the latter is a political jurisdiction‭.‬

Names for facilities‭, ‬buildings‭, ‬and parks will continue to be recognized‭. ‬For example‭,‬ Joseph Flores Park will continue to be part of the mapping‭. ‬However‭, ‬if the Kumisión‭ ‬ decided to regularize place names in accordance with the Orthography‭, ‬Joseph‭ ‬ Flores Park will be located in Ipao and not Ypao‭.‬

Future federal government maps and information as listed in the GNIS will follow the decisions of the Kumisión if the Kumisión proceeds in accordance with its own processes as required by Guam Public Law‭. ‬Internet mapping will likely follow the‭ ‬lead of the Kumisión as‭ ‬reflected in the GNIS‭.‬

You may access maps of Municipalities and Water Basins in Guam below.

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