Gazetteers are alphabetical lists of place names with information that can be used to locate the areas that the names are associated with. While some gazetteers include only place names and location pointers, other gazetteers may consist of lengthy articles with information about locations’ history, climate, economy, society, and other facets. These longer entries can also be helpful in tracing place name and geopolitical changes.
There are three styles of gazetteer: alphabetical list, dictionary, and encyclopedic.
- Alphabetical List — typically found on road and city street maps and in atlases. Entries include place name and an indication of location, often latitude and longitude coordinates or some other x/y scheme, of where it is to be found on the map. Sometimes entries will include other information such as population.
- Dictionary Style — usually a stand-alone publication, not associated with any specific map or atlas. Entries typically include location information in the form of geographic coordinates or descriptions of spatial relationships to other places. Entries may also include a pronunciation guide and limited information on demographics and history. Because gazetteers are not able to cover an area in its entirety, most gazetteer preparers will include a preface describing how inclusion decisions were made.
- Encyclopedic — usually a stand-alone publication, not associated with any specific map or atlas. Entries include all the information of a dictionary-style gazetteer but the information will be more detailed and may come in the form of articles written by area specialists. While the depth of information will be expanded the geographical scope may be limited. These gazetteers should include a statement explaining those limitations.
The Map Library houses an extensive collection of gazetteers for the United States (entire nation and individual states), other countries, and the world. The collection ranges from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day; they are organized alphabetically by country and US state. Pre-twentieth century gazetteers are shelved in the Map Library’s office and will need to be requested. The gazetteer collection is non-circulating, but patrons may freely browse and scan as needed. Gazetteers are organized alphabetically by country and US state.