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Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names

Location
Arizona State Library
1700 West Washington Street
7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Chair
David Breeckner

Vice Chair
Keith Watkins
Support Staff
Ryan Ehrfurth – Map Librarian, Arizona Memory Project
Tel: 602-926-3870 | Email

Submit a name proposal

Governing Documentation, Policies and Procedures

A complete guide to the Board’s bylaws, policies, procedures, and additional information is available in the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names- Governing Documentation, Policies, and Procedures

Description

The Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names (ASBGHN) has statutory responsibility to determine the most appropriate names for geographic features and places of historical significance in Arizona. The Board also has statutory responsibility to establish or designate a highway or area as a parkway, historic road, or scenic road that is of geographic or historical significance in Arizona.

Names for geographic features and places of historical significance are part of Arizona's historical record, and reflect the state's history, culture, and diversity.

Statute

Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 41, Chapter 4.1, Article 3 (ARS §41-835 through §41-838) establishes the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names.

Member Directory

Chair: David Breeckner, Arizona Historical Society

Vice Chair: Keith Watkins, Arizona Commerce Authority

The Board is composed of ten members. One member each is appointed by the head of the following agencies:

  • Arizona Department of Transportation
  • Arizona State Land Department
  • Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
  • Arizona Historical Society
  • Arizona Commerce Authority
  • Arizona Department of Economic Security
  • A geography department of an Arizona university (rotates between Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University)

The Board is also composed of three members of the public, at least one of whom is an enrolled member of a recognized Tribe or Indian community in Arizona. These members are appointed by the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions.

The Board elects its own Chair and Vice-Chair annually, or as needed to replace a Chair or Vice-Chair who leaves the Board mid-year.

Public Member Application

The Board currently has two open Public Member positions. To apply, submit an application through the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions.

Under the Board/Commission Interest section, select “Geographic and Historic Names, State Board on” from the Board/Commission dropdown.

Please note that the Board does not appoint Public Member positions and is not involved in the process. Questions about the status of your application should be directed to the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions.

Meetings

The Board meets quarterly (four times a year) with regularly scheduled meetings in January, April, July, and October.

The public notice and agenda for each meeting are posted with at least 24 hours’ notice on the Board’s website (this page) and the Arizona Public Meetings page.

Meetings are open to the public.

Agendas, previous meeting minutes and draft minutes are archived for public review and available to view through a Public Records Request.

Next Meeting

Not yet available

The First Quarter meeting scheduled for February 25th at 10 a.m. has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a date to be announced.

Date & Time Location Virtual Meeting Public Notice / Agenda / Minutes
ASBGHN Regular Meeting
2025 Apr 22
10:00 AM
Arizona Heritage Center, 1300 N College Ave, Tempe AZ 85281
Meeting Link
ID: 853 4170 8561
Pass: 663475
Notice/Agenda

Previous Meetings

Date & Time Location Virtual Meeting Public Notice / Agenda Minutes
2024 Oct 22

10:00 AM

Arizona Heritage Center
1300 N College Ave,
Tempe, AZ 85281
Meeting Link
ID: 824 7187 0162
Pass: 358535
Notice/Agenda
2024 Aug 27

10:00 AM

Arizona Heritage Center
1300 N College Ave,
Tempe, AZ 85281
Meeting Link
ID: 814 7471 1839
Pass: 578410
Notice/Agenda
Cancelled
Tues. July 23, 2024 10:00am – 12:00pm
Arizona Heritage Center
1300 N College Ave,
Tempe, AZ 85281

Mon. June 3, 2024 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave,

Tempe, AZ 85281

In-person or via Zoom (Link is in the Agenda)

Agenda | Minutes

Tues. April 23, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm
Arizona Heritage Center
1300 N College Ave,
Tempe, AZ 85281
In-person or via Zoom
Meeting ID: 864 157 0897; Passcode: 736615
Agenda | Minutes

Tues. April 23, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm
Arizona Heritage Center
1300 N College Ave,
Tempe, AZ 85281
In-person or via Zoom
Meeting ID: 864 157 0897; Passcode: 736615
Agenda | Minutes

Meeting has been cancelled

Tues. August 8, 2023 10:00am - 12:00pm Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave,

Tempe, AZ 85281

Tues. April 25, 2023 10:00am - 12:00pm Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave,

Tempe, AZ 85281

In-person or via Zoom Meeting ID: 820 7393 0197; Passcode: 279846

Agenda | Minutes

Tues. April 25, 2023 10:00am - 12:00pm Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave,

Tempe, AZ 85281

In-person or via Zoom Meeting ID: 820 7393 0197; Passcode: 279846

Agenda | Minutes

Tues. Jan 24, 2023 10:00am - 11:00am Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave,

Tempe, AZ 85281

In-person or via Zoom Meeting ID: 873 8388 7293; Passcode: 373551

Agenda | Minutes

Wed, Dec 14, 2022 10:00am - 11:30am Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave,

Tempe, AZ 85281

in-person

Agenda | Minutes

Tue, October 25, 2022 10:00am - 12:00pm Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave,

Tempe, AZ 85281

in-person via Zoom

Meeting ID: 846 9080 8376; Passcode: 393398

Agenda | Minutes

Tue, July 26, 2022

10:00am

1901 W. Madison Street – in-person

via Zoom

Agenda | Minutes

Tue, May 31, 2022

10:00am

via Zoom

Agenda | Minutes

November 17, 2020

10:30 am

1700 W. Washington, 3rd Floor

Agenda | Minutes

Tue, October 22, 2019

10:00 am

1700 W. Washington, 3rd Floor

Agenda | Minutes

Wed, August 22, 2019

10:00am – 11:00am

Polly Rosenbaum History and Archives Building, 2nd Floor Conference Room

1901 W Madison St

Agenda | Minutes

Wed, August 14, 2019 (Cancelled)

10:00am – 11:00am

Polly Rosenbaum History and Archives Building, 2nd Floor Conference Room

1901 W Madison St

Agenda | Minutes

July 23, 2019

Agenda | Minutes

July 23, 2019

Sunset Review Committee Agenda

Sunset Review Committee Meeting- Draft Minutes

July 8, 2019

Agenda | Minutes

April 23, 2019

Agenda | Minutes

April 2, 2019

Agenda | Minutes - Regular

January 22, 2019

Minutes- Regular | Minutes- By-laws Review Committee

October 23, 2018

Minutes

August 18, 2018

Minutes

February 21, 2018

Minutes

Current Name Proposals

Information about name proposals currently under consideration by the Board are available in the Docket Review List.

Docket Review Lists are posted on the first Wednesday of every month.

Name Proposal Status Eligible for Vote (Board Meeting Date)
2024-02 S-Chuk Mo’o Under Research July 22, 2025
2024-03 Gary Knight Memorial Highway Under Research July 22, 2025
2025-01 New Water Springs Historic Road Under Research July 22, 2025
2025-02 Jimmie Preston Bridge Under Research July 22, 2025
2025-03 Engagement Beach Under Research October 28, 2025

Proposed Name Response Form

To provide feedback on any of the proposals listed in the Current Name Proposals, please review the Docket Review List and submit a Proposed Name Response Form.

Name Proposal Application

Submit a Proposal

Anyone can submit a name proposal. The Board's Research Support staff will confirm with the applicant that their proposal has been received and follow up with any questions about the proposal.

Research Support staff is also available to assist applicants in completing their proposal.

Submit completed applications to [email protected]

Name Proposal Process and Procedures

The Board follows the Principles, Policies, and Procedures of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Please review this document to ensure the proposal meets these standards.

Please note that naming a feature is a collaborative, multi-stage process. Every proposal receives thorough research and opportunities for community stakeholders to provide feedback to the Board in its considerations.

To satisfy community stakeholder consultation periods, the naming process takes at least 2 months before the Board can vote on a proposal. The process may take up to 1 year for more complex proposals involving more research and stakeholders.

Please review the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names- Governing Documentation, Policies, and Procedures when submitting a proposal.

Contact

Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board

For questions about the governance and function of the Board, more information regarding Public Member appointments, and press/media inquiries.

Please contact the Board's Administrative Support Staff or Research Support Staff, who will forward your inquiry to the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Administrative Support Staff

For assistance with the Board's administrative procedures, such as agendas, meetings, minutes, and public records requests.

Phone: 602-926-3720
Email: [email protected]

Research Support Staff

For assistance with the Board's research procedures, such as submitting a name proposal application, securing supporting documentation, and understanding the Principles, Policies, and Procedures.

Phone: 602-926-3367
Email: [email protected]

Application Form

Application form for submitting name proposals

All name proposals must include a completed Application, supporting documentation and a map showing the location of the feature. After downloading the application, please include the name proposal in the file name (example filename: ASBGHN Application_name feature).

Recommendation form for name proposals

The board considers information provided by the proponent, opponents, if any, and the board's staff in its deliberations on proposed names. The board's support staff contacts the appropriate local, county and state governmental agencies, Native American
tribal governments and also conducts independent, systematic, thorough research for background on the historical and current local usage of a proposed name. This can take some time, therefore, the more documentation the board receives from a proponent,
the easier it is for the board to decide on a name proposal.

These procedures allow anyone from the public or a government agency to propose a name and allow for public input at open meetings, both for and against a proposed name. The board goes to this effort in furtherance of its statutory charge to preserve
and protect the state's history as reflected in Arizona's geographic names.

Additional Information

To help your understanding of the policies, practices and procedures the Board follows in deciding a name issue for the State of Arizona, the Board has resolved to increase awareness and proactively communicate its role in the State of Arizona.

The Board follows the Principles, Policies, and Procedures of the United States Board on Geographic Names when considering proposals.

Geographic Names Information System

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (USBGN), contains information on nearly 2 million physical and cultural features in the United States. The federally recognized name of each feature described in the database is identified and references are made to a feature’s location by state, county and geographic coordinates. The GNIS is the nation’s official repository of domestic geographic names information

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