ICPSR Geographic Names Thesaurus

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Explanation

Geographic Names is an alphabetical and hierarchical list of geographic location terms used in ICPSR's metadata records. The points below describe the structure and logic of the list:

• Non-preferred terms are italicized and indicate (with USE notation) the appropriate term to apply.

  Example:

  USA
  USE: United States

  United States
  USE FOR: USA

• The hierarchy, expressed as broader term/narrower term is structured to (potentially) indicate a region-continent-country-state/province-city continuum.

  Example:

  Netherlands
  BROADER TERM(S): Europe
  NARROWER TERM(S): Amsterdam

  Example:

  North America
  NARROWER TERM(S)
  United States
  Michigan
  Ann Arbor

  Example:

  Tokyo
  BROADER TERM(S)
  Asia
  Japan

  While regional, continent, and country names are included in the current list, state/province and city names are included on the basis of their occurrence in ICPSR-archived data sets. These will continue to be added as needed.

• Sub-regional geographic designations (such Middle East, Southeast Asia) are also included with their associated country names listed as related terms.

  Example:

  Southeast Asia
  RELATED TERM(S)
  Asia
  Cambodia
  Indonesia
  Laos
  Malaysia
  Myanmar
  Philippines
  Singapore
  Thailand
  Vietnam

• Scope notes are used to delineate the geographic coverage of a region or sub-region. Additionally, they are used to indicate historic context in cases of country name changes. In such cases, relevant dates are given along with instructions/restrictions on the use of particular country name forms. Open dates (e.g. 1991- ) indicate current context.

  Example:

  Uzbekistan
  SCOPE NOTE(S): Formerly member of USSR; independent 1991- .

  Example:

  USSR

  SCOPE NOTE(S): Use limited to 1922-1991.

  BROADER TERM(S)
  Asia
  Europe

  RELATED TERM(S)
  Armenia
  Azerbaijan
  Belarus
  Estonia
  Georgia (Republic)
  Kazakhstan
  Kyrgyzstan
  Latvia
  Lithuania
  Moldova
  Russia
  Tajikistan
  Turkmenistan
  Ukraine
  Uzbekistan

Literary and historic warrant for the Geographic Regions and Country Names list is established through the following sources:

Merriam-Webster Geographic Dictionary. 1998. 3rd edition. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.

Random House Webster's College Dictionary. 1999. New York: Random House.