January 28, 2025
4 min learn
Can Trump Simply Order New Names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico?
A geographer explains how maps’ place names, such because the Gulf of Mexico and Denali, are determined
Morning mild on Mt. Denali in Denali Nationwide Park.
William Watson/Getty Photographs
The next essay is reprinted with permission from 
The Dialog, a web-based publication overlaying the most recent analysis.
President Donald Trump’s govt order to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Denali, the tallest peak within the nation, has resulted in a lot of dialogue. Whereas for some, such renaming might sound much less essential than the massive issues the nation faces, there’s a formal course of in america for renaming locations, and that course of is taken critically.
Often, so individuals don’t get confused, official, agreed-upon names are utilized by the federal government. Within the U.S., place names are standardized by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is a part of the U.S. Geological Survey, the company answerable for making maps.
On supporting science journalism
In the event you’re having fun with this text, take into account supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By buying a subscription you’re serving to to make sure the way forward for impactful tales in regards to the discoveries and concepts shaping our world immediately.
In his govt order, Trump asks the Board on Geographic Names “to honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans” and alter its insurance policies and procedures to replicate that.
Often, renaming a spot begins regionally. The individuals within the state or county suggest a reputation change and collect assist. The method in every state is totally different.
The way to change a spot identify
Minnesota lately modified the identify of a big lake in Minneapolis to Bde Maka Ska, which the Minneapolis Park Board described as “a Dakota name for the lake that has been passed down in oral history for many years.”
The board voted to vary the identify and took its request to the county commissioners. When the county agreed, the request was then despatched to the Minnesota Division of Pure Assets, which made it official for Minnesota. Then, the state of Minnesota despatched the request to the Board on Geographic Names, which made it official for the whole U.S.
It’s a variety of paperwork for one thing so seemingly minor, however individuals get obsessed with place names. It took 40 years to rename Denali from the identify established within the late nineteenth century, Mount McKinley.
The state of Alaska requested the identify change in 1975, however the Board on Geographic Names didn’t take motion. Members of the Ohio congressional delegation – President William McKinley was from Ohio – objected over a few years to requests to rename the mountain, and the board didn’t act on these requests.
3D Render of a Topographic Bathymetry Map of the Gulf of Mexico.
Frank Ramspott/Getty Photographs
The president appoints the secretary of the Inside Division. The secretary works with the heads of associated companies to nominate the Board on Geographic Names. Present committee coverage states, “Input from State geographic names authorities, land management agencies, local governments, and Tribal Governments are actively pursued.”
In 2015, President Barack Obama named a brand new chief for the Division of the Inside, Sally Jewell. Simply as Obama made a visit to Alaska in late August 2015, Jewell declared the identify change official below a regulation that enables the secretary of the Inside to vary a reputation if the board doesn’t act on the proposal in a “reasonable” period of time.
“This name change recognizes the sacred status of Denali to many Alaska Natives,” Jewell stated. “The name Denali has been official for use by the State of Alaska since 1975, but even more importantly, the mountain has been known as Denali for generations. With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska.”
If somebody objects to a reputation change, they may ask the courts to rule on whether or not the identify change was made legally. Going again to Bde Maka Ska, some individuals objected to altering the identify from Lake Calhoun, in order that they took the state pure sources company to courtroom. Ultimately, the Minnesota Supreme Court docket dominated that the identify change was finished appropriately.
Alaska’s two U.S. senators and outstanding state figures have strongly objected to Trump’s renaming try.
How to not change a spot identify
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico is a unique type of case, nevertheless, from renaming a geographic place inside U.S. borders.
The gulf just isn’t inside the territorial U.S. On the coast, the primary 12 miles from shore are thought of a part of that nation, however outdoors of that’s worldwide waters.
The Board on Geographic Names may change the identify to Gulf of America on official U.S. maps, however there isn’t any worldwide board answerable for place names. Every nation decides what to name locations. And there’s no official means for the U.S. to make different nations change the identify.
It’s attainable that the U.S. may formally ask different nations to vary the identify, and even impose sanctions towards nations that don’t comply.
If the names had been formally modified within the U.S., the federal government would use the brand new names in official paperwork, signage and maps. As for all of the individuals and firms on the earth that make maps, they often use the official names. However there may be nothing that may pressure them to, in the event that they believed {that a} sure identify is extra well known.
On Jan. 24, 2025, the U.S. Division of the Inside issued a press release on the identify modifications:
“In accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s recent executive order, the Department of the Interior is proud to announce the implementation of name restorations that honor the legacy of American greatness, with efforts already underway.
“As directed by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America and North America’s highest peak will once again bear the name Mount McKinley….The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, under the purview of the Department of the Interior, is working expeditiously to update the official federal nomenclature in the Geographic Names Information System to reflect these changes, effective immediately for federal use.”
This article was originally published on The Dialog. Learn the authentic article.
