US Place Names ~ Gabilan, California to Gordon County, Georgia

Gabilan; mountain ridge, spur of the coast range in California. A Spanish word meaning "sparrow hawk."

Gadsden; town in Etowah County, Alabama, and county in Florida, named for James Gadsden, the American statesman.

Gaffney; city in Cherokee County, South Carolina, named for a family in the State.

Gage; county in Nebraska, named for a Methodist minister.

Gagetown; village in Tuscola County, Michigan, named for James Gage, the first settler.

Gaines; town in Orleans County, New York, named for Gen. E. P. Gaines.

Gaines; county in Texas, named for James Gaines, who fought in the war for Texan independence.

Gainesville; city in Alachua County, Florida, towns in Hall County, Georgia, and Wyoming County, New York, and city in Cooke County, Texas, named for Gen. E. P. Gaines.

Galatia; township and village in Saline County, Illinois, named for Albert Gallatin.

Galen; town in Wayne County, New York, named by the State land board for Claudius Galenus, an illustrious physician of antiquity.

Galena; cities in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and Cherokee County, Kansas, and mount in Colorado, named from the lead ore found in the several vicinities.

Galesburg; city in Knox County, Illinois, named for Rev. George W. Gale, the founder.

Galesburg; village in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, named for Gen. L. Gale, early settler.

Galesville; village in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, named for Hon. George Gale, who laid it out.

Gallatin; counties in Illinois and Kentucky; county and river in Montana; towns in Columbia County, New York, Copiah County, Mississippi, and Sumner County, Tennessee; named for Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury under President Thomas Jefferson.

Gallaway; town in Fayette County, Tennessee, named for Governor Gallaway.

Gallia; county in Ohio, settled in 1790 by a colony of Frenchmen, and named by them from the Latin appellation of France.

Gallinas; river in New Mexico. A Spanish word, gallina, "hen," used figuratively to denote a coward.

Gallipolis; city in Gallia County, Ohio, so named because settled by French.

Gallitzin; borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, named for its founder, Prince Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin.

Gallman; town in Copiah County, Mississippi, named for a leading citizen.

Galloo; islands in Lake Ontario, Jefferson County, New York, named for an old resident.

Galton; village in Douglas County, Illinois, named for a railroad stockholder.

Galva; township and town in Henry County, Illinois, named by Olaf Johnson, from Gefle, his home in Sweden, and Anglicized to the present form.

Galva; city in MePherson County, Kansas, named by Mrs. J. E. Doyle for her old home in Illinois.

Galveston; county, and city in same county, in Texas, named for Don José Galvez, Spanish viceroy of Texas; in 1797 proclaimed king by the people of Mexico.

Galway; village in Saratoga County, New York, named from the county in Ireland.

Gambler; village in Knox County, Ohio, named for Lord James Gambler, a British admiral, a benefactor of Kenyon College, located there.

Gannett; station on the Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska, named for J. W. Gannett, auditor of the road.

Gans; town in Humboldt County, California, named for a settler.

Gansevoort; village in Saratoga County, New York, named for Col. Peter Gansevoort, who located there soon after the war.

Garberville; town in Humboldt County, California, named for J. C. Garber.

Garden; thirty places in the country bear this name, used descriptively, either with or without suffixes.

Garden of the Gods; locality near Pikes Peak, Colorado. Lewis N. Tappan and three others went from Denver to select a site for a town. They stood upon a rocky prominence and exclaimed, "A fit garden for the gods," hence the name.

Gardiner; city in Kennebec County, Maine, named for Sylvester Gardiner, one of the proprietors of the old Plymouth patent.

Gardiner; town in Ulster County, New York, named for Addison Gardiner, formerly lieutenant-governor.

Gardiner; river in Yellowstone Park, probably named for an old trapper who was a companion of Joseph Meek.

Gardiners; island lying east of Long Island, named for the first settler, Lyon Gardiner, a Scotchman.

Gardner; village in Grundy County, Illinois, named for Henry C. Gardner, its founder.

Gardner; city in Johnson County, Kansas, named for Henry J. Gardner, governor of Massachusetts in 1855.

Gardner; town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, named for Col. Thos. Gardner, who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill.

Garfield; town in Humboldt County, California, named for the son of Gilbert Garfield, a settler.

Garfield; county and mountain in Colorado; mountain in Idaho; town in Lasalle County, Illinois; town in Pawnee County, Kansas; plantation in Aroostook County, Maine; county in Nebraska; borough in Bergen County, New Jersey; town in Mahoning County, Ohio; county in Oklahoma; town in Clackamas County, Oregon; and counties in Utah and Washington; named for President James A. Garfield. His name is also borne by many other places in the country.

Garfield; lake in the town of Monterey, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, named for a resident family.

Garland; county in Arkansas, named for A. H. Garland, governor of the State in 1874.

Garland; town in Penobscot County, Maine, named for Joseph Garland, the first settler.

Garnett; city in Anderson County, Kansas, named for W. A. Garnett, of Louisville, Kentucky.

Garrard; county in Kentucky, named for Col. James Garrard, governor of the State in 1796.

Garrett; city in Dekalb County, Indiana, county in Maryland, and borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, named for John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Garrettsville; township and village in Portage County, Ohio, named for Col. John Garrett, its founder.

Garrison; village in Nacogdoches County, Texas, named for Z. B. Garrison, an early settler, although the name was probably also given in reference to others of that name in the first settlement.

Garysburg; town in Northampton County, North Carolina, named for Roderick B. Gary.

Garza; county in Texas, named for the family of that name of which Governor Garza, who founded San Antonio, was a member.

Gasconade; river and county in Missouri. The name is from Gascon, an inhabitant of Gascony, and was applied by the early French.

Gasport; village in Niagara County, New York, so named from springs which emit an inflammable gas.

Gaston; camp in Nevada County, California, named for a military commander.

Gaston; county in North Carolina, named for William Gaston, a judge of the supreme court of the State.

Gaston; town in Lexington County, South Carolina, named for the Gaston family.

Gastonia; town in Gaston County, North Carolina, named for William Gaston, a judge of the supreme court of the State.

Gates; town in Monroe County, New York, and county in North Carolina;

Gatesville; town in Gates County, North Carolina. Named for Gen. Horatio Gates, Revolutionary commander.

Gates; county in Wisconsin, named for J. L. Gates of the Gates Land Company.

Gaviota; town in Santa Barbara County, California, a Spanish word meaning "sea gull."

Gay Head; headland and town in Dukes County, Massachusetts, so named from the brilliant colors of the cliffs.

Gaylesville; town in Cherokee County, Alabama, named for George W. Gayle, a prominent politician of the State.

Gaylord; city in Smith County, Kansas, named for C. E. Gay lord, of Marshall County.

Gaylord; village in Otsego County, Michigan, named for an attorney of the Michigan Central Railroad.

Gayoso; village in Pemiscot County, Missouri, named for Governor Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos.

Geary; county, and town in Doniphan County, in Kansas, named for John W. Geary, governor of the Territory in 1856-57.

Geauga; county in Ohio. The name is thought by some to have been derived from the same source as Cuyahoga; others say it is derived from the Indian word sheauga-sipe meaning "raccoon river," a name originally applied to Grand River. Haines says that it was the name of a chief of one of the Six Nations. Still another theory derives it from cageauga, "dogs around the fire."

Geddes; town in Onondaga County, New York, named for James Geddes, the first settler.

Genesee; county, river, and town in Wyoming County, in New York, and county in Michigan, besides several other small places, named from the Indian, meaning "shining valley" or "beautiful valley."

Geneseo; cities in Henry County, Illinois, and Rice County, Kansas, and town in Livingston County, New York, on the Genesee River. The name is a modification of Genesee.

Geneva; county, and town in same county, in Alabama, and city and town in Ontario County. New York, and twenty other places, the name having been transferred from the city in Switzerland.

Geneva; township and city in Kane County, Illinois, and township and village in Ashtabula County, Ohio, named from the city in New York.

Genoa; township and village in Dekalb County, Illinois, named from the town in New York.

Genoa; town in Cayuga County, New York, and fourteen other places bear the name of the city in Italy.

Gentry; county, and town in same county, in Missouri, named for Col. Richard Gentry, killed at the battle of Okeechobee, Florida.

Georgia; lake in eastern New York, named for George II of England.

Georgetown; town in Clear Creek County, Colorado, named for George Griffith, clerk of the court.

Georgetown; town in Sussex County, Delaware, named for Commissioner George Mitchell, a prominent resident.

Georgetown; formerly a city, now a part of the District of Columbia, named for George Boone, an Englishman who purchased several tracts of land in the neighborhood.

Georgetown; village in Vermilion County, Illinois, named for George Haworth, son of the founder.

Georgetown; village in Brown County, Indiana, named for George Grove, its founder.

Georgetown; towns in Eldorado County, California, and Scott County, Kentucky, named for President George Washington.

Georgetown; town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, and county, arid city in same county, in South Carolina, named for George I, King of England.

Georgetown; town in Essex County, Massachusetts, thought to be named from George Peabody, a London banker, who built a memorial church and endowed a public library.

Georgetown; county, and city in same county, in South Carolina, named for King George III, of England.

Georgetown; town in Williamson County, Texas, said to have been named for George Glasscock, an early settler.

Georgia; State of the Union, named by and for King George II, of England.

Georgia; strait between Washington and Vancouver Island, named for George III, King of England.

German; town in Chenango County, New York, named for Gen. Obadiah German, the original proprietor.

German Flats; town in Herkimer County, New York, named so from the German settlers on the Mohawk Flats.

Germanton; village in Stokes County, North Carolina, settled by Germans.

Gerry; town in Chautauqua County, New York, named for Elbridge Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Gervais; town in Marion County, Oregon, named for Joseph Gervais, a pioneer.

Gethsemane; town in Nelson County, Kentucky, named for the garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives.

Gettysburg; borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, named for James Gettys, who laid it out.

Geuda; city in Sumner County, Kansas, named from the mineral springs near.

Gibbon; river and hill in Yellowstone Park and village in Umatilla County, Oregon;

Gibbonsville; town in Lemhi County, Idaho. Named for Gen. John Gibbon, United States Army.

Gibraltar; villages in Wayne County, Michigan, Union County, North Carolina, and Berks County, Pennsylvania, named from the city in Spain.

Gibson; county in Indiana, named for John Gibson, secretary and acting governor of Indiana Territory in 1811-1813.

Gibson; county, and town in same county, in Tennessee, named for Col. Thomas Gibson.

Gibson City; city in Ford County, Illinois, named by the founder for his wife's family.

Gibsonville; town in Guilford County, North Carolina, named for a prominent resident.

Gifford; village in Champaign County, Illinois, named for its founder, B. F. Gifford.

Gila; county in Arizona and river of Arizona and New Mexico. The name is said to be of Spanish origin, but the meaning is lost.

Gilberton; borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, named for John Gilbert, who owned coal mines there.

Gilboa; towns in Schoharie County, New York, and Putnam County, Ohio, named from the mountain in Palestine. The name means "bubbling fountain."

Gildehouse; village in Franklin County, Missouri, named for a family who first settled there.

Gilead; town in Oxford County, Maine, named from the large balm of gilead tree standing in the middle of the town. The name means "strong," "rocky."

Giles; village in Brown County, Nebraska, named for the first postmaster, Giles Mead.

Giles; county in Virginia, named for William Branch Giles, governor of the State in 1827-1830. The county in Tennessee was probably named for the same.

Gilford; town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, named for S. S. Gilman, who made the first settlements there.

Gill; town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, named for Moses Gill, one time lieutenant-governor of the State.

Gillespie; township and village in Macoupin County, Illinois, named for Judge Joseph Gillespie.

Gillespie; county in Texas, named for Robert A. Gillespie, who fell at the battle of Monterey.

Gilliam; village in Saline County, Missouri, named for a farmer residing in the neighborhood.

Gilliam; county in Oregon, name for Col. Cornelius Gilliam, member of the volunteers of Willamette Valley.

Gilman; town in Eagle County, Colorado, named for H. M. Gilman, a prominent resident.

Gilman; city in Iroquois County, Illinois, named for Samuel Gilman, a prominent railroad man.

Gilman; town in Marshall County, Iowa, named for a railroad contractor.

Gilman; town in Hamilton County, New York, named for John M. Gilman, an early settler, from New Hampshire.

Gilmanton; town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, named for the former owners of the site.

Gilmer; county in Georgia, named for George P. Gilmer, governor of the State in 1830.

Gilmer; county in West Virginia, named for Thomas W, Gilmer, a member of Congress from Virginia.

Gilpin; county and mountain in Colorado, named for William Gilpin, the first Territorial governor.

Gilroy; township and city in Santa Clara County, California, named for an old trapper and guide.

Gilsum; town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, named for the first proprietors, Gilbert and Sumner.

Girard; township and city in Macoupin County, Illinois; village in Trumbull County, Ohio, and borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania;

Girardville; borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and several other towns and villages. Named for Stephen Girard, at one time the wealthiest man in the United States.

Girard; city in Crawford County, Kansas, named from the borough in Pennsylvania.

Gladstone; village in Henderson County, Illinois; city in Delta County, Michigan, and town in Stark County, North Dakota, named for the English statesman, William E. Gladstone.

Gladwin; county, and city in same county, in Michigan, named for Maj. Henry Gladwin, in command at Detroit at the time of Pontiac's conspiracy.

Glasco; city in Cloud County, Kansas, named from the city in Scotland, and spelled by the first postmaster "Glasco."

Glascock; county in Georgia, named for Thomas Glascock, an officer of the war of 1812.

Glasford; village in Peoria County, Illinois, named for Thomas Glassford, its founder.

Glasgow; city in Barren County, Kentucky, and several other places, named from the city in Scotland.

Glassboro; town in Gloucester County, New Jersey, named from its glass factories.

Glasscock; county in Texas, named for George W. Glasscock, who took part in the storming of San Antonio.

Glastonbury; town in Hartford County, Connecticut, named from the town in England.

Glazypool; mountain and creek in Arkansas. A corruption of the French name glaise à Paul, "Paul's clay pit."

Glen; two hundred and fifty-six places in the country bear this name alone or with suffixes. In the majority of cases the word is used descriptively, but in a few cases it is a proper name.

Glen; town in Montgomery County, New York, named for Jacob Glen, a prominent citizen.

Glencoe; township and village in McLeod County, Minnesota; the name is taken from Scott's writings.

Glenn; county in California, named for Hugh J. Glenn, a prominent resident of the county.

Glenn Springs; town in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, named from a famous spring owned by the Glenn family.

Glens Falls; village in Warren County, New York, named by and for John Glenn.

Glenville; town in Schenectady County, New York, named from the manor of Sandir Leenderste Glen, which formerly occupied the site.

Glenwood; township and city in Mills County, Iowa, named for a Presbyterian minister, Glenn Wood.

Glenwood Springs; town in Garfield County, Colorado, named from the city in Iowa and the famous hot springs in the neighborhood.

Glidden; town in Carroll County, Iowa, named for a manufacturer of barbed wire.

Gloucester; city in Essex County, Massachusetts, and counties in New Jersey and Virginia;

Gloucester City; city in Camden County, New Jersey. Named from Gloucestershire, England.

Glover; town in Orleans County, Vermont, named for Gen. John Glover, of Marblehead, a principal proprietor.

Gloversville; city in Fulton County, New York, named from its glove factories.

Glynn; county in Georgia, named for John Glynn, an English lawyer and warm friend of the American colonies.

Gnadenhutten; village in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, settled by Moravian missionaries. A German word meaning "sacred hut" or "log tabernacle."

Goddard; city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, named for J. F. Goddard, general manager of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad.

Godfrey; township and village in Madison County, Illinois, named for Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, who founded a seminary in 1837.

Goff; city in Nemaha County, Kansas, named for Edward H. Goff of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Goffstown; town in Hillsboro County, New Hampshire, named for Col. John Goffe.

Gogebic; county and lake in Michigan. An Indian word, according to some authorities, a contraction of agojebic, meaning "rocky," or "rocky shore;" others say it is from gogebing, "dividing lake."

Golconda; city in Pope County, Illinois, and town in Humboldt County, Nevada, named from the city in India.

Gold; a name of frequent occurrence throughout the country. It appears with numerous suffixes and in most cases was given to denote the presence of the metal.

Golden; city in Jefferson County, Colorado, named from the Golden Gate;

Golden Gate; narrow pass in the mountains in Jefferson County, Colorado, which at the time of naming led to the principal gold mines of the State.

Golden Gate; bay in California, named by Colonel Fremont, before the discovery of gold in the country, because of the brilliant effect of the setting sun on the cliffs and hills.

Gold Point; town in Martin County, North Carolina, named from the gold leaf tobacco.

Goldsboro; township and city in Wayne County, North Carolina, named for M. T. Goldsboro, of Maryland.

Goldthwaite; town in Mills County, Texas, named for a man prominent in the organization of a railroad running into the town.

Goleta; town in Santa Barbara County, California. A Spanish word meaning "schooner."

Goliad; county in Texas, named by making an anagram of the name, "Hidalgo," the Mexican revolutionary hero.

Gonzales; county in Texas, named for Raphael Gonzales, at one time provisional governor of the State.

Goochland; county in Virginia, named for William Gooch, lieutenant-governor of Virginia in 1727-1749.

Goodhue; county, and village in same county, in Minnesota, named for James M. Goodhue, the first journalist of the Territory, who founded the Pioneer, of St. Paul, in 1849.

Goodland; town in Newton County, Indiana, so named because of the rich character of the soil.

Goodman; town in Holmes County, Mississippi, named for the first president of the Mississippi Central Railroad,

Goose; river in Maine, named from a pond at the source, so called by an early settler from a wild-goose nest which he found on a rock on the bank of the pond.

Gooski; lake in Florida, named for an old settler, a Pole.

Gorda; town in Monterey County, California. A Spanish word meaning "fat," "full-fed."

Gordon; county in Georgia, named for William W. Gordon, first president of the Central Railroad of Georgia.

US Place Names

Source: The Origin of Certain Place Names the United States, Second Edition, Henry Gannett, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1906.