Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Public Domain)
Last Thursday the U.S. Board on Geographic Names released a list of replacement names for 650 features across the United States, removing the word “sq – – -” from Federal use. An article in the Reno Gazette Journal discusses the 34 changes in Nevada alone. The press release includes a map marking the locations of the changed names and quotes from Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who said,
“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long… I am grateful to the members of the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force and the Board on Geographic Names for their efforts to prioritize this important work. Together, we are showing why representation matters and charting a path for an inclusive America.”