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==Geography Exceptions to the Rule==
==Geography Exceptions to the Rule==


Please reference this page for odd or out-dated geographical terms and/or categorizations that you may encounter in the collection.
Please refer to this page for unusual or outdated geographic terms and geographic hierarchies that you may encounter in EMu collection records.




=== <u>Geographic Hierarchy Variations in EMu</u> ===


<br>


=== <u>Mismatched Geography Hierarchy in EMu</u> ===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+
|-
! Currently accepted name !! Administrative subdivision level !! EMu geographic hierarchy placement !! Issue/Note
|-
| Azores || Country || <B>Continent: Africa</B>; Country: Portugal || Portuguese autonomous archipelago in Macaronesia; may be incorrectly assigned to Europe based on political affiliation with Portugal.
|-
| Bermuda|| Country || <B>Continent: North America</B>; Country: Bermuda || Atlantic island territory; sometimes miscategorized as part of the West Indies.
|-
| Hawaii || Province/State/Territory || <B>Continent: Oceania</B>; Country: United States of America || U.S. state situated in the Pacific Ocean. Place under Oceania, not North America.
|-
| Islas Canarias (Canary Islands)|| Country || <B>Continent: Africa</B>; Country: Spain|| Spanish autonomous archipelago in Macaronesia; may be incorrectly assigned to Europe based on political affiliation with Spain.
|-
| Isla de Pascua (Easter Island, Rapa Nui) || District/County/Shire || <B>Continent: Oceania</B>; Country: Chile; Province/State/Territory: Valparaíso || Island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Place under Oceania, not South America.
|-
| Hawaii || Province/State/Territory || <B>Continent: Oceania</B>; Country: United States of America || U.S. state situated in the Pacific Ocean. Place under Oceania, not North America.
|-
| Madeira || Province/State/Territory || <B>Continent: Africa</B>; Country: Portugal || Autonomous archipelago of Portugal situated in Macaronesia in the North Atlantic Ocean. Place under Africa, not Europe.


|-
| Navassa Island || Province/State/Territory || <B>Continent: West Indies</B>; Country: United States Minor Outlying Islands || Uninhabited Caribbean island classified among the United States Minor Outlying Islands, most of which are in Oceania. Navassa Island itself should be placed under West Indies.


'''Azores''': autonomous archipelago of Portugal situated in Macaronesia in the North Atlantic Ocean. Continent: Africa (not Europe), Country: Portugal
|-
 
| Trinidad and Tobago || Country || <B>Continent: South America</B>; Country: Trinidad and Tobago || Southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Place under South America, not West Indies.
'''Bermuda''': country in the Atlantic Ocean. Continent: North America (sometimes miscategorized in West Indies)
 
'''Islas Canarias (Canary Islands)''': autonomous archipelago of Spain situated in Macaronesia in the Atlantic Ocean. Continent: Africa (not Europe), Country: Spain
 
'''Easter Island (Rapa Nui, Isla de Pascua)''': island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Continent: Oceania (not South America), Country: Chile, State/Province: Valparaíso
 
'''Hawaii''': state of the United States of America situated in the Pacific Ocean. Continent: Oceania (not North America), Country: United States of America
 
'''Madeira''': autonomous archipelago of Portugal situated in Macaronesia in the North Atlantic Ocean. Continent: Africa (not Europe), Country: Portugal
 
'''Navassa Island''': uninhabited island in the Caribbean, classified as a United States Minor Outlying Islands (the rest of which are in Oceania). Continent: West Indies
 
'''Trinidad and Tobago''': the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Continent: South America (not West Indies)


|}
<br>


=== <u>Important Hierarchical Variations to Note</u> ===
=== <u>Important Hierarchical Variations to Note</u> ===
The geographic hierarchy used in EMu does not always correspond directly to the official or commonly cited administrative hierarchy of a country or territory. The following exceptions and conventions should be used when entering geographic information in EMu.


<br>


'''United Kingdom''': In EMu, the primary administrative subdivision (province/state-level) consists of the four countries of the U.K.: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The secondary administrative subdivision (county-level) reflects the Administrative County, Metropolitan District, Unitary Authority (England); District (Northern Ireland); Council Area (Scotland); and Unitary Authority (Wales).
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
 
 
'''Brazil''': The secondary administrative subdivision (county-level) consists of the municipalities of Brazil, rather than the "Microregions" as cited by Statoids (http://www.statoids.com/ybr.html), as these units "...have no administrative function; they were defined by the federal government for purposes of convenience" (Law, 2007).
 
 
'''Puerto Rico''': As a commonwealth associated with the United States, there are no primary administrative subdivisions as defined by the U.S. government. The secondary administrative subdivisions are the municipios (https://welcome.topuertorico.org/government.shtml#:~:text=Administrative%20Divisions%20None%20%28Commonwealth%20associated%20with%20the%20U.S.%29%3B,The%20mayor%20appoints%20a%20secretary-auditor%20and%20a%20treasurer). In EMu, we cite the secondary administrative subdivisions (municipios) as the primary (state/province level), and we cite the tertiary administrative subdivision (barrios) as the secondary administrative subdivisions (county-level), as “the barrios of Puerto Rico are the primary legal divisions of the seventy-eight municipalities of Puerto Rico” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrios_of_Puerto_Rico).
 
 
'''Belgium''': The technical primary administrative subdivisions of Belgium are the regions (3): Flanders (Dutch-speaking region), Wallonia (French-speaking region), and Brussels (bilingual Dutch and French), which are then subdivided into provinces. In EMu, we cite the secondary administrative subdivision (provinces) as the primary. Arrondissements are the next sequential administrative level between province and municipality (cited by Statoids as the secondary administrative subdivision, http://www.statoids.com/ybe.html); alternatively, in EMu we cite the municipalities as the second administrative subdivision, disregarding the arrondissements.
 
 
=== <u>Non-exhaustive list of historical country names in relation to present-day names</u> ===
 
 
'''Abyssinia''' : Ethiopia
 
'''Annam''' : Vietnam (colonial French term)
 
'''Bangal''' : region consisting of parts of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal
 
'''Bohemia''' : Czech Republic
 
'''British Honduras''' : Belize
 
'''British Guiana''' : Guyana
 
'''British North Borneo''' : Malaysia
 
'''Burma''' : Myanmar
 
'''Cambodge''' : Cambodia
 
'''Ceylon''' : Sri Lanka
 
'''Formosa''' : Taiwan
 
'''French Indochina''' : region consisting of Cambodia, Laos, and parts of China and Vietnam
 
'''Hispanola''' : second largest Caribbean Island divided politically into Haiti (west) and the Dominican Republic (east)
 
'''Kaiser-Wilhelmsland''': portion of Papua New Guinea
 
'''Macedonia''' : North Macedonia
 
'''Moravia''' : Czech Republic
 
'''New Granada''' :  region consisting of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela
 
'''New Hebrides''' : Vanuatu
 
'''New Holland''' : Australia
 
'''Northern Rhodesia''' : Zambia
 
'''Persia''' : Iran
 
'''Siam''' : Thailand
 
'''Southern Rhodesia''' : Zimbabwe


'''Tonkin/Tongkin/Tongquin''': exonym referring to northern region of Vietnam
! Province/State/Territory !! Geographic Hierarchy !! EMu Geographic Hierarchy Placement !! Notes
|-
| United Kingdom || The United Kingdom consists of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Below this level, administrative divisions differ among the four countries. || <b>Primary (State/Province):</b> England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
<b>Secondary (County):</b> Administrative County, Metropolitan District, or Unitary Authority (England); District (Northern Ireland); Council Area (Scotland); Unitary Authority (Wales)
|| Because the administrative systems differ across the four constituent countries, the type of division entered at the county level varies.
|-
| Brazil || States are divided into municipalities. || <b>Primary (State/Province):</b> State
<b>Secondary (County):</b> Municipality
|| In EMu, municipalities are used for the secondary (county-level) division rather than the microregions cited by Statoids (Law, 2015), as microregions were statistical/geographic groupings rather than administrative units.
|-
| Puerto Rico || Puerto Rico is divided into 78 municipalities (municipios), which are further divided into barrios. || <b>Primary (State/Province):</b> Municipio
<b>Secondary (County):</b> Barrio
|| Because EMu requires hierarchical placement at the state/province and county levels, municipios and barrios are shifted upward in the EMu hierarchy.
|-
| Belgium || Region > Province > Arrondissement > Municipality || <b>Primary (State/Province):</b> Province
<b>Secondary (County):</b> Municipality
|| EMu omits the regional and arrondissement levels for this purpose. Provinces are therefore entered at the state/province level and municipalities at the county level.
|}


'''Yugoslavia''' : region consisting of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia
<br>


'''Zaire''' : Democratic Republic of the Congo
=== <u>Historical Locality Names and Present-Day Equivalents</u> ===
<br>


{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+
|-
! Alternate names !! Currently accepted name
|-
| Abyssinia || Ethiopia
|-
| Annam || Vietnam
|-
| Bengal || Region consisting of parts of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal
|-
| Basutoland || Lesotho
|-
| Bechuanaland || Botswana
|-
| Belgian Congo || Democratic Republic of the Congo
|-
| Bohemia || Czech Republic
|-
| British Honduras || Belize
|-
| British Guiana || Guyana
|-
| British North Borneo || Malaysia
|-
| Burma || Myanmar
|-
| Cambodge || Cambodia
|-
| Celebes || Sulawesi, Indonesia
|-
| Ceylon || Sri Lanka
|-
| Dahomey || Benin
|-
| Dutch East Indies || Indonesia (primarily)
|-
| Dutch Guiana || Suriname
|-
| East Pakistan || Bangladesh
|-
| East Prussia || Parts of Russia, Poland, and Lithuania
|-
| Formosa || Taiwan
|-
| French Indochina || Region consisting of Cambodia, Laos, and parts of China and Vietnam
|-
| French West Africa || Region of several present-day West African countries
|-
| Gold Coast || Ghana
|-
| Hispaniola || Second largest Caribbean Island divided politically into Haiti (west) and the Dominican Republic (east)
|-
| Île Bourbon || Réunion, France
|-
| Kaiser-Wilhelmsland || Portion of Papua New Guinea
|-
| Kamerun || Primarily Cameroon; portions now in neighboring countries
|-
|Lower California || Baja California, Mexico
|-
| Macedonia || Region encompassing parts of present-day North Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria
|-
| Malaya || Primarily Peninsular Malaysia
|-
| New Granada || Region consisting of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela
|-
| New Hebrides || Vanuatu
|-
| New Holland || Australia
|-
| Northern Rhodesia || Zambia
|-
| Nyasaland || Malawi
|-
| Persia || Iran
|-
| Portuguese East Africa || Mozambique
|-
| Prussia || Parts of modern Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and other areas
|-
| Siam || Thailand
|-
| South West Africa || Namibia
|-
| Southern Rhodesia || Zimbabwe
|-
| Swaziland || Eswatini
|-
| Tanganyika || Tanzania
|-
| Tonkin/Tongkin/Tongquin || Exonym referring to northern region of Vietnam
|-
| Yugoslavia || Region consisting of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia
|-
| Zaire || Democratic Republic of the Congo
|-
| Zanzibar || Tanzania
|-
|}


Please email egjieli@nybg.org if you come across other terms that should be added to this list.
This list is non-exhaustive. If you come across additional terms that should be included, please email Liz at egjieli@nybg.org.

Revision as of 21:44, 5 November 2026

Geography Exceptions to the Rule

Please refer to this page for unusual or outdated geographic terms and geographic hierarchies that you may encounter in EMu collection records.


Geographic Hierarchy Variations in EMu


Currently accepted name Administrative subdivision level EMu geographic hierarchy placement Issue/Note
Azores Country Continent: Africa; Country: Portugal Portuguese autonomous archipelago in Macaronesia; may be incorrectly assigned to Europe based on political affiliation with Portugal.
Bermuda Country Continent: North America; Country: Bermuda Atlantic island territory; sometimes miscategorized as part of the West Indies.
Hawaii Province/State/Territory Continent: Oceania; Country: United States of America U.S. state situated in the Pacific Ocean. Place under Oceania, not North America.
Islas Canarias (Canary Islands) Country Continent: Africa; Country: Spain Spanish autonomous archipelago in Macaronesia; may be incorrectly assigned to Europe based on political affiliation with Spain.
Isla de Pascua (Easter Island, Rapa Nui) District/County/Shire Continent: Oceania; Country: Chile; Province/State/Territory: Valparaíso Island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Place under Oceania, not South America.
Hawaii Province/State/Territory Continent: Oceania; Country: United States of America U.S. state situated in the Pacific Ocean. Place under Oceania, not North America.
Madeira Province/State/Territory Continent: Africa; Country: Portugal Autonomous archipelago of Portugal situated in Macaronesia in the North Atlantic Ocean. Place under Africa, not Europe.
Navassa Island Province/State/Territory Continent: West Indies; Country: United States Minor Outlying Islands Uninhabited Caribbean island classified among the United States Minor Outlying Islands, most of which are in Oceania. Navassa Island itself should be placed under West Indies.
Trinidad and Tobago Country Continent: South America; Country: Trinidad and Tobago Southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Place under South America, not West Indies.


Important Hierarchical Variations to Note

The geographic hierarchy used in EMu does not always correspond directly to the official or commonly cited administrative hierarchy of a country or territory. The following exceptions and conventions should be used when entering geographic information in EMu.


Province/State/Territory Geographic Hierarchy EMu Geographic Hierarchy Placement Notes
United Kingdom The United Kingdom consists of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Below this level, administrative divisions differ among the four countries. Primary (State/Province): England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Secondary (County): Administrative County, Metropolitan District, or Unitary Authority (England); District (Northern Ireland); Council Area (Scotland); Unitary Authority (Wales)

Because the administrative systems differ across the four constituent countries, the type of division entered at the county level varies.
Brazil States are divided into municipalities. Primary (State/Province): State

Secondary (County): Municipality

In EMu, municipalities are used for the secondary (county-level) division rather than the microregions cited by Statoids (Law, 2015), as microregions were statistical/geographic groupings rather than administrative units.
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is divided into 78 municipalities (municipios), which are further divided into barrios. Primary (State/Province): Municipio

Secondary (County): Barrio

Because EMu requires hierarchical placement at the state/province and county levels, municipios and barrios are shifted upward in the EMu hierarchy.
Belgium Region > Province > Arrondissement > Municipality Primary (State/Province): Province

Secondary (County): Municipality

EMu omits the regional and arrondissement levels for this purpose. Provinces are therefore entered at the state/province level and municipalities at the county level.


Historical Locality Names and Present-Day Equivalents


Alternate names Currently accepted name
Abyssinia Ethiopia
Annam Vietnam
Bengal Region consisting of parts of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal
Basutoland Lesotho
Bechuanaland Botswana
Belgian Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo
Bohemia Czech Republic
British Honduras Belize
British Guiana Guyana
British North Borneo Malaysia
Burma Myanmar
Cambodge Cambodia
Celebes Sulawesi, Indonesia
Ceylon Sri Lanka
Dahomey Benin
Dutch East Indies Indonesia (primarily)
Dutch Guiana Suriname
East Pakistan Bangladesh
East Prussia Parts of Russia, Poland, and Lithuania
Formosa Taiwan
French Indochina Region consisting of Cambodia, Laos, and parts of China and Vietnam
French West Africa Region of several present-day West African countries
Gold Coast Ghana
Hispaniola Second largest Caribbean Island divided politically into Haiti (west) and the Dominican Republic (east)
Île Bourbon Réunion, France
Kaiser-Wilhelmsland Portion of Papua New Guinea
Kamerun Primarily Cameroon; portions now in neighboring countries
Lower California Baja California, Mexico
Macedonia Region encompassing parts of present-day North Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria
Malaya Primarily Peninsular Malaysia
New Granada Region consisting of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela
New Hebrides Vanuatu
New Holland Australia
Northern Rhodesia Zambia
Nyasaland Malawi
Persia Iran
Portuguese East Africa Mozambique
Prussia Parts of modern Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and other areas
Siam Thailand
South West Africa Namibia
Southern Rhodesia Zimbabwe
Swaziland Eswatini
Tanganyika Tanzania
Tonkin/Tongkin/Tongquin Exonym referring to northern region of Vietnam
Yugoslavia Region consisting of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia
Zaire Democratic Republic of the Congo
Zanzibar Tanzania

This list is non-exhaustive. If you come across additional terms that should be included, please email Liz at egjieli@nybg.org.

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