Some towns are located in different counties (a few in different states) on county or state lines.

Chester Milburn

Some towns are located in different counties (a few in different states), on county or state lines. The standardized place county or state could be the wrong county or state. What can be done to have it show it is standardized with both counties or states. Example, Wenona, Illinois is in both LaSalle and Marshall counties. Currently standardized shows as Marshall county. I have relatives on the east side which is LaSalle county. A little frustrating when it don't show up in the correct county. What can be done to show both counties are correct when standardized? 🙄

James Banner

Chester, you can request updates to the database of standardized places. The following steps will take you through this process:

How do I request an update to the database of standardized places?

Steps (website)

1. Navigate to FamilySearch Places ( https://www.familysearch.org/research/places/ ).
2. On the left side of the screen, enter the place you want to find in the search bar. Press Enter or click the magnifying glass. (To change the language for the search, on the right side of the screen, above the map, click the options tab.)
3. If the place does not appear, above the Search Places search bar, click Suggest a New Place.
4. After the new box appears, in the upper text bar, enter the name of the place.
5. In the lower text bar, type in the country name, and click Continue.
6. If the place is not in the FamilySearch database, you can then add information on the place you want to add.
   1. At the top of the dialog bar, click Place Type. Type what kind of place your suggestion is.
   2. In the Additional thoughts or details text field, add information about the place to make it easier to find and verify.
   3. Optional: Provide sources on a map that confirms the suggested place exists. Google Maps is a good option, but other sources can help verify.
   4. Add your email address in the bottom text field.
   5. Click Submit.
7. If the place already exists in the FamilySearch database, location options appear. If the place you want to add appears, click Select. You do not need to suggest a new location.

Note: If you notice any improvements that we need to make, you can provide feedback. Search for a place and, on the right side of the screen, click Improve this Place (you must sign in to see this button).

Steps (mobile app)

The tool is not available on the mobile app. Please use a browser to add and correct standardized places.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

The tool is not available on Family Tree Lite. Please use a browser to add and correct standardized places.

Related articles

How do I enter dates and places into Family Tree?

Sanra

You may wish to look at the history of the place, as sometimes county boundary, or state boundary lines were redrawn more than once over the years, just as the town names are sometimes changed.

Chester Milburn

Yes, I know some boundaries change over years, but in the example I used, this is not what has happened. The town Wenona is in two counties and has been that way since it was formed. In fact, LaSalle County was created in 1831 from Putnam County (1825) and Vermillion County (1826) while Marshall County wasn't created until 1839. Wenona was founded May 15, 1855 by the Illinois Central Railroad. I have relatives born and lived on the east side which places them in LaSalle County not Marshall County. I have done as James Banner suggested and put in for an update to the data base for standardized places. So far I have not heard if my request has been approved, which it should be. Also in checking MapQuest (https://www.mapquest.com/us/illinois/wenona-il-282024940), it states that Wenona is in both counties. By enlarging the map, you can see how the town is divided by the two counties. Hope this will show why I want the standardized county to be both counties.

Sundown41

County needs to be specified by Family Search to make it easier so we will know if it is the name of the town or the county when it automatically comes up

Sundown41

Gordon Collett

All places in the Places database should follow the usual convention of going from smallest jurisdiction to largest jurisdiction: City, County, State, Nation. Nothing should ever automatically come up City, State, Nation unless it is an independent city that is not in a county. That is the main way of telling if a place name is for a city or a county.

Also, when entering a place name, the place type always shows:

Unfortunately this place type notice does not always show up when editing a place. I do wish they could get it to always show.