State Names

When I started doing genealogy I decided to use the two-character Postal Service codes for the state names.  Later, I read posts and articles that recommended writing out the state names in full. My latest genealogy program, RootsMagic seems to support this view.  I noticed this when I used the Name Gazetteer.

At this point I'm unwilling to change.  I've made one concession. When the only place name I have for an event is a state name I write out the state name in full.

Dick Henthorn
8 September 2014

I'll Be Brief

Using abbreviations in your genealogy file isn't a good idea. There's no guarantee that your readers will be able to understand your abbreviations. I've used the RootsMagic edit option to find and expand some abbreviations in the notes in my own files.

Contrary to what I'm writing, I chose to use the Postal Service two letter state abbreviation in the place names of my own work. I've read that this isn't recommended and sometimes worry about my choice.

Dick Henthorn
1 November 2013

Postal Address Abbreviations

Postal Address Abbreviations

AL Alabama
AK Alaska
AZ Arkansas
AR Arizona
CA California
CZ Canal Zone
CO Colorado
CT Connecticut
DE Delaware
DC District of Columbia
FL Florida
GA Georgia
GU Guam
HI Hawaii
ID Idaho
IL Illinois
IN Indiana
IA Iowa
KS Kansas
KY Kentucky
LA Louisiana
ME Maine
MD Maryland
MA Massachusetts
MI Michigan
MN Minnesota
MS Mississippi
MO Missouri
MT Montana
NE Nebraska
NV Nevada
NH New Hampshire
NJ New Jersey
NM New Mexico
NY New York
NC North Carolina
OH Ohio
OK Oklahoma
OR Oregon
PA Pennsylvania
PR Puerto Rico
RI Rhode Island
SC South Carolina
SD South Dakota
TN Tennessee
TT Trust Territory
TX Texas
UT Utah
VT Vermont
VA Virginia
VI Virgin Islands
WA Washington
WV West Virginia
WI Wisconsin
WY Wyoming

APT Apartment
AVE Avenue
BLVD Boulevard
CT Court
CTR Center
CIR Circle
DR Drive
EXPY Expressway
HTS Heights
HWY Highway
IS Island
JCT Junction
LK Lake
LN Lane
MTN Mountain
PKY Parkway
PL Place
PLZ Plaza
RD Road
RM Room
STA Station
STE Suite
ST Street
TPKE Turnpike
VLY Valley

FileName: ABBREV.txt