# United States Coast Survey

> former U.S. agency responsible for providing accurate charts of the coastlines of the United States (1836 - 1878)

**Wikidata**: [Q103447274](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103447274)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/united-states-coast-survey

## Summary
The United States Coast Survey was a former U.S. government agency established in 1836 to provide accurate charts of the nation's coastlines. It operated until 1878, at which point it was succeeded by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization evolved from the United States Survey of the Coast to fulfill critical maritime navigation needs.

## Key Facts
- **Inception Date**: 1836
- **Dissolution Date**: 1878
- **Predecessor**: United States Survey of the Coast
- **Successor**: United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
- **Headquarters Location**: Washington, D.C.
- **Country of Operation**: United States
- **Primary Function**: Providing accurate charts of the coastlines of the United States
- **Classification**: Government agency (organizational part of a government responsible for specific public services)
- **Wikidata Description**: Former U.S. agency responsible for providing accurate charts of the coastlines of the United States (1836 - 1878)
- **Commons Category**: United States Coast Survey
- **Topic Main Category**: Category:United States Coast Survey
- **Aliases**: U.S. Coast Survey
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n85308223
- **Viaf ID**: 154122553
- **Idref ID**: 059546859 (Reference: P248: Q54919, P813: 2022-07-06)
- **Yale Lux ID**: group/d20f633a-7b26-4016-8871-df241eae7bd7

## FAQs
**What was the primary mission of the United States Coast Survey?**
The agency was dedicated to creating and maintaining precise nautical charts of the United States coastline to ensure safe maritime navigation. It served as the central body for hydrographic data collection and chart production during its operational years.

**Which organizations did the Coast Survey replace and succeed?**
It was formed to take over the duties of the United States Survey of the Coast upon its inception in 1836. In 1878, the agency was reorganized and replaced by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

**Where was the United States Coast Survey based?**
The organization maintained its headquarters in Washington, D.C., serving as the administrative center for its national charting operations.

**How is the United States Coast Survey identified in library and academic databases?**
The entity is cataloged under the Library of Congress Authority ID n85308223 and holds a Viaf ID of 154122553. It is also indexed in academic systems with an Idref ID of 059546859 and a Yale Lux ID of group/d20f633a-7b26-4016-8871-df241eae7bd7.

## Why It Matters
The United States Coast Survey played a foundational role in the economic and safety infrastructure of the United States during the 19th century. By standardizing and producing accurate coastal charts, the agency directly mitigated the risks of shipwrecks and facilitated the expansion of domestic and international trade routes. Its work established the scientific baseline for American hydrography, ensuring that the nation's maritime boundaries and navigation channels were mapped with precision. The transition from the Survey of the Coast to the Coast Survey, and finally to the Coast and Geodetic Survey, represents a critical evolution in how the federal government manages geographic and navigational data. Without this agency's forty-two-year tenure, the United States would have lacked a centralized, authoritative source for the cartographic data essential to its growing naval and commercial fleets.

## Notable For
- **Historical Continuity**: Successfully bridged the gap between the United States Survey of the Coast and the modern United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
- **National Standardization**: Established the first comprehensive, accurate charting system for the entire U.S. coastline.
- **Longevity**: Operated as a dedicated federal entity for 42 years (1836–1878) before reorganization.
- **Administrative Centralization**: Consolidated coastal survey efforts under a single headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- **Data Legacy**: Generated the foundational datasets that were inherited by its successor agency in 1878.

## Body

### Organizational Identity and Classification
The United States Coast Survey functioned as a distinct government agency within the United States federal structure. As an organizational part of the government, it was tasked with specific public services related to transportation and navigation. The entity is classified broadly as a government agency, a category that encompasses bodies responsible for health, judiciary, education, transportation, and foreign affairs. Its official aliases include the "U.S. Coast Survey," reflecting its common usage in historical records. The organization is categorized under the "Category:United States Coast Survey" on Wikimedia Commons and serves as the main topic category for its specific domain.

### Historical Timeline and Evolution
The agency's operational history spans from its inception in 1836 to its conclusion in 1878. It was established to replace the United States Survey of the Coast, inheriting its mandate and expanding its scope. For over four decades, the Survey operated as the primary federal body for coastal mapping. In 1878, the organization ceased to exist in its original form and was replaced by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. This transition marked a shift in the federal approach to geodetic and hydrographic surveying, though the core mission of charting coastlines remained consistent.

### Geographic and Administrative Scope
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the United States Coast Survey managed its operations from the nation's capital. This central location allowed for direct oversight of the agency's nationwide responsibilities. The scope of its work was strictly limited to the United States, focusing exclusively on providing accurate charts of the nation's coastlines. The agency did not operate internationally but served as the definitive source for domestic maritime data. Its work covered the entire coastline of the United States, ensuring that all navigable waters were charted for safety and commerce.

### Authority and Identification Records
The entity is rigorously documented in major library and academic authority files. The Library of Congress Authority ID assigned to the agency is n85308223, confirming its status in national bibliographic records. It holds a Virtual International Authority File (Viaf) ID of 154122553, linking it to international library networks. In the French academic system, it is identified by the Idref ID 059546859, with a specific reference record (P248: Q54919) dated July 6, 2022. Additionally, the Yale University Library system catalogs the group under the Yale Lux ID group/d20f633a-7b26-4016-8871-df241eae7bd7. These identifiers ensure the agency is correctly distinguished in scholarly and archival research.

### Functional Mandate and Output
The primary output of the United States Coast Survey was the production of accurate charts of the coastlines of the United States. This function was critical for the safety of maritime navigation and the efficiency of trade. The agency's work involved the systematic surveying of coastal waters, the measurement of depths, and the mapping of hazards. By providing these charts, the agency solved the problem of unreliable or non-existent navigational data for U.S. waters. Its legacy is defined by the transition of this data to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, which continued the work of mapping and geodesy.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File