Virginia Gazetteer HELP with Queries

When searching a maximum of seven keywords can be entered, not counting the words "AND" or "and". When no "Feature Name" is specified, all feature names matching "Feature Type" and/or "County Name" and/or "Quadrangle Name" will be returned.

Below are some query examples.

Default
Searching using the Default option will return any record in which a specified string or strings occur. This string may exist as a single word OR part of a word. This is the broadest type of search and will return the most hits.

EXAMPLE 1:

Searched for: jefferson

Number of Results Returned: 69

Sample Results:

  • Jefferson(a populated place in Powhatan County)
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (a school in Louisa County)
  • Jeffersonton (a populated place in Culpeper)
EXAMPLE 2:

Searched for: church james

Number of Results Returned: 46

Sample Results:

  • Jamestown Church (a church in Prince Edward County)
  • Saint James Methodist Church (a church in Franklin County)
Keyword
Searching using the Keyword option will return any record in which a specified string or strings occur. The keywords may be entered in any order. Unlike the Default search, in this query the string may exist ONLY as a single and complete word. This option will usually return fewer records then the Default search.

EXAMPLE 1:

Searched for: jefferson

Number of Results Returned: 63

Sample Results:

  • Jefferson(a populated place in Powhatan County)
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (a school in Louisa County)
  • Jefferson Manor (a populated place in Fairfax County)
EXAMPLE 2:

Searched for: church james

Number of Results Returned: 44

Sample Results:

  • Saint James Methodist Church (a church in Franklin County)
Begins With
Searching using the Begins With option will return any record in which a specified string occurs at the beginning of a word or phrase. This string may exist as a single word OR part of a word. Using the example from above, when one queries the string "jefferson", 56 records are returned.

Searched for: jefferson

Number of Results Returned: 56

Sample Results:

  • Jefferson (a populated place in Powhatan County)
  • Jefferson Manor (a populated place in Fairfax County)
  • Jeffersonton (a populated place in Culpeper)
Exact Feature Name
Searching using the Exact Feature Name option will return only those records which match EXACTLY the string being queried. Therefore, one must know the precise name of the feature (including feature type if that occurs in the name, such as 'church' or 'school'). Using the example from above, when one queries the string "jefferson" using this method, only 1 record is returned.

Searched for: jefferson

Number of Results Returned: 1

Sample Results:

  • Jefferson (a populated place in Powhatan County)