Overview

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States federal government that produces objective, publicly available information about the nation's natural environment. Established by Congress in 1879, the USGS operates under the Department of the Interior and is headquartered in Reston, Virginia. As a fact‑finding research organization, the USGS conducts scientific studies but does not exercise regulatory authority.

Core disciplines and mission areas

USGS science is organized around four traditional disciplines and several crosscutting mission areas. The four disciplines are biology, geography, geology and hydrology, each supporting research, monitoring and data synthesis.

  • Major mission areas include climate and land-use change, core science systems, ecosystems, energy and minerals, environmental health, natural hazards, and water.
  • These topics guide applied research, long‑term monitoring and the development of tools used by resource managers, emergency responders and the public.

History and organization

The USGS was created to provide reliable information about the nation’s geology and resources. Over time it expanded into biological, hydrological and geographic mapping and now combines field studies, laboratory research and remote sensing. Administratively, the agency is divided into a headquarters staff, six regional units, and topic‑focused programs and science centers distributed across the country.

Products, programs and examples

The agency delivers a wide array of publicly accessible products used by scientists, planners and citizens. Well‑known outputs include topographic mapping and The National Map, streamflow and water-quality data from the National Water Information System, and earthquake monitoring through the Earthquake Hazards Program and ShakeMap products. USGS also provides mineral and energy resource assessments, biological surveys and landscape‑scale datasets that inform conservation and land management decisions.

Uses, partnerships and impact

USGS data support hazard preparedness, infrastructure planning, environmental protection and scientific research. The agency collaborates with federal, state, tribal and local partners, and with academic and international institutions, to coordinate monitoring networks and share geospatial information. Open access to USGS databases and maps helps communities prepare for floods, earthquakes and other natural threats and supports long‑term resource stewardship.

Notable facts and distinctions

Unlike regulatory agencies, the USGS is charged with observation, analysis and dissemination of scientific information. Its combination of field studies, remote sensing and modeling—applied across the disciplines of landscape, biology, geography, geology and hydrology—makes it a central source of baseline data about the physical and biological systems of the United States.

For more information and data portals, see the agency pages and program descriptions provided by official USGS resources and partner agencies. Additional context and specific tools are available through national and regional USGS publications and web services.