GeoNames Forum

Hello,

I wanted to ask how reliable is a geonameID returned by the API or obtained from a dump.

Do they change?
Is it possible, for example, that an ADM2 entry can change ID if any of its data changes?

I usually work with GeoNames data (which is great!) but I'm starting to move to hosted information rather than smashing the API to get the latest information.

I mainly use ADM1, ADM2 and cities names, so that rarely changes, but if I search by coordinates or text using the API I would like the IDs to match the local ones I fetched during seeding phase.

Thanks

the geonameid is a permanentid for a feature. It will never change.
If adm2 are merged or split new adm2 may be generated, depending on the extend of the change. If two adm2 merge and the merged adm2 has a different name and national code a new feature will be created. The others will be ADM2H.

Best Regards

Marc