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With the help of Google, I found this on the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Question: I have heard that the use of the apostrophe "s", such as Pike's
Peak (Pikes Peak in the database) to show possession is not allowed in
geographic names, so why are there many such entries in the Geographic Names
Information System Database?
Answer:
Since its inception in 1890, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names has
discouraged the use of the possessive form-the genitive apostrophe and the
"s". The possessive form using an "s" is allowed, but the apostrophe is
almost always removed. The Board's archives contain no indication of the
reason for this policy.
However, there are many names in the GNIS database that do carry the
genitive apostrophe, because the Board chooses not to apply its policies to
some types of features. Although the legal authority of the Board includes
all named entities except Federal Buildings, certain categories-broadly
determined to be "administrative"-are best left to the organization that
administers them. Examples include schools, churches, cemeteries, hospitals,
airports, shopping centers, etc. The Board promulgates the names, but leaves
issues such as the use of the genitive or possessive apostrophe to the data
owners.
Myths attempting to explain the policy include the idea that the apostrophe
looks too much like a rock in water when printed on a map, and is therefore
a hazard, or that in the days of "stick-up type" for maps, the apostrophe
would become lost and create confusion. The probable explanation is that the
Board does not want to show possession for natural features because,
"ownership of a feature is not in and of itself a reason to name a feature
or change its name."
Since 1890, only five Board decisions have allowed the genitive apostrophe
for natural features. These are: Martha's Vineyard (1933) after an extensive
local campaign; Ike's Point in New Jersey (1944) because "it would be
unrecognizable otherwise"; John E's Pond in Rhode Island (1963) because
otherwise it would be confused as John S Pond (note the lack of the use of a
period, which is also discouraged); and Carlos Elmer's Joshua View (1995 at
the specific request of the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic
Names because, "otherwise three apparently given names in succession would
dilute the meaning," that is, Joshua refers to a stand of trees. Clark's
Mountain in Oregon (2002) was approved at the request of the Oregon Board to
correspond with the personal references of Lewis and Clark.
--Boundary_(ID_yvR647qQmXvW6GcxxAqtcw)
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>With the help of Google, I found this on the U.S. Geological
Survey website. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Question: </span></font></b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I have heard that
the use of the apostrophe “s”, such as Pike’s Peak (<st1:place
w:st="on">Pikes Peak</st1:place> in the database) to show possession is not
allowed in geographic names, so why are there many such entries in the
Geographic Names Information System Database?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Answer:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Since its inception in 1890, the U.S. Board on Geographic
Names has discouraged the use of the possessive form—the genitive
apostrophe and the “s”. The possessive form using an
“s” is allowed, but the apostrophe is almost always removed. The
Board's archives contain no indication of the reason for this policy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>However, there are many names in the GNIS database that do
carry the genitive apostrophe, because the Board chooses not to apply its
policies to some types of features. Although the legal authority of the Board
includes all named entities except Federal Buildings, certain
categories—broadly determined to be
“administrative”—are best left to the organization that
administers them. Examples include schools, churches, cemeteries, hospitals,
airports, shopping centers, etc. The Board promulgates the names, but leaves
issues such as the use of the genitive or possessive apostrophe to the data
owners.<o:p></o:p>&