Wikipedia:Notability (local interests)/failed

A local interest is a subject that is likely only to be known by and only to be of interest to those within a limited geographical area, such as a city, town, village, metropolitan area, or other similar localized region. Articles on local interests are perfectly acceptable for inclusion on Wikipedia, provided they meet Wikipedia's general notability guidelines. Sources from local papers and other materials found within the city or town can be used, and may even be exclusively used to establish notability.

The only exceptions are various run-of-the-mill subjects for which thousands exist in each city and town, or those for which the single version that exists in that city or town is identical to every other, and if an article were to be included on each one, there would be more articles on these than there are total articles on Wikipedia today. Creating an article on such a subject is not totally forbidden. But if such an article is created, sources other than those that commonly found for each and every one of them would be required.

Definition of local

This page provides guidelines clarifying whether or not a topic is notable, particularly addressing concerns of what types of sources qualify as reliable sources independent of the subject.

The definition of a "local," thereby requiring sources from outside the region, depends on the context. A small town such as Big Flat, Arkansas, USA is clearly local. A major metropolitan area or a collection of adjacent cities or towns, such as the New York metropolitan area, is generally considered "local." There are many topics pertaining to regions like this in which the only sources can only be found locally. Meanwhile, larger regions with cities spaced by uninhabited or minimally inhabited areas, such as the Midwestern United States, are clearly not local regions.

The numerical population of an area has no meaning in terms of defining an area as local or not. No major city gains a special status as being beyond local due to having a very high population, and larger regions that go beyond being a city or town are not brought down to being "local" because their overall population is extremely low.

Commonly applicable guidelines

The following guidelines are commonly applicable for some local interests, and may be at issue:

• WP:NTEMP - Notability is not temporary
• WP:NOT#NEWS - Wikipedia is not news
• WP:N/CA - Notability (criminal acts)

Inclusion

Articles on the following may be created:

• All cities and towns themselves meeting WP:N are entitled to articles.
• The past and present mayors of a city or town, if they meet WP:N guidelines, are entitled to articles.

Additional requirements

For certain local subjects, since so many exist in every city and town, or even when one exists in every city and town, sources must describe the subject directly rather than describing the subject together with many others just like it. Examples are:

Streets

In every large city, there are thousands of streets. There are several published maps of each city that show in detail every street. But the mere fact that multiple street maps show that street does not make it notable. The street may also gain occasional mention when a news event, such as a crime, occurs on the street. But this, likewise, does not convey notability. Streets are notable if they are mentioned in sources providing more than the rudimentary information about the streets, such as their history. Google Books can be a useful source of this information. Books that tell substantial information about a street, even if just part of a book, are valid toward meeting this criteria. However, reports to the commission, which are found on Google Books, but often mention every street within a city, are not valid for establishing notability. Still, they may be used to verify information once notability has been established.

Postal codes

Postal codes are generally not notable. However, they may be created as redirects to the city, town, or neighborhood they represent, provided that it be the most accurate location they describe. Since many of them are just a number, they should be disambiguated appropriately.

People, businesses, organizations

People, groups of people who are known locally and businesses and organizations that cater only to the local population are notable if there are multiple published sources (such as news articles) exclusively about the subject. A published newspaper that describes the person or business just as one of many subjects pertaining to a topic (such as an article on a city council describing many council people, or an article on restaurants within a town square) does not make a subject notable for a standalone article. Additionally, multiple sources must be used, so multiple articles from the same newspaper do not establish notability. Also, notability is not temporary mention, so mention, even in multiple sources, for a limited period of time does not render the subject notable.

Those who have received coverage for having committed or being victimized by crime are held by the guidelines of Notability (criminal acts).

Buildings and structures

Buildings and structures are notable if they are mentioned in multiple sources on the building or structure itself. These sources must provide information on the subject and not just provide trivial mention of it.

Government agencies

There are many types of government agencies that are found in most jurisdictions, such as a police department, fire department, library system, and one or more post offices. Generally, these should be described within the article on the jurisdiction they represent. But these are notable for standalone articles if they are mentioned in multiple sources on the agency itself. Though many will be routinely mentioned in the local news, such mention in news articles primarily pertaining to another subject does not render them notable.

Subjects with non-local sources

A local interest is also considered to be notable for inclusion if it is sourced by a minimum of two (2) separate non-local sources. Once the minimum two sources are provided, there is no limit to the number of local sources that can be used to verify any other information. Lacking two non-local sources does not automatically make the subject not notable.

A source is considered to be "non-local" if it is independent of the local region, that is, if it is marketed, broadcast, or otherwise made readily available to those from outside the city or town and its vicinity. Even if the source bears the name of the locality (e.g. The New York Times), if it is viewed to be of interest to those outside the area, it is considered non-local.

Television and radio broadcasts can only be reached within the localized region, and newspapers that are only delivered to those within such a region, are considered to be local sources. Though the information contained within them is often available by accessing their web sites, which can be done from anywhere, they are still considered local.

Newspapers delivered to multiple regions, such as USA Today, are considered to be non-local, and may be used to establish notability. Media networks that broadcast to multiple regions, such as CNN, are likewise considered to be non-local.

Published books (other than maps, guides, and directories) with an ISBN are considered to be non-local sources, even if they are marketed only within the local region.

For this purpose, directories, such as maps and travel guides, even if published and marketed to those outside the city, are not considered non-local and do not meet inclusion criteria. Also, trivial mention in a non-notable news event does not qualify. Reports to the commission of a city, though published on Google Books, are not valid for establishing notability since they have the "directory" status.

Creating articles on local interests

Most likely, an article on a local interest will be created by someone who lives in the area, has previously lived there, or has spent a significant amount of time there. This is perfectly acceptable, and in fact encouraged, provided that those creating these articles are aware of these guidelines.

If the notability of an existing local interest article is questioned

1. Start out by placing the {{local}} tag on the article. Leave it there for a while.
2. If no improvement is made to show notability beyond the local area, suggest the article be merged
3. If after a while, still no improvement is made, complete the merge

It is best to avoid proposing the article for deletion unless it is completely not notable even to have mention within another article.

See also

• Wikipedia:Geographic imbalance