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Maps are available from the National Archives, the Library of Congress, county agencies, and other libraries and historical societies.  
Maps are available from the National Archives, the Library of Congress, county agencies, and other libraries and historical societies.  


== Types of maps and the genealogical problems they solve ==
== Genealogical information shown on various types of maps ==


The following information is from ''More than One Kind of Map'', by George G Morgan, Orem, Utah: Ancestry.com, 08 September 2000 [http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299 http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299]  
To select the right kind of map to solve a genealogical problem, it is helpful to know what kinds of information each type of map displays.<ref>Most of the information from this section is taken from ''More than One Kind of Map'', by George G Morgan,&amp;nbsp;Orem,&amp;nbsp;Utah: Ancestry.com,&amp;nbsp;08 September 2000&amp;nbsp;[http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299 http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299]</ref>


'''County, Parish, or Province maps '''show roads, cemeteries, landmarks, and physical features.
*'''County, Parish, or Province maps '''show roads, cemeteries, landmarks, local boundaries, and physical features.  
*'''Chamber of commerce maps''', which can usually be obtained for free from&nbsp;city&nbsp;and town chambers of commerce,&nbsp;show streets,&nbsp;government offices, courthouses, libraries, businesses, museum archives, and important landmarks.&nbsp;
*'''City and town&nbsp;maps''' show detailed street information, addresses, rail and mass transit routes, and landmarks.
*'''City plans''' often demystify the renaming of streets, parks, neighborhoods, and other features.
*'''Sanborn insurance maps''' of 12,000 cities and towns yield street names and specific properties and addresses starting in 1867. Using these with city directories can help locate urban ancestors in a given year.
*'''Census maps'''. Spelling errors by census takers often make ancestors hard to find. If you know your ancestor's address (or general area of residence in rural areas), census maps showing enumeration district boundaries can indicate where in the census rolls to search for the ancestor.&nbsp;
*'''Land maps (cadastral maps) and plat books''' show boundaries of land plots, and usually the owners' names.
*'''Topographic or geologic maps''' show&nbsp;terrain, natural resources (forests, mining resources), and features that affected travel (rivers, rapids, canals,&nbsp;mountains, mountain passes,&nbsp;canyons).
*'''Military maps''' show extreme detail regarding geographical features, terrain, landmarks, natural resources, place names, and landmarks.&nbsp;
*'''Railroad maps''' indicate preferred routes of travel during an era where the routes changed from one year to the next. These also aid in tracking&nbsp;the possible whereabouts of railroad&nbsp;employees since&nbsp;many railroads merged or changed names.&nbsp;


'''Chamber of commerce maps''', which can usually be obtained for free from&nbsp;city&nbsp;and town chambers of commerce,&nbsp;show streets,&nbsp;government offices, courthouses, libraries, businesses, museum archives, and important landmarks.&nbsp;
=== Atlases ===
 
'''City and town&nbsp;maps''' show detailed street information, addresses, rail and mass transit routes, and landmarks.
 
'''City plans''' often demystify the renaming of streets, parks, neighborhoods, and other features.
 
'''Sanborn insurance maps''' of 12,000 cities and towns yield street names and specific properties and addresses starting in 1867. Using these with city directories can help locate urban ancestors in a given year.
 
'''Census maps'''. Spelling errors by census takers often make ancestors hard to find. If you know your ancestor's address (or general area of residence in rural areas), census maps showing enumeration district boundaries can indicate where in the census rolls to search for the ancestor.&nbsp;
 
'''Land maps (cadastral maps) and plat books''' show boundaries of land plots, and usually the owners' names.
 
'''Topographic or geologic maps''' show&nbsp;terrain, natural resources (forests, mining resources), and features that affected travel (rivers, rapids, canals,&nbsp;mountains, mountain passes,&nbsp;canyons).
 
'''Military maps''' show extreme detail regarding geographical features, terrain, landmarks, natural resources, place names, and landmarks.&nbsp;
 
'''Railroad maps''' indicate preferred routes of travel during an era where the routes changed from one year to the next. These also aid in tracking&nbsp;the possible whereabouts of railroad&nbsp;employees since&nbsp;many railroads merged or changed names.&nbsp;
 
 
 
=== Atlases ===


An atlas is a bound collection of maps. It often contains historical and geographical information for a county or state. Collections of maps and atlases are available at numerous libraries and historical societies. Many county atlases that show the names of landowners and are usually based on county plat maps (see the&nbsp;"[[United States Land and Property|Land and Property]]") have been published.  
An atlas is a bound collection of maps. It often contains historical and geographical information for a county or state. Collections of maps and atlases are available at numerous libraries and historical societies. Many county atlases that show the names of landowners and are usually based on county plat maps (see the&nbsp;"[[United States Land and Property|Land and Property]]") have been published.  
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*To see how the United States frontiers grew into formal territory, go to a printable map of [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/territorialacquisition.html United States territorial acquisitions].
*To see how the United States frontiers grew into formal territory, go to a printable map of [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/territorialacquisition.html United States territorial acquisitions].


=== Military Maps ===
=== Military Maps ===


*The [http://digital-library.usma.edu/collections/maps/ USMA Library's Special Collections and Archives] has Civil War Maps, Colonial and Federal Era Maps, Maps of North America from the Colonial, Revolutionary and Federalist eras.  
*The [http://digital-library.usma.edu/collections/maps/ USMA Library's Special Collections and Archives] has Civil War Maps, Colonial and Federal Era Maps, Maps of North America from the Colonial, Revolutionary and Federalist eras.  
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The county or town offices that maintain land and property records often have plat books containing maps of property boundaries and land ownership within the county. Also see Land and Property section for information about the federal township plats. [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ Federal Land Patent Records and Associated Survey Plat Maps] has access to federal land conveyance records. A great explanation of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plat Plat Map] is found at Wikipedia.  
The county or town offices that maintain land and property records often have plat books containing maps of property boundaries and land ownership within the county. Also see Land and Property section for information about the federal township plats. [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ Federal Land Patent Records and Associated Survey Plat Maps] has access to federal land conveyance records. A great explanation of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plat Plat Map] is found at Wikipedia.  


=== State Maps ===
=== State Maps ===


The US GenWeb is a great resource for maps.  
The US GenWeb is a great resource for maps.  
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*[http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/unitedstates.html United States Maps] has maps for each of the individual states, territories and outlying areas.
*[http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/unitedstates.html United States Maps] has maps for each of the individual states, territories and outlying areas.


*[http://www.archives.gov/research/formats/cartographic.html#arc The National Archives—Cartographic Branch]<ref> '''The National Archives''' &lt;br&gt;841 South Pickett Street | Alexandria, VA 22304</ref> and the [http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/ Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress] have significant collections of a variety of maps, including land ownership, railroad, and fire insurance maps. Several catalogs and inventories of these collections are listed in the&nbsp;Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under UNITED STATES - MAPS - BIBLIOGRAPHY.
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/formats/cartographic.html#arc The National Archives—Cartographic Branch]<ref> '''The National Archives''' &amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;841 South Pickett Street | Alexandria, VA 22304</ref> and the [http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/ Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress] have significant collections of a variety of maps, including land ownership, railroad, and fire insurance maps. Several catalogs and inventories of these collections are listed in the&nbsp;Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under UNITED STATES - MAPS - BIBLIOGRAPHY.


=== Topography  ===
=== Topography  ===
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[http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/usgsmaps/usgsmaps.html Topographical maps] show physical and man-made features, such as creeks, hills, roads, cemeteries, and churches.  
[http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/usgsmaps/usgsmaps.html Topographical maps] show physical and man-made features, such as creeks, hills, roads, cemeteries, and churches.  


*The United States has been divided into sections called quadrangles by the [http://www.usgs.gov/ United States Geological Survey] <ref>'''U.S. Department of Interior''' &lt;br&gt;Geological Survey &lt;br&gt;1200 South Eads Street | Arlington, VA 22202</ref>. The USGS has produced highly detailed topographical maps showing physical and manmade features in each quadrangle. These maps are available at most university libraries<ref>United States. Geological Survey. ''Topographic Maps of the United States.'' Scale varies. Suitland, Maryland: National Archives and Records Service, 1976-. (FHL films 1433631-921.) </ref>
*The United States has been divided into sections called quadrangles by the [http://www.usgs.gov/ United States Geological Survey] <ref>'''U.S. Department of Interior''' &amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;Geological Survey &amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;1200 South Eads Street | Arlington, VA 22202</ref>. The USGS has produced highly detailed topographical maps showing physical and manmade features in each quadrangle. These maps are available at most university libraries<ref>United States. Geological Survey. ''Topographic Maps of the United States.'' Scale varies. Suitland, Maryland: National Archives and Records Service, 1976-. (FHL films 1433631-921.) </ref>  
*[http://www.mass.gov/mgis/im_quad.htm Topographic Quadrangles] of the United States maps were originally published from 1884 to 1983. The maps are arranged by the name of the quadrangle within each state. States are not in alphabetical order. <ref>Moffat, Riley Moore. ''Map Index to Topographic Quadrangles of the United States, 1882-1940''. Occasional paper: Western Association of Map Libraries, number 10. Santa Cruz, California: Western Association of Map Libraries, 1986. (FHL Ref book 973 E72m.)</ref> Use a state map to find the quadrangle number. Then find the number in the state's map list to learn the name of the quadrangle.  
*[http://www.mass.gov/mgis/im_quad.htm Topographic Quadrangles] of the United States maps were originally published from 1884 to 1983. The maps are arranged by the name of the quadrangle within each state. States are not in alphabetical order. <ref>Moffat, Riley Moore. ''Map Index to Topographic Quadrangles of the United States, 1882-1940''. Occasional paper: Western Association of Map Libraries, number 10. Santa Cruz, California: Western Association of Map Libraries, 1986. (FHL Ref book 973 E72m.)</ref> Use a state map to find the quadrangle number. Then find the number in the state's map list to learn the name of the quadrangle.  
*You can purchase copies of topographical maps from the [http://www.doi.gov/ U.S. Department of the Interior] <ref>'''U.S. Department of the Interior'''&lt;br&gt;Geological Survey&lt;br&gt;507 National Center | Reston, VA 20192&lt;br&gt;Telephone: 800-USA-MAPS (toll free)&lt;br&gt;Telephone: 703-648-6045 (local) </ref>
*You can purchase copies of topographical maps from the [http://www.doi.gov/ U.S. Department of the Interior] <ref>'''U.S. Department of the Interior'''&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;Geological Survey&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;507 National Center | Reston, VA 20192&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;Telephone: 800-USA-MAPS (toll free)&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;Telephone: 703-648-6045 (local) </ref>


=== Research helps  ===
=== Research helps  ===
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*The ''The Map Catalog'' has information about maps and how to obtain them.<ref>Madower, Joel, editor. ''The Map Catalog''. New York, New York: Vintage Books, 1986. (FHL book 973 E73ma.)</ref>
*The ''The Map Catalog'' has information about maps and how to obtain them.<ref>Madower, Joel, editor. ''The Map Catalog''. New York, New York: Vintage Books, 1986. (FHL book 973 E73ma.)</ref>


=== Reference ===
=== Reference ===


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