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United States Maps: Difference between revisions
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== Genealogical information shown on various types of maps == | == Genealogical information shown on various types of maps == | ||
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;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;Orem,&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;Utah: Ancestry.com,&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;08 September 2000&amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;[http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299 http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299]</ref> | 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;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;Orem,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;Utah: Ancestry.com,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;08 September 2000&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;[http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299 http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Article.aspx?id=2299]</ref> | ||
*'''Atlases''' are bound collections of maps. '''Historical atlases '''are especially useful because they tend to plot historic towns and landmarks more accurately than old maps do in relation to jurisdictional boundaries and geographic features. | *'''Atlases''' are bound collections of maps. '''Historical atlases '''are especially useful because they tend to plot historic towns and landmarks more accurately than old maps do in relation to jurisdictional boundaries and geographic features. | ||
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*'''Chamber of commerce maps''', which can usually be obtained for free from city and town chambers of commerce, show streets, government offices, courthouses, libraries, businesses, museum archives, and important landmarks. | *'''Chamber of commerce maps''', which can usually be obtained for free from city and town chambers of commerce, show streets, government offices, courthouses, libraries, businesses, museum archives, and important landmarks. | ||
*'''City and town maps''' show detailed street information, addresses, rail and mass transit routes, and landmarks. | *'''City and town 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. | *'''City plans''' often demystify the renaming of streets, parks, neighborhoods, and other features. | ||
*'''County, Parish, or Province maps '''show roads, cemeteries, landmarks, local boundaries, and physical features. | *'''County, Parish, or Province maps '''show roads, cemeteries, landmarks, local boundaries, and physical features. | ||
*'''Fire insurance maps (Sanborn 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. | *'''Fire insurance maps (Sanborn 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. | ||
*'''Land | *'''Land ownership (cadastral) maps and plat books''' show boundaries of land plots, and usually the owners' names. | ||
*'''Military maps''' show extreme detail regarding geographical features, terrain, landmarks, natural resources, place names, and landmarks. | *'''Military maps''' show extreme detail regarding geographical features, terrain, landmarks, natural resources, place names, and landmarks. | ||
*'''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 the possible whereabouts of railroad employees since many railroads merged or changed names. | *'''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 the possible whereabouts of railroad employees since many railroads merged or changed names. | ||