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''[[Portal:United States of America|United States of America]]'' ''> United States Maps'' | ''[[Portal:United States of America|United States of America]]'' ''> United States Maps'' | ||
Maps | Maps can be used to locate the places where your ancestors lived. They identify political boundaries, names of places, geographical features, cemeteries, churches, and migration routes. Historical maps are especially useful for finding communities and political boundaries that no longer exist. | ||
== Genealogical information shown on various types of maps == | == Genealogical information shown on various types of maps == | ||
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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 and town locator maps''' plot a town and often give its coordinates so that it can be plotted in an historical atlas or map to determine the county, parish, or state in which it resided during a given year. | *'''City and town locator maps''' plot a town and often give its coordinates so that it can be plotted in an historical atlas or map to determine the county, parish, or state in which it resided during a given year. | ||
*'''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. | ||
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*[http://www.usgenweb.org/ The US GenWeb] is a great resource for maps, including [http://usgwarchives.org/maps/table2.html State and County Maps], the [http://usgwarchives.org/maps/usa/ United States Digital Map Library] and 67 maps from [http://usgwarchives.org/maps/cessions/ Indian Land Cessions in the United States]. | *[http://www.usgenweb.org/ The US GenWeb] is a great resource for maps, including [http://usgwarchives.org/maps/table2.html State and County Maps], the [http://usgwarchives.org/maps/usa/ United States Digital Map Library] and 67 maps from [http://usgwarchives.org/maps/cessions/ Indian Land Cessions in the United States]. | ||
*[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''' &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;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 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;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;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 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 [http://www.usgs.gov/ United States Geological Survey] <ref>'''U.S. Department of Interior''' &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Geological Survey &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;1200 South Eads Street | Arlington, VA 22202</ref> offers highly detailed topographical maps online showing physical and manmade features in each section of the country, or ''quadrangle''. These maps are also 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 [http://www.usgs.gov/ United States Geological Survey] <ref>'''U.S. Department of Interior''' &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Geological Survey &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;1200 South Eads Street | Arlington, VA 22202</ref> offers highly detailed topographical maps online showing physical and manmade features in each section of the country, or ''quadrangle''. These maps are also 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'''&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Geological Survey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;507 National Center | Reston, VA 20192&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Telephone: 800-USA-MAPS (toll free)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;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;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Geological Survey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;507 National Center | Reston, VA 20192&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Telephone: 800-USA-MAPS (toll free)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Telephone: 703-648-6045 (local) </ref> | ||
== Research helps == | == Research helps == | ||
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*[http://www.maphistory.info/imageus.html Images of Early Maps on the Web] (free) by Maphistory.info links to collections containing tens of thousands of historic maps online. Organized by state. | *[http://www.maphistory.info/imageus.html Images of Early Maps on the Web] (free) by Maphistory.info links to collections containing tens of thousands of historic maps online. Organized by state. | ||
*The ''Guide to U.S. Map Resources'' is an excellent inventory of the map holdings of 3,000 libraries and historical societies.<ref>Cobb, David A., compiler. ''Guide to U.S. Map Resources''. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association, 1986. (FHL book 973 E74co.)</ref> | *The ''Guide to U.S. Map Resources'' is an excellent inventory of the map holdings of 3,000 libraries and historical societies.<ref>Cobb, David A., compiler. ''Guide to U.S. Map Resources''. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association, 1986. (FHL book 973 E74co.)</ref> | ||
*''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 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 Family History Library|Family History Library]] has a small collection of loose maps of historical value, and a fine collection of printed historical atlases. These are listed in the Place Search of the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] under: | *The [[The Family History Library|Family History Library]] has a small collection of loose maps of historical value, and a fine collection of printed historical atlases. These are listed in the Place Search of the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] under: | ||