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→Types of Maps and Helpful Terminology
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[[:Category:Maps by country|Maps by country]] | [[:Category:Maps by country|Maps by country]] | ||
== Types of Maps | == 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, 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]</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, 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]</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. | ||
*''' | *'''Historical atlases | ||
*'''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. | *'''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. | ||
*'''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. | ||
*'''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 ownership (cadastral) maps and plat books''' show boundaries of land plots, and usually the owners' names. | *'''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. | ||
*'''Topographic or geologic maps''' show terrain, natural resources (forests, mining resources), and features that affected travel (rivers, rapids, canals, mountains, mountain passes, canyons). | *'''Topographic or geologic maps''' show terrain, natural resources (forests, mining resources), and features that affected travel (rivers, rapids, canals, mountains, mountain passes, canyons). | ||
== Helpful Terminology == | |||
*'''Boundary change maps''' show shifts in borders of townships, counties, states and territories over time. | |||
*'''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. | |||
*'''Gazetteer''' is a geographical dictionary or directory used in conjunction with a map or atlas. It typically contains information concerning the geographical makeup, social statistics and physical features of a country, region, or continent.<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Gazetteer," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazetteer, accessed 25 April 2018.</ref> | |||
*'''Historical Geographies''' focus on how geographic phenomena has changed over type. Although historical geographies tend to focus on human impact in an area, it can also include ecological, geological, and environmental changes as well.<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Historical geography," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_geography, accessed 25 April 2018.</ref> | |||
*'''Local histories''' focus on the history of a geographic area and a local community. It usually incorporates cultural and social aspects of a place's history.<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Local history," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_history, accessed 25 April 2018.</ref> | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
[[Category:Maps]] | [[Category:Maps]] | ||