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:*'''[https://collections.leventhalmap.org/ Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library]''' | :*'''[https://collections.leventhalmap.org/ Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library]''' | ||
:*'''[https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection]''' | :*'''[https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection]''' | ||
==Maps By Country== | |||
*[[:Category:Maps|List of Country Map Wiki articles]] | |||
== How can maps help me research my family? == | == How can maps help me research my family? == | ||
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=== Census maps === | === Census maps === | ||
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. They aren't always available online but you can sometimes find them by searching the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog | 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. They aren't always available online but you can sometimes find them by searching the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog]. | ||
=== Chamber of Commerce maps === | === Chamber of Commerce maps === | ||
Chamber of Commerce maps show streets, government offices, courthouses, libraries, businesses, museum archives, and important landmarks. You can usually obtain them for free from the city/town's chamber of commerce or find them at the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog | Chamber of Commerce maps show streets, government offices, courthouses, libraries, businesses, museum archives, and important landmarks. You can usually obtain them for free from the city/town's chamber of commerce or find them at the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog]. | ||
=== City and town maps === | === City and town maps === | ||
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=== Railroad maps === | === Railroad maps === | ||
These 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.<br> | |||
U.S Railroad Maps: https://www.loc.gov/collections/railroad-maps-1828-to-1900/about-this-collection/<br> | |||
European Transportation Maps of the 19th Century:https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/maps/eurotransport/ | |||
=== Topographic or geologic maps === | === Topographic or geologic maps === | ||
These maps show terrain, natural resources (forests, mining resources), and features that affected travel (rivers, rapids, canals, mountains, mountain passes, canyons). These maps can be helpful for family history research because geological features influenced how your ancestors lived. For example, your family may have only been two miles away from one county courthouse but traveled seven miles to another courthouse. This may be because it was easier to travel to without having to cross waterways or mountainous terrain. | |||
== Helpful Terminology == | == Helpful Terminology == | ||
*'''Boundary change maps''' show shifts in borders of townships, counties, states and territories over time. | *'''Boundary change maps''' show shifts in borders of townships, counties, states and territories over time. | ||
*'''City and town locator maps''' plot a town | *'''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. | ||
*'''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> | *'''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> | ||
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