Colorado Maps

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United States

U.S. Maps

Colorado

Maps

Online Resources

• See United States Maps for more resources.
• Geographical Names Information System
• David Rumsey Historical Maps Collection
• Old Maps Online Collection
• Library of Congress Maps Collection
• Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library
• Maps of Colorado, Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas
• Map Library - University of Colorado at Boulder
• Historical Maps of Colorado - University of Alabama Map Library
• Colorado State and County Maps - County Boundary Maps and Old Atlases Maps
  
• Archive.org
• Harvard University Scanned Maps
• Base Map of Colorado (Univ of Texas) - Nice basic map showing Counties of Colorado
• County Outline Map of Colorado (Univ of Texas) - Map Showing only County Boundaries
• UWM American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection
• University of California Berkeley Library

Types of Maps

• See Maps for more information.

Different types of maps help you in different ways, for example:

• Historical atlases describe the growth and development of countries, showing boundaries, migration routes, settlement patterns, military campaigns, and other historical information.
  
• Road atlases are useful because of the detail they provide.
  
• Other types of maps include: parish maps, state maps, tourist maps, topographical maps, and air navigation maps.
• City maps are extremely helpful when researching in large cities.
  

To learn more about different types of maps, go to the general Maps Record Page.

Historical Maps Collections

Historical map collections are helpful because they can show you the geography of your ancestor's residence at or around the time they lived there. The following collections are helpful:

• The largest collection of maps in Colorado is in the map library of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
• A specialized map collection for Colorado and the southern Rocky Mountain area is in Fountain Valley School's Science Department at Colorado Springs.
• The Denver Public Libraryand the Colorado Historical Society also collect maps and atlases.
• The Colorado Division of State Archives and Public Recordshas the incorporation filings and original plats for most towns.
• United States Census Bureau State and County Map. This map will allow you to zoom in on any state or county in the United States and read the names of all of the neighboring counties.

FamilySearch Library

• The FamilySearch Library has a small collection of maps for Colorado and early western territories, including a set of topographical maps for the state.
• The library also has city ward maps of Denver for the year 1874 (FS Library film 1377700; fiche 6016642).
• A series of maps showing changes of county boundaries between 1861 and 1913 is in Colorado Maps (n.p.; FamilySearch Library book 978.8 E7cm).

Strategy

Maps must be used carefully for several reasons: Several types of maps are useful for genealogists. Some give historical background of the area or show migration routes such as roads, rivers, and railroads. Topographical maps show physical features, such as creeks and hills, and man-made features, such as roads, cemeteries, and churches. Plat and land ownership maps and other types of maps are described in United States Maps.

• There are often several places with the same name. You may want to use a Gazetteer to help you.
  
• The spelling and even names of some towns may have changed since your ancestor lived there.
  
• Boundaries changed over time. Use historical maps to understand boundary changes.