Delaware Maps

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United States

U.S. Maps

Delaware

Maps

Online Resources

• See United States Maps for more resources.
• Atlas of Historical County Boundaries at the Newberry Library
• 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
• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
• Archive.org
• Harvard University Scanned Maps
• UWM American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection
• University of California Berkeley Library
• Maps of Delaware from MapofUS.org. Includes boundary changes map.

Printed Publications

• Beers, Daniel G. Atlas of the State of Delaware. . . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Pomeroy and Beers, 1868. (FamilySearch Library fiche 6332689.)
• Newberry Library. Historical Atlas and Chronology of County Boundaries, 1788-1980. Volume 1. John H. Long, ed. Boston, Massachusetts: G.K. Hall & Company, 1984. (FamilySearch Library Ref book 973 E7hL v. 1; fiche 6051426; 3 fiche.)

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.
  

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 most extensive collections of Delaware maps are at the University of Delaware Library, the Historical Society of Delaware, and at the Wilmington Institute Free Library.

National Map Collections

Printable maps are also available from the National Atlas of the United States -- https://nationalmap.gov/small_scale/printable.html

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.

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.