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Genealogy: Historical county maps

This guide is highlights the most important indexes, tools, and resources for those doing genealogical research and family history. Although the Library does not support Genealogy, we do collect many resources for researching family histories.

Historical County Maps

Maps created in a particular year a genealogist has interest in is worth its weight in gold. The Evans Map Room has maps drawn at various time periods in United States history.

However, we also have software which allows a user to create a historical county map of any of the contiguous states. You can pick a year and see a map of the state as it looked during that year. This is particular helpful because counties changed their boundaries and their names. You can also plot cities and towns to make their importance more relevant to readers of your genealogies.

Atlas of Historical County Boundaries from the Newberry Library

Acknowledgement

(Text and resources taken from the print edition of: Jaccaud, Robert D, comp. Passages to Family History: A Guide to Genealogical Research in the Dartmouth College Library. Rev. ed. Hanover: Dartmouth College Library, 1994).