USGS Historic Topo Maps

The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with individual states, surveyed a large portion of the United States in the early part of the 20th Century. From these surveys, a set of 15 minute topographic quadrangles were published (and reprinted but in most cases not updated.)

The maps are available in various conditions at some large public and university libraries that are federal repositories. Because these maps are now hard to find, volunteers have begun scanning them and making them available on the web.

MapTech has offered to host maps for the entire United States at historical.maptech.com as 200dpi jpegs. This volunteer project has completed the Northeastern United States (including Ohio) and is working its way south and west.

This project was originally hosted on the University of New Hampshire Diamond Library web site at docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm. New England and New York maps are still available there in jpeg format.

Northeast Ohio maps are on this web site in DjVu format at railsandtrails.com/usgs1900/oh/. The 1950's era 7.5 minute topos are also available.

48 large scale topographic maps of Cincinnati in 1912 are available in MrSID format at the Office of Coast Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Historic Maps and Navigation Charts Site. Search the image catalog for Cincinnati.

David Rumsey's online historic map collection includes a few topographic maps at www.davidrumsey.com

The Perry-Castañeda Library maintains a list of Historic Map web sites at www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/hist_sites.html
and online maps of some U.S. Cities at www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historic_us_cities.html

California maps (San Francisco Area) are on the UC Berkeley Library web site at sunsite.berkeley.edu/histopo/

A list of California maps (none online) is at www.lapl.org/guides/ca-topos.html

Nevada and selected maps from surrounding states at keck.library.unr.edu/data/historic_topos/detail_list.htm

Sample topographic maps of Buffalo, NY at ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/sel/collections/maps/maps/histmapbuff.html

The 1933 Report on the Ohio Topographic Survey included information on how the survey was completed. A scan of this section is available in DjVu format.

page updated 01/05/03


USGS 1900 Era Topographic Maps
	The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with individual states, surveyed a large portion of the United States in the early part of the 20th Century. From these surveys, a set of 15 minute topographic quadrangles were published (and reprinted but in most cases not updated.) The maps are available in various conditions at some large public and university libraries that are federal repositories. Because these maps are now hard to find, volunteers have begun scanning them and making them available on the web. MapTech has offered to host maps for the entire United States at historical.maptech.com as 200dpi jpegs. This volunteer project has completed the Northeastern United States (including Ohio) and is working its way south and west. This project was originally hosted on the University of New Hampshire Diamond Library web site at docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm. New England and New York maps are still available there in jpeg format. Northeast Ohio maps are on this web site in DjVu format at railsandtrails.com/usgs1900/oh/. The 1950's era 7.5 minute topos are also available. 48 large scale topographic maps of Cincinnati in 1912 are available in MrSID format at the Office of Coast Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Historic Maps and Navigation Charts Site. Search the image catalog for Cincinnati. David Rumsey's online historic map collection includes a few topographic maps at www.davidrumsey.com The Perry-Castañeda Library maintains a list of Historic Map web sites at www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/hist_sites.html and online maps of some U.S. Cities at www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historic_us_cities.html California maps (San Francisco Area) are on the UC Berkeley Library web site at sunsite.berkeley.edu/histopo/ A list of California maps (none online) is at www.lapl.org/guides/ca-topos.html Nevada and selected maps from surrounding states at keck.library.unr.edu/data/historic_topos/detail_list.htm Sample topographic maps of Buffalo, NY at ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/sel/collections/maps/maps/histmapbuff.html The 1933 Report on the Ohio Topographic Survey included information on how the survey was completed. A scan of this section is available in DjVu format. page updated 01/05/03
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