|Indiana Wiki Topics|
|Local Research Resources|
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 and man-made features, such as creeks, hills, roads, cemeteries, and churches.
Plat and land ownership maps and other types of maps are described in United States Maps. Many maps are in published atlases.
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.
Two books with maps showing boundary changes in Indiana are:
Long, John H., ed. Indiana: Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, Simon and Schuster Macmillan, 1996. FHL book 977.2 E3s The counties are in alphabetical order. This book includes territorial and state outline maps for 1800, 1807, 1810, 1815, 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1850, 1853, 1860, 1866, and 1870.
Long, John H., ed. Historical Atlas and Chronology of County Boundaries, 1788–1980. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1984. FHL book 973 E7hL; fiche 6051426–430 Volume 2 contains Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio on FHL fiche 6051427 (set of 6 fiche), with maps showing when and where each county’s boundaries were changed.
Indiana Interactive County Boundary Map (Newberry). Type in a year and this web page will overlay the county boundaries were for that year on a modern day map.
The following are statewide atlases:
New Topographical Atlas and Gazetteer of Indiana: Comprising a Topographical View of the Several Counties of the State, Together with a Railroad Map of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; an Alphabetical Gazetteer, Giving a Concise Description and the Location of Cities, Villages, Post Offices, Railroad Stations, Landings etc. Evansville, Indiana : Unigraphic, 1975. Reprint of original published: New York : Geo. H. Adams, 1871. ((FHL|204774|item|disp=FHL film Library US/CAN Film 940201 Item 1; book 977.245 E3a}}
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana. Chicago, Illinois: Baskin, Forster, 1876. (Family History Library book Q 977.2 E3i; film 465403) This contains maps for 1876 that show township and range; county maps; town and city maps that show wards and streets; and maps of roads, railroads, rivers, and streams.
See also William Thorndale and William Dollarhide’s, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790–1920, listed inUnited States Maps.
Franklin, Charles M. Genealogical Atlas of Indiana. Indianapolis, Indiana: Heritage House, 1985. (Family History Library book 977.2 E3f) This shows county seat changes, evolution of county boundaries, and migration trails.
City Ward Maps
The Family History Library has city ward maps of Indianapolis for the years 1864, 1870, 1874, 1889, and 1898:
Ward Maps of United States Cities: Microfilm Reproduction of 232 Maps Described in Ward Maps of United States Cities. Washington DC: Library of Congress, 1975? (Family History Library film 1377700; fiche 6016655–59)
The Indiana Division of the Indiana State Library, the Indiana Historical Society, Indiana University, Ball State University, University of Notre Dame, and Indiana State University all have substantial map collections.
Indiana maps are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:
INDIANA, [COUNTY]- MAPS
INDIANA, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- MAPS
- Color Landform Atlas for Indiana from John Hopkins University
- Peabody GNIS Service for Indiana
- University of Texas at Austin: Perry Castanada Map Collection for Indiana
- Printable maps of various kinds are available from the National Atlas of the United States
- State map of Indiana showing the location of each Indiana County is on Hearthstone Legacy.