The county has always been used as the basic Federal census unit. Genealogical research in the census, therefore, begins with identifying the correct county jurisdictions. Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses 1790–1920 shows county outline maps across the United States at ten-year intervals. Effectively, a map of each state’s county lines at the time [...]

You can literally put your family history on the map using Family Atlas. Created by the folks at RootsMagic, Family Atlas is a fun way to graphically show your family’s history. By easily importing your genealogy from RootsMagic, Legacy, Family Tree Maker, or by GEDCOM file, you can create an interactive world map of your [...]

German maps are incredibly popular and extremely important to German research. During the middle ages and on up to the First World War a modest portion of western-central Europe was a land of ever changing boundaries. In the heart of this area were the German people. At different times, different rulers and governments ruled the [...]

The U.S. Geological Survey and the Association of American State Geologists (AASG) partner to launch a redesigned database of standardized geoscience information, the National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB). In concert with the inaugural, multi-agency Geologic Map Day, the USGS and AASG are pleased to release a significantly updated infrastructure and a new “look” to the [...]

Over the past few months I have reviewed a series of Atlases produced by Carrie Eldridge. These unique map books show the migration and population spread of early colonists and their descendant from the colonial days through the California Gold Rush years. Each has focuses on trail and settlements. Now, I can present one more [...]

In past weeks I have reviewed a number of atlases describing early trails and pathways that become the infrastructure of early America. Here are the atlases I have reviewed: An Atlas of Northern Trails Westward From New England An Atlas of Appalachian Trails to the Ohio River An Atlas of Southern Trails to the Mississippi [...]

The following article was written by my good friend, William Dollarhide. Enjoy… Dollarhide’s Rule No. 37: The Post Office shown on the census page where your ancestors are listed is for a town which appears on no known map ever published. Genealogical researchers are name collectors. We collect names of people and names of places. [...]

German Maps & Facts For Genealogy is a book by by Wendy Uncapher & Linda Herrick. This book points out the uniqueness of Germany in over 100 maps including detailed historic maps of kingdoms, duchies, and principalities, to hand-rendered maps showing the religion of the states, location of major rivers, and what was included in [...]

I don’t know why but, ever since I was a child I have loved maps. If pushed, I could probably psychoanalyze the reason maps interest me so; however, I prefer to stay naive on the issue and simply continue to enjoy maps as though they are works of art. It may just be this love [...]

Many years have passed since North America has seen any of its national boundaries change. Most of the World has proven less stable of recent decades. Even Europe has seen its share of change. World history is wroth with the ebb and flow of political and military boundaries. During the middle ages and on up [...]

Google Maps for Android has made wayfinding inside twenty-two U.S.A. museums a lot easier. With indoor maps and walking directions for U.S.A. museums now available on your Android phone or tablet, you can easily plan your route from exhibit to exhibit, identifying points of interest along the way, including between floors. On Juy 10, Google [...]

Religion, politics, and economics along with, in some cases, and healthy sense of discovery and exploration drove people to the New World. Those same factors drove people, from the earliest colonial days, to move ever westward. Standing between the early American colonies and the majority of the continent were the Appalachians. The entire mountainous region [...]

Large maps are fun and useful, if just for the details they can show. The Genealogical County Map is a large format, 27″ by 39″, map of the United States. This map shows rivers, lakes, state capitals and every county by name. Maybe its the genealogical geek in me, but an over-sized map of state [...]

Map Guide to German Parish Registers: Kingdom of Bavaria II – Niederbayern II is the seventh of ten volumes covering Bavaria. This is also volume 20 of the now 41 total volumes in the Map Guide to German Parish Registers series. This map guide provides an historical background to the region, including a complete list of [...]

Standing between many of the early American colonies and the majority of the continent were the Appalachians. The entire mountainous region was thick with tree and undergrowth, hillsides and rivers, breached only by the game trails of buffalo and game. These buffalo trails were used by both the Indians and early settlers alike. Settlers like [...]