Thematic and Historical Maps

Thematic maps show information about specific topics such as geology, economy, or land-use or features such as soil-types or forests. The information is usually superimposed over a base map.

Historical maps may show places as they existed in the past, or may show locations where major events occurred. Many older maps that showed contemporary information at the time they were made are now useful for historical purposes.

Online Maps

American Memory Collection, Map Collections: 1500–1999 (U.S. Library of Congress)

Scanned images of many U.S. maps of historical importance.

Atlapedia Online (Latimer Clarke Corporation Pty Ltd.)

Full color physical and political maps as well as key facts and statistics on countries of the world.

An Atlas of Cyberspaces (Martin Dodge)

This is an atlas of maps and graphic representations that help us visualize and comprehend nature of cyberspace and its infrastructure. This project was discontinued in 2004, so much of the data is now primarily of historical value.

Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867–1970 (UMI)
Texas maps only—Available to members of the UNT community

Includes most of the fire insurance maps of Texas produced by the Sanborn Map Company from the mid-1880s to around 1950. Includes structural information about individual buildings, as well as street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers. Other features shown include pipelines, railroads, wells, dumps, and heavy machinery.

Flood Maps (FEMA)

Download a current or historical Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for your area. Also includes links to community risk maps, hurricane maps, and disaster maps.

Historic World Maps (About.com)

The best online historic and old maps from around the world.

Historical Maps (Perry-Castañeda Library)

Scanned images of historical maps of every region of the world. Includes links to other Web sites that have historical maps.

Images of Early Maps on the Web (Tony Campbell)

Links to thousands of sites that provide images of early maps. Updated every two months.

MapMachine (National Geographic Society)

This interactive site dynamically generates customized maps on a variety of themes.

A Medieval Atlas (About.com)

Maps both antique and recent depicting Europe and other areas during the Middle Ages. Indexed by region, place name, time period, and topic.

Visual Collections: Cartography (Cartography Associates)

Links to selected collections of historical map images available on the Web.

World Map of Time Zones with Current Time (worldtimezone.com)

Current time around the world for business and world travel. Includes information for countries and territories observing Daylight Saving Time and Summer Time. Time zone abbreviations around the globe and detailed time zone maps of the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, Middle East, Oceania, and Russia.

Maps at UNT

To identify thematic and historical maps and atlases in the general collection, search the UNT Library Catalog by subject or keyword.

The UNT Libraries Government Documents Department has many thematic and historical maps, several of which are suitable for photocopying. Most of our thematic and historical maps are not indexed in the Library Catalog. Please ask at the Government Documents Service Desk for assistance.

Other thematic and historical maps are available in the Rare Book and Texana Collections and in the UNT Archives.

Shepherd's Historical Atlas (William R. Shepherd)
Available in Government Documents Reserve under Call Number G1030 .S4

A classic, standard reference filled with beautiful engraved color maps that show regions of the world as they existed at various points in history. The 1911 edition and 1923 edition are available online from the University of Texas.

Historical Atlas of Texas (University of Oklahoma Press)
Located in Documents Reserve on Willis Third Floor, Call Number F386 .S86 1988

This atlas features a series of one-page essays on historical topics, with a corresponding map on the page facing each essay. Some essays deal with natural resources that have affected the state's history; others deal with miscellaneous topics such as cattle drives, politics, ethnic groups, exploration and settlement, and various wars.

Historical Maps on File (Facts on File)
Located in Documents Reserve on Willis Third Floor, Call Number G1030 .M37 1984

This looseleaf set contains maps showing many historical periods and themes. The simple line drawings are designed to be easily photocopied on 8 1/2" x 11" paper.