Attention Map Nerds
August 31, 2009 11:26 AM Subscribe
Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library has an online atlas of U.S. States and how their county boundaries have changed over time. Once you have your state on the screen, type in a date and you will see the historical county borders over the current borders.
In the future they promise to have shapefiles available for downloading.
In the future they promise to have shapefiles available for downloading.
Texas has too many counties. I'd like to go back to the good old days when Bexar County went all the way to Wyoming.
posted by birdherder at 11:31 AM on August 31, 2009
posted by birdherder at 11:31 AM on August 31, 2009
Mmmmmmmm............ maps.......
and marxchivist, you are hardly alone.
posted by desjardins at 11:34 AM on August 31, 2009
and marxchivist, you are hardly alone.
posted by desjardins at 11:34 AM on August 31, 2009
Until I realized you were from NC too, I thought that "your state" was some kind of code that would give each reader their own link based on, I don't know, magic? Really interesting stuff - thanks.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 11:44 AM on August 31, 2009
posted by Sweetie Darling at 11:44 AM on August 31, 2009
Didn't realize there was such a phrase as map nerd. You can tell when a county became important when other counties stop claiming it, and it instead eats up neighboring counties.
posted by shinyshiny at 11:59 AM on August 31, 2009
posted by shinyshiny at 11:59 AM on August 31, 2009
It's a scary thing to realize that certain branches of your family tree have been in the same place for so long that they believe they've moved just because the county name changed.
posted by thivaia at 12:38 PM on August 31, 2009
posted by thivaia at 12:38 PM on August 31, 2009
Very fascinating for map and history nerds. Thanks.
posted by Roman Graves at 3:29 PM on August 31, 2009
posted by Roman Graves at 3:29 PM on August 31, 2009
Very cool. Your state is my state & my couty (Rowan) was huge in the 1700's, but I never knew how extensive it truly was.
posted by pappy at 5:24 PM on August 31, 2009
posted by pappy at 5:24 PM on August 31, 2009
Cool!
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:49 PM on August 31, 2009
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:49 PM on August 31, 2009
neat! I was able to find the exact day the county I live in was formed. (February 23, 1821 - Happy Birthday, Monroe County!)
posted by Lucinda at 6:28 AM on September 1, 2009
posted by Lucinda at 6:28 AM on September 1, 2009
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posted by marxchivist at 11:26 AM on August 31, 2009