Topographic Maps of Texas Collection:

A Guide

Historical Note

The United States government in the early 19th century recognized its responsibility to develop and disseminate maps and charts to promote the safety and welfare of the people. In 1879, the government established the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to provide a comprehensive mapping program covering topography, geology, hydrology, and other natural resources of the nation. By 1882, the agency had developed a project to map the continental United States in a series of land maps to provide information for agriculturalists, miners, engineers, timbermen, and the political and economic interests of the country. The Texas topographic maps in the Virginia Garrett Cartographic History Library were produced as a part of this project.

The topographic maps, called quadrangle maps, are published on atlas sheets approximately 20" x 16.5" and cover systematically subdivided areas of latitude and longitude. They are published in various scales, depending on the size of the area mapped. The scale determines the amount of detail shown and is proportional: the larger the map's scale, the more detail that is shown. Scale is usually written as a ratio of one unit on the map to the same unit on the ground. For example, 1:24,000 means that one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches, or 2,000 feet, on the ground.

The quadrangles are standardized into series determined by scale, ranging from 7.5 Minute Series with a scale of 1:24,000 covering some 49 to 71 square miles, to 1x3 Degree Series with a scale of 1:250,000 covering 4,580 to 8,669 square miles. A series is determined by the present or prospective density of settlement, the economic importance of an area, the complexity of the geology, and/or the degree of detail in the topography. A map is usually named after the most prominent city, town, or natural landmark shown on it.

The data is displayed on the face of the maps by lines, symbols, and nomenclature. These cartographic features are classified in three groups: (1) water, including lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, canals, swamps, etc.; (2) relief, including mountains, hills, valleys, cliffs, etc.; and (3) culture, works of man, such as towns, cities, roads, railroads, boundaries, even major buildings, etc. In the earlier maps, all water features are shown in blue, relief is shown by contour lines in brown, and the works of man are shown in black as is all lettering.

For further information see Texas: Index to Topographic and Other Map Coverage (1987) published by the United States Geological Survey, National Mapping Program, Washington, D.C. A copy of this document has been placed with the collection.

Scope and Contents

This collection of topographic maps of Texas produced by the United States Geological Survey includes 990 maps dating from 1885 to 1997. Maps will continue to be added to the collection in the future and the finding aid will be updated as necessary. The collection includes both quadrangle and smaller sheet maps, which range in scale from 1:24,000 to 1:125,000, with the most numerous at a scale of 1:62,500.

The topographic maps accurately represent the natural and man-made features on the land and the earlier USGS maps offer a rich source of information for a variety of research topics. Like most historic maps, they provide information which can be used for studies in migration, immigration, political and economic development, and community history. Because of the extraordinary detail and accuracy of the maps, they may also be used in determining local and family history, urban and rural development, and a host of other topics of interest to those in state, county and city governments, state and federal highway departments, and real estate development--to name only a few.

Restrictions

Access

Open for research.

Literary Rights Statement

The maps in this collection are in the public domain.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Provenance

The Topographic Maps of Texas Collection originated with 390 USGS topographic maps of Texas transferred to Special Collections by the Government Publications Department in March, 1992. Many of the maps originally were received as gifts. Special Collections arranged and housed the collection and produced the finding aid. The collection is an open-ended one to which more uncataloged Texas topographic maps will be added in the future.

Citation

Topographic Maps of Texas Collection, AR540, Box Number, Folder Number, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Katherine R. Goodwin and revised by her November 1996. Finding aid revised by Ann E. Hodges and Ben W. Huseman on July 24, 2009.

Note to the Researcher

Individual maps are listed in a database in Special Collections. Each map record contains the section coordinates, if available; dates pertaining to the specific map, including original survey date, first publication date and subsequent revision or reprint dates; scale; and counties featured in whole or part on the face of the map.