USA maps have been part of American culture for well over 200 years. In the early years, they changed a number of times as America expanded from the original 13 colonies to its current 50 state configuration. The last major changes were made in the middle of the twentieth century when Alaska and Hawaii were added to the Union.
Maps had to be adjusted and updated as the expansive territories west of the Mississippi gradually became the states that we all recognize today. Borders and boundaries changed and the USA maps were redrawn by cartographers to reflect those changes.
Types of USA Maps
While maps had to change to reflect the addition of more states and new borders and boundaries, they also became more diverse and informative. There were maps created that displayed the physical features of the nation and maps that showed the expansive highway and road system. Some of the many different types of US maps are shown in the following list.
• Climate maps
• Natural Resource maps
• Physical maps
• Political maps
• Road maps
• Topographic maps
The Very First USA Map
America gained its independence from Britain in 1776. Eight years later, the very first copyrighted map of the new country was created by Connecticut cartographer Abel Buell.
It was engraved in copper plates and printed in four sections. All of the colors were applied by hand. This first map was copyrighted in 1784 and measures 43 inches by 48 inches.
The map shows the 13 colonies and a portion of the new country to the west of the colonies but east of the Mississippi River. When the map was drawn, most of the state boundaries were far larger than they are today.
Recently this historic treasure sold at auction to Washington philanthropist David M. Rubenstein for $1,800,000. Rubenstein has agreed to lend the Abell Buell map to the Library of Congress where it will be on display for the public to enjoy.
Folding Paper USA Maps
Today’s generation may not use folding maps, but their parents and grandparents relied upon them when they took family vacations and traveled around the country for business and pleasure. Once the interstate highway system was put into place under the Eisenhower administration, Americans started to travel great distances to explore the country. Along with a packed suitcase and some ready-to-eat snacks, a roadmap was a necessity for the long excursion.
On family vacations, Dad would usually drive and Mom would sit in the passenger seat, unfolding the cumbersome map and acting as the navigator. While some spouses were excellent navigators, others had trouble giving directions. Sometimes, a friendly fight would break out between the loving couple over how to read a map.
Folding USA maps are neat and crisp when you first buy them. After a few uses, they start to look a bit tattered. Old maps tend to tear along the creases, discolor and become increasingly difficult to fold.
A map that stretches out four feet and is three feet wide requires quite a bit of folding and compacting to make it into a manageable size. Not only does one have to make about a half-dozen even folds, but they must be done in the right order. There is also the special skill of folding the map just right so you can focus on a specific region of interest.
Technology and the USA Map
Thanks to the internet, GPS and all the great mapping software, the paper map is becoming obsolete. While paper maps are still used today, in the not too distant future, everyone will rely on digital maps to find their way around cities, states and the entire country. The ease of use, level of convenience and almost unlimited information makes using digital maps the most efficient and practical way to find out which road to take and how to find specific points of interest.
To old-time map enthusiasts, the transition is painful. Just as we moved on from rotary telephones and 45 rpm records, we will move on with the way we view maps. Whether it is a good idea or not is a topic for a future discussion.
