July 6, 2016 – “There's just something hypnotic about maps,” said Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! contestant.

As Mr. Jennings quotes above, maps are fascinating no matter their platform.

Digitized maps abound on the web, and many are an accessory function to great websites like Google. However, the web has many specific cartographic collections and reference tools on places both current and historic. They can be an indispensable tool in legal practice to plan a business trip, graphically demonstrate a point, or conduct research on properties or places. Many maps are downloadable or printable, and some are interactive.

This article features only a few of the many free helpful websites containing maps and will particularly highlight popular sites, those with collections of links, and several which are specific to Wisconsin.

Google Resources

Google Maps

Perhaps the best-known and often-referenced map service on the web is Google Maps. Google Maps is more than just a digital replica of a paper map. It can be a trip planner, travel aide, as well as a research tool. If you are describing an event that took place on a public street, you can use Google Maps to plug in the address or the intersection at issue. You could then use the print function or any screen capture software you have on your computer to copy the image. If the location on the map has a Street View image, you can get an actual photo of the location. Entering Street View also enables you to virtually look around in 360 degrees and tap on the white spaces to move up and down the street.

Satellite views may also be available for a “bird’s-eye” perspective. Look for the menu icon to find other helpful information like nearby local businesses, or bicycling and transportation routes. Beware that some of the views may be dated, and it is a good idea to look for the image-capture date.

Google Earth

Another Google tool worthy of its own article is Google Earth, a virtual globe, map, and geographical information program. Google Earth displays satellite images of the earth’s surface allowing users to see things like cities and houses, looking down from a bird’s-eye view.

The program allows users to search for addresses for some countries, enter coordinates, or simply use a mouse to browse to a location. Because of the myriad features and complexity of its functions, tutorials are available (and recommended) on topics like Street View, drawing and measuring, and 3D modeling. Users should have a sufficient processer and graphics capabilities on their computers.

General Sites

A few well-known sites collect links to maps and map collections. Below are a few which do a particularly fine job of keeping up with the myriad maps on the web. Lawyers should also consult their local public or academic libraries for their web collections.

The University of Texas at Austin, Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection

This excellent site features online maps from all over the world, including a great section devoted to maps of current interest (example: A map of the Zika virus transmission). The site is also a great reference guide to other sites with map information and is worthy of a bookmark. If you are looking for map outlines to fill in yourself or map tools, this site also collects them.

The Library of Congress Map Collection

The Library of Congress owns the largest and most expansive cartographic collection in the world. The online map collection represents only a small fraction of maps that have been converted to digital form but includes a wide variety of resource materials. Several categories are represented including general maps, historical maps, maps depicting cities and towns, and those on military subjects.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, American Geographical Society Library

This collection of digital maps is based on the vast collection at UW-Milwaukee’s famous American Geographical Society Library. About 3,000 of the Library’s 520,000 maps are available for online viewing. Several collections are listed on the first page and a fine digital photo library is also available.

National Geographic

The National Geographic Society is one of the best known sources in the world for cartographic information. The society’s maps are available in many digital forms including mobile apps, georeferenced PDFs and TIFF images, online map tiles, and vector data for use in geographic information systems (GIS). More than 800-plus map titles are available in digital format. While most are available for sale, printable USGS PDF Quads are available for free download.

Harvard Map Collection – Digital Maps

Harvard’s digital maps virtual collection contains pointers to images created from objects in the Harvard Map Collection holdings. The Map Collection owns maps from around the world, but only a representative sample of the collection have actually been imaged. Additionally, because of copyright issues, only maps that are out of copyright are included here (currently before 1923 or so). The search function is particularly helpful and the record will contain the URL to a full image.

USGS and the National Map

The National Map is a collaborative effort among the USGS and other federal, state, and local partners to improve and deliver topographic information for the United States. Its uses range from recreation to scientific analysis as well as emergency response. One interesting feature is the availability of historic topographic maps showing snapshots of the nation’s physical and cultural features before development, and provides a detailed view of changes over time.

Historical Atlases and Maps of U.S. and States

Historical maps can provide a wealth of background on properties. This site, although devoted to genealogical research, has both past and present maps of individual states, and is a great guide to Sanborn insurance maps of cities. Note in particular the link to Wisconsin information and the description of map collections in the state.

General Reference (Gazetteers/Background Research)

Sometimes research simply involves spelling a place name correctly or identifying its location. The following sites feature quick online guides to answering basic questions about places.

The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names Online (TGN)

This structured vocabulary includes all continents and nations of the modern political world, as well as historical places. The total number of place names is 2,156,896, and materials are contributed by museums, libraries, archives, special collections, and other projects. The TGN is not currently linked to maps, although the coordinates should allow users to find the places on a map. The TGN may be linked to existing major, general-purpose, geographic databases. Place names are compiled from a variety of sources.

The CIA World Factbook

The World Factbook is a classic reference tool and is produced for U.S. policymakers and the U.S. intelligence community. While its style reflects the requirements of government officials, it is a terrific source to find the most up to date information on countries. This site collects facts on every world entity, dependency, and geographic location. The Factbook notes the history, people, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 countries.

USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature. GNIS was developed by the USGS as the official repository for geographic names used by all departments of the federal government, and the source for applying geographic names to federal electronic and printed products. The GNIS contains current and historical information about physical and cultural geographic features of all types in the United States, associated areas, and Antarctica, but not roads and highways. Enter a feature or place name into the query box, and the results will display the feature name if found. Users can then click the feature name for details and links to map information. The site also contains an advanced search.

Wisconsin-specific Resources

Maps pertinent to Wisconsin and local municipalities are found in several places. The state and its departments often have maps devoted to a particular purpose. Counties, cities, and more will offer more localized information. This section highlights sites with information particular to our state and municipalities within it.

Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office

A core mission of the State Cartographer’s office is to help Wisconsin citizens locate maps and geographic information. This site lists maps of all kinds under classified headings and has a variety of information on topics both for business and pleasure.

UW Extension Geological and Natural History Survey

The University of Wisconsin Extension offers this page with several maps of Wisconsin with some in 3D format.

Wisconsin Local Government Web Mapping Site

This website provides a means to access local web mapping sites that are available to the public and to track those sites in development. According to the site, most county governments in Wisconsin (71 of 72, or 99 percent) have developed publicly accessible, interactive web mapping sites. Also note the additional links for other sources of interactive mapping sites in the state.

Wisconsin County Maps

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation provides highly detailed county maps online. Produced at a 1:100,000 scale, the maps contain data on major road networks, interstate roads, points of interest, hospitals, schools, airports, urban boundaries, reservations, and more.

Department of Natural Resources Interactive Maps

The Wisconsin DNR has provided helpful maps of all kinds, including those showing wetlands, forests, contaminated lands, air quality, and floodplains, as well as maps for general recreation. You can also find different varieties of maps, including digital topographic and interactive maps.

Milwaukee County Interactive Map

Most counties have GIS sites, and this is a fine example of the resources available for researching properties within Milwaukee County. Once the viewer is downloaded, users can search by address, owner, tax key number, condo, CSM number, or subdivision. Results will link to tax information and more detail on the property.

City of Milwaukee MAP Milwaukee Portal

The City of Milwaukee offers this portal with map applications for property information, census data, zoning, and more.

Digitized Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Wisconsin Communities

Sanborn Maps helped insurance agents in the late 19th and early 20th centuries determine the degree of fire hazard associated with a particular property. These maps, hosted by the Wisconsin Historical Society, are painstakingly detailed, large-scale lithographed, color-keyed street maps created for all sizes of cities and villages. This collection focuses on Wisconsin communities with maps predating 1923 and can be searched by keyword, geographic location, or date.

Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records Original Field Notes and Plat Maps

The Federal General Land Office surveyed Wisconsin between 1832 and 1866. The work of this office established the township, range, and section grid for the state. This website from the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands features digitized collections of the field notes and plat maps of that public land survey and are a valuable resource for original information, as well as for understanding Wisconsin's landscape history.

Miscellaneous

Finally, there are myriad topics that can be described best by a map. These images are helpful to visibly demonstrate a particular idea and can provide a powerful image in a presentation. Beware – they can also be addictive viewing!

Google Maps Gallery

Google has created a portal for custom maps where anyone can find, create, or share personalized maps. This site was once focused on custom maps designed by governments, nonprofits, and businesses. However, Google opened it up to the wider public. So if you need a map of “fraccidents,” you can definitely find it here. To find a public map created by someone else, link to the Google Maps Gallery and enter a location or theme in the search box.

Tumblr Maps on the Web

This site collects maps on the web, charts and infographics from news sites, map pools/groups, reblogs, and reader submissions with topics ranging from the serious to the silly. The site has addicting information, which features a new map every day. Sources for the maps are often indicated, but some are not. Topics are eclectic, informative, and often entertaining.

The author wishes to thank Carol Hopkins, paralegal, and Maureen Burns, librarian, both at Godfrey & Kahn, for their help in developing this article.