Maps of the United States

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sells a variety of maps of the United States. Who needs these maps? Students, land planners, politicians, teachers, marketing specialists, delivery companies, authors and illustrators, attorneys, railroad enthusiasts, travelers, Government agencies, military recruiters, newspapers, map collectors, truckers, boaters, hikers, sales representatives, communication specialists. Everybody.

Users of these maps range from a corporation planning a regional expansion or a national marketing campaign, to a person who wants a decoration to hang on the wall. If you are not sure which map best meets your needs, call the Earth Science Information Center for assistance.

Following are descriptions and illustrations of some USGS maps of the United States with examples of possible uses.

Following the descriptions are details of each map: overall size, colors, scale, year the map was produced, projection, file number, and map number for ordering.

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North America

This map shows the United States with Alaska in correct geographic position, rather than as an inset. Features include international and State boundaries and names; State capitals and major cities; and rivers and lakes. Useful to show the United States in relation to Canada and Mexico. It also shows Canadian provinces and the Mexican States.

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United States—Alaska and Hawaii in correct geographic position

A useful educational tool to show the geographic location of all 50 States. Features include international and State boundaries and names. State capitals and major cities, roads and railroads, rivers and lakes, and national parks and monuments.

A smaller version of Map 6-A. Content, colors, and projection are the same as Map 6-A, but at a smaller scale and size.

36" x 24"

yellow, red, black, gray, and blue

1:10,,000,000 (1"= about 158 miles)

1975

Lambert Conformal Conic projection

US-05351—Map 10-A

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United States—Insets of Alaska, Hawaii, and other outlying areas of various scales

When a larger map is needed, this one is for you. It is a wall map that shows international and State/county boundaries and names. State capitals, county seats, and major cities, rivers, and lakes. It also features a special land tint shading. It contains basic map information to which other types of information can be added.

The same map as 2-A is available without the land tint shading. Pink, green, blue, and black.
US-5570E—Map 2-B and US-5571W—Map 2-B

A large, uncluttered base map that shows many features, but still allows space for the user to add information. Features include international and State boundaries and names; State capitals, major cities, rivers, and lakes; and national parks, monuments, forests, reservations, and wildlife refuges.

An outline map of the United States that shows only State boundaries and names.

Another outline map of the United States, but without names. It shows only boundaries.

41" x 27"

black

1:5,000,000 (1"= about 79 miles)

1984

Albers Equal-Area projection

US-05418—Map 5-E

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Conterminous 48 States only

A medium-sized base map that shows international and State boundaries and names; State capitals and major cities; rivers and lakes. Useful to show drainage patterns.

Same overall size, scale, projection as Map 7-A, but also shows contours in feet at varied intervals. Useful to builders, engineers, and surveyors for showing the shape and elevation of the terrain.

30" x 20"

blue, brown, and black

1:7,000,000 (1"= about 110 miles)

1975

Albers Equal-Area projection

US-05363—Map 7-B

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Landforms of the conterminous United States

This large, computer-generated map shows the geomorphic and tectonic features of the United States in vivid detail. It displays landforms accurately in the their true complexity and allows features to be viewed on a broad regional basis. This map can be used in computers with geographic information systems to help solve problems involving land use and the environment. It portrays clearly not only large, obvious features, such as the Appalachian Mountains, but also smaller or more subtle features, such as the fine-grained hummocky texture of the Nebraska Sand Hills.

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Alaska shaded-relief map

A composite of halftone images, this map shows landforms in a realistic way, with sharp resolution and dramatic contrast between flatlands and mountains. The image clearly portrays Alaska's lakes, mountains, glaciers, icefields, and other physiographic features, including some that have probably never been depicted before. The shaded relief is particularly useful for illustrating topographic features that, for various reasons, are not as apparent in other types of images.

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Historical

All of these maps are useful graphic tools for historians, researchers, geographers, students, teachers, librarians, and map collectors.

13 Colonies to 50 States—Shows growth of the United States from the original 13 colonies to the 50 States of today. Also shows international and State boundaries and names; State capitals and major cities; rivers and lakes; and national parks, monuments, forests, reservations and wildlife refuges. Insets show Alaska, Hawaii, Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands at various smaller scales.

An Emerging Nation—Includes a reproduction of a map that shows the United States as it existed about the time the Constitution was written. It was produced in 1784 and was the first map of the United States produced by an American cartographer. The original image was engraved on copper plates and was printed in four sections; all colors were applied by hand. The reverse side has a series of 14 maps portraying the Nation's territorial growth over the past two centuries, along with corresponding national flags with the appropriate number of stars for selected years from 1775 to the present.

Front

Back

29" x 22"

full color

1987

US-05579—Map 18

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Physical divisions

Major physical divisions are outlined in red to show provinces and sections in the contiguous United States. For example, the Atlantic Plain is subdivided into the Continental Shelf and the Coastal Plain. The Coastal Plain is subdivided into six sections, including the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. The map legend provides an explanation of the unique characteristics of each division. Background features include international and State boundaries and names, State capitals and major cities, and rivers and lakes.

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Federal-aid highways

Shows the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and the Federal-Aid Primary Highway System. Information was compiled by the Federal Highway Administration with the assistance of the State highway departments. An excellent tool for transportation planning. Shows international and State boundaries and names, State capitals and major cities, rivers and lakes and national parks. Insets at various scales show the road systems of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

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National Atlas map sheets

Selected individual maps from the National Atlas of the United States. 1970 (out of print), and some newer maps that conform to atlas standards are available. Among the many that are available as individual maps are "Soils," "Shaded Relief," "Highways," and "Presidential Elections."

National Atlas Presidential Elections

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Scientific maps

Among the scientific maps published by the Geological Survey are the following:

North America

• Basement Rock
• Coal
• Geotherman Gradient
• Metallogenic
• Subsurface Temperature

United States

• Basement Rock
• Bouguer Gravity Anomaly
• Fold and Thrust Belts
• Geologic
• Hydrologic Units
• Magnetic Declinations
• Seismicity
• Surface Water and Related Land Resources Development

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Where to find other maps of the United States

Historical maps of the United States can be found in collections of the Library of Congress and of the National Archives. You can also contact the Earth Science Information Center for information on obtaining old topographic maps.

Maps, charts, and atlases of the United States are also available from other Government agencies, commercial firms, and geographic societies.

For more information about United States maps and mapping, contact any ESIC office or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.

Maps of the United States published or distributed by the USGS can be purchased from:
USGS Information Services
Box 25286
Denver, CO 80225
303-202-4700 or
1-800-HELPMAP

This was originally published and printed in September 1998. The online edition contains full text from the original publication. This document has under gone official review and approval for publications established by the National Mapping Division, U.S. Geological Survey. Some figures have been modified to improve the scientific visualization of information.