When was the 1:24,000-scale topographic map series for the United States and its territories completed?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was created in 1879 and published it’s first topographic map in 1882. Systematic topographic mapping was authorized by Congress in 1884.
Although 1:24,000-scale topographic maps were produced by the USGS as early as 1904, a formal program to provide primary topographic map coverage at that scale for the entire conterminous United States did not begin until 1947.
More than 55,000 maps later, the USGS completed 1:24,000-scale coverage of the contiguous U.S. in 1992 (revisions were made until 2006). Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Trust Territories were completed earlier and were mapped at other scales. All of these maps are included in the Historical Topographic Map Collection.
Download free digital versions of historical USGS topographic maps (as well as more current US Topo maps) or order paper maps from the online USGS Store.
Learn more:
- History of the Topographic Branch
- A 125 year history of topographic mapping and GIS in the USGS (part 1: 1884-1980) | (part 2: 1980-2009)
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How current are US Topo maps? How current are US Topo maps?
US Topo maps are updated on a three-year production cycle (maps covering one third of the country are updated each year). The US Topo production schedule follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) collection schedule. This does not include US Topos for Alaska, which are on a different schedule. The linework features shown on the maps are generated...
I found an error on a map. How can I report it and when will you fix it? I found an error on a map. How can I report it and when will you fix it?
There are different answers to this question for different products. In all cases, we must know what product you're addressing. Please read the following guidelines and email error reports to tnm_help@usgs.gov : US Topo Maps (topographic maps published 2009-present) Please include the following information: The map title, state, and date (from the title block in the lower right corner)...
What is a GeoPDF®? What is a GeoPDF®?
A GeoPDF is a georeferenced PDF file, meaning that it is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file with added information that relates the image to coordinates on a map. GeoPDF files can be used as plain PDF files but have the added capability of some limited mapping functions (turn any map layers on and off, obtain XY coordinates for a location, measure length, and more). The USGS currently produces...
Related
How current are US Topo maps? How current are US Topo maps?
US Topo maps are updated on a three-year production cycle (maps covering one third of the country are updated each year). The US Topo production schedule follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) collection schedule. This does not include US Topos for Alaska, which are on a different schedule. The linework features shown on the maps are generated...
I found an error on a map. How can I report it and when will you fix it? I found an error on a map. How can I report it and when will you fix it?
There are different answers to this question for different products. In all cases, we must know what product you're addressing. Please read the following guidelines and email error reports to tnm_help@usgs.gov : US Topo Maps (topographic maps published 2009-present) Please include the following information: The map title, state, and date (from the title block in the lower right corner)...
What is a GeoPDF®? What is a GeoPDF®?
A GeoPDF is a georeferenced PDF file, meaning that it is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file with added information that relates the image to coordinates on a map. GeoPDF files can be used as plain PDF files but have the added capability of some limited mapping functions (turn any map layers on and off, obtain XY coordinates for a location, measure length, and more). The USGS currently produces...