The original USGS 7.5-minute (1:24,000 scale) Historical Topographic Maps (produced 1945-1992) included feature classes that are not yet shown on US Topo maps (produced 2009-present). Examples include pipelines, power lines, survey markers, many types of boundaries, and many types of buildings. The USGS no longer does field verification or other primary data collection for these feature classes, and there are no national data sources suitable for general-purpose, 1:24,000-scale maps. For many of these feature classes, the USGS is working with other agencies to develop data. Over time, as these data become available and are included in The National Map, that content will be added to the US Topos.
Since US Topo maps are mass produced from national databases, some features shown on traditional maps might never be included on US Topo maps. For example, a national database of isolated ranch windmills and water tanks is unlikely to ever be built.
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Recreational trails -- Trails are problematic due to a lack of national data sources, but federal land management agencies and other organizations are providing data to the USGS and more trails are shown on US Topo each year. To date, major sources include the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the International Mountain Biking Association. We expect the number of recreational trails on the maps to steadily increase in the coming years, particularly on federal lands.
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Public Land Survey System (PLSS) -- PLSS has been published on US Topo maps since 2013 for all of the 29 continental PLSS states. PLSS is also included on Alaska maps.
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Wetlands -- Wetlands were added as a US Topo layer in late 2015 using data from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory. Wetlands are included on US Topo maps published 2016 or later and on 2015 maps for Wisconsin, Idaho, and Kansas. Wetlands data are not cartographically integrated with other layers and in some cases might appear inconsistent with other hydrography features.
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Buildings and structures -- Traditional topographic maps locate and label a variety of public buildings and structures, such as courthouses, libraries, transportation terminals, and bridges. National public domain datasets of these feature classes do not currently exist. Although these kinds of features are not generally within USGS scope, we are working with other government agencies and incorporating crowd-sourced information to develop selected structures data.
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Railroads -- In 2012 we began publishing railroad data provided by the Federal Railroad Administration, which is now the source of railroads on all US Topo maps.
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Powerlines, oil and gas pipelines, other energy infrastructure -- Except for a few unusual instances, such as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, these features are not shown on US Topo maps. National public domain datasets do not exist and there are security reasons for not publishing these data.
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Landmarks -- Unique landmark features might include buildings, natural features, isolated monuments, and points of interest. No national GIS database of landmark features exists, and constructing one is problematic. Nevertheless, not having such a dataset leads to cartographic oddities, such as not labeling the White House. The US Topo project hopes to eventually address this problem as part of the buildings and structures issue discussed above.
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Remote roads -- Traditional topographic maps were compiled in part from direct field observations and were a unique source for remote and unimproved roads. Building a national public domain road dataset that can rival the traditional topographic map series for overall completeness and accuracy is a long-term problem that is being discussed by several federal agencies.
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Recreational features (campgrounds, boat docks, swimming pools, golf courses, etc) -- Most of these feature types will never be a high priority for USGS mapping. In 2017, US Topo maps began showing selected campgrounds, picnic areas, and cabins provided by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.
Related Content
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. USGS topographic maps have been published at many scales, but 1:24,000 (also referred to as a 7.5-minute quadrangle) has been the standard topographic map scale since 1947. For Alaska the standard scale is 1:25,000. All dates and all scales of our topographic maps can be freely...
How do US Topo maps differ from historical USGS topographic maps?
Historically, USGS topographic maps were made using data from primary sources including direct field observations. Those maps were compiled, drawn, and edited by hand. By today's standards, those traditional methods are very expensive and time-consuming, and the USGS no longer has funding to make maps that way. A new USGS topographic map series was launched in 2009 and branded "US Topo." Though...
Why don’t the boundaries on US Topo maps match and why are some missing?
Improving boundaries for USGS topographic maps is an ongoing effort. Boundaries have been added to computer-generated US Topo maps (published 2009-present) as digital versions become available: 2009-2010 – The U.S. national boundary was the only boundary shown. 2011 – State and county boundaries added using TIGER/Line data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 – U.S. Forest Service areas added. 2013 –...
How accurate are US Topo maps, and why don't they have an accuracy statement?
US Topo maps are as accurate as the data sources used to make them, but because these sources are many and varied, it is not possible to make a single simple statement that the map as a whole meets a particular level of accuracy. US Topo maps, therefore, do not have a traditional accuracy statement in the map collar. Accuracy information for individual data sources is included in the metadata file...
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...
Where can I find indexes of USGS topographic maps?
View map indexes on these interactive maps (you must zoom in to see the index lines and map names): Map Locator on the USGS Store - Click the icon on the left that looks like two pieces of paper and select “1:24,000” for our standard map series. TopoView - Click on any of the round map scale indicators on the right side of the map. The National Map Viewer - Click on the Layer List icon at the top...
Where can I find a topographic map symbol sheet?
Like topographic maps, topographic map symbols have evolved over time. There is no single document that describes all of the symbols used on all USGS topographic maps since they were first created. Maps published 2013-present: US Topo maps have a symbol sheet attached to the map file (PDF format only). Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and click on the paperclip icon. Maps published 1947-2009...
Related Content
- FAQ
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. USGS topographic maps have been published at many scales, but 1:24,000 (also referred to as a 7.5-minute quadrangle) has been the standard topographic map scale since 1947. For Alaska the standard scale is 1:25,000. All dates and all scales of our topographic maps can be freely...
How do US Topo maps differ from historical USGS topographic maps?
Historically, USGS topographic maps were made using data from primary sources including direct field observations. Those maps were compiled, drawn, and edited by hand. By today's standards, those traditional methods are very expensive and time-consuming, and the USGS no longer has funding to make maps that way. A new USGS topographic map series was launched in 2009 and branded "US Topo." Though...
Why don’t the boundaries on US Topo maps match and why are some missing?
Improving boundaries for USGS topographic maps is an ongoing effort. Boundaries have been added to computer-generated US Topo maps (published 2009-present) as digital versions become available: 2009-2010 – The U.S. national boundary was the only boundary shown. 2011 – State and county boundaries added using TIGER/Line data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 – U.S. Forest Service areas added. 2013 –...
How accurate are US Topo maps, and why don't they have an accuracy statement?
US Topo maps are as accurate as the data sources used to make them, but because these sources are many and varied, it is not possible to make a single simple statement that the map as a whole meets a particular level of accuracy. US Topo maps, therefore, do not have a traditional accuracy statement in the map collar. Accuracy information for individual data sources is included in the metadata file...
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...
Where can I find indexes of USGS topographic maps?
View map indexes on these interactive maps (you must zoom in to see the index lines and map names): Map Locator on the USGS Store - Click the icon on the left that looks like two pieces of paper and select “1:24,000” for our standard map series. TopoView - Click on any of the round map scale indicators on the right side of the map. The National Map Viewer - Click on the Layer List icon at the top...
Where can I find a topographic map symbol sheet?
Like topographic maps, topographic map symbols have evolved over time. There is no single document that describes all of the symbols used on all USGS topographic maps since they were first created. Maps published 2013-present: US Topo maps have a symbol sheet attached to the map file (PDF format only). Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and click on the paperclip icon. Maps published 1947-2009...
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