If your ancestors lived in Nevada you might want to visit
this website. The Nevada in Maps digital map collection of the Mary B. Ansari
Map Library at the University of Nevada/Reno contains several types of historic
and contemporary maps. The original collection focused on topographic,
geologic, and mining themes. There are also nearly fifty historic maps dating
from 1750 into the twentieth century. The site also includes contemporary maps
of Nevada and the Great Basin area. The maps in the digital collection are
primarily located in the University of Nevada Library collections at Reno and
Las Vegas, the Nevada State Library, and the Nevada State Historical Society.
All maps are offered without copyright or other restrictions for personal use.
Click on the link to select a collection to search. You may also search
all maps by keyword or browse all maps by subject or title.
Highway Maps (1917–2005)
According to the website, Nevada had “no formal plan
to develop or improve or maintain roads” prior to 1917. The first four
original state routes were established in 1917, and the first official state
highway map was issued two years later. This digital collection contains images
of Nevada highway maps covering the period from 1917 through 2005.
Historic Geologic and Mining Maps and Atlases
The items in this digital collection, published by the U.S.
Geological Survey, government surveys, and commercial sources, cover the period
from 1848 to approximately 1950. You can view them alphabetically or by county
or search them by keywords.
Historic Topographic Maps
These maps were published for the most part by the U.S.
Geological Survey, covering the period from 1863 through 1968. View the maps
alphabetically, chronologically, by county or state, by scale, by keyword, or
via an interactive geospatial index.
Nevada History in Maps
As noted on the website, historic maps of Nevada are scarce.
This digital collection contains maps that show the development of the
geographical area that became the state of Nevada, covering the period from
1750 through 1950. The Nevada Historical Society, the Nevada State Library and
Archives, and the Special Collections Department of Getchell Library at the
University of Nevada, Reno, own these maps. Click on the ‘View the
Collection’ link to access the maps in the collection. You may view maps
by selecting an historic period, a topic, and a geographic area. Access all of
the maps at once by clicking on the ‘View all images in this collection
link.’
Plats of Nevada State Lands (1867–1927)
This digital collection contains over 3,000 survey plat maps
and covers nearly all of the state’s townships. The maps cover the period
from 1867 to 1927.
Sanborn Maps of Nevada
This digital map collection covers the period from 1877
through 1923. There are a total of 516 maps for 29 towns in the collection,
some of which no longer exist.