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A thematic map is simply a map made to reflect a particular theme about a geographic area. Thematic maps can portray physical, social, political, cultural, economic, sociological, agricultural, or any other aspects of a city, state, region, nation, or continent.
The University of Washington Map Collection has worldwide coverage of various thematic maps at different scales, with an emphasis on themes related to civil engineering, forest resources, geography, geology, oceanography and urban planning.
Many thematic maps in the Map Collection are cataloged. To find thematic maps in the UW Library Catalog, go to our Tips for Searching the Catalog.
Once you find what you are looking for, please write down the call number and the location. The catalog shows that thematic maps can be found in the following Map Collection locations. Consult the floor plan of the Map Collection.
Thematic maps are classified with Library of Congress call numbers and filed in call number order by geographic area. Consult our LC Map Call Numbers Finding Aid (which is also available in several locations around the Map Collection) or the location maps posted on the walls to help you determine call numbers for a particular area of the world.
Yes, thematic maps circulate, except those considered historic (generally anything published before 1960). Review our policies under Checking Out and Handling Materials for details.
Consult our list of Where to Buy Maps for recommended vendors.
The United States
Census
A wide variety of useful map
products is available for download or purchase.
American
Factfinder online mapping generates reference maps and thematic
maps from 2000 Census data.
The TIGER
Map Server uses 1990 Census data and 1998 TIGER/Line data.
United
Nations ReliefWeb MapCentre
Maps by country or by emergency/disaster.
Washington environmental atlas / prepared by Environmental Resources
Section, Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with assistance
of the Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Washington
Maps Atlases G1485.U54 1975
Although this map is now dated, it is still useful.
Look on the Map Collection's Geologic Maps page for more information.
Generalized geologic map of Seattle and suburban areas / Galster,
R.W., and Laprade, W.T.
Maps General Map Cases G4284.S4
C5 1991 .G3 (map)
The accompanying text is filed under the same call number (G4284.S4
C5 1991 .G3) in Maps Atlases.
Preliminary geologic map of Seattle and vicinity : Washington / by Howard H. Waldron ... [et al.]
Maps General Map Cases G4284.S4
C5 1962 .G4
Look on the Map Collection's Historic Maps page for more information. See also Property Maps below.
These maps deal with the relationship between the environment and bodies of water, such as in wetlands and flood areas.
Historical changes of shoreline and wetland at eleven major deltas
in the Puget Sound region, Washington / by G.C. Bortleson, M.J. Chrzastowski,
and A.K. Helgerson
Maps Vertical Files USGS
HA-617
National wetlands inventory [Washington]
Maps General Map Cases G4281.D1
s24 .U5
The supplemental text to this series can be found under the same call
number (G4281.D1 s24 .U5) in Maps Atlases folio.
Topography and drainage : Seattle
Maps General Map Cases G4284.S4
C2 s9 .S44
This map series covers elevation contours and streams.
Flood insurance rate map / FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
These maps show 100-year flood areas. They are filed by county or by city/town
name.
To find them in the UW
Library Catalog, use a Keyword search:
Ex. flood AND adams county AND maps
flood AND Seattle AND maps
Look on the Map Collection's Nautical and Aeronautical Charts page for more information.
Property maps show property ownership or building outlines.
Parcel base : Seattle / produced by the Geographic Systems Section of the Seattle Public Utilities
Where: Available online at MapSeattle.
Maps General Map Cases G4284.S4
G46 s2 .S44
What: This map shows land parcel polygons, addresses and building
outlines.
Kroll property maps for the Pacific Northwest
Where: The University of Washington's
Special Collections Reference Folio section. Please ask Special
Collections staff for assistance.
What: Kroll atlases contain detailed parcel maps that show property
lines, tax lot numbers, public parks, utility information, plat names,
and many other features. The Kroll
Map Company has a graphic which details all of the features
depicted on Kroll maps and atlases.
Metsker's Atlases for the Pacific Northwest
Where: The University of Washington's
Special Collections Reference Folio section. Special Collections
has a list
of the Metsker atlases in its holdings. Please ask Special Collections
staff for assistance.
What: "These atlases are the most complete collection of
data of the county. Each page is a township map covering approximately
36 square miles. Scales vary from 2" to the mile with most counties
and 4" to the mile for others in congested areas (1/4 townships).
Most atlases do not show complete county coverage due to government
holdings, national forest and parks, wilderness areas etc. Property
names are provided for owners of five acres or more plus showing smaller
lots and plats as well." (Source: Metsker
Maps.)
Cadastral survey field notes and plats for Oregon and Washington
Where:
Maps Media, G4281.B5
1927 W27 (CD-ROMs contain maps only)
Microforms Newspapers
Division, Microfiche M-3066 (maps and field notes)
What: A cadaster is a public record, survey, or map of the value,
extent, and ownership of land as a basis of taxation. Cadastral surveys
began in 1851 for the Washington and Oregon areas. They were done by
the General Land Office as part of the Federal Public Land Survey System.
The microfiche set contains original plat maps that show legal boundary
descriptions, and shows terrain and landmarks, such as trees and cabins.
This brochure explains more about the
history of the Cadastral Survey.
How to use the microfiche collection:
To use the CD-ROM (scanned maps only), know the township(s) and range(s) for your area of interest. Again, the Map Collection has maps to help determine the township and range for your area.
Sanborn fire insurance maps
Where:
Microform
and Newspaper Collections
Washington:
Microfilm A7766, A9645; Oregon:
Microfilm A7775, A9644; Idaho:
Microfilm A7332, A9643; Alaska:
Microfilm A7353, A9642
Please ask Microform and Newspaper Collections staff for assistance.
What: "The Sanborn map collection consists of a uniform series
of large-scale maps, dating from 1867 to the present and depicting the
commercial, industrial, and residential sections of some twelve thousand
cities and towns in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The maps
were designed to assist fire insurance agents in determining the degree
of hazard associated with a particular property and therefore show the
size, shape, and construction of dwellings, commercial buildings, and
factories as well as fire walls, locations of windows and doors, sprinkler
systems, and types of roofs. The maps also indicate widths and names
of streets, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers.
They show the locations of water mains, giving their dimensions, and
of fire alarm boxes and hydrants. Sanborn maps are thus an unrivaled
source of information about the structure and use of buildings in American
cities." (Source: UC
Berkeley's Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps page.)
Washington State public lands quadrangle, 1:100,000 scale planimetric
map / Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Division of
Engineering, Resource Mapping Section
Where: Maps General Map Cases G4281.G5
s100 .W3
What: This series from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s shows general federal, state
or private ownership.
Look on the Map Collection's Road Maps page for more information.
Seismologic maps show earthquake faults and seismic activity.
Seismotectonic map of the Puget Sound region
Maps Vertical Files USGS
I-1613
This map, dating from 1985, shows earthquake faults in this area.
Lifelines and earthquake hazards in the greater Seattle area
Maps General Map Cases G4284.S4
C55 1999 .H3
These federal maps are usually published by county and are spread
out among different branch libraries.
To find them in the UW
Library Catalog, use a Keyword search:
Ex. soil survey AND king county
State soil survey / Forest Land Management Division, Washington
State Dept. of Natural Resources
Maps General Map Cases G4281.J3
s24 .W3 (accompanying volumes with soil descriptions are at Maps
Reference S599.W32
S73 1983)
These maps are also known as "state DNRs."
Soil survey: King County Area, Washington / [by Dale E. Snyder, Philip
S. Gale, and Russell F. Pringle
Maps Atlases/Maps Reference S599.W32 S6
This set does not include the city of Seattle.
Look on the Map Collection's Topographic Maps page for more information.
Critical areas : Seattle / produced by the Geographic Systems
Unit of the Seattle Engineering Department
Available online at MapSeattle.
Maps General Map Cases G4284.S4
C1 s9 .S44
This map set shows steep slopes, wetlands, wildlife habitat, etc.
Present land use : Seattle / produced by the Geographic Systems
Section of the Seattle Engineering Department
Available online at MapSeattle.
Maps General Map Cases G4284.S4
G4 s9 .S44
National
Geographic's MapMachine
This site has maps covering a wide range of themes: conservation (environment),
topography, historic maps, street maps, and, under country profiles,
base maps of countries and states. Browse for maps by theme.
The
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
This site has many scanned CIA maps, including a number of thematic
maps concerning vegetation, religion, population, etc. Browse for maps
by geographic region.
Library
of Congress Map Collections: 1544 - 2004 online
Although the Library of Congress has converted only a small fraction
of its huge cartographic holdings to digital form, it is still an impressive
collection. Themes include cities and towns, conservation, military
battles, etc. Browse for maps by geographic region, subject, creator,
title, or keyword. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be possible
to search by date range.
Maps/GIS Resource
Page (University of Washington Libraries)
This is a collection of websites for cartographic information, organized
by geography, which have been selected by UW librarians.