Historic Digital NC Topographic Maps

Coverage map of historical topo mapsHistorical topographic map images contained in our collection. Map is not "clickable." Use the Map Image Indexes to find the map sheets you'd like to use.

Scanned and georeferenced historical or superseded topographic maps covering a large portion of North Carolina are available for free public download from the table of links below.

These maps provide valuable historical information about landscape features from the past. Map dates range from the late 1800s to the 1960s. Scales vary from 1:250,000 (15 minute coverage area) to 1:62,500 (7.5 minute coverage area). A few have even larger scales.

An original batch of maps were scanned by the NC Geologic Survey in 2005 and contributed to the NC Geospatial Data Archiving Project (NCGDAP). In 2007, more maps were loaned to NC State University Libraries for scanning by UNC Libraries Maps Collection. NC State University Libraries georeferenced all the scanned images, compressed them into JPEG 2000 format, created index files, and is hosting their online access.

Georeferencing was performed using the Georeferencing Toolbar in ArcGIS 9.1 and cordinate conversion was performed using US Army Corps of Engineers' Corpscon v. 6.0 (This link is broken. We're working on fixing it). ArcInfo workstation version 9.1 was used to rectify all the georeferenced images. The georeferenced images are projected to North Carolina Stateplane, NAD 83, Feet.

R values obtained from georeferencing varied, and some were above 30 which is quite high (low is better). Since the earliest maps were produced without the aid of airborn surveys, the horizontal accuracy is not as high as we are now accustomed, but they are "close." Other factors that degrade the horizontal accuracy are the age of the maps and stretching during storage.

For expanded information, see the September 28, 2007 News Release (This link is broken. We're working on fixing it).

Additional historic data and map sources are listed on our Historic Data and Maps webpage.

 

15 Minute Sids: West RaleighWest Raleigh area showing the state fairgrounds and Meredith College before the Beltline. Map date is 1951. Image was re-sized from original.

 

Map Image Indexes

 

The following files are spatial indexes to the historical topographic maps:

Each rectangular polygon in the index files depicts a map sheet's total footprint area. Be aware that the coverage area of the actual map portion printed on each map sheet is smaller than the polygon areas, however.

The original index shapefile was created using the "Image Indexer" extension for ArcView 3.x. KML index files were created from the shapefile using ArcGIS 9.2.

JPEG2000 Viewing Software

All images were scanned into TIFF format and have been compressed to JPEG 2000 using GeoExpress 6.1. In order to view the images, you will need a viewer or software capable of viewing JPEG2000 images. The following are just a few known free applications (there are many available):

Below, the images labeled "Compressed, Georeferenced, Rectified" are for use with the world files in GIS software. The advantage of georeferenced images is that they can be geographically positioned and overlaid with other spatial data.

The rectification process causes pixels to shift and realign. Thus, non-georeferenced or rectified versions of the images are also provided in JPEG2000 Lossless compression, which are identical to the original scans but about half the file size of the TIFFs.

View Maps in Google Earth

 

The Google Earth Library(This link is broken. We're working on fixing it) contains a KML file for use with Google Earth. The KML file will open historic maps for many states and locations, including these maps for North Carolina. Look for the "Access From: G-Earth" logo and link.

Feedback and Contributions

 

NC State University Libraries would appreciate any feedback on whether these maps are useful to you. Also, we would like to continue adding to this collection. Please contact Data Services if you have maps we are missing or would like to provide feedback.

 

Have trouble viewing the images? See JPEG2000 Viewing Software above.

Sheet Name

Edition(RePrint)

Notes

Compressed, Georeferenced, Rectified(JPG2000, ~5 MB each)

Lossless, Not Georeferenced/ Rectified(JPG2000, ~50 MB each)

Abingdon, VA 1911(1945) Partial bottom cut off  C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Acme, NC 1954   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Albemarle, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Arringdale, VA 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Asheboro, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Asheville, NC 1901(1907)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Atkinson, NC 1955   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Ayden, NC 1902(1962)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Back Bay, VA 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Back Side of 15min Maps, N/A No World File  C/G/R Image L/NR Image
Barco, NC 1941   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Beckford, NC 1941   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Belhaven, NC 1916   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Belhaven, NC 1916(1944)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Bladenboro, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Blowing Rock, NC 1936 Bottom cut off  C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Bolivia, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Bolton, NC 1954   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Boydton, VA 1955   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Boykins, VA 1920(1942)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Burgaw, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Calabash, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Cape Fear, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Chadbourn, NC 1953   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Chapel Hill, NC 1947   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Charlotte, NC 1907   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Charlotte, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Chocowinity, NC 1903(1968)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Clarksville, VA 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Clarksville, VA 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Clifdale, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Clover, SC 1947   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Coharie, NC 1909(1950)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Columbia, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Cowee, NC 1907(1934)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Cowpens, SC 1959   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Cranberry, NC 1902(1938)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Creedmoor, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Critz, VA 1926   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Critz, VA 1928   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Dahlondega, GA 1903(1951)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Danville, VA 1925(1944)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Deep Run, NC 1958   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Denton, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Draper, VA 1926(1944)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Ducktown, TN 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Ducktown Mining Dist., TN 1909(1942)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Durham, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Durham North, NC 1951   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Durham South, NC 1951   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Edenton, NC 1904 Upper right corner torn off  C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Edenton, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Elizabeth City, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Elizabethtown, NC 1955   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Ellijay, GA 1911(1951)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Emporia, VA 1919(1943)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Exum, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Fairbluff, NC 1962   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Falkland, NC 1904(1973)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Fayetteville, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Four Oaks, NC 1908(1944)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Fowler Bend, NC 1938   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Fowler Bend ? Backside, NC 1938 No World File  C/G/R Image L/NR Image
Freeland, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Funston, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Gaffney, SC 1909   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Gaffney, SC 1909(1945) Reprint  C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Galax, VA 1933   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Garland, NC 1959   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Garner, NC 1964   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Gastonia, NC 1914(1954)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Goldsboro, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Greeneville, TN 1904(1913)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Hamlet, NC 1949(1954)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Haw Knob, TN 1933(1958)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Haw Knob, TN 1937   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Hertford, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Hickory, NC 1895(1950)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Hillsville, VA 1896(1945)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Holden Beach, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Holland, VA 1920   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Holland, VA 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Honey Island, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Hopkins, SC 1948 Located in mid SC  C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Independence, VA 1933(1944)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Index to Topographic Maps of North Carolina, NC 1980 Statewide Index Map  C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Inman, SC 1961   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Jackson Springs, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Jacksonville, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Juniper Creek, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Kenansville, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Kenly, NC 1902(?)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Kings Mountain, NC 1906(1970)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Kings Mountain, NC 1908   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Kinston, NC 1914(1954)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Kitty Hawk, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Knoxville, TN 1901(1915)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Lake Drummond, VA 1945   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Lake Lure, NC 1959   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Laurinburg, NC 1949   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Lenoir, NC 1956   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Lewis Swamp, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Lincolnton, NC 1909(1968)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Lincolnton, NC 1911(1944)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Linville, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Linville Falls, NC 1956   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Lockwoods Folly, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Maple Hill, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Marion, NC 1962(1972)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Martinsville, VA 1926   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Maysville, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Milton, NC 1956   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Monroe, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Morganton, NC 1905(1927)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Mount Airy, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Mount Mitchell, NC 1902(1932)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Mount Pleasant, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Mouth Of Wilson, VA 1940 Map only includes Virginia portion  C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Moyock, NC 1939(1959)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Mt Guyot, NC 1893(1906)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Murphy, NC 1914(1927)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Nakina, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Nantahala, NC 1906(1924)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
New Bern, NC 1901(1961)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
New River, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Old Dock, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Oxford, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Pages Mill, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Parmele, NC 1901(1971)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Pireway, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Pisgah, NC 1892   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Pisgah, NC 1905(1956)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Plymouth, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Powells Point, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Raleigh, NC 1951(1967)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Richlands, NC 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Rock Hill, SC 1949   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Rockingham, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Rocky Mount, NC 1904   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Rocky Point, NC 1947   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Rose Hill, NC 1962   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Roseboro, NC 1959   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Roxboro, NC 1943(1962)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Saint Pauls, NC 1959   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Saluda, NC 1889(1899)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Saluda, NC 1907(1942)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Selma, NC 1964   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Seven Springs, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Shallotte, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Shelby, NC 1950   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
South Boston, VA 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
South Hill, VA 1955   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
South Mills, NC 1940   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Southern Pines, NC 1957   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Spicer Bay, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Spring Hope, NC 1902(1965)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Statesville, NC 1893(1934)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Stuart, VA 1928(1965)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Suffolk, VA 1954(1967)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Supply, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Swansboro, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Tabor City, NC 1962   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Tarboro, NC 1902(1968)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Tellico, TN 1943   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Tigerville, SC 1959(1973)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Topsail, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Trent River, NC 1903(1975)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Troy, NC 1957(1967)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Vanceboro, NC 1902(1968)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Wade Point, NC 1940   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Wadesboro, NC 1948   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Walhalla, GA 1892(1951)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Wayah Bald, NC 1942   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
White Plains, VA 1920(1944)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Whitelake, NC 1954   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Whiteville, NC 1955   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Wilkesboro, NC 1891(1940)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Williamston, NC 1901(1972)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Wilmington, NC 1940   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Wilson, NC 1904   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Winnabow, NC 1944   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Winterville, NC 1903(1954)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Winton, NC 1908(1973)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Wytheville, VA 1892(1945)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image
Yadkinville, NC 1891(1964)   C/G/R ImageWorld File L/NG Image