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Historic Digital NC Topographic Maps

Overview | Map Image Indexes | JPEG2000 Viewing Software | Feedback and Contributions | Map Image Links

Overview

Historical 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Scanned and georeferenced historical or superseded topographic maps covering a large portion of North Carolina are available for free public download from the table of links below.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 NCSU Libraries for scanning by UNC Libraries Maps Collection. NCSU 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. 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.

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

West 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:

• historicToposNC_index.zip - Shapefile (zipped) containing projection and metadata files; for use with GIS software
• historicToposNC_indxPoint.kmz - KMZ (compressed KML) map area centroid points; for use with Google Earth
• historicToposNC_indxPoly.kmz - KMZ (compressed KML) map area polygon footprints; for use with Google Earth

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):

• ExpressView Browser Plug-in
• GeoExpress View
• IrfanView
• ArcGIS Explorer
• MapWindow GIS

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 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

NCSU 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.

Map Image Links

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

Go to the Libraries GIS Data List Page