Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920; by William Thorndale & William Dollarhide; 445 pp; 8.5x11; published 1987-2023; ISBN: 9780806311883; Item #GPC5786.
The county has always been used as the basic Federal census unit. Genealogical research in the census, therefore, begins with identifying the correct county jurisdictions. This work (one of the top-five best-selling genealogy books) shows all U.S. county boundaries from 1790 to 1920. On each of the 393 maps, the old county lines are superimposed over the modern ones to highlight the boundary changes at ten-year intervals. Also included are:
- A History of census growth
- The technical facts about each census
- A discussion of census accuracy
- An essay on available sources for each state's old county lines
- A statement with each map indicating which county census lines exist and which are lost
- The volume includes an index listing all present-day counties, plus all defunct counties or counties later re-named
With each map there is data on boundary changes, notes about the census, and locality-finding keys. There also are inset maps that clarify territorial lines, a state-by-state bibliography of sources, and an appendix outlining pitfalls in mapping county boundaries. The detail in this work is exhaustive and of such impeccable standards that there is little wonder why this award-winning publication is the number one tool in U.S. census research.
If you were to have only one American genealogy guidebook at your side, The Dollarhide Map Guide would be one to have.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction • Federal Censuses
- History
- Records
- Completeness
- Sample Map
- U.S. Maps, 1790–1920
- State Maps
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Appendix
- Pitfalls in Mapping Boundaries
- Bibliography
- National Projects
- General Sources
- State Sources
- County Index, by State
