State & County Maps of Illinois

Maps of Illinois are a great resource to help learn about a place at a particular point in time. Old Illinois maps are effective sources of geographical information and useful for historical, genealogical and territorial research.

Our collection of Illinois maps includes many different historic and modern types of maps. The maps date from the 18th century to the present and include:

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Historical Maps of Illinois are a great resource to help learn about a place at a particular point in time. Illinois Maps are vital historical evidence but must be interpreted cautiously and carefully.

Illinois Map Collections

The Illinois State Historical Library has county plat books and atlases available for the years of around 1870 to 1930. Those Illinois maps show townships and ownership of various lands at the times that the maps were drawn. However, plat books must be examined on-site.

The University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Chicago Historical Society, and the Illinois State Library also have large Illinois map collections available. The Illinois State Library can also provide a list of its land map and atlas holdings. The oldest available Illinois Sanborn map is from 1884.

The following offices have free highway maps for Illinois available:

• Illinois Secretary of State
• Illinois Department of Communications
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs

Old Historical Atlas Maps of Illinois

This Historical Illinois Map Collection are from original copies. Most historical maps of Illinois were published in atlases and spans over 225 years of growth for the state.

Some Illinois maps years have cities, railroads, P.O. locations, township outlines, and other features useful to the Illinois researchers.

Save	Jeffery’s 1776 Map of the Course of the Mississippi River from the Balise to Fort Chartres Map Date: 1776 Map Locations: Parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee Map Publication: The American Atlas: Or, A Geographical Description Of The Whole Continent Of America Map Type: World Atlas Map Cartographer: Samuel Holland and Thomas Jefferys View Map
Save	Carey’s 1822 Geographical, Historical and Statistical State Map of Illinois Map Date: 1822 Map Locations: Illinois Map Publication: A Complete Historical, Chronological, And Geographical American Atlas, Being A Guide To The History Of North And South America, And The West Indies … To The Year 1822. Map Type: National Atlas Map Cartographer: Henry Charles Carey & Isaac Lea View Map
Save	Finley’s 1827 State Map of the States of Illinois, Ohio & Indiana, and Part of the Michigan Territory, Compiled from the Latest Authorities Map Date: 1827 Map Locations: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan Map Publication: A New General Atlas, Comprising a Complete Set of Maps, representing the Grand Divisions of the Globe, Together with the several Empires, Kingdoms and States in the World; Compiled from the Best Authorities, and corrected by the Most Recent Discoveries, Philadelphia, 1827. Map Type: National Atlas Map Cartographer: Anthony Finley (1784 – 1836) View Map
Save	Tanner’s 1836 State Map of Illinois With Its Proposed Canals, Roads & Distances from place to place, along the Stage & Steam Boat Routes. Map Date: 1836 (Entered 1833) Map Locations: Illinois Map Publication: A New Universal Atlas Containing Maps of the various Empires, Kingdoms, States and Republics Of The World. Map Type: World Atlas Map Cartographer: Henry Schenck Tanner (1786–1858) View Map
Save	Morse’s 1845 State Map of Illinois Map Date: 1845 (Entered 1844) Map Locations: Illinois Map Publication: Morse’s North American atlas. Containing the following beautifully colored maps Map Notes: Col. wax engraved map. Inset map: West part of Florida. Prime meridians: Greenwich and Washington. Map Cartographer: Sidney Edwards Morse (1794-1871 ) and Samuel Breese (1802-1873) View Map
Save	Colton’s 1856 State Map of Illinois with vicinity of Chicago Map Date: 1856 (Entered 1855) Map Locations: Illinois, Chicago Map Publication: Colton’s Atlas Of The World, Illustrating Physical And Political Geography. Map Type: World Atlas Map Cartographer: Joseph Hutchins Colton (1800-1893) View Map
Save	Colton’s 1856 City Map of Chicago IL with City of St Louis MO Map Date: 1856 (Entered 1855) Map Locations: Chicago , St Louis Map Publication: Colton’s Atlas Of The World, Illustrating Physical And Political Geography. Map Type: World Atlas Map Cartographer: Joseph Hutchins Colton (1800-1893) View Map
Save	1866 State Map of Illinois Public Survey Sketches by the Department of Interior Land Office Map Date: October 2nd 1866 Map Locations: Illinois Map Publication: Maps accompanying Report of the commissioner of the General Land Office. Map Type: National Atlas Map Cartographer: United States. General Land Office. View Map
Save	Mitchell’s 1880 State, County and Township Map of Illinois with Vicinity of Springfield Map Date: 1880 (Entered 1879) Map Locations: Illinois and City of Springfield Map Publication: Mitchell’s New General Atlas Map Type: World Atlas Map Cartographer: Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr. (1827-1901) View Map
Save	Mitchell’s 1880 City Map of Chicago Map Date: 1880 (Entered 1879) Map Locations: City of Chicago Illinois Map Publication: Mitchell’s New General Atlas Map Type: World Atlas Map Cartographer: Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr. (1827-1901) View Map

Map of Illinois County Formations 1790-1869

This Interactive Map of Illinois Counties show the historical boundaries, names, organization, and attachments of every county, extinct county and unsuccessful county proposal from the creation of the Illinois territory in 1790 to 1869.

Illinois County Maps of Road and Highway’s

The Illinois D.O.T. Highway Department has prepared a series of 2010 county road maps free online. These Illinois road maps contain more detailed information about man-made features than the geological survey maps.

In addition to roads and boundaries, these maps include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries. These Illinois maps are Free to downloade are in PDF format.

Illinois County Road Maps

Illinois Township Road Maps

These Township Maps emphasize the display of the road network on a regional basis without regard to specific city and village boundaries.

External Illinois Map Resources