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

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

State Map of Michigan state with the counties and the county seats
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State Map of Michigan state with the counties and the county seats
  • Michigan Township maps, including maps showing the progress of the original government surveys
  • Michigan Road, Highway and railroad maps
  • Michigan Maps showing the state’s geological features
  • Michigan timeline of county boundaries changes
  • Michigan Military maps
  • Michigan Maps of specific towns, counties, islands, harbors, and bodies of water
  • Colonial era maps of Michigan
  • Bird’s eye views of Michigan cities and towns

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

The first map of Michigan that listed landownership was the John Farmer 1855 Wayne County plat map.  However, many more land ownership maps were published in 1876 for Michigan’s centennial.

The Burton Historical Collection and the Library of Michigan each have large Michigan map collections on hand. A 14-volume set called “Checklist of Printed Maps of the Middle West to 1900” is an excellent resource for information on plat books and maps in Michigan, as well as 10 other states.  

The 1868 Lansing Sanborn map is the earliest Michigan Sanborn map.

Old Historical Atlas Maps of Michigan

This Historical Michigan Map Collection are from original copies. Most historical maps of Michigan were published in atlases and spans over 200 years of growth for the state.

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

1822 Geographical, Historical and Statistical State Map of Michigan Territory
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Carey’s 1822 Geographical, Historical and Statistical State Map of Michigan Territory

  • Map Date: 1822
  • Map Locations: Michigan
  • 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

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)
1836 State Map of Michigan with Its Canals, Roads & Distances
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Tanner’s 1836 State Map of Michigan with Its Canals, Roads & Distances

  • Map Date: 1836 (Entered 1833)
  • Map Locations: Michigan
  • 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)
1845 State Map of Michigan
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Morse’s 1845 State Map of Michigan

  • Map Date: 1845 (Entered 1844)
  • Map Locations: Michigan
  • 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)
1856 State Map of Michigan
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Colton’s 1856 State Map of Michigan

  • Map Date: 1856 (Entered 1855)
  • Map Locations: Michigan
  • Map Publication: Colton’s Atlas Of The World, Illustrating Physical And Political Geography.
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Joseph Hutchins Colton (1800-1893)
1856 Map of Lake Superior and the Northern Part of Michigan
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Colton’s 1856 Map of Lake Superior and the Northern Part of Michigan

  • Map Date: 1856 (Entered 1855)
  • Map Locations: Michigan
  • Map Publication: Colton’s Atlas Of The World, Illustrating Physical And Political Geography.
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Joseph Hutchins Colton (1800-1893)
1866 State Map of Michigan Public Survey Sketches by the Department of Interior Land Office
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1866 State Map of Michigan Public Survey Sketches by the Department of Interior Land Office

  • Map Date: October 2nd 1866
  • Map Locations: Michigan
  • Map Publication: Maps accompanying Report of the commissioner of the General Land Office.
  • Map Type: National Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: United States. General Land Office.
1874 State Map of Wisconsin
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1874 State Map of Wisconsin

  • Map Date: 1874
  • Map Locations: California and Nevada
  • Map Publication: Asher & Adams’ new commercial, topographical, and statistical atlas and gazetteer of the United States
  • Map Type: National Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Asher & Adams
1880 State, County and Township Map of Michigan and Wisconsin
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Mitchell’s 1880 State, County and Township Map of Michigan and Wisconsin

  • Map Date: 1880 (Entered 1879)
  • Map Locations: Michigan and Wisconsin
  • Map Publication: Mitchell’s New General Atlas
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr. (1827-1901)
1880 City Map of Detroit
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Mitchell’s 1880 City Map of Detroit

  • Map Date: 1880 (Entered 1879)
  • Map Locations: City of Detroit michigan
  • Map Publication: Mitchell’s New General Atlas
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr. (1827-1901)

Map of Michigan County Formations 1790-1897

This Interactive Map of Michigan Counties show the historical boundaries, names, organization, and attachments of every county, extinct county and unsuccessful county proposal from the creation of the Michigan territory in 1790 to 1897.

Michigan County Maps of Road and Highway’s

The Michigan D.O.T. Highway Department has prepared a series of 2015 county road maps free online. These 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 Michigan maps are Free to downloade are in PDF format.

External Michigan Map Resources

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