Most historical maps of Minnesota were published in atlases. Within the atlases are historical maps, illustrations, and histories many of which contain family names ideal for genealogical research.

The map collection of the Minnesota Historical Society consists of over 35,000 individual Minnesota maps and 1,300 atlases, the majority of these for Minnesota and the Midwest. The society is a five-state regional depository for the U.S. Geological Survey maps. It has extensive collections of Minnesota territory and state maps, county and city maps, and fire insurance maps of over 950 Minnesota towns and cities.

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Minnesota County Map of Boundaries and County Seats

There are random maps and plat maps in the county records at the Minnesota Historical Society Research Center. The map library of the Wilson Library at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, is an outstanding cartographic repository, not restricted to Minnesota. It includes worldwide maps and associated material.

County atlases for Minnesota include maps for the respective county and for townships within that county. The names of property owners are frequently included on these maps. The Minnesota Historical Society has microfilmed many of these atlases, which makes them accessible on inter-library loan. Most historical maps of Minnesota were published in atlases.

Library of Congress Fire Insurance Maps in the Library of Congress; Plans of North American Cities and Towns Produced by the Sanborn Map Company states that the earliest map of this type for Minnesota is for 1884. There is, however, a Sanborn map for the city of St. Paul for 1875; this map is located at the map library of the Minnesota Historical Society.

In 1679, after the region was visited by Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, Jacques Marquette Louis Joliet, and other French explorers, Daniel Greysolon, Sieur Duluth claimed the area for Louis XIV.

When the Revolutionary War came to an end, the USA gained possession of what is now eastern Minnesota from Great Britain. Two decades later, in 1803, the USA received what is now western Minnesota from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Britain ceded the northern strip of Minnesota to the United States in 1818, but the area was thoroughly explored by Zebulon M. Pike, a U.S. Army lieutenant, prior to that.

The Minnesota Territory was created on March 3, 1849. The State of Minnesota was created as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858.

States bordering Minnesota are Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Canada. The 10 largest cities in Minnesota are Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, St. Cloud, Eagan, Woodbury.

Map of Minnesota County Formations 1801-1937

This Interactive Minnesota County Maps show the historical boundaries, names, organization, and attachments of every county, extinct county and unsuccessful county proposal from 1801 to 1937. Minnesota contains 87 counties.

Minnesota County Map Abbreviations

Old Historical Atlas Maps of Minnesota

This Historical Minnesota Map Collection are from original copies so you can see Minnesota as our ancestors saw them over a hundred years ago. Some Minnesota map years (not all) have cities, railroads, P.O. locations, township outlines and other features useful to the Minnesota researcher.

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1850 Map of Minnesota Territory

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1856 Map of Minnesota

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1860 Map of Minnesota And Dakota

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1866 Map of Minnesota Sketch of Public Surveys

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1880 Map of Minnesota

External Minnesota Map Links

Minnesota County Map of Road and Highway’s

The Minnesota D.O.T. Highway Department has prepared a series of 2015 county road maps. 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 maps are downloadable and are in PDF format. The main use of these are the locations of all known cemeteries in a county and of course the various roads and church locations. These Maps are Free to Download