Montana Maps

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This entry was originally written by Dwight A. Radford for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.

This article is part of
Montana sil.png
the Montana Family History Research series.
History of Montana
Montana Vital Records
Census Records for Montana
Background Sources for Montana
Montana Maps
Montana Land Records
Montana Probate Records
Montana Court Records
Montana Tax Records
Montana Cemetery Records
Montana Church Records
Montana Military Records
Montana Periodicals, Newspapers, and Manuscript Collections
Montana Archives, Libraries, and Societies
Montana Immigration
Montana Naturalization
Ethnic Groups of Montana
Montana County Resources
Map of Montana


Maps can be very useful in conducting Montana research, especially in light of the now extinct communities. Several kinds of maps are available which can help in locating land, mining claims, ghost towns, or ranches.

The U.S. Geological Survey topographical maps (see page 5) for Montana can be ordered through the USGS website or the Montana office at 3162 Bozeman Ave., Helena, MT 59601. Topographical maps for Montana can also be found online at www.topozone.com/.

The libraries in the state designated by the U.S. Geological Survey as map depository libraries are the Montana Historical Society; Montana State University'Billings; Montana State University'Bozeman; Montana Tech at the University of Montana, Butte; Montana State University'Northern, Havre; Montana State Library, Helena; and the University of Montana, Missoula.

The state lacks a historical atlas; however, Roberta Cheney, Names on the Face of Montana, rev. ed. (Missoula, Mont.: Mountain Press, 1987) can prove helpful in locating places during specific time periods.